The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1846-05-19 00:00:00

A VOICE FROM THE CELLAR

(From Punch.)
The subjoined correspondence has been handed to us
With our customary urbanity—has it not become a pro
verb ?—we print it. The first letter is from the Martyr
of the Cellar, Mr. Smith O'Brien, to Madame Tussaud.
The second is that distinguished lady's answer.
" The Cellar, May II , 1846.
" Dearest Madam,—At the present moment, when Ire-
land is wringing with my wrongs ; when millions of
hearts, the property of the finest peasantry of the earth,
are beating with sympathy towards their martyr; wben,
at least, the same number of swords are ready (on being
drawn) to flash from their scabbards for my liberation,—
it has been suggested to me by, possibly a partial friend,
that the figure of Smith O'Brien, the martyr, would
make a most attractive addition to your collection of dis-
tinguished characters. I am not particular where you
put me, so I get in. You've had O'Connell for some
time, and (but quite between ourselves) the people have
had enough of him. All Ireland (including myself) look
up to me as the sort of Prince of Wales to King Dan.
You may, therefore (if you are over-crowded) turn him
out, to make room for me.
"Yours, Dearest Madam, with every feeling of
respect, " SMITH O'BRIEN!'
" P.S. I shall be happy to give you the earliest day for
sitting; and that the thing may be more complete, propose
to present you with the identical suit of clothes worn by
me when taken to the cellar."

" Baker-street, Portman-square, May 11.
" Sir,—Permit me to thank you for your very polite
offer; but as I contemplate the immediate addition of
Tom Thumb to my collection, 1 fear I shall be too much
crowded to give you even a corner. Besides, Martyrs
are, at the best, heavy subjects. I don't think people
would lay out sixpence upon 'em. O'Connell has done
pretty well for me, but I should hardly like to risk an
O'Brien ; in the like way that people are very fond of
mushrooms, are most particular to avoid toadstools.
" I remain, your obedient servant,
" M. TASSAUD."

" P.S. I know a man who travels with a van of wax-
work. Perhaps he may accept your offer. Shall I send
him to the Cellar?"

The gardener at Kew Palace complained to George 11.,
that the people admitted to the gardens during Sundays
constantly plucked the flowers. " They are fond of
flowers, then ?" replied the king. " Don't let them want
them. Plant them I"
THE APPEARANCE OF BURRE.—Burke then rose.
Strong interest was directed to him. not merely from his
eminent name, but from the public curiosity to hear his
explanation of that estrangement which had been for some
time spreading, under his auspices, through the leading
pers^nages of the Opposition. Like most men who have
made themselves familiar with the works of a great writer,
I bad formed a portraiture of him ty anticipation. I
never was more disappointed. Instead of the expressive
countenance and commanding figure, which I had ima-
gined to enshrine the soul of the most splendid of all ora-
tors, I saw a form of the middle size and of a homely ap.
pearance, a heavy physionomy. and the whole finished by
two appurtenances. which would have been fatal to the
divinity of the Apollo Belvidere, spectacles, and a wig.
His voice and manner were scareely less prepossessing;
the one was as abrupt and clamorous as the other war
rustic and ungraceful. He had the general look of a far-
mer of the better order, and seemed, at best, made to
figure on a grand jury.—Dr. Croly's Soldier and Slates-
man.