MISS COSTELLO'S GABRIELLE.

THE scene of Gabrielle or Pictures of a Reign is laid in France, during the middle age of Louis the Fourteenth, when the court

was a hotbed of polished vice, Paris a receptacle of foreign and

native rascals, and the feudal power of the seigniory in full vigour in the provinces. The historical individuals whom Miss COSTELLO

has chosen for her characters are, besides the King and Queen, De Grammont, young De Sevigne, the physician Fagon, Ninon de rEnclos, the three mistresses, De Fontanges, De Montespan,

and De Maintenon, with some lesser stars : the persons figuring in her romance are too many to be enumerated. The courtly incidents are the struggles and intrigues of the mistresses for power; the efforts of a libertine Breton noble, Lomaria, the villain of the story, to procure a wife with a fortune ; and the fetes and assemblies of Paris. The part intended for romance is a tale of bigamy. Gabrielle, the daughter of a superior innkeeper, is seen and loved by Felix Count de Mezeraye ; and, notwithstanding the gentleman is already married to a sort of shrew, he perpetrates a second marriage in an assumed character, and passes the greater part of his time with the fair Gabrielle, pleading regimental business to the Countess as the reason of his absence. Of course, scenes designed for distress arise out of the discovery of this double marriage; including Gabrielle's journey to Paris to petition the King for the Count's pardon. A gypsy chief and gang are connected with both parts of the story,—much of the materials derived from the works of Mr. BORROW ; and a variety of tales are introduced, which would atop the story were there any story to stop.

How far the court and courtiers of Louis the Fourteenth are a good subject for fiction, may be doubted. A passing glimpse of the surface, such as Mr. JAMES has shown, is well enough ; but to make the court itself, with its miserable intrigues and licentious profligacy, a theme for full exhibition, puts the novelist in a dilemma. Either the picture must be false, and so dissatisfying to the reader ; or it must be true, and morally mischievous or revolt- ing. Miss COSTELLO has not exactly overcome these difficulties; but she has contrived to give a picture which is technically true, yet neither satisfies criticism by its truth of delineation nor is likely to injure morality by its exhibition of polished profligacy. All is inanimate and artificial as regards incident, character, and discourse. Such scenes, or something like them, may have occurred ; identical or analowous sentiments may have been uttered ; and for authority we may be referred to chapter and verse from some of the me- moirs or epistles of the day : but all is hard and lifeless. The tailor, milliner, and upholsterer, may copy the furniture and cos- tumes of great men ; nay, enterprising speculators, like Madame TUSSAUD, may purchase the identical dress and get a cast of the features : but the coat, and the chair, and a waxwork face, do not constitute the man, or his " counterfeit presentment." By artful arrangement and a favouring light, a momentary delusion may be achieved, but it passes with the first surprise. Miss CosTELLo, however, does not often reach this. From some deficiency in des- cription, or, as we suspect, from the subjects being badly introduced, and the mind rendered distasteful from the want of art in the display, the contemporary sketches have little attraction.

But if the historical fiction is bad, the romantic fiction is worse. Without general probability, and, in our opinion, morally impossible according to the customs and feelings of the age and country, no interest is felt either in the progress of the story or in the for- tunes of the persons. The book is deficient even in the excite- ment of melodramatic situation ; the most terrible incidents rather provoke a smile than a tear. The only exception to these sweeping censures is the conversation of De Grammont and the other courtiers: but they are rather distinguished by levity than airiness, and their profligacy is too obtruded. We cannot say that Gabrielle or Pictures of a Reign is the worst novel we have ever encountered; for Miss CosTELLo has a graceful literature, some acquaintance with the history of the times, and a familiarity with the country in which she lays her scenes: but it is as complete a mistake as we ever saw. In the description of landscape, costume, and manners, and in embodying the tradi- tions of a country, Miss COSTELLO is a pleasing and agreeable though rather flimsy writer. A short tale is within her power, but the novel is altogether beyond her. The subject-matter of the fable, the mode of constructing it, incidents, characters, and senti- ments, are all crude, unnatural, or out of place. It is not a ques- tion of faults ; Gabrielle is a failure. Incidental parts that are good in themselves lose their attraction by their position.

This applies to the tales which are introduced in different parts of the novel, and are so extensive as to occupy a large portion of the hook, as well as to many of the poems interspersed throughout, which presented by themselves might be pleasing though not ex- actly adapted to the persons whose sentiments they are supposed to express. The following verses, from one of the lesser tales, though spirited and graceful, are about as little characteristic of the mari- ners of COLUMBUS, as Mrs. HEMANS'S songs of different armies smacked of the old soldier.

THE FIRST DISCOVERY OF COLUMBUS.

" The howling winds forbid ue To trust the fatal main : Oh, turn our labouring vessel To harbour once again ! Why to this' bold Italian' Our lives, our hopes confide ? No golden land awaits us. Beyond the shorelesa How long shall he deceive us With boasting vain and loud, And when we gaze for land He can show us but a cloud!" The gallant leader heard, But he listened undismayed, Though he saw their furious glances And their daggers half displayed : No fear was in his soul ; But his heart was wrung with wo ; Shall he quail before their murmurs, And his glorious meed forgo ?

Had he braved the ocean's terrors In tempest and in night, And shall he furl his sails With the promised goal in sight ? For he look'd towards the horizon, And mark'd the setting sun, And by its crimson light He knew a world was won !

