The Sun.
London, England, 1864-04-15 00:00:00

errand Orobr

HER MAJESTY.

WINDSOR CASTLE, April 14.
His Royal Highness Prince Arthur, attended by
Major Elphinstone, arrived at the Castle yesterday.
Their Royal Highnesses the Prince Alfred, Prin-
cess Helena, and Princess Louisa, attended by the
Lady Caroline Barrington, the Hon. Caroline Caven-
dish, the Hon. Mortimer Sackville West, and Lieut.
Haig, went to London yesterday and honoured the
performance at Drury-lane with their presence.
Their royal highnesses returned to Windsor Castle
at night.
The Queen, accompanied by her Royal Highness
Princess Helena, walked and drove in the grounds
this morning.
To day is the anniversary of the birthday of her
Royal Highness the Princess Beatrice.

BIRTHDAY OF THE PRINCESS BEATRICE.---11"‘
terday being the seventh anniversary of the birth
of her Royal Highness Princess Beatrice Mary \'lo'
torie Feodore, the ninth and youngest member of
her Majesty's family, the event was duly celebrated
in Windsor with the usual royal honours.
His Royal Highness Prince Alfred, attended by
his equerry Lieut. Haig, yesterday honourel the
Institute of Painters in Water Colours, by an ind
spection of their 30th annual exhibition.
The Duke of Leinster arrived on Tuesday even'
ing at his mansion on Carlton-Louse-terrace from
Carlton House, Maynooth.
The Duchess (Emily) of Beaufort has returned to
town from visiting Lord and Lady Londesborougbt
at their seat in Yorkshire.
The Earl of Carlisle has arrived in town from
Dublin. The noble earl is staying with the Bilk.
of Devonshire, at Devonshire House.
The Countess (Dowager) of Morton and Lridi
Agnes Douglas have arrived In Lower Brook-street
from Went worth..
Count Maffei, Count Zannini, and the Marquis
Balbi were not present at the Duchess of Suther.
land's evening party at Stafford House, on Wed:
nesday last, though the contrary might be inferred
from their names appearing among those invited.
Viscount and Viscountess Stratford de Redclige
entertained a relent party at dinner last evening, at
their residence in Grosvenor-square.
The marriage of Viscount Powerseourt and Lady
Julia Coke, daughter of the Earl and Countess of
LQicester, is appointed to take place on the 26th

inst.
Lord Llanover has arrived in town from Spell
Wales.

LITERATURE,

My Stepfather's Home. By Lady Blake. Three

Vols. Hurst and Blackett.

This is a pleasant readable book, written in a°
easy natural style. Although possessing no veil
high merit as a work of fiction, it will charm man/
readers, and it presents quite a refreshing contrast
to the extravagant stories which are now daili
making their appearance. The history of the Step'
father and his Home is narrated to us by gentle
Jessie Seaford. At the opening of the tale, Jessie:
a little girl of eight years old, lives in the Wood
Cottage, near the Vicarage, with her widowed,
mother, who is, in the slight glimpses we obtain 01
her, represented as one of the sweetest and gentlest
of women, in every way charming and perfectli
Unassuming. Mother and daughter are devoted to
each other, and Jessie, inasmuch as we can judge
from the portrait she, here, incidentally draws of her'
self, is a happy copy of her admirable mother. The
serenity of the Wood Cottage is disturbed by the
arrival of the new vicar, Mr. Rivers, who briogs
with him his youthful ward, Mabel Clifton. Alter
a while Mr. Rivers becomes the Stepfather of Jessie
Seaford, who no longer claims the undivided Vs'
session of her mother's heart. The principal interest
of the story attaches to Mabel, whose parents ar°
unknown to her, and who, taught by a foolish
nurse, believes herself to be far superior to all around
her. The moat exciting portion of the tale refers •
to Mabel's visit to the Manor House, where
a series of fashionable mariages de convenance
are simultaneously arranged, love being ignored,
and rank and wealth alone sought after. Mabel
herself plays a conspicuous part in the mercenarl
strugg:e, her ambition prompting her to obtain that
high place in society to which she believes herself
entitled. A startling scene in the library interrupts
these happy arrangements, and threatens eestrue'
tion to more than one anticipated " match." As WI
do not like to spoil the interest of a story, we shall
say no more about it, saving to utter a protest
against the main incident at the close—a marriage
such as that entered into by the heroine havld
about it something singularly objectionable. Tbe
characters are many of them happily drawn. Among
others, we are amused by that inveterate gossip
Cousin Owen, who innocently exclaims that be
abhors the habit of gossipping, only he likes t°
know the truth ceucerning everything and ever/
hod) Mr. Rivers, an excellent, disagreeable want
is naturally depicted, as are also good-natured
cousin Charlotte, and fashionable Lady Maria
little Adah is very charming, and her pettish jea°
lousy and heart-broken grief are very truthfully
pourtrayed. Many pleasant acquaintances are to
be met with, and some agreeable hours may be pre'
fitably spent at " My Stepfather's Home."

