The Sun.
London, England, 1867-11-18 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, NOVEMBER 18, 1857.

search of employment. This does not look as if the
country people were very earnest in behalf of their
KING, or as if there was much preparation for de-
fence going on. The latest date from the captives
was October 6th. No doubt they are watching
with the deepest interest the progress of events as
the crisis of their fate approaches.
The news from India by the Calcutta and China
mails tells us that the Abyssinian expedition con-
tinues the principal object of interest. The Madras
Athenmunt, of October 12, announces the formation
of a land transport service corps in that Presidency.
Volunteers for it were called for from the European
commissioned officers and native non-commissioned
officers in the native cavalry regiments.
The accounts from the Eastern seas fully confirm
the previous hurried statements of the tempestuous
state of the weather. The typhoon which visited
Hong Kong on the Bth and 9th of September occa-
sioned terrible disasters among the shipping in the
port. The principal disasters which occurred within
the range of the harbour-master's jurisdiction were
five vessels sunk exclusive of yachts, seven vessels
wrecked, and eight seriously injured, while
the number injured in a slighter degree
are not reckoned. As for the native
junks there are no means of accurately estimating
the losses, while there is reason to believe that the
number of lives sacrificed at sea is very great.
Among the catastrophes in the China seas the Penin-
sular and Oriental Company's steamer Singapore
occupies a prominent place. She left Yokohama
for Hakodadi on the 20th of August, and almost in
sight of the port struck on a sunken rock not laid
down in the charts, and went down in deep water
in an hour's time. Happily, thanks to the admirable
boat service on board these steamers, and the pre-
sence of mind of the officers and passengers, every life
was saved. Within six minutes after the ship had
struck, according to the report, every boat was in
the water, and all the passengers in the boats. As
there were nearly 150 persons on board, their
rescue says much for the promptitude and decision
of the management, as well as for the coolness and
steadiness of the crew. The naval court held at
Kanagawa on the loss expressed its approbation of
the manner in which the disaster had been raet.
The loss, great as it is, might have been far worse,
since the existence of this rock was unknown to
European navigators, and it was fully possible that
under other circumstances, and with less excellent
arrangements, its discovery might have been
attended with a large sacrifice of life.

The political difficulty in Victoria has not yet
been adjusted, and the deadlock continues. How it
is to end is doubtful. The old session is over, and
a new one has begun without the two Houses show-
ing any signs of reconciliation. The Upper House
or Council declares that it will not pass an Appro-
priation Bill containing the obnoxious vote to Lady
DARLING, and the Lower House or Assembly has
not as yet made any movement towards concession.
When the mail left the Assembly was pre-
paring to go into a Committee of Supply,
so that possibly during the debate upon it
some means of getting out of the dilemma
in which all parties have placed themselves
may be suggested. It is an unpleasant episode, but
it may be a salutaray lesson to colonial legislatures.
Their members must learn that in legislating for a
great state it is necessary to sacrifice personal
pique and private feeling to the exigencies of the
public service. The Assembly were irritated at the
conduct of the Council towards Sir CHARLES DAR
LING, and having seen the case decided against
themselves by the Home Government they were
determined to show their annoyance. The Council
not unnaturally resented the tacking on of the vote to
Lady DARLING to the Appropriation Bill and chafed
still more at the insolent and aggressive language of
the Minister wboproposed it. Nevertheless, both par-
ties, in their attempts to vindicate their own dignity,
have made themselves ridiculous, and are involving
the affairs of the colony in a condition of confusion
and disturbance to gratify their political animo-
sities.

new.

Books for Boys.

Messrs. Routledge and Eons have claims to the
distinction of being Publishers in Ordinary to the
Boys of England. Already in anticipation of the
Christmas holidays a gay group of books for the
juveniles is accumulating on our library table.
First, and assuredly not least either in size or pre-
tensions, " Every Boy's Book," edited by Edmund
Routledge, attracts our attention. Comprehensive
as is the title of this goodly volume, its very compre-
hensive contents justify its appellation. The only fault
we have to find with it is its size, which is almost
too much of a good thing—a fault which its youth-
ful owners will perhaps be slow to recognise. When
we say that this volume contains 768 pages, with
upwards of 600 illustrations, some of them brilliantly
coloured ones— vhen we enumerate among its con-
tents descriptions of no less than 150 games for
indoors and outdoors—full instructions concerning
angling, with minute particulars respecting different
kinds of fish and bait and fishing-tackle—archery
and boxing—canoes and canoeing—cricket and cro-
quet—driving and fencing—fives and football—gol-
fing and gymnastics—riding and rowing—sailing and
skating—sliding and swimming—when added to
all these we make mention of the numerous scien-
tific pursuits, balloons and fireworks, &c., mechanics
and magnetism, chemistry and carpentering, domi-
noes and draughts, puzzles and pets, bees and birds,
&c.—when we have said all this (having thus only
enumerated a portion of its contents), we may
perhaps convey to our readers some idea of the
magnitude and importance of "Every Boy's Book."
The instructions for the various pursuits are
given in a very clear and practical manner.
Very different in size is a charming little miniature
volume—the " Boys' own Pocket-book for 1868,"
which is this year issued for the first time, with a
promise of being continued annually. Bound in
red leather, with pockets and clasp all complete,
with blank pages for diary, and ruled columns for
cash account, with almanack and list of sovereigns,
&c., and rules of cricket, croquet, &c. &c.,
and memoranda for fishing, &c. this little
Bijou of a pocket-book will, no doubt,
be a delightful treasure for boys of all
sizes for the coming year. Amongst the story books
we find as usual tales by those favourite writers,
the Rev. H. C. Adams, and Mrs. Eiloart. " Bar-
ford. Bridge, or Schoolboy Trials," by the Rev.
H. C. Adams, is a very interesting story, in which
a singular series of untoward circumstances render
one Alfred Brett the object of undeserved sus-
spicion. We will not betray the secrets of the tale
by revealing the mystery, which is ultimately
cleared up in a very remarkable manner. The
story is one of the most interesting with which
the author of the " White Brunswickers "
has favoured his juvenile friends. " The Boys
of Beechwood," by Mrs. Eiloart, like " Johnny
Jordan" and " Ernie Elton," gives an amus-
ing record of schoolboy pranks and practical
jokes, very delightful for the youthful readers to
contemplate in imagination, but not quite so satis-
factory for their friends to realise in actual experi-
ence. While the mischievous sports of the Beechwood
Boys will provoke many a laugh by the Christmas
fireside, a deeper interest will be excited by
the gallant would-be sailor boy, who goes off in
the lifeboat, and puts older heads to shame. " Archie
Blake," a sea-side story, by Mrs. Eiloart, is a de-
lightful book for boyish readers. The real perils
and adventures which it relates are far more
wholesome and profitable matters of interest than a
series of " larks" and practical jokes. Again this
year among our Christmas books we find con-
spicuously displayed the highly ridiculous but
equally inimitable caricatures of Ernest Griset,
with letter-press written by James Green-
wood. This year not only are the pictorial
contents above the average, but the story whi ch
groups them together possesses a particular in-
terest and moral value. " The Purgatory of
Peter the Cruel," by James Greenwood, illustrated
by Ernest Griset, relates the woeful punishment
that befel a youthful namesake of the Spanish
King. The Peter the Cruel of the history
before us was one of those miserable children
who delight in torturing every helpless animal and
insect within their reach. After a series of iliac

