THIS POOR " MONSIEUR " AGAIN.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3108, 3 February 1879, Page 1

THIS POOR " MONSIEUR " AGAIN.

The French papers still continue to contribute very curious if rather inaccurate sketches of English life. In "A Tiger Hunt" by Mery, that writer relates that, listening to Grisi in 1835, he asked the Due de Choiseul the name of an English gentleman on the other side of him, who was fait asleep. "The name," continues- Mery, "made me shudder; it was Sir William Bentinck, the King of India, after the Sun." The Duke added that Sir William had just arrired from Calcutta to Tote in the House of Lords, where the Ministry, on a Cabinet question, were in want of one Toiee, and'that he would return directly after the division to hit

post. The description of the tiger hunt in which Sir William played a prominent part is equally fine in its way. Two timers, which had taken up their abode in au old ruin, were surrounded by Sir William Bmtmck and his party mounted on elephants. After bounding about in the most desperate manner, one of the tigers was killed by an elephant. The second elephant prepared to charge. "iSir William Bentiuck, standing erect in his howduh, like an admiral on his quarterdeck, followed all the incidents of the chase with superb dandyism, and during the short moments of respite perused an article in The Times which had arrived that night by the India mail. Suddenly the tiger precipitated itself in the direction of the Governor of India, as in antique battles a despairing warrior sought the enemy's general to purchase victory by killing him. The noble Lord quitted The Times, took up his carabine of Birmingham, aimed at the tiger, and the circle echoed with applause. The animal fell, and, after a few convulsive struggles in the high grass, rolled over dead. Sir William Bentinck had resumed his newspaper." _^ -"