The Sun.
London, England, 1825-09-14 00:00:00

ANECDOTES, &c.

ENGLIXII AND FRENCIJ RIVALRY.—Upon an
occasion when the English, French, and Aus-
trian Ambassadors happened to meet at Ve-
i nice, a discussion arose between the two first,
upon which of their countries could produce the
most delicate and highly finished piece of work-
manship. A wager was laid, and the Austrian
Ambassador was requested to act as umpire. The
day at length arrived when the productions of
England and France were to be produced. The
Austrian Envoy gave a dinner, to which he in-
vited not only the competitors, but several per.-
sons of the higJlest distinction to witness the
decision of the wager., The Frenchman ex-
hibited a sword, the hilt of which was
of such exquisite and delicate workmanship,
that all present decided it could not be surpass-
ed, nor were they disposed to alter their opinions,
when the Englishman simply produced a very
small and fine needle. The specimen was hand-
ed round, and a vote in favour of the sword
about to be passed, when to the surprize of the
whole party, the Englishman unscrewed the top
of the needle, and drew from within it another,
as completely fashioned and finished, as that
which had served it for a case. The wager was
ultimately decided in favour of England.
QUEEN ELIZABETH.—This Princess, after ob-
serving the various feats of Villa Mediana (a
Spanish Nobleman) in a tournament, said to him
that she wished to know who was his mistress.
The Spaniard desired to be excused from telling,
but the Queen being absolute, he promised to
send her his mistress's picture. The next day
the Queen received a small packet inclosing a
looking-glass, which at once gratified her cu-
riosity and her vanity.

THE CHURCH MIL T ITAN.-7 uring the severe 1
action fought between, his ' • 'esty's ship the
_,..lit
Lion and a French 74, in the reign of GEORGE
11., the Captain of marines deserted his charge,
when the Rev. Mr. LEACH, the Chaplain, bravely
put himself at the head of that corps, rallied
them thrice on the poop of that ship, and encou-
raged them to behave like Englishmen, till he
was shot dead upon the spot. The Captain of
marines was afterwards sentenced to be shot for
cowardice. He was pulled from under a large bag
of hay, with one of his corporals by him, by
some-midshipmen, at the close of the action.
COURT or FRANCE.—CHAMBERS, in his Tradi-
tions of Edinburgh, lately published, gives•.the
following curious account of the Court of France
above a century ago, written by William Mit-
chell, a crazed white iron smith, who lived in a
cellar al, the Bow-head, and occasionally held
forth as an orator or preacher, besides being the
poetical contemporary of Allan Ramsay :
" The King's Court is six times bigger than.the
King of Britain's his guards have all feathers in
their hats, and their horse-tails are to their heels,
and their King is one of the best favoured hoys
that you can look upon—blythe-like,•with black
hair ; and all his people are better natured in
general than the Scots or English, except the
priests. '!'heir women seem to Le modest, for
they have no fardingales. The greatest wonder
I saw in France was to see the braw people fall
down on their knees on the ctarty ground, when
the priest comes by, carrying the cross, to give
a sick person the tacrament."
TA I.MA..—The following is the account of the
first appearance in which '!'alma distinguished
himself as a superior actor :
.. __ ...... ...

" CHARLES IX., a Tragedy, by Chenier, was received, and
ordered to be put in rehearsal. The author carried the principal
part to Saiiffd, the tragic despot of his day. In a week after, on
Chenier's waiting with the humility of a French dramatist on
the stage monarch, the part wasreturned to him, with the added
Sneer, that if the author was dei.ermined on having it played,
possibly young Telma would do it quite well enough.' Chenier
was angry, but he had watched '!'alma's performance, and he
took Sainful at his word ; Talma accepted the character with
delight. The boldness of the attempt fixed the whole gaze of
Parisian criticism upon him; and this was equivalent to the
whole gaze of Paris. Telma, who naturally felt that fate and
fortune hung upon the night, studied his character with his en-
tire soul. His taste in dress had been remarked by the audience,
but on this eventful night, he exceeded himself and all that had
been seen on the stage, in fidelity and effect of costume. The
old amateurs of the Parisian 'Theatre, to whom a debut or a
disgrace was the only theme that seemed worthy of the human
tongue, talk to this hour of the splendid illusion of Talma's
Charles; dress, attitude, gesture, even face, so struck them
with the force of reality. It was Charles himself walking
down from his pedestal or his picture; or rather, as they ex-
claimed, risen from his tomb ! The tragedy triumphed, and
the fame of the actor was sealed. His reputation now grew
rapidly ; he was, in spite of ordonnances, in the first rank of
his profession. The wits said that he . had " cleared Sainful
without touching him in the leap,•' and his performance of
Othello placed him at the height, from which he has never des-
cended a step."

