The Sun.
London, England, 1855-10-22 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

Millicent ; or, The Trials of Life. By the author
of "The Curate of Overton." 3 vols. Hurst

and Blackett.

The various adventures and troubles that befell
the unfortunate heroine in her lonely pilgrimage
form an interesting and attractive tale. Millicent
was brought up as an heiress, but subsequent mis-
fortunes blighted her fair prospects, and a distant
kinsman became possessed of her estates through
some injustice. She was consequently compelled
to support herself. Her attempt was very unsuc-
cessful at first, for the family she entered was, with
one exception, unpropitious for the introduction of
a friendless stranger. Mrs. Robertson was worldly
and overbearing ; Clara, her second daughter,
selfish and envious. The eldest son was vulgar
and thoughtless, though of a better disposition.
Kate, the eldest daughter, was a very charming
character. Her temper was hasty, and her nature
wanted a little more self-control, but she was kind-
hearted and considerate to ethers. It was not pro-
bable that she would stand by and see the lonely
orphan insulted, but often her very eagerness to
protect Millicent was the cause of fresh troubles.
She found this out herself, and at last became more
guarded in her manner, but the very fact of her being
the friend of the governess made her mother and
sister more indignant against the stranger. Soma
of the scenes are very naturally described, when.
Mrs. Robertson, with her consequential airs, com-
manded Millicent to do this, or forbade her to do
that, forgetting she was speaking to a lady, who,
if she had held her proper rank in society, would
have been immeasurably her superior. Mr. Robert-
son was a good-natured, simple man, who liked
quiet, but his attempts to pacify his wife were of
uo avail. Tom, the son, whose good nature was
shocked at 'his mother's harshness, used to con-
trive ingeniously to direct her attention from Milli-
cent, by threatening to perform some dangerous feat.
Clara always abetted Mrs. Robertson, while Kate
fired up indignantly, arid generally carried the
point in question by some coup de main, although
the reaction to the triumph did not always amelio-
rate her friend's prospects. Millicent purposed
leaving the family, but she was dissuaded by Mr.
Seymour, the clergyman, who was very kind to
her, and took great interest in her forlorn and
friendless career. He represented that wherever
she went she would meet with troubles,
and that the kind sympathy she mot with from
Kate Robertson was an advantage she might
not meet with elsewhere. To this argumentth fMil-
licent felt that another could be added in
t
of his own assistance and supporptedbretuji
in that place. A more pleasing
to this. Mrs. Robertson and, her
whicha Kate Clara•
went away for some time, during Millicent was happier.
nobleman
mistress, and, of course,
had
dfore
madethe dtehpearteuergeuaoifutthacriicreesteto. of family
Seymour'sthey
cwoauss i
veryn, Lor
unfortunate For t escu (3i.n
manyhis young
respects, and he
was
intelligence roused vn only
was melancholy and desponding from natural dis-
e
position
i loyf troubles.K a
te
aportion
igh
daughter withesucceeds herae
Mpbyoisltiltihcieoennitia.vnedllinfnaerastsheir circle he passed many happy
days, and the deserted governess was attracted by
his kindness and consideration.
The concluding
passages of the story are very
powerfully described.
Fortescue to benefit hieT tenantryhe scene of the fire is
excitingly narrated and the exertionsareinteorfesLtinorgd.
Afilii n
sllieseubtlsequent troubles and perplexities, and
difficulties and misfortunes are truth-
fully sketched, and no one can fail to be touched
by their sorrows. After the mystery concerning
his father's death had been cleared up, Lord For-
tescue was united to Millicent, who received res-
titution of her rights from the relation who had
taken possession of her property. She, however,
insisted on his continuing to reside there, as she
deeply felt for his fate, he having lost all his
children. Thus, though surrounded by enemies,
Millicent turned them into friends. This record
of the trials of life will please those who can ap-
preciate a simple story that is written with
sins
cerity of feeling and purpose.
CONTINENTAL THEATRICALS.

theatrek which
Paris
st
wee ; but to
isatretta, written b,Rosier and
o novel-
ties, invited T e Opera
the
ln
i togu ea. any
YtitiltednaLsc pirrooutduacredd dt ew Derchinz,
. .
the first,
make up for thaislivinealycitsoivpe . tnhe:vion
piecely]
composed by Adam,
and the other a little extravaganza on the loves of Deu-
calion,
ct Pr,ha (the title of the piece), founded on, or
taken from a burlesque sketch by Lesage, called Ark.
quite Deucalion.
A modification has taken place in the staff of the
Theatre Italien, the commander-in-chief having re-
moved
his principal aide-de-camp, M. Salvi, and re-
placedhim by M. del Peral, a gentleman that has
served in Spain with favourable report, having been
director of a theatre in Madrid, and an esteemed writer
for the press in that city. The illness of ilildlle.'V. Bee.
cabadati has delayed the production of La Sonnambda,
announced on Thursday for her dame and that 4
M. Mongini in the two leading parts. Mario is expootF'?
early in the ensuing month, when Mdlle. de lioissi nut
make her first appearance in I Puritani.