The Sun.
London, England, 1824-05-13 00:00:00

LITERARY PIT .:\1) DI&NEIL

The Annual Festival for the benefit of the
Literary Fund, was celebrated yesterday at the Freemasons'
Tavern. The BlarquiS of lANsnowx presided, supported by
Lord J. RUSSELL on the right, Lord BnANDON on the left,
and by many individuals of rank and literary eminence.
" Non Nobis Domino," and the usual loyal and patriotic
songs and, toasts, having beensung and drank, " Prospecity to
the Literary Fund" was given with three times three, and
drank with loud acclamations.

Mr. YATES (the Treasurer) then called the attention of the
Meeting to the affairs of the Institution. There bad remained
in the hands of the Society, December 31, 1822, 550/. 12s. 3d.
There had been received since, in Donations, Subscriptions,
and Dividends on Stock, 1,7101. Ils., making a total of
2,2611. 3s. 3d. Out of this there had been paid by order of the
Cohimittee, upon applications for relief, foe purchase of stock,
and incidental expences, 1,8721. 13s. fid., leaving a balance in
the Treasurer's hand, December 31, 1823,.0f 31381. 95. 9d. The
money which had been expended had been principally disbursed
to relieve applicants. There were 46 cases which had been
attended to all of whom were interesting and some most affect-
ing. It also included the House Fund, which bad formerly been
kept separate, but which was no longer so since the Society had
been established in Lincoln's Inn-fields, where the expences
were much less than they. had previously been. The perma-
nent fund at present consisted of 12,500/. in 3 per cent. consols.
The Newton property, now available to the Society, amount-
ed in reduced three per cent. annuities, to 6,3671. 15s. 10d.—
The dividend on the three per cent. stock (not yet payable)
amounted to 1,8001. and the Newton Estate at present pro-
duced annually the sum of 501. This statement brought the
accounts up to the end Of last year. Since that time 26 addi-
tional cases had been relieved at an expence of 4201. being a
larger number of cases than had ever been pressed upon them
before within so short a period. Ile then announced a "rest
number of, subscriptions ; among them two half-yearly do-
nations of 100 guineas each from his Majesty ; 201. from the
Duke of Iledford ; 5/. from Lord .7. Russell ; and 15/. from the
Russian Ambassador. He announced that lie shoold be happy
to report on the further progress of the Fund when enabled to
do so, and in the course of the evening he had to perform the
grateful task of reading over several long lists of names and
sums, amounting in the whole to a large total. The precise
sum was not reported, but it was believed to be considerably
more than had usually been collected.
Sir Wei. ASIIBURNRAM being called upon, recited a poem
in praise of his Majesty.—(Applause.)—Vide another part of
our Paper.—Mr. FITZGERALD recited a poem,. or parts of
poems, applicable to the Society, which was listened to with
great attention, and requited with shouts of applause.
The heaths of Sir William and Mr. Fitzgerald were drank
with three times three. They severally returned thanks.
The health of the Duke of Somerset, the President of the
Society, was drank with three times three.
Lord J. Russ's:Li. proposed the health of their Noble Presi-
dent, the Marquis of Lansdown.
The Marquis of LAN snowx returned thanks, arid remarked
that the triumphs of Literature were like those of war. They
could not be gained without a number being invalided in the
advance, who could neither share the glory nor the gain. For
these sufferers it was desirable to provide a refuge ; and where
could it he found but in that Society ? Ile regretted to say,
that not having been applied to till that morning to preside over
the meeting, a very particular previous engagement would
compel him and his Noble Friend to retire early.
The Noble ManQuis afterwards gave as a toast, " The
Poets of England." To these, as when looking on a number of
bright stars, one might be especially selected for observation,
he begged to add the name of Sir. Thomas Moore.
The toast was drank with great applause.
Mr. Moon.E returned thanks for the high honour which he
had received, and warmly applauded the plan of-the Institu-
tion. Though this was the first of its festivals which he had
attended, he had long taken a lively interest in its proceed-
ings. Such an institution was particularly needed, as men of
literary genius, it appeared from the history of all times, were
proverbially imprudent. It would seem that those whose
minds were that way bent were less competent than others to
grapple with the common cares of life. Their brief prosperity
they enjoyed without due reflection. They acted, it had been
observed, by one of the most thoughtless of their number, as if
• " The radiant drop glistened on every bough."
Genius was a sort of Atlanta in the race of life. It was as
capable of winning as any competitor. But its attention was
diverted from the course unfortunately by other objects than
golden balls, in consequence of which it was distanced, and
lost the prize. In classical story, they read of a poet who was
so thin, that it was necessary for him to put stones in his
pockets that he might not be blown away. In the same way
poets now want ballast that they might not be overpowered
by the storm, but he was sorry to know that they had it not in
their pockets. Adverting to the patronage which the society
received from the Duke of York, he described his Royal
Highness to be a member of the family which had the honour
to reign over the only free country in Europe. The independ-
ence of letters was of the first importance to a State. This
was felt by that great—or at least by that extraordinary man
Buonaparte, when he, to use a figure taken from one of his
coins, had thrown his reins over the fiery steed of the French
revolution, and curbed it to attend his pleasure. It was thus
that some sycophant proposed to the new Emperor to impose
restrictions on the French Institute. Buonaparte heard him to
the end, smiled, then tapped him on the shoulder, and said,
—" No, no, my friend, at all events we will have a Re-
public of ietters." The votaries of Literature were not
generally rich. There was certainly one individual whose
paper had a value different from that which attached to the
paper of most writers. The case, however, was as extraordi-
nary as the individual himself; but though not rich, there was '
a large body of our writers who were truly independent, and
who looked to no patrons but the public and the booksellers.
That independence was all to them, and there were few who
would wish to see the fair brow of the muse sullied by prostra-
tion in the dust before any despotism, however splendid. He
concluded with a brief panegyric on the great and good
qualities of their Noble President, who had so kindly, and, he
would say it, so beautifully introduced that toast, the drinking
of which had caused him (Mr. Moore) to rise.
Sir T. Lawrence and the Royal Academy was among the
succeeding toasts.
Sir T. I,,twitEsrcE returned thanks, and briefly set forth the
importance of that Society, and the literature which it fostered
in the present state of Society.
The Royal Society of Literature, with the health of the Rev.
George Croly, the City of London, the Stewards and others
who had assisted at the festival or contributed in other ways to
forward the interests of Literature, were severally toasted.
After the Noble Marquis retired, Lord BRANDON took the
Chair, and the harmony of the evening was protracted till near
the approach of midnight.
A number of songs and glees were sung in the course of the
evening by Mr. T. COOKE, Mr. Cowan, Mr. PiiiLairs,
and Mr. GOLD. The last named Gentleman favoured the com-
pany with the old song of " Tom Bowling" in most admirable
style, and was rewarded with thunders of applause.

