The Sun.
London, England, 1829-01-29 00:00:00

AN EXTRAORDINARY AUTHOR.

A very strange scene took place at the Kean's 1-lead
Theatrical-house, Russell-court, a few nights ago. A
young gentleman, who fancied he had high talent for
writing tragedies, went to the Kean's Head, for the pur-
pose of making known his powers, under the impression
that they would be fairly appreciated by the company.
As soon as it was known in the public room that a
literary fiat was in the way, the customers immediately
determined ❑pon administering a wholesome correction
to his vanity. They assumed the characters of managers,
authors, and booksellers, and imposed upon the dramatic
genius with the most wonderful effect. One of them
was Mr. Price, another Mr. Colman, a third Mr. John
Murray, a fourth Mr. Constable (of Edinburgh), a fifth
Mr. Fawcett, and a sixth Mr. Longman. The candidate
for dramatic honours had actually brought with him a
specimen of his powers,—a tragedy; and it was deter-
mined that a strong contest should forthwith be entered
into amongst the managers for the theatrical property in
it, and amongst booksellers for the copyright. The author
received introductions to the several gentlemen interested
in the work, and was requested to read his tragedy, which
he did, standing on the table, while Mr. Price and Mr.
Fawcett held the candles to him. The applause was, of
course, tremendous ; but Mr. Price was very fastidious,
and threw in an occasional —, which evidently annoyed
the author. Mr. Colman's better taste, however, cor-
rected the barbarous interruptions, and Mr. John
Murray, as soon as the piece terminated, pulled out a
well-folded 1,0001. note of the Bank of Elegance
and Fashion, and offered it for the copyright. " No,"
said Mr. Colman, " such a genuine production shall
not be sacrificed. It shall be first represented. You want
to crush genius, as is your usual practice, Mr. Murray."
Here Mr. Murray, without hesitation, gave Mr. Colman
the lie, and the gentlemen were about to resort to the argn-
mentum baculinum, when Mr. Fawcett offered to play
the piece, and to accept for a stipulated sum a tragedy a
! week from the writer, whose eye was wandering all the
while after the 1,0001. note. " I don't wish to have any
disputes, gentlemen," said the latter, " and I am willing
to close with Mr. Murray for that note."—" Close with
Murray," roared out Mr. Price, " I'm if you do.
No, no ; he shan't have the broth out of the tragedy. It
would not be worth a to us if he put his unlucky
claws upon it. He is no more fit to patronize a tragedy
than a newspaper." Mr. Murray, in a huff, pocketed his
property, to the discomfiture of the author, who was pre-
vented front expostulating by the ferocious appearance and
manners of the representative of Drury-lane. At length it
was resolved that the author should supply the two theatres
with tragedies alternately„ the managers to "hide the
horse" for the first piece. Accordingly the horse was hidden,
and Mr. Fawcett was the lucky gamester. Mr. Price's
rage at his disappointment then became wholly unappeas-
able. He seized the tragedy, and in an instant it was in a
blaze, while the rest of the company screamed at the ad-
vancing destruction, which was however checked by the
activity of the landlord,:who, like a true fireman-waterman,
threw a large jug of beer over the flaming work. There
was then a general cry of " Turn out Price; turn out the
rascally Yankee;" but there stood behind that gentleman's
chair his servant, in a fine laced coat, which had been bor-
rowed at a Jew's for the purpose, and the moment his
master was threatened he swore he would put the whole
room in the watch-house if they stirred a foot. The con-
duct of this servant was inexplicable to the author, for he
sometimes sat down by his master with a pipe in his mouth
and even took the liberty to drink out of the same glass;
but then it was all attributed to the democracy of American
habits, and the author considered it no degradation when
the " odd companion" for a gentleman swallowed three-
fourths of his own glass. But the scene has not yet
reached its climax. The hour had arrived when the ma-
nagers must look after the theatres, and the booksellers
and authors separate to prepare for the next day's
labour. Mr. Colman then rose, and with much grace
and elegance requested that the young author would leave
them a testimony from which they would each of them de-
rive considerable honour. " What, gentlemen, could I spare
which you would think adequate ?" asked the author.
" A lock of your hair," answered Mr. Colman ; and a
large shears was soon procured, and Mr., Murray was de-
puted to the office of removing a lock for each of the com-
pany. The favour was granted without the slightest
hesitation, and the dramatic hero actually departed as if he
had just left the hands of the most experienced shaver; but
he did not go until each of the performers dropped the cha-
racter he had resumed, and confessed that it bad been put
on for the purpose ofcuring a most injurious and ridicu-
lous vanity.— Times.

