6

Legends of Lumpidosa.—The Parisian.

[VOL. 2.

daughter."" No, Madelon," interposed Suzette followed our son's Gascon valet to Henrielle, gently taking the flowers from Paris. Since Henriana has evidently no her basket-" on that day your niece Su- claims to nobility, we cannot give her a fitter zette had rejected her lover Lubin by retreat than her grand-aunt's cottage in placing nuts on the table, according to Provence."-" She has nobility at heart, your Provençal custom; and he com- at least," replied M. de Salency-" and forted him by a promise to take him to if it endures the test next prepared for it, Paris as his valet.". "It is the very I am satisfied." Without explaining words of my dear young lord !" return this speech, he descended to the saloon, ed Madelon, clasping her hands in rap- where the rival claimants were seated ; ture-" but tell me, is poor Suzette liv- and addressing himself to Henrielle, uning yet?"-Henrielle hesitated, as if fear- folded the packet brought by the young ful to give the poor paysanne affliction: chevalier Florival. It contained a letter and before she could determine how to from her father, recommending him to reply, a dove flew into the pavilion, and her favour as a suitor highly enriched by alighted on Henriana's shoulder. It had nature, though not by fortune, and giving a paper attached to its foot, inscribed, his paternal blessing to their union. Hen"To detect a counterfeit." Every eye rielle heard it with the smile of conscious was fixed on her face, which varied a beauty, and a painful glance of mock inthousand times from the whiteness of difference: the father, perhaps, would fear and shame to that deep red supposed have been more gratified if they had been to announce guilt. But, instead of spurn- checked by a tender and grateful rememing the innocent bearer of this testimony brance of the absent writer. But he against her, she allowed it to nestle in withdrew without comment, and returnher bosom; and, shedding tears, whis- ed accompanied by Florival, whose pered-Poor bird-an enemy has flushed cheek and downcast eye expressemployed thee, but thou hast not forgot- ed a timid, yet proud, dependence on the top me."-Henrielle smiled on her with recommendation of Henrielle's father. a gracious air, as if desiring her to confide She received him with a charming mixin her friendship. And collecting the ture of assumed unconsciousness and flowers which had been brought as trib- careless encouragement which her grandutes, with an air of badinage apparently mother secretly applauded, as the perfeccontrived to relieve Henriana, she said- tion of that coquetry she had once prac "Are there counterfeits among these of- tised herself." In your presence," said ferings?-we will submit them, then, to Florival looking respectfully towards the the ordeal both of fire and water." All Baroness, "I may request your grandadmired the benevolent attempt to divert daughter's acceptance of this pledge, attention from the humbled culprit, and which her father hoped you would perthe grace with which she dipped the flow- mit her to attach with her own hand to ers into a perfumed vase, and placed the pearl necklace she received from her them round the edge of a lamp burning mother. It was once your gift, and he on an antique tripod. But the flowers promised to fill up the vacant place in it were all artificial, and the flame, spread- when he had found what he thought ing among them, seized the drapery at- worthy"-And he produced an emerald tached to the pavilion, and the conflagra- heart, evidently adapted to some peculiar tion was general in a few instants. The repository; but his gallant allusion to young stranger, whose gallant gift had the colour of hope which tinged it, did introduced him to Henricile, lost not a not produce the smile he probably exmoment in carrying her out of the reach pected. Henrielle was silent till the of danger; but Henriana, inattentive to Baron requested her to comply with her herself, caught the blind paysanne in her father's wishes :--then, looking compasarms,and saved her from the flames which sionately at Henriana, she replied, It had already fastened on her. "One was in my possession yesterday, but it is would think," said the Baroness, with a mine no longer;"-and when repeated scornful air, "that this young woman re- questions extorted fuller answers, she recognized a ve in our old Madson' and I now ber-her pet is

66

in that her perl- had been, g the confusion caused by

VOL. 2.]

Legends of Lampidosa.-The Parisian.

