daughter, indeed, is married to Sir R. Percy; but Georgiana, notwithstanding all the mother's manœuvres, is still a spinsterCunningham Falconer is disgraced-Buckhurst, the dean, rendered miserable by a mercenary marriage-John, the colonel, dishonoured in his profession-and, last of all, upon the decline of Lord Oldborough's popularity and power, Mrs. Falconer, who had been unluckily tempted to forge letters in his name, and commissions with his signature, is discovered and ignominiously exposed. The commissioner goes to Alfred Percy to consult him. about the sale of his estate; and this leads to the denouement. In the box of his papers the long lost deed is discovered!——Another trial takes place, and the Percys are restored! The novel ends with Lord Oldborough's unexpected discovery of a son in Mr. Henry, a person of little importance to the story in any other respect.

These are the outlines of the story; and out of these materials, neither very original, perhaps, nor very artificially connected, Miss Edgeworth has contrived to produce so many well imagined scenes, so many striking contrasts, and a moral so constantly good, and so pointed in its application, that Patronage, if not amongst the best of her productions, is, at least, not unworthy of her name and genius. Of the characters we shall now say a few words. The keeping in the whole family of Percy is perfectCaroline and Rosamond, though merely sketches, are beautifully diversified. The keen but repressed feeling and subdued tenderness of the former are well contrasted by the quick and energetic qualities of the latter; and Rosamond's unenvious admiration of, and entire devotion to, her sister, forms a most pleasing and affecting picture.

Erasmus Percy, the physician, having saved the leg of a poor Irishman, in spite of the prognostics of a fashionable doctor, loses his election as physician to a hospital, by the interest of the said doctor. We cannot resist giving the following scene, in which Miss Edgeworth's inimitable talent for portraying her poor countrymen is displayed.

"O'Brien, we hope the reader recollects, was the poor Irishmau, whose leg the surgeon had condemned to be cut off, but which was saved by Erasmus. A considerable time afterwards, one morning, when Erasmus was just getting up, he heard a loud knock at his door, and in one and the same instant, pushing past his servant into his bedchamber, and to the foot of his bed, rushed O'Brien, breathless, and with a face perspiring joy- I axe your honour's pardon, master, but it's what you are wanting down street in all haste-Here's an elegant case for ye, doctor dear!-That painter-jantleman down in the square there beyond that is not expected.' 'Not expected!'-said Erasmus. Ay, not expected; so put on ye with the speed of light-Where's his waistcoat?' continued he, turning to Dr. Percy's astonished ser

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vant and coat ?-the top coat-and the wig-has he one?-Well ! boots or shoes give him any way.' But I don't clearly understand.... Pray did this gentleman send for me?'-said Dr. Percy. 'Send for your honour! Troth, he never thought of it-No nor couldn't-how could he? and he in the way he was and is-But God bless ye! and never mind shaving, or another might get it afore we'd be back. Though there was none in it but myself when I left it— but still keep on buttoning for the life.' Erasmus dressed as quickly as he could, not understanding, however, above one word in ten that had been said to him. His servant, who did not comprehend even one word, endeavoured in vain to obtain an explanation; but O'Brien, paying no regard to his solemn face of curiosity, put him aside with his hand, and continuing to address Dr. Percy, followed him about the room. 'Master! you mind my mintioning to you last time I seen your honour, that my leg was weak by times, no fault though to the doctor that cured it, so I could not be after carrying the weighty loads I used up and down the ladders at every call, so I quit sarving the masons, and sought for lighter work, and found an employ that shuted me with a jantleman-painter, grinding of his colours, and that was what I was at this morning, so I was, and standing as close to him as I am this minute to your honour, thinking of nothing at all just now, please your honour, forenent him-asy grinding, whin he took some sort or kind of a fit. A fit! Why did you not tell me that sooner ? Sure I tould you he was not expicted-that is, if you don't know in England, not expicted to live-and-sure I tould your honour so from the first,' said O'Brien. But, then the jantleman was as well as I am this minute, that minute afore-and the nixt fell his length on the floor entirely. Well! I set him up again, and for want of better filled out a thimble-full say, of the spirits of wine, as they call it, which he got by good luck for the varnish, and made him take it down, and he come to, and I axed him how was he after it? Better, says he-That's well, says I; and who will I send for to ye, Sir? says I-But afore he could make answer, I bethought me of your own honour, and for fear he would say another, I never troubled him, putting the question to him again, but just set the spirits nigh-hand him, and away with me here; I come off without letting on a word to nobody, good or bad, in dread your honour would miss the job.' do you think my master wants a job?'-O! Lord love ye, and 'Job!' said Dr. Percy's servantjust give his hat. Would you have us be standing on ceremony now in a case of life and death?' of the Irishman's way of thinking. He followed as fast as he could to Dr. Percy was, as far as he understood it, the painter's found that he had a slight paralytic stroke ;-from which he recovered. We need not detail the particulars. Nature and Dr. Percy brought him through. He was satisfied with his physician; for Erasmus would not take any fee, because he went unsent for by the patient. The painter, after his recovery, was one day complimenting Dr. Percy on the inestimable service he had done the arts in restoring him to his pencil, in proof of which the artist showed many masterpieces, that wanted only the finishing touch; in particular, a huge longlimbed, fantastic, allegorical piece of his own design, which he assured Dr. Percy was the finest example of the beau idéal ancient or modern,

