The Express.
London, England, 1852-09-02 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, THURSDAY EVENING,

THE GUILD OF LITERATURE AT MAN-

CHESTER.

_ .
Mr. Charlet, Dickens and his Mends haring been
oolicitid to visit Manchester a second time, for the purge's
of repeating their amateur theatrical representations in aid
of Out fund desigmd to establish a Guilt of Literature
and Art, the owners of the Free Trade Hall very liberally
Placed that building again gratultonsly at their service for
ast evening, and on ttie previous evening a publie banquet
was given to them at the Atheneum. About 260 gentle-
men were present, nailer the presidency of Mr. R..bert
Barmy, the liivyne of Manchester, and amongst the leading
company assembled to do honour to the guests were Mr.
Thos. Bagley, provident of the Chamber of Conmerce, Mir
Elkensh Armitage, It'r John l'otter, Mr. Salis Schwabe,
Mr. R. R. Langworthy, Mr. Joe. iretberton, M P., Mr.
Alex. Henry, sad Mr. R. N. Philip..
The msests wove: Mr R. B. Lytton, M.P., C. Dickens,
EA.. 1/. Costello, Zit, C. Knight, Baru J. Tenniel, Esq.,
F. W, Topham, Bert., A. Egg, Eq., Wilkie l'ol;ine, Key.,
Prink Stone, H.q., P. Cunningham, F.eq , W. H. Wills,
Esq., R. Bell, Km ; and after the cloth had been removed,
Mrs. Dickens and several other ladies occupied seats in the
bemoaning room.
Toe CHAIRMAN having given, "The members br
Manchester and Salford."

