Newfoundland Mercantile Journal, 1824-03-04, no. 515

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NEWFOUNDLAND
mmttlilt Mmvtmt
No. 515.
SAINT JOHNS, THURSDAY, MARCH 4, 18*24.
(One Guinea peu annum.)
From the London Packet, Deeember,18_.3.
PERCY MALLORY.
(Just Published)
"Nothing can be more false than the opinion entertained by some critics, lhat the
great success of one writer is injurious io
other laborers in the same department of
letters. A very slight review of our own
literary history, proves that the levers* is
the case ; and that the Commonwealth of
letter* never enjoys so high o degree of
prosperity, as when placed beneath the
sceptre of some legitimate son of Genius.
It is true that such a condition of literary
society is less favorable to the Tier* Etat
of wil, and in ihis respect, it doe* not maintain the analogy with other monarchies ;
but, if this be an evil, it is more than compensated by the encouragement which it
affoids to all the higher orders of talent.
Thus the reign of Shak*peare, however inauspicious to Lilly and the other puny
writers, who aae now only lemembered because they lived in it, brought forth and
matured the splendid talents of Massinger,
Beaumont, Fletcher, and the whole aristocracy of our native drama. Though the
glimmerings ofthe " Mob of Gentlemen
who writ with ease," waxed paler amid the
Beam* of Dryden, to the example of ** Glorious John," may be ascribed the excellencies of Pope and Young, aod perhaps of
Johnson and Goldsmith. And in our own
day, we have seen the Throne, which the
mighty minstrel of ibe North raised upon
tha low democracy of the Darwins, and
Delia Cruscas, and Hannah Mores, and
Uealys, surrounded by a Court worthy of
suc'i a Prince—Southey, Moore, and Byron ; Campbell, Wilson, Croly, Lockbart,
an.i numbers more, whose names are familiar to all ibe lovers of poetry throughout
Europe.
•Possessed of both the summits of Parnassus, Sir Waller's influence bas not been
less beneficial in the prose epic than in poetry ; and were all the Waverly Novels lost
to us by any calamity (and a great calamity
it would be), we should still owe him a
debt of gratitude for thn example which
called into execution the talent* of the authors of " The AnnaU ofthe Pari*h," and
*• Pen Owen," and  " Percy Mallory."
Of thia. last Novet we have now to speak,
and we hava unfortunately room to say but
little. On the whole " Percy Mallory" is,
we think, a much better work than •' Pen
Owen," approaching nearer than any other
to*which tbt»y have given birth, to the excellence ofthe Waverly Novels. There is
not, however, the least appearance of imitation ; on lhe contrary, the author seems
to have industriously (and most judiciously)
seized upon (he ground left unoccupied by
hi* great master.
Tbere is no attempt to take advantage of
an historical or local interest—no- dignity
borrowed from antiquity ; the story and
manners are modern: the plot is complicated and developed with equal art; there
is no combat ; there are few danger*, by
flood or field, and the principal interest
rests upon the heroine, who, indeed, in her
own person, unite* all the brilliant qualities
of Flora Mac Ivor, Rebecca, and Di Vernon. In all these circumstances, the writer
of "Percy Mallory" it will be seen, ha*
avoided the example of Sir Walter. There
are passages which, for poetical description
and deep pathos, might, we think, challenge
competition with any thing in "Waverley;"
we would particularize ibe rescue of Louisa
Be1lend*n, and ber solemn separation from
-.•Hover; the last indeed, we read wiih
an emotion, which the chill of more winters
than we care to confess, was unable to control,
The following extract will be less agreeable lo the general novel reader ; bui, a«
fares we can recollect, it carries us to
ground not lately trodden, and it present*
an amusing picture of the politeness of
the old school, tbe paradise of our grandmothers.
8ir Hugh Ferebee de Lacy was lineally
descended from an old Norman family, one!
inherited, witb the honors, oil the pride of
ancestry—but there was nothing offensive
in his mode of displaying it beyond a certain stiff formality of manner, which seems
io be inherent in th* family of the Grandi-
•ons, to whom he was allied tluough tbe
marriage of his father.
