The Sun.
London, England, 1853-05-12 00:00:00

LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, MAY 12, 1853.

LAURENT'S CASINO, ARGYLL ROOMS.-
Lessee, CHARLES E. LAURENT, Onslow-house, Fulham-
road. Open Every Evening. The Orchestra will perform, during
the week, "The Thistle," "Shamrock, " Rose," " Amine " "Gran-
ville," "Loch Vogel," and "Windsor Castle" Waltzes; the "Napo-
leon" Galep; "Le Cirque" Quadrille ; " The Gold Hawk" and
" Juno" Polkas.— Admission, is. Doors open at Half-past Eight ;
Dancing to commence at Nine o'clock, and terminate at Half-past
Eleven.

A:AXCISE-OFFICE, in Old Broad-street.
To be SOLD, by AUCTION (in one Lot), by Mr. Gadson,
at the AUCTION MART, on FRIDAY, the 13th of May, 1853, at 12
o'clock, by order of the Commissioners of Inland Revenue, the
PREMISES in Old Broad-street, in tile city of London, know, for-
merly as the EXCISE-OFFICE, and lately as the Inland Revenue-
office. •
Particulars may be obtained at the offices of the Secretary and
Solicitor e,f Inland Revenue, Somerset-house; and of William iler-
bert, Esq , the Board's Surveyor of Buildings, at his office on the
premises, in Old Broad-street (where a plan of the property may be
seen), and of the Auctioneer, at his offices, No. 18 10 the same street.

G R A

VESEND ST AR
P A C K E T S.

No other Packets
The Packets cal:
FRO:

call at the Grays, Greenhithe, and Purfleet Piers.
1 at the Piers as underlined (weather permitting)
NI TERRACE PIER, GRAVESEND.

WEEK DAYS. SUNDAYS.
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Direct

t Trains from the Boats marked t
buses from Feneharch-street Station to all parts of London'
carter of an hour.
HICK WHARF, BLACKWALL, on the arrival of the fol-
lowing Trains from the Fenchurch-street Station.

Omnib
every qu
BRUNS'

Time.

12U
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Wes DAYS,

Time.

SUNDAYS,

DR. CIILVERWELL'S NEW WORKS.
To be had of Sherwood, 23, Pates noster-row , Carvalho,
47, Floct-street , Mann, 39, Cornhill. Price One Shilling each; by
Is 61.

ENJOYMENT OF LIFE.
"Health, Recreation, and Rational Use of Time."
CoNTENTs : —Early Rising—Spring and Summer Mornings—Ex-
cursions about the Environs of London—The Parks, Lanes, Hills
Forests, Fields, High-roads, and other pleasant places—Country
Trips and Rambles—The Sea —London at Night—Evenings at Horne
Music—The Drama—On Eating, Drinking, Sleeping, Bathing, Air,
Rest, Ease, Occupation, &c., &c.
II
FRAGMENTS FROM THE FOUNTAINS. Two Yols.
Vol. I.
VISIT 10 THE LAKES ; SKETCH OF EDINBURGH, &c.
Vol. 11.
TIE LAKES OF KILLARNEY ; REMINISCENCES OF
DUBLIN, &c.

WHIT TO EAT, DRINK, AND AVOID,
"That three score years and ten our course may run."
A-popular review of almost every foam (cause and cure) of ner-
onsly-debilitated health and enfeebled constitution that harasses
the young', besets the man of pleasure, business or study, and em-
bitters old age; with tables and rulesfor the diet and physical regu-
lation 01 every-day life.

THE PASSIONS.
" What passions hurt the body—what improve,
Truths as refined as Athens ever heard."

--
SUBJECT :—Life's pilgrimage, from infancy to old age. The ad-
vent of the passions. Chastity and its infringement. The casualties
oflicentiousness and dissipation, with illustrations, graphic, narra-
tive, and remediative. Advocacy of early marriages.
V.

THE MARRIAGE STATE.

Ti be "07 not to be, that is the question."

