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

MARYLEBONE INSTITUTION.

The lecture-room of this institution was yesterday
evening crowded to its full complement in consequence
of an 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 Ise brought to exactly that degree of elevation which
would allow Mr. Thackeray a comfortable survey of
his manuscript. Perfection with respect to these un-
lucky lights was never properly attained ; but some-
thing like an approximation having been made, Mr.
Thackeray commence I his discourse. He stated that
when he had gone through his lectures on the "British
Humorists" in the United States, a lady had asked
bite to read one of them over again for a charitable pur-
pose, and that, instead of complying littratly with her
request, he had embodied several of his scattered
thoughts into a new lecture on the general subject of
" Humour and Charity." This was the lecture be prc-
posed to read now, and on this occasion, likewise, the
proceeds were to lie 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.
After 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 iu the affirma-
tive, saying that if, as men, authors were neither
better nor worse than their fellows, the hu-
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 inta 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 he praised his
power of pathos when more nobly employed. Swift, he
said, be could not love, because he was a professional
hater of mankind, taking no pleasure in any aspect of
eatine, delight xa the contemplation of innocent
childhood. He could not bear so great a multitude of
:Ls with so little charity to cover them. Cougreve
might have been, and doubtless was, a very good fellow
in private lire, 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 an instructors. At the name of Addison Mr.
Thackeray paused with real respect, as one of the great-
est benefactors to all who spoke the English tongue.
That great British classic had 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 had 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 ho 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, bad, 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 strong, 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 stated that
he liked a work called the " Mysteries of the Court,"
because it " lashed the haristocracy." Ihe same spirit
prevailed in the dramas played at penny theatres, two
of which Mr. Thackeray described in a manner that set
his hearers in a roar.

Returning from this digression, Mr. Thackeray 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, be 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, had never insetted 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. Be
referred to the misanthropicsentiments which have been
laid to his charge, and honestly confessed that he could
or.ly paint truth as he 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 indignation
in which the lecturer indulges, this is decidedly the best
work that ever Mr. Thackeray has promulgated from a
platform. The description 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. MARYLEBONE INDEPENDENT ASSOCIATION OF
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, and the names
of the following gentlemen were proposed and adopted,
viz. :—Messrs. Western, Fillmer, Snowdon, Mitchell,
Graham, Burton, Irons, Goldsmith, Best, Thomsor,
Caverner, Stew:lit, Mundy, and Mackenzie. Mr.
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 be 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 diminished, had of late become so high that no
one in want of a house would come to Marylebone.
Such being the case, it was the imperative duty of the
ra•epayerg to take up the matter. The resolution was
seconded by Mr. Imbrie, and supportedby Mr. Nicholay,
Mr. Tripp, and others, and carried unanimously. Tbt
proceedings then terminated with the usual vote of
thanks to the chairman.