NEWT ON FORSTER.

Newton Forster is as pleasant a production as we would wish to read. Its ingredients are life, and truth, and character. We may say of this fiction, that it is all true ; and truth, even when it flat- tens into truism, in this age of falsehood is to be warmly welcomed wherever encountered ; and thus, as sanctified persons are some- times the greatest sinners, and apparently very mercurial disposi- tions are yet most under control, so it is that we often find more truth in a romance than a sermon. The author is a sailor; and this, like his former production, the King's Own, is altogether marine, or at least as much so as a sailor's life—which is a year at sea and a month ashore. The tone of Newton Forster is more peaceable than that of the King's Own, inasmuch as the merchant service is less warlike than his Majesty's: nevertheless, we have all the adventure compatible with trade,—shipwreck, imprisonment, and even combat—bloody combat, piracy, slavery, strange scenes, and hairbreadth escapes. But we like Newton Forster not so much for its incidents, as for its quick and just perception of character—for its easy and natural dialogue, and we ought to add, for its just and liberal sentiments on the subject of nautical government. SMOLLETT'S description of an act of impressment is neither more lively nor yet more indig- nant than similar scenes described by our author, a Post Captain in the Navy. On other subjects, too, he is a Reformer. It is really quite cheering to find every man distinguished in his pro- fession agreeing with us on this important subject, and availing himself of his peculiar knowledge to bring illustrations of the necessity of throwing off the aristocratical yoke. It has pressed hard upon the Navy : how many a first-lieutenant has groaned over the_injustice_otwhich_he was the victim ! but, like the old women, he could . only cry "hard times!" until the discussion of Reform, which has enabled every man to point to the exact spot where the shoe pinehes. Perhaps we ought not to introduce politics into our Library—but what are we to do ? Half the novels we read are as political as the pamphlets; and the writers have no hesitation in declaring that they write novels with political objects. Captain MARRYAT, the excellent author of Newton Forster, broadly states, that he introduces his ideas on Naval Reform into a book of fiction, because in that channel it is most likely to reach the pub- lic. However, to our business—which is pleasure.

Newton Forster is the history of the rise of a young man from the situation of mate, or something of that sort, in a coasting ves- sel, to be captain of an Indianian : of course, love, mystery, adventure, and all matters of the same quality, are interwoven, agreeably enough : but that with which we are most gratified is the nice drawing, or rather acting of character, throughout. The father of the hero is an old optician, watchmender, and spectacle- maker. For truth and vivacity of representation, there is not a more perfect character in the whole round of fiction. Si' WALTER himself would have loved, petted, and preserved the simple-hearted old creature, and delighted in his improvement on the duplex. The absent and abstracted old man is cursed with a termagant wife, who would disturb any temperament except that of the old watchmaker : she is, however, cured by an admirable course ofdis- cipline for a few months in a lunatic asylum, which ends in making her the meekest and most virtuous woman alive. The hint is worth taking : we recommend the history of Nicholas Forster to all unhappy men similarly situated. His elder brother, John Forster, the attorney, is also a very well-drawn character. There is yet ano- ther brother—a half-pay naval officer—who is drawn with per- fect truth. Into further detail of the persons we will not enter : suffice it to say, that the author never develops a character without reconceiving or re-creating,—which is the test that distinguishes the imitator from the genuine novelist. We will permit the author himself to paint the character of the absent optician; premising, that it is in the development, and not in the mere drawing of the character, that its excellence consists.