PROGVafisflC:—Laws and obligations of nature, society, and reli-
gion regarding marriage, to be observed by either sex. Time and
choice, on both sides, as to age temperament, complexion, and
figure, to secure healthy offspring, with the art of rearing them.
Physical defectiveness and its removal. Sterility and its conversion
Cases, &c.
By it. J. C ULVERWELL, M.D. (1841), M.R.C.S. (1827), L.S.A.
24), Twenty-five years Medical and Forensic Referee in there
matters.

IMPORTANT MEDICAL AND SURGICAL WORK S
Just published, by H. Railliere, 219, Regent-street, London.
No I.
vo., in cloth, price ss. by post free, ss. 6d..
ON TRUE FALSE SPERMATORRH(EA,
with the View to the Correction of wide-spread Errors
In relation to the Treatment and Cure of Sufferers from Debility of the
Generative System, or Sexual Hypochondrituds.
Translated from the German of Dr. PICKFORD
• • -

"Dr. iickford Is known to English readers by his frequent practi-
cal contributions to German medical literature. This is the first
time, he informs as, that he has addressed himself to the noa-medi-
cal reader. We trust this may not be the last, if he shall
detect any other equally flagrant evil which it may be in his
sower to correct."—tondon Medici! Gazette, May 30, 1851.
"We uromised in a former number that we should recur to this
vilfs., in order to exhibit its aim more clearly. The author lashes
with great stmerity the impostors who make a livelihood by preying
on the credulity of the public. The tribe of Quiet Symathisers,'
and ' Medical Friends,' are me cilessly exposed ; and if this book
could find its way into the hands of those who gaffer from th com-
plaint of which it treats, we are satisfied that many h mdreds would
be saved much needless suffering of body and mind, and what is of
less importance, though it is th It which the quacks most prize—
much money—. —This volume is well qualified to put an end to the
empirical system of treating Spet.natotrhcea, and to place the treat-
-nent upon a more rational and physiological basis. It is, therefore,
to do much good."—llledical Circular, June 16, 1852.
No. 11.
foro.. in cloth, price as. 6d., by post free, 45.,
THE CURE OF STRICTURE OF THE URETHRA, on Princi-
ples at once Simple, Safe, and Efficient, in even its most Inveterate
and apparently Intractable Forms.

BY F. B. COURTENAY,
Member of the Royal College of Surgeons of England.
"In proof of his views he (Mr. Conrtenay) has given
history of a great many cases successfully treated, as bad
any which Mr. Syme adduced, and on which he had operated.
such are cases ix., xi., xil.. and xvi i. No. ix. had reacted, for a
period of twelve yeers, the treatment by dilitation, and was finally
removed in as many weeks. But cases xviii. and xis. appear, both
in duration, severity, and complication of symptoms, of a more ag-
gravated character than any detailed by Mr. Byrne, and yet the
treatment adopted by Mr. Conrtenay proved eminently successful."
—Professor Lizars on the Treatment of Stricture.

NEW CHURCH AT BIRMINGHAM.—A committee has
been formed for the purpose of erecting a new church in
the populous parish of St. George, Birmingham. The
committee have issued an appeal for aid to erect the pro-
posed edifice. The carryini, out of this design will cost
about 8,0001., of which 2,000 have already been pro-
mised-1,200., to their honour be it recorded, in sums of
1001. each, by members of St. George's congregation.

ROYAL LITERARY FUND.

