SIR BULWER LYTTON'S CAXTONS. 5 THIS novel exhibits much greater sobriety

of manner, with a juster view of life and its objects, as well as a better moral tone, (although still dashed with the tone of the theatre,) than Sir Bulwer Lytton 's earlier fictions display. It may, however, be less popular than its predecessors, as in a vulgar sense it is less effective, except in the rather melodramatic story of Francis Vivian. Character, satire of a quiet, goodnatured kind, disquisition, and pictures, sometimes of domestic sometimes of worldly life, are substituted for the rapid story, the startling incidents, and the hues of gorgeous though flashy brilliancy, which Sir Bulwer threw over his former works. The remembrance of Tristram Shandy, too vividly present to the author's mind, has introduced a species of witty and wordy digression, that somewhat impedes the story without always making pp for its suspension by the weight or vivacity of,the ideas. The necessity of looking to the effect of parts, imposed by periodical publication, (for the novel originally appeared in Blackwood) may have diverted attention from wholeness, and made The Castons, with the exception of Vivian already mentioned, as much 'a series of sketches as a sustained fiction.

In a leading idea. orprinciple Sir Bulwer Lytton is seldom deficient. His purpose ha the present,weijk.is to illustrate the superior happiness of domestic life, and the diacialtrge of duties connected with our family and station, over the stimulus of ambition, the glitter of fashion, the splen- dour of wealth, or even the glare of glory ; though, this last moral is pro- bably not intended; as it is not very plainly pointed. The idea is not new, but it receives all the novelty of which great moral lessons are capable : it is impressed by being embodied in persons, and illustrated by incidents, appropriate to the time, or in other words to.contemporary ideas and feel- ings. The story is also varied and enlivened by the introduotion of con- temporary questions—as colonization, that forms a conspicuous feature in the volume; or of passing follies—as joint-stock bubbles ; one of the cha- racters representing the sanguine, rash, well-meaning speoulator, who ruins himself and friends with the best intentions, In its elements the story of The Caxton is very simple ; owing its expansion neither to incident nor narrative proper, but to the exposition of character and the careful exhibition of scenes. The elder Cantons con- sist of two brothers ; one a quiet, benevolent, scholastic recluse, living at first among his books ; the other a soldier, who has received little save a barren medal for his numerous services, but is still loyal and satisfied, being animated by the high sense of honour and faith. Pisistratus, the hero, is the son of Augustine Caxton, the scholar; and round him the principal action of the book gathers. There is a brother of Mrs. Augus- tine Caxton, Jack Tibbetts, the speculator, who nearly ruins his scholastic brother-in-law, quicksighted as he is in the case of other people, by in- volving him in newspaper schemes to benefit mankind, and a joint-stock publishing company, that is to bring Mr. Caxton's History of Human Error before the world ; and from this difficulty he is rescued by means of his son's exertions. Captain Roland Caxton has foolishly married, in Spain, a girl of Gipsy descent ; and she brings him a son, who turns out a scamp, but of great powers and ability. This person, who passes asVivian, after a career of adventure, is defeated by Pisistratus Caxton in an attempt to carry off a young lady of rank and fortune, and is finally brought to a-moral sense by the exertions of Pisistratus and his father. Both the older Cantons in early life have been in love with a lady of rank, who does not exactly jilt them, but something near it. Lady Ellinor, a woman of intellectual ambition, dazzled by the brilliant parts and Parlia- mentary reputation of time rising Mr. Trevanion, marries him; and years later, when he has attain-0 high political distinction and succeeded to great wealth, Pisistratus, the,son of his old rival, falls in his way. The former intimacy is in a measurle revived ; Trevauion takes charge of Pigs- trans, as a private secretary ,1 which introduces him to fashioffable life, and behind the scenes of faftlamentary and party toils and struggles. The aspect is not Tiiry inviting, to the mind of young Mr. Caxton, and a growing pati..:06. for Fanny Trevanion induces him to retire from his post. He goes to college, long enough to give glimpses of the place'; but the 4 The Caxton; a Family Picture. By Sir E. Bulwer Lytton, Bart., Author of `Rienzi," Ste. In three volumes. 1.6...itished by Blackwood.

