Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-02-15 00:00:00

sterciay, for the purpose of taking some steps to
trihnto to the memory of the late Mr. Basil

The chair was taken, on the motion of Mr. D,

lan, by

satisfaction to be able to do anything- to hor

lemory

whom he left b

profession to which Mr.. Baker belonged, it IN
ficult for an actir to realise any considerable
money, or while maintaining.

hieh the
very dif-

tiount of

a resp,

IWO position in

society, to

ko as man provision as lie could desire for
3 - -

those whom th
What provisio
had. made, , bi

.ough lde beloved with the greatesteaction.
lit was in Mr. Baker's power to make he
•

it very d

stances of his family rendered
art should be nmade• by his
I to his
Id left

friends to pay th

t tribute which could be 0:

memory by raise:
behind..

Mr. S. J. Meany, the hon. secretary, stated that Mr.
Baker had had his life insured., for, £l,OOO. lie • died
intestate, and his widow placed his affairs in the hands
of Mr. Crellin, who, acting with the concurrence•of the
children by the first :marriage, had put the interest of
that sum at the disposal of the widow daring her life-
time, the principal at her decease to be divide& among-
all the children. To educate and support three young
children, the interest upon £l,OOO would not go very far,
and wider these circumstances it was thought necessary
that a fund should be raised. A benefit at the•Theatre
Royal was considered one appropriate means
towards this , end. Accordingly, Mr. Meany stated
that he had communicated with Mr. Copeland,
asking for the use of the Theatre, and., from
his reply inferred that the request would be granted. He
had written to Mr. Barney Williams, asking that gentle-
man whether he• would give his professional services on
the occasion of. the benefit, and had receive

ewer,

stating that professional engagements would not allow
him to do so, but requesting that 15 worth of tickets
might he takeiblor him. it had been communicated to
him (Mr. Mcany) that on the oecasioa of the benefit, the
ladies and gentlemen of the Theatre Royal would give
their services gratuitously. He had reoeived a letter from

Mr, Edward tromast kindly offering to place `his . ser-
vices at the disposal of the committee, for the benefit
night, to play a violin. ,solo. Mr.. Meany further stated
that the Maiyor.,,. and ffereral members of • the Town.
Council would probahly have been present, but, that they
were compelledby busviesB to be in London... lie had
also received ft,• letter from Mr. Robertson ,Gladstone,
stating that he would be glad to subseribetowardi the-
fund when the proper time arrived
Ur. Dignan proposed the follOw
•
" That th 6 profe43ional eminence, ann.. high private

chracter of tl.

connection with LiTern(

for some inierk of

d tliat

the creation-of a fund, for the benefit of his widow and
seems to us the most Frateful, as it would be
Iseful testimonial to the merits of the deceased

the ma
gentler=
Mr. Robert C

apton seconded the

.solution, which

• !iras-cpzried unanimously.
Mr. Frederick Clarke proposed Co
tion

second resolu—

" That, recognising, the necessity of .such an appeal,
immediate steps be taken fur the organisation of a benefit
performance at the Theatre Royal, on the first available
night, Tuesday; Bth March."
Mr.- Meyrick seconded the resolution, which.-was also

earnea.!._
/kfr.• Charles Batten proposed tha.third resolution :
" Tirxt„'witit a view otgiving thainbabitants generally,
as well 'as the• many private friends of the late Mr. Biker,
ae opportunity of joining in the proposed testimonial,' a
subsciaptioa list be opened and subscriptions. invited for
the benefit of the widow and chiittren
Mr.. Shepherd sceonded th
carried

rcsolution,, which was

Dgoeinnttleti
Mr. linghes proposed the following resolution :
John Dignan,
" That a committee consisting of the following
men, with power to add to their number;
for the purpose of carrying. aut.the objoets
i'll‘Gowan Thos.
Messrs. J. 13. Aspinall, John Woodlr‘u,!.
J. lt. M'Guffie, W. R. Copeland,
J. Ousel}, Charles Millward, Thos.. W. Hughes, C.
Cummins, and the Rev, James Nr.gent, ; and that Mr.
M. J. Whitty be appoluted treasurer- of the proposed
fund,
Mr. Cummins
cul‘mlir. niBns..J. secNoltleadueva, htohnt: see.".
carried.

inalcated

resaution, which was

gp:trttion the
The Rev. James Nugent said ho. felt it a sad duty to
ho ought a l takealthough, aproceedings of- that meeting, because
ough, from his...position, it might be considered that
'know-very little, of what. belonged to m
theatre, he thought any man who contributed to the
rational amusement of thie people, and ' was: an
-ornament to ha'. profession, should be deemed a public
benefactor. (Hear, hear, and applause.) No one who
knew the late,Mr. Baker could help feeling that he. was
an ornament to his profession. It was a difficult profes-
sion, surrounded by many difficulties and dangers, but he
believed every one who knew Mr. Baker knew that he
was a gentleman, a Christian, and an ornament to society.
(.‘pplaese.) It might be in his (Mr. Nugent's) power to
contribute a little towards the object of the meeting, with
the help of the members 'of the Catholic. Institute, and
the pupils, among whom was Mr. Baker's own son, -
7 bthl
of; eleven, perhaps one of the brightest ornaments oeeme _
Institute, and on whom the mantle of his father
hes was
to have descended, for, although not a caitishohe,
companions.
universally beloved and respoeted by_ i
it might realise
by Cardinal Wiseman were tol
(Applause.) It struck him that if
repeated,the little play written
4(
A 4
pc,
pot: u
s£ :0) towards the. fund,ane:bhee:n(lmt r
aNeugi thankse nt) w:wuelrde
be only too glad to plaoo it at the somata of the committee.
rman, and 040 meetingi passed to the chai , separated,
Sorrie other suggestionshaving,