Family Failings exhibits the mischiefs that ensue from Mr. Leigh's
doting on his eldest son ; from the ingrained selfishness of Luke Leigh, encouraged by his father's foolish fondness; from the flirting tendencies of his wife ; from the pride, reserve, and hasty temper of the high-spirited Horace Leigh; and from the incaution of Mrs. Vernon, who having pro- mised her nephew Horace to make him her heir, puts her will into a se- cret place, where it is not found till the close of the work.
With a sufficient number of collateral characters, love-crosses spring- ing out of Horace Leigh's temper, and family distress from Luke's self- ishness, there were elements enough for a novel of society, with the ex- ception of the stale contrivance of the will. The author of Family Fail- ings has literary ability and some dramatic tact, but wants the know- ledge of life and its events, and the constructive judgment necessary to a novelist. Besides which, there is hardly strength enough in the writer to sustain passionate scenes. Hence, exaggeration is substituted for force. Family Failings is a good circulating library novel, but is not entitled to take higher rank.
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