The Sun.
London, England, 1846-04-07 00:00:00

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GEKtriAt THEATRICAL FUND
ASSOCIATION.
The first anniversary festival of this most excellent ~,nd
benevolent association was held last night in the London.
Tavern. There was a large assemblage Of the nobility,
gentry, and literary men of the day present.
Charles Dickens, Esq., in the chair.
After an excellent dinner served in the best style, the
' usual loyal and national toasts were drunk with their accus-
tomed honours.
The CHAIRMAN then rose and said,—Gentlemen, in offer-
ing to you a toast, which has not as yet been publicly drunk
in any company, it becomes incumbent on me to offer a few
words in explanation. In the first place, premising that the
toast will be " The General Theatrical Fund."—(Hear, hear.)
The association, whose anniversary we ,celebrate to-night,
was founded seven years ago, for the purpose of granting
permanent pensions to such of the carps ch anzatire as bad
retired from the stage, either from a decline in their years or
a decay of their powers.—(Hear.) Collected within the rays
of the benevolence of this society are all actors or actresses,
singers or dancers, of five years standing in the profession,
To relieve their necessities and to protect them from want is
the great end of this Society, and it, is good to know that for
seven years the members of it have steadily, patiently, qui-
etly, and perseveringly pursued this end, advancing, by re-
gular contribution, moneys which many of them could ill
afford—(Cheers)—and cheered by no external assistance of
any kind whatsoever. They have served a long and dreary
apprenticeship, but I trust that we will establish to-night
that the indentures are out, and that henceforth the Fund
will enter upon a flourishing and brilliant career. I have
no doubt that you are all aware that there are, and were
when this institution was founded, two other institutions ex-
isting of a similar nature—Covent-garden and Drury-lane—
both of long stindiug, both richly endowed.—(Cheers). It
could not, however, be too distinctly understood, that the
present institution was not in any way adverse to those;
how could it be, when it was only a wide and
broad extension of all that was most excellent in the
principles on which they were founded.—(Hear, hear, and
icheers.)'hat hn at
lty
such
provedan extension
by the
the dramatic corps were excluded from the benefits conferred
.by a membership of either of these institutions; for it was.
facwtasthaabtw the lutegrlYeatboy of
necessary
essential, in order to become a member of the Drury-lane
Society, that the applicant, either he or she, should have
been engaged for three consecutive seasons es a performer.
This was afterwards reduced to a period of two years, but it
really is as exclusive one way as the other, for I need not
tell you that Covent-garden and Drury-lane are only visions
of the past.—(Loud cheering.) In fact, you might play the
bottle conjurer with the dramatic company of the former.—
(Laughter.) The human voice is rarely heard within its
walls save in connexion with the Anti-Corn-law League, or
the anzbic-dextrous prestige of the Wizard of the North.—
(Great laughter and Cheering.) Drury-lane is conducted
now with almost a sole view to the opera and ballet,
insomuch that the statue of Shakspeare over the
door serves as emphatically to point out his grave
as his bust did in the church of Stratford-upon-Avon.—
(Laughter and cheering.) How could the profession gene-
rally hope to qualify for the Drury-lane or Covent-garden
institution, when the oldest and most distinguished members
had been driven from the boards on which they had earned
their reputations—to delight the town in theatres to which
the General Theatrical Fund alone extended?—(Hear, hear.)
I will again repeat, that I attach no reproach to those other
funds with which I have had the honour of being connected at.
different periods of my life. At the time those associations
Were established, an engagement at one of those theatres was
almost a matter of course, and a successful engagement
would last a whole life; but an engagement of three months'
duration at Covent-garden would be indeed a novelty at pre-
sent. It should never be forgotten, that when those two funds
were established the two great theatres were protected by pa-
tent, and that at that time the minor theatres
were condemned by law to the representation of
the most preposterous nonsense, and ;some gentlemen
whom I see around me could no mere belong to the minor
theatres of that day than they could now belong to St. Bar-
tholemew's fair.—(Hear, hear.) As I honour the two:old
funds for the great good, which they have done, so I honour
this for the much greater good it is resolved to do.—(Cheers.)
