The Express.
London, England, 1849-05-22 00:00:00

GENERAL THEATRICAL FUND.

Yesterday, the tenth anniversary festival
institution took place at the Lnadon Tavern ; Mr. CNARLIS
Kinn in the chair. The room was crowded to GUM, and
the galleries were filled with ladies, whose proem added
greatly to the pienneesqueness of the stone Animist tat
gentlemen who eat nest the lamina's, we Sit John Bar
goyim, Mr. Chalks Dickens, Mr. Webster, Mr. Join Leask,
and sae y other well-known pumas intessetad in the seams
of the charity.
Great escitement prevailed amosget ths samosay whoa
the Mailman rose t 3 propose the health of Misty, sad
it was a matter of coadderable interest Mat tkis was the
first pablie occasioa, sings the diabellsal mamma
on Saturday, which had *lorded as opportasity for sa
enthusiastic display of loyalty. In premises this Mem (rias
announcement of whiskwas at once receiyedlry loud plaudits
and tokens of loyalty), the Chairman stated that her Majesty
—who was ever foremost to acknowledge the claims of ek
table wetis.tioas—lad presented this fund with a third dour
Rem of 1001. (Clam.) Ile(Mr.Koss)anticipated the burst of
=Mislaid* lova sad memo with which the health of het
Most Oradea' Majesty had been received by the present
company. The theatrical profession bad ever bean divan-
guiehed for loyalty, and on uo previa= occasion had the
Numbers of that profession been teyoured with a prouder
ocessioo for &gill) ins their feelings towards their sovereign
than at the present meeting. (Cheers.) Mr. Lean then dwelt
with mach etaphesis and good tare upon the hi* h compliment
which bee M.jesey had paid to the theatrical profession M
emu:lauding the pieces of perfoirmanoes which had taken
place at Windsor Castle. He 4i-included by propoain g,
• Lang life and increasing prosperity to her Majesty the
Queen."
The toast was drunk with, if possible, more than the
" usual honour," rind was immediately followed by the
National Anthem, the whole of the company joining in
chorus.
" The Prince el Wales, Prince Albert, end the rest of the
Royal Family" having been proposed and warmly rt
es
to,
This CHAIRMAN gave "The Array and Navy," coupled
with the name ot the Dke of Wellirgtoo, whom long
after of glory had known every vicissitude of war except
de sat. (Cheerni
r JOHN BURGOYNE haying returned thanks,
Toe CHAIRMAN prspoerd the toast which was the
great oldest of the present sleeting. In rising to propose
this team, he sod before them the advocate of Christian
charity—of simple, pure bnievolence--as counsel for the in-
digent and help.eas members of the profeesion to which he
belonged. At the three annual festivals which had preceded
the present. the angle and peculiar Nimes of the General
Theatrical Fund bad been fully explained, —the purpose* 14
the institution were unrestricted by age or the disti..ei of
any particular establishment, and he was happy to int rot
them that its progress was steady, and its prospects cheering.
He concluded by proposing The health of Mr. Cullealued
(the secretary), and prosperity to the General Theatrical
Fur d."
Mr. CULLENFORD, in remming thank% stated that he
stood is the position of Mr. BuMeteno, the treasurer, whose
dada at the Haymarket they re bad prevented him from
atteadkne en tbisoceeion. He revered that it was impossible
for Mr. Webster, SO to alter kit arrangements as to enable
Mr. Bsekstone to ahem himself from tho theatre, bat he
fel• that Mr. W. biter had dose great service to the Malta-
tim by his attendance at rids meeting—cot only for his con-
duct on this occasion wen their thanks due to Mr. Webster,
but also for the numerous ways--pecuniary and otherwise—
in which he had exerted himself towards promoting the ob-
jects of the institution. Having thanked Ile. Lean for the
graceful and complimentary manner in which he had advo-
cated their claims to public support,;Mr. Callonfcrd informed
the aairg that they had incremed their funds to the
sasnant of 5431., sin r payment of all demands.
The finoseLl statement fur the y. ar ending February 21,
1849, showed that the receipm—including balance ia hand
and reserve fund—amounted to 4,6001. Os. 91, and the dis-
bursements to 7261 Is. 7d.

The CHAIRMAN next proposed the " Treaties of the
Fund," amongst whom he was proud to mention the name
of the distiniushed gentleman with whom this toast natu-
rally associated isself. Ile meant Mr. Charles Dickens, to
whose exertions on behalf of the charity they were deeply
indebted. (Chaim)
Mr. CHARLES DICKENS, in rising to return thanks,
was received with enthusiastic applauw.. He appeared before
them as &trustee with a cold, though he hoped not as a cold
trustee. The gentleman who so gr.ecefullypre.ided over them
epee the present occasion had a triple claim upon their atten-
tion and totem. first in consideration of the qualities which
se eminently fitted his to occupy the position of chairman ;
secondly, on account of the high respect which they all felt
for the memory of his immortal father ; and thirdly, in con-
eiderAtion of the abilities and virtues of his accomplished wife.
Mr.Dickena washers so frequently interropted by the applause
and lsugh:er of the compel that it wee extremely oilKult to
follow him is bin speech; bet he went on to say that he
doubted whether the lair sex had ever found a better, truer,
or mote delicate exponent of their feelings than in the lady of
whom he bad now the pleasure speck, and he believed he
was right in regarding her as the crowning grace of the
festivity. Ia reference to the success of the national drama
he had always ret impressed with the conviction that it was
so completely a twit of their every-day existence that. al-
though it might decline for a tim-, it could never die. High
patronage might be of great assistance in advancing its
properil, but the drama held a position throughout the
weed which, to his thinking, neither neglect nil affliction
could aver root out.