" The next surviving son was yclept (there's something very consonant in that word) Nicholas. The Reverend Mr. Forster, who had nu inheritance to bequeath to his fluidly except a good name, which, although better than riches, will not always procure for a man one penny loaf, naturally watched for any pe- culiar symptoms of genius in his children which might designate one of the various paths to wealth and fame, by which it would be most easy for the indi- vidual to ascend. Now it did occur, that when Nicholas was yet in womanish attire, he showed a great partiality to a burning-glass, with which he coutrived to do much mischief. He would burn the dog's nose as he slept in the sun before the door. His mother's gown showed proofs of his genius by sundry little round holes, which were considendil.•, increased each time that it returned from the wash. Nay, heretical and du..in:tide as is the fact, his father's surplice was as a moth-eaten garment from the re%•ated and insidious attacks of this young philo- sopher. The burniug-glass decio...,1 his fate. He was hound apprentice to an optical and mathematical instrument maker ; from which situation he was, if possible, to emerge into the highest grade of the profession ; but, somehow or another, a want of ambition or of talent did not permit him to ascend the scale, and he now kept a shop in the small seaport town of Overton, where he repaired damaged articles of science—a watch one day, a quadrant or a compass another ; but his chief employment and his chief forte lay in telescopes; and accordingly a large hoard with Nicholas Forster, Optician,' surmounted the small shop- window, at which he was invariably to be seen at his employment. He was an eccentric person, one of those who had narrowly escaped being clever ; but there was an oblitptity in his mind which would not admit of lucid order and arrange- ment. In the small town where he resided, he continued to pick up a decent sustenance ; for he had no competitor, and was looked upon as a man of conside- rable ability. He was the only one of three brothers who had ventured upon wedlock. But of this part of our history we shall at present say no more, than that he had an only child, and had married his wife, to use his own expression, because she suited his focus."

We will now give a scene, in which poor Nicholas, and the wife that suited his focus, are further exhibited, along with some other characters, in a dialogue of the quizzical kind, very pleasantly con- ducted. Young Newton Forster has been sailing with the master of a trading vessel, who is accidentally killed ; and on his arrival at his native town and port, there is some difficulty in properly dis- posing of his effects. The owner and the clergyman accord- ingly meet at the house of the mate's father, to discuss what should be done.

" Well, father, be it so,' replied Newton, laughing ; ' but here comes Mr. Dragwell and Mr. Hilton to consult with us what ought to be done relative to the effects of poor old Thompson. He has neither kith nor kin, to the ninety- ninth degree, that we can find out.' " Mr. Dragwell was the curate of the parish ; a little fist man with bow- legs, who always sat upon the edge of the chair, leaning against the back, and twiddling his thumbs before him. He was facetious and good-tempered, but was very dilatory in every thing. His greatest peculiarity was, that although he had a hearty laugh for every joke, he did not take the jokes of others at the time that they were made. His ideas seemed to have the slow and silent flow ascribed to the stream of lava (without its fire) ; and the consequence was, that although he eventually laughed at a good thing, it was never at the same time with other people ; but in about a quarter or half a minute afterwards (according to the difficulty of the analysis)—when the cause had been dismissed for other topics, he would burst out in a hearty ' Ha, ha, ha! ' "Mr. Hilton was the owner of the sloop : he was a tall, corpulent man, who for many years had charge of a similar vessel, until by ' doing a little contra- band,' he had pocketed a sufficient sum to enable him to purchase one for him- self. But the profits being more than sufficient for his wants, he had for some time remained on shore, old Thompson having charge of the vessel. He was a good-tempered, jolly fellow, very fond of his pipe and his pot, and much more thud of his sloop, by the employment of which he was supplied with all his comforts. He passed most of the day sitting at the door of his house, which looked upon the anchorage, exchanging a few words with every one that passed by, but invariably upon one and the same topic—his sloop. If she was at anchor—' There she is,' he would say, pointing to her with the stem of his Pipe. If she was away., she had sailed on such a day,—he expected her back at such a time. It was a fair wind—it was a foul wind for his sloop. All his ideas- were engrossed by this one darling object, and it was no easy task to divert him

?Ought to have mentioned, that Mr. Dragwell, the curate, was invariably

accompanied by 31r. Spinney, the clerk of the parish, a little spare man, with a

few white hairs straggling on each side of a baldpate. He always took his tune, whether in or out of church, from his superior ; ejecting a small treble ' He, he, he ! ' in response to the loud ' Ha, ha, ha ! ' of the curate. Peace be unto this house ! ' observed the curate its lie crossed the thresh- old, for Mrs. Forster's character was notorious; then laughing at his own with

a 6 Ha, ha, ha!'

Be, he, he ! ' " Good morning, Mr. Forster ; how is your good lady ? ' " s She's safe moored at last,' interrupted Mr. Hilton.