It is not because I love them less, but because I love this
more—(Laughter)--because it includes more in its opera-
tion. Let us ever remember that there is no class of actors
who stood so much in need of a retiring fund as those who
do not win the great prizes, bat who are nevertheless an
essential part of the theatrical system, and by consequence
bear a part in contributing to our pleasures—we owe them a
debt which we ought to pay. The beds of actors are not those
loch
er
iors el
lives
etsh eayr
are
a hr ea
rcdo,mand posed
th oe fry esrt3r-u
ga rutliefisc ibailt
tfleorw. e r
Thes i n dpeose,d.
r
actor who nightly gives away large fortunes on the boards.
does it on fifteen shillings a week. His deep draughts of
wine smell sadly of cold water—he leaves the princely ban-
quet with an aching appetite.—(Hear, hear.) And if it be
true that the more immense and wonderful this universe is
shown to be, the more important man becomes in the scale
of creation; so it is no less true, I apprehend, that the
greater the instruction and delight we derive from the rich
English drama, the more we are bound to succour and pro-
tect the humblest of those votaries of the art, who add to
our instruction and amusement. It must be admitted that

there is no class of society whom so many people regard with
affection as actors.—(Hear, hear.) We greet them on the
stage—we like to meet ;them in the streets. They almost
always recal to us pleasant associations. Well, then, when
they have strutted and fretted their hour upon the
stage let them not be heard no more—(Hear, hear)—but let
them be heard sometimes to say that they are happy in their
old age.—(Hear, hear.) When they have passed for the last
time from behind that glittering row of light, with.which we
are all familiar, let them not pass away into gloom and dark-
ness,—but let them pass into cheerfulness and light, into a
contented and happy home. This is the object for which we
have met; and I am too familiar with the English character
not to know that it will be effected. When we come sud-
denly in a crowded street upon the care-worn features of a
familiar face,—crossing us like the ghost of pleasant hours
long forgotten—let us not recal those features with_pain, in
sad remembrance of what they once were, but let us in joy
recognise it, and go back a pace or two to meet it once
again, as that of a friend who has beguiled us of a moment of
care, who has taught us to sympathise with virtuous grief,
cheating us to tears for sorrows not our own—and we all
know how pleasant are such tears. Oh, let such a face be
ever remembered as that of our benefactor and onr friend.—

(Loud cheers.) I tried to recollect, in coming here, whether
I had ever been in any theatre in my life from which I
not brought away some pleasant association, however poor
the theatre, and I protest, out of my varied experience, I
could not remember even one from which I had not brought
away some favourable impression, and that commencing with
the period when I believed the clown was a being born to
the world, with infinite pockets, and ending with that in
which. I saw ships completely rigged, carrying men, and
• careering over boundless and tempestuous oceans.—
(Cries of "Hear, hear.") And now, bespeaking you
kindest remembrance of our theatres and actors, I beg to
propose that you drink as heartily and freely as ever a toast
was drunk in this toast-drinking city—( Hear, hear)—" Pros-
perity to the General Theatrical Fund."—(Loud cheers.)
Three times three and one cheer more.
Mr. F. BERKELEY proposed the health of the Chairman,
which was briefly responded to.
Mr. CULLENFORD read the reports of the Society:.
The CHAIRMAN proposed the health of Mr. Webster and
the national drama.
DouGLAs JERROLD, Esq., responded to the toast, and
having returned thanks for Mr. Webster, who he said was
most anxious to forward the drama, he took occasion to
allude to the Chairman's speech, in which it was hinted that
was on the decline, but he considered that the drama
was not gone yet—(Hear, hear)—its death was a joke which
it had been a long time playing ; he considered that if they
would go back and retrace former years attentively they
would find that it had not declined at all.
The CHAIRMAN proposed the health of the treasurer, Mr.
Buckstone, with whom were connected some of the meat
pleasant and delightful reminiscences of the stage. The
security of the concern, however, had not been at all im-
paired by his having been seen in certain public places, con-
stantly asking for the loan of five shillings.—(Laughter.)
Mr. BUCKSTONE returned thanks, their worthy chairman
was well and pleasantly known by actors. They bad studied
the glorious gallery of pictures which he had painted, not
alone for them but for posterity he could see around him
many of the characters which he had drawn, there were
some Nicholas Nickleby's—(Hear, hear)— some Sikes's,
some Squeer's--(Hear, hear)—and there were plenty: of
" artful dodgers"—( Loud laughter)—and there was a " Sairah
Gawp" on the other side of the table about to "propose a
toast."—(Laughter.) Before the actors would have become
eligible for the Covent Garden Fund, they would
have become eligible for the workhouse.—(Hear, hear.)
Mr. Buckstone concluded a witty speech by declaring that
he hoped in a short time to establisha new English Thent rc
for the English author as well as English actor.
to, the company, after spending respondedseparated
Several other toasts having been
sociall)o evening,os proposed pnd
at twelve o'clock.
The musical arraiin•ements were under thedirection.of Mr.
