The Express.
London, England, 1863-05-14 00:00:00

LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, MAY 14, 1863.

AOYAL LITEILABY FUND.

The seventy-fourth anniversary festival of the
friends and promoters of this inetitution was *de-
bated yesterday at Willis's Rooms, King-street, St.
James's, the Earl STANHOPE, president of the corporation,
in the chair. The guests numbered in all about 120 gen-
tlemen, and the room was very appropriately adorned by
the presence of a large concourse of ladies, who were seated
around the dinner tables, in obedience to an arrangement
which might well be imitated under similar circumstances
at other festive gatherings.

- .
Amon the more distinguished persons present were his
Serene Highness Prince Frederick of Holstein, his Grace the i
Arokbiahop of Armagh, Wight Hoe. Lord Claude Hamilton, 1
M.P., Imatemm-General the Hon. Sir Edward Clot, J
tearb.
1L.C.8., Lord Mayor, M. Y., Lord Crowe, the
H.P. i
Edward pa, and the Hon. William AddiugtOn, M.P. i
The In touts having been duly honoured, I
Lord 'me I:l•Rwrote proposed " The Church and the 1
Amid:debited Armagh." i
His Oahe; having briefly acknowledged the can- i
plat,
_.
The bolds CH•11111•N gave "Prosperity to the Royal 1
Literary Papa." In doing this he observed that he could not :
propose theta's' without in the first pleas most earnestly 1
imitatinglee all must lamest—the lons that Mediation I
:lit had in the demo° of its late prea&at, the_ Mar- I
quis own°. At a very early age Lord Lansdowne
glad ah" cabinet office, and took a conspicuous part in 1
What in his later peers if might be odd of i
tAieat ha fi ad even • higher place than died of leader .
e4ilideal pfirgice, sinus he came to be regarded as a :
j sod an umpire between them. As a patrol :
ot Rename and the fine arts, Lord Lansdowne
pememed an exquisite taste, a highly cultivated mind,
and a generous temper, and in his case the impulse' of a 1
kind heart were well nupported by the resumes of an ample
fortune. It had pleased the institution to call him to fill
the place thus made vacant, and he ventured to address the
present company, not merely as the chairman of the day,
but u president of the association. He would par over as
rapidly as possible all recollections of the noble Pa
whose ration he had now the honour to fill ; butlt=
not, in justice to Ina feelings, omit to Male in one sentence
how much he appreciated the honour of becoming the sue-
outdoor of such • man and the chief of such • society. And
it would be his anxious desire during his tenure of sake— i
be it long or short—to take care that it should not suffer .
detriment at his bestir, bat that it might be handed
over unimpaired to his successors. Although the arguments
in favour of this institution could not be imbued ;with
any novelty, yet the claims upon it were of themselves ever
new. These claims extended in proportion as literature and
science extended. At no period had science extended over 1
a wider field, or had literature been more upheld than at
the present time. In illustration of this theory, the noble
chairman Waned to the astronomical discoveries which
had been made in our day as compared with ancient times,
and to the proceedings of the Geographical Society, so
worthily presided over by Sir Roderick Murchison.
They might expect, in the course of this month—
perhaps in the course of this week tidings
that the greatest geographical problem that yet remained
had been in a great measure successfully solved
through that society. He alluded, of course, to
the discovery of the source of the Nile, a telegram relating
to which had already arrived. A. regarded geoloe and
paheuntology, he need only point to the result of the re-
searches of such men as Sir Charles Lyell ; and passing
from science to literature, be found abundant ground for
congratulation. He had been reading that day in the
Revue des Deux Moncks an article on the present condition
of literature in France, which was very discouraging, for it
cootaioed this sentence—" Les Meson de la poesie eon-
tempraine soot trio mamma -" and he could not help
thinking how different was theicase in England, where the
ancient farm of poetry was upheld by such names as
those of the Poet Laureate, the Dean of West-
minster, and Mr. Manatee Milner. He might also
my, in regard to works of &tics, that the greatest
eminence had been attained in the present age. He would
not allude to those old established works, which had for so
many yearn held • n of their smiles, and sometimes
of their teers—sa as "Pelham," "Piokwick," and "Vanity
Fair." But he would ask them to consider the rising
school of novelist., represented by such men as Wilkie
Collins and Anthony Trollops. Looking, then, at the pro-
gress of science and literature in this country, they had
good ground for gratification ; but they must remember not
only those who succeeded, but those who failed. They
ought to be mindful not only of those who had climbed the
rough and rugged steep to fame, but those whose strength
had given way, and whose steps had failed them
en the giddy -ascent. In sank mass% was the business of a
society lite this to extend its aid and benefit. With regard
to the various branches of literature and science in this
country there was one matter of regret, and that was, that
there appeared to be an unwillingness to meet on common
ground, and associate together for the advancement of a
common good. There was a spirit of isolation between
various branches of science and literature, whereas there
ought to be a general spirit of combination, as was the case
in Frans, under the guiding auspices of the Institute of
France, which might be said to extend its ramifications over
the whole of that great nation, and indeed over the whole of
Europe. Why was there not such an institution in this
country? It was not for want of the men, because he saw
them around him in that room. No, it was the spirit
of combination which was wanting. This was the great de-
ficiency in England at the present time, and he ventured
to submit this opinion to their consideration. The noble
chairman concluded with an earnest appeal on behalf of the
institution, which, he observed, extended its benefits to all,
without distinction of country, party, or creed. He trusted
that this society might long continue to afford assistance to
those who stood in need of it; and feeling as he did that
the presence of the company around him was a proof of their
sympathy in the efforts that were made with this believe-
lest object, he called upon them to fill their glasses and
drink ' Prosperity to the Royal Literary Fund."
The toast was received with great enthusiasm.
Mr. GIORGIS GODwill, a member of the general esint-
mittee, then reed the report and eubeot,tions, w'n4h
. amounted to about 900 f.
..._. _ .. ... _. .

111tnTriineitiiroposed "The Health of the Chair.
man," which was duly responded to, and wu followed Ly
various other touts, including " The Writers on Science
and Sir Chutes " The Writers on Art and Mr.
Bereeford Hops," &c.
The company separated shoat 11 o'clock.