The Express.
London, England, 1851-05-15 00:00:00

THE ROYAL LITERARY FUND.

Yesterday this 131st annual dinner of this sorie_ty
took place at the Freemasons'-hall. His Excellency M.
Vale Di Warms, the Be ' n minister, in the chair. His
Excellency was supported on the right by Senor Isturits,
the Spanish minister, Lord Ashburton, Lord Loader
borough, the Hon. E. Phipps, Baron Phipps, Baron
Martini, Baron Dupin, M. °realer, and M. Delepierre. On
the left by the Earl of Belfast, Lord Crewe, Mr. Vice-
Chancellor Knight Bruce, the Hon. C. Harding', Admiral
Sir C. Malcolm, and Bir It. B. Comyn. There were also
r's4Tt : Mr. Alison, Mr. Copeland, M. Vanboegarde, Herr
ebahn, Mr. Ooldsmid, Sir H. Ellis, Mr. Griffin, the
Rev. Dr. Russell, Mr. Tooke, Sir J. Haberfield (Mayor
of Bristol), Mr. Baring, the Turkish minister, the Mexican
minister, the Greek Consul-General, Mr. B. Day's, Mr.
Thsekeray, Mr. Maceolay, Q.C., Mr. Napier, M.P., Col.
Lawrence, Col. Rawlinson, dec., &c.
After the loyal toasts The church," which was acknow-
ledged by the Rev. I. 8. Anderson, and " The army and
navy," proposed by Sir J. Habertield and acknowledged
by Sir C. Malcolm,
The CHAIRMAN rose to propose the toast of the even-
ing. The principles upon which this society had been
founded, and upon which it was carried on, embodied the
proper, good, and true feeling which society owed to those
who, regardless of ease, comfort, and worldly riches, had
honourably laboured in the field of literature; and who,
amidst privations of every kind, had ministered to our in-
tellectual wants and pleasures. (Cheers.) The manner in
which • country treated its writers, its public instructors,
and the interest which it took in their welfare sad sociall
station, was the truest indication of its progress and civili-
sation. (Loud cheers.) The founders of this institution
bad, therelbre, fulfilled an honourable and a patriotic duty ;
and the literary man, supported and encouraged by its
means, would feel more deeply that his talents were given
him to enlighten society, and not to enkind:e those passions
which would endanger its very foundation. (Cheers.) By an
examination of their archive', which were so admirably
kept by their able and worthy secretary, he had had the
satisfaction of seeing with what paternal care every ease of
distress was investigated, and with what Christian delicacy
that distress was relieved. He had also had the gratifica-
tion of noticing with what true dignity and entire confi-
dence the assistance of the institution was claimed ; for if
the mode of giving was based upon the beet principles of
the heart, the mode of receiving was equally honourable
to those to whom the assistance of the society was extended.
(Cheers.) In fact, after learning, from their archives, the
manner in which the numerous difficulties which beset the
literary men of this country were met, he had never had
a higher opinion of the class. (Cheers.) Something more,
however, must be done, as was evident, not only from the
increasing subscriptions to the fund, but from the esta-
blishment of a Guild of Literature, which had met
with the earnest support of the tint men of the
day. (Hear, hear.) Rich as was the literature of this
country, the works of some of the most distinguished of its
philosophers were still mouldering in the dust for want of a
sufficient probability of remuneration to their editors. For
instance, the rich literature of this country still awaited an
historian ; and was it so to remain until some foreign
writer accomplished the task, because no certainty of • live-
lihood was held out to en English author while he shouli
devote his time to the accomplishment of so great and last
ing a work ? (Cheers.) It appeared to him (M. Van de
Weyer, that the establishment of public libraries in large
towns by a recent act of parliament, was an opportunity
which ought not to be lost. He suggested that the situation
of librarians should be given to literary men of eminence,
or to young aspirants to fame, who might thus he
enabled to devote their energies free from care
and anxiety, to the prosecution of great works. What,
for instance, could have . been • more gratifying
sight than to have beheld the great towns contending with
one another to secure the services of a man likely Southey ?
(Cheers.) lie spoke with some warmth on this point, be-
souse he had himself in his youth experienced great ;Lid in
the pursuit of literature by his appointment to the office of
librarian in the city of Brussels. (Loud cheers.) The
great increase in the public taste for reading of all kinds
must also lead to en increasing call upon the institution ;
and, as he hoped, increased additions to its means. lie
would, therefore, give them " Prosperity to the Royal Lite-
rary Fund." (Loud cheers.)
The Rev. Dr. RUSSELL rose to lay before the meeting
the state of the society's funds. Unlike some other so-
cieties,which, if they saved • man from drowning, requested
hint to come before the annual meeting and show himself
to the subscribers, this institution has no public ovation,
but performed all its works in secret. Nevertheless ho (the
Rev. Dr.) remembered an occasion upon which the French
amlassador himself was proud to avow himself as one
of those whom they had assisted; for the society extended
its aid to the literary men of all nations. (Loud cheers.)
During the past year they had helped 38 persons, who,
were thus classed :—History and biography, 4 ; Biblical
literature, 5 ; science and art, 3 ; topography and travels,
4; education. 5 ; poetry, 4; essays and tales, 7; drama, 1;
law, I ; medicine, 1; and miscellaneous, 3. Their income
during the past year had been 2,1781. Is. 2d. ; which they
accounted for thus:-38 grants for relief, 1,0351.; expenses
(including salaries, 2201. its, 3d.), 53,61.145. 14.; purchase of
3001. stock, 2954 10s.; balance, 3081. 17e. td.; total,
2,178/. Is. 2d. The persons relieved comprised 29 males, 9
females, 6 being authoresses and 3 widows. Amongst the
subscribers was the Queen, who had given them 100 guineas
since 1838—(loud cheers)—Prince Albert, and many other
distinguished personages.

