The Sun.
London, England, 1859-08-31 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

Raised to the. Peerage. By Mrs. Octavius Freire„
Owen, author of " The Heroines of History,
&7. c.. 3 vols. Hurst and Blackett.
This work possesses one great recommendation t,
the novel reader who is wearied with tame an
spiritless romances, and sighing for a little vitality:
in plot and style. It is in some degree original,. and
certainty possesses a considerable amount of inte-
rest. On the other hand it must be allowed that
probability has not always been consulted, and t 1 of
the incidents are often more suited to the Pages°,
fiction than to the arena of real life. It takes 1"'
title from the secret ambition of Mrs. Sheffield, one
of the most prominent characters, if not the heroine
o. f the work. She is the younger daughter of an
impoverished noble, who has married an lien,
ourable and intelligent merchant, possessed of
great wealth. Mr. Sheffield is " a man of thde
people,". and is deservedly proud of having e.arvee
out his own way to fame and fortune. A sineer
attachment exists between his beautiful high-born
wife and himself, and it is with much pain that he
learns that she meets with slights and affronts from
her former associates, on account of her loss of r.
•
Each secretly resolves to attain if possible a lligheA'
i)osi.tion. Mr. Sheffield, who scorns contrivance 11.1,'
intrigue, mixes in the political world, and finally
re.ceives the coveted prize as an unasked reward of
his honourable exertions. His wife meanwhile has
been cultivating powerful friends, and as one means
of aggrandisement she has resolved that her tvf°
children, Darnley and Rosamond, shall marry line
titled families. Unfortunately they both form other
r
plans. Rosamond is attached to Mr. Cameron, her
brother's tutor, a young clergyman of the nor_
bou.rh. ood, whom, after many delays and much °I)
position on her mother's part, she finally marrie.s.:
Her brother's story is more troubled and comp.ll_
cated. His mother has fixed on a bride for him is
an earl's daughter, Lady Fanny Denhara, wil° 1
quite. willing to perform her part. But Dar.reyo:
while travelling abroad, has fallen in love vviti
beautiful French girl whose uncle was educatt
her for the stage, and has married her. His faral and
wondered that he lingered so long in Paris ; An,
when at length he returned he could not find
courage to tell them that he had left a wife and $(3-s
behind him. Returning to Paris he finds, to in
.horror and surprise, that the uncle of his wife,
is the villain of the book, has taken the idea that;
Darnley was not what he professed to be, and than
disappeared with his niece without leaving seamedn"
clue. He has in reality taken the broken-he
Estelle to America, telling her that her marriag..
was false, and he insists on her following her pro
fession and going on the stage. The child 11 is
been taken to the hospital of the Ng%
Trouves, where it is fortunately adopted bl 7
oung girl who is just left desolate. The further
adventures of both mother and child are extremely
complicated. The story of Estelle, the cruelty. et..
her uncle, his final revelations, and her acquani,.,
ante with Lord Altonby, are the most rornantl'..
extra_
parts of the book, and occasionally incline to
vagance. Marcelline, the young nurse, is a grac.e_
ful and womanly character, but the episode of the
Abbe Vauclin is painful, and answers no good ent
Meanwhile the unfortunate Darnley returns w
England,. and has a serious illness. Partly.frelli,
his revelations, partly from letters which she Inter
cepts, his mother learns all, but resolves that her
plans shall not be frustrated. She discourages!"
his hopes, destroys the letters which arrive for 111,
assures her upright husband that his illness is 1341_
trifling, and at length succeeds in her pious end.ii
yours. After the lapse of five years, during wh.le,
he can obtain no trace of Estelle or her chila,;
Darnley. Sheffield resigns himself to his
wishes, and marries Lady Fanny Denham. Mr, •
Sheffield, meanwhile, is held in terror by the lincled.
of Estelle, who detects her dread lest her husban,
should become acquainted with the fact of Darnley
first marriage, and extorts large sums from
.lierci
At. length Mr. Sheffield finds that she has decerv,e
him, though. in what way he does not know. 111!:
shock brings on a paralytic stroke, from which
never recovers. Meanwhile Estelle, who has escaped
from her uncle's surveillance, returns to Engil°ld'
her
and. after some time discovers her husband ann.
mothers
child. Lady Fanny, opportunely, dies ; and after,
mutual. reproaches and forgiveness the long-severe
a
pair are reunited, but the health of Darnley has runic
so many shocks, and he soon dies, leaving,
his wife to find consolation in the attachaient ot
one who had befriended her in adversity. The.,
characters are so numerous, and the plot so comp
Bated, that the main points of the story are scarcely
brought so prominently forward as they might be.
The discovery of Mrs. Sheffield's deceit, and her
punishment and repentance are lost in the entangle-
ment of the various threads of the story. Darnley,
who is throughout the victim rather than the cul-
prit, saving for his rashness and want of courage at
the commencement, seems to be the chief sufferer,
and to have the largest share of blame. The story
opens effectively, and the interest is well sustained
throughout. There is certainly no paucity of lac).-
dent or monotony of style, for there is sufficient
plot for two or three stories. It will, no doubt,
be readily welcomed in this season of leasure, as,
notwithstanding occasional drawbacks, it manifests
ability and skill,