The Sun.
London, England, 1836-07-27 00:00:00

GEORGE ROBINS AND THE NAPOLEON

RELICS.

Mr. Robins has at length found a subject and a sale suited
to his genius. He has had a special retainer. The Napoleon
treasures possessed by the late Mr. Barry O'Meara, and of-
fered for sale at his residence in the Edgeware-road a few days
since, were " items" such as do not fall under an auctioneer's
hammer every day ; and Mr. R. instead of wasting his sweet-
ness on the desert furniture of Smiths and Joneses infinite, has
been summoned to the forum to deliver an oration in honour of
silver spoons, that might have inspired Cicero, and of ditto
forks, that might have tickled the soul of Demosthenes. The
ear of imagination even now catches the sound of his hammer
as the illustrious lots are one after another knocked down. A
Turkish sabre with a real Damascus blade, worn by Napoleon
in Egypt, was purchased at 15/. 15s. An exquisitely finished
portrait of Napoleon, by Abbe Lassaues, drawn early in life,
seventeen guineas. A carved full-length ivory miniature of
Napoleon sold at seven guineas. Of the plate used by Napo-
leon, a gravy spoon was purchased by Mr. Potter, M. P., for
six guineas; five forks were also obtained by Mr. Potter at 31.
each ; six tea spoons brought one guinea and a half each (the
intrinsic value was about five shillings each.) A few lines of
Napoleon's hand-writing, a confidential communication from
Napoleon to the Prince Eugene, was bought for eleven
guineas. A small quantity of Napoleon's hair, its colonr light
auburn, of a most silky texture, was sold for 21. lOs. The
magnificent gold coronation medal, representing Napoleon and
Marie Louise before the altar on one side, and profiles on the
other, for fifteen guineas, &c. But of far greater importance than
all—even than the Queen Anne's farthing, once the property
of Lady Leigh's family, which sold for four guineas—was the
it may indeed be called the bone of contention—the tooth of
Napoleon • It is thus referred to in the narrative of this me-
morable sale. "It was under a glass cover and seemed not to
be much decayed. It was one of the three teeth extracted by
Mr. O'Meara at St. Helena; one of which was sent to his mo-
ther, another to his brother, and the third was given to his
friend." The learned Intrinsicator of Property dwelt much
on the value of this relic. "It might be said, what use could
be made of it ; but he could tell the ladies that teeth in France
were often made into rings, and he wanted to know what price
could properly purchase a ring adorned by Napoleon's tooth."
It was put up at a guinea, and knocked down to a Mr. Met-
calf at seven guineas and a half. The instrument with which
it was extracted was next put up, and purchased by the same
gentleman at three guineas. On selling this instrument Mr.
Robins observed, his friend Cartwright was at present unap-
proachable as a dentist; but he doubted if a man of great talent
became possessed of this instrument, and took from Napoleon
the famed tooth, what might be the result. Some of the com-
mentators upon this event insinuate that the relics " fetched
high prices !" History may record otherwise. No, the prices
were low, when contrasted with such high encomiums. It must
have been worth seven guineas and a half, not to possess one
of Napoleon's teeth, but only to see Mr. Robins display his,
while expatiating upon Napoleon's greatness—" decidedly the
greatest man the world ever saw." " But," continued Mr.
R., " now he is dead, and gone to a place where I sincerely
hope he is happy .f" We sincerely hope so to, though we are
not made acquainted with the name of the place, and probably
a good deal depends upon that. It is gratifying to see one great
man thus stepping forth to pay homage to another. The
Viscount de Chateaubriand, in his just published work, remarks
upon this subject, observing how Shakspeare was appreciated
by Milton, how Camoens was admired by Tasso, and how Mi-
chael Angelo sympathised with Dante. Could he, by antici-
pation, have beard this eulogium, he would have crowned the
catalogue with a note of exultation that Napolean has been ap-
preciated by Robins. And doubtless we shall live (if we are
lucky) to see these names linked together, and to behold it
recorded as the result of this sale, that Napoleon the Grand
was emperor of France and Italy, and that Mr. Robins was the
auctioneer who disposed of his gravy spoon to the highest
bidder. It will be better perhaps that History should content
herself with this simple declaration ; for it might sound incon-
sistent with the character of true devotion and reverence to the
Emperor to say (what it must be owned is the actual truth'
that Mr. Robins made Napoleon's hair go off rapidly, and af:
terwards knocked down one of his teeth !—Court Journal.

