The Sun.
London, England, 1824-02-13 00:00:00

ROYAL UNIVERSAL DISPENSARY.

The eighth anniversary of this excellent Institution was ce-
lebrated yesterday by a public dinner at the City of London
Tavern, I3ishopsgate-street. At six o'clock, his Royal High-
ness the Duke of York entered the room, accompanied by Lord
Bolton, Sir C. Flower, Baronet, Alderman Thompson, M.P.,
Alderman Garratt, R. Bernal, M.P., Alderman Key, C. Bar-
clay, Esq., the Hon. and Rev. E. J. Tumour, Dr. J. B. Davis,
H. Read, Esq., W. Banbury, Esq., George. Durant. Esq., and
several other Gentlemen. His Royal Highness having taken
the chair, the company, consisting of nearly 250 persons, sat
down to an excellent dinner. After dinner, Non Nobis was
sung in good style by Messrs. Taylor and Broadhurst and other
vocal performers. _ _

The cloth being removed, the usual toasts of " The King,"
" The Duke of York," " the Army and Navy," &c., were
drank with loud applause. His Royal Highness, after a short
speech, in which he eulogized the object of the Institution, and
congratulated its friends on the numerous and respectable assem-
blage which was then met in its support, gave " Prosperity to
the Royal Universal Dispensary for Children," which was
drank kith loud applause.
Dr. J. B. DAVIS, in returning thanks for the toast, took a
review of the Institution from its commencement. From
this we learn that since the establishment of the charity,
not fewer than 60,000 children had been gratuitously pre-
scribed for, of whom not one in 60 had died. It was also
stated, that in the same time, the deaths of children, under ten
years of age, within the bills of mortality, were 5,000 less
than in any preceding seven years. It was added, that from
the establishment of the " Royal Infirmary for Children," in
the Waterloo-road, (which is now in progress, and the comple-
tion of which is only delayed by the want of sufficient funds),
still greater benefits might be expected to accrue to the children
'of the poor. In the course of the evening a liberal subscription
was made at the tables in aid of the funds of the charity. His
Royal Highness having quitted the chair at half-past nine
o'clock, Alderman GARRATT was called thereto, and the
friends of the charity continued to enjoy the festivities of the
evening to a late hour.

The Duke and Duchess of CLARENCI;, by ap-
pointment, went to the Ilousc of Lords yesterday, to view the
New Royal Gallery, &c. Their Royal Highnesses were ac-
companied by two of the hisses Fitzclarence, &c. The Peers'
door was opened, and the Officers of the House were in attend-
ance to wait on their Royal Highnesses; as were Mr. Soane,
the Architect ; Sir T. Tyrwhitt, Usher of the Black Rod ; and
Mr. Wright, Deputy Housekeeper of the House of Lords.
The Royal and distinguished party having examined the New
Gallery, with which they were much delighted, then passed
through the House of Lords, viewed the 'throne, &c.; went
to the House of Commons ; and after that severally examined
the new Law Courts in Westminster Hall. The party ex-
pressed-high admiration of the improvements, and of the rapi-
dity with which they have been executed. _ _

ADELent THEATne.—A new burletta, entitled
Tom Jones, was represented last night at this
Theatre, in which the main story was abridged
into three acts, with clearness and humour. The
spirited hero of the piece was well supported by
Waexcli, Captain Fizpatrick was rendered pro-
minent by LEE (the Alanager), Partridge, with
whimsical naivete, by WILKINSON, and Mrs.
Honour by Mrs. WAyrArr, with ease and viva-
city. Sophia also found a tolerable representa-
tive in Aliss HAMMEISLEY, particularly in her
musical exertions, and the whole was amusing. It
was very well received. Such an entertainment
as this, drawn from a popular novel which repre-
sents real life, is much more pleasing than the
horrffic pieces which can afford no moral improve-
ment,and scare rather than divert. A Comic Opera,
with the same title, was brought forward many
years ago at Covent-Garden Theatre, and so
well received, that we wonder it has not been
revived, rather than to produce the broad nonsense
of the present day. It was written by JOSEPH REED,
Esq., the author of The Register Office, a very po-
pular farce in its day, and which also might
be successfully revived. Mr. REED also wrote
a tragedy, entitled Dido, in which the beau-
' tiftd Episode in The YEneid was drama-
tized with poetical spirit and judgment. The
son of this Gentleman, we understand, has
often endeavoured with filial reverence, to pro-
cure the revival of this tragedy, but in vain,
though its intrinsic merits are well calculated to
recommend it to public favour. Such is too often
the fate of dramatic Genius for want of powerful
interest, or due judgment in the purveyors for
public amusement.
DIZAMATIC LICENCER.—Never, we believe, has
any appointment been allotted with more judg-
ment than the recently vacant office of Dramatic
Licenser to Mr. COLMAN. His appointment is
highly honourable to the taste and justice of the
LORD CHAMBERLAIN, as well as peculiarly ap-
propriate to the talents of Mr. CoLmAN, the most
deservedly popular dramatic writer of the pre-
sent day. His judgment will assuredly rescue
the public from modern trash, while his liberality
will he equally active in giving due encourage-
ment to works that may require no other recom-
mendation than their own inherent merits.