66

7

the burning pavilion. Henriana re- on my saint's day."-" Madelon !” said mained mute; but the quick heavings of Henriana, gently detaining her handher bosom announced her interest in this "recollect yourself-these pearls belong scene; and the intelligent glance of accu- to the family De Salency !"-The blind sation cast on her by Henrielle turned woman started up with a fierce gesture— Florival's thoughts towards her. He had Wretch! vile wretch! you have pronot yet heard the mysterious tale of her fited by my blindness to steal my necksupposed imposture; and her mourning lace, and substitute another!"--Her dress, her retiring attitude, and modest cries brought a robust young man from eyes, over which she had drawn her fine the interior of her habitation; but as he hair embellished only by a simple sprig ran to her assistance, he appeared to refrom the rose-tree loved by her father, cognize Henriana, and hesitated. “ "Speak fixed his pity and attention." Speak, for me, Lubin !" exclaimed his grandthat we may see you," says an old philoso- mother: "You well know I have no pher who had the benefit of a woman's pearls-the chain you gave me was of instruction. Florival understood this beads."-Lubin hung down his head, hint, and he addressed his conversation and a deep blush rose even to his foreto Henriana, hoping to penetrate her head-"Mademoiselle, pardon and becharacter. If he had been touched by lieve me!-I was tempted-I was paid the meek simplicity of her aspect, he was to bring your dove to the pavilion with now impressed by what might be called the billet written by-by her who wore the holiness of innocence in her calm the necklace of pearls:-they were dropand proud reserve. But the Baroness, ped near me -I did not guess their val enraged at the suspicion which the ab- ue, and-I gave them to La Bonne."sence of the necklace seemed to excite in "Well," replied Henriana, “she loved her husband, busied herself in public and my father, and you are safe-Dare you vehement complaints of the theft. The confide the pearls to me?"-The rich pearls had been often worn by her, were glow of Lubin's heart burned through of the richest oriental kind, and of a his saffron cheek-" Gracious lady!— shape so singular that they could be easi- you saved my helpless grandmother ly identified. All the domestics and from the flames, and we owe you the spectators employed on the day of the service of our whole lives."-Henriana fête were traced by police-officers, but replied, "The time may come when no discovery resulted. Florival, appa- you shall receive more than the value of rently heedless of the event, continued his these pearls :-let Madelon accompa visits at the Baron's hotel, where he was ny me."

Feceived with vague, but inviting blan- The old paysanne rested on her grand dishments by Henrielle, and with placid son's arm, and followed Henriana to the coldness by Henriana. As his regard Hotel de Salency. In the vestibule they seemed fixed on the prosperous heiress, met Florival; and advancing a few steps the latter gradually avoided his presence, to meet him, Henriana said, "Cheyn. and left him in full enjoyment of the wit lier, the lost prize is recovered!--it felt and smiles which had attained such cèle- into the hands of this blind woman, and brity. On one of these occasions, she was worn by her without consciousness absented herself to seek Madelon's hum- of its worth." I know it already," ble residence, and offer her a price for he answered ;-" but Henrielle has dethe cherished rose-tree. She found her nounced her to the police, and its agents Knitting in her little garden-porch with are on their way to her residence-I was the happy thoughtlessness of second hastening thither myself to favour her childhood; but at the first glance Hen- escape :-let her depart now, for the riana recognized the pearl necklace hang- vengeance will be as sudden as the sus 1ng round her neck! A moment was picion.""What! on her father's fosgiven to silent astonishment before she termother!" interrupted Henriana, ininquired by what means it had fallen in- dignantly-" dares Henrielle shew cru10 her possession." This ?" returned eity even there!-take back these pearl, the old paysanne, stroking her sunburnt chevalier, since you have brought a bau throat- this was my grandson's gift ble to attach to them--give them to you:

8

East-India Missions.

