The Sun.
London, England, 1824-02-14 00:00:00

SINGULAR CIRCUMSTANCE.

About seven or eight months since, two large
[ cases were delivered at the Custom-house, from
on board a Dutch lugger, consigned to the care
of a mercantile house in the City, and addressed
to a gentleman well known in the literary world.
On examination those cases were found to contain.
a number of paintings, some fossil remains, and
a few volumes of rare Dutch books, printed
almost immediately after the discovery of the use
of types. There were also some coins of Roman
and Athenian origin, carefully secured in a small
casket of porphyry, and many other articles of
vertu, all plainly indicating the same reflne
ment of taste which had assisted in the selec-
tion. The pictures, which exhibited every appear-
ance of having been long neglected, were, not-
withstanding, in excellent preservation, the frames
alone having suffered from the touch of time,
They were aboat forty in number,and were chiefly
from the classic pencils of Claude Lorraine, Pous-
sin, and Titian, with two or three of Rembrandt's
happiest efforts. Some cabinet paintings,deposited
in a small portfolio, were evidently the production
of a female pencil, and were remarkable rather for
their elegance and imaginative character than for
studied perfection. But the puzzle was,to ascertain
from whom or whence they came, or what ma-.
tive could have induced the original possessor to
part with so inestimable a collection. No in,
timation whatever had accompanied them, that
might inform the present owner to whose gene-
rosity he stood indebted for so choice a gift, if
such he might conceive it. After minutely exa-
maining their contents, the cases were again care-
fully closed, as the Gentleman was rather scru-
pulous in exhibiting as his own what might be re-
claimed at some future period by their mysterious
owner. Month after month rolled away without
affording the least clue to this singular adventure,
and the Gentleman at length concluded that it
was a piece of pleasantry pat upon him by his;
son, who is a Major-General in the British army,
and then holding a situation in India : he accord
ingly wrote to him on the subject, but the Gene-
ral, in reply, expresses an equal degree of
wonder at the information, and pledges his honour
that he knows nothing whatever of the transac-.
tion, and concludes by saying, that if his father
finds the gift of his unknown friend as the.
slightest incumbrance, he shall feel particularlr
happy in relieving him from the trouble of its AC*"
ceptance, and take all responsibility from hie
shoulders. General - further adds, that
he remembers, during the Walcheren expedition,.
having had an opportunity of rendering a trifling
service to a wealthy Flemish merchant, who was
at the same time highly grateful, and took hig
address both in London and Soinersetshire, where
his father's estates are principally situate; but he
could never for a moment presume that the Dutch-
man's gratitude was so unfading as to induce this
valuable proof of its existence after the lapse of
so many years. The General's fattier, who is an
ardent admirer of the arts, begins to relax in hiss
scruples, and thinks of new framing and refresh-
ing such of the pictures as hare suffered front
lying by ; and it is expected that the entire will
be open to the inspection of the cognoscenti and
virtuosi; as soon as the work of resuscitation shalt
hare been accomplished.

In the Court of King's Bench, Dublin, on Sa-
turday last, Mr. O'CONNELL obtained a condi-
tional Order for a Mandamus against the Corp°.
ration of Dublin, on the part of RICHARI)
GRACE, a Catholic, who required to be admitted.
to his Freedom of the Corporation, having served
seven years' apprenticeship to a Free Printer.
It is recorded in the Lying-in Hospital of
Dublin, that a woman was delivered offive chiles
dren at a birth.—(illedical Journal.)

COAL-MARKET, FEE. 13.
Ships at Market. Ships sold
93i Newcastle - - 46
28 Sunderland _

Primo.
31s Od to 39s 9d
32s Od to 41s Od

COURSE OF EXCHANGE, February 13.
Amato' dem
Ditto, at Sight
Rotterdam
12 3
Antwerp
12 4
Dainburgh
Altona 37 5 24 Us
37 If Us.
Paris, Day'r, eight
Ditto
25 SO .2
BOMA CAUX3 ditto
Berlin
7 10
F. !Id

rank fort on this Alain .
Petersburg!' 9
Vienna lO IV
Trieste lO 10
Madrid
Cadiz
354 Effective
Barcelona
hville
Gihraltal
Legituru 46f
Get . 'Ws-Venice, Ital. Liv. 27 th
Malta J --Naples 3l7i
Palermo
Lisbon .
Oporto
ltio Janeiro
Bahia .dl
Dublin .... 9} Cork 9A pet Cent.

BULLION.

Portugal Gold, i n Coin...
Foreign Gold, in Bars
New Doubloons
New Dollars
Silsar In Bars, standard

I .0 6 0 pet Os.
3 17 G
3 14 0
Q 4 9/
0 4 114.

BIRTHS.

On the 10th inst., at his seat in Carnarvonshire, the Lady
Sir Joseph lluddatt, of a son.
On the 11th inst., the Lady of Stephen Eaton, Esq., oo+.Ketton-hall, Itutland, of a son.