The Sun. — 1838-05-08 (London, England)

JAMES'S THEATRE.—There were two novelties at this theatre last night. The first was an operatic burletta, called Cosimo, said to be adapted from the French, with music by M. Prevost. The merit of the piece, dramatic or musical, is by no means great. The plot (such as it is) turns upon the assumption by a bricklayer's labourer of the disguise of a prince, and the cool impudence with which he con_ trives to support the character and mystify the people about him ; and Oxberry's grotesque acting of the part produced some amusement ; but this was all. The other characters were nil. Miss Rainforth was stuck into the piece for the purpose of singing a few airs; for the character she personated had not the slightest connection with the plot. The piece was coldly received. The other novelty was much better, and much more successful. It was a little farce in one Act, called The British Legion. Three young ladies, sisters (personated by Mrs. Honey, Miss Williams, and Miss J. Mordaunt) have each a lover serving in Spain. The soldiers return home; but, before they see their mistresses, their t servant (a bit of a wag) persuades the girls that their lovers have re. igmetivei lostmeet ateg; an arm, and an eye, in the service. The damsels determine their swains in disguise, in order to learn the truth of the report; and the gentlemen, aware of their intention, pretend to have suffered these mutilations ; this gives occasion to several whimsical scenes. This little piece was greatly applauded, and promises to have a run.  I —lt is singular to find the choice collections of the Bourbons and of Buonsparte, the chefs d'ceuvre of the workmen of France, made to adorn the palaces of the great King, exposed for saleby the hammer in Oxford-street. Such, however, is the fact, and the humblest born man in Britain, if he have acquired gold by his labour, may to. morrow make himself the master of the curtains that adorned Buona. parte's room, of the superb clock that warned Louis IVth of the fleeting of time at Versailles, and the tapestry that reminded the Bourbons when placed on the throne of Spain of the rich and grave humour—by a representation of the exploits of Don Quixote—of the people over whom they had come to reign from a foreign country. These splendid speci_ and mens of three of the most renowned manufactures of France—silk, gold, tapestry, at their best periods—are all to be sold to-morrow by Oxenham; to any London citizen who chooses to say that he has purchased articles which weremade for Kings. To be duly apprech,ted, however, they must be seen; we caneot describe them. A New Series of " Random Recollections of the Lords and Commons," is announced to be published in a few days. All those who have perused Mr. Grant's former volumes, will look with much interest to the appearance of this Second Series, for the number of new Members in the present Parliament is such as to afford a most extensive field for the exercise of this author's talent for describing faithfully and graphically whatever has fallen under his observation. Yesterday, about twelve o'clock, a desperate attempt at suicide was made by a gentleman, apparently about 80 or 90 years of age, near the sheet of water at the back of Kensington-palace. For. tunately Shearlock, a police constable of the A division, was on duty in the gardens ; and the gardener having some suspicion of the intentions of the individual, arrived in time, it is believed, to prevent a fatal result ; but not before the gentleman had inflicted a severe wound on his throat with a knife. A hurdle was procured, and Shearlock, with other assistance, conveyed him to St. George's Hospital, where the wound was dressed, and is not considered of a very dangerous character. Upon inquiry at the hospital last night, it was ascertained that the gentleman, who is unable to speak English, alleged that the only cause he had for attempting self-destruction was, that lie was tired °fins life, and was in his 94th year. The gardener had some difficulty in wresting the knife from his hands. He persists in concealing his name. On Sunday afternoon, as some boys were amusing themselves near Chalk Farm by riding in th'7,. - - "utside the railroad, one of them, a very fine' Stewart Butt, who lived street, Somers-town run over the lowmanner. lir London 14