that human genius had ever produced upon canvass.

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And what do

you think, doctor,' said the painter, tell me what you can think of a connoisseur, a patron, Sir, who could stop my hand, and force me from that immortal work to a portrait, a portrait !-Barbarian! he fit to encourage genius!-he set up to be a Mecænas! mere vanity!-gives pensions to four signpost daubers not fit to grind my colours! knows no more of the art than that fellow,' pointing to the Irishman, who was at that instant grinding the colours-asy, as he described himself and lets me languish here in obscurity! continued the enraged painternow I'll never put another stroke to his Dutch beauty's portrait if I starve-if I rot for it in a gaol--he a Mecænas!' The changes upon this abuse were rung repeatedly by this irritated genius, his voice and palsied hand trembling with rage while he spoke, till he was interrupted by a carriage stopping at the door. Here's the patron!'--cried the Irishman, with an arch look Ay, it's the patron, sure enough!' Dr. Percy was going away, but O'Brien got between him and the door, menacing his coat with his pallet-knife, covered with oil-Erasmus stopped. I axe your pardon, but don't go,' whispered he, I wouldn't for the best coat nor waistcoat ever I seen you went this minute, dear!'- Mr. Gresham was announced---a gentleman of a most respectable, benevolent, prepossessing appearance, whom Erasmus had some recollection of having seen before. Mr. Gresham recognised him instantly. Mr. Gresham was the merchant whom Erasmus had met at Sir Amyas Courtney's the morning when he went to solicit Sir Amy as's vote at the hospital election. After having spoken a few words to the painter about the portrait, Mr. Gresham turned to Doctor Percy, and said, 'I am afraid, Sir, that you lost your election at the hospital by your sincerity about a shell.' Before Erasmus could answer-in less time than he could have thought it possible to take off a stocking, a great bare leg-O'Brien's leg, came between Mr. Gresham and Dr. Percy. There's what lost him the election! saving that leg lost him the election-so it did, God forever bless him! and reward him for it!' Then with eloquence, emphasis, and action which came from the heart, and went to the heart, the poor fellow told how his leg had been saved, and spoke of what Dr. Percy had done for him, in terms which Erasmus would have been ashamed to hear, but that he really was so much affected with O'Brien's gratitude, and thought it did so much honour to human nature, that he could not stop him. Mr. Greshan was touched also; and upon observing this, Erasmus's friend, with his odd mixture of comedy and pathos, ended with this exhortation. And God bless you, Sir, you're a great man, and have many to my knowledge under a compliment to you; and if you've any friends that are lying, or sick, if you'd recommend them to send for him in preference to any other of the doctors, it would be a charity to themselves and to me-for I will never have peace else thinking how I have been a hinderance to him-And a charity it would be to themselves, for what does the sick want but to be cured? and there's the man will do that for them, as two witnesses here present can prove-that jantleman, if he would spake, and myself." II. 20-28.

The Falconers are evidently the strong features in the work, and afford the most glaring illustration of the mischief of relying on patronage. We have not space to describe the commissionerone of those "not bad men, but who have an exclusive sympathy with the prosperous." His talents, and those of his son John, are thus contrasted, in a scene which ensued upon his patron's order that the said John should be married outright.

