The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-05-15 00:00:00

DRURT-LING 71SEATRIC.II,` FUND DINNER.

•
• 'The 111001 Anniversary Dinner, in aid of the funds of this In.
soak place at the Irsemmons' Tavern, Great Queen.
7,'Syeet, on Sitturtiay last.
!mein been publicly aotionneed that his Royal Highness the
oflak wan to till the Chair. considerable anxiety was my.
wilbsted hi tonservence of a report that severe indisposition would
de rive thi Meeting of hit services; and in the course of the day
the following circular was distributed by the Committee.—
" The Committee for conducting the Drury-lane Theatrical
'. valid regret that the delica'e state of the health of the Duke of
Ynk nrevene his Royal Highness's attendance this day; but
rior Mire the honour to announce that his Royal highness the
Deka of Surset Sits consented to preside."
His floral Highness the i)uke of Sussex entered the Ilrei about
six o'clocl, and wits warmly cheered by the gentlemen present.
The room was embellished with transparencies of his Atha
Gracious !Majesty (beneath which was inscribed its large levers,
" He is the very soul of bounty") the Duke of Yolk, and the
usual devices.
(In the cloth being removed " Non Nohis Domine" was sung In
excellent style, by Ilesan. Pyne, Broadhurst, Bedford, G. Smith,
bilielair, T. Cooke, Horn, Evans, insil Simmons.
The illustrious Cleans:At, in tieing to propose a toast dear to
the ham of every Englishman, stated that the virtues of our be-
loved :Vonarch, the kindly feelings by which he has ever been
signatad in the veered cane of charity, needed no eulogium from
bin, as they were well known to every individual present. " The
•Eir,g," with three limes three; was then drank with rapturous
applause. Air, "Girl save the Ring." by Messrs. Sinclair, Pvne.and
Horn. 3lr. Pyng, who tang OW second verse, was loudly Applauded.
The yea 5I 1t was. the " flake of York." His Royal !ligh-
tens greedy ler/tented, not less the circumstance of his illustrious
!Active's shake than the untortunnte seauss of it ; but having
krat reeeeeted by his physicians to abstain from public meetings,
kik and that only, was the cause of his absentia His Royal
t,loteitit after paying a well deserved compliment in the alacrity
th which his beloved brother ever stands forward in the cause
c: :unity, proposed his health with three times three.
Air—" Doke of York's March," after which, Charles Evans's
wateotated glee of "Great Bacchus" was sung by the pro:Cahouet
ger,:steo present.
T se lloYat. IlltatassAw then proposed the healths of the
***CM branChal of the Royal Family," and observed, that it
'w atki ever be the highest stithitiim of the illestrioue House of
lfreareedtk to live for and with the people.—Drank with enthu-
tang—" The Mountain Maid," composed by Sicclair, and as-
isOpanied by himself on the piar.o.forte.
▪ Tice next toast was. " the Doke of Yost and the Army."
• Hie ROYAL HluNNEss observed, that in comparing the pre-
Orataihaation of the military establishment of the country to its
whdirelplineti state same years wince, the highest compliment
assist deservedly be paid is the present illustrious Commander-in-
Lister, foe the attention which had been alto) to this branch of our
ant establishment. —The toast was then &ask with three times
lone.