Lord ASHBURTON, in a flattering speech to his Excel
leney as an author, a scholar, and minister, proposed the
health of the chairman, who, in responding, said that having
risen by his pen he had ever been faithful to litera-
ture. (Cheers.) He begged to give them the health of tho
chairman elect, the Lord Chief Justice, Lord Campbell—
(loud applause).

The SECRETARY of the BELGIAN EMBASSY then
proposed, in a short French speech, the healths of the
Turkish Minister and the Foreign Ministers; to which his
Excellency briefly replied in the same language.

The Hon. E. PHIPPS proposed, " The Literature,
Science, and Arts of all nations "—(loud cheers)—to which
Baron Dupin and Mr. Grove responded.

The Hon. CHARLES HAItDINIE gave, "The health
of Mr. Alison and the Historians," gracefully acknowledg-
ing the manner in which his noble father had been noticed
in the " History of Europe." (Cheers.)

Mr. ALISON in reply, said he could not forget the time
when the troops of England, of Turkey, and Spain, had
fought side by. side against a common foe, in the sandy
deserts of Syria and the fertile soil of the Peninsula.
(Cheers.) How could he forget the time when the gallant,
forces of Prussia and of Belgium stood side by side on the
victorious field of Waterloo; and it appeared to him a sin-
gular coincidence that at this meeting of an English Literary
Society the chair should be occupied by the Belgian Minis-
ter, who was ably supported on the right hand and on the
left by the ministers of Turkey and Spain. (Loud cheers.)
..—......

Mr. Vice-Chancellor KNIGHT BRUCE asked the meet-
ing to renew their ancient solemn league and covenant with
an ancient tribe in the nation of letters, that dealt with

Trull wren, in fairy fiction dreamed,

whose writings awoke the fancy and quickened the observa-
tion, while they stimulated men to the practice of sin
cerity, self-denial, kindness, and pity. (Loud cheers.) From
Boccaccio to Bulwer, they were cunning preachers whose
sermons they never wished ended—schoolmasters from
whose ferule they never shrunk—and he declared to them
that even the miraculous execution of that wonderful un-
dertaking which formed one of the grandest triumphs of
the sterling Saxon mind owed to him, one of its greatest
charms, in that it justified, while it surpassed, the ones
doubtful "Arabian Nights." (Cheers and laughter.) He
begged to give " The health of Mr. Thackeray and the
novelists."

