The Sun.
London, England, 1838-09-01 00:00:00

THE ACME OF AUCTIONEERS.

We may, or we may not, be critically correct in using this
expression. We know not and we care not. When one is
full of subject, he cannot stop to measure his words by square
and compasses—

per audaces nova dithyrambos
Verba devolvit ; numerisque fertur
Lege solutis."
And so it may have been with ourselves. But admitting
hat it were so—what then? The fact remains unaltered
,hat George Robins stands alone as a knocker•up of compe-
,ition and a knocker-down of properties ; he has achieved
what the people of the Buonaparte-school would call an Eu-
ropean reputation ; his fame remains quite independent of
our fault—if fault be ours in describing him as the " Acme of
Auctioneers."

We have so long thought, and, we may be allowed to say,
so often said this, though perhaps in other words, that the re-
petition of it will not excite surprise : the surprise must spring
from quite a different source. An unaccountable apathy on
the subject of this great man has, in a considerable degree,
marked the public press. Against such apathy modest merit
has most usually to strive in vain; and it is therefore with sur-
prise—though we confess with great gratification—that in the
instance of George Robins the opprobrium has been splendidly
removed from the " fourth estate." We could find it in our
hearts to be ourselves eloquent on the subject of the most
eloquent man of modern days ; but la place est prise—what
could one say that would come up to the following beautiful
burst, to which our attention has been called, and the merit of
which is due to a provincial contemporary ?-111orning Post.
THE LANDED INTEREST—Ma. GEO. ROBINS.

When Mr. George Robins last paid us a visit, the Mon-
mouthshire Merlin had to congratulate the landed interest on
the bright prospect which his talents and great energy had
opened to it. By a manner peculiarly his owis—by a mode of
'lcing the prominent features of his subject before the public
eye—and which it was impossible for the public not to duly
app -cciate, he had in several instances in this, and the neigh-
bouring counties, obtained prices for property which we our-
selves knew caused wonder as well as joy, among those who
were his then clients—and ever afterwards his most grateful
friends. If he was not quite so successful in the performance
of his duties last week, in Monmouth and Ross, the fault is surely
not to be attributed to him, for never did auctioneer speak
more eloquently—never were those " who had money to lay
out," more forcibly and urgently appealed to—but to circum.
stances over which he could have no control. Millstone
and 131ackbrook are names of places well known in Monmouth-
shire. The former fine estate was selected by the late gallant
General Brownrigge, on which he purposed to spend the last
days of a most useful and glorious life. To its mansion, since
destroyed by fire, were the treasures of an Indian Prince con-
veyed; a in it the General lived in a manner befitting
an English gentleman, and a British officer. Blackbrook
is, our readers are aware, situated among some of the
most beautiful scenery in our highly favoured county.
Ls noble trees and amply diversified grounds strike with
admiration the eve of every beholder ; and if its once fine,
but now dsserted and dilapidated mansion, had been pre-
served in its former state, we scarcely know a property more
deserving the attention of the capitalist. To sell this estate.
Mr. Robins appeared on Friday last, in the romantically
si-
tuated town of Ross ; and we question if a greater sensistion
heel been for many yca-s excited there, than the presence of
the great Potentate of the Hammer produced. A noble
hotel has within the last year been erected upon the Prospect,
which commands one of the finest views in England, and which,
in external appearance and internal arrangements, may be
said to rank among the very first in the kingdom. In the
grand ball-room of this imposing structure, Mr.
Robins early appeared, and when it was known that the
business of the day was about to commence, the room be-
gan to present a brilliant and animated appearance. It was
crowded in every part, and the attendance was most respec-
table. Mr. Robins commenced a most able speech by some
apposite allusions to the history of the town in which he then
stood, and next proceeded, in most glowing terms, to descant
upon the matchless beauties of the scenery of the " Golden
Wye," and imperceptibly brought the attention of his hearers
to be directed towards Blackbrook, on the chief characteristics
of which he most ably enlarged. We were surprised at the
fidelity of his colouring, and wondered much at the extent of
his local information. The state of the house, however—
The roofless chamber and the ruined walls ;
and of the grounds and offices—
The ravaged hot-house and the rotting vise,
The garden void of fruit—the vaults of wine—
could not, however, he got over, although capable of imme-
diate restoration. The property was ultimately bought in at
8,000 guineas, a result which seemed to give Mr. Robins
much mortification, and which even the great applause he
received did not appear in any great degree to assuage. From
Ross Mr. Robins proceeded to Monmouth, and on Friday
last, appeared, professionally, at the Beaufort Arms, where
he was met by a moat respectable and crowded auditory. Mr.
Robins here fully maintained his wonted fame, and we felt
much surprise that his well-rounded periods did not make the
guineas leap from the pockets of many a monied man be-
fore him;—but, on that day at least, the age of enterprize as
well as the age of chivalry, seemed to be over. Mr. Robins was
li-tened to with marked attention and applause—but the offers
of money, like the proposals of marriage to the maid " came
but slowly iii." In vain did Mr. Robins tempt the ambition
of his hearers by talking of future Parliamentary honours;
the re-building of the house appeared to be a formidable
hoc .
staele;and the bidding, which commenced at B,oool,,languis d
at 9,9501., and finally halted at 11,000 guineas, when the pro-
perty was bought in. One result has followed,on which we con
gratulate our Monmouth friends—that is the likelihood of pe-
.s-
sessing for at least some months in the year,so good and enterpris-
ing a neighbour as Mr. Robins, for although his invariable custom
is never to purchase any property with the sale of which he
s
may been trusted at the hammer, yet, enchanted with all he h. _
a
himself read and said about its value and the beauties of Hill-
stone, he has, since it was purchased in, become its proprietor
for 11,000 guineas, independent of the timber, which is just
_
11,000 guineas less than General Brownrigge gave for it with
the timber. Need we say that we wish Mr. Robins every
success in his purchase.—Monmouth Merlin.
TUNBRIDGE WELLS.
The splendid hotel which has recently been constructed in
the vicinity of Tunbridge Wells, under the direction of Mr.
Decimus Burton, at an expense of twenty thousand pounds,
is announced in our columns this evening to be let,
on exceedingly moderate terms. Our readers may judge
of its pretensions by a short extract from Mr. George Robins's
announcernen, viz. :—" That it will incline the hotel-keepers
throughout England to hide their diminished heads." And
again it says thus :—" Her Majesty the Queen, selected
this abode (before it was reconstructed and formed into the
present magnificent hotel) as her favourite abode, thus ren-
dering the situation no longer equivocal ;" and so, by way of
conclusion, he adds, " the rent will be unusually moderate for
three years, and never after approach the value which it will
arrive at under at healthy course of management." It is a
singular coincidence that the public market, recently con-
structed in a first-rate manner, and very near to the hotel, is to
be sold at the same time by Mr. Robins.

At Petersfield last week, on the fall in wheat taking
place, the bakers immediately lowered the price of bread 2d.
a gallon—an example well worthy of imitation.