The Sun.
London, England, 1855-04-03 00:00:00

COLONIAL.

TEA.—Large public sales are now in progress and pur-
chases have been limited in anticipation.
SUGAR.—A cargo of brown paraiha has been sold for a
near port, but the price is not known. For refined the
market has ruled firm. There were landed last week at the
East and West Ingia Docks 985 birds, 127 trs, 254 brls,
there ware taken for home use 1,233 hhds, 69 trs, and 84
brio. The stock is 9,453 hhds, 791 trs, and 1,3:3 brls.
COFFEE.—Good ord native Ceylon has been steady at
47s to 478 61 per cwt. About 3,303 bags of St. Domingo
afloat has been sold at 41s per cwt.
RICE.—The inquiry has been limited at previous prices.
Rum.—There were landed last week at the above docks
264 puns, and 1 hhd ; there were taken for home consump-
tion 227 puns, 41111lils, and there were exported 316 puns,
155 hhds. The stock is 8,158 puns, 754 Wads.
INDIGO.—The quarterly auctions aro fixed for the Bth
May.
COTTON.—This article is firm at full rates.
TALLOW.—The tallow market continues steady : our
concluding prices are spot now, 48s ; old, 46s 3d ; April,
48s 47s 91 ; May, 48s 3d ; June, 48s 6d ; town tallow,
46s not cash ; Australian sheep, 455; beef, 44s 3d to 44s ;
South American, 46s ; tallow Elaine, lls ; tallow oil,
37s 6d ; palm oil, 39s ,• cocoa nut Cochin, 43s ; Ceylon,
425. Advices from St. Petersburg are to the 24th ult.
Exchange 36. f. 1,500 casks ware taken at 117 to 120
roubles, by Russians who, we believe, had ascertained
that the supply is very short.

THE INDIAN QUEEN.—The advices per Overlandannounce the arrival at Melbourne, on the 31st of an.,
of the "Black Ball" clipper Indian QueeT Captain
Jan.,
IVl`Kirdie, after a capital run of 79 days. _lndian
Queen (which is owned by Messrs. James Baines and
Co., of Liverpool) left the Mersey on the afternoon of
the 12th November last, with upwards of 350 emigrants
on board, for Melbourne, and cast her anchor in Hob-
son's Bay on the forenoon of the 31st of January.
VIOLATION OF THE NEWSPAPER STAMP ACT.—From
a return just issued by order of the House of Lords, it
appears that the number of prosecutions in respect of
violation of the Newspaper Stamp Act for three years
ending September, 1836, when the present act came
into operation, was 143 ; and for three years ending
the Ist of June, 1351, there were only 14 prosecutions.
THE MAILS.—SOUTHAMPTON, MONDAY.—The Royal
Mail Company's steam-ship Tay, with the outward mail
for the West Indies, left this afternoon with 113 passen-
gers and a full general cargo. Among the passengers
lady, and child, and two female
Porter, lieutenant Inman, and Lieut.
The Tyne, with the homeward mail
Colonelsfwoeerr rvtealinGe servants
Governor
eeri: Deverell.nit
ol
n° Srd ci
eles, eil'
is expected every hour.
BAGNALSTOWN AND WEXFORD RAILWAY COMPANY.—
A meeting of this company was held on Saturday ; J. E.
Redmond, Esq ,in the chair. The works on the line
were reported to, be advancing satisfactorily.
IRISH SOUTH EASTERN RAILWAY COMPANY.— The
stated half-yearly meeting of this company was held on
Saturday, when a dividend of 2s. a share—the same as
the last--was declared. Some of the shareholders ex-
pressed their dissatisfaction at this small amount, and
likewise at the announcement made that the Great
Southern and Western Company had intimated their
intention to increase the charge for haulage on the Irish
South Eastern. After a lively discussion, the report and
accounts were adopted.
FIRES AND Loss OP LlFE.—Yesterday morning a
fire broke out on the premises Nos. 115 and 116, Gos- '
well street, tenanted respectively by Mr. A. Gulleine,
bar-fitter, and Mr. D. Page, tobacconist. The Royal
Society's fire escape was brought to the spot directly
after the outbreak, and was the means of saving the
lives of se, eral of the inmates, one of whom, Mrs. Page,
was rescued by the use of the short ladder placed across
the space separating the two buillings.—At a late hour
on Sunday night a fire took place in the premises of
Mrs. James, a grocer, No. 68, Lamb's Conduit-street,
by which an aged female of the name of E. Pugh was
burnt almost to a cinder, while the damage to the pre-
mises was inconsiderable, the fire being confined to the
kitchen on the basement.—Another fire, also attended
with a loss of life, happened on Sunday morning, at an
early hour, in the pirate house of Mr. J. Navin, in the
Rhodeswell-road, Stepney. The fire was confined to the
back 6ruuLd fluor ; but unfortunately, Mrs.
Navin, who was only 32 years of age, perished in the
flames. The origin of this fire was also unknown.