" 6 Who ? ' demanded the curate, with surprise.

" Why the sloop, to be sure.' " ' Oh ! I thought you meant the lady—ha, ha, ha!' " He, he, he ! " Won't you sit down, gentlemen? ' said Nicholas, showing the way from the shop into the parlour, where they found Mrs. Forster, who had just come in from the back premises.

" Hope you're well, Mr. Curate,' sharply observed the lady, who could not be persuaded, even from respect for the cloth, to be commonly civil ; "fake a

chair; it's all covered with dust ; but that Betsy is such an idle slut ! ' " 'Newton handles her as well as any man going,' observed Hilton. " Newton ! ' screamed the lady, turning to her sort with an angry inquiring look—' Newton handles Betsy ! ' continued she, turning rotund to Hilton. " a Betsy ! no ; the sloop I meant, Ma'am.' " Newton burst out into a laugh, in which lie was joined by Hilton and his father.

" Sad business—sad indeed ! ' said Hilton, after the merriment had subsided ; 'such an awful death ! '

" Ha, ha, ha!' roared the curate, who had but just then taken the joke about Betsy. " He, he, he ! ' " Nothing to laugh at, that I can see,' observed Mrs. Forster, snappishly'." joke, oke, Ma'am, I assure you ! ' rejoined the curate ; but, Mr. Fors- ter, we had better proceed to business. Spinney, where are the papers?' The clerk produced an inventory of the effects of the late Mr. Thompson, and laid them on the table. ' .31elancholy thing, this, Ma'am,' continued the curate, ' very melancholy, indeed ! but we must all die.' " ' Yes, thank Heaven ! ' muttered Nicholas, in an absent manner.

" ' Thank Heaven, Mr. Forster ! ' cried the lady ; ' why do you wish to die?' " ' I was not exactly thinking about myself, my dear,' replied Nicholas ;

" Depend upon it she'll last a long while yet,' interrupted Mr. Hilton. " Do you think so?' replied Nicholas mournfully. " ' Oh ! sure of it ; I stripped her the other day, and examined her all over ; she's as sound as ever.

"Nicholas started, and stared Hilton in the face ; while Newton, who per- ceived their separate train of thought, tittered with delight. What are you talking of ? ' at last observed Nicholas. " Of the sloop, to be sure,' replied Hilton. " I rather imagine that you came to consult about Mr. Thompson's effects,' observed Mrs. Forster, angrily ; ' rather a solemn subject, instead of—'

" Ha, ha, ha!' ejaculated the curate, who had just taken the equivoque which had occasioned Newton's mirth.

" He, he, he ! ' " This last merriment of Mr. Dragwell appeared to the lady to be such a. pointed insult to her, that she bounded out of the room, exclaiming, ' that an

alehouse would have been a more suitable rendezvous.'

" The curate twiddled his thumbs, as the eyes of all the party followed the exit of Mrs. Forster, and there were ofew moments of silence. " ' Don't you find her a pleasant little craft, Forster ? ' said Hilton, address- ing Newton. "Nicholas Forster, who was iu a brown study about his wife, shook his head. without lifting up his eyes, while Newton nodded assent. " Plenty of accommodation in her,' continued Hilton. Another negative shake from Nicholas, and assentient nod from Newton. " ' If I thought you could manage her, Forster,' continued Hilton ; 'tell me, what do you think yourself?'

" quite impossible ! ' replied Nicholas.

" Quite impossible, Mr. Forster ! well, now, I've a better opinion of Newton —I think lie can.'

Why, yes,' replied Nicholas, ' certainly better than I can ; but still she's'- " c She's a beauty, Mr. Forster.' " 'Mrs. Forster a beauty ! ' cried Nicholas, looking at Hilton with astonish- ment.

"Newton and Hilton burst into a laugh. No, no,' said the latter, 'I was talking about the sloop ; but we had better proceed to business. Suppose we. have pipes, Mr. Forster. Mr. Dragwell, what do von say ? ' " ' ha, ha, ha ! ' roared the curate, who had just taken the last joke. " He, he, he ! ' " ' Why, yes,' continued the citrate, ' I think it is a most excellent proposition ; this melancholy affair requires a great deal of consideration. I never compose so well as I do with a pipe in my mouth : Mrs. Dragwell says that she knows. all my best sermons by the smell of them : d'ye take—ha, ha, ha!'