Sir Hugh, in his younger day*, had, owing lo the loss he sustained in the premature
death of both his parents, been educated,
almost entirely, under the eye of hii
roble maternal relation, Sir Charles, with
whose character tbe historical reader has
been minutely made acquainted through the
indefatigable labors and researches of the
family biographer, Mr. Richardson. It is
not to lie wondered at, therefore, that the
young Sir Hugh, thus early imbued with
the refined habits and manner, of his great
exemplar and archetype, should, in his advances toward* maturer age, have found his
predilection for them increase in proporiion
as ihe daring innovations and inroad* ol the
succeeding generations graduated through
the several orders, Mocarony, Blood, and
Buck, inlo the Mongrel breed, wliich now
pastes under the generic classification of
Dandy !
Both in his dress, and in the furniture o*"
his family mansion, the consistent uniformity of bis opinions was observable—and
whilst on his own person -still reposed in
primeval dignity the solitaire and tosette of
tbe vieilie cour; the wails retained their
hangings of Gobelion tapestry—or shone
Jike the Actors, coeval, at least, witb the
reign of Elizabeth, with black oak panels.
There was a history attached to every moveable in the bouse, and not a carpet or
chair-cover presented itself without recording an anto-biograpbical instance of notability in grandmamma Bridget, good aunt
Tabitba, or the " ever-to-be-lamented"
kins-woman Penelope, wbo died in snapping the last skein of worsted from the
Herculean labor of the twelve aposiles, as
large as life, in tbe saloon of Lacy Il.iy.il !
Every thing was magnificent, although tbe
magnificence of another era, aad it would
have appeared incongruous even to a modern eye, if the noble bost had figured
among bis ancestorial relic* in a jockey
coat, or a cropped jazey of the present
cut.
Sir Hugh had been blessed with only two
children, a son and a daughter. The latter,
Gertrude de Lacy, had been the constant
sharer of Percy's early confidence, and the
partner, whenever ibe discipline of tbe
house did not preclude it, of his boyish
pursuits. Tbe son, Grandison de Lacy,
had been the only emigrant from tbe family mansion, for Sir Hugh would on no account have departed from tho general system oflhe family to despatch the heir, after
a certain residence at the university, on a
tour through Europe, under the superintendence of a tutor, who had originally educated him beneath the pa'ernal roof, and
been chosen for his strict conformity to the
latnily    predilections—or  os   others  may
choose   to   designate   them prejudices.
This gentleman and his protege were hourly expected at Lacy Royal, when Percy,
so sorely against his will, wa* compelled io
become an inmate of it.
[Percy arrives at Lacy Royal, and having delivered his credentials, is thus addressed by the stately Baronet.}
•' Your excellent father, Mr. Percy Ry-
cott, is, 1 trust, in good health ?".
•• As good as usual, Sir Hugh."
•• Humph—and your  worthy mother ?"
" guile well, Sir Hugh."
*•" 1 am heartily  glad   to hear  it—and
good Mr. Paston )"
" A* stout as ever. Sir."
" Good—there are few gratification*
more unalloyed than the pleasure we derive
from the happiness of tbose whose merits
entitle ihem to so large a share of it. Lady Rodoiphs de Lacy will be charmed lo
see her young friend - her Lady-hip is out
upon her usual round of chariinb1** visits,
bui will bo home to dinner punctually ai
two. We are old-fashioned regular folks,
Mr. Percy Rycoit, as you knoav. —I hope
Mr. Rycoti, your worthy fother has not
given into these new-fangled fashion* and
hours, which turn night into day ?"
" Our dinner hour at home, Sir Hugh, is
j *ix."
| " I am grieved to hear it—our wiser ancestors took their substantial meal at twelve
—but times and opinions are altered, I
wish I could add for the belter.—We will
call a new subject.—Pray, Mr. Percy Ry-
cott, what was lhe name of lhe young man,
concerning whose appointment in the customs at Whitehaven you—«o much to your
credit — were interested in ?"
" Loo Bellenden — I beg pardon."
*** That surely wns not tbe same."
" No, no. Sir Hugh,—I mistook your
question ; you were speaking-—of—of my
lather."
" Indeed, Mr. Percy, I was not referring
to that worthy gentleman al tbe moment—
but perhaps you had something yourself to
ssy respecting the individual in question —
and I can easily postpoue my inquiry 1"
" No, indeed, Sir."
" I should know the name—Bellenden
I think it was."
