The Sun.
London, England, 1819-03-16 00:00:00

Slit .I:::itit LEictsTtit, t tar.

Yesterday this liberal Patron of British Genius
opened his elegant mansion in Hill-street, in or-
der to gratify the admirers Of Art with a view of
hi Gallery of Paintings, consisting wholly of the
works of British Artists. The collection is well
chosen,. and the subjects are various. It (nay be
fairly said, that on a comparison with the works
of any of the celebrAted foreign Masters, with a
reference to the nature of the subjects, our coan-
tryrnen have no reason for apprehension. The
Gallety is enriched with some of the best produc-
tions of Sir JosnitA ItEvtlows, WEST, LAWRENCE,
THOMSON, WILSON, GALNSBOIWUGH, ROMNEY,
NOETWCOTE, OW EN, ONE, IJOPPNER, BEECHEY,
TURNER, HARLOWE, CALCOTT, HILTON, al)d COL..
LI :as. They sre all well arranged. The company were
ovided with the temporary use of printed Cata-
logues, partly descriptive. The whole, which
formed an exquisite treat, excited the admiration
of numerous Visitors, among whom were many
Artists and well-known Connoisseurs. This re-
fined intellectual Banquet, to the honour of the
munificent Master of the Mansion, is be opened
every succeeding Monday, by Tickets only, till
the seventeenth of May inclusive.—We may fairly
say of this liberal conduct, and the graphic trea-
sury which it affords, that

" These are imperial works, and worthy Kings."

MR. KEAN.

'rise popularity of this'actor, and the extraor-
dinary success which has attended him, may na-
turally be expected to render him en object of
envy and malevolence. Such has always been the
fate of those who have raised themselves into dis-
tinction. But anonymous detraction and general
slander are unworthy of any feeling except con-
tempt. Facts, however, according to the adage,
are stubborn things, and silence cannot be deemed
satisfactory when theyappear to have truth fur their
foundation. A Gentleman named BUR E, who is
the author of a Tragedy, entitled The Ittilidns,
has published a Play, with a Preface, in which
he brings some allegations against Mr. KEAN,
from which the following is an extract, and
of which we conceive that, for his own
credit, he ought to take some notice. We con,
sider it as a sort of duty to our Country Readers
in particular, that we should submit an abstract
of the case to them, as Mr. KEAN occupies a
great space in the eyes of the public at large ; and
in justice to so popular an individual we assure
hint that our Paper shall he open to him for an
answer, and that we sball rejoice on reading a
satisfactory refutation
" Orders were rtaw given for preparing this tragedy. The
composer had directions relative to the music; the scenery was
put in hand, and all waa going on to my entire satisfaction;
when, one evening that I chanced to be in the Greenßoom, it
was hinted to me by Mr. KEAN, "that the character of Man-
fredi was too much in his line ;" "that the blind Man was too
good ;" " that the page would excite too much interest ;" and
" that no one should write a tragedy for that house, without
making the entire interest centre in the character lie should
perform." I listened to all this in silent astonishment ! I re-
lated this curious conversation to a person connected with the
management, who replied, " that he and most of the performers
were well aware of the unfortunate jealousy of Mr. KEAN ; and
that if Miss KELLY were to perform the character of Scipio, as
I wished, such was the interest she would excite, that he was
certain Mr. KEAN would immediately throw up his part."
I mentioned this conversation also to a literary friend of
mine, who told nit in reply, " that he had himself sent a
tragedy to I he Committee, of which Mr: LAMB was the leading
Member, and a letter to Mr. KEAN, who had returned for
answer, that unless the entire 'laciest centered in the cha-
racter designed for him, it would neither suit his reputation,
nor the interests of the Theatre, that it should be accepted:"

Yesterday evening the Duke and Duchess of
GLOUCESTRR, attended by Mr. CURRY and Col.
HlGGrt4s, honoured Covent-Garden Theatre with
their presence, to see the Tragedy of Evadna, and
the Entertainment of Aladdin.

The Provincial Papers abound with accounts
of Public Meetings, for the purpose of petition-
ing for the repeal or modification of the Insolvent
Act.