-•
(ilea_" How merrily we live."
'Tang'—'• The wooden way, of Old England.'
Air--Rule Britannia." The that verse, sum: by Pyne, drew
kWh loud nod wellotemreod applause.
Sir CHAR nus Ft.oerr.a rose to propose the health of " their
litintrious Chairman, hie Royal Highness the Nuke of Sussex."
The Worthy Baronet observed. that the beneficent heart of their
ialtiatrintie Chairmen, blended with his conduct, his life, and his
nisei private and public seta of charity and benevolence, were so
well known to every Englishman. that a recapitulation of his good
deeds would, at the oreaent moment, be superfluous for the Fur-
pane of advocating the propriety of the toast which he had the
theme:tiro /Ter to the notice of the Meeting. M'hettier his Royal
litglicem were received as a public or a private individual, he was
coovinced that there was no one present but would drink the toast
with those feelings whiih such conduct must ever inspire. The toast
wt drink with great applause.
ills ROYAL 1110 lea; uss, in returning thanks, stated, that ale
though he deeply lamented, with those persons whom be ease
areend him, the absence of his Royal Bmthor, he truareil that this
erecontstance would not operate sinfavoutaibly with notelet to the
atinecriptions of those prevent. This lanitation, like ninny otbeis
"inch bud charity for us object, had his warmest support. am.
P 01221611 his premise* was deemed neemeery for the pereectiow eif
Po interests, they might rely he would never desert them. If Ad
snipe fee which they had that day met hid not been charity, duty
would not hare seen so many smiling faces and benevolent
town as then surrounded lion. There were no public In
antaidons which demanded more from the public than thed
ion if which they bed that day met to celebrate its anniversary'
gad its twin sister, at Covent-garden. The persons whom they
Iwo that day met to succour and relieve in their distress:. were in.
id who reodered, in the course of their profesgion al labours,
both amusement and instruction : and that man must be callous
Weal who in ould close his hand in such a cause. His Royal
ithetitimes then rated that the Report would next be read, and
eitneloried by proposing " Prosperity to the Drury-lane Theatrical
Vorid."
• ?.Jr. Cooper returned thanks. (We regret, from the distance
et which we sat from the upper end of the room, that we are pre-
yenta! from doing justice to 31r. Cooper's pathetic and elo'juent
address, which was mom feelingly and forcibly effective, as will be
perceived when the amount of matey subscribed, upwards of 8001.,
I. compared to the small number d individuals present, only
Inoue 220. lie commenced by stating, that as their Master and
Wreinurer was thendn a distant land, extending his profit and his
lame, and dole& MOORr mine native country, the duty of addreuing
than tato day had devolved upon him. Feeling his own want of
power to do plaice to the oddness with which, through the kindness
glide ;iienite, he had been entrusted, he felt convinced that the
impotence of the siihjeet would amply compensate for his own
gehcioncy. The band of Charity, in this thrice happy country,
Sao eve, open to the distresses of our fellow.creatures, and by
woes of their public anniversaries their fund was rendered
priapaous, and thus was the Committee enabled to extend their
ratarity bayonet their otherwiee confined limits. In proportion to
the eaters of their tends their bounty was extended. Actuated by
loess motives, the oeganiestion of the Committee had been con.
Inderably improved. Annuities had been increased, and relief
nod been mieendel to the widow and the orphan, who now lift up
than eyes to Heaven, and bless the hand that saved them from
penury and despair. It had long been matter of satirise, that
peewees engaged in the theatrical protessien were not more
perivident in laying by resources foe illness or old age; bat theirs
buiag a life of constant activity, such (hut with the exception of a
rule heel could not possibly be the ease. The painter, the
sculptor, dtc. possessed opportunities for doing that, but not
• the poor actor. Any single accident, operating upon
erne voice or figure, rendered his situation one of painful difficulty.
15 behalf of those who hal been relieved. he becged to return his
pow sincere thanks to his Most Gracious 31ajeaty, for his continued
patronage, the stream of whose boundleas charity nourishes equally
ilty desolate actor and the starving manifaourer. When ehurity
Fsk/seed its wastes hewn the throne. it made the King justly and
gaily the Father of his People. Mr. Cooper, in alluding tO-their
Phistriour Chairman, remarked, that although his Royal name
4ma identified with eh arty, literary or scientific, his presence checked
thetiamie of panegyric. Mr. Cooper conclude his excellent ed-
emas by paying a well-deserved amipliment to the uniform kind-
7rinifeated to the land by their disinterested and gee/eft
se graor.
The Duke of Songs complimented Mr. Cooper for the feisljug* ,
erbiel be bad expressed, and for the mode in which ifs awed '
ihagg. No words were ever delivered more to the purpose, and his
eply mean wee that the address was ton short. Hie Royal High-
ogia pact proposed " Mr. Cooper's good health."
. Mr. Comma, in returning thanks. stated, that as that was
. boa (trot appearance in that character," he trusted be should
enperienee the usual liberality which ever distintruishee s British
asitlience on similar °tension*. He drank the ' Health.' of all pre-
test," wishing that they might live to enjoy many such meetings.
,lbe RCM .roast was ..The Vice-Presidents of she Drury-lane
Thestricil feud."
4ln CAES'I ART btiedy returned 'hanks.
Va
g, '' My sin Ire-side," by Mr. Bmadhunit.
' 42! " The health of the Drury-lane Committer."
~
, VAILICRAFT. as sliaisman of the Committee. returned thanks.
Hammed; t with respect to the affairs of the Theatre, every
Using lets en favourably. There were no persons more de.
iMuu
a of the interests of the Fund than themselves. The
imnourable wan concluded by returning his thanks to the
of Sewers, for his kindness in taking the chair in the absence
s Royal Brother.
.1 ~ is Payee, who was in the origin gallery, sang meat delight.
l'y the celabrieted •• Sweet Echo" song, accompanied on the violin
fgato by hi r. T. Cooke. It was loudly encored.
. Mr. COOPER read the list /donations which had been eolleved
tiering toe evening. wroompoowhion were the following : His Most
'Atrocious Mineoty lee guineas ; Duke of York SO guineas ; Duke
tO
Sussex In guineas; Deke of Bedford r.O guineas; Duke of
IVIRP4e, 101. 10s; Earl of Essex, M.; Marquis of Stafford,
) . 19%1 amounting, ki the aggregate, to upwards of 8001,
The illiatuinus Chairman, of propnaing •• Health and prosperity
felle. Ethane, and success to the Drury Lane Theatrical Fund.
DPIMII estlaterkal, that so long as Mr. Elliston performed his (let y,
by Watching over the intereas connected with Drury Lane Thew re,
bogroleauntiring to benefit the concern, the public would not lose
FlF:tot of his services.
Me Eat. arrow rote and stated, that be addressed dm sompany
Fyit) bled seder oo common feelings, sines it bad pleased Prowl-
. ce. to minim him to his beakti, his spirits, and his good humour.
ig regained his strength, he should now entlearrar, as far is
*Wetly enanled him. to support the Drury Lass estabiiehment se
lot
e best
ighnessof Ins abilities. The recognition of his same, by his
al H. mods, theesent dram:mantel, dos commgrati..
log to his Maggio sod her had only to remark, on that Wed.