The Sun.
London, England, 1864-05-23 00:00:00

proof of our dereliction from duty as the writer of
this communication. In every line of it we learn
the certainty of the aggression of Prussia, and also
the confirmation of the reticence of England.

The claims of the literary profession upon public
sympathy and assistance when age, infirmity, or
misfortune steps in to paralyse the hand of the
worker for his fellow-men, have long been gene-
rally acknowledged. The official provision made
by our wealthy country is, it is true, of very slender
amount, and small as the sum so set aside is origi-
nally, it is still further diminished by being e-
quently partially diverted from its purpose. Many
not corning directly within the ranks of the literary
profession have had a share in the annual twelve
hundred, and, although their claims to recognition
may have been equally pressing, they should cer-
tainly have been provided for out of some other
fund than that specially set aside for the benefit of
men of letters. Owing partly to the inadequacy of
the State provision, and partly to the vicissitudes
of an exhausting and fluctuating profession, the
Literary Fand has been only too much needed to
supplement the aid afforded by Government. There
is, however, a very important branch of the literary
profession, whose ranks are so wide and deep that
they include many not strictly coming under the
title of men of letters. Yet their labours are often
more arduous, always more incessant. Their public
services are universally appreciated, and their
means of subsistence frequently entrely dependent
on the possession of sound health and unflagging
energies. To meet the necessities of this numerous
body the Newspaper Press Fund, already in exist-
ence, has been re-organised, and its inaugural dinner
was celebrated en Saturday evening, under the
presidency of an accomplished and consistent friend
of the Press—Lord HOUGIIToN. It was a grati-
fying assembly, and its results promised well for
the future of the Fund, the list of subscriptions and
donations amounting to X 1,500. Kindly wishes, too,
pour in from all sides. The magnates of the land
rivalled the self-made men who tendered the ex-
pression of their hearty goodwill and sympathy.
Men of war and peace, statesmen and lawyers,
politicians and men of business, and above all
literary men and artists were ready with the word
of good speed and the helpieg hand. Whig and
Tory, Liberal and Conservative, united in support
of an institution whose members belong to ne one
sect or party, but whose influence has done so
much towards breaking down the old barriers of
party feeling and religious intolerance. The un-
dertaking is not to be altogether of an eleemo-
synary cheracter, since it is to include subscrips
tions from members as well as those donations,
bequests, and contributions which form the regu-
lar income of a charitable association. The
society lost nothing in the hands of its President,
whose able advocacy set forward its claims in the
strongest and most impressive manner. He re.
minded .his hearers that this institution owed its
origin to the efforts of some benevolent men many
years ago, who thought that the establishment of
a mutual assurance society of gentlemen connected
with the press would be a valuable achievement.
" It was thought," in the words of Lord IfouGH-
TON, " that the press of this country. was an in-
stitution large enough, and various enough, and
therefore from its breadth and its variety, fortunate
and unfortunate enough to authorise you to bind
together your sheaves in your good fortune, so
that you might glean something in your bad." He
reminded his hearers likewise of a truth that might
well be painfully present to some of them—that
their profession was one peculiarly demanding a
prudent provision for the future, depending as is
did on the unfailing exercise of hardly-tasked
powers. We can oely echo his good wishes for.the
prosperous developua:.n: of the reorganised institu-
tion, and trust that in its new form it will avoid all
the mistakes and accidents, which chequered its
earlier course, so that it may become one of the
recognised and stable charitable societies of out
country, of an extent, a wealth and an efficacy com-
mensurate with the:prominent position at present
held by the Fourth Estate. It was, of course, im-
possible at a meeting so largely attended by the
votaries of St. Stephen's to avoid reference to that
particular department of the press which is con-
nected with the Houses of Parliament. It is not
so long since the great constitutional victory of
public reports of the debates was fought
and won that the present generation
should altogether forget the struggle or what it
owes to the men who carried it. Sir ERSKINE
PERRY, in proposing the toast of the two Houses,
remarked that a relative of his own, when first be
went professionally to report in the House of
Lords, was forced to take his notes secretly in his
hat, and that some one having observed the fact
even those notes were useless, although the
debate was one of great importance. We ma 3
fancy the disappointment and mortification of the
young dautant at so ignoble a conclusion to his
labours! Lord HOUGHTON, in speaking of the
interest with which, during his long career in the
Lower House, lie ',had watched the Reporters'
Gallery, observed that he sometimes felt like the old
Spanish monk, who believed the only realitiee
around him to be the pictures on the wall, for that
as brave youth and hoary age alike passed away
from the scene, he was often inclined to think that
the gallery was the most permanent institution, and
the busy occupants of the benches below them were
but the flitting shadows. Mr. DENMAN, in a
humorous address, foretold a prosperous career for
the young society, and Mr. NEWDEGATE, who
readily acknowledged the obligations of parlia-
mentary representatives to the press, which set
their words and actions fairly befcra their consti-
tuents, both joined in hopes and congratulations.
So that altogether this inauguration took place
ander happy auspices, attended, as was fitting, by
many kindred spirits, presided over by an old well-
wisher and literary man, and giving from the
amount of the sums it has already collected every
reasonable ground for cheerful anticipations of a
useful and prosperous career. We trust that a
prudent and careful management will husband its
resources aed administer its affairs in a liberal and
yet Provident manner, and that those who have so
kindly and promptly come forward with their
assistance at the outset may watch over its interests
in tha same spirit, until it has grown and increased
enough to take its place among well endowed and
widely established institutions.