The Sun.
London, England, 1860-02-02 00:00:00

TILE RUINS OF' EDINBUI?GIL

Government, it appears, is busy preparing Edin
burgh for.the visit of the New Zealander, having
already created two extensive scenes of ruin and
desolation in the city. For more than two years
the Castle has presented almost the aspect of having
undergone a siege. Some large buildings and the
prominent Mons Meg battery were two years since
demolished, preparatory, it was supposed, to the
restoration of some of the ancient features of the
Castle, and to the erection of a new armoury, from
designs by Lieut.-Colonel Moody, R.E. Eighteen
months ago, however, that gallant officer was ap-
pointed Lieutenant-Governor of British Columbia,
and since his departure the Castle has remained in
the dismantled state to which it had previously been
reduced, and the excellent plans prepared have
been no more heard of. The other " ruin " is the
site acquired by Government, in virtue of powers
contained in an Act of Parliament passed in
1858, for :the erection of a new General Post.
office for Scotland. That site has been bought at
a cost of no less than £50,000, including the pur-
chase of the Theatre Royal, and of the various in-
terests involved, and of the buildings in Shake-
speare-square, enclosing the theatre. The houses in
Shakespeare-square have all been pulled down, and
the Theatre Royal closed, and for some months an
important central position in the city has presented
an aspect of desolation. For the contemplated
building plans for an appropriate structure, in the
Italian style, have been prepared by Mr. Matheson,
of the Board of Works in Edinburgh. and have re-
ceived the sanction of successive Commissioners of
Public Works. They have also been approved by
the city magistrates, who, in the expectation that
a structure would be raised suited to the site and
creditable to the city, made a grant to the Govern-
ment of the area of the streets in Shakespeare-
square, which constitute a large portion of the pro-
posed sites. All further progress in the execution
of the plans, however, has been stopped, and the
projeet has been revived of transferring some of
the metropolitan departments of the Edinburgh
Post-office to London. A similar proposal to that
now made was before the Post-office Commissioners
in 1854, and was reported against in decided terms,
and it was in consequence of the decision then come
to that measures were entered into for the erection
of the new Post-office in Edinburgh, the present
premises in Waterloo-place having become quite
inadequate to meet the increasing business of the
establishment, and being incapable of further ex-
tension. The resuscitation of the plan for carrying
a large part of the business to London has called
forth a very strong feeling in the city, the Town-
Council, the Merchant Company, and the Architec-
tural Institute having held meetings and passed
resolutions on the subject, setting forth the great
loss and inconvenience to Edinburgh and to Scot-
laud generally that would result from the adop-
tion of the plan, and the breach of faith implied
in the non-erection of the structure, for which
an act had been passed, and £50,000 spent in
acquiring a site, otherwise useless, and now three-
fourths dismantled, and in anticipation of
which a grant of valuable property had been
made to Government by the city. The Lord Pro-
vost and one of the magistrates have been sent to
London to urge upon the authorities to retain the
whole Scotch metropolitan establishment in Edin-
burgh, and to proceed with the erection of the new
edifice according to Mr. Matheson's plans.

FEMALE FASHIONS FOR FEBRUARY.

(From Le Follet.)
At this season of the year we are sure that a
lengthened description of dresses suitable for ball
and evening toilette will be useful to our readers.
Some of them, from the lightness of the material,
and the combination of flowers, tulle, &c., may
almost be called fairy-like. Ono we will describe.
It was composed of white tulle bouillonnee. At
the lower part of the skirt it had three skirts of
double tulle, each caught up by ribbons of white
taffetas, embroiderod with bouquets of flowers, pro-
ducing a fresh and ckarming effect. Nine bouquets
of flowers were placed at the end of these ribbons,
no two alike. The body was in the same style as
the skirt. Upon each shoulder a bouquet of flowers
formed an epaulette. •

Home dress may be made either very simple or
♦ery elegant ; but in each case there is one requisite,
which is the Zouave jacket. For plain dross it
may bo made of cloth, or cachemire of a dark
colour. Cloth is preferable, particularly brown
Cloth. These are frequently trimmed with gold
braid ; but, as cloth is not an article of luxury, we
would recommend our readers to substitute for this
untasteful ornament a rich black braid, which is
far more distil:Lte. The lining should bo a dark-
coloured silk. With cloth jackets the ehemisettes
are of cambric, in narrow tucks, plain, or mixed
with rows of insertion. Small collar ; the Empress
cravat ; and under-sleeves to match the chenrisette.
A silk or satin skirt may be worn ; but the only
trimmings allowable are large buttons, or flat bows
with steel buckles. Many eloyantes prefer them
made of velvet, trimmed with gold, and lined
with light-coloured silk ; and some wear them of
light blue or purple eaehemire, almost covered with
gold embroidery ; but this is neither in good taste
nor elegant. Rely on our advice, and be contented
with a Velvet jacket ; but if you must use gold
lace let it be sparingly. The ehemisette for
this jacket should be of plaited muslin,
trimmed with black and white guipure and
bouillonnes, in which is inserted a ribbon to
match the rest of the toilette. The skirt of moire,
emerald green, violet, or brown, trimmed with
rounds of velvet, trimmed with guipure, or wide
bands of velvet placed a la 'tallow. This is a
dress both elegant and distingue.
There is not much change in the style of bonnets
since We wrote last month. They are still worn
larger, and have generally some black in the trim-
ings.
A novel wreath for dinner dress was made with
a bunch of small moss-rose buds on the middle of
the forehead, mixed with pansies of light and deep
shades of violet ; then on each side a plait of dark
and light-coloured green velvet reaching a short
distance, and followed by bunches of violets in
green satin ;: again the plait of velvet, followed rids
time by bouquets to match that in front. The
wreath k finished by a continuation of the plait,
fastened together at the back of the head by a bow
of velvet ribbon the same shades as the flowers.
This fancy will not be found to be devoid of ele-
gance, and far from unbecoming, when placed OIL
light hair.

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