The 64th anniversary of this institution was yesterday
celebrated by a public dinner at the Freemasons' Tavern.
Mr. Disraeli, M.P., took the chair; and among the
company were the Marquis of Salisbury, Lord J. Man-
ners, Lord Stanley, Lord A. Vane, Mr. C. Hardinge,
Dr. M'llvaine (Bishop of Ohio), Chevalier d'Azeglio,
Mr. ,
Professor A JusticeHalibyutrotuonn,
Sir(Sa G. Head, (Sam Click), the Queen's Advo-
cate Hon. B. King (United States), Mr. Evelyn,SirH. h
te
Mr.
Milnes, Mr. Jas. M'Gregor, MA', Mr. Digby
Seymour, M.P., Professor Fenton (U.S.A.), Mr. Sergt.
Merewether, the Consuls-General of Belgium and of the
Uruguay, Mr. Spencer,' F.R.S., Dr. Daubeny (of Ox-
ford), Mr. H. T. Hope, Mr. P. Salomons, the Rev. Dr.
Vaughan (Harrow), Mr. C. Croker, Dr. R. G. Latham,
Professor Cressy, Dr. Darling, Mr. G. Peabody, Mr. T.
Martin, the Rev. H. Alford, the Hon. S. Annesley,
Mr. J. R. Kenyon; and Mr. Douglas Jerrold.
At the conclusion. of the dinner
Mr. DISRAELI, 'who was exceedingly well received on
rising, proposed the first toast, " The Queen, the
Patroness of the' Institution." He said he was aware
that that was a toast which in • every assembly of
Englishmen was received with affectionate enthusiasm,
but those now assembled must hail that toast with
something beyond the devoted loyalty which it was the
privilege of every one of her Majesty's subjects to feel,
for they would recollect that that institution was one
over which her Majesty, from the period of her happy
accession, had watched with the greatest interest. (Ap-
plause.) He had to announce that her Majesty con-
tinued that liberal benefaction which for so many years
had enabled them to accomplish those results which had
entitled their, exertions to public sympathy and
respect. He might mention, though perhaps it was
comparatively speaking, a slight trait, yet it was
indicative of the personal interest which her Ma-
jest3i. Mad her Royal. Consort took in the fortunes
of that institution, that it was only, he believed, within
these few days that her Majesty had been graciously
pleased to command thak.the po'?tfais of herself and his.
Royal Highnesi 116 sent to the principal apart-'
ment in which the business of that institution was tran-
sacted. (Cheers.) Her Majesty had on all occasions
ins whichhownthethuetiinnteosrtessgnopfastchiyenweeitharta,llanthdolsieteiranstturiteutwioenres
concerned, but it was their prou'd privilege to remember
that from the first she had favoured that institution with
peculiar consideration. (Cheers.)
The toast was drunk with every demonstration of en-
thusiasm.