The " National Drama and Mr. Webster," one of its most
legitimate supporters, was then proposed by Sir J. BUR-
GOYNE, and Mr. WEBSTER returned thsn'as in a very
sensible ap•ech, in which he stated that he was proud to
And that the laboun which for many year. he had bestowed
!pm. his profusion, were so warmly and kindly appreciated.
He WY onfident that the buxom of the natio, al drama
depended in a great measure upon the exertions of those who
were its principal ornaments, and it was no small pleasure to
him to learn that their cause was so warmly advocated by
the distinguished gentlemen around him.
Other toasts were proposed and drunk, and the pleasures
of the evening were rnhencid by the musical exertions of
Madame Dulcsen, Mies Dolby, Miss Ranstxd, Mr. Balls,
Mr. Hobbs, Mr. Bradbury, Mr. Francis, and others.
The entertainment passed off with great spirit actl anima-
tion, and the company broke up shortly after 11 o'clock.

CORONERS' INQUEST.-YESTERDAY.
CHARGE or NEGLECT AGAINST A PARISII-BI:It-
Onow.—Yesterd‘y Mr. Payne held en inquest at the Old
King's Head, Toolepetrest, S ruthwark, on the b rdy of
Ellen Collins, aged 27 y ass, whose death was alleged to
Dave bees caused Ly neglect, or non.attendanee, during her
confinement, of Mr. P. ()Tonne], militant to the parish-
eurgeon of St. Thomas's, Southwark. The deceased was a
native of Ireland, and had only latterly arrived in this
country. She was pregnant, and went to live with a fa
male, named ftinr, at No. 1, Pitt's buildings, inhabited by
the lower elms of Irish. Oa Friday, the 11th inst., she was
taken in labour, and Mr. O'Connel was gent for, who, upon
his arrival, found the child born. After applying the usual
remedies he left the deceased, and did not pirmite any ma
dicine, which is usual and necessary, nor even attend until
after her death. The deceased appeared to be
going on favourably, and was attacked suddenly on Fri-
day last with a fit, and died shortly afterwards.—
Dr. Holding, physician and aecoucher to Guy's Hospital,
stated that it was hie opinion that death was irrespect:ve of
the confiaremeut. It had been produced by a spasmodic
affection of the heart, or by some affection in the brain.—
The jury Massed a verdict of " Natural Death," and added
that they were of opinion that the conduct of Mr. O'Connel
was highly reprehensible, and that he had been guilty of
great neglect ; and they also recommended that a unmoral
should be seat to the board of guardians, conveying their
npiniona.—Mr. Cotner, the vestry clerk, here stepped for-
ward, end said at the neat meeting et the board of guardians,
be would commealeate the evidence of the wituenes, and
the opinion of the

FINANCIAL REFONM.—A meeting of gentlemt -
conflicted with the sonthess: district of London was held
in the BOOM Hall last evening; W. J. Hall, q., in the
chair. Mr. lama. from the Metrorolitan le sedation,
attended to amid in the formation of a society to the dis-
trict Resolutions wets passed affirming the principles of
the Metropolitan Associatioe, and an association was formed.
It was also resolved to hold a large public meeting assail
as possible. It is believed that this society will he sae
of the most useful in the City in advancing the objects of the
association.
THREATtffIItO Lrritles.—Wm. Knight Thorpe
was taken before the magistrates at Briihton on Friday, as
the information of M. Ricardo, BA., charged with writing
threatening letters, and thereby potting Mr. Ricardo in fear
of his We. Ms prisoner, who is an elderly man, has only
lately come out of Lewes gaol, after suffering two months'
confinement, to which he was sentenced at the last Autumn
Mabee, tar the very offence with which he was now again
charged. The man, it appears, labours under a strong im-
pee~sea that he has suffered a great *lvy at the hands of
Mr. Ricardo. He was formerly, we bzlien, in that gentle-
ma's persica, sad formed an attachaseatto the housekeeper,
whom, after quitting Mr. R.'s service, he proposed to many.
No ;obstacle was raised to this by Mr. Rimy& further than
the condition that, if the housekeeper married, she must give
tin her place ; and either for this or far other remelts Mrs.
Wiliam@ declined beaming his wits; and ever since this
occurrence he hes had remises to a system of annoyance sad
Insult directed against Mr. Ricardo, which neither the re-
monstrances of his friends nor the fear et the law have beta
able to deter him from. After being bound over several haws
by the Brightoa bank, and without avail, as lsiletmast wee
preferred at the arises, era which be was esneittod, and,
as we have said, onalased setwe months' lagekeaneue, and
collared, at the Mien at that time, to lied two fnureties
be 101. ea*. sad his own la 201. to keep the pane for two
yaws, lie meriesoded he getting these swedes. but se ismer
Mad blessestf at liberty than he reemessesek vil sad
waft letters, sot only to Mr. aim& lineal sad the
11 (Idea William) but toevenhelyht all eassesled
14 ili disjiaeollinue. In the Ant letter, after same low eel
shwas easeeeekoo. the writer west ca to say, " Were it seat
des breeklag Glee low, I would eerie Ms (seeeristi
Ifieseie) se Zak sieved Jamey. I boo Iss Was mem te
eserperets Ea them that fellow bad ; Ist. think Oak I
knew how to obey the laws of -, esastry, spite dr ad
Whey resorted to to site see se the brooking WI thus
laws. In rasher ham (to the )he mak su
Wthe felkowles upraise " I tidy the sloe slf I
ishouldisot be trod urea ley vile mai mai
111 Masse Re en WO In the Was el the OM Apell:Crit
dissects ltheseeM be What would be llesughl had II
Monlike d
kW aewy% r phew was salad
leis id l ddeireimee of lilL to keep the paw
lewerell Me. Misavis Ow two yams, sod se lad two sormies
OIL al& Es was belated up la Moult.