Sir Victor's Choice. By Annie Thomas, author or
" The Cross of Honour," Three Vols. Maxwell;
The opening of this story is very original is".
effective. In a shabby-genteel lodging-house tilt
struggling family of the presumptive heir to .0
baronetcy, are striving to " keep up appearances'
A letter arrives announcing the long-expected dolt:
of the baronet-cousin, but announcing also that )1
title and fortune go to a son, whose existence 1136,
been hitherto unknown. This is a dreadful WWI
'"
to the poor relation, the expectant baronet
softened a little by the announcement that the nel !
heir is still in his minority, and that his cousin
appointed his guardian during the brief interval Of
about a year) that must elapse before Sir Vict°'
comes of age. While the disappointed gentlenso°
is deploring his misfortune, his elder daughter,
high-spirited, energetic girl, taking the hand of be
younger sister, calls upon her to join her in regis;
tering a vow that they will save the fortnoei
of the family, and that their father si'°:
13'1,
never again, on the expiration of
term of guardianship, return to his life of peolifit
and obscurity. The vow the sisters make is,
tha
one of them shall, during the ensuing year, bea°,
the bride of the new baronet—Sir Victor's Cnoic°
This is the theme of the first portion of the tale,all t
the desired object is pursued by the father and el
sister in a most determined and unscrupulous 1011;
ner. We cannot say we admire the way in
the story turns, or some of the closing scenes
the attack of the mad dog, the cab accident, &c•S'ei;
all occuricg in rapid succession, partake too volleof
of the " sentimental," and are, to say the lest it
them, unnatural and far from agreeable in tl°of
details. The fair authoress of " The CroS
Honour," has, however, made a great advanceul .to
her new work, and promises to become a favot
among our novel-writers.
up Of
PROFESSOR ANDERSON, THE GREAT AVIZA--, dt
THE NORTH.—This gentleman has returned to Begile
atter a professional tour nearly all round the wort d•
yle
has become lessee of St. James's Hall for a consider°
ie
period, and will snake his re-appearance in Londoe9lllso,
lately o
September next. He has also taken Gore Lodge, Fiiccupied by Mr. Charles Mathews, as a residefseo
with a view of residing for a while in that delightful reiro,
after his arduous labours, and also for the purpose °, 010
cciving the visits of his friends from all quarters 0'
world. worr
A BATY MEMORIAL.—A committee of e
tow-
ing men of Penzance having raised £5OO ar,,,,0;
memorial of the late Sir Humphrey Davy, two ladies of tsar
town—whose kindness to the poor is only equalled by:.Too,
discrimination of gifts—have offered to contribute 1:1110
on the sole condition that the memorial shall take the:_„
) of almshouses. Wednesday's CornisA :telegraph aoneo
crot
a further donation of £lOO by Mr. T. li. Bodin)", a m,ro_doo
of Penzance, and the proffered assistance of the 1:_to
• Chemical Society in securing for his natal place a ineau,v,
of the distinguished chemist.