The Sun.
London, England, 1854-08-29 00:00:00

LITERATUBE.

The Village Millionnaire. By Miss Lamont, author
of the " Fortunes of Women." 3 vols. Hurst
and Blackett.
A great deal of knowledge is displayed in these
volumes, and some reflec,tions and remarks are
made in which judgment and thoughk are apparent.
The deep interest of the story does not, however,
turn upon the fortunes of the hero, as the Mil -
liennaire undoubtedly is. Hardy was a practical
character in the fullest sense of the word ; he was
possessed of no enthusiasm except in business, and
he yielded to no temptations that were not con-
ducive to his worldly interests. He gave up rela-
tions and friends for the advancement of his plans,
and love, as may be easily supposed, was not suf-
fered to interfere with the realisation of his golden
dreams. The way in which he neglected Harriet
Aveley, and deserted Eugenia Fanshawe, was no
favourable view of his principles or feelings ; yet
he had. not an unkind or selfish disposition
naturally, but he was warped and perverted by the
love of gain. Altogether, with his harsh rules,
and cold, systematic actions, he is willingly and
gladly left to his dearly-loved labour, while we
pass on to the quiet and secluded cottage where
Harriet Aveley resided. Again, after many trials,
we follow her across the seas to seek out her un-
known uncle in the plains of India. This com-
plete change of scenes forms a striking feature in
the narrative. From the busy mercantile city, the
lonely and peaceful village, the reader is tran-
sported to the varying and eventful careers of the
gorgeous East. Into the midst of the storms of
war the unfortunate heroine was hurried, and de-
tained a close prisoner in a lonely fortress to gra-
tify revenge. Colonel Aveley, her uncle, was a
true and faithful friend to her ; he was a bright
and shining specimen of his order—frank, gene-
rous, and high spirited.
Harriet was not destined long to reap the ad-
vantages of his protection. After a long life of
glory and honour, her beloved uncle was sum-
moned away. A stormy action took place, in
which many of the English were killed—victory
was declared for them. Colonel Aveley did not
depart with those who " looked proudly to Heaven
from the deathbed of fame," but on that field he
received a fatal wound.
Angus Gordon was the means of prolonging his
life, although he could not preserve it eventually-
This brave and energetic youth, whose career and
conduct attracts far more interest and sympathy
than appertains to the real hero, was only a soldier
in the army. He had been a clerk in the house of
business in Liverpool, in which Benjamin Hardy
had entered at the outset of his profession. Dis-
taste for his work induced him to enter the army
on foreign service, but this was uncongenial to his
tastes. Wherever he was, however, he always did
his duty in the highest sense of the expression, and
the same spirit of self-sacrifice and heroism that
induced him to resign a lucrative offer in business
when another had a better claim to it, urged him
through the thickest of the fight to the relief of his
chief in danger, as may be supposed after so signal
a service. Colonel Aveley was anxious to serve
him in every possible way, and when a short time
afterwards Angus Gordon was the means of leading
on his commander to the fortress in which Harriet
was immured, all sides were eager in his cause. It
was agreed to procure him a commission ; but here
was another instance for the manifestation of
Gordon's rectitude and honour. Some time elapsed
before a change could be effected in his position,
distant authorities had to be consulted, during
which, released from all service, he was the guest
hiso Col
constanton el Ave,atlteeyn d
ai nuthe hAosmme
awyh ebree hi
mi sa n:i
ne c ee d
was
his constant attendant. As may be imagined the
enthusiastic Gordon was captivated by the
sim-
plicity and yet superiority of Harriet Aveley, while
in her turn she appreciated so welcome a contrast
to the calculating and cautious Benjamin Hardy,
the companion of her early years. Colonel Aveley,
anxious to arrange all matters prior to his decease,
spoke to both, ;Ind begged that he might see them
united before he took farewell. Here was an un-
expected trial for Gordon. He had during his
solitude and calm minutes lately, so refreshing
after the tumult of his life in the camp, been ye-
flectinc, deetly, and the result of all his medita-
tions .;as that he did not feel fitted for the vocation
of a soldier. He did not wish for the prosecution
of war, and especially as affairs then were in India.
Mistaken as many of his views were, and strange as
his dreamy plans might appear to many, none could
refuse respect to his motives, or fail to reverence
his resolution in what he thought right. He left
the sunny prospects held out to him, he put away
the bright and the beautiful from his path, and
turned away to find new employment in a strange
land. It was long before ,they met again Angus
and Harriet. Time, however, which softened her
quiet for her uncle's memory, and enabled him to
procure a peaceful employment in the east, at last
re-united them. Harriet had returned to the vil-
lage of her youth, and thither was followed by
Gordon. Their marriage was celebrated in that
serene spot. Benjamin Hardy had also worked out
his mission: He had become a millionnaire, and, the
object of his life attained, he returned to the village
which ho had left twelve years before to seek the
road to riches.

Torn Thornton ; or, Last Resources.
Blyrachkiws
iso a
od.story
of a somewhat melancho3lyva°nisd.
romantic nature, tracing the fortunes and struggles
of its hero through a brief
and chequered career.
He is wandering in the beautiful cemetery of Pere-
la-Chaise when he
and youngcontemplating a tomb. He
encounters an old gentleman
ftaulnlsitiyn love instantlylady,
gentleman
making her
of a
and the opportune illness
of the old
acquaintance. him
Tahne
proves thatoppor-
tunity
scene for their cemetery was a very appropriate
is wholly de first meeting. Tom Thornton
offends dependent on his aunt, whom he mor-
tallyby his elopement with Blanche, the
young lady in question. They take up their
iriseal
bode
in France, and endeavour to support the 13,8 ;
but a
complication of untoward circumstances im-
pedes their efforts. The hero is arrested for debt,
and the heroine, overcome by care and anxiety,
dies about a year after her marriage. There are
many minor scenes and incidents connected with
the story, which is told in rather a confused
manner. A friend of the hero finds him in miser-
able lodgings in a French town, and asks his
history, which he gives to him in the form of a
journal. He dies soon after his wife, leaving their
infant daughter to the guardianship of his friend,
who conveys her to the inexorable aunt, who re-
lents and repents, and takes charge of her. The
hero and heroine not being remarkable for pru-
dence, it is not perhaps surprising that their re-
sources
should be so soon exhausted. The moral
of the book is certainly against young people elon'ino,
and offending their relatives. MY an may '
be much
interested in the development of the
plot, which is
certainly simple and clear in its construction, and
the style agreeable.

MATCH AGAINST TIME.—John Levett, the pedestrian,
gays the Liverpool Albion, has been backed by two
Liverpool sporting men to run eleven miles in one hour
on one day, and twenty miles in two hours, on the ft*
**DRAM' for 100/ 43eicis each match. 7,