The Sun.
London, England, 1825-08-23 00:00:00

ANECDOTES, Scc.

CHALLENGING A JURY.—An Irish Officer, not very con-
versant in law terms, was lately tried for an alleged assault.—
As the Jury were coming to be sworn, the Judge, addressing
the Major, told him, that if there were Any amongst them to
whom he had any objection that was the time to challenge
them. " I thank your Lordship," said the gallant prisoner,
"hut, with your Lordship's permission, I'll .defer that cere-
mony till after my trial, and if they don't acquit me, by the
pipe of Deinster I'll challenge every mcther's son of them, and
have :em out too." _

•
WAY OF CURING CAPRICIOUS SINGERS.—JOAN ABELL,
a famous singer, and performer on the lute, in the 17th cen-
tury, ene day, during his stay at Warsaw, was requested by
the King of Poland to sing at court.—Abell peremptorily re-
fused; and though it was intimated to him that he would pro-
bably suffer from the royal displeasure, he still persisted in de-
clining it, and sent the King an apology by letter. In answer
to this, he received a regular summons to appear at a certain
hour in the King's palace. Abell obeyed, and was presently
forced to sit down in an arm chair that stood in the midst of a
grand hall : no sooner was he seated, than the chair flew up
with him to a great height. The King, with his whole court.
now made his appearance on a gallery opposite to Abell, and
at the same time, a number of wild ')ears were driven into the
hall. The poor vocalist, almost dead with fright, was now ad-
dressed by the King, and was left to choose, either to sing in-
stantly, or to be let down and to await his fate among the un.
ceremonious inhabitants of the desert. Which plait poor Abell
took, it is needless to mention.
STUTTERING.-Some ton years ago there was a person in
London, who professed to have discovered an infallible treat-
ment for impediments in speech ; end he had the art of per-
suading many of his pupils that they vere cured, but how effec-
tively may be shewn by the followinc incident, which occurred
in Staffordshire. A stammering genleman of rank and for-
tune, who had given this charlatan a trial in his own person,
waited on the Hon. Mr. M., who laboured under the same de-
fect, when the following short dialogue took place :
The Pupil.—l a, s, s, say, M, M, M—, w, why d, don't y.
you g, g, go to 14, L, London, and g, g, get c, c, c, c, cured of
y, your s, s, s, stuttering ;• I, I've b, b, been, and th, they've
c, c, c, c, cured m, m, m, me.
Mr. M.—II, Have th, they b, b, by g, g, g, g_d ? th, th,
then, I, I'll be d, d, d, d—n'd if th, they shall e, c, ever c, c,
c, c, cure m. me.
GEOGRAPHICAL A CCURACY.—A story is told, maliciously
perhaps, of a Member of a French Commercial Committee,
who, during a late discussion on a treaty between France and
the Netherlands, having heard a gentleman refer to former re-
lations between their • country and the United Province:, ex-
claimed with sonic peevishnes, " Stick to the question, Sir,
what has it to do with America r
DANCING.—The Chinese have odd ideas of
this amusement. When Commodore Anson was at Canton,
the officers of the Centurion had a ball upon some Court holiday.
While they were dancing, a Chinese, who very quietly surveyed
the operation, said softly to one of the party, " Why don't you
let your servants do this for you ?"

IVINCANTON.-A meeting. of landholders and

other persons is about to he held atWINcANToN, to discuss
the propriety of applying to Parliament for leave to bring in a
Bill to authorize the construction of a rail-road, for the purpose
of opening a communication between the Bristol Channel and
Basingstoke. It is intended that the road shall commence at
the mouth of the river Parrett, near Bridgewater, to run along
Polden Hill, to Street, through l3utleigh to Reinton, to North
Cadbury, illapperton, Wincanton,
.Gillingham, Shaftesbury,
Ilindon, Wilton, Salisbury, Andover, and Overton, to
Basingstoke.
TAUNTON.—On Visrednesday morning General
PEACHY, and El ENnY MEnv-i-x BAYLEY, Esq., arrived in
TAUNTON, for the purpose of canvassing the borough, as can.
didates for its representation in Parliament. After shortly-an-
nouncing to the Electors their political sentiments, and stating
• that they had been induced to present themselves in consequence
of the invitation of a large portion of the Electors, the new can-
ciliates, attended by a number of friends, with blue favours,
commenced an active canvass. Sir T. B. Lethbridge accom-
. . „ .

