The Sun.
London, England, 1823-12-30 00:00:00

SIR WILLIAM CURTIS.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES.

GIBRALTAR, DEC. 7, 11323.

Sts,—Altblaili you are always the first to
' • point out abuses, yet I have generally found you as ready to
do justice even to your greatest enemies;
.and therefore I will
not apologise for troubling you with this account of your John
Bull opponent, the celebrated Sir William Curtis, who arrived
here a few days ago on his way to-Naples, attended by his
Majesty's brig Weasel. You must know. that a subscription
had been set on foot for the relief of the distressed foreigners,
(principally Spanish refugees,) whom 'T knew to be %it state
not to be described, and the sum of three thousand dollars,which
had been subscribed, was found inadequate to their relief; and
therefore, the moment it was ascertained that Sir William
was in the bay, it was determined by the Committee that he
should be waited upon, for the purpose of soliciting his kind aid
in favour of the starving individuals alluded to ;; and such was
the opinion entertained of the worthy Baronet by those of his
friends who knew him beat, that considerable wagers were offer-
ed and taken, that he would give a check for at least one thou-
sand pounds. Accordingly, two of the gentlemen departed
to wait upon him by the Committee went on board his schooner,
and were received by Sir William in the most gracious manner,
who not only made them partakeh.of delicacies, such as could
not be obtained in this hemisphere, but astonished them with
a check upon his banking-house for the very amount named
by his friends, and which, thank God, has relieved the wants
of hundreds, who otherwise must have sunk under their suf-
ferings, and all of them men who must have seen better
days 1 can assure you. Although the appeal to the feelings
of the charitable Alderman was certainly very strong, yet
the amount is great; and I
am very sure that, under the
circumstance. you will no objection to give publicity to
this act of benevolence, which will live long in the remem-
brance of the inhabitants of this garrison. The Gentle-
man who discounted the order (and by which he lost five dol-
lars) is now showing it to his friends as a curiosity, previous to
sending it home by the packet.
The post-office here will not receive postage of any letter,
which must plead my excuse for putting you to this expence,
I beg you to believe me to be, Sir, your faithful and obedient
servant, W3l. B. RANGESTON.

P.S. Sir William has also offered a passage to any member
of the Cortes who might feel disposed to visit Naples.

OPINIONS ON PORTRAITS.

( From the Somerset House Weekly Miscellany, i.e. )
DH. JOHNSON.

" Of all the puisuits that ever were invented by the old ser-
pent, for the punishment of men who attempt to live by their
wits," said a waggish artist, " surely that of Portrait Painting
is the most tantalizing." " Nay," added he,—" the devil
himself, with all his wheedling and flattery, could not please
his capricious customers."
The sage Doctor Johnson was displeased with his friend Sir
Joshua, fur painting him holding a book near his eyes—or
rather eye, for the great man was unoculus and near-sighted
to boot. Mrs. Thrale rallied her illustrious friend, on his cons.
plainiug of the composition of this picture, and said, " Why,
zin• Joshua has consented to have his picture taken, with his ear
trumpet in his hand." " He may be painted by another, or
paint himself, as deaf as he pleases,' replied the Doctor, "but
object to he knowu posterity as blinking Sam."