The Sun.
London, England, 1846-12-14 00:00:00

Real del Monte lizegd .

I••••

EXTRAORDINARY HOAX.
During the past week the neighbourhood of Alders-
gate-street, City, has been the scene of great confusion,
owing to the following extraordinary hoax, which was
played off upon a highly respectable tradesman, named
Russell, carrying on business as a stationer and account
book manufacturer, at Nos. 79 and 80, in the above-
named thoroughfare. It appears that on Wednesday
evening last, as the clock was striking the hour of five,
seven hair dressers entered Mr. Russell's shop, followed
by three other persons, each carrying a wig. Upon in-
quiring their business, Mr. Russell was informed that
they had been ordered to attend at that hour, to dress
the family's hair. Before sufficient time bad elapsed to
tell the parties that they had been hoaxed, in stepped a
butcher's man, with a tray filled with legs of mutton, and
sundry other joints of meat ; the man had ro sooner
placed his tray on the counter than a fishmonger
brought in a stock of fish, and two wine-
merchants' porters followed, each having a couple of
hampers of wine on his back. Mr. Russell, having
explained to the people that he knew nothing whatever
of the affair, and that the orders must have been
given by some evil-minded persons, in came a gen-
tleman who announced himself as a corn-extractor,
and who stated that he had been hired to attend at five
o'clock, to operate upon Mr. Russell's corns. A num-
ber of pastrycooks were the next who entered the shop,
.ach bringing an immense number of custards, tarts,
jellies, &c., but, judge of the surprise of every one in
the place, when the next arrival was announced. It
consisted of five beautiful carriages, each drawn by two
horses, the coachmen and footmen elegantly attin din
livery. The crowd, when the carriages drew up was
very great, and it required the services of the police to
keep a space for the duped tradesmen to pass to and
fro. Whilst the tradesmen were condoling each other,
as a finale to the whole, in carne five chimney sweeps,
who stated that they had been ordered to attend with all

possible expedition to extinguish Mr. Russell's chimney,
which they understood had taken fire. It took Mr.
Russell nearly the whole of the night to answer the
many parties who had been so imposed upon.
The following night (Thursday), five pianoforte
tuners waited upon the same gentleman, and stated that
they had been hired to tune Mr. Russell's instruments.
A carriage and pair were also brought, as the coach-
man said, to take the family to the theatre. A great
number of other tradesmen were served out in a similar
manner, and unfortunately the police have not been able
as yet to trace out the guilty parties.

~.
REDUCTION Or PRICES AT NIINOR TIIEATRES.—
The authorities at the Lord Chamb:rlain's Office are in
communication with the managers of those theatres who
have lately reduced their prices of admission in order
of City of London ;
Mr. to compete with the innumerable musical and dramatic
saloons and concert rooms in and about the metropolis.
On Friday week, Mr. Osbaldiston, lessee of the Vic-
toria ; Mr.
Thorne,
Hon nor, r' lessee
lessee of the Pavilion ; Mr. C. J.
James, lessee of the Queen's ; and Messrs. Johnson and
N. Lee, lessees of the Standard, were summoned to
attend at the Lord Chamberlain's office, to explain to
his Lordship the reasons which had induced them to
alter the prices of admission to their theatres. These
Richard
gentlemen, or their solicitors, accordingly attended, and
represented that it was in consequence of the theatrical
saloons and concert-rooms being now licensed by his
Lordship as places of dramatic entertainment, and
pos essiu
g advantages which were refused to the
theatres. The subject excites considerable interest in
the theatrical profession, and the managers are anxiously
awaiting a final communication from the Lord Cham-
berlain's Office.
ALARMING FIRE AT ISLINGTON.--yesterday, be-
tween two and three o'clock, an alarming fire was ob-
served on the premises belonging to Mr. H. Edwards, a
turner, No. 7, Lower-street, Islington. The flames first
showed themselves in the workshops, at the back of the
dwelling house. An instant alarm was raised, and in-
telligence of the disaster was sent to the engine stations,
and in a very short space of time the engines arrived,
and there being an abundance of water at hand, the
flames were confined to the workshop in which they
commenced, but they were not entirely extinguished until.
the st wic in trade and building were extensively damaged.
The fire. it is supposed, was caused by a spark flying out
kof the stove amongst some shavings, Unfortunately Ur.
Edwards was uninsured.