panied them to the market-house, from which place those Gen-
tlemen delivered their address. Two Gentlemen have publicly
requested the Electors to withhold the promise of their support
till the arrival of Mr. A. Baring and Mr. Warn!, the sitting
Me nbers. _ _

DEVIZES.-Thp Marquis of LANSDOWN pre-
sided last week at the Annivereury.Meeting of the DEVIZES
Bear Club. Among the company present were—John Tylce,
and William Tinker, Esqrs., ,the Vice-Presidents ; Sir .1., D.
Astley, Bart. M. P., J. Pearse, Esq. M. P., J. C. Hobhouse,
Esq. M. P., and upwards of 100 other Gentlemen resident in
the town and neighbourhood. The dinner was of the most
sumptuous description, no lees than four bucks and three tur-
tles having been presented on the occasion. Upon the removal
of the cloth, a number of loyal toasts having been given from
the chair, the health of the Noble President was proposed in a
neat speech by Mr. Hughes, and received with rapturous plau-
d.ts. The Noble 'Marquis returned thanks in a most eloquent
speech. He noticed in the happiest manner the numerous
public charities that adorned_ this country, and obtained for
Englishmen an unparalleled character for benevolence and kind
feeling. His Lordship entered more particularly into the im-
mediate object of the Institution, and pointed out the vast ad-.
vantages arising to society from such a charity. Mr. Hob-
house, in returning thanks for his health being drank, observed
that although amidst the troubles and turmoils of this life there
prevailed throughout this country a difference of opinion upon
most topics, yet happily, to its honour be it spoken, one senti-
ment alone prevailed on the subject of charity. The acknow-
ledged benevolence of Britons had placed this great and happy
country proudly pre-eminent amongst the nations of the world.
He had been a member of this club nearly 20 years, and being
fully sensible of its inestimable benefits, and aware of its im- •
portant advantages, he would continue to give it his most
zealous support upon all occasions. air. W. W. Salmon, in
return for his father's health being proposed by the
Noble President, and drank with great applause, stated
that his father had been a member nearly sixty years,
during which time it had been the peculiar object of his life to
promote the objects of the charity. Mr. Salmon then read the
Report, chewing the improving state of the funds of the charity:
31 boys were now on the foundation, and ten had been clothed,
educated, and apprenticed during the last year. This flattering
report drew forth considerable applause. The company were
del'ghted with some excellent songs, given with the
happiest effect by Mr. Harrington, of Salisbury, a member of
the club. The entertainment reflected the highest credit on
Mr. Parsons. A feeling of unalloyed satisfaction prevailed
among the company the whole evening ; and its harmony was
closed by the whole assembly singing " God save the King,"
in compliment to the anniversary being this year held on his
Majesty's birth-day. ‘Vadham Lock, Esq. of Rowde Ford,
was chosen President for next year.
WlNctiEsT En, A uG. 9.0.--The recent death of
-"

a Clergyman in this diocese, is likely to gi-e rise to sonic in-.
teresting questions respecting- the grants of certain•offices in re-
version by the late Diocesan ; to the injury of the succession
to the See, and tending to the establishment of a practice, as
injurious, as it is discreditable, to the Church
FORGERY IN '..IVEDEN.-At the end of last
month sentence was passed at Odense on 31 persons accused
of forged bank notes. The most guilty of them, Niels Nielsen
Moller, was sentenced to death and loss of honour; six others
to lose one hand, seven to hard labour for different periods,
three acquitted, and 14 condemned to fine and imprisonments,
and bread and water.
Mt:.. ELLISTON.— f t is no longer a secret that
the recent alarming illnesS of this Gentleman
was in some degree owing to the surprize and de-
jection which he felt on being arrested .at the
suit of Mr. KEAN, after the strenuous and per-
severing efforts which he had made to restore the
latter to public favour, and had declared that he
would adhere to him through life.
Mits. HEstiNs.—The admirers of genius and
worth will be glad to hear that this fair ornament
of British Literature has a new Work in the
press. It is additionally gratifying to know
that as she is in the very prime of life, many fu-
ture works may be expected from her prompt
an?l elegant Muse.
The new Comedy of Roses and Thorns an-
nounced at the Haymarket Theatre, comes from
the Author of Family Jars and of Fish oat of
water, and if he has ip his comedy given as.
much scope to the ludicrous powers of LISTON
as he has done in those popular farces, the pub-
lic may prepare themselves for no small degree
of amusement.