Mr. TIIACKERAY acknowledged in fitting terms the
cempliment paid him. He wished, however, to protest Is ;
the strongest manner against an impression which the
speech of their respected chairman might have contributed ,
to fester in the minds of their foreign visitors, namely, that
the literary men of this country were • most tinter-
tunate, degraded, and seedy people (Laughter.) Captain
Absolute, he knew, might make love to Lydia Languish,
in the ordinary modern costume of the country, but when
Sir Anthony came on the stage folks would not believe in
him unless he wore re 1 boots, a George the 11. coat, and a
huge ltamillies wig. (Loud laughter.) That was the tra-
dition of the old men of the drama; and there was also a
tradition as to the distressed author, but he considered that
disreputable phantom ought now to be hissed out of society.
(Laughter and cheers.) Ile did not believe that a man of
talent and character was obliged to do anything that an
honest man might be ashamed of ; and, therefore, he hoped ,
that from that day forward the oppressed author would dis-
appear from amongst them. (Cheers.) It was true that
iu the days of Queen Elizabeth a worthy writer stood in
the pillory ; and in the time of another monarch, Queen
Anne,—thank God she was dead—(loud laughter)—an
author for a first offence might have his arm struck off, and
for a second might be hanged ; but that was all Fore by. ,
(Cheers.) Else what a position would his august friend and
. Mr. Punch ,be in. What would become of his arms. his
patron ,
his neck and Hs bowels. (Laughter.) Ile had him-
self
experienced at one period of his career the advantage
of temporary assistance, and therefore be was anxious to ex-
tend by means of the institution that aid to his brethren
which be had found so useful to himself. (Laud cheers.)
The healthy of "Colonel Rawlinson and the Travellers,"
"Mr. Napier and the Universities," "The Bev. A. P.
Stanley and the Biographers," " Mr. Thomas Baring and
the Stewards," and lastly' The Ladies" (of whom there
was a large and fashionable attendance in the gallery) were
next proposed, and the meeting then broke up.

TALLOW MARKET.—THIS DAY.
The market remains dull at yesterday's prices. Peters-
bug; Y. C. on the spot, is quoted 385.; May and June,
Ks. 6d to 38a. ; lest three months, 384 6d.

PROTESTANT ASSOCIATION.

Yesterday the annual meeting of this association
was held in Easter Hall. After prayer by the Rev. W.
Wilkinson,
The Earl of WINCHIISEA, who presided, reviewed
the circumstances attending the recent papal on.
They could have no peace with Rome, who, ' she was
what abe had always been, and must be still, ought to Se
kept in check and allowed no opening through which she
might thrust her doctrines into this country. The passing of
the Roman Catholic Relief Bill by a government which was
under the control of the see of Rome had been followed by
itthe system and
present condition of frovelnoo temporalgg
ia
ba!resio
seen
the
; and in
conse-
quences of the feeble policy which gave to such a power
any opportunity of influencing the sffsus or the people of
this nation. (Hear, hear.) He hoped in the course of time
to see a truly protestant parliament. As soon as the people
of this nation should have been awakened to a sense of the
danger of permitting the Romish system to act in the midst
of them, and as soon as that consciousness had obtained,
they would find that the legislature would no longer tamper
with that which was fraught with danger to the civil and
religious liberty of the country. The annual report stated
that the receipts for the year had shown an improvement in
the condition of the society, the assets nearly equalling the
liabilities. The amount received was altogether 1,131./. 95.,
and the expenditure was 9991. Os. Bd., leaving a balance to
the society. The receipts from the sale of publications
amounted to 233/. 9s. 541., and the demand was increasing.
A considerable number of meetings and lectures had been
nded during the year, and a large number of persons
joined the association. This report was agreed to, and
several mediations in accordance with the principles of the
association having been accepted, the meeting separated.
It is a singular fact that, notwithstanding the repeated
remonstrances which have appeared in the columns of
the riNICI and other papers, the accommodation for re-
porters in Exeter-hall remains as bad as ever. The result
of former remonstrances has certainly induced the pro-
prietors to fix some glass in the door, but as no light falls
upon this glass externally, the improvement is nutvery per-
' ceptible.