The Express.
London, England, 1853-05-14 00:00:00

PLYMOUTH ELECTION.

PLYMOUTH. FRIDAY EVENING.
Sir J. H. Maxwell, not relishing his reception
last evening, has to•day taken formal leave of the elec-
tors of the borough. Mr. Staines' address is on the wall.

THE LITERARY FUND.

(From the Daily Netts.)

AT the anniversary festivities of the Royal Literary
Fund Society, there is always a picture drawn of an
unfortunate author deeply steeped in rain, with all
hope extinguished. Then there is brought ioto the
foreground an almoner from Great Russell-street.
Bloomsbury, of (according to the latest reproduction
of the tableau) " the utmost delicacy," who saves
him from the yawning doors of a debtor's gaol, or—
and here we borrow a pathetic novelty from Mr.
DISRAELI'S last speech—" smooths the pillow of the
poor expiring. author, and whispers consolation in his
ear." That is the touching after-dinner version of
the case. The true version is hardly so moving.
It appears from the bye-laws of the Society
that the author, in order to be relieved
_

opportunely and promptly out of the Fund,
must so arrange lus misfortunes that they shall
happen somewhere near the end of each month ;
except during July, August, September and October,
when he must manage to be entirely prosperous ;
for in that long vacation there is no help for him.
During the intervals between the second Wednes-

days of each month, from November to July, and
during the whole of the four remaining months, the
Fund is as securely bolted and barred from him as
the bullion in the Bank cellars. In defiance of a

clause in the Charter which directs that " the Com-

mittee shall without delay take into consideration

all applications, Bc. ;" that body only meets to
consider claims on the second Wednesday in the
month, taking out one-third of the year for holiday,
and leaving the man of " genius and learning" in
the interim to be imprisoned or starved, should help
not arrive from other quarters.
But against this debit in the account which the
managers of the Fund keep open with the public, we
are asked to credit them, when they administer aid,
with a certain beautiful tenderness. When 'tis done,

'tie done with " the utmost delicacy." Mr. Dia-
BAELI, dressing up the well-worn sentiments common

