The Sun.
London, England, 1865-04-13 00:00:00

N°. 22,719.

MR. BAILLIE COCHRANE'S NEW WORK.
Nov ready, at all the Libraries, in 2 v 01.., Os..

HISTORIC PICTURES.
By A. BAILLIE COCHRANE, M.P.
Durst and Blackett, Publishers, 13, Great Marlborough-
street.

Now ready, at all the Libraries, in 3 vols.,

CARRY'S CONFESSION.
V By the Author of " High Church," " Owen," " Mettle."

THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, APRIL 13, 1865.

CRYSTAL PALACE.-GOOD FRIDAY.-
TO-Molt ROW.

" This novel is equal to any former ones by the same
author. The story is cleverly told, and is very original. It
can scan( ly fail to be read with thoughtful interest. It is
very far above the average run of novels."—Atlia.nteum.
Hurst and Blacken, 13, Great Marlborough-street.

GRAND SACRED CONCERT. --Mndame RUDERS-
DORFF ; Mr. SIMS REEVES, who will sing the celebrated
War Song from Costa's "Eli," and " If with all your hcarts,"
and "Then shall the righteous" ("Elijah"); Mr. WEISS.
Solo Trumpet, Mr. HARPER. Full Orchestra, rand of
Coldstream Guards, and Chorus; Organ, Mr. Coward. Con-
ductor. Mr. Manns.

This day, price 25., uniform Edition,
S T O N E H E A R T: A Romance.
By GUSTAVUS AIMARD.
London : Ward, Lock, and Tyler, 158, Fleet-street.

Commence at Half-past Three, terminating soon after Five
o'c'octr.

Demy Bvo.. extra cloth, 6s. 6d..
LIFE : Its NATURE, VARIETIES, and
PHENOMENA. By LEO K. GRINDON. Third
Edition.

' Mr. Grindon's book has reached, but will not stop at, the
third eclit.on. It is the work of a scholar, a Christian, and a
man of real c ence."—Horning Herald.
" To those who delight in the exercise of their intellectual
powers, these very thoughtful and beautifully-written reflec-
tions will be a welcome boon, and the source long afterwar,A,
we may rest assured of many fruitful meditatioLag and plea-
sant memories." —Sun.
" The reader will find in it much thou,:ht and much read-
ing. There is plenty to think upon, plenty to study, plenty
to entertain."—lllustrated London News "
London: F. Pitman, 20, Paternoster-row, E.C.

MUDIE'S SELECT LIBRARY.
FREE DELIVERY OF BOOKS.
MUDIE'S MBRARY MESSENGERS call on appointed
days to deliver 13ooas at the Residences of Subscribers, in
every part of London and the immediate neighbourhood.
Prospectuses, postage free, on application.
CHARLES ED WARD MUDI E, New Oxford-street, London.

'Pie National Anthem, the Old Hundredth Psalm, the
Evening Hymn by the orchestra, joined in chorus by the tens
of thousands of visitors.

Numbered Reserved Seats, front of Great Handel Orches-
tra, Halt-s-Crown each, may now be had at the Crystal
Place. and at No. 2, Exeter Hall. Back Seats, Orchestra,
and Upper Galleries, One shilling To- morrow at the ticket
stands in the nay, s. Admission, One Shilling.
Open from Nine in the morning. Palace lighted at dus:.
Frequent trains from London -bridge. Victoria. Kensington,
and in termediat, stations into the Crystal Pala. e station.
Trains to Anerley and Penge Stations from London-bridge;
from Blackfriare, Elephant and Castle, Cainberw. 11, and in-
termediate stations of (luttham and I`over line, to Sydenham-
hill Station. Also, a quiet and pleasant new route by South-
Eastern trains from Charing-cross to Lower ,ydenham.
Extra at ernoon trains. New Gate to Palace grounds at
Penge, and North' Transept also open as additional entrances
for visitors arriving. at Penge and Sydenham-hill Stations
of Chatham an 1 Dover Railway.
Excursion trains from Brighton and South-roast, Chat-
ham and Dover, 'iouth-Eastern, and other lines, particulars
of which at the various stations.

