The Sun.
London, England, 1867-08-05 00:00:00

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HER MAJESTY, &c•

OSBORNE, Sunday.
The Queen, Princess Louise, and the Princess of
Leiningen rode on ponies in the grounds yesterday
afternoon, and Prince Leopold and Princess Beatiice
went out walking.

Prince Arthur, attended by Major Elphinstono,
returned in the evening from Antwerp in the Royal
yacht Victoria and Albert.
Her Majesty and the Royal family attended
Divine service at Osborne this morning. The Ladies
and Gentlemen in Waiting were in attendance.
The Rev. George Prothero officiated.
The Earl of Malmesbury had the honour of din-
ing with the Queen and the Royal family yesterday.

The Prince and Princess of Wales drove out on
Saturday afternoon.

LITERATURE.

The Huguenot Family. By Sarah Tytler, author
of "Citoyenne Jaqueline." 3 vols. Hurst and
Blackett. •
It is always to us a matter of great satisfaction to
witness the development of an author's powers, and
to recognise the happy fulfilment of youthful pro-
mise. Such has been our pleasant experience in
regard to the author of " The Huguenot Family."
The name of Sarah Tytler—a name of honourable
associations in literature—has been for some few
years occasionally before the public, but last year
in (we believe) her first novel, " Citoyenne Jaque-
line" she more than realised the expectation of
many readers who had taken interest in her former
productions. " Citoyenne Jaqueline," the history
of a woman during the French Revolution, dis-
played considerable power and great originality.
The characters were drawn with wonderful distinct-
ness, and the inhabitants of the village of the Jon-
quils live vividly in our remembrance. The same
abilities, the same accurate discrimination of cha-
racter, the same attractive powers of description,
are conspicuously manifest in this new novel—the
" Hugenot Family." The character of Grand'mere
is a charming creation—the venerable little dame
with her dress of Lyons silk with the skirt drawn
through the pocket holes, and her mob cap of fine
lace, and her mittens, and her coral-headed staff,
still retains in her English exile at Shottery Cot-
tage, Sedge Pond, the sentiments and the sym-
pathies of her native land. In concert with her
grand-daughter Yolande, ;the good lady endeavours
but in vain, to make friends with and benefit her
poorer neighbours. More especially does her
natural taste in the culinary department revolt from
the enormities of the English cuisine. ‘, These
honest villagers," says the good dame, " hunger,
though they do not starve. They live, like the
hogs, on sodden bread, raw meat, and vegetables.
They have the dyspepsia or the spleen."
Very luckless, but very ludicrous, is the
good Frenchwoman's attempt at enlightening the
obtuse islanders. Accompanied by Yolande, she
takes some delicious potage to some bedridden
old (3roody, who rejects the proffered benefit with
scorn, nquiring if there are snails or frogs in the
the preparation ! The subject of the story is by 110
means attractive. The Huguenot family, who, lik°
many other exiles, have taken up their abode in Eng-
land, live in a state of almost complete isolation, the
objects of general distrust. This distrust is ulti-
mately justified in the person of Monsieur, the
son of Grand'mere, and the father of Yolande, who
proves to be acting as a spy. While the real Cul-
prit escapes, popular vengeance falls upon the help-
less and the innocent. The village outbreak with its
stormy scene is very vigorously described. The
immersion of the supposed witch and the carrying
away of Yolande in a previous chapter are scenes
belonging to (happily) bygone times and by-
gone manners. A very faithful picture of
some peculiar phases of those " good old times"
is given in this novel, but the picture is not an
agreeable one. We cannot but wish that the very
able authoress of " Citoyenne Jaqueline" may make
choice of a happier theme in her next work. " 'ft-J(3
Hugenot Family " is, however, rendered attractive
by the very delightful character of Grandmere
Dupuy ; and the readers of " The Huguenot
Family" will be amply repaid by the pleasure of her
acquaintance.