unlucky attempts of his father and uncle Jack to enlighten the world ne-

cessitate his removal, unless he had consented to allow his parents to de- prive themselves of their accusidninetotrffertil. Rejeoung the offers of Trevanion and another friend, Piiiiifrittis'deternifititin:taiptish his fortune in Australia. After a sojourn there of some ten yeare,•and.the'reRmrsolt,, tiou of Vivian and several other -persons, (probably intended as' typereof the class Whom a 'colony would improve,) the heibkitnins with a footuno,! sufficient to commence the improvement of la 'Imete,Rdland's utientei- Voted Cumberland acres ; and finally; marries-his'blousinBlienehe, Vivian'ts

lister. ., • . ,

These, of course, are Onty the germs of the book, that-furnish, the attr thor with matter on which to work : minor eventa.with many chameteeti are left unmentioned. And 'Perhaps it is in its; characters," and .thilek development in dialogue," or - in passing incidebte whiell lave -no greidr effect upon the conduct of the action, that the' merit of The Cairt6insi consists. It may be objected by the lover of polities and portions.) &ketches, that use enough in not made of Trevation's position to de Parliamentary and fashionable life, so far.as it can'be done *Mont Vlbla-i tien Of propriety and proper feeling. But the objects 'of the 'author mime be regarded ; and what there' IS of these thiega .iitioite 'well both 'forlffia purposes and in itself. The follOVving is a sketch 'of. the Marquis of Calfp tleton, the head of one of the "great" families, who has been educated with a due sense of his position. Pisietrattm-hati 'gone to his friend Sit Sedley Beatidesert, ip referened to the family efebritramments arising beet of the' speculations.' "I fohnd Sir Sedley at breakfast with a young. gentleman who seemed shout twenty. The good baronet'was delighted to see ME; but I thought it was witka little confusion, rare to his cordial ease, that he presented me to bis.00/ncie, 11444. Castleton It was a name familiar to me, though, I had never before met &Pa-

trician owner.. *

"It was easy to see that Loirt-Castleton had been brought tip with a careful knowledge of his future greatness, and its serious responsibilities. • He stood ins- measurably aloof from all the affectations common to the youth of minor .pitril clans. He had not been taught to value himself on the cut of a coat or the shape of a hat. His world was far above St. James's Street and the clubs. He was dressed plainly, though in a Stile peculiar to himselfHa white neckcloth, (which was not at that day quite so uncommon for morning use as it is novii,), trousers without straps, thin shoes and gaiters. • There was nothing in his niatt, ner of the supercilious apathy-Which characterizes' the dandy, introduced to 'some one whom he doubts. if he can nod to from the bow-window at White's;, none of Such vulgar coxcombries 'had Lord Castleten; and yet a young gentleman more emphatically coxcomb it was impossible to see. Ile had been Mid, no dbi b, that as the head of a horse which was almost in itself a party in the state; he should be bland and civil to all men; and this duty being grafted upon a nature singularly cold and unsocial, gave-to his politeness something so stiff yet soton.- descending, that it brought the blood to one's cheek,—though the momentary anger was counterbalanced' by something almost ludicrous in the contrast betvieers this gracious majesty of deportment and the insighificant figure with the bbyish. beardless fade by which. Wives assumed. Lord Castleton did not content himself with a mere bow at our introduction. Much to my wonder how he came the information he displayed' hiniade me a little speech after the manner of his XIV. to a provincial noble--studiously modelled upon that royal maxim of ur policy which instructs a king that, he should know, something of tliebittli, pa= reutage,iancl, family, of his ,meanest gentleman. • It :avarsa which toy f.ather's_learning, 444 .iny uncle's services, and-the amiable qualitiek of your humble` 'servant, Sete neatly interwoven; delivered,* a falsetto tine, as if !mined by heart, though it . must have been necessarily-'impromptu; and then resealing himself, he made 'a gracious motion of the head iittd-hand, as if to authorize me to clothe same.

