Mothers and Daughters is, without even the exception of Max-
well, the best novel of the season, as far as the season has gone, and will always remain an admirable specimen of the fashionable school. It is a faithful, exact, and withal spirited pieture of the aristocracy of this country—an admirable description of what is called high life, and full of a more enlarged knowledge of human na- ture. The author is a person not only of talent, but of education,— and that is saying a good deal for a man familiar wit h the habits of the exclusive circles. This is the novel which should have been called the Exclusives, had not that title been usurped by Lady CHARLOTTE BURY'S stupid sermon. We have said, that the view taken of the character and habits, manners and morals, of high life in London, is faithful and exact.: something must, however, be allowed for the spirit of satire—a little exaggeration may be par- doned for the sake of effect, and perhaps for the sake of bringing out the truth : beyond this, we are not dispo-sed to qualify our praise. The spirit of the work is not very unlike that of Vivian Gray ; but Vivian Gray is written by one who looks on his subjects from below, and only appears among them with the feelings of a well- bronzed interloper. Lord NORMANDY'S are rather particular than general views of high life ; Mr. LISTER'S sketches might, as has justly been said, have been taken by a footman who viewed society from behind a chair or a carriage; but Mothers and Daughters is the spirited work of one who is, in habits at least, both of and in and above the society of which he writes. At all times the morals of an order of society are a curious sub- ject of observation ; but at no time more so than at the present, when there seems a general inspection of the ranks, and every thing that exists or is established is or soon will be called upon to give a good reason why it exists, and answer to the plea why it should not be put down. We recommend Mothers and Daughters to readers of all classes : to the politician and moralist it will give information—to the novel- reader amusement.
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