The Sun.
London, England, 1841-09-01 00:00:00

1N ETV MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

, . •
Mr. Poole, the author of " Paul Pry;" leads
off the present Number with a new prose story
entitled " Phineas Quiddy, or Sheer Industry,"
which, if we may judge from the chapter before
us, is intended to illustrate the career of a
shrewd, selfish adventurer, who begins life without
a sixpence, but by constantly attending to the
main chnuce,.obtains.immense wealth. The story
opens with spirit, and the incidents,' obvious and
faniaiar as they are,f-dre`workeil up With singular
ingenuity. • Mr. Poole is an excellent Magazine
contributor, for he writes • with point and preci-
sion, and in his attempt at the . hutnorous, -keeps
always on this side exaggeration. -Thereare evi- •
dent syMptomS Of-pains-taking in' his ."
Quiddy," and tliis, aftei all, is the true secret, of
success, for in nine out of ten cased -the work
that is dashed off in baste is read "With indiffer-
ence. " Canaletti in London" is a picturesque
sketch of the recent architectural improvements
in the metropolis. Nash, of course, comes in for
a considerable share of the writer's attention;
but we think his talents as an architect are over-
rated, for his taste was almost uniformly de-
fective, and his conceptions wanting in dig-
nity and simplicity. " Indecision" is a short,
neatly written story, inculcating a useful moral
lesson. The " Molten Calf" is by Mrs.
Gore. It is a smart prose sketch, and hits hard
at the money-getting propensities of the day.
" Bajazet Gag" ridicules the absurd quackeries
of some of the managers of our minor theatres in
very happy style. Mr. Jerrold, the author, is
alWays at home in the sarcastic. The peculiar
abilities of the illustrious Gag arc thus cleverly
glanced at:—" It is his peculiar genius to con-
dense—to merge the tremendous in the insigni-
ficant. He would, at four and twenty hour's
notice, get up an earthquake in a needle-ease ;•
turn a gutter into the storm-lashed Bay of Bis-
cay ; produce the Great Plague of London in one
patient, and that one a child from the Small-pox
Hospital ; give you for the Falls of Niagara a
water-spout down a ladder; act the battle of
Waterloo, giving a distant view of Brussels by
lamp-light in a sentry-box ; and, did the Cham-
berlain permit the experiment, represent all the
locusts of Egypt with not more. than half a
dozen at industrious fleas." A " Day at
Tivoli" is not amiss in point of manner, but the
theme is hacknied. From the lively and appa7
rently accurate account of " Russia in 1841," we
quote an anecdote of the Emperor Nicholas, and
his favourite French comedian Vernet :

At St. Petersburgh, as well as in Mo.3cow, the French
theatre is preferred to the great national theatres, and
the Czar himself is an assiduous frequenter of it. The
French company sustained a great loss by the death of
Mademoiselle Bras, an actress formerly atatehed:tti th'e
Vaudeville in Paris. This lady is said to have been ho-
noured with the especial favour and protection of the
Emperor Nicholas. A comic actor named Vernet is a
great favourite at St. Petersburgh, and has received fre-
quent marks of the Imperial satisfaction.
One day as the Emperor was walking in the streets of
St. Petersburgh, accompanied only by his brother, the
Grand Duke Michael, Vernet happened to pass. The
Czar had seen him on the preceding evening 'in a new
character, and had been greatly amused by his perform-
ance. His Majesty accosted him, saying—
" Vernet, I must compliment you on your performance
of last night. You were excessively droll."
" Sire, ' replied the actor, "I feel too highly flattered
by your Majesty's approbation."
'•I should like to see you play the character again,"
returned the Emperor. " I was much amused—so much
so, that I could not suffer you to pass without expressing
the gratification your performance afforded me."
The Czar walked on, but Vernet stood riveted to the
spot, perfectly astounded by the honour conferred on
him. He was suddenly restored to his self-Possession by
feeling on his shoulder the heavy hand of a Commissioner
of Police, and at the same moment a thundering voice
uttered the word " Halt."
" What- meant this ?" exclaimed Vernet.
" I arrest you. It is forbidden to accost the'Emperor
in the public streets." •

" I did not accost the Emperor. His Majesty, accosted
me."
" Accost you, indeed ! a likely story, truly 1 You
Frenchmen have so much assurance, you think you may
do anything. You arts my prisoner, so come along—no
resistance !"

In spite of his earnest remonstrances, Vernet was
dragged to the guard-house, where he was confined fur
four-and-twenty hours.

On the following evening the actor again played his
new character, and the Emperor applauded him with in--
creased warmth. At the termination of the play, when
the Czar was leaving his box, he saw a man standing in
the lobby, and evidently waiting fur him. He immedi-
ately recognized Vernet.
" Ah, Vernet I" exclaimed the Emperor, " I have been
as much amused as on the first night. Lam enchanted
with your talent."
" I am most grateful for your Majesty's gracious in-
dulgence ; but I humbly entreat that your Majesty will
-never again stop me in the street to honour. me with.
your approbation."
" And why not ?"
" Because your Majesty's kind condescension cost me
twonty-fout hours imprisonment. I was arrested by a
Commissary of Police, and falsely charged with having
presumed to accost your Majesty in the street."
"I am very sorry to hear that, Vernet. I will inquire
into the matter."
Early on the following morning Vernet received a
visit from the Commissioner of Police, who came to beg
very humbly that he would pardon the mistake which had
led to his imprisonment.