Critical Notices [pp. 242-280]

1852.3 Critical Notices. 257
which are`isually sold at the doors of tile opera house. We owe
to the 1~ublishers a variety of pieces, recent publications, the examination of which confirms fully our previous judgment. The operas
just received are equally superior and various, including oratorios
the Creation, by llaydn; the Messiah and Samson, by handel;
Fideljo, (opera,) by Beethoven; La Sonnambula, by Bellini; Fra
Diavola, by Scribe-music by Auber; 11 Prodigo, by the same;
Era an, by Guiseppe Verdi; L~icia di Lammermoor, by Donizetti;
Gustave, by Auber; and Otello, by Rossini. Each of these pieces,
where the original is in a foreign language, is accompanied by a
close and good English translation, leaving the opera-goer at no loss
for tile idea conveyed, when the talent of the singer or actor fails
to supply it. We commend these librettos of D~vidson, as incomparably superior to anything of the kind published in the countryindeed, as the onig publications of the kind worthy of the name.
They are to be had of John llusseil, in this city.
~~rcus Warland. (A. llart.) Quite an interesting story of the
South, by Mrs. Caroline Lee IIentz, a lady who is usually very successful in the domestic legend. ller subject is the progress, froni
boyhood to manhood, of a brave aad generous youth, through a
thousand vicissitudes, all of which his nure integrity and serene
wisdom overcomes, to the attainment, finally, of high professional
and social eminence. The story is full of life and interest; but it
has several serious defects. The chapter of accidents is quite too
frequently invoked for the supply of incidents. There are two or
three conflagrations-burnings of houses, of steamers and of persons. The recurrence of this sort of catastrophe lessens its probability, and thus impairs the interest. The author makes her friends or
lovers too credulous, when they listen to the slanderer, at the expense of those whom they love, without investigation, even without
suffering a hearing to the slandered party. This is unnatural. Neither love nor friendship, when earnest and deep, ever acts in this
manner. These are some of the objections to this otherwise pleasing story. There is another, of a different sort. Mrs. llentz does
not provide the argument in regard to slavery. Slavery is not to
be apologized for; to be sustained it is to be justified. If slavery
is an evil to the South, and a wrong to the negro, it cannot be
maintained for a day. No Soufl~ron, who knows anything of the
subject, argues in this manner. Our plea in justification is right,
good morals, propriety; the g~od of the slave himself; the decree of
heaven; and any argument falling short of this, is false and treache-rous. The negro is one of the races of earth decreed to a condition
of changdess minority. We are his guardians, as his superiors.
We compel him to his tasks and duties, and if we perform our
NEW SERIES, VOL. VI.-N0. 11. 17