The Sun.
London, England, 1866-02-28 00:00:00

Sale of a Comic Singer.

r(fFterarmnot
oh
ne Galasngoovwelilsearlael
sale,
Yesterday by public
tion, took Plage within the rooms of Messrs. Hu
son and Dixon, West Nile-street. For several clafr
placards may have been observed in the city, 1:
nounci-ag the coming sale of the services of.o
James Taylor, described as " The Champion C°ll3l
of ermat Britain." On certain conditions Mr. VI;
for proffered his services for four months, fro
No vember next, to the highest bidder, engag,ing b.,
to
siy.lg twice every lawful evening in any establish
Yuent, and in any town to which he might be sena
The novelty of the affair doubtless excited a goc)ei
deal of curiosity amongst Mr. Taylor's profession
o
brethren in the city, who yesterday afters
°°a
into " The Mart" as the hour of sale arci
proached. At five o'clock Mr. Hutchison me° f
himself into a chair which was placed on the toPf
the table, and was soon afterwards supported on the
right by Mr. Taylor, for whom similar accomelecT
tion in this elevated position had been providd',
The gentlemen who were expected to become WI,.
ders stood or were seated in front of the auction
ecof
Many of them were smoking cigars, and an array
e,
champagne glasses which studded a green 1)0e
covered table gave promise of pleasures yet to chin-
Mr. Hutchison opened the proceedings by exPlaio,
ing the circumstances under which he came to o_3l
cupy the chair; but before advancing to the rebe
business of the day he caused the champagne te.,a
handed round, while the company smoked a",
air"
chatted, chaffed Mr. Taylor in a quiet way, hos
quaffed his health with fraternal fervour. 1.1,%0
comfortably circumstanced, the bidding began' to
first offer made was £lOO, immediately increased A
£llO ; but it was evident that this was intend
N
merely as a start, because the bidding went up ,i 0
a rush through all the intermediate tens till
was reached. Offers were now advanced more ea.'
tiously ; and when £315 was gained the
tiort
ders became so shy that a cunning sugge,s„„id
was made that some more champagne bottles sn,vi3,3
be uncorked. The hint:was acted upon, and brief
sparkling beverage again went round. After sister,
interval, and what seemed a grateful refl., oe..
Mr. Hutchison again went to work, but it
'
pcared still to be a stiff up-hill struggle with
At £325 the " hat call" was threatened by the 10_
o
tioneer ; bat two additional bids were faintly Yu
leo
tured upon, and at £335 the services for four ared
dar months of the " Champion Comic" were sec ort
on behalf of the proprietor of the Whitebait Conened to
Rooms. The bidding, as it seemed, was confined
one or two gentlemen representing the prokpnoeked
of concert rooms in the city. After being ai,
down Mr. Taylor sprang up with characteristic
oeu,
ness to thank the company for their patronag
tb°
descending from his perch, was lost aluong
crowd.

•r"_
RUMOURED RESIGNATION OF EARL BUSS L141.,0
Nothing transpired this morning in or about tt'ot
House of Commons to confirm the rumour peval,e..i
in the early part of the day, to the effect that /47_
Russell had resigned the Premiership. The C,ilj;r.
cellor of the Exchequer, Sir G. Gre3ry, ' the
Cardwell -were present at the early sitting 035
House, and none of that peculiar excitement 'Ol,O
observable as is invariably the case when the°
a " screw loose in the Ministry.