" What do you know of it, Sir Hugh ?"
(demnnded Percy eagerly.)
" It is a name ef some note in the north
—lei me see—there wos, as far back as the
reign of Edward the Fourth, a Sir Bolso-
ver Bellenden."
*** No, no, Sir—that won't do."
" Won't do ! How am I to understand
yon, my good Mr. Percy t"
" I mean, Sir Hugh, tbat she—that is,
he—is not "
" Certainly not the name you gave me."
" I gave you. Sir?"
" For the tide-waiter's place at Whitehaven."
" Hob !—no, Sir,—assuredly not—I re-
! collect now—it was "
•** Not Bellenden, Mr. Percy."
«' No—Bob "
" Why will you destroy th* beauty of
our language, worthy Mr. Percy, by abbreviations T—Robert is much softer, and
certainly a more proper appellation for a
rational being than Bob."
* Robert Grub."
•' A very different appellation from Bellenden, Mr. Percy."
" Very different, indeed /" sighed Percy.
•• I would hive taken the liberty of reading good Mr. Rycott's letter in your presence, Mr. Percy, being quite among
friends —bul I confess lhat I seer to much
mischief and confusion arising in the world,
from the neglect of those pelitet morales, ol
which my respected and ever-to-be-lamented relative, Sir Charles, was so observant, that I am loath to break in upon the
nicest, and what some might coll even fastidious points of etiquette.'
" Oh ! pray don't mind me. Sir Hugh,'
cried Percy, panting for a release.
" I refer io things, Mr. Percy r.ycott,
not to individuals—it is from the want of
this distinction, that much of that confusion
which I deplore hss arisen. I will withdraw to my study, and in the meantime
Miss Gertrude de Lacy will hove th* honor
to entertain you. My good and gentle
Gertrude,—for yon are all goodness and
jentienesj*— the son of our wofhy neighbor
| "Mr Rycoit, will expect yon to do tbe ho-
' nor* ol tbo house, in tbe absence of your
i excellent mother."
I Sir Iin_;li took the hand of bis daughter,
and genily stooping upon it, added lo Per-
I cy—with what would mnke at least r-ix mo-
j rlern hows —" For a short interval. Mr.
Percy, your most obedient," and left the
j drawing room.
j Percy's rapid steps were Op o hick stair-
, case, which led to the well-knorvn apart-
j ment, which bad for years been <li«iin-
C"tslied as the peculiar appurtenance of Mr.
Percy Rycott. He threw himself into a
ch..ir, which, on account of it's being of too
! en*.v and lounging » construction, hail long
j been discarded fiom tbe ordinary u«e of
tbe stale sitting-room. Here be meditated
I —here ho raved to himself, because all
I other vent to his feelings was denied — he
wished (he Bsronel and bis Lady anywhere
but in his way—and wished himself any-
I where but where he Was—he threw off bis
jacket, and jerked it to the o'l.er end of tbe
room—be kicked off* his bonis so dexterously, that one lodged on the tester of the
bed, whilst tbe other dislodged n water ew.
er. and half deluged thu apartment. How
was he to get through dinner—then a long,
long afternoon, to say nothing of au endless
evening to follow 1—Why was he to be
tormented with tho sins of Sir Hugh's
grandsirc. and greamncles, who felt hungry
al two o'clo-k, instead of waiting rationally till six ? — He would not subsnit to it.
—Gertrude would not be allowed to convene with bim—on.l thus the only douceur
that reconciled him to the visit was at once
snniehed from him. Now, when he yearned to give full .cope to all the tumult of Ins
feelings on ihe mountain peak, and far
above all mortal ken or communion, to be
doomed to o domestic "Trend Mill," in
every motion of which he was perfectly
experienced, and bad found himself condemned lo hard labor, was beyond the endurance even in prospec'. He would Iea7e
the house, and incur a double penalty for
breach of order!-, and breach of etiquette—
sins equally unpardonable in the two courts
—ihe authority of whose laws he had never
yet been hardy enough to dispute.
" Master Percy," said his servant entering and stairing round the room—" the
secoud   bell   will ring in six minutes—and
al.   iho  fat   will be in the fir--if "
" 1 don't know that I shsll dine at all."
•' Not dine, Master Percy—lhal would
be a queer joke."
