The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1818-01-31 00:00:00

alight be. His Royal tliglincss concluded by
wring—
,. suecrs• 10 ,;.. Thpetriefl
Sonl—.Mr. Muruset--" Bluw ' blow ! then Whaler's
Wind!"

Toast-44 Lord Holland, and the Fire Pervidents."
The Earl of lEssi:x returosnl tlia"ko.
tioria—Mr. Leassa--" Tarry awhile with me, my Lore,"
Toast—" The health or !Ile Fawcett, the Treasnier of the
Inatitutime.'.—r Great (fp:omm
Mr. FAWCETT rove and spoke its follow% :
in riming to rutoro oar Illosiriesun Chairman
thanks for woe' a cooderceiteimi m propming
as a itiLiet tuy health, it mile. I fear, hr expected of
me to *lay aonr.•thing in bel;ulf of our Itistatitiosi
I say, I fear it may, because, having had ocrmsion
often 10 speak MI I his subject, the little information
soy limited *bilities have enabled site to afford, i•
now exhausted ; and I cnonot rector to the history
of the *lse anti progress of this excellent establish-
ment, without being thought (at least by those who
have been present 011 former oressiosi4) tiresome mod
tautological. Hist when I look round me, and per.
ceive many exalted and respectable chum-tees,
whose good feeling towards the helpless part of my
profe.sion, bas moored them, for the first time, to
be present to-day. 1 most throw myself ios the can-
dour of our obi isatrusis, and iiiiislore their patience
whilst I address myself more particulady to our
new

I hare strong reasons for thinking, that the pre.
cisr !intone of this institution i► by no means gene-
rally tindermtibil I conkd wi+•h. thriefore, if I bad
the power to explain in a few wordy its great utility.
and to *kw bow it operates Inr the protrctiiiii of
the actor. so as to deserve the assistance of the

It is an Institution formed for the purpose of
sheltering the aged and infirm performer from the
last iilPys,S (.1 I tttttt HO utisrr ; formed with the in-
tention. also, of ersentrig him from the painful tusk
of intruding himself before that Public (lie °lice
stray hove delighted) when infirmity pros-es heavy
upon him, when his mind and body are betiding
tinder a load of natural decay (and perhaps before
he is suns eyes, suns teeth, suns every thing).
afford him a little leisure to collect his scat-
tered thoughts. such breathe, in quiet, o short
prayer before the euihtio falls upon him for ever.
Age and infirmity, when porn-tined with talent on
the stage, create sympathy, or derision, in propor-
tion a. the character represented is virtuous or fie.
Ohms; but they would cease to give the least gra-
tification, indeed would be tin longer tolerated, or
endured by a British audience, if they suspected
the afflicted tact°, before them was really suffering
tender the pressure of either. It naturally follows,
then, that young men, or at least touts in the vigour
of life, must perform the aged characters; and it as
naturally follows, that the aged actor must retire.
Retire ! retire is easily said ; and if tiny groitlettian
can give to the veteran who has never had it in his
power to hoard • shilling. a satisfactory explanation
of that word, retire, he will be under a lasting obli-
gation to hon. That there are wooly alio have
passed most respectably through a theatrical life.
appearing mid c fueling thenittelves like gentle-
men, on sery slender meims, is a fact that is nom-
films. This is she character our Fund is most cal-
culated to protect—'tis lie who cahoot dig—to beg
he is li:thirstier!.
It would he the climax of bad taste to distress
the feelings of this compsiiy. by dwelling upon the
thiparralleled misery thut liar befallen my aged
brethren, whets the theatres could 110 longer retain
them in their service; to enlarge on these facts
must excite sympathy, but it would Cast 11 gloom
over the enjoymesits of the day, that would lie very
foreign to stiv Mein:dhoti; I shall, therefore, con-
tent myself by declaring. the melancholy case too
often occurs, and shall leave it to your imaginations
to conjecture what that mati's situation must be,
who, having ;erased the greater part of his life ota
the stage, ionised to business. or employment of
any other kuid. when he finds himself buddroly,
with no other warning than his infirmities, cast
upon the world, to groan out a miserable existence
without hope, or shelter but in the grave.
If this company admit the claim of such an one
to their sympathy, what will they not allow to the
female part of our fraternity It is a cruel and
is vulgar prejudice to rspenw the moral churacter of
the English Actress. No females in early life are
so exposed to temptation, Hull when they do deviate
the loath of rectitude, the publicity of their
calling makes Mat rotor winch, in another,
'night pa's onolowyred. But, I am proud to say
of them, collectively, they are good wives, good
mothers, and excellent meiribcrs of society—and 1
think you will admit I am borne out in the opinion,
whet, 1 call to pear recollection the noble and highly
respectable marriages that have been made Irons
the Stage. And there sire, I thank (Mod, living
proofs, of ir!V assertion, in the wives of Noblemen
and Gentlemen, taken from the Stage. who, by
their private north, have become ornaments to the
exulted stations to o hich they have been raised. If,
in the remembrance of all of us, the stage has fur-
nished such characters for private life, 1 take leave
to assume many more might he found—hut, as it
cantiot be expected all should be fortunate, so it
may lie wished those who are not so could find
alleviation in this Fund. For, though no Mall
Ceti be al wore strenuous advocate for then) than
um, yet candour compels me to admit floe
fault they do possess—a fault that many of them
live do deplore—a sin of which they are sure to be
detects d—und which they know, by the example
of their pwilecessors,
is visited by the heaviest pe-
nally • the situ to which 1 allude is that of growing
lit this sin they cootinue to indulge, notwith.
standing all its consequences ; but, as charity covers
a multitude of other sins, so, 1 hope, this charity
will cover theirs.

