The Sun.
London, England, 1850-05-03 00:00:00

LITERATURE
SIR ARTHUR BOUVERIE, a Novel. By the
Author of " Lady Granard's Nieces." 3 vols.
The readers of this novel will have no cause to
complain of a lack of incident and adventure; its
fault rather—but few fiction-lovers will deem it a
fault—is of the kind which the French happily de-
nominate an embarras de richesses. Materials fur
four different novels, at least, are here blended into
one, but the 'combination has the happy effect of in-
creasing the attractions of each portion by the con-
trast afforded by the others. Beyond the interest
which it thus possesses on the score of incident and
variety "Sir Arthur Bouverie" is entitled to our
warmest commendations from the very beautiful and
effective manner in which it enforces the lessons'of life.
Novel reading (if the novelist is worthy of his voea-
tion) is not only an agreeable but a profitable recrea-
tion. In the, realms of fiction we should seek not so
much oblivion fi.); the cares of life bud the errors of
humanity, but encouragement—the encouragement
of a good example to nerve us to support the one and
to overcome the other. Thus on closing our book
we should turn with fresh vigour to our daily duties.
Such is likely to be the effect of " Sir Arthur Bouve-
rie," although there is little " moralising" to be
found in its pages. The beauty of truth 'and
the heroiera of moral courage are most em-
phatically illustrated by examples ; while
as an interesting narrative " Sir Arthur Bouverie"
is superior to the majority of its competitors. The
foundation of the story is as follows :—Many years.
prior to the opening of the book; the father of Sir
Arthur B ,uverie, anxious to prevent the marriage of
his sun with a villiage girl whom that son was de-
sirous of making his wife, left a will, which should
disinherit the young baronet of all but the empty
title, if his marriage with Amy Hillingdon had
taken, or ever should take place. Prior to this event
the disobedient son had been already privately united
to the villiage girl. Taus, on his father's death,
Sir Arthur found himself legally a beggar. The
humble Lady Bouverie, however, expired before her
real rank was made public, and Sir Arthur (imagining
that her child was also dead) resolved to conceal
the fact of his marriage, and so retain the possessions
which were now actually his nephew's. Such is the
foundation of the story of Sir Arthur Bouverie,
which, however, can give little idea of the deep in-
terest excited by the whole narrative, an interest
more powerful and more enthralling because it is
chiefly occasioned by peculiarities of individual cha-
racter. Cecil, the nephew and dependent of Sir Ar-
thur (and really the owner of the Bouverie estates),
is, well drawn. His character is not an attractive one
—stern and proud and cold in appearance, yet possessed
of passions that are violent when once aroused. This
Cecil rejected, from• ambitious motives, by the object
of his passionate attachment, visits his uncle in his
country seclusion ; here he meets with Amy, a
foundling, adopted by the village rector, and in fact
the daughter of Sir Arthur and his humble bride.
The history of Amy is the most interesting portion of
the work, her character is gracefully and skilfully
portrayed. It is not our purpose to reveal all the
secrets of the plot ; we may say, however, that Sir
Arthur, knowing Amy to be his daughter, and find-
log that his nephew's caralcss compliments have won
her heart, compels the proud Cecil to marry the
foundling, and Amy becomes the unhappiest of the
unhappy, a loving and unloved wife. At first she is
timid, meek and gentle, happy in her delusive belief
in her husbano'a love, hut the knowledge of the truth

exercises a wonderful influeuce on her character, and
the progress of that influence, and the various arts by
which she endeavours to win Cecile affection are de-
tailed in a most natural Manner, and render this por-
tion of the story most fascinating. As a contrast to
the unhappy Amy, we are introduced to the sister of
Cecil, the lively and spirited Kate, who, with the self-
satisfied Frank Beresford, enacts the very comedy of
Beatrice and Benedict. The naïve and vivacious Lady
Eveline, and the romantic and silent Edith L'Estrange,
the philosophical Seymour Glenaltan, and the dis-
appointed Herbert Stanhope, whose adventures,
one and all, we leave unbetrayed, are the
heroes and heroines of very interesting episodical ro-
mances. This crowded list gives the author of " Sir
Arthur Bouverie" ample opportunity fur the por-
trayal of a variety of - characters—an opportunity
which has been turned to excellent effect. The skil-
ful direction of so many histories, and the successful
discrimination of such various characters, are striking
evidences of power on the part of the writer,
while the spirit and pathos infused into
the delineations of human passion render
them, in some cases, singularly effective ;
as an example of which we need only cite the newel-
ful scene between Any and her husband, after the
dissipation of her happy belief in his affection.
Bitterly does poor Amy have cause to repent of that
moment of natural indignation, and her after efforts
to realise her visionary happiness, mistaken though
they are, cannot fail to enlist the sympathies of all
who follow her troubled fortunes. If diaposed to find
fault, we might object to a certain carelessness in the
execution of this novel. The writer, who is by no
means deficient in the more important requisites of
a good novelist, will do well for the future to pay due
attention to the minor, but not insignificant details.
As it is, however, " Sir Arthur Bouverie" will afford
much pleasure to many readers.