NEW NOVELS. * DIRER distinct sections characterize _Rita, an Autobiography, though

each is connected with the other as regards the plot. First there is the family life of a fashionable roué of George Prince Re- gent's time, who has retired from his English creditors to Paris, where he is living pretty much as he can. When " Rita," (abridged from Marguerite,) is sufficiently old to be brought out, her gay, gen- tlemanlike, unprincipled father determines to marry her to any rich old man who will lend him money, and introduces her into a Parisian society whose members are not of the most moral charac- ter, chaperoned by an English lady, whose home reputation is not of the highest. The third part carries on the romantic story, con- taining the troubles and difficulties of lady and lovers. The domestic economy of Colonel Percival's Parisian establish- ment, and its influence on the happiness of his wife and the edu- cation of his children, is the best of the three sections. The kind of society into which Marguerite is introduced is not of a very at- tractive kind ; but bad as it may be, it is made to appear worse, for the follies, vices, or criminal objetts of several persons who figure in it, and whose worst traits being secret, might allow of their admission anywhere. Strictly analyzed it is not the mass, but a few ingredients, that make it bad to the reader's own per- ception; though it may be urged that such society as is indicated would scarcely admit of very full description, and that the glimpses of the writer go quite far enough. The romance, though • Rita. An Autobiography. In two volumes. Published by Bentley. Yy Escape from the lialsaeers in Oudh. By a wounded Officer. In two Mums. Published by Bentley. interesting and powerfully written, and as probable as the mass OF romances are, scarcely bears thinking over. A woman trained as Rita has been, surrounded from her cradle by such evil in-

fluences, and introduced into such society, could scarcely turn out a paragon of self-determination, wisdom, lofty qualities, and at.

tractiveness, such as she is described. As men are and the world goes, it may be doubted whether Rita, or anybody else in her circumstances, would inspire not only loose but excellent men with such deep and enduring passion, or, which is strangerv, make such an impression on Englishwomen, not only partiou 1a but almost straight-laced. The heroine's childhood and youth in the stinted shabby Paid_ sian domicile reads like a genuine bit of life, so naturally, se truly, and yet so simply are indicated the selfish extravagance of the pleasure-lovinr, Colonel, the silent, uncomplaining, half spa_ thetic misery of the neglected wife, the petty privations and small topics of interest of the children running to seed, with the stinted redeemed from sordidness by the obvious effect of trifles upon human happiness. Nor is the picture a singular truth ; the whole is a type. Although scarcely half a century separates us from the tribe and the times, yet well born and highly connected men and women like the Colonel and Mrs. Percival, kept an acknowledged position, and as far as means would permit, a social connexion which would be more difficult now. The age of our grandfathers and great grandfathers, with all its faults, was more tolerant than ours, and more faithful in social relations. The various characters of this almost introductory portion also appear more natural, or at least better balanced than in the suc- ceeding parts where the necessities of the story exercise a slightly evil influence. Indeed character and dialogue are really the strong points of the author. If not always natural they are always distinct, forcible, and consistent. But in the earlier part where less display in action is required, they have more of the "mingled yarn" of human nature. Such is the case with several people with whom the circumstances of Rita's position bring her into contact. Among them is M. Barac the landlord and occu- pant of the ground floor of the house in which the family lives. He is ostensibly a gentleman, in reality a picture and perhaps general dealer, not without the faults of his vocation and persua- sion, but goodnatured or more truly kindly at heart. As a child he has developed Rita's genius for art by teaching her drawing. As the true nature of her position dawns upon her mind she re- solves to study painting as a profession. One of her earliest efforts as a young girl is a copy of a favourite picture of Barac's, which she carries to him as a present after he has sold the original. The scene is not without its influence on the future story, but as it stands in this extract is chiefly remarkable for its display of character.

" I stood and tapped gently at the battered face of the door, from which the paint was torn and blistered. There was a murmur of voices within: then I thought I would go away, but remembering I might not have a few spare minutes again that day, I gathered courage and knocked yet louder. The old Jew greeted me warmly.

" Mein Gott ! Mees Marguerite ! come in. Not often I see you now. The leetle " madchen" has grown out fine young lady. Comes no more for to draw in de old man's room. I have new tings—etwas wunderschon; take a stool, liebe Fraulein, and see. Whereupon he dusted a, chair with his pocket-handkerchief and offered it to me.'

