The Sun.
London, England, 1822-06-11 00:00:00

MADAME MARA.

As this celebrated Singer, who once made so
distinguished a figure in the musical circles of our country and
all over Europe, may perhaps be considered as the very best that
ever appeared, those who remember her great talents will be
gratified in hearing something respecting her present situation.
She left this country last summer, in order to return to Riga,
where she had resided many years, and was treated with res-
pect and friendship by the inhabitants in general. On her
tourney she felt a natural desire to re-visit CassEL, the place of
her nativity, and from which she had been absent upwards of
thirty years. On her arrival at that place, she conceived that
she should wander through the streets, and hardly be recog-
nized or recollected by any of the inhabitants. She was, how-
ever, agreeably undeceived, for as soon as it was known that
she was in the town, the Musical Director to the Court, who
is enthusiastically devoted to his art, immediately waited on
her, and. the next morning the chief of the people came to wel-
come the arrival of their celebrated countrywoman. The
ELECTRESS, sister of the King of Prussia, sent for her, re-
ceived her in the most gracious manner, and desired to see her
often, as long as she remained in the place. This Princess is
much beloved for her affability and her amiable character in
general. The chief people of the place then resolved to have a
table fete in honour of M ARA, and a concert was soon arranged.
The Elector patronized the plan • on the top of the concert bill
was inscribed "As an acknowledgment of the merit of our
esteemed and beloved countrywoman G. E. Malta, born
SCHMELING, who, during half a century, was the pride of
Germany, and the delight of Europe." The Adjutant of the
young Prince was ordered to attend her on the occasion. He
led her into the concert-room, and stationed her opposite to
the door where his Royal Highness the Elector was expected to
enter, and near to three arm-chairs that were placed in front
for the Electress and her daughters. As soon as the Princess
appeared, having gratefully saluted the audience, she pro-
ceeded to salute Mann, wha offered to kiss her hand, but the
Princess took hold of her with both hands, led and placed her
in her own chair, while Mani+ was overcome by this condes-
cending kindness, and in receiving so great an honour from
her own Sovereign, in her native place. After the concert there
was a grand supper given on the occasion; at which more than
thirty of the chief Ladies and Gentlemen of the Court and
town attended. When MARA entered the room, she was, re-
ceived with a flourish from the musical band, and a laurel
crown was suspended over her head during the repast. Though
agitated in the extreme by these unexpected honours, yet, as
as the company testified an anxious desire so hear her sing,
gratitude induced her to comply ; a piano-forte was brought
into the room, and she accompanied herself in a song. The
chief singer then presented the laurel crown to her in the name
of the company. The next day the Electress presented to her
a valuable broach, of which, ArtsuusTa being the name of the
Princess, the head-stone was an Amethyst. The Princess or-
dered all M ARA'S expence atthe hotel to be discharged at her
own cost, and the Head Post-Master sent her, with four fine
hors,s, free of expence, to the .next stage. he Elector or-
dered the Police Master to write to the next post where she was
to sleep, to prepare every thing in readiness for her. The
Electress wrote to her sister-in-law the Duchess, a Hessian
Princess, at Gotha,_ where she was received with similar reTect
and hospitality. We feel much gratification in relating the
honours which thus have been conferred on a performer, who,
according to the testimony of the ablest judges in this country,
had never a superior, if an equal, in her -art, and who, with
the most profound science, perfect intonation, correct taste, and
rapidity of execution, made all of them subordinate to EXPRI:S
slow, and gave the music of HANDEL, in particular, with
such force, feeling, and dignity, as the great master might in-
deed imagine, but could hardly ever hope to have the pleasure
of knowing that a singer would appear so fully competent to
render Justice to his sublime compositions.