T.HE ROYAL ,THEATRICAL FUND
ANNUAL DINNER.

--....C,...-_,.-.

The tenth anniversary festival of this useful and inte
resting charity was held yesterday evening at the Lon-
don Tavern, and went off with unusual eclat. The room
was crowded, and amongst the company might be no-
tioed most of the leading celebrities connected with the
metropolitan drama. The c'eair was taken. by Mr.
Buckstone, of the Haymarket ; and right and left of him
we observed Mr. Dickens, Mr. Lemon, Mr. Smith,
Theatre Royal, Drury-lane, Mr. Stirling Coyne, Captain
Baddeley, Mr. Neale, Lord E. Bruce, Sec. There were
not less than 250 gentlemen present at the dinner. On
the removal of the cloth,
The CHAIRMAN proceeded to give the usual initiatory
toast, "The Health of her Majesty the Queen," remark-
ing that, independently of the duty of every loyal sub-
ject, there were many ,special reasons to induce himself
and the members of the theatrical profession to drink
her Majesty's fiealth with more than common fervour.
In the first place, her Majesty had this year repeated
her magnificent annual donation of 100 guineas; and,
in the second, there was no one who had a higher relish
for good comic acting than her Majesty. (Laughter.)
He (Ur. Buckstone)' having had the honour of playing
before her Majesty at Windsor Castle and the Hay-
market, could vouch for it that her Majesty could laugh
as heartily at comedy—when it was properly played—
(a -laugh)—as any nian or woman in her dominions.
(Cheers.) He had himself a third reason for considering
the day happy when her Majesty ascended the throne,
as on that day he was blessed with a son, so that as an
actor, a father, and a friend of the theatrical fund, he
had spec i 1 reasons for proposing the Queen's health with
all the honours. (Loud cheers.)
•The next toast was "Prince Albert and the Royal
Family," after which the chaheral gave "The Army
and Navy," obserVing that as it was considered very
silly to paint the lily, he should not attempt to enhance
by any eulogium of his the public estimation of the gal-
lant deeds of the army and navy, They bad amongst
them a gallant officer who bad shared in the perils of
Alma and Inkerman, and who would respond to the
toast. (Great cheering.)
Captain BADDELET (who on rising was received with
renewed cheering) said that to be called on to return
thanks for the army and navy was to him quite an unex-
pected honour ; so much so that be felt his heart flutter
more than ever it had done in the trenches. (Cheers.)
The cor4any miglii, dpend upon it that the kind syin-
kany of theeietipleeil England was not thrown away on
heir cieuntrigiererrinhe Crimea, who were es ready to
l give.aood afeaccoAt of the Russians as ever, and to
'isl4i;gnod 4Account of them as at Alma or Joker-
fhari. Lord 1144n.1ie believed to be a brave and gal-
feet oilieer, Navin. led the army triumphantly
through previous engagements, would do so again with
eel:eat sumps.. Let the army in the Crimea be only fairly
reinforced ,ensi- eneeiet;:rly taken care of and they might
;gpend upf it,Lerdeßeglert would again lead them to
victory. Evsn should' that not be the case, of one thing
tfcey might be sure, and that mass° long as a single sol-
dier reneeined there was nut a single soldier who would
tarn his back upon the Russians. (Cheers.)
The "Houses of Parliament" was the neat toast, for
which Lord ERNEST BRUCE returned thanks.
Mr. CHARLES DICKENS, in proposing the next toast,
said that it was probably within the theatrical experience
of most of the company that on some occasion when they
hal been at the play, everything had at first progressed
in a satisfactory manner. The principal actor was a
decided favourite, and no gentleman amongst the com-
pany was so unfortunate as to meet with the accident
known in theatrical parlance as " missing his tip,"
when suddenly the act drop fell and there appeared
at the right hand side a gentleman in plain clothes,
his bat violently clasped in both hands, and his
boots not without some appearance of the streets—a man
of a pale aspect, which was partly referable to the action
of acute feeling, and partly to the neglect of the hares-
foot which so often lent a bloom to theatrical counte-
nances, and who came to make the usual appeal to the
well-known generosity of a British public—in a word, to
apologise. (Loud laughter.) He (11r. Dickens) was
that particular gentleman on the present occasion. He
had been commissioned by the management to inform
the audience that Mr. Buckstone—owing to circum-
stances over which he had no control—(laughter)---had
been "_put up" for two parts in this piece, and found
himself absolutely unable to appear in both at the same
time. (Cheers.) He was in point of fact at that moment
making up for the arduous character of "The Trea-
surer," a part in which he had been most successful
since the commencement of the present establishment—
(hear, and cheer-)—and therefore found himself unable
to fill any longer his other character of chairman, or to
-deliver that spirit-stirring address from which no doubt
so much was expected. (Hear.) He, therefore, appealed
to the never-failing indulgence and consideration of a
British audience to allow him (Mr. Dickens) to walk
through the part, and to say what Mr. Buckstone would
have said, had he not ma le special arrangements to say
something else. (Cheers and laughter.) Mr. Buck-
stone then, on receiving from Mr. Toole the cue of
" pray, silence, chair," in giving "the toast of the
evening," would have congratulated the members of the
Theatrical Fund on the brilliant assemblage he saw
around him, and have proceeded to testify to the innu-
merable merits of the institution. He would have
communicated the re-assuring fact that in the midst
of war and tumult, the humanising arts had not
quite been forgotten, and least of all, that art
which, through the means of one little play, bad
made the battles of Poictiers and Agincourt more re-
nowned than had been done by all the historians and
chroniclers of that or any later period—(cheers)—an art
which had done more to stir up manly blood in a great
cause than any parliamentary speeches that had ever
been delivered in all the &bates that had ever made
night hideous. (Hear and cheers.) Surely they were
not inappropriately asked to remember that art in time ef.
war, which painted with the greatest truth the joys of mi-
litary triumph, or the constancy of brave hearts under
the misfortunes which were inseparable from war. They
must re n ember that art, and encourage a society which
comprehended every grade of the actor's profession—
which was unfettered in its boanty by any hard restric-
tion or impossible condition—offering to every theatri-
cal professor who should subscribe a support which was
their right, and which, therefore, they never need blush
to accept. This was the cum and substance of Mr.
Buckstone's case ; but as he now saw that gentleman at
the wing, evidently well up in his part as treasurer, and
armed with the " property" documents, and as he was
most eager to " come on," he (Mr. Dickens) would,
with the permission of the audience, leave the stage to
him, with this observation, that he hada most malicious
treasurer's twinkle in his eye, and that it behoved the