Conversation succeeded, by galvanic jerk§ sad-spasmodic starts; aconversation _timat Lord Castletou contrived to tug so completely out of poor Sir -Sedley"s ordiniry course of small-and polished small-talk, that that 'charming personage, accustomed, as.he well deserved, to be .Coryphaerms at 'his own table,' was com- pletely silenced. With his light reading, his rich stores of anecdote; his good- humoured knoWledge of the drawingroorn world, he had scan*, a'werd- that would fit into the great, rough, serious matters =which Lord Castleton threw upon. the table as lie nibbled his toast. Nothing bhrthe most grave 'anll'priictieel subjects of human interest, seemed to attract this future leader of mankind.' The fact is,. that Lord Castleton had been taught everything that-relates Copy:0644y a knowledge. which embraces a very wide -circumference. It had been said-to him, 'You will be an immense proprietor—knowledge is essential to 'term self- preservation. You will be-puzzled, bubbled, ridiculed, duped every. day of dour life, if you do not makeyourself acquainted with all by which property AS asatulsd or defended; impoverished or increased. You have avast stake In the,couniry; you must learn all theinterests of gurope—nay,of thecivilized world—for those interests react on the country, and the, interests of' the country are of the greatest possible consequence to the interests of the Marquis of Castle- ton.' . Thus the state of the Continent-tire policy of Metternich—the con- dition of the Papacy—the growth of Dissent—the proper mode of dealing with. the general spirit of Demooracy, which was the epidemic of European mo- narcbies—the relative proportions of the agricultural and manufacturing popula- tion--corn-lawe, currency, and the laws that regulate wages—a criticism on the -leading speakersof the liouse.of Commons, with some discursive observations on the importance of fattening cattle—the introduction of flax. into Ireland—emi- gration—the-condition of the poor—the doctrineauf Mr. Owen—the pathology of potatoes—the connexion between petatoes,pauperisin, and patriotism; these, and such.like stupendous subjects, for reflection—all branching, more or less tap- Gately, from the single idea of the.Castleton property—the young lord discussed and disposed of in half.a-dozen prim, poised sentences, evincing, I must say gi justice, no Inconsiderable information, and a mighty solemn turn of mind. The oddity- was, that the subjects so seleeied.aud treated ahould not come rather frOin some young barrister, or mature pithiest economist, than from so gorgeous a lily of the field. Of a man less elevated In rank one would certainly have said- ' Cleverish, but a prig '; but there really was something so respectable in a per- sonage born to such fortunee,and.having nothing to do but to bask in the sunshine, voluntarily taking such pains with himself, and cendescending to identify his own interests—the interests of the Castleton property—with the concerns of his lesser fellow mortals, that-one felt the young. Marquis bad in him the btutf to become a

very considerable num" •

The moral principle of the work iswell grounded.and attentively carried out;. but perhaps the author is more successful hi pointing, the empti- ness of high life and the-unrewarded drudgery of a public, career, than in.painting the lirippiness.and conteut,of mprivate station,—though,M,rs. Caxton is a charming picture 'outs iol.homely materials. - The, fOloiring neat little. bit indicates the domestic .dangere of high, life. The reader has already beenititrodaced to,Siv.Sedkly Beautlitterto stud Wawa tha t..F4ony ,Trevanion is theiteroinef. whoin fisietratue. rescued. from the abduction of Vivian : on the intuit efFisistretue from Anatmli4 he visits the former

Sir Sedley, become Marquis of Castleton, and long since married to Fanny.

" One evening, as I was sitting a little apart from the rest with two Me/3 of the London world, to whose talk—for it ran upon the on-dits and anecdotes of a region long strange to me—I was a silent but amused listener. One of the two said- ' Will, I don't know anywhere a more excellent creature than Lady Castleton; so fond of her children, and her tone to Castleton so exactly what it ought to be—so affectionate, and yet, as it were, respectful. And the more credit to her, if, as they say, she was not in love with him when she married, (to be sure, handsome as be is, he is twice her age!) And no woman could have been more flattered and courted by Lotharios and lady-killers than Lady Castleton has been. I confess to my shame, that Castleton's luck puzzles me, for it is rather an exception to my general experience.'