Mr. DISRAELI next proposed "The health of Prince
Albert, Albert Prince of Wales, and other members of
the Royal family." He said that he did not know that
the influence of individual character could be more hap-
pily or significantly proved than by the progress of art,
science, and literature since the period when Prince
Albert adopted England as his own country. (Cheers.)
There were many gentlemen in that room, he doubtecL
not, who had been placed in personal communication
with his Royal Highness on subjects connected with art,
science, and literature ; and he was sure that they would
all at once acknowledge that in his Royal Highness
they found no mechanical Maecenas, but a man who was
complete master of all the subjects which engaged their
attention. (Applause.) Those who were placed in
communication with him knew well that this was not
the language of adulation, but of severe truth. He trusted
that his Royal Highness might succeed in the efforts he
was constantly making to advance the civilisation of
this country, to heighten the standard of education, and
to refine and elevate the taste of this land, with which
he was so intimately connected. (Hear, hear.) But
it was not merely on account of those claims to their
respect and admiration that he now proposed the
health of his Royal Highness ; but they (the members
of the Literary Fund) would recollect the time when
his Royal Highness condescended even to fill that
chair which he (Mr. Disraeli) now had the honour to
occupy, and that, he believed, was the only public festival
over which his Royal Highness bad presided. (Cheers.)
His Royal Highness had, moreover, on every occasion,
testified the sympathy he felt with the efforts of that
institution, and he trusted his Royal Highness would
leave behind him a long line of princes who would not
disgrace their illustrious sire. (Applause.)
The toast was drunk with the usual honours. •
Mr. DISRAELI next proposed the toast of " The
Church," connecting with it the name of the " Bishop of
Ohio," observing that no one could cast his eyes over the
catalogue of illustrious English authors without perceiv-
ing how much the country was indebted to the bench of
prelates for some of the best writings in the language.
In the present time they could boast that one of the most
eminent of their literary characters, the Archbishop of
Dublin, was the constant friend of that institution—
(applause) ;—and they would remember also that the
Bishop of London, an eminent author, an unrivalled
scholar, bad filled the chair which he now occupied.
Though those two good friends of the institution were
prevented from attending on that evening, yet he was
happy and proud to say that there was among them a
bishop of the Church of England. (Applause.) The
rev. prelate came, indeed, from a distant land that did
not own the sway of the Queen of England, but he bore
a heart faithful to her church, and :e brought with him
feelings which completely reciprocated all they could
offer to him. (Cheers.)
The Bishop of Onio, in responding to the toast, stated
that it was the honour and happiness of the church in
America to derive its origin from the church in this land.
Their articles of faith were the same, and it would be the
constant endeavour of the members of the church in
America to preserve that faith, and the expressions of
that faith which they had derived from the Church of
England, uncorrupted. The right rev. prelate con-
cluded by referring to the Protestant missionaries, and
characterised them as a body of men who during the last
50 years were engaged in the work of contributing
greatly to the literature of the world, by making known
various languages which otherwise would have remained
unknown, and by translating the Scriptures for a mul-
titude of populations.
Mr. DISRAELI said, it was now his gratifying duty to
propose that they should express their cordial feelings
towards that institution, sympathy for whose purposes
and whose fortunes had assembled them under that roof.
He thought it must be nearly three-quarters of a century
since the founder of this institution (not himself an
author, but a man of letter-press) expressed to a per-
sonage no less important than Dr. Franklin his idea of
the importance of instituting a fund which should not
pretend indeed, to offer equivalents to men of genius and
learning for the benefits which they had contributed to
society, but which would at least prevent such persons
from suffering intolerable misery, and would no longer
permit those catastrophes to occur which were a flagrant
outrage on the literary honour of any civilised commu-
nity. (Cheers.) Dr. Franklin was certainly not de-
ficient in knowledge of human nature. This must be
said of that great man,—that he was not wanting in the
noblest sympathies of humanity ; yet, when the establish-
ment of the literary fund was proposed, even Dr.
Franklin, with his consummate knowledge of human
nature, and his fine sympathy with humanity, looked
upon the idea of a fund raised for such a purpose as a
speculation too refined for any practical application.
Common charities, Dr. Franklin said, sprung from
common feelings, but that it was vain, though beautiful,
to suppose that there ever could be, to accomplish such
an end, sufficient sympathy between the mass of man-
kind and that peculiar class of beings who were called
authors. Well, it was the fortune of the founder of this
institution a fortune which would, perhaps, be re-
membered in the literary history of this great country
—to submit his views and feelings on the subject to
three of the most eminent public characters who
adorned the end of the 18th century. It was the
fortune of the founder of this institution to communi-
cate his views to Mr. Pitt, to the illustrious rival of
Mr. Pitt, and finally to Mr. Burke. It was
singular
that three individuals, who resembled each other in
nothing except in the identity of their fame—it was re-
markable that these three individuals agreed alike in their
opinions that the plan of the founder of this society was
only a beautiful speculation that could never be realised.
The austere and absorbed Minister, the genial orator of
Opposition, and the profound political sage, who himself
owed his famer as much to letters as to politics—all
agreed that no body of public benefactors could be col-
lected whose united aid could ever sufficiently contribute
to the exigencies of men of genius and learning. A con-
siderable period of time had revolved since that epoch.
A great change had occurred in the relations which sub-
sisted between authors and the public. The idea that
was first broached in an obscure tavern club had been
realised in the Royal Corporation of the Literary Fund.
Sovereigns were its patrons,
and princes had presided
over its festivals. (Cheers.) The 64th anniversary of
the existence of this institution, over which, by the fa-
vour and indulgence of the managers, he had been called
on to preside—proved the continuous sympathy of an
when the principles of all their institution were. called
enlightened community in its welfare. Isa these days,
npsletit;uatinodn,
if
fwaist
it could be proved that its maintenance was beneficial to
7s_cstrt: etl y inquirea p
in question, and when no institution could exist unless
humanity—(applause)--it might, perhaps, _be not alto-
we
established
stdh
we
gether unprofitable if he presumed very
whether the resources
were a true and sound principle:
of the institution had been efficiently an
d plied by those whose duty it was to
of
them.
(Applause.) Now, although since the days Benjamin
asplitcriupele
andon whichsound tphriisncii
revolution had occurred in the Franklin a very great
—a public which
did re-
lationbetween authors and the public r
did not previously exist, but which wast
nowe
changes were
as the reading public ; and, although
very favourable to the author class, still the conditions
obtained,on
notwithstanding
could be
which literary success coil
the changes that had taken place in the social relations
of authors and the public, were invariable. The author
to
a public who
who succeeded must have appealed
sympathised with him ; the author who wished to con-
tinue his successes must appeal to a public taste that
was not capricious ;
• and the authormight have
who
been fortunate in both contingencies must, if he wished
to continue to succeed, be favoured Uy that nature
as as
which would allow his health to be
hter. ) It • constant
was not the
public nature. (Cheers and laug
had too many proofs
possible to suppose—
because thesible to suppose that a writer might
—it was not imp
°srk which fell stillborn from the press.
produce a great
work
ssible to suppose that one who had
It was not iraP°

