Gerald Fitzgerald, a novel in five volumes, by ANNE of
SWANSEA, is a production of the old school of romance-writing. It is so long, and contains such a multitude of characters and adventures, that a young lady might bury herself in it, and forget the world and all its petty difficulties, for the space of one calendar month. The old novel goes through a regular succession of parts, and indeed answers more than any other modern composi- tion to ARISTOTLE'S ideas of the epic. We should like to have seen a criticism on novels, by ARISTOTLE. That description of omposition which is now held lightly, would then have been sanctified ; and all the little tricks and manoeuvres of the lady no- velists, instead of being laughed at by grave men, would have been long and learnedly commented upon. ANNE of SWANSEA 1S Ultima Romanarum : she is the very mode], the last relic, and the most flourishing professor of the ancient school. Gerald Fitz- gerald is full of incident ; and all simple-minded and ingenuous persons will delight in the narrative of the strange and interesting events which it so painfully and amply develops. Hail to thee, venerable ANNE of SWANSEA I priestess of the Delphic mysteries of the West, we bow to thy shrine, and think with a chastened joy of the time when thy volumes seemed as sacred and as profound as the oracles of Fate. Mayst thou long enjoy thy 201: a year, sole memorial of that other priestess—she of the Tragic Muse—whom the gods have lately called hence. The SIDDONS was not greater with the bowl and dagger than ANNE of SWANSEA with her haunted tower or a mysterious murder.
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