that will make its appearance this year. We may therefore fairly presume, that the surviving annuals possess greater vigour of constitution; which opinion, the examination of the literature contained in the volume before us will duly sustain. "The Queen of the Isles," by Miss Agnes Strickland, is a political illustration of a very fine engraving of our young queen. We have selected it as a specimen of the poetry in this work, in another part of our magazine. The prose tales are chiefly of an historical cast, well conveying information with amusement. The Pic-Nic," which is our favourite, is of a more domestic character, and contains a capital lesson for its young readers, under the guise of comic playfulness; a mode of correction, when united with a thoroughly good-natured spirit, which succeeds better than an array of formal precepts, not only with little, but with great delinquents. The "Doings of Timothy Treffy" are very droll. There is a great contrast and variety in the style of the tales. "Penda the Quadroon," is a story founded on a curious anecdote in the local history of the island of St. Dominica, combining novelty and spirit. The White Rose" is an historical tale of great merit, belonging to the unfortunate civil war of

the year 1745. "The Chinese Story," is founded on an anecdote in the history of that empire, and casts much interest on the very curious and well-executed plate of "The Feast of Lanterns;" these are all by Miss Agnes Strickland. Her poem, also, on the death of the Princess Elizabeth, in Carisbrook Castle, is highly interesting.

The rest of the contents are by the amiable quaker moralist, Bernard Barton; they are of too juvenile a cast to produce for extract, but they are marked by the usually pleasing character of his productions.

We must not pass by the illustrations, some of which are chosen with great taste. "Inverlochy," "Carlisle Castle," "Whitsand Bay," "The Coast Scene, Aberdeen," "The Feast of Lanterns" especially, "The Young Princess," and "Arbroath Abbey," are plates which will be looked at with satisfaction and pleasure. With these we would have been right content, and so, think we, would our juvenile friends; however, there are many others to please all tastes. The type, printing, and pressing, by Messrs. Fisher, do the house great credit. On the whole, it is surprising how so much is done at so small a cost to a purchaser.

(see plate). Cap border, or half cap, of blonde. The border is double, and only commences at each temple, at top it is united by a small wreath finished at each end by a full blown rose, and a bunch of cherries: the rose is placed between the two borders on the left side, and at the back of the border is a bow of rich sarsnet ribbon with long ends. A similar ribbon ties the half cap under the chin; hair in smooth bands quite off the face; white kid gloves, Scotch thread stockings, black shoes.

Sitting Figure.-Morning cap of tulle, with a single deep border going all round, and a second put on at the top of

the head piece close to the cawl (see plate), a rolled ribbon goes round the cawl at the back of the latter lace, and is tied at back in a small bow with long ends. White muslin dress with two frills at the tops of the sleeves, and a pelerine trimmed with the same.

Child's Dress.-White muslin frock and trowsers, the latter trimmed with two small plaited frills. Apron à-corsage, of black watered gros de Naples, trimmed all round with narrow lace; round pockets on the outside. Corsage made to cross in front, it sits in folds or plaits from the shoulder to the waist (see plate). The back of the apron is tight, and fastened with hooks and eyes; there are no shoulder straps, the back and front being united with bows on the shoulder (des nœuds de page). Hair curled at the neck.

(No. 19.)-Plate of details. The style of coiffure of the first three heads is precisely the same, the first being ornamented with a bandeau of pearlsthe second which gives the coiffure in front with flowers, and the third likewise with flowers, giving the back of the other two. The hair for this coiffure is brought in smooth bands, as low as possible, at the sides of the face, where after forming a kind of chignon at each side, it is turned up again (see plate); the back hair is tied very low, and formed into a single coque or bow, surrounded by braids and circles of hair, an ornamented arrow runs through the whole; three full blown white roses are placed at each side of the face.

Dress of blue satin, corsage with folded draperies à-la-Sévigné and àpointe. Short sleeves, tight and plain at the shoulder, with a single sabot above the elbow, and a quilling of ribbon at the top of the sabot; the sleeve is finished with a lace ruffle.

Dress of pink pou-de-soie, corsage tight, with a plain lace round the bosom of the dress; short tight sleeves with three deep falls of lace as ruffles (see plate).

Low dress of watered gros-de-Naples, tight corsage with small draperies and tucker of blonde, long sleeves with a single sabot and frill above the elbow, the remainder tight. That of white gros-de-Naples, the fronts large, coming low at the sides and squared off. A

large bow, retaining a bouquet, is placed at the right side. A ruche of tulle or ribbon goes round the front of the hat; hair in ringlets, intermixed with roses.

Dress of gros-de-Naples, corsage tight and à-pointe (see plate); a deep fall of rich blonde goes quite plain round the bosom of the dress, sleeves tight and plain with ruffles at the elbow; blonde cap, consisting of a round cawl, and rather deep head-piece with two borders in front, the upper one wide and standing upright off the face, the lower one very narrow and falling over the brow (see plate); a bunch of grapes is placed at each side, just below the temples, white ribbons, hair in smooth bands. Pelerine or fichu of embroidered muslin with falling collar; the pelerine as well as the collar is trimmed all round with a narrow entre-deux (insertion), outside which is an embroidered or a lace frill; the pelerine is pointed back and front.