RAILWAY.—Twenty miles of the Carlisle and
Newcastle Railway were opened last Tuesday. The cere-
mony observed upon this occasion excited great local interest.
The Carlisle Journal states that " all the shops in the city
were closed, and the day was kept as a general holiday amongst
all classes. Flags were displayed from several houses, where
the different trades had appointed to meet. Bands of music,
one belonging to Carlisle, and which had been engaged by the
Corporation—another from Newcastle, dressed in uniform—
and a third from Allendale Town Head—began to play upon
the streets at an early hour, at each intermission of the rain."
On the day of opening, no great speed was attempted—the
utmost of the velocity rarely exceeding the rate of 16 miles
an hour. The engines, however, though not intended for
speed, are capable of much greater things, and since Tuesday
have generally performed the journey from Greenhead to the
station at Carlisle, a distance of 20 miles, in an hour and ten
minutes, including all stoppages. The day was, fortunately,
darkened by no accident or calamity.
ENCOURAGING SIGNS OF THE TlMES.—There
are forcibly apparent at the present period, a few striking
and important facts which, indicative as they are of the state
of the empire, should not escape universal attention. Nor
will, we trust, the conviction fail to be entertained, that as the
condition of the people is a correct index of the power and
efficiency of government, the present administration is enti-
tled to the gratitude of the country. From every part of the
manufacturing and commercial districts, the accounts are
highly gratifying. In every branch there is ample employ-
ment for all - and the rate of wages is increasing—circum-
stances, which must prove of great benefit to the agricultural
portions of the community 'arising from an increasing con-
sumption—to that important class which, employed in the cul-
tivation of the land, has long suffered under a state of depres-
sion, but which, assisted by the operations of the poor law
unions, is, we hope, rising to participate in the general benefit.
Crime, too, is evidently upon the decrease. The Irish judges
congratulating the respective juries upon the fact of its dimi-
nution is more striking. Without alluding to the more southern
provinces, the calendar for Yorkshire, considering the im-
mense district which it embraces, is also small, and the offen-
ces are not of a deep and serious character. In the extremely
populous district of Durham the calendar is very light. At
Appleby there is not a single case. In short, the calendars
throughout the whole of the circuit, are extremely light.
Here are abundant grounds for congratulation and thankful-
ness. Nor is this all. The present gratifying state of pros-
perity is not based on a false and fictitious foundation. It is as
a tree whose roots are firmly fixed in the heart of the soil, and
whose branches overspread the whole land. Amidst this gra-
tifying state the arts and sciences are extending their sphere
of usefulness ; and literature is presenting additional attrac-
tions and delights. Public improvements were never carried
on in a scale so magnificent as is the case at the present pe-
riod ; and to crown all there is every prospect of a bountiful
harvest.—Sunderland Herald.

THE TEA TRADE, MONDAY.—The deliveries last
week were 581,7501b5. The trade is rather more brisk.
The total supplies this season from China will be nearly
12,000,0001b5. The exports to America from Canton would
be about 10,000,0001b5.

A NEW NosE.---The Talicotian operation was re-
cently performed by Mr. Douglas, of Glasgow. The case
went on favourably, and in three weeks the strength of the
transplanted nose was such, that the patient could take hold of
it and blow it. The forehead was brought to heal like any
other wound, and now, seven weeks after the operation, the
patient is perfectly well, and exceedingly grateful for the im-
provement that has been effected in her appearance.