The Sun.
London, England, 1870-12-12 00:00:00

HEIR MAJESTY.

WINDSOR CASTLE, Dec. 11.
The Queen drove out yesterday afternoon, attended by
the Countess of Gainsborough.
Her Majesty, Princess Beatrice, Prince Leopold, and
Prince Christian attended Divine service this morning in
the private chapel.
Princess Christian visited the Queen. Prince and Prin-
cess Christian remained tci luncheon.

The Lord Chancellor had the honour of dining with
the Queen and the Royal Family last evening.

The Prince and Princess of Wales and suite
arrived at Oxford station shortly before two o'clock on
Saturday. Their Royal Highnesses proceeded to London
by the 2 p.m. train.

The Earl of Rosse is recovering from his recent
illness. - - -

Lord Suffield and Lieutenant-Colonel Duff have
left Norfolk on a yachting cruise in the Mediterranean.

Mr. Vernon Harcourt, M.P. for Oxford; will
contribute an orignal article to the new publication Dark
Blue, on "The State of Europe."

Mr. John F. Isaacson, a solicitor, of Norfolk-street,
Strand, is a candidate for the appointment of solicitor to
the newly-formed London School Board.
The Glasgow Herald reports the failure of the
Northern Transportation Company with liabilities of
400,000 dols., and assets at 1,200,000 dols.

It is reported that Mr. John Bright will shortly
visit the United States " as a British envoy charged with
the settlement of the Alabama controversy. The Phila-
delphia correspondent of the Times says, whether well
founded or not, the report has given universal satisfac-
tion.

ROUTLEDGE'S CHRISTMAS BOOKS.
Bright as the berries on the Christmas holly, and,
happily for the little ones, perrennial as the evergreens,
come Picture Book and Fairy Tale, gorgeous in binding
and glorious in colouring, for boy and girl of every age and
every diversity of character. First and foremost of the
Christmas.books for the New Year comes Routledges
"Every Boy's Annual," which this year appears in some
respects superior to its predecessors. The Rev. a
Adams is, as usual, the chief story-teller, and " The
Winborough Boys" in the present work will maintain
his reputation among his juvenile readers. Those Who
remember the many attractive stories from the
pen of this favourite author will require no re;
commendation to turn to " The Winborough Boya
Plenty of adventure with smugglers and poachera
enlivens the Interest of this school-boy history. The
characters of the juvenile heroes are well described, and
the foolish pride of Charles Dalton may afford a useful
lesson to readers who may chance to resemble him in ohs'
ratter. A series of sensational dramas, founded on some
of the nursery legends, innumerable puzzles, and cha-
rades alternate with matter of graver interest, such as s
description of " The Assault of " the Malakoff," " The
Siege of Tunis," " The life of Henry 1V.," " Trades
connected with Science and Art," &c. We must net
omit to particularise seven chapters devoted to a full
description and particular instruction concerning the
game of dominoes. These lessons are illustrated
with numerous pictorial examples, and will be found most
interesting to amateurs in that comparatively neglected
study. The volume abounds with illustrations, some of
them brilliantly coloured, and is altogether as attractive in
its contents and appearance as every boy could well desire.
Boys are, indeed, well-catered for in this collection. Ws
have a reprint of Mr. Adams's very charming story of the
" Boy Cavalier," together with a new historical tale,
"Friend or Foe," by the same author, contained in a very
handsome illustrated volume, entitled " Tales of the Civil
Wars." " Friend or Foe, a tale of Sedgemoor," also
appears separately in a smaller volume. Next
we have a story by the popular authoress of
"East Lynne," Mrs. Henry Wood, 11` The Orville
College Boys," which, it is hardly needful to say, is Ps
tale of enthralling interest. The legacy in the last chap-
ter is one that should be treasured by every youthful
reader. A very racketty record of sports and adventures
is to be found in " Stephen Scudamore the Younger, or
the Fifteen-year-Old," by Arthur Locker. Perils
by sea and land, adventures in the gold
diggings, strange encounters with unwelcome com-
rades, a ship on fire, and other startling incidents,
follow in rapid succession. This volume like " The
Orville College Boys" is abundantly illustrated. For
boys and girls we have " The Holiday Camp, or three
days Pic-nic," by R. St. John Corbet, which re-
cords the happy adventures of a large party of boys
and girls who for three happy days play at
gipsies in Newisham meadow. The idea is a yell
novel one, and is productive of fun and frolic without
measure. This little book is also very prettily bound and
illustrated. " Our Domestic Pets " gives an interesting
description of pigeons and bees and rabbits and
silkworms, and every other kind of domestic pet,
from dogs and parrots to white mice and butter-
flies. Of girls' books we have only one in this
pleasant gathering, "Patience Strong," by the author of
" The Gayworthys," very beautifully illustrated. This is
not so much a story as a record of quiet thoughts and
loving remembrances. The tender affection of Patience
for her lost mother— " Motherdie," as she calls her,
is revealed in every page. And now we must
turn to the bright stores of Nursery Literature,
which appear to us this year even more brilliant than
usual. We have here shilling Toy Books that are perfect
marvels of the colourists' art. The pictures glow with
the warmth of oil paintings. Among these is the old
favourite of our childhood's days, "My Mother/
The whole is the subject of a series of charming illustra-
tions. " The Dogs' dinner party," "The White Cat,"
" Little Dog Trusty," and " Dash and the Duck-
lings," are the subjects of the other shilling
works. Then a little less attractive in size, but
full of interest in their subject matter, are
the sixpenny' series, " King Grisly-Beard," " Rumpel-.
stiltskin," " The Fairy Ship," and " The Adventures of
Puffy," while a smaller set of threepenny toy books con-
tain such old favourites as " Cinderella," " The House
that Jack Built," " Cock Robin," and " Little Red Riding
Hood." "My Mother's Picture Book," a large handsome
volume, brilliantly coloured, and beauti fully bound,contains
" My Mother " and " The Dogs' Dinner Party," and
some others collected together; while a lesser volume,
" Routledge's Coloured Picture Book," groups together a
most interesting collection of fairy tales and legendary
lore from "Rumpelstillskin" and "Grisly Beard"
to the " Fairy Ship " and " Poor Puffy." The
" Fairy Ship " is very happy in its illustrations. " I saw
a ship come sailing o'er the sea." The little mice sailors
climbing the shrouds and nibbling " almonds in the hold"
are capital, and the most majestic Captain Duck is a
wonderful combination of the ridiculous and sublime ! A
beautiful collection of " National Nursery Rhymes," set to
music by J. W. Elliott, very daintily bound and gracefully
illustrated, will be very welcome to many a fireside group
where a happy chorus of little voices may keep time to
mamma's fingers at the pianoforte. Some delightful life-
like illustrations from the skilful pencil of Oscar Pletsch
adorn a little volume of Child-Life adapted from the
German of Rudolph Reichenau, by Crichton Campbell ;
both pictures and letterpress are singularly charming. As
a .3onclusion to this comprehensive list of children's
Christmas books, we have " Routledge's Illustrated Read-
ing Book," full of easy reading for the very little ones,
with plenty of pictures, and " Routledge's British Read-
ing Book" for children a little further advanced. Alto-
gether, a goodly collection indeed !