Conspiracy. By Adam Bodeen. (Warne and Co.)—The scene of this
tale is laid partly in Cabe, partly in Washington, and the author, it is clear, has two objects in view,—to express his sympathy with Cuban patriots, and to expose the intrigues and indifference of Washington politicians. The latter of these aims he pursues with very considerable vigour. If the States are governed in the way in which Conspiracy describes, there must be much inherent vitality in the Constitution, and power of resistance to bad influences in the governed, to have prevented a crash. The Cuban part of the story is scarcely so forcible, but it is more attractive. The patriot brigand, and the girl who loves him at first sight with Southern rapidity, are highly picturesque figures ; and the descriptions of society in Havana are full of colour. If Mr. Badean's facts are exact (his prologue claims to be a true history), the conduct not so much of the Spanish Government as of the Cuban Volunteers, in dealing with the patriotic movement, was atrocious. A more barbarous murder than that of Alonzo de la Campo has not been committed in this century.
Previous page