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"The commissioner set to work in earnest about the match he had in view for John. Not one, but several fair visions flitted before the eye of his politic mind. The Misses Chatterton, any one of whom would, he knew, come readily within the terms prescribed-but then, they had neither fortune nor connexions. A relation of Lady Jane Granville's excellent connexion, and reasonable fortune-but there all the decorum of regular approaches and time would be necessary. Luckily a certain Miss Petcalf was just returned from India, with a large fortune. The general, her father, was anxious to introduce his daughter to the fashionable world, and to marry her for connexiónfortune no object to him-delicacies he would waive. The commissioner saw-counted-and decided--(There was a brother Petcalf, too, who might do for Georgiana-but for that no hurry)-John was asked by his father if he would like to be a major in a year, and a lieutenant-colonel in two years? To be sure he would-was he a fool?' Then he must be married in a fortnight.' John did not see how this conclusion followed immediately from the premises, for John was not quite a fool; so he answered- -Indeed!- an indeed! so unlike Lord Oldborough's, that the commissioner, struck with the contrast, could scarcely maintain the gravity the occasion required: and he could only pronounce the words, General Petcalf has a daughter.' Ay, Miss Petcalf-Ay, he is a general-true-now I see it all--Well, I'm their man-I have no objection--but Miss Petcalf!.... Is not that the Indian girl?.... Is not there a drop of black blood?.... No, no, father.' cried John, drawing himself up-- I'll be d-d.... Hear me first, my own John,' cried his father, much and justly alarmed-for this motion was the precursor of an obstinate fit, which, if John took, perish father, mother, and the whole human race, he could not be moved from the settled purpose of his soul. Hear me, my beloved John-for you are a man of sense,' said his unblushing father do you think I'd have a drop of black blood for my daughter-in-law, much less let my favourite son.... But there's none-it is climate-all climate--as you may see by only looking at Mrs. Governor Carneguy, how she figures everywhere, and Miss Petcalf is nothing near so dark as Mrs. Carneguy, surely.' Surely'--said John. And her father, the general, gives her an Indian fortune to suit an Indian complexion.' That's good, at any rate, quoth John. Yes, my dear major-yes, my lieutenant-colonel, to be sure that's good. So, to secure the good the gods provide us,

go you this minute, dress and away to your fair Indian.... I'll undertake the business with the general." "But a fortnight, my dear father," said John, looking in the glass how can that be?" "Look again, and tell me how it can not be?-Pray don't put that difficulty into Miss Petcalf's head-into her heart I am sure it would never come." John yielded his shoulder to the push his father gave him towards the door; but suddenly turning back-" Zounds, father, a fortnight," he exclaimed, "why, there won't be time to buy even boots!" "And what are even boots," replied his father, "to such a man as you? Go, go, man; your legs are better than all the boots in the world."

I. 271-274.

The following matrimonial conference upon the means of settling a daughter is, we think, admirable.

"Mrs. Falconer, there's one thing I won't allow-I won't allow Georgiana and you to make a fool of young Petcalf." "By no means, my love, but if he makes a fool of himself, you know." "Mrs. Falconer, you recollect the transaction about the draught." "For Zara's dress?" "Yes, Ma'am-The condition you made then in my name with Georgiana, I hold her to; and I expect that she be prepared to be Mrs. Petcalf within the year." "I told her so, my dear, and she acquiesces she submits she is ready to obey-if nothing better offersIf-Ay, there it is!-All the time I know you are looking to the Clays, and if they fail, somebody else will start up whom you will think a better match than Petcalf, and all these people are to be feted, and so you will go on wasting my money and your own time. Petcalf will run restiff at last; you will lose him, and I shall have Georgiana left upon my hands after all." "No danger, my dear. My principle is the most satisfactory and secure imaginable. To have a number of tickets in the wheel-then, if one comes up a blank, still you have a chance of a prize in the next. Only have patience, Mr. Falconer." "Patience, my dear, how can a man have patience, when he has seen the same thing going on for years? And I have said the same thing to you over and over-a hundred times, Mrs. Falconer." "A hundred times at least, I grant, and that perhaps is enough to try my patience you'll allow, and yet you see how reasonable I am. I have only to repeat what is incontrovertible, that when a girl has been brought up, and has lived in a certain line, you must push her in that line, for she will not do in any other. You must be sensible, that no mere country gentleman would ever think of Georgiana-We must push her in the line for which she is fit-the fashionable line.""Push! Bless my soul, Ma'am! you have been pushing one or other of those girls ever since they were in their teens, but your pushing signifies nothing. The men, don't you see, back as fast as the women advance." "Coarse-Too coarse! too commonplace an observation for you, commissioner," said Mrs. Falconer, with admirable tem per; "but when men are angry, they will say more than they VOL. IV. New Series.

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