1 Mr. Joutre fiIOTHURTOPI, M.P., responded to the toast.
Mr. JAMES CROSSLEY, is proposing the toast of the
urinate, said it became. my most pleasing duty to express
the high gratification we must all feel in receiving in this city,
on such a mission, and seeing present on this occasion, as
our guests, the distinguished company who represent the
friends of the Guild of Literature and Art, who to bring
to heir upon us the old artillery of genius, wit, humour,
learning, dramatic talent, and scenic power, to coerce by
means the most effective, by means the most delightful, our
adhesion to this grand scheme of judicious ard far-
seeing benevolence. (Applause.) There is no one who
is in the slightest degree conversant with the literary
history of his country—and • sad, melancholy, end hu-
miliating history it is—but must have been aware of the
necessity of some each provision an, without infringing
upon the high feeling of manly independence, without
impairing the self-respect of the individual. shoo d
extend to the author and the artist that assistance
I which at certain stages of each of their precarious pro-
fessions may. prove of most imetimable benefit ; some such
provision, in short, as, interposing like a good angel,
might have revved Chattertou from " grimvisaged, ann-
forties. despair ;" might have saved many • bitter pang to
1 the lofty soul of Johasos, and many a corroding anxiety
' to the amiable, the czemplsry, the most accomplished, but
over-corked and over-toiled poet of Keswick. I might,
Mr. Cheirman, for the subject insensibly leads me on, re-
' mark further upon the many points of hope and promise
connected with the establishment of the guild, and particu-
larly with what might he reasonably expected from tho
discharge of its appropriate duties, in which it appears
to me that the public is so much concerned, and which
are annexed to the Mikes of guild; u well as to the
effect which may be reasonably expected In fostering
prudent and provident habits in literary men. But sir,
I feel that in further extending what I had to say, I em
merely depriving this good company of en ample feast of
solid enjoyment, and, therefore, without further preface,
I shall proceed to read the toast, which is, " Prosperity to
the Guild of Literature and Art, coupled with the health of
Sir E. Rohrer Lytton, Bart., M.P." (Loud cheers.)
Sir EDWARD LYTTON IiDLWER LYTTON, Bert.,
M.P., then rose, and was received with loud and long coa-
-1 tinned cheer.. After a few introductory remarks, he avid—lt
is this intelligence which has enabled England to grasp the
wealth of the world with one hand and to diffuse it with
the other throughout thousands of reproductive channels.
If, at this moment, we could annihilate in the interior of
Russia • number of people equal to the population of Man-
chester, the loss would be scarcely felt beyond a province;
hut if we could strike Manehwter from the map of these
isles, the link that unites together the ends of the world
would be snapped asunder. In one case we should only
destroy men, and in the other cue we shout destroy Hess.
(Applause.) The ships that carry your goods from haven to
haven bear with them not only cotton —they bear cii libation.
And here it is that we authors may boast that we contribute
even to the material wealth that freights those vessels ;
because you owe more of that wealth to the ideas which
' you and your forefathers have gathered from books than
you do to all the mines of Peru. Well, then, gentlemen,
if it is to mental labour that kings owe their purple,
and havens their 'weasels, and markets their merchandise,
you cannot wonder that we, a handful of authors, not
craving honours or needing aid for ourselves, are still
inspired with a setae of the dignity of our class, in the
great hierarchy of mental labour, and do desire to lift
above the thence of degradation all those who adorn
and rentable the order to which we belong. (Hear, hear.)
This is the main object of the guild ; end now, on behalf
of myself and my colleagues, I will very shortly explain
the origin and purpose of that institution. It is not quite two
I years ago since • few gentlemen, eminent In art and letters,
I met et my country house for the purpose of • dramatic en-
tertainment ; you have seen those gentlemen perform, and
you can well conceive the delight that their acting would
give to • rural audience. (Hear, hear.) Well, one day
when we were conversing together, it occurred to us to
have some play performed in the provinces for some bene-
volent object ; and ono suM, " And why not, for the sake
of some distressed man of letters ?" and another said,
" Why not, foe smote pseessaient basalt be literature
itself I" and thus, belle mess of On posed mavens-
tion, the outline of ma present mho= became visible. I
do not think there is antra us who would wish to arrogate
to himself the exclusive merit of that idea ; it grew out of
our general interest in the cause, and was ripened hymn
general enthusiasm. (Applause.) As I have no taste nor
talent for acting, it was settled that inToltribution should
be a play, which has been raised far d its merits by
the excellent acting of my colleague. (Hear, hear.) When
the play was written, I ventured, with the concurrence and
co-operation of my colleagues, to draw up an outline
for the general design sad constitution of the guild—
is short, to embody oar common notion. Now, we were I
all agreed first apes this—as • principle, that we would
endeavour to divest this institution, es much as possible, of
the mere character of • charity. It is in rain to boast of
the dignity of letters anises we eau *falcate that which
is the foundation of ell dignity—l mean independence—
(hear, hear)—unless we 1109 establish a kind of right to
whatever aid or relief our funds may enable us to bestow.
Now, we attain that right st once, by eisprdag the prin-
ciple of a benevolent and peovideot nasty is cousin.
tion with assurance against the seatingessiss of taw future.
Beery member of the guild aniallsesolms be bused to con-
tribute something towards its lasi, sod semadthece towards
some insurance company either connected with the guild, or
any other company w he chooses to prefer. By this we
obtain a secondary advantage—that we du inculcate those
habits of self-reliance, of prudence, and of foresight, in
which it has bees said that men of genius are too often de-
ficient, but which so man, whatever be his poise, has a
right to consider himself above. (Hear, hear.) It has
been said in an old Latin proverb, that no deity Is present
where prudence is absent; and we do not desire in be-
half of literature that any one of Its labourers should call
upon others to help kis, until he Us shown that he
has done his best, like • man, to help himself. (Hear,
hear.) Now, gentlemen, having thus laid the founda-
tion of this institution upon the principle of • benevo-
lent or provident society, we adopt the name of " guild,"
bean that is the old English name for those asso-
ciations in which members of some particular clam
or calling, cooperated for the benefit of each other. Our
neat object was to raise • man of palm, an eminent man
of letters from the absoluta seemly of daily task work,
which is 'always wry prosaism in its profits, and which
may often Adige • man tabgaitely to platoon some work
which might inesseetelse lima sad *strut a nation—ln
fact, to take a man of vain hoe being • men bookseller's'
hack. We there/as kora ten/saw as, to institute
• certain limited msmbse of Ilk muskies, what, though
they shall be wallisiestly wheat, will sal akin for all the
simple wane of • minim._ . We doll oat wake it neces-
sary that any candidate tar these lb ansalies sbwld main
• profession of poverty*. Antitank i beau% it we were
M make preerty • isaiiindoo, doseo altat we design be
• Whole of gasYlaN be mat, we kaki give to a din '
*Min t abwowais at a hunillatka (Hear, hear.)
Wide we yawn Mat these sandals shield be given to
Woe saw miasma MB if letters, a thee whose years are
natoriedoe whose rignalles is adstawistgad, we shall
payees eke • seesaw ask el self be those who have I
otteggial aware be So Ewe maw pat of their area.
sea ow that lbw oneepallar wollaissa men of
'wen wile will ast week wee WV kw whiskey
were almost in • esavele the nosevew—when • small
peasaiary aid if rooral d ems sr two yews, might have
onallied than to has all diliseisios, and hare eared them
tom broken awoke eel distaarmi leak ; and enabled
snos. gasbegs. essept seas watt whisk wail
hew -esilsol Aiwa Is kdopendena ind reputation.
We 4, am paha to give myths, like a awass-
Oily .selisk lary way of aims er charity. We leave
that te the amide kskedat of the Lawry l'un4, whisk is
=l'niftiest kr this mow aleasegh is of
ake*, k dna W. and soma, tan ow
Wee it asset give wee than I penis as r.C6.,
sad ask. bestow uplift like life annailleh The Artists'
lead is ales surliest to kaoho linitatigan Oar neat object
will be, if the task* awl* to swami bee emit as see-
able with the peak bay of the awls by sane WA of
andWawa. ; It la assones we Wad
Cssat, so we lege we way be
the wireire oble. to Nabs Mee
gdld
umiselake, as arste hay, be hakes grail-
towly at all kabala' and at
Mbar assordationo ha the koliestion et the people
theoesicat the kiosks. (Agtiower.). a sleets it I.
whit a view he INN pewees Su Metaine, to lair that we
stash tabs to whostawe ansineosats we beam that we
have borrowed soassiiiki efelelelltied amass ilar thee who
will naive the ameimosses—sollhog the hie "masa! to