dible cruelties, Peter himself falls a victim to one of
his own misdeeds, and is forthwith condemned to
pass a wretched existence in the form of some of the
creatures that he has tormented. As a beetle,
as an ant, as a blue bottle, as a snail, and
in other similar guises Peter the Cruel experiences
some of the tortures that he had formerly delighted
to inflict upon others. The moral of this extrava-

ganza is, as we have said, most excellent, and the
illustrations, by the comic pencil of Ernest Griset,

are some of them grotesque in the extreme. Spi-
ders, beetles, cockroaches, and ants, with a ludicrous
air of gravity and dignity, perform their parts in
the drama, and figure upon the pages with most

laughter-provoking grimaces. While enumerating
the Boys' bcoks around us, we make must mention
of a charming book for boys and girls, and children
of all ages, the new edition of " Original Poems,"
beautifully illustrated and elegantly bound, the
prettiest gift-book imaginable for a child. The
poems are those well known in the nurseries of
the passing generation, those simple, but delightful
little verses of Anne and Jane Taylor, which very
many of them have become household words. " Med-
dlesome Matty" with her grandmother's snuff-box,

"Little Ann and her Mother" in Cavendish-square,
"The English Girl," " The Scotch Laddie," " The
Welsh Lad," "The Irish Boy," " Careles Matilda,"
"The Baby," " The Cow and the Ass," and many

_ . .
others too numerous to mention, will be recognised
readers, while
talsieoldverfyavougrriatceeffarliendilslasbtyramtiaonnys
with which
the little work is adorned will render it most

welcome and attractive to old friends and

We cannot but think it a great omis-
sion that the names of the authoresses do

not appear on the title-page. All the books we
have n.,w enumerated have been published by the
Messrs. Routledge and Sons ; but we must

add to the list another delightful Children's

book, " Our Four-footed Friends," by Mary
Howitt (S. W. Partridge and Co.) This is a book
of the same style as " Our Children's Pets," and
" Our Dumb Companions." It is full of interest

and instruction, and possesses the extra attraction
—which by children is especially appreciated—of

being true. Anecdotes and little tales, describing
the sagacity of dogs and cats, and horses and other

animals, related by the delightful pen of Mary
Howitt, and illustrated by very spirited drawings,
render this little volume particularly attractive. It
is dedicated, in some graceful verses, to the Princess
of Wales.

MR. HEPWORTH DIXON AT LIVERPOOL.

In describing the presentation of prizes at the
Liverpool Institute, the Liverpool Daily Post, of Fri-
day last, takes occasion to remark, that—" One of the
most eminent men of the present day, a distinguished
author, an accomplished scholar, and the editor of
one of the leading critical journals in England—we
allude to Mr. Hepworth Dixon— presented himself last
night (that is, on Thursday the 14th inst.) before a
crowded and influential audience at the Liverpool
Institute, for the purposs of presenting the prizes
and honours won at the recent Oxford and Cam-
bridge local examinations by the pupils of the
School of Art attached to the Institute. Mr. D:xon
delivered a splendid oration, which for originality
of thought, beauty of composition, and clearness of
reasoning, has seldom been equalled in this
town. Mr. Dixon's fame as the author of
" New America " is world wide, and it was therefore
naturally expected that his appearance in Liverpool
would be regarded with great interest. He
was enthusiastically received last night, and
the spontaneous outburst of feeling on the
part of the audience after he bad concluded
his address proved that, if anything else were
needed, Mr. Dixon may add to his many other dis-
tinguished qualities that of an accomplished orator.
When he made his appearance on the platform
the lads of the school, who were seated in the
gallery, heartily cheered him, and from that moment
to the close of the proceedings he commanded the
respect and attwatich of the audience."