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

A RUBENS DISCOVERED.

•M A RLR 0 ROLIGii-S;RE ET.I-a—Ja;e,;;iiich has been for
some days in abeyance at this office, came on yesterday for final
adjustment. The particulars are these :—Some months ago a
Mr. Smith, a wholesale ironmonger, residing in Circus-street,
New-road, by some chance or other, came in contact, at some
broker's sale, with a piece of old dirty canvass, rolled and twisted
up like a clout, that had barely the appearance of having had,
once upon a time, some paint of some colour or other daubed
upon it, SO as to give some sort of an outline of human figures,
and this piece of canvass, Mr. Smith, because nobody else
would think of buying it, solely out of respect for its venerable
appearance, took it into his head to purchase, for rather more
than nothing, and carried it home with him. A friend of Mr.
Smith's, who either was or imagined he was, a judge of dirty
canvass, and could see things in the dark better than most
of his kind, gave a hint to Mr. Smith that there might,
sometimes, be found many a fine form beneath a tattered and
filthy garment, and that perhaps this neglected piece of can-
vass might, by possibility, be a painting worthy of the Na-
tional Gallery, incog. Mr. Smith seized upon the hint of his
friend, and a consultation was held as to who should be
selected .to bring its beauties, if it had any, to light. The
choice fell upon 111 r. Harris, of Brook-street, Hanover-square,
a cleaner and dealer in the picture world. MI% Smith accord-
ingly transferred the roll or canvass to Mr. Harris, who pro-
mised that if there was any thing hidden in it, it should soon
come to light. Some months passed away, during which Mr.
H. was not idle, and he succeeded in developing the subject of
the picture, which really turned out to be scriptural. When
Mr. Smith called, Mr. Harris told him that the canvass was
likely to show a much better face than he expected, but the la-
bour and expence of bringing forward the features would be ten
-guineas; to this Mr. Smith made no objection. Some further
time passed away, and a few days ago Mr. Smith called again,
and was then told that the charge for cleaning the picture would
be twenty guineas. Mr. Smith said it was rather odd ; but at
all events he could say nothing until he saw the picture. That '
you cannot do, said Mr. Harris, until 1 am paid my demand.
That I cannot pay, said Mr. Smith, until I see the picture.
Then, said Mr. Harris, the picture yoU cannot see, for, to tell
you ie truth, and make your mind easy, I have sold the picture,
but here are two beautiful pictures of my own, worth 20 guineas
each, which you may have instead. C:1! no; said Mr. Smith ;
you have sold it, have you, then I begin to smell a-rat, and with-
out further to do, off Mr. Smith pranced to this office, and ob-
tained a warrant against Mr. Harris, for unlawfully disposing
of property not his own. Reed, the officer, took 111 r. Harris
into custody, but he had no sooner done so than Mr. Harris told
him he had not sold the picture at all, and immediately deli-
vered it to Reed, who brought both it and Mr. Harris to' this
office, where Mr. Harris offered to give it up to 111 r. Smith,
on being paid the sum he originally mentioned,- ten guineas,
for his labour. Not I, indeed, raid Mr. Smith, I will not
pay you one farthing; you said you sold my picture, which
was an illegal act, for which I am determined to proceed against
you, unless you give me up a picture. Mr. Harris contended,
that as he had not sold the picture, he had therefore done no-
thing illegal, and certainly should not give it up, unless lie
were paid for his labour. This was the knotty point which re=
mained to be settled yesterday. At the appointed hour a full
array of solicitors, counsel, and a host of friends of both par.
ties, including a variety of picture-dealers, was in attendance,
but the matter was compromised by. Mr. Smith paying to Mr.
Harris 51. in full of all demands, and the picture was handed
over to him. The picture, to which certainly Mr. Harris has
done every justice, and we think him very ill paid for his la-
bour and judgment, was exhibited in the office, and is a very
fine one of " Christ raising Lazarus from the Dead, hound
hands, &c." by Rubens. There is a vast number of figures,
all of which are strikingly expressive; and according to the
opinion given by some picture fanciers present, it is dead cheap
at a hundred guineas ; but, however that may be, Mr. Smith
has certainly bought a cheap bargain.
PARENTAL DEPRAVITY.—A man named James Warner,
a tailor, and Eleanor, his wife, were charged by Mary Negia
Warner, a girlaboutls years old, and daughter of the male pri.
• soner, with having at various times cruelly beaten her. It ap-
peared by the poor girl's statement, that ever since, her mother's
death her unnatural father had sent her forth to plunder, and that
whenever she returned home without any booty, he and his wife
beat and pinched her, and kept her without food. She men.
tioned the names of several tradesmen whom she had robbed,
and also of the pawnbrokers with whom she had pledged the
fruits of her miserable avocation. The sisterof the complain.
ant's mother stated that she had frequently cleaned and clothed
the poor girl, but she no sooner went home than she was stripped
and sent out again to steal. At length witness took the child
from them altogether, and got her a situation as children's
maid in the family of a most respectable gentleman, Mr. Daw-
kins, of Barnard Castle, near Durham. With the family the girl
was as happy as could be, and as correct as possible ; for she
had naturally a detestation of vice, but the father wrote a letter
to Mr. Dawkins, saying that his daughter had been clandestinely
taken from him, and that unless Mr. D. sent her home forth-
with, he (the father) would have him taken before a Magistrate,
and the consequence was, that Mr. Dawkins, not wishing to be
annoyed in such a manner, sent the girl home again, and the
father andhis wife, the moment she arrived, commenced their
old practice of ill treating her, and sending her out to rob where
she could. The letter was produced, and, after &good deal of
shuffling, the fellow admitted it was written by hint. Both the
prisoners were remanded, in order that the parties robbed and
the pawnbrokers might attend.

LAMBETII-STREET.-J. Green, alias Bryant, alias Fount-
leroy, dressed in the first style of fashion, was charged with
burglary in the house of Mr. Ponsonby, of Manor-row, Tower-
hill, and stealing various articles, several of which were found
in his house, which the officers described as being furnished in
a very superior style. Previous to the commencement of the
hearing, he offered the prosecutor a considerable sum to stay
proceedings, which was indignantly refused, and he was fully
committed.

HULL CORN RETURNS.—On Tuesday an infor.
mation came on to be heard before the Worship-
ful the Mayor and Aldernien, against Messrs.
Hall and Gleadow, for a false return of barley,
on the 30th July last. After an investigation
which lasted upwards three hours, the information
was dismissed, on the ground of a want of suffi-
cient legal evidence.

No less than five steam-packets arrived at
Margate on Sunday from the metropolis, bring-
ing at least 500 passengers.