The Sun.
London, England, 1861-03-25 00:00:00

written by a lady. The costumes of the Empress
are continually mentioned as models of taste and
elegance, and the dresses of the Princesses Clothilde
and Mathilde, and other of the Court celebrities,
are frequently described. Of the Empress most
favourable mention is made throughout ; many
stories are told of her charity, generosity, and sim-
plicity of manner, while nothing appears to her
disadvantage. The Princess Clothilde is not
described in such glowing colours, and the
hints given as to her domestic happiness are not
very cheering. The anecdotes with which the
pages are interspersed are numerous and amusing,
and the whole volume is certainly full of enter-
ment. Our English ladies may gather some use-
ful suggestions as to the style of dress which they
should adopt in visiting the French capital, since
the mistakes made by some inexperienced travellers
in visiting the theatres in full dress, or walking on
the Boulevards in mere travelling costume, are
lamented in pathetic terms by our fair chronicler.
She has not lived so long, and mixed so intimately
in Continental circles without imbibing some of
their views of life and its belongings; and the
extreme seriousness with which she discusses points
of dress and fashion occasionally provokes a smile.
The fault of modern days is certainly too much
dress rather than too little, but we have scarcely
reached the level of our neighbours, since we read
of a Parisian balle preparing for an expected invi-
tation for a week at Compiegne by ordering nine-
teen new dresses at an average of £2O, besides mil-
linery, lingerie, and the thousand etceteras of a
fashionable toilette. If the fair readers of this little
volume will not be tempted to follow such an alarm-
ing example, they may derive much entertainment
from the pleasant gossip of its pages.

History of England, for Schools and Families. By
A. T. Foster, author of " A History of Spanish
Literature," &c., &c. Chapman and Hall.
This is a very excellent and compendious abridg-
ment of English history, adapted for an introduc-
tion to the standard works, and also admirably
suited for general reference. The author, in his
preface, observes that the educational histories in
general use are almost entirely engrossed with poli-
tical annals and the records of military achieve-
ments, leaving the state of the nation and its in-
tellectual and social progress comparatively un-
noticed. This oversight he attributes to the fact
that the works of Hume and Goldsmith have been
the origin of so many smaller histories, and he has
consequently founded his work principally upon
the Comprehensive History of England published
by Messrs. Blackie, of Edinburgh, in which,
besides the usual narrative of kings, warriors,
and statesmen, we have full and interesting de-
tails of the condition of the people, the agri-
culture, commerce, science, literature, and gene.
ral aspect of national affairs in each succes-
sive age. The simplicity of the style and the
character of the contents have been adapted ',to the
young reader, who will find this an excellent ele-
mentary work ; while the conciseness of the narra-
tive, which extends from the early British traditions
down to the present time, and the careful arrange-
ment of the index, chronology, genealogical tables,
and marginal notes render it especially suitable for
reference. We must not omit to mention the
numerous illustrations. .

Practical Military Surveying and Sketching. By
Captain Drayson, R A., Assistant Instructor in
Surveying, Royal Military Academy, &c. Chap-
man and Hall.

This little work gives clear and simple direc-
tions for making military sketches on surveys with
the greatest rapidity. It is assumed that the
reader possesses no previous knowledge of the sub-
ject, and has no one at hand to whom he can refer
for aid, and the instructions are therefore put in
the plainest terms to facilitate his comprehension.
The use of the compass and sextant, the theodolite,
mountain barometer, and other instruments, are
described, and directions given, for finding heights
and distances, latitude and longitude, military
reconnaissance, and plan drawing. All neces-
sary instructions for acquiring an elementary know-
ledge of surveying are given in full.

MR. ROEBUCK AND ITALY.

_~. ~.

Mr. Roebuck's recent speech en Italian affairs
has naturally excited much unfavourable comment
at Sheffield, as well as in other places. In the
early part of last week a meeting of "the friends
of Italian liberty " was convened by advertisement
" for the purpose of inviting Mr. Roebuck to meet
his constituents at an early date." About 20 per-
sons attended and resolved—

" That in consideration of the wide-spread surprise and
regret with which Mr. Roebuck's recent speech on Italian
affairs has been received, this meeting deems it an impera-
tive duty respectfully, but urgently, to request that gentle-
man to pay a visit to his constituents for the purpose of
fully explaining the views enunciated in the before-men-
tioned speech."
The resolution having been duly forwarded by Mr.
Booth, the chairman of the meeting, Mr. Roebuck
replied by return of post :

"March 19, 1861.
" Sir,—l am quite ready to give my constituents every
explanation in my power. I should be obliged, however,
by your sending me the number of the persons who passed
the resolution transmitted by you.—l am, sir, your obe-
dient servant, "J. A. ROEBUCK.
" Mr. A. Booth."
Mr. Booth replied on Wednesday evening, assuring
Mr. Roebuck that his Italian speech had excited
" deep and intense interest" in Sheffield, and add-
ing that, though there were not more than 20
present at the meeting which passed the resolution,
there were among that number " some of the most
active and energetic politicians," and that, but for
the interference of his friends, a meeting of a more
public nature, would have been at once called. No
further reply having been received from Mr. Roe-
buck, an adjourned meeting—at which, however,
the attendance was very small—was held on
Friday evening, and appointed a sub-committee to
promote a requisition to the mayor to convene a
public meeting in case no letter was received from
Mr. Roebuck by this (Monday) morning announc-
ing his intention to appear before his constituents.