The Sun. — 1860-10-02 (London, England)

LITERATURE.  Over the Cliffs. By Charlotte Chanter, author of " Ferny Combes. 2 vols. Smith and Elder. The readers of this story will certainly not be able to complain of lack of incident, for the plot is singularly intricate, and the variety of events and characters would be more than sufficient for the ordinary three volumes. The scene is laid chiefly on the sea coast some fifty years ago, and the smuggling which was then so extensively practised forms a prominent feature. Indeed the lives of all the chief actors in its pages are chequered by some strange and startling incident. Either they have themselves outraged the law, or they have connived at the misdeeds of others, or become involved in some perilous secret which keeps them in the power of their associates. More than one murder darkens the tale, and plots and counterplots are thickly interwoven. The heroes and heroine are introduced in childhood. They are Edward Mountjoy, the son of a privateer and smuggler, and Reginald and Gratiana Dawson, the children of a small landowner. Mr. Dawson, their father, is described as a perfect monster, and is painted in true romancist's colours. He has killed his wife some years previously, a fact that puts him in the power of his smuggling neighbour, Mr. Martin, and he cruelly ill-uses his unfortunate children. In his own opinion he occasions the death of his daughter, by causing her to fall " over the cliffs," and his deathbed is haunted by the recollection. This event gives its title to the story, but in reality it is not so tragic an occurrence as the name implies, for Gratiana is rescued by Edward Mountjoy, her smuggler lover, who is watching below, and whose meeting with her has been the cause of her father's anger. When she recovers, after many months, from the effects of her frightful accident, she no longer refuses to become his wife, knowing that all at her home believe her to be dead, and feeling that she no longer owes obedience to her father's commands. Her brother has adventures of his own, including capture by the enemy, and escape from a French prison by favour of the commandant, who proves to be a relative of his mother. There is another romance connected with :the story of Agnes Erlinghm, Edward Mountjoy's mother, and her treacherous cousin, who murders her father, and is the secret enemy of her son. Besides these we have many other characters, prominent among them being Hortense, the French commandant's daughter, and fair Lily Fowler, the rival candidates for Reginald's affections. Then there are Frank Dawson and Ocean Margaret, who has been saved from a wreck in childhood ; and Mary Horton and her father, who is one of the many aspirants to Grace Dawson's favour. There are besides many minor figures occasionally flitting across the stage or filling up the background, often appearing as the tools of the leading actors. With so numerous a cortege and such stirring scenes, with love and hate, war and murder, shipwrecks, suicides, escapes and adventures of every description, the reader who seeks excitement and vivid interest will probably be delighted with the perusal of this story. Those who prefer quieterand more natural delineations, who find a charm in the faithful portraiture of character, and records of the trials and struggles of every- day life, will perhaps object to the intricacy of the plot and occasional extravagance of the characters, but we must remember that it refers to a time and scene which was very different from the calm and rou• tine existence of the present day. The authoress unquestionably possesses ability, and if in future she will preserve a little more simplicity and connection in her plot, and reduce the superfluous branches of her story, she will display her talent t for construction to greater advantage, as making her tale appear more life-like and probable. The style is generally good and occasionally fill• wel pressive, and we have no doubt that future works from the same pen will deserve still higher commendation.