audience to "mind their pociteii." (Laughter.) It was
a well-known theatrical maxim that an actor should
always have scinethipg good to " got off" with—he bad
something which he was sure would " bring down the
house ;" it was not the wounded soldier, nor the sailor
who fought the pirates, nor the " woman in danger"—
but simply, ' "Prosperity to the Theatrical Fund."
(Loud cheers.)
Mr. BUCKStONE rose amidst loud cheering, and said—
Gentlemen, as this is the first time that the fow.t of the
evening, " Success to the General Theatrical Fund," has
been acknowledged by the chair, I knew you will ex-

cuse me if I stateone of the pecuiiar disadvantages under
which I labour by haying moved irom next door—that

is to say, from a seat or two to the right band. In reply
to this toast, there were al ways two subjects
which carried we more than Falf-way through
my duty. The- first consisted in complimenting the
chairman,of the evening—in dwelling on his deindness in
attending here, in alluding to his talent in art, science,
or literature, and which had rendered his name famous,
and made him a fit person to preside at such a festival
as this. Now, gentlemen, it is very clear that, as I can-
not compliment -myself, my subject matter becomes
shorn of its fair proportions, and, in consequence, my
address to-night may not be so lengthy as usual, a fact
on which you will, no doubt, immediately congratulate
yourselves. &ill, gentlemen, when I remember the
distinguished persons who have presided on this occasion
—when I recollect such names as Sir Edward Bulwer
Lytton, Mr. Macready, our friend and trustee Mr. C.
Dickens, who has been twice Lord Mayor of the Lon-
don Tavern at this banquet, and who, we hope, will fill
that office more than thrice—when I remember that
Mr. Charles Kean, Mr. Henry Berkeley, Mr. Benjamin
Webster, and Mr. Milnes, have occupied this chair, I
cannot but feel flattered at being requested to endeavour
to emulate their zeal in our cause, and acknowledge the
great importance of the position. And now, gentlemen
as I have confessed to being deprived of one of my chief,
and one of my most pleasant, topics in my annual ad-
dress, I think you will allow that, in.making the confes-
sion, I have already filled up the space, and supplied
the deficiency with tolerable dexterity. The second
subject, gentlemen, is one that still remains to me, and
that is, to state the condition and objects of our fund.
This is expected ; and though its intentions are fully
understood by all present, yet our friends and well-
wishers must be anxious to know how we progress,
the amount of our success, and what we are doing with
our capital. The General Theatrical Fund, gentlemen,
was established for the purpose of granting annuities
, to all members of the dramatic profession, whether
in town or country, who might possess the prudence
to subscribe to it, and who, after punctually pay-
ing their subscriptions for seven years, would become
entitled to its benefits should they be prevented follow-
ing their pursuit by accident, age, or infirmity. -Of
course, gentlemen, we have found that members of the
fund hare sometimes claimed their privileges with great
alacrity, when it has been the duty of the directors to
make strict inquiry into their claims ; and if by some
such inquiry may have been considered too searching, it
must be remembered the directors are bound by their
miles, and by the duties which they owe to the society
to see they are not imposed upon, or the benefits of
the fund applied unworthily ; and in all cases where
such inquiries have ended satisfactorily, the relief or the
annuity has been cheerfully awarded. And to show
you, gentlemen, the great liberality of this fund, where
accident or infirmity May suddenly arrest the career of
an actor, I have only to allude to a case which came
