The Sun.
London, England, 1860-11-20 00:00:00

he foot of the hill, when the excessive keenness of

the wind, and the dull heavy atmosphere, caused
her Majesty, with apparent reluctance, to agree to
return to the city. The party then proceeded up
the Canongate; visited the White Horse Close
where one of the gentlemen of the suite entered
the ancient hostelry (believed to be the oldest
house in Edinburgh) from which the Close derives
its name, paused a few minutes to contem-
plate the quaint old gables of John Knox's house,
and returned by the North Bridge to the hotel,
which the Empress did not again leave last night.
It is rumoured that her Majesty will remain in
Edinburgh for a day or two, though nothing de-
finite is known on this point. It has been an-
nounced, however, that the Duke and Duchess of
Hamilton are to give a ball this (Tuesday) evening,
in honour of the illustrious visitor. It is also
stated that a splendid suite of state apartments
have been provided in Hamilton Palace for her
Majesty's reception, and that the portraits of the
Napoleon family (of whom the Duchess of Hamil-
ton is a member) have been re-arranged in an im-
proved manner.

The Illoniteur of Sunday publishes the following
short paragraph with regard to the visit of the
Empress to this country :
"The sad blow which her Majesty the Empress
has experienced in her family affections having ren-
dered a change of air necessary for her health, her
Majesty left three days since to make, in the most
private manner, a journey in England and Scot-
land for a few weeks. Her Majesty left on Wed-
nesday morning, and the Emperor accompanied
her to the railway station."
We read in the Illorning Poit :—" Her Ma-
jesty's health was severely tried by the circum•
stances attendant upon the death of her tenderly
loved sister, the Duchess of Alba. When, with the
Emperor, her Majesty started on the imperial tour
in the south and in Algeria, her sister was very
ill, but none believed that there was serious
danger. It will be remembered that in the midst
i of their journey in Africa the Empress heard of
the duchess's unexpected death. Her grief was
the more painful because she could not escape from
the necessities of official receptions. In this un-
happy position there remained one melancholy
consolation, namely, that she might still pay the
last sad duties to her sister. What then must the
Empress have suffered when, on her return from
Africa, she learned that she was deprived of her
last sad hope, and that the duchess was already com-
mitted to the grave ? Thus arose an overpowering
despair, a retired and solitary life, which seemed
to refuse every consolation. Such a state of things
could not be allowed to continue without seriously
affecting the health of the Empress, and the Empe-
ror positively urged a change of scene and of air,
which might mitigate, if not dispel, a state of feel-
ing which caused so much anxety to himself and to
all attached to her Majesty. This course once re-
solved upon, the selection of the.country in which
the Empress skould travel was, it appears, quickly
made, and everyone will be glad that the choice
fell on England. It has been stated that her Ma-
jesty is on her road to Hamilton Palace. This, how-
ever, it seems:is an error. The Empress is simply
travelling in England and Scotland, and will not
Majesty
become the guest of any subject before her M • t
par a visit to Windsor. This will take place as
soon as the novelty and progress of the journey
shall have tempered a frame of mind which at pre-
sent would only render such an interview trying to
both of the august ladies."

CONCERT IN AID OF THE BLIND SCHOOL.—The
London Society for teaching the blind to read have one of
their largest schools in the Avenue-road, St. John's-wood,
which is fully occupied by pupils of both sexes. An organ
has recently been purchased for their use, and is not yet
paid for. With a view to liouiclating the debt a concert
will be given on Monday evening next at the Eyre Arms
Assembly Rooms, St. John's-wood. Mr. Edwin Barnes,
the organist of the school, has been actively engaged in
getting up the entertainment, and has secured the assist-
ance of several eminent artists, amongst whom we may
mention Mde. Rudersdorff, Mde. Weiss, Miss Stabbach,
Miss Gerard, Miss Ward, Miss Palmer, Miss Cholleston,
Miss Cawcs, Mr. Redfcarne, Mr. Weiss, Mr. Payne, Mr
Solomons, Sig. Randeggor, and Mr. Prout. The advan-
tages of such a society as one which affords instruction and
employment to persons who are unfortunately deprived of
sight need not be pointed out here, they are universally
acknowledged; and we doubt not that friends of
i rabic
afflicted persons will be supported by the charitable
Af r part
on this as they have on all former occasions. ouT ic
song will be sung by some of the blind scholars, Miss Stirlingwhich was
composed expressly for them by
üblished the
Before leaving Naples, Garibaldi
informed that I p
following announcement :—The public
they are prepaid,
shall receive no letters a Caprera =less