The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1818-11-10 00:00:00

MR. MATHEWS'S LETTER TO THE LORD
MAYOR.
. _

"My LORD—I regret exceedingly that the applicatiaa of
the Managers of the Association for Suppressiug Mendicity
hag deprived me of the pleasure of offering a coutribution to
their excellent lustitution. I had reasons (sad, I trait, proper
rea'ilins) fur defrrring my intention to subscribe, until the
conclusion of my per/uranium in Dublin; and I certainly
meant my donation to be proportionate to the success of my
undertaking ; and as l hid weathered this intention to sum.
persons I. Dublin interested in the Charity, I was in some
degree pledged to the performance of it. I must think the
application to me to give up part of the Prollis of my Traria,
is rather indelicate, as every other individual in society is
allowed the gratification of waking a Voluntary Contra/11.ton.
Still, however, I am so sincere a friend to the principle on
which this excellent institution is formed, that I will comply,
rather than not contribute to its permanent eatablishmeut ;
though I mint repeat, how much more complete my antis.
faction would bane been to ►ave been left to the dictates of
my own feelings. Therefore, if it is pressed, I will give Ike
Profits of a Night at the Fishamble-street Theatre, before I
leave Dublin, of which night I will give your Lordship due
notice.

I have the honour to be, the. say Lord,
" Your Lordship's obethent &trent,
" C. MATHEWS.
" 21, Parliament-a eeeee , October 29, IBIS."

This letter, we conceive, evinces good feeling,
good sense, and a manly spirit, chastened with
much delicacy, on the part of Mr. Mathews. We
consider it unfair, indelicate, and unjust to call
upon Mr. Mathews, or any performer, ■nd more
particularly our circumstanced as he iv, to give up
a neght's profits of his trade, to further the views
of any institution, however meritorious and worthy
support. Why should an ector, more than any
oilier professional man, be called upon in this way ?
Why should he not be left to the exercise of his
own free will, like every other member of the corn.
monis). ? Suppose Mr. Connor was to receive fifty
or ass hundred pounds with • brief (no unissuai
thing with sou►e lawyers) to plead a cause for a day
in Chancery. would he not think it a very prepoe.
terms' thing, were he requested to give the fruity of
his day's labour to the Mendicity or any other As-
sociation ? And where, in point of justice, is the
difference between such a case mud that of Mr.
Mathews?
Some years ago an appeal, similar to the one in
,quest ~,,,, was made to Mrs. S►ddons. She refused
compliance, saiying, she could not afford to give
the hundred pounds to be derived from ■ night's
performance, but that she would, like any other
member of society, give such sum as her general
income would jiortil. Whatcould be snore felliOlim
able.? However, Mr. Mathews gore further. He
states his original intention of giving • donation
proportionate to the :access of his mudertuking.—
More ought not to have been looked for, and so
neck ought not, in reason, to have been expected.

On Sunday evening, before the setting of the
watch, as Mr. Ca•cow, of Charlotte-street, Port-
land-place, was walking with a Lady on the western
aide of Filx,,,y.pyoure, he was aurrounded by a
gang of four or .five ruffians, who knocked him
thosii and stale his watch and hat, and the Lady'.
white swansdown tippet, with which they got qoar
off. A 1111111 is in custody on suspicion.
The whole of the y, aside, for the
great foot race of tu wile., between the celebrated
it•t•Le. and WANSAIL, the Eton rutmer, was
made good yesterday, at Tattetsali's. The race
will take place on Sunbury Continuo, oil Thursday
Betting is even no the event, and both ate
backed to perform the distatwe Mithiu au hour,