prolbeepra sr Missy. and &Nag t—fiase who are admitted to
missy Iss • lisafted paha by the acme of associates. Ido
boys mad Ido itso tbst uleinstele it will be a distils'.
dis Se be a malaW of this said, sad that the salaries will
haorded
alfiffft ase:pos of pains, sad set es • Here
hear.) Bat is the masswidia
we lb* boa at bast these objets : We shall bas
isesslad a Oast* of peowalary aid elm to OM who
wises ear assutry with a store Jut sad sievalsd shassator
thaw Itiwy iISTS yet aisused. We shall has issalsated
labirafpsdasse sad Swadsla amospt al oar imam ;
sad Naar wialar Asuskbas it will be hie sera dash haw
Asir if say falsest seas of letters should is Is. old op
slaw mud a patron se dread a pal. Mt* her. harvest
osuladed by postomisi The health of the Mow of Mu-
tiftwass."
The KATO% after responding, said he bad peat pleasure
peepasimg, sad eat we they would join his is wishimg
hwlai rid happiasse to "The Amateur Company of the
MAI al Maim sad Art, coupled with the name of Mr.
Charles Disaws." Awed applasso.)
Kr. 031A8. DICKENS, who was received with loud sad

SEPTEMBER 2,

hearty cheering, enid—Mr. Mayor sad Gentlemen,—on
behalf of the company of friends who set with me is more
senses than one, and on my own part, who am their repre-
sentative and mouthpiece here, I beg to tender you oni
best thanks for the splendid recognition with which 'Gotha,.
honoured us to-night. I do so with a feeling of unusual
earnestness, because I myself and all those friends an deeply
and truly sensible of the heartfelt cordiality with which
we have ever been received in this noble town. (Applause.)
From our first assumption of the actor's craft here, on
behalf of a worn-out man of letters—the author of many
earl Bent dramatic pieces still constantly produced upon
the stage, but with no kind of advantage to himself, and
with no kind of remembrance of him that I evef heard of—
down to this happy hour, a Manchester audience has been
so true to a., so hearty with us, so affectionate towards us,
that in playing to it we have always telt as if we wen play-
ing to one great-hearted friend. And, Ido assure you that
when our little curtain shall fall to-morrow night for the
last time, probably, upon that beaming countenance and
that encouraging voice, that have now so often gladdened
no, we shall feel a sorrow of no mimic kind, and a regret
at parting that will long outlive the fiction of the scene.Alter what you have heard so eloquently said by my
friend Sir Edward Bulwer Lytton, on the scheme to ad-
vanee which this little body of friends have been useeiated
together, I feel that it would not be reasonable la me to trouble
you with any observations reelecting its general claims, or
the immense service which has been rendered to it by Man-
chester. In taking the field to promote that object, we
thoroughly and sincerely knew it to be a good one,—
thoroughly and sincerely knew it to be a just reproach to
letters and to art that it had been too long neglected,— and
were thoroughly and sincerely resolved to do all that in vs
lay to help the need which we knew to exist. Our little
labours have, indeed, been labonn of love. Careful business
consideration of every detail of this project, and the most
solicitous regard to the more tinning exigencies and weak
nestles of our order, must now constitute the strength of the
guild, and must now be the foundation of its steady claim to
general public support. 1 have now the great gratification,
with the chairman's leave, of proposing to you to drink
" Prosperity to the Manchester Athenaeum." (Applause.)
Mr. AIVIALOU WATRIN having responded,
Mr. T. FA !RBA IRN proposed the next toast, "Science
and the Fine Arts." In proposing the toast, he mentioned
the nitrite of Mr. A. Egg and Mr. F. Stone. The latter
gentleman returned thanks.
Dr. JAMES BARDSLEY expressed the great gratifica-
tion that he felt at being surrounded by many of those dis-
tinguished persons who hid shed so mach lute upon, and
had imparted so much value and leaven to, the periodical
literature of this country. He would, with their permis-
sion, without further preface, give the toast of " Prosperity
to the periodical literature of England."
Mr. CHARLES KNIGHT retreaded to the tout, and
proposed " The Free Library of Manchester."
Sir JOHN roma responded to the tout.
Mr. FRANI. Stone then proposed" The Town and Trade
of Manchester."

Me. THOS. BATLIT responded, and proposed" The PM/
of this country." (Loud cheers.)
Mr. ROBERT BELL responded.
Mr. hues CROSSLET proposed u the nest tout " The
Cause of Antiquarian Research, connected with the
name of Mr. Peter Cunningham."
The toast was received with much applause.
Mr. PETER CURNINOSIAII briefly responded.
Mr. Cuossuir proposed " The Lancashire Witehee,"
sad Mr. Ponca saltine!, " The Health of the Ladies who
were associated with us this evening," including Mn.
Rieke= tad other ladies he had the pleasure to see present.
I he tout was received and drunk with great applause.
The company separated about ten minutes to 12 o'clock.