NOTE—The Clapham Junction, connecting the Crystal
Palace with stations on South-Western, London and North-
Western, Great Western. and North Lond n, vi Kensington,
is nnw open. Al o, via Kensington, to the Crystal Palace,
from Bow, Highbury, Camden, &c. Also by Metropolitan,
via Kensington.
EikSTER WEE K.—HOLIDAY ENTERTAINMENTS
from MONDAY to k'RIDAY.—ONE SHILLING.

CRYSTAL • PALACE. - TO - MORROW.-
k..) GOOD FRIDAY. COME EARLY. —Open at Nine.
Lighted at dusk.
NOTE. From the large numbers of persons usu ally con-
eregated at the London-bridge Station on Good Fridays.
between Eleven and Three o'clock, Owners of Cabs and
Omnibuses will no doubt find plenty of employment To-
morrow, Frid iy.

MUDIE'S SELECT LIBRARY.
SECOND-HAND BOOKS ON SALE.
• • -

-.
Purchasers of Books for Public or Private Libraries, Mer-
chants, Shipping Agents, intending Emigrants. and others,
are r, specttully invited to aDply for the APRIL LIST' of
WORKS withdrawn from Mudie's Library for
This List includes ()slot. Speke's Discovery of the Source of
the Nile-Sir R. A lcock's Capital of the Tycoon -Memoirs
of Bishop Blomfleld- -Stanley's Sermons in the East-King-
lake's Invasi.,n of the Crimea-Life of Edward Irving-Our
Old Home-Howitt's History of the Supernatural - A Lady's
Visit to Manilla and Japan-Lowth's Wanderer in Western
Fra ce- Lord William Lennox's Biographical Reminiscences
Earl Stlnhope's Life of Pitt-Queen ?lab-Rachel Ray
and more than iine Thousair, other Works of the past and
present seasons, at the lowest current prices.
CHARLES EDWARD MUDIE, New vxford-street,

London.

FRENCH GALLERY, 120, PALL-MALL.—
The TWELFTH ANNUAL EXHIBITION of PIC-
TURES, the Contributions of Artists of the French and
Flemish Schools, IS NOW OPEN.

Admission, le. Catal gue, 61.

MvoniptooEarpov.
EGYPTIAN HALL, PICCADILLY
(THE LATE ALBERT SUITR'S ROOM).

EASIER MONDAY.
Full particulars will be duly announced.
A. NIBIMO, Acting Manager.

MUD 1E;
wS
oNSTyE_TVIRCDTirEALR.IBRARY.

—The Library was Established in April, 1842, in order to
promote the widest possible ciraulation of the best Books in
every departmen of Literature.
From its commencement r•reat care has been taken to ren-
der the Library ,n every way worthy of th cordi encou-
ragement it has te,eiv, d. 80,.k of every shade of opinion
on all subjects of public interest have been freely a ;ded; and
in cases where the demand has been general, nun 'reds, and
in some nstances thousands, of copies of the choicer Works
have ••een provided for the use of Subscribers.
Revised Lists of Works recently added to the Library, and
C ,talogues of surplus Copies wit drawn for Sale, are now
ready, n ' will be torwardtd on application.
New Oxford-street, London, April, 1831.

U
D IE
FIRSST-CLSALLouEB9cTRip RARY
For a constant SUCC.4BIOTI of the best New nooks as they appear.
ONE GUINEA TO ONE HUNDRED GUINEAS
Pt, R ANNUM,
AccordinT to the Nu :.her of Volumes required.
CHARLES EDWARD MU DIE, New Oxtord-ctrcet, London
City Office--4. King-wreet, Cheapside.
,nelt Establishments:
Cross-street, Manchester; and Temple-street. Birminzham.

MR. and Mrs. GERMAN REED, with 3/11 •
JOHN PARRY, will appear in their new entertain-
ment, entitled A PECULIAR FAMILY, by Mr. William
Brough. New scenery by T. and H. Grieve. Every Evening',
except Saturday, at 8. Saturday afcemoon, at 3. ROYAL
GALLERY OF ILLUSTRATION, 14, Regent-street.

