The Sun.
London, England, 1823-05-15 00:00:00

LITERARY FUND.

The Thirty-fourth Anniversary Festival of the
Literary Fund Society was celebrated last night at the Free-
masons' Tavern. The Duke of SOMERSET presided, and was
supported on his right hand by the Duke of SUSSEX, and on
his left by Sir lIUMPIIIIY DAVY.

The en4xnstax, in proposing " Prosperity to the Literary
Fund Snciety," expatiated with great feeling on the nature and
objects of this excellent Institution, which was established for
the purpose of relieving men of genius and learning, who might
be in want and distress, and of providing for their widows and
orphans. It appeared from the annual report that the fugds of
the Society were in a very flourishing condition, a surplus of
3001. being left in the hands of the Treasurer, after a sum of
1,3001. had been applied to the purposes of the Institution—
being a larger sum than had been distributed in any former
year.
" The health of the Duke of Sussex having been drank with
much enthusiasm,

His ROYAL HIGHNESS, in returning thanks, expressed his
warm approbation of the objects of the Institution, and declared
that he was proud of owning for his friends many able but un for-
tunate men who had been relieved by its bounty. This was the
only country in the world, he observed, in which such an Insti-
tion existed, for it was the only country which enjoyed and ap-
preciated the benefits of a free press. Men of genius and talent
m other countries must sing to the tune of a Secretary of State
or a Prime Minister, or down they would soon go ; in this
country alone they were able to give free scope to their talents,
to enlighten the public mind, to exercise a salutary influence
over the conduct of Ministers, instead of being tamely subser-
vient to them, and to add lustre and splendour to the literary
character of the nation.
Mr. BRITTON', one of the Registrars, read a Report to the
Meeting. He touched on the good and benevolent effects
experienced, not only by men of our own nation, but by
Foreigners ;—in support of which be recited two interest-
ing cases of the greatest distress in two Spanish literati, who
had sought refuge in this country from the persecutions and ca.
lamities of their own. One of them, well known as the author
of a history of his own country, in which was contained a cool
and disinterested account of the Inquisition, &c.—This report
was interesting and impressive, and so well-written, that we
hope it will be given to the public. It is attributed to Mr. Ni.
ciror.Ls, junior.
Dr. YATES, one of the treasurers, read a report, in which was
many
yd
otherst e d owiasi a dtohnast
nrfeiciei
ai v3edi a
jsei:itcyede
of
iloloast meeting
guineas,i ;a n ni
additionong
to his two half-yearly payments; and 10 guineas annually from
the Duke of Somerset. A list of new yearly Subscribers was
then read.
Many appropriate toasts were given, among which, " Greece;
the parent and the nurse of arts, and the Greeks who now ho-
, nour us with their presence" which
.was proposed by Mr. W.
' SMITH, the Member for Norwich, was drank with much
applause.
The Archimandrake of Cyprus was present, attired in the
costume of his country.
In the course of the evening, Mr. FITZGERALD ascended the
platform, and pronounced with much energy a Poem, composed
by himself for a similar occasion in the year 1799, in which there
were many significant allusions to genius, humanity, and free-
dom, and which concluded by declaring that the " Tree of Free-
dom was the British Oak." The amount of subscriptions and
donations contributed in the course of the evening was conside-
rable. A letter was read from the Viscount de Chateaubtiand,
expressing his zealous concurrence in the objects of the Insti-
tution, and inclosing a donation .of 401.
His Royal Highness left the room at about half-past nine
o'clock with the President. The Chair was then taken by Sir
JOHN MaLcoz.sr, who made some very luminous speeches
during the remainder of the evening. Several toasts were given,
among which were—" The healths of Sir Benjamin llobliouse
—The Marquis of Hastings—Mr. Fitzgerald—The President
of the Royal Society—The Royal Society:—The Noble, Reve-
renti, and respectable Visitors of this evening," &c.
After the departure of Sir JOHN MALCOLM, Mr. MED-
FORD was called to the Chair, and was attended by several
Gentlemen of well-known literary talents, who kept up the spi-
rit of conviviality with good humour " till fancy had its till,"
and separated under the gratifying consciousness of having ren-
dered social enjoyment subservient to benevolence.

THE ETONIAN.—A Third Edition of this
amusing Work, which reflects so much honour on
the various Writers, is just published, printed
uniformly with the Sketch-Book; to which it
has not inaptly been compared, on account of its
spirited delineations of Life and Manners,