"'Ho, he, he ! ' "The pipes, with the addition of a couple of pots of porter, were soon pro- cured from the neighbouring alehouse; and while the parties are filling them, and pushing the paper of tobacco from one to the other, I shall digress, notwith- standing the contrary opinion of the other sex, in praise of this most potent and delightful weed. "I love thee, whether thou appearest in the shape of a cigar, or diest away in sweet perfume enshrined in the Mereshaum bowl ; I love thee with more than wontan's love ! Thou art a companion to me in solitude. I can talk and reason with thee, avoiding loud and obstreperous argument. Thou art a friend to me when in trouble, for thou advisest in silence, and consolest with thy calm influence over the perturbed spirit."

We shall, in our next extract, change the scene to India,—for there is scarcely a quarter of the globe not visited by our excursive novelist. We were a good deal amused (not more than by many other parts, we should say) with the history of three young ladies. shipped to India, and, without his knowledge or consent, consigned to a grand-uncle resident there, who had altogether and for good reasons discarded the branch of the family from which they came.. The scene lets us into a near view of the luxuries of an Indian.

Nabob.

" It will be necessary, before Newton is introduced to the Colonel, that the Colonel should be introduced to the reader. He was a man of nearly sixty years of age, forty-five of which, with the exception of occasional furlough, had been passed in the country. Having held several lucrative situations for many years, and, although not parsimonious, being very prudent in money concerns:he had.

amassed a very large fortune. More than once he had returned to England on leave, and with the full intention of remaining there, if he could be comfortable;

but a few mouths in his native country only made him more anxious to return to India. His habits, his tastes, were all eastern; the close hospitality, the cold winter of England, the loss of consequence, naturally resulting when a man mixes in the crowd of London, all disgusted him, imdhe invariably returned to India long before his furlough had expired. He was a bachelor from choice. When young, he had been very cruelly treated by the object of admiration, who deserted him for a few lacks of rupees, which offered themselves with an old man as their appendage. This had raised his bile against the sex in general, whom he considered as mercenary and treacherous. Allis parties were numerous and expensive; but woolen were never to be seen in his house ; and his confirmed dislike to them teas the occasion of his seldom visiting, except with those who were like himself, in estate of happy singleness. In other points., he was a liberal, worthy man, and a perfect gentleman, but extremely choleric in disposi- tion.

" Newton addressed himself to one of the butlers, requesting to be announced. The man led the Avay to a spacious hall, coated and floored with chunam, when Newton perceived the Colonel, who presented rather a singular spectacle. ' Burra Saib ; Saib,' said the Indian, and immediately retired. " The Colonel was a tall, gaunt man, with high cheek-bones, bushy eyebrows, and white hair. He was seated on a solitary chair in the centre of the hall ; his dress consisting of a pair of white nankeen trousers end a white shirt, the sleeves of the hitter tucked up to his shoulders, and exposing sinewy arms, covered with hair. By his side lay a basket of mangoes, and 'before his chair a large tub of water. As Newton entered, he had an opportunity of witnessing the most approved method of eating this exquisite fruit. The ( .eienel had, then, one as large as a cassowary's egg, held in both hands, and applisii to his mouth, while he held his head over the tub of water, to catch the superabundant juice which flowed over his face, hands., and arms, and covered them with a yellow stain. The contents of the mango were soon exhausted ; the stone and pulp were droPped into the tub of water, and the Colonel's baud was extended to the basket fin. a repetition of his luxurious feast, when Newton was announced. Newton was sorry to interrupt him, and would have maule an a p, logy, had he not observed that the Colonel, whose hack was towards him, continued his pleasing avocation : the fact Ares, that the Colonel was so intent upon his occu- pation, that he had neither heard the announcement, nor could he perceive Newton, who thus had an opportunity of witnessing the demolition of at least two dozen more mangoes without the Colonel haying turned his eyes in that direction, or being aware that he was not alone. But something: at length attracted the attention of Newton, and induced him to come halyard, and put an end to the Colonel's repast. The Colonel had just taken another mango out of the basket, when Newton perceived a small snake wind it-elf over the rim, and curl up one of the feet of the Colonel's chair, in such a position, that the very next time that the Colonel reached out his hand, he must have come in contact with the reptile. Newton lmrdly knew how to act ; the slightest movement of the old gentleman might be fatal to him ; he therefore walked up Fatly, and was about to strike the animal on the head with his stick, when the Colonel, as he leant over the tub, half rose from the chair. In au instant, New- ton snatched it front under hint, and jerked it with the snake to the corner of the hall. The Colonel, whose centre of gravity had not been thrown sufficiently forward to enable him to keep his feet, fell backward, when Newton and lie both rolled on the floor together ; and also both recovered their legs at the same time.

