The Sun. — 1865-07-01 (London, England)

LITERATURE.  The Uttermost Farthing. By Cecil Griffith. Three Vols. Saunders and Utley. . _  After wading through ably-written sensation novels, in which probability is sacrificed to effect, and wilful crime is sought to be rendered interesting, or the less attractive productions which publishers send into circulation in the hope that the announcement of their being written by " ladies of rank" may secure a remunerative sale, it is refreshing to the critic to meet with such a book as the one under notice. Of " The Uttermost Farthing" we may conscientiously say that, taking story, style, and the skilful manner in which the plot is worked out together, there are few existing novel in our language which may justly be accorded a higher rank. The power with which the various passions which agitate the human heart are delineated—the horror of crime, the pity for suffering virtue, and contempt for worthless vanity, excited by turns in the minds of its readers, combined with the morality untainted by a morbid justification of vice which it inculcates—are certain to secure for this book, not an ephemeral popularity, but an enduring and honourable place in the light literature of our country. The story is essentially sad—perhaps it might have been well were it relieved by some scenes of passing happiness—but its sadness points a moral, and no one can rise from its perusal without having a firm conviction engraven upon his memory that murder, even when perpetrated not from premeditated intention, but from giving way to the unrestrained violence of an illregulated temper in a chance encounter, carries with it, even though publicly undiscovered, it own secret but terrible punishment, Catherine Mahen, a rich and beautful heiress, without fixed principles, humanity, or heart, and only influenced by vanity and self-love, after rejecting many good offers has arrived at an age when she desires to be married merely to avoid what she considers the disgrace of being classed as an old maid ; and, for want of other admirers, encourages the attention of Alan Vallery, a mere boy, many years younger than herself, of reduced family and wayward temper, until he becomes madly attached to her. While he is absent, having obtained a situation in London, two Italians—one, Regagni, her cousin—the other, Varese, a former playmate of Catherine's—come on a visit to her family place in England. Regagni is a conspirator for Italian liberty, and knowing that his relative, at the death of a very old grandfather who resides with her, must be rich, introduces his friend, in the hope that should his suit prove successful his future's wife's fortune may be devoted to forwarding the cause he is so desirous of promoting. Varese wins the consent of Catherine to their union, on the eve of his departure for London, to accompany Regagni so far on his way to Italy. Alan Valery overhears the engagement, and mad at the frustration of his hopes, wanders from home, unfortunately meeting Varese on a lonely pathway which he had been directed to take to shorten the route to the station. An altercation ensues, and the Italian dies strangled in his adversary's grasp. From that undesigned crime arise the complications which render the life of Alan miserable, and entail temporary misfortune on every person connected with him. To quote extracts would give no idea of the book ; to be appreciated it must be read. This work is reported to be the first attempt in literature of a very young author ; we can with pleasure say, that it gives ample promise of a brilliant and successful career.