" 'My dear said the other, who was one of those wise men of pleasure

who occasionally startle us into wondering how they come to be so clever and yet rest contented with mere drawingroom celebrity—men who seem always idle yet appear to have read everything ; always indifferent to what passes before them, yet who know the characters and divine the secrets of everybody: My dear —,' said the gentleman, you would not be puzzled if you had studied Lord Castle- ton instead of her Ladyship. Of all the conquests ever made by Sedley Beaude- sert, when the two fairest dames of the Faubourg are said to have fought for his smiles in the Bois de Boulogne, no conquest ever cost him such pains or so tasked his knowledge of women as that of his wife after marriage! He was not satisfied with her hand, he was resolved to have her whole heart—" one entire and perfect chrysolite"; and he has succeeded. Never was husband so watchful and so little jealous; never one who confided so generously in all that was best in his wife, yet was so alert in protecting and guarding her wherever she was weakest When, in the second year of marriage, that dangerous German Prince Von Leibenfels at- tached himself so perseveringly to Lady Castleton, and the scandal-mongers pricked up their ears in hopes of a victim, I watched Castleton with as much in- terest as if I had been looking over Deschappelles playing at chess. You never saw anything so masterly: he pitted himself against his Highness with the cool confidence not of a blind sponse but a fortunate rival; he surpassed him in the delicacy of his attentions; he outshone him by his careless magnificence. Leiben- fele had the impertinence to send Lady Castleton a bouquet of some rare flowers just in fashion: Castleton, an hour before, had filled her whole balcony with the bane costly exotics, as if they were too common for nosegays, and only just worthy to bloom for her a day. Young and really accomplished as Leibenfels is, Castle- tan eclipsed him by his grace and fooled him with his wit: he laid little plots to turn his moustache and guitar into ridicule; he seduced him into a hunt with the -buckhounds, (though Castleton himself had not hunted before since he was thirty,) and drew him, spluttering German oaths, out of the slough of a ditch; he made him the laughter of the clubs; he put him fairly out of fashion; and all with such suavity and politeness and bland sense of superiority, that it was the finest piece of high comedy you ever beheld. The poor Prince, who had been cox- comb enough to lay a bet with a Frenchman as to his success with the English in general and Lady Castleton in particular, went away with a face as long as Don ■ Quivite's. If you had but seen him at S— House the night before he took leave of the island, and his comical grimace when Castleton offered him a pinch of the Beaudesert mixture. No; the fact is, that Castleton made it the object of his existence, the masterpiece of his art, to secure to himself a happy home, and the entire possession of his wife's heart. The first two or three years, I fear, cost him more trouble than any other man ever took, with his own wife at least: but he may now rest in peace—Lady Castleton is won, and for ever.'

"As my gentleman ceased, Lord Castleton's noble head rose above the group

standing round him ; and I saw Lady Castleton turn with a look of well-bred fa- tigue from a handsome young fop, who had affected to lower his voice while he spoke to her; andoncountering the eyes of her husband, the look changed at once into one of such sweet smiling affection, such frank unmistakeable wifelike pride, that it seemed a response to the assertion 'Lady Castleton is won, and for ever.'

"Yes, that story increased my admiration for Lord Castleton: it showed me

with what forethought and earnest sense of responsibility be had undertaken the charge of a life, the guidance of a character yet undeveloped; it lastingly acquit- ted him of the levity that had been attributed to Sedley Beaudesert. But 1 felt more than ever contented that the task had devolved on one whose temper and experience had so fitted him to discharge it. That German Prince made me trem- ble from sympathy with the husband, and in a sort of relative shudder for myself. Had that episode happened to me! I could never have drawn 'high comedy' from it ! I could never have so happily closed the fifth act with a pinch of the Bean- desert mixture. No, no; to my homely sense of man's life and employment, there was nothing alluring in the prospect of watching over the golden tree in the gar- den, with a wo to the Argus if Mercury once lull him to sleep!' Wife of mine shall need no watching, save in sickness and sorrow. Thank Heaven that my way of life does not lead through the roseate thoroughfares, beset with German `princes laying bets for my perdition, and fine gentlemen admiring the skill with which I play at chess for so terrible a stake! To each rank and each temper its own laws. I acknowledge that Fanny is an excellent Marchioness, and Lord Castleton an incomparable Marquis. But, Blanche! if I can win thy true simple heart, I trust I shall begin at the fifth act of high comedy, and say at the altar- "' Once won, won for ever!'"