The Sun.
London, England, 1825-12-31 00:00:00

* Not six months since, such an occurrence took place at a
sale of furniture in Alhemarle-street, and was exposed to the
whole room by another broker, who had reasons doubtless to
suspect, and also to think it hard, that being numbered in the
day of battle, he should be overlooked in the division of the
spoil.
1 And on an empty purse his mind ha feeds.
4" A recent transaction will, if brought to issue, tend very
much to enlighten the public with regard to one branch of this
traffic. In the mean time, it is a secret worth knowing, that
the Chief J ueice of the Common Pleas, Dec. 13, in the case
of Crowder v.,A ustin, ruled that no bidder at an auction was
bound by his bidding, if opposed by any one on the part of
the seller, or the seller himself. The conditions of sale state
that the highest bidder is to be the buyer, but each bidding
must be bona fide, and not for the purpose of covertly raising
the price. This construction of law would annul 15-16ths of
the biddings at picture auctions.

PETRARCH AND LAURA.—The following note►
was written by PETR A RCICS own hand in the
margin of a maenscript Virgil which belonged to
him, and is now deposited in the Amhrosian Li-
brary at Milan :—" Laura, who has been render-
ed famous by her virtues, and who has been
the subject of my verse for many years, appeared
to my eyes for the first time, on the 6th of April,
1327, in the church of St. Clair, at Avignon. I n
the same church, on the same day, at the same
hour, hi 1345, that luminary, that sun, retired_
from the world. I was at Verona, and knew not
the misfortune that had befallen me ; but the
19th of the following falOtitil, I received at letter
from my friend Lewis, which acquainted mew ith
the fatal news. On the very day of her death,
her body, so beautiful,- so pure, was deposited
after vespers, in the church of the Curdeliers. I
doubt not, but her soul, to speak in the words of
Seneca, returned to Heaven, from which it had
descended. That I may never lose the remem-
brance of a loss so afflicting, I have written these
particulars in a hook which I am continually
rcading ; thus have I prepared myself a pleasure
mingled with grief."
A IllOng the Polish prisoners of war who were
in Russia in 1661, was a distinguished Nobleman
with whom nobody was allowed to speak without
witnesses. This man became ill, and applied
for a physician, which the Czar granted. The
physician prescribed " Creator Tarteri." The
doctor had scarcaly got home, when he was ar-
rested and carried before the Minister, who, as
soon as he entered, addressed him very angrily,
calling him a traitor, threatening the severest
punishments, exclaiming. 44 You dog, what have
you been talking to the Pole about the Crim
Tartars?" The doctor, who stood motionless
with astonishment, now comprehended the mis-
understanding, arising from the report made by
some listeners to the Minister, and explained it
by showing the prescription which he had writ-
ten for the patient, and was immediately re-
leased.

PENURY.—Mr. TAYLOR, the Stock jobber,
who died worth 100,0001, was so penurious that
he scarcely allowed himself the common neces-
saries of life. A few days before his death he
sent for the Officers of his parish, who found him
on a wretched bed, in a garret, dining on a thin
rasher of bacon and a potatoe, of which he asked
them to partake. One of them having accepted,
the old man desired his servant to broil another,
but hearing his larder was quite empty, scolded
her for not having it well supplied with a quarter
oj'a pound, to cut out in rashers whenever it was
wanted for company. lie then informed the
Overseers of the poor he had left by his will
1,000/. for the relief, and eagerly enquired if
they would allow Ilia) discountforprompt payment.
This being assented to, lie seemed highly pleased,
and immediately gave a check on his Banker for
9501. and soon after died.