The Sun.
London, England, 1852-01-02 00:00:00

CHRISTMAS BOOKS,

ALICE LEAIOIOAT; a Fairy Tale. By the
Author of " Olive." With Illustrations by James
Godwin. Chapman and Hall.
A genuine fairy tale, charmingly written, and
most_ gracefully illustrated, "Alice Learmont" is
worthy of being classed among the most attractive of
" Christmas books." The illustrations are singularly
beautiful, and promise well for the future achieve-
ments of Mr. James Godwin. The tale, as the title-
page says, is a "fairy tale," and as such gives a
full and entertaining account of the strange caprices
and fitful vagaries of the "good people." Alice
Learmont, like many another young maiden, whether
of high or low degree, has a divided heart and almost
a divided existence. D welling from infancy among
the deceitful splendour and heartless gaities of fairy
land, but, unlike her elfin companions, possessed
of a human heart, which now and then yearns
with a strange intensity for the human love which en-
circles the humble hearth of her mother's cottage,
Alice endures a struggle which, as we have said,
finds its counterpart in many a youthful breast
divided between the claims of Art and Nature, of
Fashion and Home. To such and to many more
"Alice Learmont" will not be without a moral, and its
beautiful pictures of home affection, and especially
the charming portrait of Marian Learmont, the ideal
of motherly love, entitle this fairy tale to a prominent
place among the favourite books of the Christmas
season.

THE FLORAL MONTHS OF ENGLAND.
By Jane E. Giraud. Ackermann.
" To all who consider the lilies of the field, how
they grow, this wreath of England's wild flowers is
dedicated," says the introductory page of this very
beautiful volume, and to all those, and possibly to
many others who have no opportunity of considering
them as they grow, these graceful representatives of
some among the most graceful of the flowers of the
field will pro►e most acceptable. The volume, which
is in every particular as beautifully finished as are all
the productions of the Messrs. Ackermann, contains
twelve delicately-coloured groups of the principal
wild flowers, &c., of each month, among the most
beautiful of which are the pink and white hedge
roses of June, and the red berried-holly and ever-
greens of December. A group of various mushrooms
is the strange illustration for one of the autumn
months, and contrasts well with its more elegant
companions.

FLORAL POEMS; with Pictures in the Flowers.
The Poetry by F. W. N. Bayley. Ackermann.
Another elegant adornment for the drawing-room
table is this fanciful combination of pictures and
verses, where delicate gossamer- winged ladies and gen-
tlemen disport themselves among the blossoms and
leaves of symbolic flowers, most gracefully designed,
and beautifully coloured. Mr. Bayley's poetic de-
scriptions appear to be designed to serve the purposes
of valentines, for which they are eminently qualified,
besides affording a very graceful interpretation for the
various pictures.

THE HUNCHBACK'S CHEST. By the Rev.
W. Wiekenden, 8.A., the Bard of the Forest,
Author of " Adventures in Cireassia.

A pleasing collection of prose and verse, consisting
of several tales, a dramatic sketch entitled " Achilles
and Cleone," and several short poems, which are very
graceful ; among them may be noticed " A Sea Chant"
and a " Fancy Sketch." " Blethyn," the longest of
the tales, is of the time of the Cavaliers.

LADY FELICIA ; a Arovel. By IL Cochton. Office
of the National Illustrated Library.
Entertainment will be found in this tale, which is
in conformity with the general purport of publi-
cations at this season. The heroine is very spirited
and intelligent, and the miseries of her home and
cruel treatment of her relatives furnish her with a
sufficient excuse for taking a step that might else be
censurable. Alfred, the hero, proves the power of
perseverance, and the truth of the assertion that
merit and prudence may overcome many obstacles
and succeed to an almost incredible extent. There is
❑othing heavy or solemn about the book, all is oharac-
tefised by briskness and vivacity.

