The Sun.
London, England, 1864-12-12 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

TirE ART UNION ALMANACK—a very bijou of an
Almanack—small though it is in its dimensions is
wonderfully copious is its information. Besides
giving us a record of its own officers ani council—it
does the like by other eminent art institutions, such
for example, as the British Museum, the National
Gallery, the Royal Academy, and 8o forth.
putian as it is in size, it is Worthy of a corner in
every artist's pocket-book. The Almanack for the
new year is accompanied as usual by the annual
report of the Council of the Art Union of London,
for the year last past--a report through which we-
are delighted to observe the indications that that
,aid Art Union is still among the most flourish•
ing of our popular, we might even say, of our
national art institutions.

GOLDSMITH'S VICAR OF WAKEFIELD has, by
good luok, just now, immediately before Christmas
time, made another and, in some respects, a more
than ever welcome appearance in the form of a
beautiful little pocket edition of 217 pages—illus-
trated—price one shilling. It appears thus as the
tenth instalment of that admirably well selected,
well edited, well printed, and for the most part also
well illustrated series, entitled, "Laurie's Entera
taining Library
"—a library, the publication of
which was begun by the Messrs. Longman, and is
now being continued by Mr. Thomas Murby, the
Educational Bookseller.
LAURIE'S .1( EY TO THE STANDARD MANUAL OF
ARITHMETIC appears,
simultaneously with Gold.
smith's Domeetic Story, from Mr Murby's establish.
ment. It relates to Arithmetic both Theoretical and
Practical, and will bo almost equally acceptable, we
should conjecture, to Pupils and to Teachers.

WIZARD OF THE NORTII, ST. JAMEB'S
Each afternoon performance seems to grow i❑
attraction, The hall on Saturday was tilled with a large
assembly of juveniles— Professor Anderson is most strenu-
ous in his endeavours to amuse his audience, and also
sends away his little patrons leaded with various gilts to
make them dream of their visit to the " World of Magic!'
By the kind invitation of the Wizard the following schools
were present (admitted free) to share the treat so generously
afforded :—St. George's (Hanover-square), 200—Hanover
branch, 250—St. Peter's National (Belgravia), 162—Par-
mitier's Charity (Bethnal Green), 25—total, 637. The
Wizard announces his last week but three, and states he
has various novelties in store for the holiday folks at
Christmas.

A WITTY SAYING OF M. DUMAS THE YOUNGER.
—The Empress is said to have invited him to Compiegne,
adding to the courtesy an assurance that all the guests were
to enjoy full liberty in the chateau. " What a pity, then,
Madame," said M. Dumas, "that all France has not been
invited,"

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

[REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.]

-,- ~

THE BANK OF FRANKFORT.

FRANKFORT-ON-MAINE, DEC. 12.
The Bank of Frankfort has reduced its rate of
discount from 51 to 5 per cent.

ITALY.
TURIN, DEC 10 I(Evening.)

The Senate of today voted the bill for the in.
3cription on the Book of the Public Debt of a sum
of 1,067,000 f. Rente in favour of the City of Turin.
The bill authorising industrial and commercial
companies to establish their chief offices elsewhere
than at Turin was also passed, as was also a bill for
the transfer of the Court. of Cassation from Milan
to Turin,

SPAIN.

MADRID, DEC. 10 (Evening.)

The Correspondencia announces that the Queen
has accepted the resignation of Senor Llorente,
,and
adds that the motive for this step on the part of
the Minister was a simple question of expediency
with regard to the order of introduction of certain
bills in the next Parliament.

Senor Antonio Benavides, nominated Minister of
Foreign Affairs, in place of Senor Llorente, has
taken the oath of allegiance to the Queen.

TEE WEST COAST OF AFRICA MAILS.

LIVERPOOL, DEC. 12.

The Royal Mail steamer Athenian, with the
above mails, has arrived here. She brings 21 pas•
sengers, 1,6620 z. of gold dust and £5,110 in specie.
Her dates are as follows :—Benin, Oct, 24 ; New
Calabar, Nov. 7th; Bonny, 7th; Lagos, 10th;
Accra, 12th ; Cape Coast Castle, 14th ; Cape Palmas,
16th; Sierra Leone, 21st ; Bathurst, 25th ; Teneriffe,
Dec. 1 ; and Madeira, Dec. 3.
Dr Baikie bad arrived at Lagos cm route for
Es gland.
Trade was totally stopped at Benin.
All other news unimportant.