Bo ItTIIWICK'S trial for stealing papers from the
Sentinel printing-office here, we understand, is not to come on
at Edinburgh on Monday next, as formerly noticed, the wit-
nesses in town having received official intimation to that effect ;
they are, however, summoned to appear at Edinburgh on Mon..
day the 17th.; at 10 o'clock, forenoon. Borthwick was, on
Thursday afternoon, carried off' prisoner from this jail, by the
senior Macer of the Justiciary Court, to Edinburgh, at the in-
stance of the private prosecutor. Mr. Stuart's trial comes on at
Edinburgh on Monday.—( Glasgow Courier, June B.)
A MAN WITH THREE WIVES C! !—For some
time past, an honest shoemaker, 'yclept JOHN MIME, has
lived in the village of Prestwick Toll, with a woman whose
claims to the honours of his name and his bed remained undis-
puted till Tuesday last. On that luckless day, the matrimonial
happiness of this worthy couple was fated to be disturbed by a
circumstance of no common occurrence, being nothing less than
the arrival from Glasgow of a pair of frail fair ones, likewise
claimants to the hand and the affections of the unfortunate and
fickle cordwainer. The appeal of one of these ladies was no
doubt rendered doubly powerful by the production of a thump-
ing child, also an aspirant to the name of " glorious John."—
Variety is charming, says the old song, and so no doubt thought
the snob, as he stood, like the donkey in the tale, fair between
two stacks of hay. However, he resolved upon leaving the stall
in charge of his " dear first wife," and accompanied the strange
ladies into Ayr, where he spent the night. During his ab-
sence, the green-eyed monster very naturally got possession of
the forsaken one, and on Mr. Busbie's appearance at his habi-
tation on the following morning, with one of the rival queens,
a slight squall ensued, in the course of which this enraged eon
of Crispin discharged a pistol from the window at his rebelli-
ous rib, which missed her, but wounded two other women
whom the noise had drawn to the spot. A gentleman who was
passing at this time caused the fellow to be taken into custody,
and he was thereafter committed to Ayr gaol.—( Ayr and
Wigtonshire Courier.)
-About a week since the workmen employed in
the repairs of Lowbrooks Farm House, in the parish of Bray,
taking up the floor of one of the attics, discovered a trap-
door descending into a secret dark chamber, the existence
of which has not been known to any of the persons who have
occupied the house for nearly half a century. The door was
secured within by an oak bolt, moving upon an axis, and fit-
ting at one end into a latch affixed to the under side of the
door. At the opposite end two cords were fixed, part of
which still remain, which were continued, in opposite direc-
tions, through holes made purposely in the joists and tim-
bers to the staircase ; but the terminations have been ef-
faced by subsequent alterations of the house. By these
cords the bolt could be moved by persons outside the room,
either to secure or unfasten the entrance. Tradition says,
that Lowbrooks was the property of a family who espoused
the cause of Charles the First, and, on the ruin of his cause,
were exiled, and the estate sold to an ancestor of the gen-
tleman who now possesses it. A knocker on one of the
outer doors bears the date 1649, arid a coat of arms rudely
cut, with the initials HPA above. It is not improbable that
some distinguished perions—or, perhaps, even the Royal
martyr himself—may have been concealed in this chamber dur-
ing the contentions of that period.—(Bucks Gazette.)
MODE OF TREATMENT OF DEBTORS IN CEYLON.
—The treatmentof debtors in this Island is particularly singular
and severe. The first step taken is to strip the debtor of his
clothes, and a guard is set to watch him. If, after a little time,
he does not pay, a large stone is put up to his back, and he is
compelled to carry it about until his creditors are satisfied.—
Sometimes his burthen is increased by the addition of se-
veral heavy stones, whi4s he is obliged to carry about until
the debt is extinct. Affother severity, often practised by the
creditor, is putting large weights between the naked legs of
his debtor, and obliging him to walk about with them.—
Frequently the creditor will go to the person indebted to him,
and say he will poison himself, unless he pays him directly.—
Instances have occurred of such threats being put into execu-
tion, and the debtor,who is considered the cause of his creditor's
death, also forfeits his life.