The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1804-09-12 00:00:00

EXTR.IO RD I N .1R Y CILIR.ICTER.

On Thursday, at half-past twelve o'clock, died
Joseph Capper, Esq. many years an inmate at the
Horns, Kennington.
This Gentleman was, perhaps, the most eccentric
eharader living since the celebrated Elwes. He was
born in Cheshire, of humble parents; his family be-
ing numerous, he came to London at an early age
(as he used to say) to shift for himself, and was
bound apprentice to a grocer. Mr. Capper soon
mani:ested great quickness and industry, and proved
a most valuable servant to his master. It WAS one of
the chief boasts of his life, that he had gained the con-
fidence of his employer, and never betrayed it.
Being of an enterprising spirit, Mr. Capper com-
menced business as soon as he wa. out of his ap- ,
prenticeship, in the neighbourhood of Rosemary-
lane. His old master was his only friend, and re-
commended him so strongly to the dealers in his
line, that credit to a very large amount was given
to him. In proportion as he became successful, he
embarked in various speculations, but in none was
so fortunate as in the funds, lie at length amassed
a sum sufficient to enable him to decline all business.
Mr. Capper, having now lost his old master, was
resolved to lead a sedentary life. This best suited
his disposition; for, although he possessed many
amiable qualities, yet he was the most tyrannical
and overbearing man living, and never seemed so
happy as when placed by the side of a churlish
companion. For several days he walked about
the vicinity of London, searching for lodgings,
without being able to please himself. Being one
day much fatigued, he called at the Horns, at Ken-
nington, took a chop, and spent the day. and asked far
a bed in his usual blunt manner, when he was an-
swered in the same churlish style by the landlord,
that he could not have one, Mr. Capper was re-
solved to stop, if he could, all his life, to plague the
growling fellow, and refused to retire. After some
altercation, however, he was accommodated with a
bed, and never slept out of it for twenty-five years.
During that time he made no agreement for lodg-
ing or eating, but wished to be considered a cus-
tomer only for the day. For many years he talked
about quitting this residence the next day. His
manner of living was so methodical, that he would
not drink his tea out of any other than a favourite
cup. lie was equally particular with respell to
his knives and forks, plates, Stc. In winter and
summer he rose at the same hour, and when the
mornings were dark, he was so accustomed to the
house, that he walked about the apartments with-
out the assistance of any light. At breakfast he
arranged, in a peculiar way, the paraphernalia of
the tea-table, but first all he would read the
newspapers. At dinner he also observed a gene-
ral rule, and invariably drank his pint of wine. I lis
supper was uniformly a gill of rum, with sugar,
lemon-peel, and porter, mixed together ; the latter
he saved from the pint he h id at dinner. From
this eezonornical plan he never deviated. His biU,
for a fortnight, aaiounted regularly to 41. ins.
He called himself the Champion of Government,
and his greatest glory was certainly his Country
and King. He j in-•J in all subscriptions, which
tended to the of Government. He was ex-
ceedingly choleric, and nothing raised his anger so
soon as .ng against the British Constitution.
In the parlour, he kept his favourite chair, and
there he woul t often amuse himself with satirising
the customers, or t' e landlord, if he could make
his jokes tell better. It was his maxim, never to
join in general conversation, but to interrupt it,
whenever he could say any thing ill-natured. Mr.
Capper's condud to his relations was exceedingly
capricious; he never would see any of them. As
they were chiefly in indigent circumstances, he had
frequent ap;alications from them to borrow money.
:44 Are they industrious ?" he would inquire ; when
beiag answered in the affirmative, he would add,
.4 t 41 them I have been deceived already, and never
will advance a sixpence by way of loan, but I will
give them the sum they want; and if ever I hear
they make known the circumstance, I will cut them
off with a shilling."
Soon after Mr. Townsend became landlord of the
Horns, he had an opportunity of making a few
good ready money purchases, and applied to the
old man for a temporary loan :—" I wish (said he)
to serve you, Townsend ; you seem an industrious
fellow ; but how is it to be done, Mr. Townsend ?
I have sworn never to lend, I must therefore give
it thee;" which he accordingly did the following
day. Mr. Townsend proved grateful for this mark
of liberality, and never ceased to administer to him
evety comfort the house would afford ; and, what
was, perhaps, more gratifying to the old man, he
indulged him in his eccentricities.
Mr. Capper was elected a Steward of the par-
lour fire; And it any persons were daring enough to
put a poker in it without his permission, they stood
a fair chance of feeling the weight of his cane. In
snmmer time, a favourite diversion of his Was killing
flies in the parlour with his cane; but, as he was
sensible of the ill opinion this would produce among
the bye-standers, he would with great ingenuity
introduce a story about the rascality of all French-
men, s, whom," says he, 44 I hate and detest, and
would knock down just the same as these flies."
Phis was the signal for attack, and presently the
killed and wounded were scattered about in ail
quarters of the room.
This truly eccentric charadter lived to the age of
77, in excellent health, and it was not until Tuesday
morning last that a visible alteration WA,l.erceiv-
eJ iii hint. Having risen at an eatlier rid than
usual, he was observed to walk about this ex-
ceedingly agitated and convulsed. Mr. T.osinsend
pressed him to suffer medical assistance to be sent
for, which Mr. Capper then, and at all times, had a
great aversion to. Ile asked for a pen and ink,
evinced great anxiety to wine, but could not. Mr.
Townsend, apprehending his dissolution nigh, en-
deavoured, but in vain, to get permission to send for
Mr. Capper's relations, and tried to obtain their ad-
dress for that purpose. He refused, saying that he
should be better. On the second day, seeing no
hopes of recovery, Mr. Townsend called in lout re-
spedable Gentlemen of the neighbourhood, and bad
seals put upon all Mr. Capper's property. One
of the four gentlemen recollected the address of Mr.
Capper's two nephews, of the name of Dutton, who
were immediately sent for. They resided its the
neighbourhood of Rosemar -lane.
As $O9ll as old 's dissolution had

taken place, his desks, trtmks, and bores, sett-
opened by the Messrs. Dutton: and their Lawler;
when they found 1001. in Bank notes, a few guinea~,
a great many Government securities. and a
which the parties present proceeded to read. 11
was curiously worded, and made on the hack Of sr
sheet of Bankers' checks. It was dated live years
back, and the hulk of his property, which was their
upwards t f 30,0001. he lett equally aniongst
poor relations. The two nephews were nominated
executors, and were bequeathed between fne,.t
8,0001. in the 3 per cents. What has become of
the property which has been accumulating since. U.
•
will was made, does not appear. From Mr. Ca; -
per's declaration ill his life-time. there was reaswu
to suppose he had made another will, as the oi.e
found did not.appear to be witnessed.
ThA remains of the old Gentleman are intended
to be deposited in Altigate Church-yard, where his
deceased sister lies.