The Sun.
London, England, 1853-01-08 00:00:00

The Rev. J. B. OWEN proposed the "Fine Arts
Fund Association."
Mr. JAFFRAv, in responding to the toast, rell
upon the humble origin of the Fume Arts Prize ,
Association, which originated with two gentlemen
himself, who one evening last summer held a meeting,
and with all imaginable gravity resolved, " that it was
expedient for the interests of the fine arts in Birming-
ham that a prize should be established." The associa-
tion thus humbly ushered into the world soon grew in
favour. The press very discriminatingly gave it their
support ; the immediate predecessor of the present
mayor, with characteristic good taste and liberality,
gave it the sanction of his name and the aid of his con-
tributions—(hear, hear)—one of the principal manufac-
turers of the town, who had done much to raise the
standard of manufacturing taste in Birmingham, and to
elevate the character of Birmingham produce wherever
his bronzes, and his skilful application of electricity to
manufacture, were known, added his five guineas to the
list ; and from that time the piosperity of the institution
was secured ; it needed only judicious management to
become a permanent and an important aid to the Society
of Artists.
Lord LYTTELTON, in proposing " The Guild of Litera-
ture and Art,"
said, as this was an institution not yet
commenced, he might perhaps kallowed, in a very few
words, to state its object. It was an institution with a
twofold object :-1. To establish a Branch Insurance
and Provident Society for persons connected with the
different branches of literature and art. 2. To recom-
mend and enforce the duties of prudence and foresight
by the establishment and endowment of an institute hav-
ing attached to it certain salaries and certain duties. It
was simply to provide a fund for the members of the in-
stitute, who were to be divided into two classes, but in
every case the advantages to be derived had attached to
them the performance of certain duties and certain work
in connexion with literature and art. (Cheers.) The
principle of the institute, therefore, was not eleemosy-
nary, but had for its object to inculcate and encourage
self-help and self-support among its members, and it
would look to no extrinsic source for its funds. (Hear.)
The bane and the fault of literary men during the time that
literature had been a profession had been dependence—
(hear)—and it had been so through various stages. Im-
mediately after the invention of printing literature was
in dependence on kings and great men, and, after passing
through this stage, it became, in more recent times, what
Mr. Dickens had so well described it, for though that stage
was an improvement on the one that went before it,
still the profession of literature was one of dependence.
(Hear, hear.) Now, it was the object of the proposed
Guild to remedy in some degree this evil. Considerable
sums had been raised towards the establishment of this
institute by means of voluntary theatrical performances.
He believed the objections of certain persons to stage
performances applied rather to collateral and accidental
circumstances connected with them than to the per-
formances themselves, and he was sure that if such per-
formances were ever praiseworthy and free from censure,
it was when they were employed in a cause like this.
(Cheers.) In the name of the literary men of England,
therefore, he must thank Sir E. L. Bulwer for what he
had done in this respect in aid of the new Guild of
Literature and Art. (Hear, hear.) The toast was then
drunk with great applause.
Mr. W. H. WELLS responded to the toast.
Mr. C. DICKENS gave "The Educational Institution
of Birminghlin," in a laudatory speech, and the toast
was responded to by the Rev. E. H. GIFFORD.
"The Periodical Press of England" was proposed by
Mr. G. DAWSON, and responded to by Mr. J. FORSTER,
A variety of other toasts followed, including "The
Health of the Mayor," and "The Town and County
Members," and the party separated about 12 o'clock.—
Abridged from. the Birmingham, Journal.

ELECTION INTELLIGENCE.

OXFORD UNIVERSITY.
OXFORD, FRIDAY.—Mr. Gladstone's friends spiritedly
came to the poll to-day, and had, at half-past eleven
o'clock, the pleasure of seeing him at the head of the
poll.

HALF-PAST TEN O'CLOCK,

Gladstone.
Perceval ..

319
335

ELEVEN O'CLOCK

Gladstone
Perceval..

HALF-PAST ELEVEN O'CLOCK

Gladstone
Perceval..

Majority for Gladstone
TWELVE O'CLOCK.

.... 357
. .....____s

Gladstone.
Perceval...

. 372

Majority for Gladstone
HALF-PAST TWELVE O'CLOCK,
Gladstone
Pereeval

.. 363

390
372
.- -18

Majority for Gladstone
QUARTER-PAST ONE O'CLOCK
Gladstone
Perceval

.. 401
... 376
• • -25

Majority for Gladstone ....
Poll adjourned until two o'clock.
HALF-PAST TWO O'CLOCK.

.... 422
.... 386
-36

Majority for Gladstone
THREE O'CLOCK.
_ _

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