'Twos in the deepest midnight As they cut the yielding wave, When not a star was shining To guide them, or to save,— As in awful sullen silence Their onward course they steer, Far in the murky distance Lo, glimmering lights appear ! With long wild cries of wonder They watch the opening sky, As with the morning rises Their rapturous certainty : Through the silvery vapour gleaming Extends the welcome strand, And trees and rocks and mountains Before their view expand : They breast the foaming surges, And, shouting, leap to shore, While every echo answers, " God I and Saint Salvador !"

The following scene is the most effective in the book ; though it is rather a scene " to be let," as it contributes nothing to forward the story. Gabrielle's journey to Paris to petition for Count Mezeraye's pardon comes to the ears of the clique of courtiers, and they determine to amuse themselves at her expense—De Gram- mont personating the King.

A SCENE AT NINON'S.

The hour arrived, and the aunt and niece were punctual. A thousand hopes and fears agitated the mind of the latter, as she thought of the probable con- sequences of her interview with the King ; and as the carriage stopped at the door of the hotel, and De Sevignd handed her from it, it was with difficulty she was able to support herself. The beautiful Ninon received her with that grace and courtesy for which she was celebrated ; and a feeling of remorse sprang up instantly in her mind when she beheld her emotion ' • but the fondness for excitement checked it, and she made the speech that had been agreed on, promising that when the King arrived she should be summoned.

She and her aunt were then left in a room alone, and in a short time they judged by the bustle in the house that the moment so much desired was come.

They were not kept long in suspense; for the Marquis de Sevignd presently entering, informed Gabrielle that she might follow him. With trembling steps she accepted his hand; and, after passing through a long corridor and several rooms, along which a great many persona elegantly dressed were sta- tioned, the folding doors of a large saloon were thrown open, and she beheld a cavalier, whom she imagined to be the King, surrounded by gentlemen, con- versing with Mademoiselle Ninon with an air of affability which was calculated to give her courage. De Grammont, for he it was who personated the Monarch to the life, turned round ember entrance, and, looking at her with intentadmiration,could scarcely suppress an exclamation ; while Lomaria, who stood by, at once recognized the fair creature he had seen at Seignelay. Gabrielle, pale and trembling, threw herself at his feet, and awaited his pleasure.

" Speak," raid he in a soft voice, " and be not alarmed. Louis is not a tyrant, that the sight of him should terrify his fair subjects. Tell me the cause of your distress, and we will see if it be possible to assist you."

"Your Majesty can with one word put an end to the fears and danger of three persons," said Gabrielle : "what I now venture to entreat is a safe con- duct for one whose wife lies under a false imputation. If he could appear, it would be sufficient to release her from suspicion ; but he has, alas ! committed a crime which places his life in peril, and without your Majesty's word of grace he dare not venture before the judges of his Is ife., '

"And his name, fair suppliant, is ?—" De Grammont was continuing, and had bent down his head towards the weeping girl, when the doors were flung open with violence, and the physician Fagon advanced with a rapid step into the centre of the room.

" Hold, gentlemen ! " cried be, in an angry voice : " though you may be at liberty to play what fool's games you please when it concerns only yourselves, you have no right to deceive and mock the feelings of a lady, whose misfortunes are entitled to compassion from all who have a right to the name of man. To those dishonourable buffoons who think it a pleasant jest to wound the heart of innocence, I announce that this injured lady is under my protection, and is no fitting subject for this disgraceful deception. Rise, madam, I entreat," he added, addressing Gabrielle : " This is no place for you—you have been imposed upon by worthless persons, who think their nobility will shield them from con- tempt. Let me lead you back to your aunt, and to your home; and despair not that the King will yet hear your prayer and listen to your sorrows." So sudden was this interruption, and so vehement the indignant manner of Fagon, that at first none of all the group had uttered a single word. They looked at each other with shame and annoyance : at length De Grammont spoke.

"Doctor," said he, "you forget in whose presence you are: if it was indeed in the King's, your insolence might pass unnoticed, for he gives too much licence to his menials; but we endure ut, such conduct, and you had better gait the house this instant, while you have escaped the chastisement you merit. Lomaria, turn the Doctor out of the presence-chamber : the lady is under our protection."

Lomaria, with an insolent air, advanced to the Doctor, and lay ing his band oft his cloak, was about to obey the sovereign command: but Fagon laid his hand on his sword.

"Marquis de Gwerrand," be said, "you are not in Brittany, nor are your oppressed vassals before you. This is not the titre neuve." Lomaria recoiled, and the paleness of death spread over his countenance ; while Fsgon took the hand of the bewildered Gabrielle, and led her from the saloon.

As he passed Ninon, he addressed her.

" Madam," he said, "none know better than I, that in spite of your levity you have feelings which should have prevented you from permitting this scene."

" Come, Fagon," said De Sevignd, " you insult not Mademoiselle de L'Enclos dare to utter another word, and your descent into the street will be more rapid than you anticipated when you ventured to disturb our amusement." " Silence, De Sevignd," cried Ninon rising " I have acted in a base and cruel manner in countenancing this outrage : let no one who values my friendship now and foi ever oppose Monsieur Fagon, or detain the young lady ; whose pardon I most earnestly entreat for the part I have taken in this affair. Al- though I am ignorant of her history, I am convinced ebe deserves better than even to be seen entering my house. Go, Doctor, and take with you my admi- ration for your zeal, and thanks for your plain speaking." No rejoinder was made to this remark ; and Gabrielle was carried rather than led to the carriage of her protector, where Madame Collard already sat ; and they arrived at her house in a few minutes.