before the directors within the last few weeks. A pro-
vincial performer had just subscribed the required seven
years; during that term he had paid to the fund only
161.—in fact, something lese. Immediately on the ex-
piration of these seven years he met with a severe acci-
dent
while following his profession, which compelled
him to retire from the stage. After a cautious and
it
dynot
unnecessary examination of his claim for an
a
was allowed, and that actor, gentlemen,
in
—l. bear) I
considera-
tion of his having subscribed the sum I named nearry
161.—is now in receipt of 601. per inn tin
(
think you will acknowledge that
few
‘
subscriers
public offices for
granting life annuities can offer to their
stated to yousuchht,her
advantages. Last year,gentlemen,
probability of two r.
gt'o ei
institution 4 a
reddire n:gtothsayr
capital to the Gener.
Theatrical Fund,
t
the negotiations, whichcwreoualdo
yarned out. have. been moreS
ge
n
.
w
benefit than our own, __

tlemen, with all our disbursements—including sums' re-
turned to the families of deceased members, the payment
of funeral expenses, the payment of ten =amities, five
of 311. per annum, four of 601., and one of 901., our ca-
pital this evening will amount to nearly 9,oool.—and as
our fund is still young, I am sure you will. allow that
is in a most flourishing condition. There is no class
of performers, gentlemen, to whom this institution can
be a greater benefit than those employed in the provinces.
(Hear.) The hard-working country actor, by subscribing
to this fund can, in many instances, retire from the scene
of his labour on quite as much, if not more, than what
he received while at work. Few, but those who know,
are acquainted with his toil. The studying long parts
from, what is called, night to night; the throwing off
one heavy burden, some long tragic or dreary comic part,
only to bear another—one that, after the play is over,
will keep him from his bed half the night, to be ready,
as well as be can, at rehearsal on the coming morning ;
and with this constant labour often is the poor actor
compelled to observe, without any order of Government,
his day of fast and consequent humiliation. Gentlemen,
I am enabled truly to depict what this class of performers
endure, because I was a country actor, and, amongst
other vicissitudes, once walked from Northampton to
London-72 miles—on 41d. It is a fact, I assure you.
(Ileac.) I had a companion in the same p!ight ; and on
comparing our pecuniary resources, we discovered our-
selves masters of the sum of 9d.-41d. each according t•
Cocker. As it may interest you, gentlemen, I will de-
scribe my costurne.on that occasion, and how we got to
London. My costume consisted of a threadbare wbity
blue coat, with tarnished metal buttons, secured to the
threat, because I wore underneath what we term a
flowered waistcoat, made of glazed chintz, and of a very
showy pattern, general;y adopted when playing country
boys and singing comic songs, which at that time was
my vocation. (Cheers and laughter.) I will not attempt
to describe my hat, while my trousers must only be de-
licately alluded to, as they were made of what was origi-
nally white duck, but as they bad been worn about six
weeks, and having myself been much in the fields, there
was a refreshing tint of a green clay colour about them,
eel • imparted to that portion of my attire quite an
agricultural appearance. I carried a small bundle. I
will not describe its entire contents, except that it held a
red wig and a pair of russet boots. Under my arm was
a portfolio, containing sketches from nature, and some
attempts at love poetry. While on my feet, to perform
this distance of 72 miles, wore a pair of dancing-
pumps, tied up at the heel with packthread. Thus
equipped, I started with my compa,lion from Northamp
ton, and before breakfast we accomplished 15 miles,