Unreserved seats, is., 28. ; stalls, Is. ; stall chairs, 58. May
be secured at the Gallery without fee.

OPERA Dr CAMERA, every Tuesday and Thursday
Morning, and Saturday at 8.

H X F O R D,
6, OXFORD STREET, W.
The Oxford and Canterbury H.ll Company (limited).
ORPHEE AUX ENFERS, FAUST. and LA CIRCAS-
SIENNE will be performed during this week. Principal
artistes :—Mons. Lavessiere, -ignor Spagnoll, Mr. Green, and
Misses Ellison and Barrie, with full Band and Chorus, con.
ducted by Mr. F. Jonghmans.

Comedy, by Mr. George Hodson (the celebrated Comedian
and Mimic!, W. Randall, Little dob, Miss Kate Babe, Les
Freres Talliott, and the Grotesque, D'Aubans.

Conduator,lb% F. Jonghmans.

WV AIR-CURLING FLUID, 248, High Holborn,
London.—ALEX. ROSS'S CURLING FLUID curl.
Ladies' or Gentlemen s hair immediately it is app ied. Sold
at 3s. 6d.; sent free for 5i stamps. itoss's Toilet Magazine,
Is Od., or 2'.► stamps.

el REY HAIR.-248, High Holborn, London.—
(Jr ALEX. ROSS'S charges tor Dyeing the hair perma-
nently- Ladies' Hair from 7s. 6d.; Gentlemen's from 58.
The Dye is sold at 3s. 64:1 ,or sent tree for 54 stamps. It i
most easy of use.

HAIR DESTROYER, 248, High Holborn,
London.—ALEX. ROSS'S DEPILA FORY removes,
without effect to the skin, superfluous hair from the face,
neck, and arms. 3s. 6d.; sent the same day.as ordered by post
torsi stamps.

(SPANISH FLY is the acting ingredient in
►►77 ALEX. ROSS'S CAN I' LIARIDES 0 IL, which ,peedily
produces whiskers and thlekens hair. 3s. 6d.; sent free fors4
stamps.— AL hX. ROSS, 248, High Holborn, London. Essay
3n Hair, id.

Every Evening at Halt-past S,ven. Admissioa—wea, 13d.;
stalls and balcouy, is.; private boxes, 10s. 6d.

CIANTERBURY HALL.
NJ.The Oxford, and Canterbury Hall Company (limited).
HODGE DODGE.
(According to Act of Par.iament).
CANTERBURY ti AL L.—EVERY EVENING
at half-past Nine o'clock.

LASTER HOLIDAYS.—Mdme. TUSSAUD'S
EXHIBITION. Established 30 years, at the Bazaar,
Baker-street.

A full-length Portrait model, life-size, of the late
IZICdAUD COBDEN, 111. P., ta,en during the period of t•te
Great Anti-Corn Law League Agitation, may be seen in the
Hall of Kings. .

PIMPLE REMOVER.—AII diseases of the skin
are improved b 5 one dose of ALEX. ROSS'S VEGE-
TABLE SKIN PILL. They remove redness, sallowness
&c. 2s. 9d.; by post for 40 st tinps.—ALEX. ROSS, 248, High
Holborn, London.

ALEX. ROSS' FACE POWDER, ls. ; sent for
14 stamps ; Eye Colour, 3s. 5d., or 54 stamps. Skin
tonic produces a transcendent complexion, 45., or 6u stamps.
Bloom of Roses, 3s. 6d., or 54 stamps.—AL-SX. ROSS. 218,
High Holborn. London.

JOHN GOSNELL and CO.'S • CHERRY
TOO iTI-PASTS: is greatly superior to any tooth
DOwder: gives the teech a pearl hiteness, protects the
enamel from decay, and imparts a pleasant fragrance to the
the breath r.ce Is. Bd.-12, Three King-court, Lombard-
Street, London.

