The Sun.
London, England, 1804-09-12 00:00:00

EXTRAORDINARY CHARACTER.

On Thursday, at half past twelve o'clock, died
jostmt CAPPER, Esq. many years an inmate at the
Horns, Kennington,
This Gentleman was, perhaps, the most eccen.
tric char der living since the celebrated ELWES.
He was born in Cheshire, of humble parents ; his
family being numerous, he carne to London at an
early age (as he used to say) to shift .for himself,
and- was bound apprentice to a grocer. Mr. ,Cns•.
PE soon manifested great quickness and in►tustry,
and proved a most valuable servant to his master,
It was one of the chief boasts of his life, that. he
had gained the confidence 'of his employer, and
never betrayed it.

Being of an enterprising spirit, Mr. Cfr.er ett
commenced business as soon as he -was out of his
apprenticeship, in the neighbourhood of Rosemary-
lane. His old master was his only friend, and re.
commended him so strongly to the dealers in his
line, that credit to a very large amount was given
to him. in proportion as he became successful, he
embarked in variou-s speculations, but in none was
so tottunate as in the funds.- He at length amassed
a sum 'sufficient to enable him to decline all busi.
fleas whatever.

Mr. CAPtielt having now lost his old master,
was resoleed to lead a sedentary life. This best
suited his disposition ; for although he possessed
many amiable qualities, yet he was the most tyran.
nical and overbearing man living, and never seem.
ed so happy as when placed by the side of a chur.
lish companion. For several days he walked about
the vicinity of *London, searching for lodgings,
without being able to please himself. Being one
day much fatigued, he called at the Horns, at Ken-
nington, took a chop and spent the day, and asked
fur a bed in his usual blunt manner ; when he was
answered in the same churlish style by the landlord,
that he could not have one. Mr. CAPPER. was re.
solved to stop, if he could, all his life, to plague the
growling fellow, and refused to retire. After some
altercation, however, he was accommodated with a
bed, and never slept out of it fur twenty.five years..
During that time he made no agreement for lodg.
ing or caring, but wished to he considered a eus.
turner only for the day. For*lnany years he talked
about quitting this residence the next day. His
manner of living was so methodical, that he would
not think his tea out of any other than a favourite
cup. He was eqnally particular with respect to
his knives and harks, plates, &c. Irr winter and
summer he rose at the same hour, and when the
mornings were dark, he was so accustomed to the
house, that he walked about the apartments with.
out , the atasistartee of any light. At breakfast he
arranged, in a peculiar way, the, parapharnalia of
the tea.table, but first of all he would read the
newspapers. At dinner he also observed 4 gene-
ral rule, and invariably drank his pint of wine.
His supper was uniformly a gill of rein, with su.
gar, lemon.peel, and porter mixed together ; the.
latter he saved from the pint he had at dinner.
From this economical plan he never deviated._ His
bill for a fortnight amounted regularly to 4.. 18s,
He called himself the Champion of Government,
and his greatest glory was certainly his Country
and King. He joined in all subscriptions which
tended to' the aid of Government. He was cx.
ceedingly choleric, and nothing raised his anger
so soon as declaiming against the British Cunstitu.
tion, In the parlour he kept his favourite chair, and
there he would often amuse - himself with satirising
the customers of the landlord, if he could make
his joke; tell better. It was his maxim never to
join in general colnisation, but to interrupt it
whenever he could say any thing illsnatured. Mr.
CAeaeies conduct to his relations was exceedingly
capricious; he never would see any of them. As
they were chiefly in indigent circumstances, he had
frequent applications from them to borrow money.
" Are they industrious ?" he would inquire ; Wen
being answered in the affirmative, he, would add,
''tell them I have been deceived already, and
never will advance a sixpence by way of loan, but
I will give them the sum they want ; and it ever
I hear they make known the clicutustance, I will
cut ahem off with a shilling."
Snail alter Mr. To.NII3END beearn: landlord of
the Horns, he had an opportunity of making a few
good ready money purchases, and applied to the
old man for a temporary loan: " I wish (S3iii he) to
lief VC you, Tow NsErto ; you seem an Industrious
fellow ; but how is it to be done, Mr. TOWNbENO?
I have. sworn never to lend, I must therefore give
it thee;" which he accordogly did the following
day. Mr. • TowerSeato proved grateful for this
mark of liberality, and never. ceased to administer
to him every comfort the house would affotd; and
what was, perhaps, more gratifying to the old man,
ht indulged him in his eccentricities.
Mr. -LAP rER was elea.rti steward of the parlour
fire, and it any persons were daring enough to put
a pukes in it without his permission,. they stood a
fair chance of -feeling the weight of his cane. In
summer time, A. favourite diversion of his was
killing flies its the parlour with his cane : but as
he was sensible of the ill opinion this would pro.
duce among the bye4tanders, he would with great
ingenuity futr.duce a story about the rascality of
all Fienclaneo, " whom," says he, " I hate and
detest, and would knock down just the same as
these This was the signal for attack, and
presently the killed and wounded. were scattered
about in all quarters of the room..