The Sun.
London, England, 1821-11-23 00:00:00

MRS. OLIVIA_ SERRES.

[From TILE TimEs.l
This amusing personage has two strings to her
bow. When the public are tired with her re-
monstrances about her rejected claims to the dig-
nity of the Royal Family of Epgiand, she changes
her note and becomes in a twinkling a Princess of
Poland. The following is one:of her proclama-
tions in the latter character :
" The Princess of Cumberland, anxious to satisfy the pub-
lic as to the justice of her claims, gives the underwritten copy
of one of her grandfather's letters, which she pledges her
honour has only been seen by four or five individuals.
Having experienced a severe illness, she trusts that the British
nation will not desert her in her present persecuted state:—
[Memoranda.—" With other sacred papers, to Lard War-
wick's Care, for Olive, my grand-daughter, when I am no
more. Not to be acted upon till the King's demise.—J. W."l
"My dear Olive—As the undoubted heir of Augustus, King
of Poland, your rights will find aid of the Sovereign that you
are allied to by blood, should the family of your father act un-
justly ; but may the great Disposer of all things direct other-
wise. The Princess of Poland, your grand-mother, I made
my lawful wife ; and I do solemnly attest that you are the
last of that illuitrious blood. May the Almighty guide you to
all your distinctions of birth. Mine has been a life of trial,
but not of crime."
" Jan. 1791. " J. WILMOT."

CHALLENGING A JURY.—An Irish Colonel of
Dragoons, previous to a trial in which he was
defendant, was informed by the Counsel, that if
he had any personal objections, he might legally
challenge them. " Faith, and so I will," replied
the son of Mars : " if they do not bring me off
handsomely, I will challenge every man of them."

TREATMENT OF DEBTORS IN CEYLON.—The
mode of treating debtors in this island is particu-
larly singular and severe. The first step taken
is to strip the debtor of his clothes, and a guard
is set to watch him. If after a little time he does
not pay, a large stone is put upon his back, and
he must carry it about until his creditor is satis-
fied. Sometimes they put several very heavy
stones upon his balk, and he is obliged to carry
them about until the debt is extinct.—Another
severity often practised by the creditor, is putting
thorns between the naked legs of his debtor, and
obliging him to walk about with them. Fre-
quently the creditor will go to the person in-
debted to him, and say he will poison himself,
unless he pays him directly. Instances have oc-
curred of such threats being put into execution,
and the debtor, who is considered as the cause
of his creditor's death, also forfeits his life.

The custom of the exhibitors of the curiosities in
Westminster Abbey presenting General MONK'S
cap for a compliment has been abolished.
L.kVINIA FENTON (afterwards Duchess of
BOLTON) was tempted by Rim from the Hay-
market to Lincoln's Inn-fields, in the year 1728,
by a salary of fifteen shillings per week : on the
success of The Beggar's Opera, to secure this
valuable actress, he raised it to thirty shillings !
and such was the rage of the town respecting
her, that she was obliged to be guarded home
every night by a considerable party of her confi-
dential friends, to prevent her being run away
with.

Extract of a letter from Tiverton (Devon)
dated Nov. 19, 1821 ;—" We had one of the
heaviest falls of rain last night, ever recollected
in the memory of man. Many well-informed
people here say, such a rain was never known
in this country, but that it was similar to what is
experienced in the West Indies ; it extended
about three miles in circumference, and this town
might be taken as the centre ; it continued from
nine till ,half-past ten last night, and again from
two to three this morning. About ten o'clock
last night the elements to the north-east appeared
to be one large tire, and continued in that state
for many minutes. Perhaps you recollect a bridge
which crosses the Lowman, in the meadows op-
posite Blundell's school ; this was washed away
during the night, though a very firm bridge, and
not of many years standing. Several stone walls
have been washed down, and, in many parts
round the town, the water came down with such
violence, that nothing could resist it ; the iron
gates at the school lodge, although locked and
barred, were forced open about two o'clock with
a tremendous crash."

An Irish Paper says—" Mr. while water-
ing his horse at the canal near Ballybough-bridge,
was. suddenly plunged into the water, in conse-
quence of the horse having lost a firm footing on
the bank. The horse fairly swam across, but the
animal and the gentleman found extreme difficulty
in ascending the canal sides, and the rider
threw himself from the saddle ; the Gentleman
was .no swimmer, and went down of course.
Two Ladies who had been walking on the
hank, witnessed the occurrence with great alarm ;
but, with singular presence of mind, united their
scarfs, and placing a stone in the end, threw it
to him, by means of which he was fortunately
rescued from his dangerous predicament."
A gentleman's servant in the neighbourhood
of Newmarket, having received his wages, gave
a part of them in two bank notes to his wife,
who, in the hurry of business, one morning put
her pocket into the wash tub without thinking
to take them out of it, and was surprised
when she saw two or three large letters floating
on the top of a stocking ; but she immediately
recollected the notes, and after straining the suds,
went to the lady of the house in the greatest alarm,
with eight or nine and thirty little wet morsels
of paper, closely pressed together. The lady en-
deavoured to comfort her by saying, she would see
what she could do—and after several hours
patient and close attention, she succeeded in
separating and arranging all the essential
parts, on the covers of two books, such as the
numbers, date, names of the London bankers,
clerk's entry, &c. (what made it more difficult
was, the notes not only being of different value,
but of different country banks ;) the lady
afterwards pasted the fragments on plain
paper, and when the man presented the muti-
lated notes at their proper Banks, both the houses
honourably and readily exchanged them for new
ones.