Barbara Hofland

 

Contemporary Reviews

 

The Christian Remembrancer. Vo. 8. 1826: 599-600.

Art. III.-Moderation a Tale. By Mrs. Hoffland. [sic]. Longman and Co. 12mo. 1825.

Though Moderation be the title of this book, and to inculcate moderations its object, the reader will find no moderation of sentiment in it from the first page to the last. It is overrun with that stale and sickly whine of sensibility, which is the besetting sin of the inferior tribe of novelists, especially of female novelists, and more especially still of religious novelists, whether male or female.

It is very difficult to state the line of the story: but that is immaterial. We have a strange medley of love and sickness,-pride and devotion,-fashion and poverty,-fine clothes and fine sentiments,-Catholicism and Calvinism,-sea-sickness, wounds, and surgery,-consumption, death, and wedlock.

Be it stated, however, fairly, in the outset, that Moderation has met with such a cordial reception in the reading world, or a certain portion of that world, that Measrs [sic]. Longman have caused the work to be stereotyped. Either, therefore, our taste is nothing worth, or the taste of Mrs. Hoffland's [sic]. patrons and admirers stand in need of much correction. At any rate, since a publication thus highly favoured is professedly of a religious character, it seems to be our duty to bring it to the bat of criticism.

So far as we can collect the Author's drift, it is her design to exhibit the virtue of moderation in its specific bearing upon the three important subjects-of religion, love, and housewifery. In the first, let your moderation be shown upon all men, by hearing sermons at church instead of in the tailor's shop.-In the second, by choosing a man who pays his debts before he buys an estate.-And in the third, by laying down your carriage magnanimously, when you cannot keep it without pinching yourself in the butcher's meat and flannel. Assuredly this is wise counsel; but we object to the plan of converting a lady from the conventicle, by making a handsome young curate offer her marriage instead of argument. And we do not much like to hear of a paragon of a rector, who never knows his tradesmen's bills are paid at Christmas or not, and cannot add them up when they come in. Arithmetic is an essential part of practical divinity-for Caesar is to have the things that are Caesar's.
There is much deception, equivocation, and at last downright cheating, for the especial purpose of preventing a rich nabob of an uncle from knowing that his nephew's estate is the property of his creditors; because the said nephew has a lively sense of favour to come from the said uncle, and the said uncle is a man who will not confer his favours upon one who will not help himself. Now this is not Christian morality; and there is much of the like character.

We understand Mrs. Hoffland [sic]. has written a series of tales upon other christian virtues: we certainly have not read them, nor do we intend; but we may safely say, if they resemble "Moderation," they may make some ladies cry, but they will contribute little towards the growth of those virtues which the Christian deems the genuine product of his faith.

Monthly Magazine. Vo. 60. 1825: 157.

Moderation. A Tale. By Mrs. Hofland. 12mo.-The works of this lady are well calculated for the perusal of youth, as affording amusement without overstraining the feelings and imaginations by improbable events and exaggerated sentiment. There is truth and simplicity in her delineation of character, which claims our sympathy and speaks home to our feelings. The present work is a good exemplification of these remarks, and the necessity and advantage of "Moderation" are well enforced. The story is simple and affecting, and the whole book breathes a sentiment of mild religious feeling, at the same time that it discountenances strongly those extravagant views of religion so prevalent at present among some classes of society.

We think few works could be better calculated to be of use to the present state of society, and trust it will be well circulated.

 

Literary Chronicle. No. 327. 3 September 1825: 570-571.

Moderation: a Tale. By MRS. HOFLAND.
12mo. pp. 253. London, 1825.

LITERATURE and morality are alike much indebted to the female writers of the present day, and the Mores, the Edgeworths, the Porters, and the Hoflands, will give to the age a high character for female talent; they have, in fact, with many of their compeers, rescued the sex from the silly sneers of some persons who affected to laugh at the literary pretensions of woman. In society, it was acknowledged that the ladies refined our manners, but we disdained to take precepts from them in books; they have, however, not coaxed us out of that prejudice, but forced our renunciation of it, by clearly showing its injustice. They owe us no thanks for our altered tone or position in the field of literature, for they have fairly won, inch by inch, every foot of ground we have yielded to them.

Of the authors we have named, no one ranks higher, on account of the morality and good feeling displayed in her works, than Mrs. Hofland ; indeed, the oracle of the virtues, through whom each speaks most eloquently in its own behalf. Her readers have successively seen the plea of 'Integrity,' 'Patience,' 'Decision,' and we know not how many more virtues in her other tales, urged with almost irresistible force and persuasion, and we are now called on to examine the claim of Moderation.

This little work contains many excellent sentiments, and displays much of that intimate knowledge of human nature, for which this lady's writings are so remarkable ; but there is rather too close a resemblance between it and some of her former productions. As the principle merit of the tale consists in details of characters, its chief interest would be lost in an abridgment, and we must therefore content ourselves with giving one short extract, merely premising that Emma is the heroine of the story:-

' " You are certain, Emma, that your father mentioned me in his last moments?" said Miss Tintagell, when they were alone together some time afterwards.