satisfied the public taste might advance again with all
those alluring qualities which had fascinated the public
mind, and yet on the second occasion might appeal to a
distasteful or insensible public. It was not impossible
to suppose—because sad experience furnished them with
too many instances—that when the charmed public was
again to receive a repetition of the spell which had fas-
cinated its feeling, nature might whisper to the author
that the brain, which was overworked, should lie fallow,
and that the frame, which was trembling with agitation,
required for its restoration quiet and repose. (Hear,
hear.) These were occasions when it was delightful to
believe that • that society had been the agent, as it were,
that soothed the disappointed author and sustained the
exhausted mind of genius. It was something that the
society should have achieved this, and that in these
circumstances which he had described some power
should exercise its influence to offer solace and re-
pose. He had been now referring to those whose
literary career had at one time been attended with
brilliant success, and had resembled the passage
of a dazzling meteor, but the history and faith of
literary men generally were different. What was an
author He might ask those who were members of the
Corporation of the Literary Fund—a corporation which,
for 64 years, had watched the idiosyncracy of that pecu-
liar being—what in general was an author He was a
man who obeyed the irrestible impulse of organic laws,
devoted himself to the extension of the domain of know-
ledge and the cultivation of the human mind. To do
this, such a man gave himself up to the study of some
special, probably some abstruse subject—to a subject
that demanded infinite research, continuous labour, in-
tense thought—the dedication of an existence. It was
possible that the life of such a man was the life in gene-
ral of scholars. It was possible he might love that fru-
gality of habits which was not difficult to be practised
by those whose greatest pleasure arose from intellectual
excitement ; but let it be remembered that a single one
of those commonplace .casualties which were the inevit-
able accident of the life of man under ordinary circum-
stances was to such a being an overwhelming and crush-
ing incident. (Hear, hear.) 111-health, anexpected
needs and requirements,' domestic sorrow—and snob a
being was utterly overwhelmed. (Hear, hear.) Well,
then, it was under these circumstances that an institution
established on the principle on which the Royal Literary
Fund was established stepped in, and said that men of
this class and character, who were the ministers of civi-
lisation, should not be the victims of exigencies. It was
under these circumstances that a society like the present
proclaimed that the time had gone by when scholars should
walk the streets of London without finding a roof under
which they could rest their heads, and when the books of
authors—the implements and tools of their craft—could be
taken from their grasp for the liquidation of some small
debt. The time was gone by when it was necessary for
authors to sacrifice the labours they had accomplished
for a small return in order to satisfy the requirements of
the hour, and, above all, when, for the exigencies of the
moment, they were required to mortgage the future es-
says of their genius. (Cheers.) Well, the principle of
the institution must be sound and true, which announced
that the author should not be the victim of exigencies,
but should be soothed and supported in those calamities
which no human prudence could forsee or prevent, and,
being so supported, an author might pursue that career
of usefulness which the casualties to which he (Mr. Dis-
raeli) had referred would have interrupted. The prin-
ciple on which this institution was based was, then, a
isnoguen d o
famtarunek
ipnrctn ceiapnlee—t
fiietd wi
na s foundedt
the past,
aonndt hee best feel- o
nseer
ated
by the future. (Cheers.) He entered into this discus-
sion because it was their fate to live in an age of criti-
cism and cavil. (Hear.) His counsel to his friends was
alway this—never to avoid criticism, though they might
think it erroneous, and never to disregard cavil, though
they might think it contemptible. (Cheers.) He said
this, because they lived in an age of discussion ; and
from discussion they should never shrink, for it was the
test of truth. (Applause.) Although he might be ad-
dressing those who did not require it to be proved that
Hercules was strong, still, upon this anniversary festi-
val of their institution, he did not wish to shrink from
this great test of its excellence, namely, the remembrance
of what it had accomplished. If they agreed with him
that the principle on which this institution was esta-
blished was sound, and true, and sacred, he would ask
them to ascertain whether the application of that principle
by this society had been efficient and satisfactory. Here,
no doubt, he encountered a difficulty which no one ex-
perienced who had to address a popular assembly on sub-
jects, if not similar, yet of an analogous nature. He said,
if not similar, because he believed that there was no in-
stitution in the world like that whose fortunes he was
that day called on to advocate. But in institutions of
an analogous character one could appeal to the living
evidences of the effects of the institutions which people
were invited to support. One might appeal to those who
had been saved from sickness, from sorrow, from calamity
from disaster, and from death. (Hear.) He had no
witnesses to bring before them to prove the excellence
of their institution, whose highest merit and noblest
claim to regard was, that its deeds were secret. (Cheers.)
It was only those to whom was intrusted the fulfilment
of the duty of administering their funds—it was only
those who enjoyed the great honour of periodically fill-
