A Homburg Beauty. By Mrs. Edward Kennard. 3 vols. (F.
V. White and Co.)—It is a pity that Mrs. Edward Kennard, who is really capable of doing something better, should have thought it worth while to spend months of time in writing this novel, which is from first to last an unbroken record of the most repel- lent vulgarity. Many of Mrs. Kennard's sketches are, indeed, not merely repellent, but simply incredible. For example, we have a description of a garden-party given by a disreputable Trish Peer in honour of a Continental Prince, for whose recreation it is arranged that the ladies present, who appear to be almost exclusively English, shall disport themselves first in an inde- corous skipping-rope competition, and aft 3rwards in a sack-race, prizes of jewellery being offered to and greedily accepted by the successful candidates. Unfortunately, the vulgarity does not concentrate itself in single Mei lents of this kind ; it is diffused like an atmosphere, which cannot b 3 evaded by the most wholesale skipping, but only by the ex`reme measure of shutting the book. Of the numerous characters introduced, there is only one subordinate actor who is not vulgar or vicious, or both ; and as the novel is wanting in any lit 3rar,y charm which might be set against its general unpleasant:-e Is, it is quite impossible to utter even one faint word of commendation.
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