The Sun.
London, England, 1870-05-17 00:00:00

ROYAL GENERAL THEATRICAL FUND.

The twenty-fifth anniversary festival held on behalf of
the funds of this charity was celebrated last evening at
the St. James's Hall, under the presidency of his Royal
Highness the Prince of Wales. A numerous and distin-
guished company attended.
At the conclusion of the dinner,

The ROYAL PRESIDENT, who was warmly received, pro-
posed " The Health of Her Majesty the Queen," which
was cordially honoured.
The Duke of SUTHERLAND proposed " The Prince and
Princess of Wales and the rest of the Royal Family,"
which was drunk with great enthusiasm.
The Prince of WALES, in responding, said—l thank you
for the kind manner in which you have received the names
of the Princess and myself. I rejoice that I have had oc-
casion ever since my childhood to go to the theatres, where
I have had opportunities of seeing most excellent plays
and witnessing the performance of the best actors of the
present day, some of whom I now see sitting round me on
all sides. I can assure you that not only the Princess and
myself have derived the greatest pleasure and amusement
from witnessing the plays at the different theatres, but we
have also visited the theatres because we wished to en-
courage a noble profession. (Loud cheers.)
His Royal Highness next proposed the "Army, Navy,
and Volunteers," coupling with the toast the names of
General Sir W.Knollys and Admiral Keppel.
The toast was well received, and acknowledged in due
course by the gallant general and admiral.
His Royal Highness, in proposing the toast of the even-
ing, said—When I look around me this evening, and
see so numerous an assemblage before me, I feel no
doubt that you all evince the great interest you take
in this excellent charity. What charity could be
better than this ? When one thinks how-much amusement
and pleasure we all of us derive by going to the theatre,
does it ever occur to us that the actors and actresses
have very hard lives to undergo? They may be sick or ill,
but still they must appear. Perhaps one of you may have
to act a comical part, although perchance he may have
only recently lost one of his nearest and dearest relatives.
After their natural talents have faded, and when they can
no longer appear on the stage, would you wish them to
starve ? (Cries of " No, no.") Certainly not, gentlemen,
and it was in order to prevent them starving that this
most excellent charity was instituted, and what makes it
still more meritorious is that it was formed by the
actors themselves. Now, gentlemen, although many
chairmen who have occupied this position on previous
occasions have brought under your notice the various
facts connected with the institution, it may be just
as well that I should recapitulate some of them. The
Prince then entered into an able review of the past
and present of the institution, and concluded by saying—
With these few points connected with the history of the
fund I bring this charity before you, and I have now only
to express in a few words my earnest hope that you will
make up the deficiency of £3OO, and that I shall not call
on you in vain to support liberally this deserving fund. I
beg to couple with this toast the name of one of our oldest
and most eminent actors, Mr. Buckstone. (Cheers.) I
have had the pleasure of knowing him from my childhood,
and have often heartily enjoyed his admirable representa-
tions. (Loud cheers.)
Mr. BUCKSTONE, who was loudly cheered said—Since
the first dinner of the General Theatrical Fund in 1846,
now 24 years ago, we have been honoured by the presence
of many distinguished chairmen, selected from the ranks
of literature, art, and, I may say politics, But to-night
we may say, with the chairmanship of the Prince of
Wales, we have "crowned the edifice." (Loud cheers.)
That his royal highness is a constant and warm supporter
of the drama is evident from his frequent visits with the
Princess to all the London theatres, and his ready appre-
ciation of every worthy novelty; this taste for the drama
mayin some measure be attributed to his early introduction
to dramatic art at Windsor Castle, where, on having the
honour of appearing there by invitation of her Majesty and
the lamented Prince Consort, I have frequently seen his royal
Highness, with his brothers and sisters, seated at the feet
of their father and mother, witnessing with delight the
various representations.—Mr. Buckstone concluded an
eloquent speech by informing the company that
her Majesty had again sent her handsome dona-
tion of £lOO, and alluding to the Queen, remarked
although unfortunately, she does not now visit our
theatres, yet she does not forget us ; and so, my lords,
ladies, and gentlemen, with such a truly Royal example
before you, I can only conclude by hoping that, according-
to your generous feelings and your worldly means, you
will come and do likewise. (Loud cheers).
Mr. J. B. BUCKSTONE proposed " The Trustees."
Dr. DORAN responded, and next proposed " The
Drama," which was acknowledged by Mr. Boucicault.
Lord WILLIAM LENNOX proposed The Distinguished
Visitors," which was responded to by the NAWAB NAZIM
of BENGAL.

Mr. ALFRED WIGAN proposed " The Ladies," and Dr.
RUSSELL acknowledged the toast.
The subscriptions amounted to upwards of £7OO, in-
cluding £lOO from her Majesty, £lOO from the royal
chairman, and £5O from the Nawab Nazim.

The exceptionally great interest felt in the Long-
ford election is testified to by the large number of votes
polled. The total given to both candidates was 2,136. At
no former contest have votes reached 2,000.

THE CONTAGIOUS DISEASES ACT.—A large town's
meeting was held at Leeds last night, the Mayor presiding,
at which a resolution was passed unanimously that the
Contagious Diseases Act are immoral, degrading, and sub-
versive of the liberty of the subject, ineffectual for their
proposed object of lessening disease, and ought to be re-
pealed. A counter-resolution found no seconder. Petitions
in accordance with a resolution were adopted.

A SHIP CANAL SCHEME.—The railway companies
continue to charge exorbitant rates of carriage between
the Midland districts and the ports of London, Liverpool,
&c. A movement is on foot on the part of some
of the largest freighters, with the view of estab-
lishing a steamship navigation between London and
Birmingham on the one hand, and Liverpool, Man-
chester, and Birmingham on the other. A survey has
been made by Mr. Hamilton Fulton, who proposes to im-
prove the navigation of the Thames as high up the river
above London-bridge as possible, by removing the ob-
structions (caused by the exisience of old bridges) to in-
sufficient water way, and the hard portions of the bed of
the river which now prevent the effectual scour of the
bottom by the ebb and flood waters. Further' on he
would construct a ship canal.