ing that chair he now occupied—who could appreciate
the nature of their benificent services, and who could
comprehend to what extent, and over what period of
time, that institution had exercised the highest duties
and fulfilled some of the greatest claims of humanity.
(Applause.) This great metropolis, famous for many
things was famous among others for its collection of
manuscript treasures. He was now speaking in the
neighbourhood of the great repository of our treasured
literature over which his hon. friend opposite (Sir Henry
Ellis) so efficiently presided. They might go to the
British Museum, to the office of State Papers—they
might search all the manuscript treasures which the uni-
versities were proud to possess, yet he told them
they would find no mass of records equal in interest or
importance to the archives of the Royal Literary
Fund. (Cries of " Hear.") He knew well what was
the popular opinion of those records. They passed
over a long period of time and it was supposed that
they were records of ill-calculating and dissolute
individuals—of morbid vanity and ill-regulated sus-
ceptibility, and it was supposed that the feel-
ings of men had been engaged to contribute to the aid
and assistance of those who were, at the very best,
beautiful but eccentric examples of humanity. But no
mistake was greater than that. (Hear.) The condi-
tions on which their aid and assistance were distributed
were severe but admirable. (Applause.) They were
not conditions that depended on social opinion, or reli-
gious creed, or country, or on clime. (Cheers.) On the
contrary, the poet of Iceland and the grammarian of
Arabia, both scholars, had been relieved from the Lite-
rary Fund, and they all knew, he believed, that the
most distinguished author of the 19th century, after-
wards the Minister of one of the greatest Powers that
existed—the Minister of regal France—boasted in his
high place that as an obscure emigrant he received from
their funds the assistance which he not only appreciated,
but honoured. (Loud cheers.) Their society in its
character was cosmopolitan, still it had condition for its
bestowal of rehef. These conditions were that the per-
sons relieved should be meritorious, and for 64 years
and more they had rigidly observed that rule. (Ap-
plause.) They had extended their charity, if he might
use that phrase, to the whole world, but they had at
least made this condition—that the aid should be de-
served. (Applause.) Let them look over their re-
cords, if the time should ever come when they all might
ersoidiniln discreet,
irsg.
cietrde had, e
tw,
and
been
alone examine them, and there they would find no name un-
worthy, many distinguished, and some illustrious.
(Cheers.) The fact that year after year the power of
dan unmistakeable and
this institution had increased, while its claims had pro-
portionablyunanwerable testimony that not only the principle of the
society was a sound and true principle, but that the
manner
n,n sound,
n w
scaatrrisifeaedtionrty. into operationwhar
hadwas
wise,
happened during the last 64 years ? They were the
most important that had occurred in the history of
human nature. What had not changed during that
time ? The highest had disappeared ; convulsions and
revolutions had occurred ; the principles of human con-
duct—so far, at least, as political conduct was concerned
had been altogether reversed. Even the habits and
manners of nations were changed ; but the heart of man
was not changed. The effusions of that heart were
embodied in the operations and career of the Royal
Literary Fund. During that agitated time the rill, as
it were, only springing from the rock had gradually be-
come not merely a continuous, but an enlarged and
wide-spread stream of bounty and benevolence. All
things had suffered change, but the feelings that first
prompted the formation of this institution, the genius
which originated it, and the sentiments which afterwards
induced contributions to its funds. Then, after this
fund had been established for 64 years, he wished to ask
whether they had any want of faith in the principle
which founded the institution, or in the manner in which
its resources had been dispensed ? He thought he might
look to that well-filled hall as a satisfactory response to
his appeal. (Applause.) He saw around him those
who by their presence were determined to show that
they were resolved to rally round a great principle—the
tphoertmits
t o
great principle which founded this society, and to sup-
whiesleievane dthgaetnietrowuaes
im administration.poeeihleto f ormH He
anyb ideaegged
of what were the functions of the literary fund, even
from the able documents which ware placed in their
hands. It was not from those printed reports that they
could form even the faintest conception of what were the
duties and offices of the institution. He knew well the
amountin which o
tf h coos ne t rio
obnuttr rust
imo
ni ge ht
ebree sdtias tter
h,
natne
dd
;thheumtmode
duties of that institution were not to be performed
by the collector or the clerk. (Hear, hear.) Those
who were entrusted by their confidence with the distri-
bution of this fund had something else to do besides re-
ceiving subscriptions and drawing checks. (Hear, hear.)
The claims on their fund must be investigated with the
utmost delicacy, and the resources they might place at
the disposal of those to whom they confided them must
be administered with a tenderness which only gentlemen
—and gentlemen, too, of refined taste and habits—could
exercise towards recipients of peculiar sensibility. They
had not to deal out alms. (Applause.) They had to offer
tribute, and an imperfect tribute, to the suffering from
society which the sufferers had endeavoured to improve.
They must visit the suffering author in his abode ; they
must do more than assist him in his pressing need—they

