On Foreign Soil. By the Author of "Amigo's Little Girl."
3 vols. (F. V. White and Co.)—Why this story should have this title, it is not easy to say, as the scene, during the greater part of it, is laid in England. However, there is abundance of German and French scattered about the pages, and once, but not very happily, in "facilis decensus Averni," the author ventures into Latin. The story is of the feeblest kind. The hero begins with strong High-Church proclivities, so that his uncle, a Monsignor, has hopes of making a convert of him. Ile reads Schopenhauer, and gives up all belief whatsoever. The result of this is that the young lady to whom he is engaged gives him up. Then an admirable clergyman, whom we should call a Broad Churchman, if he did not disclaim the title, re- stores to him his faith, and ultimately his love. Meanwhile, he loses his property, an unknown heir suddenly appearing. This episode in his career, however, seems to the author hardly worth relating ; and she dismisses it in a few pages, holding out the hope that as the new possessor is in bad health and childless, he will soon recover the estate. We really can say nothing in praise of On Foreign Soil, except that the author has an excellent purpose, and has apparently read and thought about topics of serious interest. Literary skill, or any power of telling a story or drawing character, we cannot discover.—The Signora. By Captain E. Lyon. 3 vols. (Remington and Co.)—Captain Lyon has possibly a clear idea of the story of his novel; few of his readers, we venture to affirm, will be able to say as much of themselves, when they have got through these volumes. The first four chapters describe events in England, events of the most confusing kind. Chapter the fifth takes us to Genoa. Then we are carried back to England. And so we have change after change. After a very considerable experience, we can
safely say that this is the most puzzling story that we have ever come across. Unfortunately, it has no such charm of style or full- ness of matter as would make a reader spend much time over dis- entangling the confusion. Above all things, the author must learn to tell his story plainly.
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