to all these anniversaries, declared of the Society, on
Wednesday evening, that "its duties were not to be
performed by a secretary or clerk; and those who.
were entrusted by the confidence of the subscribers
with distributing their funds had something more to
do than receiving subscriptions and drawing cheques.
The different claims must be investigated with the
utmost delicacy, and the resources of the Society must
be administered with a tenderness which gentlemen,
and gentlemen of lettered tastes and habits, could alono
exercise towards recipients of a peculiar sensibility.
They had not to deal out alms—they had to offer a
tribute, and an imperfect tribute, to the sufferings of
genius. They must visit the suffering author in his
home; and they must do more than assist him in his
pressing need. They must ende ivour that his future
should be cared for, and that he should be restored to
that career of usefulness which had been arrested by
misfortune. They must smooth the pillow," &c.
Nothing could have been prettier in a novel, or
more effective from the lips of a heroine of the
domestic drama. But the spell of sympathy meet
again be broken by a glance at the Society s bye-laws.
The actual mode of administering relief suffers
shockingly when brought to that superfine
standard " the utmost delicacy." Firstly, the
distressed man of learning and genius must send in
a statement of his case in writing at least seven days
before each meeting of the Committee; secondly, his
memorial cannot be entertained unless it be accom-
panied " by the testimonials of two or more respect-
able persons authenticating the facts therein stated."
The force of delicacy can no further go! Surely
there is nothing so utterly "delicate" in the bye-
laws of the Mendicity Society.
" It is the highest merit, the holiest claim of the
Literary Fund," Mr. DISRAELI also mentioned " that
the aid it rendered, was given in secret." How
admirably contrived to ensure secresy are these bye-
laws Learning and Genius having written his
beggar's petition, must take it round to two or more
respectable persons, and himself publish to them the
details of his own misery—humiliating details which
pardonable shame would fain conceal but for attesta-
tions which the " utmost delicacy " of the Literary
Fund Committee exacts. Seven &ye are to be
allowed for the Secretary to inquire into the truth
not only of Learning and Genius's allegations, but
into the truthfulness of the attestors; every step
that gentleman takes, every word he utters, how-
ever guardedly, in the course of his investigations,
being a further publication of the petitioner's private
wants and distresses.
It is here that the core of the mal-administration
of this Fund is laid open. It is here that a wide
departure from the intentions and wishes of its ori-
ginator come into glaring light. If the gentlemen
who compose the committee of the Royal Literary
Fund were the men they ought to be;—gentlemen
whose profession is Literature; and if the Fund
were distributed amongst recipients whom its
founder intended to benefit, no inquiry would
be necessary. We said recently that the Literary
Fund had not much in common with literature. Its
board consists of excellent unimpeachable members,
some of them eminent men in their own special
walks of life; bat, as a body, they are not literary
men. All of them have, perhaps, in common with
the bulk of their protclyes, written "a book;"
but we question if the majority of them are
connected by professional ties with the
literary profession. If they were, no seven-day
'inquiries would be necese-try to solve doubts as to
whether an applicant for pecuniary aid was a pro.
fessional brother or a begging-letter impostor. Men
of learning and genius, who live by their gifts and
acquirements, are already known quite well enough
to each other in their different grades, to need no
identification, either personal or circumstantial. But
while the Literary I' and is ed by gentlemen
whose acquaintance with thilea/Tolessional world of
Literature is merely casual, and who disburse it.
amongst persons even more slightly connected with
it, their system—in no case ono of the " utmost de-
licacy "—is perhaps necessary to guard against,
although it has not been always proof against
frauds. They have, before now, relieved ladies, pre-
sumed to have genius and learning because they said
each had written "a book," who speedily found their
way to the treadmill as convicted cheats and im-
postors.
In one word, the Literary Fund Society as at pre-
sent constituted is—like the books of some last century
authors,—a fulsome dedication to the nobility and
gentry. Lords and nobles take the lead in its festi-
vities ; at which the few literary men who appear are
placed below the salt. "At the anniversary of
last year"—as was lately stated in the Examiner—
" there was the Right Hon. Lord CAstrnELL, Lord
Chief Justice of England, luckily a writer of books,
but more luckily a man in whose name the word lord
could be twice repeated, in the chair. He was sup-
ported by the Prussian Minister, the Danish 'llR-
meter, SHEFFER BIIAN, the Persian Minister, and
Major MIRZA IBRAHIM MALCOLM, honourables,
counts and others. If we add to the list of diners
the tremendous array of fine names to be found
amooethe vice-presidents and members of the
mune, and if we can forget for a Limo what such
things usually signify, we may be astonished at the
comparative inefficiency of the thing signified by all
these outward signs of grace."
Literary men must bestir themselves to claiazet
only their proper seats at the festive, bilks ;.
nese board of the Royal Literary Fund" .1 .
vision for fulfilling the recorded iote'
./of Alta
founder are cot carried out in the ex.
granted in 181*, a new and improved .7" ought
to be obtained.

w
•` - J

SPORTING.

LA MST BETTING AT MANCHESTER.
FEU.% T.

_ _._....
The leasirusa transacted thw morning was (nr the most
part r, i hard to thu ♦vents decided at Shrewsbury to-day.
Brace lharaday the following horses have ►can backed tut
Sorthetming events at the prices stationed below

MANCHESTER TRADES CUP.
sto apt Gadabout (t)
6 to Taltourd (t)
7 to Bird-on.the-Wing (t)
7 to Mutter°lf (')
12 to Weathergage (t).
BATH AND SOMERSET HANDICAP.
3to apt Audubon (t).
DERBY.
3to apt West Amoebae (t to 30W.)
9 to Sittingbourne (t)
10 to Pharos (t)
10 to Honerywood (t)
12 to Cisme (t)
12 to Orestes (t)
14 to Umbrol (I)
30 to Jerry Kent (t)
;t0 to Ethelbert (U
tO to Peggy (t).
OAKS.
9to apt Catherine Hayes (t)
6 to Mt Atmore Lass (t)
t Peggy
10 to The Queen (t).
SHREWSBURY MEETING.
_CONCLUSION OF THURSDAY'S RAcIS.

