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

[PRICE SD.

must endeavour that his future should be cared for, and
that he should be restored to that career of usefulness
which had been arrested. (Applause.) They bad still
other duties to perform, Ifor 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 their resources had
been constantly expanding, 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 ordlniff ebullition of feeling, and that
they would that evening fervently express thir opinion
that that institution was founded on a sound and true
principle, and that that principle had been carried into
effect efficiently—that the manner 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 themselves 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 year had been 1,340/.
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 105/. from her Majesty.
It was subsequently stated that about 1,000/. 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.

- Mr. Drsa,txm, 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 chtar. (Loud cheers.)
Lord STANLEY then rose to propose " The Health of
Profesor 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.