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ART. 31. - Paired - not Matched, or Matrimony of the Nineteenth Century, a Novel. By MRS ROSS. 4 vols. Pp. 253, 252, 200, 210. Newman and Co. 1815.
A country rector, the Rev Mr Hamilton, is the father of two daughters - the elder a serious - the other a sprightly - beauty. Sir Henry Bouverie, a neighbouring baronet of gaiety and good fortune, is deeply smitten with the charms of the pensive sister, and the honourable Mr Lessingdale, heir presumptive to a dukedom, a sentimental gentleman of the bon-ton, pays his devoirs to the gay Miss Hamilton. The young parties, by consent of the parents of the ladies, are married. Their dispositions varying, neither couple are happy in their union - hence the title of the work - 'Paired - not matched.' This difference of attachment gives rise to many scenes of matrimonial contention. The younger honourable fair one, Catherine, sighs to become a dutchess while the domesticated sister Blanche, finds the rank of a Baronet's lady too fashionable to support. Her distaste to a perpetual round of company, and the routine of crouded balls, routes, operas, and plays, which on her arrival in London she was introduced to, so different to the peaceful home of her parents and the shady walks and groves of the country, so greatly dissatisfied the Baronet that he soon became a careless, or, as our authoress calls him, 'a fashionable husband.' On the other hand the gay Catherine indulges in every party - dances, sings, and plays, to the admiration of the groups of beaux who flutter round and follow her move-[217]ments. Ambition, and to be admired, is her aim - pleasure her pursuit. This levity of conduct, it may be supposed, but ill accords with the sober sentiments of her husband.
A plot thus laid is capable of embracing a variety of domestic contentions, of which Mrs Ross has well availed herself; and she often relieves the picture by adducing examples of conjugal felicity. We recommend this novel to our newly-married fashionables.
[complete] Provided by Julie A. Shaffer, September 1999.
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