TIM Cot TT llzxnue PLATE was won in four heats
by Mr. Dawson's Jack Leenting, 6 yrs (Barker), beating
Morning Star, 4 yes (Ashman), @mad • and Sleeping
Partner, 3 yrs (Wells), third. Seven other; ran.
FAIDAT.

ATTINOHAM STARTS, of 5 son. each, with 30 added;
ter three-yr-olds. The second hone to save his stake.
About three-quarters of a mile. (6 subs.)
Mr. Ylintoffs Whalebone, 3 yr. (401.) 7st 121 b
:(Wells) I
Mr. J. Dawaon's Shipwreck, 3 yrs (401.) 7st 9lb
(Aldcrott) 2
Betting : 6 to 4 on Shipwreck. Won cleverly_ by &length.
lIIIIILLAW STARES, Of 6 son. each, with 30 added; for
two-yr-olds. About three-quarters of a mile. (3 subs.)
Mr Sitwell's Pope Joan (301.), 7st llb ..(Aldoroft) 1
Mr. Stowe's Sampson (301.) 7st 4lb (Welts) 2
Mr. Bird's Basipulie (1001.) Bst llb (Thick) 3
Betting : 5 to 4 on Pops Joan, 2 to 1 apt Sampson. Won
in a canter by a length.
Ilsentaroxi Cur, value 100 son., the surplus in specie,
by sabsoriptiou of 10 son. each. Cup Course. About 2
miles sad a-kalf.
Mr. T. Parr's Macaroni, 3 yrs (2001.) Set 91b(We1ls) 1
Mr. Meiklaad's Clonland, 4 yrs (1001.) 6st Illb
(Clements) 2
The following also ran.—The Alp, Countess of Theba,
Jack Lennie', Leap Tear, Wilmont, JUJU' Blossom, Dick
Tazpin, Mini Ann.
Betting : 2to I opt Alp, 5 to 2 agst Mamaroni, 3to 1
agst Miss Ana, Bto 1 eget Cleveland. A Sue ran in with'
Maistaroni, Cleveland, and Willy:at. Won by • head,'
Wilmont losiag second place by a seek.
Ac-ron Buartair, Swam. For all ages. Three quay
ton of • mile.
Mr. Darling's Eccentricity, 3 yrs (301.), Est 81b
(Carroll) 1
Mr. Phillips's La Juin, 3 yrs (301.), 6at lllb
(Wilson) 2
Lord Caledoa's Mushroom, 3 yrs (301.), fist (Cliff) 3
The following also ran: Sweetmeat, Newman Noggs, and
The Varmint.
Betting : Even on Sweetness, $ to 2 agst The Varmint, 3
to 1 agst !Eccentricity. A good race with the three placed.
Won by half a nook.
Ss &unman SwanrYrtinai alO son. each, 3 ft, with
60 added. About one mils and a quarter.
Lord John Scott's Young England, 6 yn, Get 7lb
CAendalli 1
Mr. Dawsoa's Lerrywhnit,4 yrs, Bst 41b.. ldcroft 2
Mr. C. Laity's Tavistock, 3 yrs, het ( wdray 3
The following also ran:—Grief, KitsByer, La Alive,
Clothworkor, Candlewick, Liberty, Placid, filly by Touch-
stone.
' Tan CORPORATION STAIIRS were not run for when our
parcel wee despatched.

LATEST BETTING ON THE COURSE.
DERBY.
30 to 1 opt Jerry Kent
33 to 1 Peggy
LEWES RACES.-YznERDAT.

TWO•TRAZI•OLD STAIIII7I of 10 SOIL each, 5 ft, with 30
added : colts, &I 71b; fillies, fist 21b. T.Y.C.
Mr. J. Day's Dina*, get 2lb (G 411) 1
. Mr. T. Sierras's Indiana, Sit 21b (Wakefield) 2
Mr. T. Brown's, jun., Aleeta, Bet 21b......(Abda1e) 3
Lawn Missuicar of 10 son. sub, b ft, and 2 only if
declared, &e., with 60 added by the borough members ; the
owner of the second bone saved "his stake. One mile sad
a half.
Mr. Stemma's Nasseseh (h b), 4 yrs, 7st 31b
(Wakefield) 1
Mr. Cusses's Maisons Doe, 6 yrs, 7st 51b
(Collins) 2
Mr. I. 'Why's Dos Quixote, 3 yrs, 6st slb
(T. Sherwood) 3

Madame Irbartee and Worthliis als• ran.

