The Sun.
London, England, 1823-04-22 00:00:00

COVENT GARDEN THEATRICAL FUND.

The Eighth. Anniversary of this admired and
useful Charity was celebrated yesterday at the Freemasons'
Tavern. The recess at the back of the Chair was decorated in
the usual manner with the Royal Arms, &c.; and the gallery,
was filled at an early hour by some very elegant and interest-
ing females. At about seven o'clock his Royal Highness the
Duke of Yomt took the Chair, amidst the applause of the
company ; and about 230 Noblemen and Gentlemen sat down
to dinner. The vocal department was, throughout the evening,
exceedingly well managed • and on the cloth being removed,
Non Nubia wvm performed in excellent style by Sir George
Smart, Messrs. Bellamy, Goulding, Broadhurst, Hawes, Fitz-
william, Evans, Leete, Clark, Smith, Gibbon, &c.
The Rohm. CUAIRMAN then proposed the health or the
Patron, " The King," which was drank with three times
three, and-loud and long continued acclamations. God save
the King followed, and was chorussed by the majority of the
company.
After the customary loyal and national toasts had been pro-
posed and drank with applause,
The Duke of YORK proposed, " Success to Covent Gar-
den Theatrical Fund," which was drank with unanimous

applause. ,
On the request of the ROYAL CHAIRMAN, made through
the mediuni of Mr. Fawcett, Mr. Brehm sang the Death of
Nehon. It was a noble effort, and gave general delight.
The Earl of Taw KERVILLE then rose to propose a toast. It
was one in which he was sure every person present would join
with the highest satisfaction. That was the Eight Anniversary
on which their Royal Chairman had condescended to preside
over their meeting, and he was convinced that the continued
patronage of that Illustrious Personage must be esteemed as a
proof of the value of the Institution, and the benefits it confer-
red on those for whose assistance it was founded. His Lord-
ship. then gave the health of the Royal Chairman, which was
received with three times three, and the most enthusiastic ap-
probation. As soon as the applause had subsided,
His ROYAL HIGHNESS rose to express the high satisfaction
he had received from the very kind and flattering manner in
which the company had been pleased to drink his health.—
He was extremely sorry that it had been necessary to postpone
the celebration of their anniversary to so late a date, and
be feared that his late indisposition might prove detrimental
to the interests of the Charity, by causing that delay ; but he
sincerely trusted that the company would, by their liberality,
remove those doubts; and prove that it was the Charity
itself which interested them and commanded their exertions.—
His Royal Highness again thanked them for the honour they
had conferred on him ; and, on resuming his seat, was loudly
applauded.
On the health of the Vice-Presidents being drank, Mr.
LA:wino)/ presented himself to the Chair. He had been request-
ed
by the Vice-Presidents to return their thanks for the honour
which had been conferred on them. And he begged leave
to assure the company both on their parts and on his own,
that they should be ever happy to contribute every thing in
their power for the prosperity of so excellent and useful a cha-
rity. It was but natural and just that they should endeavour
to assist the families of those men, who by the etertion of their
talents hail so often afforded theta the highest satisfaction. And
he must confess that it was delightful to him to ace a Member
of the Royal Family presiding on that occasion—one who had
ever been found ready and anxious to advocate the cause of hu-
manity and the best interests of this country.—(Loud ap-
plause.)—lt had been his chance to attend many public dinners
on charitable occasions, and he had always found one of that
Illustrious Family in -the Chair—(Applause)—and he was
sure.he should not be accused of flattery in thus bearing
an honest evidence of those virtues, the exercise of which
must ever render them dear to the heart of every Eng-
lishman.—(Continued applause.)—He was convinced that lie
was only speaking in unison with their feelings, when he
expressed his admiration of the talents which had been em-
ployed in supporting the Drama. It was to actors that they
were indebted for many of their most pleasurable hours ; anti
many of the noblest associations and sentiments were aroused
by their exertions. But, alas ! it too often happened that the
noblest ornaments of the stage had been reduced to distress,
end it was their duty to come forward with open hands, as they
did with warm hearts, and to assure them that they need never
