Critical Notices [pp. 112-128]

SOUTHERN LITERARY MESSENGER.
merely substituting things for words. There are many
of our readers who will recognize in this imaginary
interview between Mr. Yeadon and Mr. Simms, at
least a fiamily likeness to the written Dedication of the
latter. This Dedication is, nevertheless, quite as good
as one half the antique and lackadaisical courtesies
with which we daily see the initial leaves of our best
publications disfigured.
"The Partisan," as we are informed by Mr. Simms
in his Advertisement, (Preface?) was originally contemplated as one novel of a series to be devoted to our
war of Independence. "With this object," says the
author, "I laid the foundation more broadly and deeply
than I should have done, had I purposed merely the
single work. Several of the persons employed were
destined to be the property of the series-that part of
it at least which belonged to the locality. Three of these
works were to have been devoted to South Carolina,
and to comprise three distinct periods of the war of the
Revolution in that State. One, and the first of these,
is the story now submitted to the reader. I know not
that I shall complete, or even continue the series."
Upon the whole we think that he had better not.
There is very little plot or connexion in the book
before us; and Mr. Simms has evidently aimed at
neither. Indeed we hardly know what to think of the
work at all. Perhaps, with some hesitation, we may
call it an historical novel. The narrative begins in
South Carolina, during the summer of 1780, and comprises the leading events of the Revolution from the fall
of Charleston, to the close of that year. WVe have the
author's own words for it that his object has been
principally to give a fair picture of the province-its
condition, resources, and prospects-during the struggle
between Gates and Cornwallis, and the period immediately subsequent to the close of the campaign in the
defeat of the Southern defending army. Mr. S. assures
us that the histories of the time have been continually
before him in the prosecution of this object, and that,
where written records were found wanting, their places
have been supplied by local chronicles and tradition.
Whether the idea ever entered the mind of Mr. Simms
that his very laudable design, as here detailed, might
have been better carried into effect by a work of a
character purely historical, we, of course, have no oppor tunity of decidihg. To ourselves, every succeeding
page of "The Partisan" rendered the supposition more
plausible. The interweaving fact with fiction is at all
times hazardous, and presupposes on the part of general
readers that degree of intimate acquaintance with fact
which should never be presupposed. In the present
instance, the author has failed, so we think, in confining
either his truth or his fable within its legitimate, indi vidual domain. Nor do we at all wonder at his failure
in performing what no novelist whatever has hitherto
performed.
Some pains have been taken in the preface of "The
Partisan," to bespeak the reader's favorable decision in
regard to certain historical facts-or rather in regard to
the coloring given them by Mr. Simms. WVe refer
particularly to the conduct of General Gates in South
Carolina. We would, generally, prefer reading an au thor's book, to reading his criticism upon it. But letting
this matter pass, we do not think Mr. S. has erred in
attributing gross negligence, headstrong obstinacy, and
overweening self-conceit to the conqueror at Saratoga.
These charges are sustained by the best authoritiesby Lee, by Johnson, by Otho Williams, and by all the
histories of the day. No apology is needed for stating
the truth. In regard to the "propriety of insisting upon
the faults and foibles of a man conspicuous in our history," Mr. Simms should give himself little uneasiness.
It is precisely because the man is conspicuous in our
history, that we should have no hesitation in condemning his errors.
With the events which are a portion of our chronicles, the novelist has interwoven such fictitious incidents
and characters as might enable him to bind up his book
iii two volumes duodecimno, and call it "The Partisan."
The Partisan himself, and the hero of the novel, is a
Major Robert Singleton. His first introduction to the
reader is as follows. "It was on a pleasant afternoon
in June, that a tall, well-made youth, probably twentyfour or five years of age, rode up to the door of the
"George," (in the village of Dorchester,) and throwing
his bridle to a servant, entered the hotel. His person
had been observed, and his appearance duly remarked
upon, by several persons already assembled in the hall
which he now approached. The new comer, indeed,
was not one to pass unnoticed. His person was symmetry itself, and the ease with which he managed his
steed, and the" but we spare our readers any
farther details in relation to either the tall, wvell-made
youth, or his steed, which latter they may take for
granted was quite as tall, and equally well made. We
cut the passage short with the less hesitation, inasmuch
as a perfect fac-simile of it may be found near the commencement of every fashionable novel since the flood.
Singleton is a partisan in the service of Marion, whose
disposition, habits, and character are well painted, and
vell preserved, throughout the Tale. A Mr. Walton
is the uncle of Singleton, and has been induced, after
the surrender of Charleston (spelt Charlestown) to
accept of a British protection, the price of which is
neutrality. This course he has been led to adopt,
principally on account of his daughter Katharine,
who would lose her all in the confiscation of her
fiither's property-a confiscation to be avoided by no
other means than those of the protection. Singleton's
sister resides with Col. Walton's family, at "The
Oakls," near Dorchester, where the British Col. Proctor
is in command. At the instigation of Singleton, who
has an eye to the daughter of Col. Walton, that gentleman is induced to tear up the disgraceful protection,
and levy a troop, with which he finally reaches the
army of Gates. Most of the book is occupied with the
ambuscades, bush fighting, and swamp adventures of
partisan warfare in South Carolina. These passages
are all highly interesting-but as they have little connexion with one another, we mustdismiss them en masse.
The history of the march of Gates' army, his foolhardiness, and consequent humiliating discomfiture by
Cornwallis, are as well told as any details of a like
nature can be told, in language exceedingly confused,
ill-arranged, and ungrammatical. This defeat hastens
the denoteemeal, or rather the leading incident, of the
novel. Col. Walton is made prisoner, and condemned
to be hung, as a rebel taken in arms. He is sent to
Dorchester for the fulfilment of the sentence. Singleton,
urged by his own affection, as well as by the passionate
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