J. L.A Hatton,
ibcratsasziszi, MissteSb lichi b, Miss A. i
w g,
enfoforltlowingemnerniltliaarniltstc:—
i‘aalMiss
M. Williams, Miss Emma Lucombe, Miss Kate Loder, Mrs.
W. Weiss, Miss Moriatt O'Connor; Mr. Hobbs, Mr. Brad-
bury, Mr. Weiss, Mr. Genge, Mr. Chapman, Mr. Lockey,
Mr. Ransford, Mr. Paul Bedford, Mr. Blewitt, Mr. Machin,
Francis, Mr. J. W. Roe, M. Jules de Glimes, Mr. D. W.
Bing, Mr. F. N. Crouch, Mr. Richardson, &c.

THE " COVENT-GARDEN THEATRICAL FUND FES-
TIVAL."—The celebration of the annual festival in aid of the
funds by which the decayed members of the dramatic corps,
of Covent- garden Theatre, are supported took place on Monday
at the Freemasons' Tavern, Great Queen-street. The dinner
vat more than usually good, and' there was nothing to be
complained of on the part of Mr. Bacon, the landlord of the
tavern. His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge
presided, supported by Lord W. Lennox, Lord G. Lennox,
Major-General Macleod, Sir R. Hunter, Professor Taylor,
Mr. P. Borthwick, M.P., Mr. Abingdon, Dr. Manson, Mr.
A. W. Robarts, Mr. D. Bruce, &c. The musical arrangements
were under the direction of Mr. T. Cooke, and many of the
old favourites of the public contributed their efforts to please.
Miss Rainforth and Miss P. Horton were received with the
applause they deserved. The subscriptions amounted to
nearly MU, Including a gift from her Majesty the Queen o
1001. It was also stated that a legacy o 1,0001. had been
bequeathed by a lady since the last festival. The tai
loyal toasts were drunk with the appropriate Honours ;ad
the speech of the evening was as usual, spoken by Mr.
Drinkwater Meadows.
ATTEMPT AT SELF-DESTRUCTION AT CHATHAM.—
Yesterday morning . a young man of respectable appearance levoiu;
placed before the county magistrates at Rochester, oil the charge of
having feloniously attempted to kill himself with powder tt! d,
_,,
The young man gave his name Martin John Dust, from Loil _:ride;
as 19 years of age. It appears that he came from Londtorneo
et, chat-
last, and dined at Mr. Stone's eating-house, lllgblarao, agio„
ham, alter which he left for Maidstone,
rose at eight
slept for the night. On Sunday morning lie
agate to his
o'clock and had his breakfast, ando_ returned
Mr. Stone's family be-
about six o'clock the following evening, andapiiidet whichrc house
roan, and and shortly after that son's f
vg fa pistol, and Mr. Watson, a
came alarmed atihearing
at finding that the young mhalasiv the breast. The bullet had passed
coi,stable, was sent for,
himself in the lea side, Just h•
a,ying stniek a bone, had glanced off
through his clothing,
"'lnjury than leaving a wound. The officer,
intlidleondiscenilatitegoctiter
tr:doinhitsbelyirowebr;
shootinghorrifled
without doing any other
another pistol in the wash-hand stand
,he prisoner, in reply to some observatio lro
on searching
r•lanni'drball to the muzzle ; also some percussion
1 am aware that it is a dre df I"
ni
-
the chairman, said, a ul act to commit
self-destruetion, but I did not know what to do with myself. 1 have
endeavoured to get a situation to go to sea, and I went to Maidstone
to enlist, and was there rejected on account of my chest being so
cloatil:ste:ziptho,,p,Fneeid.ie
..
The prisoner added, in answer to
narrow. Meeting with such disappOlutrnent, and to avoid disgrace,
aSiol tpholienattelid,
oattittdhil
sr .pEalipes,
ofa barrister.resideuoe i
111 e
thetis
I resolved to destroy myself."
other questions, that he had lived in the service of Mr. Ledger, St.
father,John's,
road. Tile magistrates ordered him to he detained until a Comm uni- '
oColimanleerdc flail!
cation had been made to his friends. The prisoner had nothing on
his person but a comb and a key. •
At Hammersmith Police-court yesterday, Mary
Sweeny, a servant of Mr. Godwin Martin, of Chiswick, was charged
with robbing her master ; and a man named Daniel 3l'Cann was
al,o charged with having been in Mr. Martin's house for an improper •
purpose. A policeman saw the woman introduce a strange inan:into •
the house about two o'clock in the morning, and he informed 3lr
Martin of the circumstance. A search was made, when the final
prisoner was found on the roof, in his shirt, having got there ont of
the servant's room window. When the girl's box was searched be- .
fore she was discharged for her misconduct, pawnbrokers' duplicates
were found of a silver spoon and other articles, her master's property.
DWI prisoasrs wars remanded.