NEW ADDITIONS.—ModeIs, life-size, of the YOUNG
KING of GREECE, and MURRAY, who was Regent of
Scotland in the time of nary Queen of Scots.
Open from 11 a.m. till 10 p.m.
Admittance, One Shilling; Extra Rooms, Sixpenze.

ARGYLL ROOMS.—NOTICE.—RE-
ENGAGE ‘rENT of J. LE Y, the celebrhted l'aga-
nini Corn J-- eiston, will appear I,VE KY EVENING, at
Nine, Ten. and Eleven o'clock, and perform on Distin'a
Patent Light-Valle Cornet.

Conductor—M. LUIGI CURTI.
Manager—M. GEENET.

SAILORS' ORPHAN GIRLS' SCHOOL and
ROAM, Hampstead. Office,, 77, Cornhill.
PATRON—The QUEEN;
TRUS T EES.
Capt. the Hon. Francis Braude, The Rev. Canon ( hampneys
R. V,
Thomas Baring, Esq., M.P.
TREASURERS.
R. FL L. Bevan, Esq. I Robert Flanbnry, Esq.
This Institution is designed to supoly a great national want, viz., an asylum for the orpha daughters of sailors in
the Royal Navy and Merchants service and of Marines.
It clothes, maintains, and educates them for domestic
service and provides a home free of ex,ense for former
inmates while out of situations, thus shielding them from the
temptations they might otherwise be exposed to.
Tne Committee earnestly APPEAL for CoNTRIBU-
TIONS to meet the increasing applications through the
recent storms and loss f life at sea, and to enable them
even' flatly to obtain premises more commensurate with the
u includinghi c
maritime iaml
alone, without
inittrhyo, loses
those 2, 0 0 0
sa aors annuallymay
ibs
ygr:aastuamltai
nd Co., Lombard-street, and by the Secre-
w tions thankfully received by the bankers, Messrs.
Barcly, Bevan, a
E. SWEETTNG, Hon. Sea
• CHARLES NASH, Sea
tary, at the Offices, No. 77, Curnhill.

ARMY CONTRACTS.
Commissariat Office, Aldershot, April 9, 1865.

TENDERS will be received at this Office, until 12 o'clock
(noon on Wednesday, 26th April, 1865, from persons who
may be willinz to enter into CUNT itACTS for the supply of
FLOUR (Ration and Hospital), AND MEAT,
in such quantities as may be required, from Ist June to 30th
Novt mber, 1865, for the use of her Majesty s Forces stationed
at Aldershot Camp, and within the command.

„ .
These being three distinct Contracts, separa' e Tenders are
required for tech description of Flour and for Meat.
Forms of Tender and 4 onditions of Contract may be ob-
tained on application at th s office, by letter addressed to the
Senior Commissariat Officer, or in person, between the hours
of ten and four o'cloc

ROYAL FREE HOSPITAL, Gray's-inn-road,
in the immediate vicinity of the Great Northern Rail-
way Terminus, King's-cross.
Patron—Her Most Gracious Majesty the QUEEN.
Vice-Patron—His Royal Highness the Prince of WALES,
President—His Grace the Duke of BUCCLEUCH, K.G.
This Hospital, founded in the year 1828, the first to estab-
lish the principle of free admission to the sick poor, without
the delay and difficulty of Governors' orders, is wholly de-
pendent for support on voluntary contributions and legacies.
It affords relief to a large number of in-patients, and, in
vidition to this, the average number of attendance of the
lestitute sick has for a considerable period averaged between
3,000 and 4,000 weekly.
The Committee earnestly solicit the ASSISTANCE of the
benevolent, as the premises of this Hospital are 'capable of
contalniog several hundred more beds, had the Committee
the requisite funds to maintain them.

Contributions are received by the Treasurer, Edward Mas-
terman, Esq., Nicholas-lane; also by Messrs. Coutts and Co.;
Drummond and Co. ; Glyn and Co. ; Harries and Co. ; Ransom
and Co. ; Prescott, Grote, and Co.; Smith, Payne, and Co. ;
Barclay and Co. ; W Mama, Deacon, and Co.; Overend, Gur-
ney, and Co. ; Nisbet and Co. , Berners-street; Barned and
Oa, LIMP 001; and at the Hospital, trom 10 till 5.