" excuse me, Sir,' said Newton. " I'll be d—d if I do, Sir ! ' interrupted the Colonel in a rage ; who the devil are you ? and how dare you presume to play off such impertinent jokes upon a stranger?—where did you come from, Sir ?—how did you get in, Sir ?'

" Is that a joke, Sir ? ' replied Newton, calmly pointing to the snake' which was still hissing in its wrath at the corner of the room where the chair lay. Newton then briefly explained the circumstances. " ' Sir, I beg your pardon a thousand times, and am very much your debtor. It is the most venomous snake that we have in the country. I trust you will accept my apology for a moment's irritation ; and, at the same time, my sincere thanks.' The Colonel then summoned the servants, who provided themselves with bamboos, and soon despatched the object which had occasioned the mis- understanding. The Colonel then apologised to Newton, while he repaired to the bath, and ma few minutes returned,- having undergone this necessary ablu- tion after a mango feast. His dress was chanted, anti be offered the appearance

of an upright, gentlemanlike, hard-featureeman, who had apparently gone through a great 'deal of service without his stamina having been much impaired. " I beg your pardon, my dear Sir, for detaining you. May I request the pleasure of ycur name, and the occasion of your providential visit ?' . " I have a letter for you, Sir,' replied Newton, who had been intrusted with the one which Mr. Revel had given to his daughters on their embarkation. " ' Oh ! a letter of ntroductiou. It is now quite superfluous ; you have al- ready introduced yourself.'

" No, Sir, it is not a letter of recommendation in my behalf; but to an- nounce the arrival of your three grand-nieces, daughters of the Ilouourable Mr. Revel, in the Bombay Castle, the ship to which I belong.'

" What?' roared the Colonel, ' my three grand-nieces ! daughters of Mr. Revel !'

" So I have understeod from them, Sir.' " The Colonel tore open the letter ; in which Mr. Revel very coolly informed him, that, not having received any answer to his former epistles on the subject, he presumed that they had miscarried, and had therefore been induced, in con- sequence of the difficulties which he laboured under, to send his daughters out to his kind protection. The Colonel, as soon as he had finished the perusal of the letter, tore it into pieces again and again, every renewed action showing an increase of excitement. He then threw the fragments on the floor, stumping upon them in an ecstacy of rage. " ' The d—d scoundrel !—the villain !—the rascal !—Do you know, Sir, that when I was last in England, this fellow swindled me out of a thousand pounds ?

Yes, Sir, a thousand pounds, by G—d!--protuised to pay me in three weeks ; and when I was coming back, and asked hum for any money, he laughed at me, and ordered his servant not to let me in. And now he has sent out his three daughters to me—pawned them off upon me, laughing, I suppose, in his sleeve, as he did when he cheated me before. I'll not receive them, by G—d ! they may fad their way hack again how they can ;' and the Colonel paced the room up and down, throwing his arms about in his fury."

We had wished to select several passages which were especially marked as containing the sentiments of an experienced officer on the Reforms necessary in the Navy : but we perceive, from the ex- tent to which our extracts have run, that we must close with the general recommendation of Newton Forster, as an agreeable, in- structive, and sensible narrative, with romance enough for the young, reason enough for the old.