One more ca,e (wills your permission) 1 would
wish to state. before 1 close the catalogue of woes
that this Fund is calculated to soften, if oat ulto.
griller relieve. The Cage 1 would wsvh to press
1111011 your particular consideration is that of either
odor or ocirdr, who. in the very prime of life, by
smile 'Bruinp or bodily infirmity, is suddenly de-
prived of sill porter to follow this uncertain proles.
—for isisigilificasit as sou►e perrons may please
to think the actor, he must possess rse►v faculty u►
toll vc,:mor, or fall to rise sun more. By the perso►►s
last described the Importance, and value of this
Fond is felt with a warmth of gratitude not in my
power In sepses—and stitirt.d. inadequate as I um,
1 can give but a faint i•!ra of their Irehugs, or of

the prodigious imrrtance of this Filial to the re-
spectahil,:v and writ-41..1'1g of the Stage.
[ siierril %iiv received with the isiiniq9itliiiitati-
tic Arillii4se.l
Toast -" IC gavels, sail the Proprietors of euvent.
Garden 'Theatre."
Nlr. 11 ItatS, in rein iii i i said, the Pro-
prietors of Coveiit-Garilen Theatie would feel very
haiipy if, 'Ai the most remote degree, tiler could
claim the merit of having assisted the Thrittii-
cal Fond. He hoped it would long continue
to flourish--lie trusted it Would ',roller more
and 'lmre ever. year. It awl his wilt that it
should proceed m the inrerse ratio of i is weeell.-
11.1rreghter.)-17.a wnolil lie very brt.l, and lie
trusted the Theitieical !Vilna would br moo exten-
sive. lie "'honk' conclude by giving the health of
Gentleman, who, as NH 111111. or 31111 PI manager,
had given tits greatest delight to the whole 13,
Having Mild this, lie laird's• need meation
the name of •• George Colman, the Youtwer."—
(Cheers.)
Alr. C0L)1AN...." Public speaking is tobilly nut
of my ham's. I have some share 111.6.4) of that uhtli-
desire, which my Brother Alanager. V 1 r. liarris, feels
—and which all Gentlemen, appertaining to the
sire proverbially possessed
My Apercli shall therefore hr as Ain't us the shortest
flints( I rill recollect—lt shall be as shs.rt 115.—•
a summer .reason in use Ilaraurket Theatre.—
Larighter.l—After this, Citootieigieo, I *hall my
no more, but express my gratitude for the hollow
you have dune me, by drinking, in return, ull your
heal! lis."—(ApPfrorse.)
Toast—•• Success to the British Drama"

Noug-31r. Emery—" York, you're wanted."
'Fins song, we believe, war originally sung by
Mr. EMMY, at his benefit—and, of course, related
a good deal to himself. We forgive the egotism,
however, in consideration of the following nppro-
prink., though not very elegant verses, *lnch were
last night introduced :
" At this big room I nett look.(1 in,
Where Genitedulks were drinking,
At that I am sure I ran work
With any man, I am thinking.
But Charity's she business here,
So off I quickly jaunted—
My poor means would do no good,
fwas Royal York was a aotcJ !"
An encore followed t his e ttttt
Toast—" Mr. Young, mid the Gentlemen of the Cum.
miller."