UTANFOIiD 15411TH Secretary,

The Lenders must be properly filled up. signed, and deli-
vered at this office (under closed envelope, marked on the
ou side " Tender for Army Supplies"), by the hour appointed,
and no Tender will be noticed that shall not be in compliance
with these conditions.

ARMY CONTRACTS.—
TENDERS will be received at this Office until 12
o'clock noon, on the 28th of April, from persons who may be
willing to enter into CONTRACTS to supply
BREAD AND MEAT

in such quantities ai may be required. for the use of her
Majesty's Land Forces stationed in the following places,
from let June, to 30th November, 1665.
LONDON DISTRICT.
1. Brompton House, Knightsbridge and Magazine Barracks,
Hyde-park ; and Kensington.
2. Regent's-park, and St. John's-wood.
3. New Barracks, Chelsea; and Ordnance Survey Office,
Pimlico.
4. WellinLlon Barracks, Buckingham Palace and St.
George's Barracks.
5. The Tower.
a Hounslow and Kneller Hall.
7. Hampton Court.
8. Windsor.
9 Bri ht n, with Coast Forts from Newhaven to Shoreham.
10. Sandhurst.

Separate Tenders for Bread and for Meat must be made for
each of the above-mentioned Stations or Barracks, as sepa-
rately grouped and 'lumbered.
Forme of Tender and Conditions of Contract may be ob-
tained on application at this Office, by letter addressed to t he
Senior Commissariat Officer, or in person, between the hours
of 10 and 4 o'cloctc
Tenders on the rinted form must be properly filled up
and oh ned, and no Tender ill be noticed unlees deity, red
at the udder-mentioned Office,under closed envelope marked
on th- outside " Tender for Commissariat Supplies"), before
14 o'clock noon on he 28'th April.
Deputy Commissary- .3eneral's Office,
5, New-street, r. pring-gardens, London, S.W.,
6th April, 1885.

TEA.—Just received, ex " Whinfell," excellent
FAMILY TEA, offered to Families at Merchants'
Prices. viz :-3s. per lb., recommended ; also, ex " Lochin-
var," Finest Ankoi Souchong, 35. 61, 'rely superior. Tea:
common, is. 10d., 25., to 2s. 4d. Aamples may be seen and
had on application. Price List free.

110 ultg BROTHERS, Merchants, ;5, London-bridge, City.

ELECTION INTELLIGENCE.

CONSULT Mr. A. ESKELL'S popular and
NJ reliable TREATISE on the TEETH before having
recourse to the Dentist " The expense is not great, and it
will well repay perusal.
Published by John Clements, Little Pulteney-street ; and
may be had through any bookseller, from Simpkin, Marshall
and Co., Stationers'-hall-court Price, 7d. ;in cloth, 13d. ,

. ./.
•
. 4...
, „,..„...
it...:'.z:t4,.... ~,„,,....'
.. 44-
,-.0,,,,-,---A.
", f
~,`,.....-'71:.1-44- 14-41::: --., I
. ;01: .
„:
i4:15.4,43„,p,,,,p...1; N.011,,,te,
;
.a,-
tt, /tea
..„:„
....-.... y ; 4.11W' -$;- ''',..
.2t. .
-.. , ,4„,..- ...ir .. ....„..
.„..„,..
. _ 4
ir........ <SIMS,
.i,
...v. ,A % ‘,.." \ •,,,ii ,
_..... , • Gt. 1 `,.....'-' ' ' '
, to,. _ ~e,...wria.. ',.. - •
( *l' - :[! 4. ~,,
411111 ...
4.1 ' :'... -...11M, Z-1 • ' (°)''' ' ~,,''''' V,
j.a' - illtillik 7 .
'..--= ' gi> , ,e/#„7.77.,
...., ;,toriesitspw,..s. .140-5,;,,x*, -•Dizorr. 0 •ov .'-',., it-r. ~., -\'''' • ~. 4
~,
4,,
._ .
...4jv ~ .r 6. E i 1, J1100641 ,
.. ,
_:..•
\\......