Monsieur ALEXANDRE, the celebrated Ventri-
loquist, was on a visit a few days ago to Sir WALT E I.t SCOTT, at
Abbotsford,and having chanced to mention to his distinguished
host, that he kept a sort of Album, or Scrap-book, in which
were reposited various tributes which had been paid to his ta-
lents by many eminent individuals of the countries he had vi-
sited, Sir Walter stc;2t aside, while the carriage -was getting
ready for his guest's departure, and immediately presented to
him the following goad-humoured and characteristic lines :
TO MONS. ALEXANDRE.
Of yore, in Old England, it was not thought good,
To carry two visages under one hood :
What should folki say to you, who have faces such plenty,
That from under one hood you last night shew'd us twenty !
Stand forth, arch deceiver ! and tell us, in truth,
Are you handsome or ugly, in age or in youth ?
Man, woman, or child ? or a dog, or a mouse?
Or are you, at once, each live thing in the house ?
Each live thing, did I ask ? each dead implement too !
A work-shop in person—saw, chlsel, and screw,
Above all, are you one individual ? I know
You must be, at the least Alexandre, and Co.
But I think you're a troop—an assemblage—a mob__
And that I, as the Sheriff, must take up the job ;
And, instead of rehearsing your wonders in verse,
Must read you the Riot Act, and bid you disperse !
Abbotsford, 23d April. your
SCOTT.

SMYRNA.—The Spectateztr Oriental contains
the following remarkable event :—" A Greek merchant of note,
named Elia Bali, was to be arrested by order of the Paella ;
being informed in time, he escaped on board an English vessel,
but the British Consul demanded him to be given up. The
English Captain refused to deliVer up a Christian that had
sought protection under a British flag, and waited on the Consul
respecting this affair, who had him arrested and thrown into
prison, And then determined on seizing M. Bali by the Janis-
saries. Lord Spencer, who commanded a frigate on that sta-
tion, hearing of the affair, manned his long-boat, and sent it in
pursuit of the Turks, whom it overtook, and took M. Bali on
board the frigate. The Consul not having paid attention to his
Lordship4s others to set the Captain at liberty, his Lordship
went, with several ofhis officers and men, to the Consul's house,
and delivered the Captain by force."-,-( Courier Pranais.)

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MASONIC NOTICES FOR NEXT WEEK.
ENGLAND.

Monday, May 17, LONDON'. Not. 1,. 3, 14, 13,
284, 293, 308.
COUNTRY. N 01.20, 72, 102, 219, 314-
360, 366, 423, 509, 610,-
521, 583, 579.
Tuesday, - 18, LoNnox. Nos. 33, 42, 266, 309.
GOUNTRY. Nos. 87,- 127, 130, 15r,
• 167, 170, 184, 199, 340,
385, 532, 544, 551, 640'
Wednesday, - 19, LoNnox. Grand Steward's hodr
Nos.. 36, 56, 92, 134,
225' 296. • '
Co L• srn Y. Nos. '95, 105, 124, 145;
207, 225, 339, 342, 465,
• 480, 487, 529, 543, 581;
•
6711, 711.
Thursday, - 20, LoNnoN. Ncs. 65, 128, 152, 274
3811. [louse Corn. Fell.
Sen. at 11.
COUNTRY. Nos. 411, .113, 115, 171 i
2118, 41-4,-451, 453, 4660
469, 511, 661, 657.
Friday, 21, LoYnow. No. 493.
COUNTRY. 211, 30, 193, 4711

. „ 04, ~
GOO, Gin.
Saturday, - 22, Lo)rnolr. * * *
C:ouwrivr. * • •
a ELAND.
Monday, May 17, CORK. Nos. 67.

_ . .
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEEDING&

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