PERCY ANECDOTES.

Waikato Times, Volume III, Issue 147, 17 April 1873, Page 3

PERCY ANECDOTES.

Zc< t'VRELU. — Previous to the peace of Ai\ la Chapelle, Zutoarelli travelling on tlio continent, was detained on the teyitories of one of the btlh^oient poweis .is .v suspicious person ; but obtained hia release with honour. After declaring his profession and name, both of \\ hich he con■idered sufficiently know n, lie ollrred to pi o\ c the truth of his assertion by minting i picture, provided tlie necessary materials were allotted him. Mis pioposil was gt anted, and his veracity conlume.l by the pioductuui of his pencil, on which he was immediately leleased. It has been remarked that among the hgiues which Zucoaielh intioduced in his landscapes, lie frequently lepie&uited one with a gourd bottle at his waist, as is often seen in Italy. This is said to have been done as a sort of pun on Ins name, Zucco being the Italian word for a gourd. Jarvis .Vfvckr.— Jarvis Spencer, a miniature painter of much celebnty, about the middle of the eighteenth centiuy, "vas originally a gentleman's servant, but having n natural turn tor the pursuits of art, amused himself with drawing. It happened that one of the family in winch he lived sat for a portiait to a mimatui c painter, and when the woi k was completed it was show n to Jan is, wno immediately said that ho thought he could copy it. This remark was received with much sui prise, but he was allowed pei mission to make the attempt ; and his success was such that he not onlyga\e peifect satisfaction, but also acquired the patronage and encouragement of those he served, and became one ot the fashionable painters of the j day.

Committing Mvuder Abuckd.— Sir Fiancis Drake bail i in some remote paitof the globe condemned one of his men . to sulfur death. The trial and condemnation weie deemed | unjustifiable in every part, and the fuends of the deceased, j upon Sir Francis's return to England, joined in an applica- { tion to the Queen to issue out her commission to the Lord High Constable to try Sir Francis The Queen consulted the officers of state about the propriety of granting the request ; but on account of the eminent services Sir Francis had rendered the nation her Majesty was advised not to comply with the solicitation. In another case, however, recorded by Duck, a civilian, who lived in the times of Charles the First and Second, the latter punce did grant a commission to the Lord High Constable to hold a court for j the trial of one who had shin a Biitish subject out of the King's dominions. He was found guilty of the murder and sentenced to death, but afterwards reprieved. It thus clearly appears that it is a very great mistake to suppose that the laws of England cannot take cognisance of a murder of a Hntish subject committed abioad ; and that many parties of honour might, theiefoiu, save themselves the trouble of choosing a foieigii soil for the scene of their combats.

I'rvung vt Yfmce — A Genoese sculptor \ui *cut for to Venice to perform some curious piece of workmanship in the church belonging to the Jesuits, and as he was of great eminence it was customary to go and see him at work. Two French travellers, among others, hearing of his performance, went to see him, anil after aJmiring the beauties of the piece he was about, they insensibly led him into a com creation about the Venetian form of (lot eminent. The Frenchman launched out into biltcr lmectnes against the senate and republic, and very liberalh bestowed the title of " pantnloons" upon the senators Tlie poor O-enoe->e defended the Venetians, but to no purpose, for as they were two to one thej soon silenced him. The nett morning the council ot state sent for the Genoese, who was brought before the senate, shuddering with fear. He had no idea of his crime, nor was anything farther from his thoughts than the conversation he had with the two Frenchmen. From the senate lie was carried before the conned of state, where he was asked if he should know the Frenchmen again with whom he had the conversation the daj before about the government and the republic. At tins question his fears redoubled, and lie answered in a faltering -voice that he had said nothing but what was greatly to the praise and honor of the senate. He was then ordered to look into the next chamber, where he saw the two Frenchmen quite dead, and hanging from the ceiling, lie judged from this horrid spectacle that his last hour was come, but he was remanded before the senate, i when the doge in a solemn manner pronounced the«e words : " Keep silence for the future, my friend, our republic Jims no need of such advocates as you." Alter this ho was set at liberty ; but his fears and apprehension* so far got the better of him that he ne» er returned to take leave of the Joint, but left Venice as fast as> possible, and \ owed he would never return to it again. Sisgulah Conviction — It hiw sometimes happened that a man who has committed a very atrocious crime h.is been hanged for a cireumstnnee attending the perpetration of it which was in itself perfectly muoeent. Thus, a servant who j had attempted to murder his master (before the attempt to murder was made a capital olf'enee) by giving him fifteen wounds upon the head and different parts of the body with a hatchet, was convicted and evecuiVd, not as an assassin but as a burglar, because he had been obliged to lift up the latch of his master's door to get to his chamber.