ticularly as a large number of those accounts would come
under the operation of the County Court Act." Although
Mr. Brett, the Conservative:candidate, is against the bill,
still a resolution was unanimously carried by the trades-
men present—" That Mr. T. B. Potter is a fit and [proper
person to represent in Parliament the interests of the shop-
keepers of this borough." Yesterday evening the Liberal
party completed their canvass, and the general impression
in the town is that it is favourable to Mr. Potter. Nearly
all the workshops and mills in the town closed last night
for the remainder of the week. This morning the nomina-
tion will take place at 10 o'clock, and Mr. John Bright is
expected to support Mr. Potter.

PRICE 4d.
STAMPED sd.

the Admiralty :—Lieut. J. Nott, to command the
Spider, ordered to be recommissioned ; Lieut. R.
Elliot, to command the Doterel, ordered to be re-
commissioned ; Lieut. F. Hardy, to command the
Tilbury, commissioned ; Lieut. R. 13. Nicholetts, to
the Mutine ; the Rev. Thomas J. Main, chaplain
additional, to the Excellent ; the Rev. J. W. Grimes,
chaplain and naval instructor, to the Excellent, vice
the Rev. T. J. Main, complement altered ; Henry
M. Harrison and Henry Bullamore, assist.-pay-
masters, to the Royal Adelaide.

Royal General Theatrical Fund.

Last evening the twentieth anniversary of this in-
stitution was held at the Freemasons' Tavern ; Mr.
Wilkie Collins in the chair. There was a pretty
numerous company.