ANECDOTE.--A respectable Tea-dealer in the
neighbourhood of Charing-Cross was lately re-
quested to sign a Petition against the renewal of
the Insolvent Debtors' Act : he refused, and as-
signed as his reasons, that common prudence was
sufficient to protect tradesmen against fraud, and
that three. months' imprisonment was sufficient
punishment for any civil debt.
CITY 00 LONDON SCDOOL OF INSTRUCTION
AND INDtistritY.-=-The Anniversary Dinner of
this most excellent Institution was yesterday ce-
lebrated at the City of London Tavern. Bishops-
gate-street, by a Public Dinner. the LORD MAYOR
in the Chair, supported on the right hand by
JOHN THOMAS THOttP, Esq. Alderman, M. P.
and on the left hand by Alderman SCOHLEY,
Sheriff Dess.NGes, and many other persons of
high.respectability. About six o'clock, upwards
of 200 persons eat down to a dinner, and remain-
ed in convivial enjoyment until a late hour.
BANKRUPT Mstcruccs.—Yesterday a number
of rupectable Gentlemen having assembled, pur-
suant to public notice, in the Egyptian Hall, at
the Mansion-house, for the purpose of consider-
ing the propriety of petitioning Parliament re-
sniy:thig the removal of the Meetings of the Com-
missiouers of Bankrupts froth the Guildhall of
the City of London, the LORD MAYOR addressed
them shortly, and stated, that the notice of a
Pub:i; Meeting fur this clay being but lately given,
many Gentlemen who felt much interest in the
:7..1att(,-i• for discussion could not attend ; and that
in erz-lzr to afford them an opportunity, the Gen-
tlemen who were to submit their observations to
the Meeting, thought the best course which could
be adopted would be to postpone the dismission
on the subject to this day week, when it was in-
tended to call the attention of the Assembly to the
Insolvent Debtors' Act. The Gentlemen accord-
ingly separated.
if there is any reason why you should prefer
purchasing your Chance of the Three Prizes of
20,0001. in the present Lottery (which will coni-
mence drawing on the 23d of March), at Cut-.
uom.'s, it is because the good fortune which at-
tends his Offices, No. 19, Cornhill, and 26, Ox..
ford-street, is invariable ; as has been proved.ib
the last few months by the sale of Tr o Prizes of
30,0001. and Three of 20,0001.—and by bavitti
sold, in the last Contract, No. 2387, a 30,000/..
1003, a 5000/eauct other C4P4di of 10001.

C T it y.

SECOND IiEN:INISCENCEFROg DON Cit7IXOTtE.

Who'er he he that wrote the story
Of Don Quixotte and the Lion,--=
Whether hr be a Whig or Tory,
A garret scribbler, or a noble scion,
Nay, e'en should lie he she ('tis not unecnittott
To 'see a story-telling woman,)
Altho' I feel
For all the sex a lover's zeal,
Still should I say, fl; it might fret her,
She might have manag'd matters better.
Don't think I mean to advocate
The Popish Cause,—
No—not one grain Would I abate
The pressure of the Laws.
I own the Lion well enough explains
'the former fierceness and the present chains
Of this vile persecuting sect;
Still, if you reflect,
You'll see it does not skew the moral
Which should be eminently o'er all—
It shewS that they have lost their sensesi
Just like the Don,
Who Would, on various pretences,
The Papists free.
But go you on,
And you will see
It does not shcw the conseqUehces.
The Knight, in spite of all he dares,
Gets no bones broke—no bites—no tears-,.4
Whereas, were Protestants to give up powers
They soon would see the hour
When Papists would that power employ
Religions FreC!dom to destroy;
Would bring hack penances and absolutions,
Nuns, ;dunks, Inquisitors and Friars;
Peter's pence, and persecutions,
And light again the Smithfield fires.
Now, to correct
This sad defect,
I'll try to tell you, meo more,
Of this same Dun another story:—
He, then, and Sancho, his fat Squire,
Whose proverb-loving tongue oft rous'd his ire,
Were talking of I know nut what,
Not far, however, front the spot
At which the French, in after times,
In part were punish'd for their crimes;
When they beheld a hand-cuff'd train
Of men all bound together by a chain—
Just malefactors, who, for various sallies,
-lad been condentn'd to try the ;allies.
At this sad sight his Donship fir'd—
First made theta stop, and then inquir'd
Why they were kept in such vile durance?—
(Such fellows never want assurance)—
Some one thing said—and some another—
Thu' they could scarce their laughter smother:—
But all they told him went to prove
They were the victims of their love—
Yes—love they said, with oaths and curses—
Love truly—fur their neighbours' purses.
One pick'd a lock—one forg'd a note—
This robb'd a house, that cut a throat—
But whatsoe'er they said, it was enough
To rouse the pity of the Don;
Who told the guards, in accents rough,
I'o loose them every one—,
Which when they did not do, with angry glance.,
He view'd then, all, and couch'd his lance;
And, whilst he charg'd with might and main,
Sancho from his ass dismounted,
And freed one from encumbering chain.
Of course the matter did pot linger
(These gentry have a nimble finger),
Bist ere twice fifty could be counted,
They all Were freed; and, full of dread,
The guards, of course, had fled.
A parley then was enter'd on
Between the rabble and the Don,
In whith our Valoroso
Bade them all seek Dulcinea del Toboso,
And tell that peerless dame from what sad plight
They had been freed by tier true Knight:
They, laughing in his fare, wide scatteed round,
And letting fly a volley of huge stones,
The squire and knight soon stretcli'd upon the ground
To mourn their folly by their groans.
Such, soon or late,
Will be our fate
If Popish Claims we own
In luckless hour
Should they gain power—,
Farewell to Church and Throne.