[PRICE SD.

must endeavour that his future should be cared for, and
I that he should be restored to that career of usefulness
which had been arrested. (Applause.) They had still
other duties to perform, !for sometimes they,must inter-
fere to smooth the pillow of departing genius, and then
it was that they might tell the man who had devoted
his life to enlighten his fellow-creatures that sympathy
would still linger over his tomb. Then they might tell
the expiring author that his genius would remain behind,
and excite the sympathies and affections of the commu-
nity which he had benefitted, and that those whom he
had loved, even when in life, would feel the effects
of their recollection, and the gratitude of society.
These were the records of the institution, and he had
been struck with the vast amount of good which during
the last 64 years had been afforded to the widow and the
orphan. If they looked back to the last 14 years of their
career, they would perceive how the'r resources had
been constantly expandi3g, and the justifiable claims
on their resources proportionably increasing. Let them
remember that that institution was peculiar, that there
was nothing like it elsewhere in this country, and that
its object was as peculiar as the class of beings whom it
attempted to support. Recollecting these things, let
them also bear in mind that the wisest sages, and the
deepest statesmen, and men of the world of the greatest
authority, all agreed that nothing was more vain than
the speculation to establish such a fund as the one he
now alluded to. When they recollected the immense
amount of good which the institution had effected, when
they remembered that the grain of mustard had increased
into a goodly tree, then they would feel how much more
certain were the principles of human nature and the de-
crees of Providence than the prescience of statesmen,
sages, and orators. (Cheers.) He trusted, therefore,
when he proposed the toast of " Prosperity to the Royal
Literary Fund and the health of its President, the Mar-
quis of Lansdowne, " that they would receive it with
more than an ordinary ebullition of feeling, and that
they would that evening fervently express their opinion
that that institution was founded on a sound and true
principle, and that that principle had been carried into
effect elliciently—that the mbainer in which the principle
had been carried into effect had done honour to the
country and to human nature. He trusted that they
would all pledge themielves that night to support the
institution by giving their enthusiastic adhesion to the
principle on which it was founded. (Cheers.)
The toast was then drunk with great applause.
The Rev. Dr. RUSSELL then read an account of the
receipts and expenditure, from which it appeared that
the expenditure during the past yea had been 1,3401.
The number of families which had been relieved was 49.
They had been attacked for their expenditure upon
rooms, but they possessed an estate of 1971., which had
been bequeathed expressly to provide chambers for them.
The cost of the entertainment of last year, above the
amount which had been received at the dinner, was only
341. The rev, gentleman then proceeded to read a list
of subscriptions to the society, commencing with the
annual donation of 1051. fcdm her Majesty.
It was subsequently stated that about 1,0001. had
been subscribed during the evening, including 311. from
the chairman.
Mr. M. MILNES proposed "The Health of the Chair-
man " in an eloquent address, which was frequently
applauded.
The CHAIRMAN appropriately responded, and reminded
the company that nearly 60 years ago, in the infancy of
the institution, his father had placed his guardianship
over the cradled fortunes of the Literary Fund. (Loud
cheers.)