THE PATHWAY OF THE FA WY. By Mrs.
T. K. Hervey. Office of the National Illustrated
Library.
This is " a tale of the New Year," the scene is
laid in Germany, and the plot, though complicated,
is interesting. Its chief object seems to be to show
the effect of beautiful influences upon the mind.
Why it is thus entitled is not clear, as the pathway
of the fawn is but a name given to a path in the
woods which is seldom referred to. The style is
striking and poetioal, in some instances almost too
much so, yet the reader cannot fail to be fascinated
by it. The following extract is taken from the com-
mencement, where a group of friends are awaiting
the New Year:—" I do truly believe," was the
answer of the young and enthusiastic Ernst, "that
words involuntarily uttered at such a sea-
-1 son as this whether around such a board
or elsewhere ; whether spoken on the summit
of the Brocken, or beneath the pitchy boughs of the
Schwartzwald ; whether in the green depths of the
Rhine valleys, or beside its winding waters—are alike
potent from the lips that gave them breath ; nay,
further, that while the worse spirits are at times per-
mitted to apply such terms in a strained or fatal
sense—if at all ambiguous—on the other hand, the
words themselves on the lips of the just may become
words of power, controlling the designs of demons,
and forcing them to work out the good of the utterer
against their will. I ha ! ha!' shouted NVilhelm
von Fern, ' further then this the tide of superstition
can scarcely run. But see,' he added, suddenly point-
ing to the dial plate, we have almost forgotten the
watches of the night. It wants but a minute to the
charmed hour.' That minute was one of the deepest
hush. Every eye turned in the same direction, and
became rivetted on the time-piece. Wilhelm von
Fern arose, and treading the boards as if hie steps
would have disturbed some sleeper, turned to the
window and noiselessly opened the casement to its
full swing, in order that the chimes of the distant
cathedral might be distinctly heard. Still not a
breath stirred not a star was visible. But down, far
down the rocky steep lay the ancient city at its foot,
with all her innumerable lights reflected in the waters
of the darkened Rhine—so many witnesses of the
anxious and breathless watchers that awaited the
signal of another birth to time, a year for hope, for
love, young voices and old graves." There are several
songs introduced which are very graceful and pleasing,
and the volume is altogether most attractive.

LITERAT URE.
TRAVELS in TARTARY, THIBET, AND
CHIINA• Office of the National Illustrated
Library.
These accounts are translated from the French,
they are the records of a lengthened sojourn in the
East by Messrs. Shec and Gabet. No one can fail to
be interested in such minute details concerning nations
about which so little is known and where so few
have been able to penetrate.

PICTURES OF TRAVELSth THE SOUTH
OF FRANCE. By Alexandre Dumas. Office
of the National Illustrated Library.
It is truly observed in the pretace of this work,
that no one should attempt to write on scenes so near
home without being well acquainted with them. The
principle points of interest and the historical associations
connected with Lyons, Vienne, Marseilles, Fontairi-
bleau, &c., are commented on, and much valuable in-
formation is thus given.

THE PICTORIAL SCRIPTURE ALPHA-

BET. By Miss Schreder. Ackermann.
A series of cards representing the letters of the
alphabet. On each is a coloured design of some
leading subject met with in the Bible. Very useful
descriptions are given on the back, and a moral is
Sought for in most cases from the texts which
contain the words exhibited. But one thing sug-
gests itself, that the children for whose use the
letters proclaim it to be intended would never have
the capacity to comprehend the abstruse reflections
that appear. Indeed, there are many accounts given
that those of mature years are doubtless unacquainted
with, and they
may here gain information which is in
every way desirable.

APPOINTMENTS TO OFFlCES.—Yesterday the Act
of Parliament to simplify the forms of appointments to cer-
tain offices and the manner of passing grants under the
Great Seal (14 and 15 Victoria, cap. 82) came into force, re-
pealing the statute 27 Henry VIII., cap. 11, by which all
writings to be passed under the Great Seal were passed
through the offices of the Signet and Privy Seal by warrants.
In every case where any gift or grant is required to be passed,
her Majesty may, by her warrant to the Lord Chancellor,
cause letters patent to be passed, which warrant shall be a
sufficient warrant for passing the letters patent, and no
Queen's bill, Signet bill, or Privy Seal bill shall be necessary
to the passing of such letters patent. The offices of clerks
of the Signet and Privy Seal are by this Act abolished, and
compensation to be given to the persons holding the offices.
The duties of the Signet-office (not superseded by this Act)
are to be performed in the office of the Secretary of State.
The Treasury is to regulate the Privy Seal offices, and to fix
salaries. Rules are to be made for passing letters patent. The
Act does not affect letters patent, &c., not passed through the
Signet and Privy Seal offices. The Act takes effect from the
31st 'December, 1851.

SUPPRESSION OF THE CONVICT MUTINY.—The
eighteen convicts who were separated from the other con-
yid W 1
s on board the Warrior at
Woolwich Dock) and onues-
day last, and, after being heavily ironed, placed on board
the Wye convict ship in the river, were taken on shore on
Wednesday afternoon by order of Captain Whitty and con-
veyed in omnibuses hired for the occasion, in the dusk of
the evening, to Millbank Penitentiary. The other convicts
have resumed their labour under their guards as usual
during the day in the dockyard; but, from information
Captain Whitty has received, there are seven other convicts
still among those at the dockyard whose conduct was very
bad, and he has considered it necessary that they should be
flogged as an example to the others. The Royal Artillery
have been ordered to take their turn of convict guard duty
with ylao Royal Alariues•