After the usual loyal and constitutional toasts,
which were received with the customary enthusiasm,
The CHAIRMAN, introducing the toast of the
evening, said that in proposing the prosperity of the
Royal Theatrical Fund, he had to couple with it
the name of the best and truest friend which the
fund possessed—that of Mr. Buckstone. (Hear,
hear.) The toast which he was about to propose
presented itself under various aspects to those who
occupied the same position he had the honour to fill
that evening. He should consider the position
which the player occupied in regard to the enemies
of his art and its friends. Amongst the social abuses
which the social reformers had failed to sweep away
was that of Brummagem puritanism—(hear, hear,
and laughter)—which had all the narrowness of
view and all the intolerance of puritanism, without
the self-sacrificing heroism which distinguished the
puritans of old. The Brummagem puritans re-
garded the stage as a bull looked upon a piece of red
cloth. (Laughter.) One of the liberals of this class
stated lately, in Scotland, that he saw no harm in
a man's taking a walk on a Sunday. (Laughter.)
Another, who was not a liberal, came into the com-
partment of a railway in which he and some friends
were coming up to that dinner, and objected to their
smoking on moral grounds. (Laughter.) The
same class of people objected to working men who
were members of mechanics' institutions amusing
themselves by reading novels after their day's work.
(Laughter.) Now he thought that one of the ser-
vices which the actor rendered to the public was,
that he fought six days in the week the battle of the
public against the Brummagem puritans. (Hear,
hear.) Then as regarded the position of the actor
towards his friends, who did not remember with
pleasure the first night he went to the play ? and
there was not a period of life from childhood to old age
which the player did not do his utmost to gratify and
to cheer. (Hear.) But there was a time when the
player, from failing health, was no longer able to
amuse and entertain—when the doctor told him that
if he meant to preserve his life he must cease to fol-
low his profession. (Hear, hear.) The public eye
could not follow the stricken actor. The public
only looked at his successor. Who, then, was to
follow the retired player when the lights were out,
the curtain down, and the theatre empty ? - He was
glad to say that at this moment of distress the best
helping hands were held out to the poor actor—the
hands of his brethren in art. (Hear, hear.) In the
application of the funds of the charity there was no
distinction of class. All, from the highest to the
lowest members of the profession, were equally
eligible. (Hear.) In conclusion, he recommended
the institution to the grateful and sympathising con-
sideration of the public. (Cheers.)
Mr. BUCKSTONE, in returning thanks, said—
Gentlemen,—As this is the twentieth annual dinner
of the General Theatrical Fund, at all of which,
with but one exception, I have been present in my
capacity of treasurer, you will see that I have spoken
nineteen times on behalf of our institution, and as
my subject must always be the same, you may natu-
rally suppose that I have quite exhausted it ; while,
on the other hand, I may naturally suppose that you
have had quite enough of me ; but as my main ob-
ject has been at all times to touch your hearts and
dip into your pockets—(laughter)-- I can only say
I will contrive to do my best to accomplish that task,
aided by our excellent chairman, Mr. Wilkie Collins,
whose presence here this evening is an event of which
every member of our fund and every friend to it can-
not but feel greatly gratified, especially when I tell
you that for three years severe illness has pre-
vented his fulfilling a promise to preside
over us on tine of these occasions. But here
he is at last, and I only hope his coming out
to-night will not be injurious to him, more particu-
larly as it is now "After Dark," and that on
going home he may not encounter any " Woman in
White"—(laughter)—although I must make the de-
licate confession that I have lately formed an ac-
quaintance with " A Woman in Mauve"—(laugh-
ter)—in whose society I have been so exceedingly
happy that I hope it will be a long time before I
shall have to part with it. (Cheers.) However, it
is with great pride and pleasure that I see our
author of " The Woman in White" in the chair,
and to know that his name will be enrolled on the
list of distinguished novelists who have come for-
ward to plead the cause of our fund at these festi-
vals. We are proud of that list ; indeed we ought
to be when it contains such names as Sir Edward
Bulwer Lytton, Mr. Charles Dickens, the late
deeply-deplored William Makepeace Thackeray,
Mr. Shirley Brooks, and now, though last not least,
in our " dear love," Mr. Wilkie Collins. Now,
gentlemen, it is my duty to tell you the state
of our fund, and what we do with it. Our capital
when this night is over will amount to £13,500 ;
but large as this sum may seem it is hardly sufficient
to do all that is required of us, for we have 22 annui-
tants, 13 of whom are ladies and 9 are gentlemen.
Why the ladies should be so much in the majority
I do not know, except that, on reference to the re-
gistrar-general's weekly return, we invariably find
there are more girls born in every seven days than
boys. I will not say that this is an argument in
favour of polygamy. I will only observe it is an esta-
blished fact. In addition to the number of annui-
tants now on our fund, we soon expect others to
claim their rights--indeed, so numerous have be-
come the claimants that, in order to pay a fair pro-
portion of the annuitants,we have been compelled to
resort to our reserve fund ; for during the last 12
months we have disbursed to our retired actors and
actresses £987 10s., have also paid the funeral ex-
penses of three deceased members, amounting to
£29, and have returned to the widow of a late sub-
scriber £24 Bs. ; making altogether no less a sum
distributed during the past year than £1,040. And
now, gentlemen, I must tell you of a severe disap-
pointment we have met with. At one of our din-
ners, held at the London Tavern in 1852, the late
much respected Mr. T. P. Cooke was sitting next
to me. Previous to my usual address on the occa-
sion he informed me it was his intention to leave our
fund a legacy of £l,ooo—(cheers)—or
intention
property re-
presenting that amount. I announced his
on that evening, which announcement was received
with prolonged cheers. That is now 13 years ago.
His will was made to that effect, and not till within
short time of his decease did he alter the docu-
lent in favour of the Dramatic College : his reason
for doing so was, as I have heard, that he considered
the General Theatrical Fund so prosperous that it
did not require such a legacy, while it would be of
the greatest service to that excellent institution the
Dramatic College. Of course Mr. Cooke had a
perfect right to do as he liked with his own, and all
we could do was to submit to the disappointment
and endeavour to discover some way to make up for
it. We accordingly took a benefit at Drury-lane
Theatre, which, though it produced nearly £lOO, in-
cluding 25 guineas kindly and generously given by
the Prince of Wales for his box on that occasion,
we should have cleared much more had we not been
placed between two fires. Our benefit took place
on Monday, Feb. 13. On the Thursday before that
event Mr. Paul Bedford appealed to his friends and