Mr. DISRAELI, in returning thanks, said—l am deeply,
sensible of the honour you have done me, by the man-
ner you have received this toast, which has been so
kindly proposed to you by my hon. friend Mr. Monckton
Milnes. The hon. gentleman has alluded to the fact
that we sit on opposite benches in the senate of our
country. I confess that thought did not cross my mind,
but I only know that wherever he sits I shall always
admire the social virtues and genial character which en-
dear him to the affections, and command the approba-
bation of all who know him. (Cheers.) The hon. gen-
tleman has favoured us with a very interesting lecture on
the relative merits of literature and politics, and when I
listened to him I thought of the choice of Achilles.
Literature and politics are like night and morning :
each has its alluring charms and its dazzling attri.
butes. Perhaps I may be excused if at the present
moment I decline to give my decision in favour of
either. (Great cheering and laughter.) My hon. friend
may rest assured that if I ever enter the literary ranks,
again I will endeavour to preserve any reputation I may
have gained • and if I ever write myself a man of letters,
it is because lam proud of the title. (Cheers.) I can•
not forget that sixty years ago my father was present
at one of the first meetings of the Literary Fund, and
that he gave it his encouragement and support—that he
watched with sympathetic guardianship over the cradle
of its infant fortunes. (Great applause.) I cannot for-
get him, and the legacy he has left me ; and should I
be again a Minister of State I shall always be proud to
fill this chair. (Loud cheers.)
Lord STANLEY then rose to propose " The Health of
Professor Creasy and the Historians of England." His
lordship pointed out with much force and beauty of ex-
pression, the important relation between the actors
and narrators of the deeds of this world. He
regretted .the absence of one of the most distin-
guished of living historians Sir Archibald Alison
a man who had devoted over twenty years of his life
—a large space in the career of a man—to the better
illustration of historical truth. (Hear, hear.) But in his
absence he could turn to Professor Creasy, who had
proved by his writings that those who fought battles and
those who recounted the deeds of war occupied a scarcely
less prominent position than those whose great actions
they served to record.
Professor CREASY responded to the toast in most ap-
propriate terms.
The following toasts were then proposed :—" Professor
Aytoun and the Poets," by Mr. Digby Seymour, M.P. ;
" Mr. Justice Haliburton and the Essayists," by Lord
John Manners ; " Dr. Daubeny and the Writers on
Science," by Dr. R. G. Latham ; "The Literature and
Science of other Counties, in connection with the name
of Professor Felton," by John Robert Kenyon, D.C.L. ;
"The Marquis of Salisbury and the Stewards ;" and
" The Ladies," by the chairman.
The proceedings then terminated. It only remains
for us to add that the proceedings throughout were
graced by the presence of a numerous body of ladies,
both in the gallery and in the body of the hall ; and that
the subscriptions received in the course of the evening
amounted to nearly 1,0001. The cuisine was such as to
reflect the greatest credit on the establishment. The
musical arrangements were most efficient • and Mr.
Harker officiated as toastmaster with his usual. ability.