The Sun.
London, England, 1855-03-23 00:00:00

31,4.8YLE80N13 LYSTITUTION.

The lecture-room of this institution was yest2rday
ev,3r4ing crowded to its full complement in conecquecco
of car announcement that Mr. Thackeray would deliver
a lecture on "Humour and Charity."
At about half-past 8 the lecturer appeared on his plat-
form, and for a short time considerable delay arose from a
difficulty that occurred in the arrangement of the lights.
All sorts of alterations were made, but the lamps could
not be brought to exactly that degree of elevation which
would allow Mr. Thacketay a comfortable survey of
his manuscript. Perfection with rqspect to these un-
lucky lights was never properly attained ; but some-
thing like an approximation he wing been made, Mr.
Thackeray commenced his discourse. He stated that
when he had gone through his lectures on the " British
Humorists" in the United States, a lady had asked
him to read one of them over again for a charitable per-
pose, and that, instead of complying literally with her
request, be bad embodied several of his scattered
thoughts into a new lecture on the general subject of
"Humour and Charity." This was the lecture he pro-
posed to road now, and on this occasicn, likewise, the
proceeds were to be devoted to a charitable purpose—
namely, to the assistance of a gentleman honourably
known in the literary world, and reduced to distress by
unmerited calamity.

Alter this preface, Mr. Thackeray opened his subject
by the broad question, whether the literary humorists
were to be looked upon as benefactors of their species.
This question he, of course, answered. in the affirma-
tive, saying that if, as men, authors were neither
better nor . worse than their fellows, the ho-
morists had at any rate inculcated lessons of love and
kindliness, and were therefore entitled to the same thanks
that. are paid to a man who, from whatever motive, flings
a sovereign into a charity-plate. The several humorists
were then passed in review, and, after defining humour
itself as a combination of wit and love, and remark-
ing that the author should not be always aiming to
excite tears or laughter, Mr. Thackeray took occa-
sion to abuse Lawrence Sterne as a "drivelling quack"
for attempting to make his readers sympathise with
trivial or unworthy objects, while be praised his
power of pathos when more nobly employed. Swift, be
said., he could not love, because he was a professional
hater of mankind, taking no pleasure in any aspect of
nature, and no delight in the contemplation of innocent
childhoed. He could not bear so great a multitude of
sins with so little charity to cover them. Congreve
aught have been, and doubtless was, a very good fellow
in private life, but no more charity was to be found
in his comedies than in the Elements of Euclid ; and Gay
and Prior, sweet singers as they were, could not be re-
garded as instructors. At the name of Addi-on Mr.
Thackeray paused with real respect, as one of the great-
est benefactors to all who spoke the English tongue.
That great British classic bad instructed his countrymen
to be "gentlemen," in the best sense of the word. Here
the lecturer made a digression in favour of the United
States, where he said he bad met the most perfect speci-
mens of the "gentleman," and had thought what a paper
might have been written by the short-faced " Spectator "
on the gallantry shown to ladies by American tra-
vellers in an omnibus. Of Steele he spoke in terms still
more affectionate, observing that he was the first writer
of sentiment in the English language—the first who
made Britons weep at other woes than those of the tragic
stage. Fielding be commended for that general sym-
pathy with the poor and unfortunate which nobly dis-
tinguished him, in spite of a lax morality ; and in favour
of Goldsmith he merely appealed to reminiscences of the
"Vicar of Wakefield."

Pausing awhile from the consideration of :prose, the
author dwelt on the force of humour when combined
with rhythm, and instanced the influence of Beranger
over the French, and of Burns over the Scots. An old
beggar, who with an Ethiopian face sang ballads in
New York, lad, he said, drawn more tears from his
eyes than ever tragedy could have " pumped from her
pompous old urn."
Then came an exceedingly comical digression on the
natural tendency of the ultra-popular writers to uphold
the weak against the atrcrg, the oppressed against the
oppressor. The lecturer remarked on the fact that in
novels written for the humbler class of readers a noble-
man was almost always a bad character ; and quoted
the opinion of the keeper of a book stall, who gated that
he liked a work called the " Mysteries of the Court,"
because it " lashed the haristocraey." The same spirit
prevailed in the dramas played at penny theatres, two
of which Mr. Thackeray described in a manner that set
Lis hearers in a roar.

Returning from this digression, Mr. Tbackeray came
to the modern humorists. Of the loving, gentle spirit of
Charles Lamb he spoke with unbounded affection, and to
illustrate his peculiarities read his famed description of
" captain Jackson." Lightly touching on James and
Horace Smith, he expressed his admiration of Thomas
Hood, and then, alighting upon Punch, complimented
the editor of that facetious periodical, who, during the

many years of his work, 111;c1 never inserted a line-that
could raise a blush.

At last, after reading an extract from the "Curates'
Walk"—attributed to his own pen—Mr. Thackeray
boldly, and at the same time delicately, instituted a sort
of comparison between himself and Mr. Dickens. Ho
referred to•the misanthropic sentiments which have been
laid to his charge, and honestly confessed that he could
only paint truth as ho saw it with his own eyes. This
brought him to a generous commendation of Mr.
Dickens, whom, he said, to his regret he could not re-
semble, but whom he regarded as a person commissioned
by Divine Providence to correct and instruct his fellow-
men.

The lecture terminated amid enthusiastic applause.

For the firm grasp of a large subject for the variety- of its
illustrations, from the poignancy of the remarks with
which it is interspersed, and from the frequent out-
pourings both of humour and of eloquent indignatioa
in which the lecturer indulges, this is decidedly the best
work that ever Mr. Thackeray has promulgated from a
platform. The dei•cription we have given above shows
the order of the subjects, but conveys no idea whatever
of the copious details that acted irresistibly on the minds
of the audience.
When the lecture was over, Mr. Thackeray stated
that contributions for the object referred to at the com-
mencement would be received at his own residence, and
also at the Marylebone Institution.

ST. MARTLEBONE INDEPENDENT ASSOCIATION OP
RATEPAYERS.—Last night a meeting of this association,
formed for securing to the parishioners a choice of
vestrymen who will protect their rights, and use
every proper means to economise the expenditure,
was held at the Horse and Groom, Great Portland-
street, "to nominate fit and proper persons as candi-
dates for vestrymen and auditors in May next." The
chair was taken by Mr. J. Walters,andalt, the
adopted,liaraes
of the following gentlemen were proposed
viz. :—Messrs. Westero, Fillmer, Snowdon, Mitchell,
Graham, Burton, Irons,idGyo,ldasmnaith,Mßacekste,,nzTieh.ornlsoirr.,
Cavorner, Stewart, i\itn
D'lffanger then moved a resolution stating that "this
meeting being convinced that it is essential at the present
time to send to the vestry men of consistency and busi-
ness habits, pledge themselves to support the names
proposed." In doing so he observed that, as they all
knew, the men forming the present vestry could not be
honoured with those titles. The various errors com-
mitted by them were known to all, and the rates, instead
of being dirninishc, had _of late become so high that no
one in want of a house would come to MaryleLone.
Such being the case, it NA as the imperative duty of the
ra'Lpayers to take up the matter. The resolution yk-as
seconded by Mr. Tint vie, and supported by Mr. :N hela:-,
Mr. Tripp, and others, and carried unanimousli e
y. Thu
proceedings then terminated with the usual vote of
thanks to tho chairman..
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