Mr. YOUNG returned
Toast—e. Proartily to Drury-lane Theatre."
Mr. Urns, one of the Drury-lane Coinmittee,
in returning thanks, observed, tbat the prosperity
of both theatres depended on an union of senti-
ment—not a mercenary, but a friendly union—
which, while it benefited the two tlaraties, would
tend essentially to the improvement of public
amusements.

At twelve o'clock the Illustrious Chairmen
withdrew—and the eumpaisy deported, highly de•
lighted with
" The feast of reason nod the flow of Pool"

vrh;ch they lied uninterruptedly ru~,•ycd during
the rveilitig.
Mr. FAwcerr, before the Meetior broke up,
ptitted ihr amouot of the subreription to be upwards
of 1,0001.

According to letters of Ist December from New
Providence, General MaGatutott was there at that
time preparing a naval expedition.
The American brigs Fox and Planter sailed from
Trieste, on the I Ith instant, for Baltimore, laden
with arms aad ammunition.

The last letters front Spain say, that the A !gr.
vines have nine wombat' cruising in the Mediterranean
and at the entrance into the Ocean.

A letter received from Gibraltar, dated the sth
instants Prlyv :—" The plague continues to increase
and extend its ravages to the Westward ; it has
nearly readied ()ram Iu consequence, it is in con-
templation to lengthen the quarantine On vessels
from the Eastward. The Algerme eqradroli had
retutrned, and were laid sip."
In various parts of Scotland there has been much
frost and snow, sec ponied by violent storms;
and it apprars from the following letter, Out the
Continent has experienced like visitations :

" HASIBLIBuIf, JAN. 16.

" Last night we hail here a violent storm. with
hail and rain. The Ellie rose an unusual height.
so that all the lower part of the town is inundated,
and the streets can only be passed in boats. Trees
have been t up, chimneys thrown down, and a
great many houses, particularly in the country,
snitch damaged. The storm was so violent as to
came the church bells to ring. 'Sc expect melan-
choly accounts from the sea."
During the week the weather has varied much—
boisterous. rainy, and frosty. in succession. Dur-
ing the foie part of the week the Eden, Petterill,
and Ca'dew. were much swollen by the innuntriii
torrents; sod we regset to add. that on %Verless
day morning last. whilst Mr. DALTON, miller ut
Cummersdale, ass elderly mull (formerly keeper of
the pour-house of St. Mary's, Carlisle) was nitrinpt.
int: to cross the (.'aldew, from the dam-brad to
Illackwall. with his horse and cart, the force of
the torrent swept the whole away, and both Mr.
DALTON and his horse were drowned.—(Carlisie
Journal.)
A letter from Indite, dated the 18th of August,
says :—" The Marquis of 11A*TINGS a on his way
tip the country, and there is little doubt of our very
soon taking the field, as all Officers are ordered to
join their respective corps on or before the 30th of
next mouth. A few more weeks will explain our
destination. A large army is talked of at earls of
the Presidencieo, intended to unite and act ill con-
cert. Sir JOHN HISLOP, with Sir JOHN 11A1X01.51
as political agent, hiss already moved with the Ma-
dras army towards the Nerbuddali. The NISH,.
WAN. fur his late intrigues, has hero obliged to cede
• inset of countrs said to be worth 30 lacks of rupees
per . The, 00000 eat have published a
Proclamation, swing. that s all thffereisces with the
PEISHWAII have been adjusted, and measures
adopted which will prevent ally future misunder-
blooding., Stuv mill, it is repurteit, Ira* hew') re-
quired to relinquish his stroogest fortress, which we
formerly took, Gwalia; and the district of Goad, as
a security for his good conduct, and to prevent Isis
j „ the Pintlarees against us. There sire petty
commotion* in the sse:glibourliond of Chittagong,
which have called for additional troops; in .hot,
either hostility or disturbance requites military aid
every year in aunty different part. of tnis extensive
country."