MUNDEN, THE ACT° R.—Every body has heard
of our favourite MUNDEN'S daily apothegm,
46 Charity begins at home." JOE, as it is pretty
well known, was once at a dinner party placed
behind a haunch of venison, and requested to carve
it. 66 Really, Gentlemen," said he, " I do declare
I know very little about table anatomy; I dare
say now there's some particular cut in a haunch—
some favouritebon-morceau—l dare say there is—
but I assure ye 1 are quite ignorant where to
prick for it." A dozen knives instantly
started from the cloth, amlMuNnuat was instruct-
ed where the rich'meat lay? JOE uttered a whole
string of thanks, .worked out the prime slice,
loaded it with rich sauce and jelly, and then,
with the plate in
.his hand, looked through his
glasses round the table. Every mouth watered,
every hand was ready, every tooth prepared.
" Really, gentlemen," said the Comedian, I
wish I could please you all ; but, d—n it, if I
give the tit-bit to one, I shall offend the rest ;so
egad !" added he, pushing the dish from him,
" I'll keep it myself, and let every gentleman
help himself to what he likes best."
GENEROSITY OF MARSHAL Tv ItENNE.—The
deputies of a great metropolis in Germany once
offered the great Turenne 100,000 crowns not to
pass with his army through their city. 46 Gen-
tlemen," said he, " I cannot in conscience accept
your money, as I had no intention to pass that
way."

Mr. SINCLAIR has been displaying, with great
success, his fine vocal powers at Southampton and
engagement for a few nights at
\thVeeYlamtt°eurtih Isisplace, terminated last Friday evening,
being for his own benefit. His songs in the dif-
ferent pieces selected, were rapturously applaud.
ed by a most brilliant and crowded audience.

POETRY.

THE WATCHMAN'S SONG.

[The Watchmen in Germany amuse themselves during the
night by singing their national songs, as well as others of a
more devotional character ; of the latter the following is a spe•
cimen, taken from the very interesting work, the "Autunzn
of the Rhine."—When the voices are goort, which is frequently
ale case, the effect is solemn and pleasing
Hark, ye neighbours, and hear me tell—
Ten now strikes on the belfry bell !
Ten arc the Holy Commandments given
To man below—from God in Heaven.
Human watch from harm can't ward us—.
God will watch and God will guard us;
lie, through his eternal might,
Give us all a blessed night !
Hark, ye neighbours, and hear me tell—
Eleven sounds on the belfry bell !
Eleven Apostles of holy mind,
Taught the Gospel to mankind.
Human watch, &c.
Hark, ye neighbours, and hear me tell—
Twelve resounds from the belfry bell !
Twelve Disciples to Jesus came,
Who suffered rebuke for their Saviour's name.
Human watch, &c.
Hark, ye neighbours, and hear me tell—
One
has peal'd on the belfrey hell !
One God above, one Lord indeed,
Who bears us forth in our hour of need.
Human watch, &c.
Hark, ye neighbours, and hear me tell—
Two resounds from the belfry bell !
Two paths before mankind are free.—
Neighbour
choose the best for thee.
Hun.= watch, &c.
Hark, ye neighbours, and hear me tell—
Three now tolls on the belfry bell !
Threefold reigns the Heavenly Host,
Father, Son, arid Holy Ghost.
Human watch, &c.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

STOURTON-ON-AVON RACES.--MONDAY, SEPT. 12.
Gold Cup by subscription of 10 rove. each, for hunters, 11 sub-
..

. _ . .
scribers. A four mile heat.
Mr. G. Bourerie's Mayflower - - - 1
Major Grant's Mameluke - . - 2
. Mr. Granger's Juliana - - - 3
Capt. Forsyth's Gift . . - - 4
Mr. Hatchett's Merry Andrew . . . 5
Four other started, but ran out of •the course.—An excellent

race.
The Stourton Stakes of .7 sov s. each, 8 subscribers.
Mr. Fassett's Jezebel - - - - 1
Mr. Ford's Magic - . - - - 2
Mr. Roden's Mulberry . . . - S
Three others started.

A Silver Cup for Ponies was uon by Mr. Maddison's Glory
beating four others.

CURRAGH ROYAL MEETING, SEPT. B.

Peel Stakes, 30 gs, 20 h. ft. for two year olds : colts, list 41b. ;
fillies, Bst. Two Year Old Course.
Mr. Daxton's b. c. Altamont - . -, . 1
Mr. Watts's b. c. Mount Loftus . . - 2
Mr. Blake's ch. f. sister to Klepper - . . 3
Mr. Keating's ch. f. Orreseen . - - 4
Three paid forfeit.
The King's Plate of 100 gs for three year olds : colts, list. ;
fillies, 7st. 111 b. Two miles.
Mr. Blake's h. c. Byron . - . . - 1
Mr. Kelly's b. f. 1111ss Foote - •• - - - 2
Lord Sligo's ch. f. Eugenia - - - - 3
Sweepstakes of 15 gs each, h. ft. Two Year Old Course.
Mr. Blake's b. c. brother to Welcome, 7st. 111 b. - 1
Mr. Kirwan's b. f. by Recorder, Bst. - - - 2
Lord Sligo's ch. f. Cuirass, 7st 71b. - - - 3