" There was a heavy black-bearded man standing in the centre of the room, his hands thrust behind his coat-tails, in a contemplative manner, his eyes fixed upon a picture that rested against a chair in the window, when the light fell on it to the best advantage. The amount ofjewellery which this person carried about him was dazzling. Chains and rings of Newgate dimensions hung over a velvet waistcoat embroidered in rose-buds, and sparkled upon very dirty. hands. The expression of his features was as anomalous as the rest of his appearance. Eyes sharp and cunning as a fox's ; a low receding brow, balanced by a full good-tempered mouth, lined with white fierce-looking teeth ; manner at once shrewd, familiar, obse- quious ; language (in every tongue I subsequently learnt) more fluent than accurate, so that his nation was always an unsolved problem, except inas- much as he was of Hebrew persuasion.

" This was the great Ismael, agent to the Emperor of all the Russian, dealer in pictures and in objects of vertu, doer of bills,' performer of any kind and quantity of dirty work for great men, and of some acts of kindness in extremity to small ones. Do not forget the last : it is held to be an im- possibility in his class. Though of the same trade' as Barac, that they did agree,' in contradiction to the popular adage, probably arose from the fact that there was a difference in their ostensible position in the world, and that their interests did not clash. Monsieur Barac, as I have already said, was by way of being a gentleman. His bnyings and sellings were all under the rose. You were not supposed to know how the pictures came upon his walls, or where they suddenly disappeared ; the truth being that his was a sort of secret repository for the great world-known dealers, such as Ismael, whom I now found closeted with him. " What is this here ?' exclaimed Monsieur Barac, as he took the picture I placed in his hand; ' copy of my Isabey ? Lieber Gott ! Miss Marguerite, why, is this your doing ? Capital ! I had no idea—but then it is many months that I your work have not seen. Ah, mees ! you will for to be one Elizabetta Sirani or Angelica Kaufmann some day.'

" I am so glad you don't think nay copy very bad, Monsieur Barac, be- cause I did it for you.'

" My dear little mees, I thank you. It will be one veritable treasure, and I will value it as the orange of my eye.' (A variation of the Eastern hyperbole well suited to the organ in question.)

" Sagen-sie anal, Ismael, ist es nioht eine vortreffliche copie ? The young lady is daughter to Colonel Percival, up there, whom you imovr:' " Sans doute, je le connais ce pen colonel,' said the other, with a sulgl!' tar expression of lace, as he approached and took my picture out of Barac.5 band. Brava ! je Eons en fais mes complimens, mam'selle. I have as plaisir to acquaint many ladies who paint demselves. Dere is Prince Chiararosso, one vast amiable lady, wad a fine talent after nature, and year compatriots Lady Waterloo also ; but, barole d'honneur, I have seen none at your years expose a more rich sensibility for art. Di; sea here is so clear and so good colour as you may see do fishes a sporting almost underna t Ah ! pity you not have to study as artiste, instead of ping porn in de. bump (Was it my fancy, or was there an expression of mockery in his eye es he said this ?) You would make fortune if you were like that poor 4. flie whom I gif to copy " La Pelle Jardiniere " for Prince Doppledorff- e'tre noes, pure charity. He cannot draw zo well dun dia. No warm—no colour;

his eye not full of juices like yours.' "

The book entitled My Escape from the Mutinies in Oudh, is in. form a fiction. Whether it be really written by an Indian dicer who takes this method of putting. forth his opinions on Anglo-Indian abuses and the reforms required, or whether a skil- ful litterateur has picked up and read up what he could upon a current subject, and presented his acquirements in an autobio- p.rauhjeal family story may be doubtful. Possibly there is a little of both. There seems a personal feeling as regards certain alleged abuses which a collector of telling matter would scarcely regard at least acutely. The story of the escape from the mutineers, though not devoid• of interest, does not impress the reader with an air of reality. There is too much of Robinson- crusoe-like adventure about the escape, and too little of the na- tive element. Philip Pillars the hero with two of his friends make their way through a wild country, hearing or rather over- bearing the natives, but never being seen till they fall in with a friendly Brahmin in Nepaul, who preserves their lives. If the element of danger from man is absent there is plenty of trouble from other causes, as toil, fatigue, exposure, and hunger staved off with such delicate tit bits as lizards, frogs, &c. The escape, however, forms but a small part of the story. It begins with Philip's birth and parentage, gives an account of his family and school days, inducts him into the Company's service, and then carries him through a variety of peaceful and warlike incidents till he returns home on leave with the loss of an arm in the Sikh war. Some sketches of country society and the foundation of a love story arise from this furlough ; but its chief use in connexion with the leading object of the book, would seem to be, to expose the notion that Indian officers can live upon their pay, unless fortunately circumstanced, and to unfold other griev- ances. The Elliot of the following dialogue is an officer turned clergyman, to whom Philip pays a visit; the discourse originates in a letter just received from India with regimental news. "'Are you an advocate for all appointments being given to the Queen's service, that is, I mean, for their coming in for a large slice of the loaves and fishes ? ' asked '

ed Elliot.

