TALES OP THE BRAGANZA; WITH SCENES • AND SKETCHES.
THIS volume takes its first title from the " Braganza " steamer, in which Mr. USBORNE made a trip to Spain, probably on the occasion of his visiting the countries which he described in his Guide to the Levant, frc. This part of his book contains a brief and rather com- monplace account of the voyage ; which is also made to do duty as a kind of framework for the Tales of the Brcrganza, eight or nine passengers telling a story each in turn. The Scenes and Sketches of the second title describe two or three adventures in Lisbon and Spain, and are wound up by a story of mingled allegory and magic in Egypt. • Except the silly and word-jingling preface, with some too trivial incidents made too much of in the account of the steam-voyage, the book is readable and pleasant enough. There is no substantial difference between it and the numerous tales which crowd the shelves of circulating libraries; but the character of the writer has given something of liveliness and variety to its manner. Mr. UsBoase has more about him than a mere litterateur. With the tone of good society, (excepting some very improper personal allu- sions, prompted by his political prejudices,) he has a pretty exten- sive acquaintance with life, and has much of the adaptability and scavoir vivre of an experienced traveller; the spirit of which qualities he infuses into his book. He describes a scene or incident with force, and he has also some invention; so that he can give a sort of reality even to fictitious descriptions. But he wants the art of a novelist. Some of his tales are lame and impotent in their conclusion, or too slight in their basis to sustain the superstructure. " Martellier, a Legend of the Grave," is the most elaborate story ; and it is both fluently and powerfully written, with some nicety of discrimination in the characters, and in the more human parts ; but the diablerie and the horrors are exaggerated till they cease to be horrible—we look at them with mere curiosity. If Mr. USBORNE intends to cultivate fiction, he must select subjects of more pro- bability, weight, and interest, as well as study compactness in the connexion and consistency in the conduct of his story. Whether in fiction or travels, if he consult his reputation as an author, he will not throw off any thing which comes uppermost in his mind, and publish it because he has written it, or from an itch of printing.
As far as mere writing is concerned, the Tales exhibit the more striking composition, but the sketches more quiet and natural pictures of reality. We will take from the latter the description of a bull-fight—a thing often described, but containing in Mr. Usacianz's narrative touches of added horror followed by burlesque.
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