Prince Licven, the Russian Ambassador, ac-
companied by Count Matuseewicz (who arrived on Monday
night, on a special mission, from the Emperor of Russia),
waited on the Duke of Wellington yesterday morning at
12 o'clock, at the Treasury, and had a long interview
with his Grace. After visiting the Duke of Wellington,
the Prince and the Count proceeded to the office of the
Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, and had a conference
with the Earl of Aberdeen, with whom they remained till
half-past two o'clock. The Earl of Aberdeen had after-
wards an interview with the Duke of Wellington.

The French Charge d'Affaires transacted
business yesterday at the Foreign Office with the Earl of
Aberdeen.

The Marquis de Barbacena came to town on
Monday, from the residence of the young Queen of Portu-
gal, at Laleham. The Marquis remained in town on Mon-
day night, and had a long conference on Tuesday with the
Earl of Aberdeen at the Foreign Office.

Captain Stirling, the commander of the expe-
dition proceeding to form a new settlement on the Swan
River, in New South Wales, received his final instructions
yesterday, at the Colonial Office, and afterwards left town
for Portsmouth, which port, Captain Stirling, with the
two vessels containing the settlers, &c. will, it is ex-
pected, leave this day, for the purpose of proceeding on the
voyage.

The Lord Chancellor, Earl Bathurst, and Mr.
Secretary Peel, visited the Duke of Wellington yesterday,
at the Treasury.

The Cabinet Ministers dined together yester-
day evening with Viscount Melville, at his residence in
be Admiralty.

Lord Ashley, and a deputation of gentlemen
connected with the East India trade, attended at the Trea-
sury yesterday, and had an interview with the Chancellor
of the Exchequer.
We believe "the Duke" has answered his
Grace of Leinster, in reference to the Protestant declara-
tion, in terms something like the following :—" My Lord
Duke,—l have received the declaration transmitted by your
Grace, signed by certain Protestants, and favouring the
measure to which they give the name of Qatholic eman-
cipation, and I have the honour to be," &c.
Morning Register.

Mr. Vesey Fitzgerald has declared his inten-
tion not to dispute the validity of the return of &r. O'Con-
nell on the ground of the interference of the Catholic
priests in the election. In consequence of this change, Mr.
O'Connell has again changed his plan of proceeding, and
has expressed his intention to be in London on the sth of
February.—Morning Paper.
THE DUKE OF NORTHUMBERLAND:—
Lord Prudhoe, Captain Royal Navy, has been offered by
his Lordship's brother the State Stewardship of the House-
hold. As his Lordship is not in England, his acceptance
of the appointment is not yet known.

The Lord Mayor of Dublin has to-day an-
nounced to a Deputation, which waited upon his Lordship
for the purpose, that he will name an early day for a Pro-
testant Meeting of the Citizens, conformably with the re-
quisition presented by the Deputation to his Lordship.

The Archdeaconry of the East Riding of
Yorkshire have resolved to petition against the Catholic
Claims.

DIED.—On the 26th inst., at his house,
Windsor-terrace, City Road, in the 63d year of his age,
Thomas Northover, Esq., Cashier at the Bank of England.

We recollect of hearing of an incident which
occurred, not many years ago, to the Duke of Orleans,
when he resided in the county of Essex, which exenapli-
fies the practice and the motives of coroners :—His Grace,
when walking by the side of a river, observed, on the
other side,' something like the body of a man lying near
the edge of the water. He prevailed en a boatman to row
him across, when he discovered the corpse of a person who
had been drowned in attempting to swim. The boatman
carried the body to the side of the river to which he be-
longed. The news of a dead man having been found soon
reached the ears of the coroners on both sides of the river,
and both arrived, with their tail of clerks and officers, to
claim the body. A long litigation was the result, and
some years after the death of the unfortunate man, the
gentlemen of the long robe determined which judge should
act as coroner. The annoyance caused to the Duke was
so great, that he protested he would, while in England,
do all he could for the living, but would never again inter-
fere with the dead.—Edinburgh Observer.