The Sun.
London, England, 1865-12-13 00:00:00

Letts' Diaries for 1866.

A whole cluster of Diaries—big and little—bulky
volumes for the desk and miniature pocket com-
panions—some of them diaries beautifully finished,
some of them mere rough-and-ready scribb ling
journals interleaved with blotting-paper—annually
issue from the press at the close of the Old Year
and the approach of the New, under their well-
known generic title as " Letts's Diaries." In this
way, from one and the same establishment, that of
the Messrs. Letts, Son, and Company, come yearly
clusters of diaries, in the external getting up and the
internal arrangement of which every taste is con-
sulted. The man of business and the man of pleasure
--the gentleman at large and the tradesman in
little—the flaneur and the hard-working man of
letters—the ever idle and the ever busy—alike, can
select his own peculiar and favourite remembrancer
from the diversity of diaries, almanacks, calendars,
and journals issued thus, in all sizes and at all prices,
from the same indefatigable and enterprising
establishment.

BLACKWOOD'S SHILLING SCRIBBLING DIARY FOR
1866—0 f lesser size and lesser price than Letts'—has
again, as usual, made its appearance early in the
month of December.

A DINNER AT BUCKINGHAM PALACE WITH
WILLIAM IV.—The King and Queen sat oppo-
site each other, on each side, at the middle part of the
table ; Prince George on the left hand of the Queen,
the Marquis of Winchester on her right ; then the
maid of honour, and then the Doctor. The Queen, to use
Dr. Sleath's expression, " was very quiet," and addressed
her conversation chiefly to Prince George, but only talked
a little during her stay at the table. The King " was
very pleasant." No dishes were set upon the table—
nothing in the shape of eatables appeared there. The
entire space was covered with an immense variety of
ornamental articles, curiously and elaborately constructed,
to which a striking effect was communicated by
the softened lights of the numerous wax candles that clus-
tered above the board. Ten servants in superb liveries
assisted during the dinner, and behind the King's chair
stood a gentleman in black, who gave his Majesty wine.
To descant on the various succession of appetising viands
would be superfluous. Even princes are restricted to the
enjoyment of the same objects of food participated by their
subjects as ordinary delicacies. Thus, cod-fish, soles, white
soup, turtle soup, roast beef, fowls, cutlets, patties, game of
all kinds, and sweet-dishes of every conceivable variety,
wore handed about to the guests with that prompt and
skilful attention peculiar to highly trained servitors in our
best houses. Soon after the fish was distributed the King
said to Dr. Sleath—" Remember you preach to us on Sun-
day ; and will you do us the honour to take wine ? What
do you do with yourself these holidays ? " Sire, Igo into
Warwickshire, where I was born, to see all my friends."
"Ah, well ! Amherst, fill your glass— you are a Warwick-
shire boy. Here's to the health of tho Warwickshire lads
and lasses !" at which they all laughed and drank the
toast. After the dinner a magnificent dessert was put upon
the table, the coup d ceil of which was a spectacular treat to
be ever afterwards recalled with a feeling of unabated ad-
miration. The men stayed to change the ice plates, and
then left. After a rather brief interval the Queen nodded
to the King, who immediately said aloud—" Door ?" which
was opened by the man in black ; all the gentlemen stood
up; and then the Queen arose, and her two ladies, and
left the room. The gentlemen sat till 11 o'clock, the King
" very pleasant ;" he left the table alone, and the rest a
quarter of an hour after.— Once a Week,.