" Lackaday ! Sir—there's Madam —
Lady Red Duffer's silks rustling on the
siairs—and dinner's always your Honor
knows, to a minute."
Percy could not make up his mind during the few seconds left for deliberation—
but just then recollecting that his resolution
might bo taken after dinner as well as before, he hastened to his toilette in order to
gain time to digest bis plan of rebellion before he opeuly declared himself—but bis
resolution came somewhat late, for the fatal
signal tolled from the turret, and be had
hitherto only undressed himself.
" Confound these shoes, blockhead !—
there are no strings to them—give me my
gaiters."
A knock at the door.
•• Come in—who the deuce ?"
" Sir Hugh and Lady Rodolpha," said
a grey-h'-nrled  servant  in   a  full  worsted
lace live!-.- —'* wait dinner for you, Sir I"
" B>-_. them my good friend, to—
Where*-, the key of my dressing case t beg
ihem not to wait—I shall be down in an
instant."
•• I lav'nt you got the key. Master Percy?"—asked his own man—whilst the
other retired.
" Key— no—zounds ! bow should I
h*ve it!"
" I gave it your Honor—and you put
it in your jacket pockat."
*** What aro yon gaping at—feel in ilia
pocket can't you ?"
" I donl see your Honor's jacket."
" See !—why !"
" There now, your honor, 1" be hanged
if it arn't dangling out o'window—there'*
no key here."
" Break the case open."
" Sir Hugh and L-idy Rodolpha send,
their compliments. Sir," said another venerable man in the family livery, half opening
lhe door, at whicn he had tapped twice
without being beard -, «• tbey cannot think
of silting down without you."
" Conf pray—good Mr. Geoffrey—■
say I have lo.t a key," Away .talked the
selemn Ambas*ador.
•' Ii's a pattern lock, your Honor, and
it won't be picked."
" Wrench it open, boody."
" The poker's done bis business—there,
your Honor—there now—it's done  at  last
— all smash—What's that in your Honor'*
hand ?"
'* Hand !—the deuce take take it'—ti*
the k- y."
" That's a good un."
" Silence, Sirrah—what the devil is
there good in it ?—here button this
sleeve."
" There's ne'er a button, your Honor."
*** Hands off—ha ! —see who's at the
cur-.-d door again."
" It is only me, Master Percy," said
the most reverent butler in person ; " Sir
Hugh and Lady Rodolpha'* best respect*,
and cannot think of sitting down without
you—but particularly desire Mr. Percy
Hycott will not hurry himself—these aro
Sir Hugh's very words, Mr. Percy."
" Hurry myself.—I shall go mad—say
I am coming—coining immediately, good
Roland."
" I will, Sir"—and tho door closed
upon him.
" Give me mv coat, Ben."
" Here your Honor—you've got your
arm in the wrong sleeve."
" Psha !"
•' Lud—if you hav't torn tho sleeve
nearly off."
Another step was heard to ascend the
stairs.
'* Is there no other ?"
" In the portmontle below."
**" Give mo my jacket."
* What will Sir Hugh say to "
"Da "
" Fie, Master Percy."
" Silence, rascal—Coming, coming."—*
as he heard a voice again ot lhe door—ond,
with his morning jacket hall on, rushing
past the speaker before he had uttered two
sentences, darted down stairs, throwing
open Ihe door of the drawing-room, had
nearly overturned Sir Hugh and Lady Rodolpha, who hnd approached the point, in
readiness to recoive the report of their
fourth ambassador.
" I beg ten thousand pardons, Sir Hugh
 . Lady Rodolpha—but "
*' Lady Rodclpha's hand awaits you.
Mr. Percy Rycott—we will discuss your
apologies at a more convenient moment—-
Dinner bas waited near seven minutes."
Percy led forward the hostess in nil the
pomp of Mecklin lappets—point ruffles and
damask drapery, that moved without the
rumple of a fold, like a dutch toy, on
wheels. He would have made his peace
during lhe journey across a ball that traversed the whole depth of the mansion—
aod through a suite of papered and bagged
apartments which led to t'-e talm it diner
— but a very short observation of her La;
dyship's checked his first attempt.
" There were few points," she remarked, " in which good Sir Hugh was so
particular as punctuality in all engagements."
(Concluded in the latt page)i