when we set down to rest ourselves under a hedge b;
the roadside. We felt very much disposed to partake of
the meal I have alluded to, but were rather puzzled how
to provide it. Presently a cow-boy appeared, driving
some lazy zig-zag going cows, atald,garlyizg—twiamlarge
tin cans, containing skimmelnilk. We putehased the
contents of one of the cans for one halfpenny. A c dtage
was close at hand, where we applied for bread, and pro-
cured a very nice, though rather stale, half-quartern
home-baked loaf for Id. The cow-boy sat by us on that
roadside to wait far his can. The cows seemed to
regard us with a sleepy look of mingled pity and
indifference, while, with the bottom crust of that
loaf, and three pints of skimmed milk, I assure
you I erijoyel the roadside breakfast of that summer
morning more than I have enjoyed the sumptuous
banquet of this evening. On the first day we walked
forty mile; in which my pumps, and what they
covered, "suffered some." Our bed for the night was
in one of those wayside hostelries called a "lodging-
house for travellers," for which accommodation we dis-
bursed twopence. Late in the evening of the next day
we completed the remaining 32 miles, and found our-
selves at the Mother Red Cap, at Camden Town, with '
enough in our pookets to procure half-a-pint of porter.
(Loud cheers, and continued laughter.) Thus you see,
gentlemen, I have experienced some of the vicissitudes
of a country actor, and am qualified to know how great
a boon this fund must be to that class of the dramatic
profession. To the London performer, who by the rules
of the Funds of Drury-lane and Covent-garden cannot be
admitted into those institutions, the General Theatrical
Fund must be equally acceptable, and I am sure, gen-
tlemen, when you consider what we have done, you
will this evening help us to do more ; and as, at the
present time, this is the only annual theatrical dinner
now in the metropolis, and the calls upon you in behalf
of the stage not being so many as they once were, you
will, I am sure, do all in your power for us on this occa-
sion. We know it is the vulgar cant amongst many in
this singular age, when museums and palaces, contain-
ing all that can instruct, delight, and elevate the mind,
are closed against the people on a Sunday—when to
walk in the green fields is considered by some as a sin
—when Exeter Hall seems to govern the country more
than its Parliament—it is, I say, a vulgar cant amongst
the intolerant and the ignorant to decry the stage
and its professors. Bit those people little know how
many good and self-sacrificing fathers, mothers, sons,
daughters, brothers, and sisters are to be found in the
community of performers—and it is in behalf of these
that I plead. In behalf of the stage I plead—the stage
that even Martin Luther that stern reformer, did not
condemn, for in one of his works he tells his followers
" by no means to abstain from the reading of comedies,',
at the same time advancing some liberal and ingenious
arguments in their favour. Remember this injunction,
gentlemen, and also remember those who illustrate the
plays and comedies of the country, and the best days of
whose lives are devoted to your amusement and instruc-
tion.

Mr. DICKENS again rose to propose Mr. Buckstone's
health, with a humorous comparison between the success
of that gentleman's management as compared with the
management of more important affairs elsewhere.
Mr. BUCKSTONE returned thanks, • and gave "The
London Theatrical Manager-,," associating pith it the
name of Mr. Webster.
Mr. WEBSTER responded, and gave "The Dramatists,"
naming Mr. Mark Lemon and Mr. Robert Bell.

Mr.-MARS LI'LoN said, iu returning thankci, that
after a good speech, the next best thing was a short one,
and therefore he thought he c mld not do better than
" Ring the Bell." (Laughter.)
Mr. R. BELL said that Mr. Lemon's speech reminded
him of the two men who, when they went out together
on festive occasions, found the result of their potations
to be that one man was deprived of the use of hia limbs,
and the other of his speech, so that he was "speech
drunk," and the other was " limb drunk." Under these
ciroumstsnces, they entered into a contract that " Speech
drunk" should carry " Limb drunk" on his back, while
the latter should undertake to answer any impertinent
inquiries from the policeman, The moral was so obvious
that he would not detain the company by applying it
more particularly on the present occasion. (Laughter. )
Mr. Bell concluded by thanking the company for the
toast.

The collection for the evening was announced to be
considerably in excess of 3001. ; and the other toasts in
the chairman's list having been disposed of, the com-
pany separated. The musical arrangements were un-
usually effective, comprising the talents of Miss Rana-
ford, Madame Newton Frodsham, Mdlle. Jenny Baur,
Madame Weiss, and Messrs. Weiss, Ransford, and
Genge. Mr. Toole was the toast-master.