BOUT/DOWN STAKES WM WWI IS two beats by Mr. Ca-
itena's Perjury, 8 yrs, Plat 121 b (ova's), bowing Mr. J.
Vervain British Cosang,_ egad, 12st 31b (T. Brown, jun.),
R and Major Briagbunt's .erlek, Hat 7lb (owner).
BzuLtmo PLATE W 24 WOO br Mr. Cameron's Handsome
Dos, 8 yn (301), 7st 61b (Colluta), beating Mr. G. Drowe's
Fidelity, 4 yrs (W. 1.), Bat 11lb (Walesa) by a head.
Quail's I'LaYa of 100 guineas; 3-yr-olds, 7M Blb ;
four, 9st 31b; five, 9st 11lb; sts and aged, 10st. The Now
(Mune.

-111,.8. Why's Don Quixote, 3 yrs .... (Wakefield) 1
Mr. C. Hornsby's Blandon, 3yn (Collins) 2
Ms. F. Castor's The Grand Duke, 6 yrs (Abdo's) 3
LOTHIAN'S RACING CLUB.
THURSDAY.

LOTHIAN HANDICAP of 10iv:Ws:each, 6 ft, and only 3 if
declared, with 60 added; winners extra. The second to
m's hiastake. Two mike. (34 subs., 17 of whom declared.)
The highest weight accepting being under Bst 71b, it was
raised to that weight, and the others in proportion.
Capt. Key's Little Jack, 6 yrs, Bat 51b.. (W. White) 1
Mr. J. Dewar ait Testator, aged, 7st 71b..(G. Oaks) 2
Mr. G. Dodd na anseborough, 8 yrs, Bst 71b 3
The following also ran :—Mary Ann, 4 yrs, 74 31b; Pit-
fall, 3 yrs,6st llb ; Friar's Hall, 3 yrs, 6st 131 b; Queen of
the Lothians, 3 yrs, sst 131 b; and Vest, 3 yrs, sst 131 b. Won
by a head.
ATHENIAN STAIRS HANDICAP was walked OM for by
Mr. Redfern's John Derry. aged, llst 101 b, owner.
TRADINIMEN'S PLAT" was won in two been by Mr.
Merry's Sally, 4 yrs (Crouch), beating Mr. W. Oranam's
Outcast, 6 yn, and two others.
Paosracr &masa of 6 sovs. each with 25 added ; 2 yrs.
bld, Bst 121 b; 3-yrs, 9st. Fillies and geldiags allowed 31b.
Maidens, up to the time of starting, also allowed 31b. Penal-
ties for winners. The second to stye his stake. Three-
quarters of a mile. (6 subs.)
Mr. W. Bbarpe's Parasite, 3 yrs (G. Oates) 1 •
Mr. J. Douglas na Sir Peter. 2 yn
Mr. W. Waterworth's Neville, 2 yn
Saws° PLATI wee won by Mr. Sharpe's GipsyHoy,
6yrs (M.) O. Oates ; beating Captain Key's The Major,
yrs (Mil.), Mr. Watson's Luxury, aged (601.), and six
Wien.

RAILWAY

tot EPSOM RAMC—To

Suable the public to pt to the MOB at a low fare, the ordi-
nary trains will run hem Laudon-bridge from 7 am. until
11.10 a.m. ore the Tuesday and Thursday, returning deer
7 p.m. ; and on the Wednesday and Friday from 7 am.
until 10 am. , returning after 8 p.m., at the ordinary first
and essead-slaes Ism an arrangement by which a trip to the
seem may be gibbed for 2s. To run cheap trains after the
hours staled. dirdilly on the Derby and Oaks days, would
possibly same peat confusion and danger. The subsequent
will therakee be " special," and at the Tara formerly
Amp* express train on the grand days will
lowa Isserimri aat 1.4.5 p.m. For the acemamodatioa
II Ilse spatial/ public, return tickets may he obtained at
Tattersall's, sad at various offices as announced in the cow
pony's advertisement*, and all parties will best consult their
convenience Kai safety by procuring their tickets there in
good time.