dread. that poverty which had too often overtaken their prede-
cessors.—(Applause.)
A humorous song was well sung by Mr. Connor.
On the health of Mr. Valve ETT, the Treasurer of the Fund,
being drank, he rose and addressed the company as follows :
" After so many Anniversaries having passed, any so many
repetitions of attendance by the same Noble and Generous Pa-
trons, the interest you take in the welfare of this Institution is
so obvious, that it would be bad taste to waste your time by
panegyrising (in general terms) this useful Association. But
if circumstances have taken' place within the last year, which
will cast a lustre over the munificence of our Donors., which will
prove that the Stage has possessed individuals who deserved the
great iaterest that has been bestowed upon it; and if recent
events will evince the incalculable utility of this most excellent
Dramatic Fund ; I trust it will be admitted that I should not
suffer such things to pass without detailing them, and, as well
as nly humble abilities will admit, pour forth the grateful
than. I.s of myself and coadjutors, for the inestimable blessings
scatt red by you amongst our unfortunate brethren. ,
[l!.a.c Mr. Fawcett gave an extract from a pamphlet enumer-
ati: the various qualifications requisite to forma perfect actor;
al.' .ism continued.]
'Pease, Gentlemen, are said to be some of the requisites
es, utial to a finished actor. To expect there should be many
actem perfectly qualified, would be unreasonable ; to say there
1 nee .;r was one so gifted, would be unjust; I may say, that mourn-
fhl remembrance presents to toy mind one in whom these per-
fee,ions were all united—(A burst of approbation)—an actor
NO out we have but lately lost—(Continued applause)—and one
who justly stood rich in the respect of every dramatic critic
possessed of taste and learning. It must be confessed that the
eadOwnients I have enumerated are a rare combination of the
gifts of nature, and the acquirements of art—but John Kemble
enjoyed them in an eminent degree; and if I am permitted to
touch upon his moral character, and to declare that he was an
afthctionate relative, a steady friend--(Applausc) —and an
exemplary Christian ; then, Gentlemen, I think the Stage
may he proud indeed of having possessed such a member ;
m and I should ill discharge y duty as its advocate, to suffer
this day i p pass without offering my feeble tribute to his ire-
mory. Great, however, as Mr. Kemble was, we have now
only to lament the man, for the actor had made his bow
to you some years back. But, Gentlemen, we are called
upon now to lament another loss, to us heavy indeed; one
which I may, perhaps, be permitted to call, not more a pub-
lic loss, than to us a domestic calamity—a loss which every
Gentleman, who has been in the habit of frequenting our
meeting, will not fail, on this day, to be painfully reminded—
he " who was wont to set the table in a roar '—he whom
our Illustrious Chairman so often graciously condescended to
encourage in delighting us with his York! you're wanted ! is
no more. As John Kemble might be called the Sir Joshua
Reynolds of his art, so .John Emery may fairly be styled the
Morland of it—for truth and nature, archness and simplicity,
lie was as conspicuous on the stage, as for suavity, integrity,
and every manly feeling, off it. lam sure, Gentlemen, it
must be a heartfelt Satisfaction to you to know, that by your
support of this Institution, we have been enabled to Assist our de.
parted friend's family with 751. per annum, 40/. to his widow,
and 35/. to his aged mother. lam aware it has been said that
our poor friend should not have had occasion for this assistance ;
and it is one of my chief inducements for entering on this sub-
ject to rescue his memory from the aspersion. I know
the contrary to be the fact. I know what his income was, and
I fearlessly declare, ,that with his feeling heart and numerous
family, it was not possible for him to be beforehand with the
world, much less (cut off as he was in the prime of his exist.
enec) could it be expected that he should be independent.' I
confess I loved him—every body who knew him must have done
so—for in him were combined a rare assortment of talents, blend-
ed with an extraordinary
.proportion of good nature, good hu-
mour, anti every companionable qualification. Ile was a painter
by taste, a musician by education, a poet by necessity, and an
actor by nature.—(Great applause.)
" Gentlemen, i this Institution had done nothing beyond
the assistance it has afirded my poor friend's family, I am