' " Oh ! yes, every syllable is impressed on my heart, my very ear I may say, too minutely for mistake."

' " Well, it is dear to my heart to be so remembered, even now-Emma, I will tell you the history of that heart.-I am naturally of a proud and independent spirit, such a spirit as rarely suits the situation, or can be rendered compatible with the happiness of woman. Having no one to guide me, I should have been rendered by circumstances the natural guardian of your mother, on whom all the warmth and fondness of my heart expended itself. I set out with a profession that I would live single, and though fond of general admiration and laying myself out for general homage, was never guilty of coquetry-nor did I in fact ever see a man that shook my resolution by inspiring even the most trivial liking, till I knew your father.

' " I will not say what my sense of his person, his virtues, his manners, was. I only tell you that happily I soon discovered which way his affections veered-discovered too that your mother fondly loved him. It was believed that my family pride would oppose their wishes-that pride had got other work to do, and together with that tender and unbounded love I had for my sister, it enabled me to act as I did-yes, I made two people as happy as marriage ever made any two on earth, I really believe."

' " They were indeed singularly happy," said Emma.

" "Well, my dear, it so happened that after this I had two offers, either of which would have given me rank which at that time it is certain I envied, and wealth, which is always valuable to those who love to spend and to give, which it is certain I do, and my own fortune, though more than twice as large as your mother's, was very unequal to my wants, and the circle in which I moved But in the mean time I had nursed my former objections to marriage, became more of a wit and less of a beauty, and whilst I affected to ridicule all love, nourished in my heart the silly belief that a woman can love but once, and, in consequence, I refused them both."

' " And do you now regret that you did ? "

' " I do not, for I firmly believe that women of my description are better single. I had established in my heart a certain model, to which no man would have been a parallel ; I should have been haughty, self-willed, and unconciliating, capable of great sacrifices, but not of petty obedience's which are the sweetest emollients to the unbending nature of lordly man. Besides the smallness of my fortune, compared to that of the noblemen to whom I allude, would have been galling to me. I should have been taken from my sister and her family, who have found me useful, and have been to me invaluable ; and as I can now, unblamed, love, and weep as I will, I by no means regret that I am single."

' " I am fully convinced you are much more happy ; at least, I would hope so, my dear, dear aunt," said Emma, embracing her with a daughter's fondness.

' " Yes, I am, but this is owing to my peculiarities, or my faults rather-you, Emma are of a precisely different character."

' " I have been very differently situated ; as one of a large family, with neither the honours of the eldest, nor the privileges of the youngest, I was happily saved from improper indulgences, and taught to consider, to submit.-I was habituated to make my taste bend to my circumstances, and led both by precept and example to hold consideration as a religious duty, which therefore carried its own reward with it. I should be very inexcusable indeed, were I not disciplined in moderation."

' " Being so, you must marry, Emma,-don't shake your head with that sceptical [sic]. air; you do not suppose that I would thus have torn open old wounds, and exposed past weaknesses, and lingering through hidden sorrows but for some end-I know your secret without confession, you have loved Charles Melville, and most probably he has loved you ; but he is bound by gratitude to his uncle, and pity for his cousin, in another direction. I have heard that the voyage to Madeira has done wonders for her, and that in May they will return : if this is true, perhaps they will marry."

' " Now as you have struggled with your feelings, and are almost a conqueror, can you not be wholly so?-can you not listen to the suit of a virtuous, amiable man, who is moreover a nobleman, one whose parents love you, and will receive you with honour and affection. I mean-you know who I mean, you must have been sensible of his admiration ?"

' " It is Lord Hatchlands-I am very sorry for it, for I like him exceedingly ; I know no one whom I esteem so highly amongst our acquaintance."

' "The very best principle on which to found affection, Emma, such an affection as producing all the dearest ties of life, and its most extensive usefulness, you are calculated to inspire and enjoy. Besides, all your family are married or marrying, of course all are to a certain degree resigning you. At three and twenty you do not feel this, but at three and thirty you will be sensible of it-depend upon it such an offer as this, or I ought to say, such a predilection as this, ought to be received as the promise of no light blessing-it may be admitted slowly, canvassed closely, considered long : all this I allow you, but do not dare to reject it, if you value your own happiness, the general advantage of your family, and my regard."

' " That I think as highly of these motives as most people, I surely need not say at this time, but I am sure you will concede, that on such a point as this, I ought to consider myself in the first place."

' "Unquestionably, child-I know that I speak too strongly, but it is because I feel too warmly. I will, however, release you, and prescribe to myself silence for the present ; but think, Emma think! " '

- Prepared by Benjamin Javorsky, University of Nebraska, December 2002