Hat of gros-de-Naples, the front large. and trimmed with a ruche, the crown not very high (see plate); the bows are on the right side, and retain the bouquet that droops to the left over the front of the bonnet.

Cap the same as the one previously described.

Child's drawn capote of pou-de-soie, the front has a ruche of ribbon, which goes entirely round the cawl like that of a baby's bonnet.

Paris, September 21st, 1837. EH! bien, ma chère amie, malgré le froid que nous avons eu dernièrement, voilà un second été, qui nous arrive! le tems est véritablement délicieux-il faut espérer que cela durera-mais parlons d'autre chose que pluie et beau tems! I am just returned from Saintonge, where we were on a visit to the Marquise de C. I cannot say I was much amused. We left the children at home, so, as you may suppose, mon mari was de mauvaise humeur the whole time! The young ones are too tiresome to carry about, and ma fille aînée is grown so detestably tall (you know she is twelve years old) that I am perfectly ashamed to take her out. Cela me vieillit tant, ma chère! I wanted M. de F.

to allow me to pass her off as my sister, to strangers at least-mais le méchant entêté ne le veut pas: he is so obsti

nate.

My friend, the Comtesse de M., was advising me to marry her as quickly as I could, and to send her and her husband to Italy or Germany, or even England, for a few years. She quite pities me; she says it is so disagreeable to have a tall grown-up daughter. I know, ma belle, that this is not your opinion, and that you will scold me for it; but you know I tell you all my grievances. Do pray assist me, and if you find a bon parti, or as you say, I believe, in English a good match" for her, let me know, and I will go over and try to conclude matters at once; the marriage might be delayed for two or three years, and she might go and spend that time with her future mother-in-law, which would be a great advantage. I intend that she shall spend the next six months at the Convent of the Sacré Cœur, previous to receiving her first communion. M. de F. is grumbling at this, but of course I do not mind what he says; he has no right to interfere either in the management or education of his daughters; the girls in France are always left to their mothers, who alone even has the right of marrying them; and if I think it proper she should spend six months at the Sacré Cœur, he has no right to find fault: besides you know that, with very few exceptions, it is the custom. Whilst we were at Saintonge, Mademoiselle de C. was married to the Vicomte de OThe marriage took place in the private chapel of the château, which was decorated with flowers for the occasion.

The pretty bride wore a dress of India muslin; corsage en chale, in plaits from the shoulder to the waist; long sleeves taken in at distances, à-la-François premier; the skirt of the dress ornamented with a single deep flounce. Her dark hair was dressed in smooth bands, the back in a rouleau; the nuptial veil was worn à la-vestale, that is put simply over the head, and retained by a guirlande of white half-blown roses, jessamine, and orange flowers, which crossed the brow and encircled the head. Her only ornament was a pair of black velvet ribbonbracelets, with a medallion on each-one contained a lock of hair, the other a

miniature. These bracelets are becoming very fashionable. This was quite a mariage de province, without pomp, without ceremony, and in the midst of friends. I think I should have been very well pleased with my visit, had it not been for the mauvaise humeur of M. de F-; and that Madame de C. gave us tea à-l'anglaise every night at half past eleven o'clock: it was too late, et cela m'a rendue nerveuse. Oh! ma chère, Mademoiselle Hermione, my femme-dechambre, has got a delightful receipt for cleaning and preserving marabouts. I shall give it you. Let each feather be detached from the wire on which it is mounted, and put to steep for two hours in a lather of white soap, which must be very hot when the feathers are put in; at the end of that time let them be taken out, rinsed in fair water, and pressed between two fine cloths; then to dry them let them be slightly beaten between the hands, and shaken out. When dry, if the marabouts do not appear very white, let them be replunged into clear water, then laid upon a sheet of white paper, and lightly sprinkled with chloride of lime finely powdered. A quarter of an hour afterwards let them be steeped again in the soap-lather, which must be quite hot, rinse and press them as before, and dry them in the manner already described.

To preserve them, let them be impregnated with a solution of liquid lime, one part lime and five parts water, and let dry. They must be kept in a dry place; when wanted for wear, let them be slightly beaten between the hands, and shaken in the air. Voilà, chère belle, two valuable receipts!

I can tell you nothing scarcely as yet of winter fashions. Velvet bonnets will of course be worn, and most delightful warm shawls, half squares of velvet or satin, wadded, and lined with silk, and trimmed with fur. Some are to be trimmed with three rows of velvet ribbon of three different widths, laid on flat; these of course are to be made of silk or satin, they might also be trimmed with a silk fringe. They say the colours selected for these shawls will be black in preference to all others, emerald and dark greens, brown, puce, lavender, and grey; for dress they are to be made of white satin trimmed with swans' down,