From Poverty to Wealth. By W. T. Hickman. 3 vols.
(Chapman and Hall.)—Fluid narrative, formless style, and common-place moralising are, happily for author and reader, partly redeemed by humour and some grasp of character. The story of From Poverty t.o Wealth does not require analysis. Tho crazy patentee, the dash.
sag captain, and the cruel uncle are lay figures which have served many a novice before, and will doubtless maintain their popularity. Captain Rickman's best character is Simon Small, the curate, who only wanted a firmer grip and a less indiscriminate humour to make hint a real success. Bessie Hobnutt, a village maiden, who is chosen us wife by the middle-aged hedonist, nicknamed the Sluggard, pro- mised to develop into a deeper and stronger nature than any of her limp companions ; but the youthful promise, as too often happens, is not maintained. We cannot promise our readers much amusement in this novel, but we should certainly advise them to look out for Captain Hickman's future productions.
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