The Sun.
London, England, 1836-11-01 00:00:00

NEW MONTHLY.

There is a clever portrait—clever so far as the en-
graving is concerned, for we cannot speak to the like-
ness—of Mr. Horace Smith in this Number, an
author, who after all his literary experiments must be
content to rest his fame on the share he took in that
first-rate jeux d'esprit, the " Rejected Addresses."
His novels are all dead, without hope of resurrection ;
but many of' his "livelier'EsSays in this Magazine still
live, though they give, we believe, but faint signs of
of animation. " The History of a Radical" promises
well, though, as the tale is but just commenced, and
bids fair to fill a volume, we forbear till we see more
of it from offering a decided opinion. But is it
true, as the author states, that the Oxford servitors
are still compelled to wait at table ? We had
thought this barbarism had been long since done away
with. " Wayside Flowers," by Mrs. Hall, are plea-
santly written. Nothing can be juster than her remark
that " there is something about Wales and the Welsh
which gives me the impression that I am far far away ,
from dear England." We who have traversed the
Principality on foot from one end to the other, can
speak to the truth of this. " Great People" is a
lively article, redolent of Poole and Poole-isms. From
the " Records of a Stage Veteran" we select a few
agreeable anecdotes:—
Young Grimaldi and T. Dibdin.—The late young Gri-
maldi boasted a vernacular peculiarly his own. If he had had
a companion to cope with him, in six weeks they would have
forgotten the English language, and framed an entirely new
tongue. He ( Grimaldi) never used any phrase reco:nised by so-
ciety ; for example, Mr. T. Dibdin, during the frequent illnesses
of Mr. Grimaldi senior, one day asked the son very earnestly after
his father. "Oh 1 the old buffer's as stiff as pitch," said the
young clown. " Good God, Sir," said Dibdin, " you don't,
—you cannot mean to say he is no more ?" "No more I" said
Grimaldi, " he's more than you are, he's all drawn up of a
heap." "Am Ito infer that he is better?" " Why, don't I
tell you so ?—he's as right as a trivet." " Shall we have the
pleasure of seeing. him this evening ?" " 'Course you will,"
replied Joe, " he's coming at darkey just to see the beauty of
things." [lt may be necessary to say that Mr. Grimaldi
meant to imply that his father had thrown aside his crutches,
could stand upright (" all of a heap"), and was coming that
night to witness the performances.]"
L—, when at Cambridge, was alike remarkable for his
enormous obesity and his exceeding dulness ; an acquaintance
impugning L—'s scholarship, Cooke defended it ;—" I
have no doubt he's a capital classic," said Tom, " for I am
told he was reckoned the greatest sizar in the college."
Once, whilst at Plymouth, a very juvenile midshipman,
flourishing his dirk, swaggered into the theatre. "My dear
sir," said Liston to the door-keeper, " why don't you attend
to the announcement at the bottom of your bills—Children in
arms not admitted?"

Liston asked Mathews to play for his benefit • the latter
excused himself, as he had to act elsewhere. " I would if I
could," said the mimic, " but I can't split myself in half."
" Unaph I don't know that," said Liston, " I hare often seen
you play in two pieces."
A Pertinent Query—Mrs. W ---, notwithstanding her pro-
fessional powers, displays so little knowledge on general sub
jects as to have obtained the sobriquet of the " inspired sim-
pleton." She had the misfortune to meet an accident in tra-
velling which accelerated her accouchement, and she became
the mother of a seven-months' child. She was weeping, and
exclaiming that the infant would not live, when Mr. W--
consoled her by assuring her that his own grandfather was a
seven-months' child. " Very likely, my dear," said the weep-
ing beauty. " but did he live F"
Richardson the Showman.—This person, who is the last of
the real race of itinerant dramatic showmen, amassed a fortune
by unwearied industry ; for upwards of forty years he has reigned
supreme in Smithfield and other fairs. It happened some
years since, at the time of the fair at St. Alban's, that a
dreadful fire occurred ; Richardson and his company did their
utmost to extinguish it, and their services were considered
valuable. Some time afterwards a subscription was raised for
the uninsured sufferers; a plain-looking man, in a rusty black
coat, red waistcoat, corduroy inexpressibles, and worsted
stockings, entered the committee-room and gave in his sub-
scription, 100/. " What name shall we say, sir ?" asked the
astonished clerk. "Richardson, the penny showman," was the
proud reply.
This gentleman's acquaintance with Johnson and Boyer is
very limited. Whilst at St. Alban's (where, in consequence
of his liberality, he received a perpetual permission to act
plays during and three days after the fair) some ladies came
to take places, and the younger ones asked him if the pieces
were interesting, and more especially if love were the theme—
Oh all about that, Miss," replied Richardson, " for you
see, the first piece is Lovers' Wows,' and the second un is
Rondy-vows.' "
Charles Bannister.__Bannistor and a military friend were
regaling at " Sir Ralph Abercromby's Head," and the con-
versation turned upon the hero whose name had been given to
the tavern ; he had just fallen at Aboukir, and it was the
fashion for every one to relate some personal anecdote of him.
The military gentleman did so, but Bannister denied the cor-
rectness or one or two of his assertions. " Zounds," said
the soldier, " I ought to know ; I have served with the man,
and have known Abercromby ever since he was a lieutenant."
And what of that," said Charles, coolly, " nhen I have
known him ever since he was an inn-sign r

Jew Davis.—Bashfulness is not the badge of his tribe,
and it certainly formed no part of his character; he had a
sort of celebrity for non-payment. One of his creditors,
thinking to shame him out of the money he owed, stood up
in the pit of Sadler's Wells, and said, " Air. Davis, I said I
would expose you; you owe me seventeen and sixpence."
" So I do," said Davis, perfectly coolly, and advanchsg to the
foot-lights, " oblige lite with half-a-crown, and it will make
an even pound." We need. not add that the creditor took
nothing by his motion.
A Broad Hint—When the case of Chambers, in connexion
with the Opera House, was brought before Lord Brougham,
the Court was crowded with theatrical persons, many of whom
were foreigners, The hum of conversation seriously inter-
rupted the business. His Lordship complained of it once or
twice, and at last said to the ulber—" If this noise does not
cease, I shill be obliged to speak to your successor." The
silence the next moment was avi ful.

Destinations of a family.—When Kean came to London,
and was the idol of Drury, hia mother and brother were acting
in a barn at Peckham, Surrey ; and his sister, under the name
of Carey, at the West London Theatre, Tottenham-street,
then under the management of Mr. Beverley.