[VOL. 2.

chowa br., nd say they were redeem- an absent father, sincerity to a modest ea by yo elf-at your request, per- claimant, and tenderness to helpless oldps. 25 will spare this aged woman." age. I have found one, but not in Hen. 1 with protect Madelon, assuredly," rielle."-" Be well assured before you replied rival "but the heart I decide," said the Baron, entering—“ I blog will never belong to Hearielle have brought a final arbitrator."-Flori-hurs is incapable of gratitude, boun- val saw the father of Henrielle, and startty, or compassion. They tell me she ed back." Do you fear to be assured has been educ ted for ornament and re- of this young beauty's poverty?" added fincment, but he has neither been orna- the old Lord, sternly." No, Baron !" mente completely nor retined enough. returned his young favourite, still retreatPowers are scattered on the surface of ing-" I only fear to find her unworber character, but none grow there. The thy."-" This," said Henri de Salency, benevolence which ornaments social life, "is my own Henrielle-my only acthe refinement which governs thoughts knowledged daughter. Her rival, who and actions, are wholly unknown to her. has wisely taken refuge in flight, obtainSelf is the le motive of her graces, her ed the documents and credentials she blandishments, and even her virtues, possessed by a theft which her wretched witch she ssumes not because they are mother committed to exalt a daughter Seminine, but because they create her whose existence is my reproach. The power. It is a power, however, which child of my virtuous wife has shewn the extend no farther than her own flatter- softness and the purity of soul which, ed imagination, and I disclaim it from like the poppy and the lily, are the best tais bour."--" Her presence will renew symbols of domestic happiness ;-the chevalier!" returned Henriana, smil- pain inflicted by her sister's imposture No, madame-the vapid remains was a penalty I well deserved, by be་ ༑ ༑ ord beauty exhausted in public lieving that splendid talents might cover would not satisfy me--I expect a depraved heart, or atone for its unworda heart capable of gratitude to thiness."

STATE OF THE EAST INDIA MISSIONS.

From the New Monthly Magazine.

V.

doubt if the class of men generally sent on these missions are at all calculated to promote so desirable an end; in fact, they have not added one respectable convert.

"In the mean time the Mahomedans are forestalling us; a Mahomedan missionary with a young boy for his attendant, sits down under a tree near some Hindoo village, subsists on alms, and always succeeds in making numerous converts; here he lives, and most likely dies, when his disciples set him up as a saint, and continue to follow his precepts.

E sub,ined extract of a letter anntleman in Bombay, to ast an Angland, will, I doubt not, eresting to the readers of your 1 By: cannot close this letter ot saying something on the subject ssions. We have at present bre. t American missionaries; one of them traves with his wife :-there is are a úighly tween the government and the S iety, whether they shall be etta rope or not. They have been ed to proceed in the Carmarthen, but some days previous to her sailing, I will be bound to say there is not a vilde their cape, leaving the wife lage in Hindoostan which has not its They have been since arrested, Mahomedan saint. In our part of Inght bad from Cochin, and are dia the spirit of intolerance is never maned to proceed in the ships un- ifested; the Mahomedans living under Hindoo governments are as mild and esrable it is that the light quiet as the Hindoos themselves. Whilst on should be arinad o ir uzionalies are employed in erecting regions, yet, I much prating presses, building spacious Buu

cer cagnolia e England.

VOL.2.] On Mesdames de Staël and de Genlis, from Lady Morgan's " France." 9

From Ackerman's Repository.

CHARACTERS OF MADAME DE STAEL AND MADAME DE GENLIS.