" Yes, to a certain extent ; not to share equally with Company's officers, without they equally share their exile. I would, however, insist on the same rule applying to ail, which,- at present, is shamefully evaded—namely, passing in the languages. Now-a-days, passing for the Company's officer, is no longer a sham, and however brilliant he may be, no appointment is given to him until he passes ; whereas, with the Queen's officer, if he has interest, on he goes to the staff. I object to this system, as much for its unfairness, SS to the damage the service suffers, for many of these men are put in the public works department, and I defy a man getting the work properly done there, without a very, very good knowledge of the language.' • " True enough,' said Elliot, for I remember once in building a house, the bother I had to make the fellows understand all I wanted, and apply the same to a bridge for the Government. Besides how can they make out a proper estimate, when they do not know and can't inquire even the prices of labour or material. But don't you think it is unfair that they should have the same advantages as ourselves, considering they can go home when- ever they can save a few pounds, and it counts for service ? '

" Certainly, I think that if they take Indian appointments, the same rule should apply to all. It is certainly unfair that after Captain Tomnoddy has fooled away a fortune in England, that he is to come out with Horse Guard influence, supersede me in my appointment, and that without passing, stay one year until he can save enough to leave " the beastly country, as he terms it, and then go home again ; whilst I have come out to India for twenty years, if sick from exposure in my work may go home, but have to work out every day's leave again in India, and besides lose my appointment. No, the present system is not fair, give all an equal chance, and I then ad- vocate the adiniamon of the younger, and probably fresher ideas in some of her Majesty's service.' " And, said Mrs. Elliot, after having been a quiet listener through all this dull conversation, people fresh from home cannot understand the natives, and may be cruel to them. But if one was wounded in the Com- pany's service, and had to come to England, does he have to remain longer in India for it ?'

" As to cruelty to natives, I think they are generally very well treated, too much liberty for them, as they cannot understand what is called " the liberty of the subject." But still, I would not put any man into an appoint- ment until he has been at least two years in India, and passed. By that time, most probably, he will have some insight into the characters of the race around him; moreover, the first home sickness having worn off, he will not be wanting to run back again home. About being wounded in the Com- pany's service, the rule holds good the same. I am now home on account of this arm, and have three years given me to get well ; one year and more has elapsed, and I am no better, still I shall have to work out every day of this leave again in India, that is, must serve twenty-three, instead of twenty years. But in her Majesty's service, every day spent in it counts for half-pay.'

" Well, I think it a great shame,' said little Mrs. Elliot, ' I wouldn't fight for them.'

" Perhaps they would then get plenty more who would,' said Elliot."

Considered as a fiction " My Escape " is deficient in breadth and • • imaginative power. The common nature of the occurrences,

the literalness of the persons and dialogue, however, give an air of reality to what may be called• the novel portions of the tale, so that it often reads something like a matter-of-fact narrative. The Anglo-Indian military and reforming parts come before the reader under a doubtful aspect. When abuses are publicly un- known, or when the obiect of the .writer, as with Mr. Trollope 6r instance, is to attar by satire well known evils and even Persons, the authorship is a matter_ of no, consequence ; the pnblio nund is to be stimulated by smartness or roused by striking v..eity. But the Indian question is another matter. The horrors and heroismof the mutinies rise beyond fiction or even poetry. is no occasion to resort to the imaginative when the real mtrpasees it. The military and reform questions have now taken such a shape, and are being brought so fully before the publics by avowed writers, that it is desirable to have the voucher of name and position both for the alleged evils, and for the methods by which their removal is suggested. In home abuses we know or fancy we know all about it. The will to do is the one thing needful. Respecting India the public are in the dark ; and it is important in the case of matters of fact to know what au- thority is to be attached to statements or suggestions, whether they have been observed or compiled.