The Sun.
London, England, 1825-09-08 00:00:00

A N ECDOT ES, &c.

WIT OF OUR FOREFATIIEIIS.—The peace of 1713 gave
great satisfaction to the citizens; and the proclamation of it
was honoured with the usual State ceremonies, the responses
of shouts and bonfires, and with general illuminations. Al-
though many eccentric methods may have been taken by indi-
viduals to express their joy, one only of those has been re-
corded, which was the thought of the keeper of the Spread
Eagle Inn, in Gracechurch-street, who advertised one shilling
tickets for a PEACE pudding, nine feet in length, twenty 'inches
in breadth, and six inches deep.
PERFECTION.—A French preacher was once descanting from
the pulpit with great eloquence on the beauties of creation :
" whatever," said he, " comes from the hands of nature is
complete. She forms every thing perfect." One of his congre-
gation very much deformed, and having a very large hump,
went up to him at the close of his discourse, and said, " What
think you of me, Holy Father, am I perfect :2" To which the
preacher replied very coolly, " Yes, for a hump-backed man,
guile perfect."
ANECDOTE OF TALMA.—The French arc notoriously de-
licate in murder upon the stage ! In the height of the Revo-
lution, when the guillotine was permanently patriotic, and the
Judges fell asleep, wearied with signing sentences of blood-
shed, a dagger lifted upon the stage would have thrown the
whole mob of regenerators into hysterics. On the first repre-
sentation of Othello, the death of Deadeniona before the au-
dience, raised an universal tumult. Tears, groans, and me-
naces, resounded from all parts of the Theatre, and, what was
.still more demonstrative, and more alarming, several of the
prettiest women in Paris fainted in the most conspicucius
boxes, and were publicly carried out of the house. Ducis was
alarmed for his tragedy, for his fame; and for his life. The
author of so much public combustion might have been sent to
expiate his temerity in the Bastile. He took the safer mode,
anti altered the catastrophe. At the moment when Othello lifts
the dagger over lledelmone (the name of Desdemona was too
unmusical for Parisian ears), °dallied ! the heroine's father,
Loredan, and the Doge of Venice, rush in. The latter per-
sonage seizes the dagger, exclaiming—
" Mallieureuz, qui fail to ?
Tu vas de ce poignard imitaoler la vertu !
The play was published with both catastrophes, for the Pari-
sians to take their choice, and the coteries found an interesting
and unending topic in the respective merits of the denouement
funeste and denouement heureux. But the actor, probably from
his English education, was less tender, and more natural, than
his audience. The denouement heureux sat uneasily upon him;
and a few nights after its adoption, as Ducis, the author, was
passing behind the Scenes, he saw Talma striding away in one
of the dark passages, in full soliloquy. " Shall 1 kill her ? No,
the audience will not suffer it !—Yet, what do I care—l will
kill her—they shall learn to suffer it—Yes, 1 have made up my
mind—she must be killed !" Ducis, who stood aloof from the
whirlwind of this debate, now came forward. " What is the
matter with you, Tat= ?"—" I ant determined—l must put
her to death !"—" lam of your opinion, Talma ; but what
then ?"—" Her fate is fixed !"—" Then go through your de-
termination !" Tlie actor went through with it, to the surprise
of the general audience, and to the peculiar agonies of the most
obviously handsome and fashionable ; but there was so much
truth and dramatic feeling in his performance, that the death
became the established mode, and Talma had all the honours
of a successful intrepidity.

DJ EP:E, SEPT. 3.-1 V e have the happiness
again to behold w...hin our walls the Duchess of
II Rah

DEATH OF TILE EARL OP CARLISLE.—This
much respected Nobleman died on Sunday last,
at his seat, Castle Howard, in the 78th year of
his age. His Lordship was a Knight of the Gar-
ter, Lord Lieutenant of the East Riding of
Yorkshire ; and had formerly held the offices of
Lord Privy Seal, and Lord Lieutenant of Ire-
land. He is succeeded in his titles and estates
by his eldest son, Lord. MotterrH, now Earl of
CARLISLE ; who becoming thus a Peer of the
Realm, vacates of course his seat in the Com-
mons House of Parliament.
The Baron d'EttoLEs died lately at La Mancha
(returning from a watering place), of apoplexy.
He was but forty years old.
ELLISTON, by the aid of the sea breezes, the
baths of Ramsgate, and gentle exercise, in the
Isle of Thanet, is advancing rapidly towards re-
covery. He is expected to return to town be-
fore the end of the month. Drury Lane Thea-
tre will certainly open at the period that has
been announced.

CHARLES KEMBLE is OR his return front Ge-
rmany, to resume his Management of Covent Gar-
den Theatre, at the opening for which (natters
are now in an active state of preparation. Mr.
KEMBLE'S intention was to pass a few -days in
Paris with his friend and relation Mr. HonAcc
Twrss, and TAL3tA, the actor. The latter, how-
ever, we suspect, has left the French capital, on
a professional excursion to Lisle and Brussels.
Those retired veterans of the stage, JACR
Jo lINSTONE, and Alm. K ELLA', are both at Rams-
gate, inhaling fresh health and spirits for their
comfort, and the advantage of their convivial
and intellectual friends, during the winter.

I' 0 E T li, Y.

TO MISS PATON,
On her successful Debut at Covent-garden Theatre,

Oct. 19, 1322.
" At last divide Cecilia canie."—DßY DE If.

The Palm is thine, angelic, graceful, maid ;
Thy Country crowns her scarcely mortal child
The First in melody !—since Heaven convey'd
The charms of music to our sea-girt isle—
Sweet harmonist ! •We love thy wood notes wild—
Their liquid softness breathes seraphic joy !
We feel our sorrows by thy power beguil'd—
Thy influence o'er our hearts exalts them high
O'er Earth, and then we think—'tis angels' harmony.
Lady proceed !—and blest be thy career !
Sweet songstress, sing that matchless lay again !
The stings of Envy now you need not fear_
For Albion's sweetest voices wont complain !
They all confess thine is a matchless strain, •
Sublime and grand, as soft and sweet, as high ;
And crown'd by nature—Pleasure without Pain
Bestows our bosoms !—O then haste thee, fly !
And spread o'er earth the sweets of Heavenly melody !
HUGH CAMPBELL.