66
[FROM LADY MORGAN'S NEW HISTORICAL NOVEL, FRANCE."*]

HAD often been assured, in some literary circles at Paris, that the greatest revolution which had taken place in their literature, since the reign of Louis XIV. has occurred in the taste, talent, and style of their female writers. They still speak with rapture of the facility, the abandonnement, the grace of the compopositions of the La Fayettes, the Sevig

nés, the Caylus's; and oppose them in decided superiority to the De Staëls, the Cottins, the Genlis's, and the Souzas. But the great claim to that originality of invention and combination, which constitutes the essence of genius, belongs exclusively to the modern writers. The best compositions of the female wits of the beau siècle, exhibited but the art of transferring the elegant gossipry, só eterSee ATH. Vol. I. p. 584. It is said Lady letters, and adopting in their written acnally practised in their salons, to their

M. has received £2,000 sterling for the copyright of this work.]

10 Comparison of the Characters of M. de Staël and M, de Genlis, [voL. 2.

same epigrammatic point and facility of between those women who wrote at the expression, which belong to the genius of their language, and which have at all times been the study, the charm, and the habit of their conversation.

latter end of Louis the Fourteenth's day, and those who have appeared since the revolution. The foundress of a new genus of composition in her own lanThe life of such a woman as Madame guage, her domestic stories are a deviade Sevigné was passed in social little cir- tion from the grave formality of the early cles, in eternal visits, and in seeking, French novel; and stand equally free hearing, circulating, and transcribing all from the licentious liberties of the new, that was passing in the city or the court. a witty but an immoral school, founded Women of rank had then no domestic by the Marivaux, the Louvets, and the duties, though they had many social ties. Leclos. M. de Genlis, if not the first Their infants were nursed by hirelings, who made works of imagination the vetheir children were reared in convents, hicle of education, was at least the earliest their husbands lived with the army or the of those who introduced instruction and court, and those profounder feelings science into tales of sentiment and paswhich exercise so powerful an operation sion; and the erudition which occasionupon female intellect, remained cold and ally gleams through her pages, has been undeveloped. They read little, because thought to do the honours of the head, the scale of modern literature was then to the exclusion of the interests of the circumscribed,and few women studied the heart; while her pure and polished style, dead languages. The whole power of flowing and smooth as it is, stands accutheir mind, therefore, was confined and sed by the severity of French criticism of levelled to the combination and recitation approaching to the studied elegance and of the events which took place in the most cold precision of a professed rhetorician. frivolous, intriguing, but polished society It may, however, be said with great truth, that ever existed. Their style was bril- that none perhaps ever wrote so well who liant, playful, and elegant; and it was wrote so much, or has ever blended so eminently, perhaps exclusively, calcula- few faults with so many merits of style ted to éterniser la bagatelle.* and composition. Madame de Genlis When, however, they abandoned facts just held that place in society from her for fiction, they wholly failed in their at- rank, her fashion, her political tendencies, tempt; and in the world of invention and literary successes, which was most there is, perhaps, nothing so cold, cum- calculated to excite against her a host of brous, and wearisome, so out of the line enemies. Had she been more obscure of social nature, and yet so remote from as a woman, she would have been less the fairy regions of fancy, as the roman- severely treated as an author. ces of Mademoiselle Scuderie, and the novels of Madame La Fayette. They soon fell by their own ponderous weight, even in an age when they had novelty to sustain them, and have now long been known by name only.

The genius of Madame de Staël belongs to the day and age in which it dawned, and by which it was nurtured. It partakes of their boldness and their aspirations, their freedom and their force. Fostered amidst philosophical inquiries, The two most celebrated female wri- and political and social fermentation, its ters of France, Madame de Genlis and objects are naturally grand, its scope vast, Madame de Staël, mark successively the its efforts vigorous. It has the energy of progress of female intellect, and the scope inspiration, and its disorder. There is given by circumstances to female talent in that country. The works of Madame de Genlis form a sort of connecting link

*Speaking of the talents of Mesdames de Staël and de Genlis, a French critic of the old

school observed to me: "Pour ces femmes la, elles ce sont fait une imagination et une littérature viriles.---Madame, il y a, dans l'une et l'outre, de quoi faire trois ou quatre hommes d'esprit."

in Madame de Staël's compositions, something of the Delphic priestess. Sometimes mystic, not always intelligible, we still blame the god rather than the oracle; and wish perhaps that she were less inspired, or we more intelligent.

While other writers (both male and female) in France have turned with every breeze that fluttered in the political hemis