The Sun.
London, England, 1856-05-08 00:00:00

EVENING, MA.Y 8 1856.

VIE BOYA L LITERARY FUND.

Last night tfie anniversary festivil of this irietitution—,
founded in 1790_with the view to administer assistance to
anthdre of genius and learuing MD may be reduced to
distress by unavoidable celamities, or deprived by en-
-feeleted faculties or declining life of he power of literary
exertion—was• held at the Freemasons' Tavern, when
about 150 noblemen and gentlerner, including several.
distinguished names hi the republic of letters, 'sat down
to dinner under the preeidency of be Royal Highness.
the Duke of Cathbridge. Among tie company present.
were hie Excellency Mr... Dallas, the atmrican Minister
hie Excellency M. Van de Weyer, tle Belgian Ambas-
sador ; Lord Ravens worth, Lerd 7eignmouth, Lord
Dynevor, L rd. Harry Vane, the I3iltop of Oxford, Mr.
Napier, M.P., Sir Wm. Fraser, Sir Henry Ellis, Sir
John Burgoyne, General' Beatson, Dr. Sand With, Mrs
R. Bell, Mr. Baldwin, and the Rer. Curies Merivale.
On the rereeial of' the cloth the ustiil loyal and con-
stitutional toasts were given from, tie Glair, that of,
"The Army and Navy" baring been :esponded to by
Lieut.-Ge.neral Sir John Burgoyne.Hii Royal Highness
the Chairman also gave " the Carps Dp:oniatieue,"
which M. Van de Weyer replied.
The CRAIBMAN then rose-to propase the toast of the
evening, and in doing so said. he had en especial claim
npon 'the indulgence of the company vhea he looked
over the list-of names of distinguished nee who hid pre-
sided over the festivals of this society .n former years.
He had no, literary position in this country, and his only
claim to occupy the place he did among 'ham that night,
and-to be the advocate of this institution, was that he felt
that it was desirable that such an institution should be
supported, not only by those more immediately interest-
ing themselves.iu the-subject, but by the -community at
large. (Cheers.) He. felt himself inimeMurably inferior
to his pr'ed'ecessors in the chair in all" nte save one, in
which he did not
-admit ho. was inferier.to any man,
and that was as a warm friend and sincere admirer
of the institution for which he 'now claimed their
support.. The report, which would be afterwards read,
entered so fully into details as to the operations of the
society that he would only address himself generally to
the objects of the Literary Fund and the advantages de-
rived from it. The institution, as they were aware, was
established in 1790, and its aim was to afford assist
ance and support'to literary persons, who from various
circumstances, but certainly not from any fault of their
own, found themselves less fortunate than many of their
brethren in the profession of literature, and such a society
whether it was curiugeied. with literature or with any
branch of science, or any occupation iu life was calculated
to diffuse much real and substantial good among deserv-
ing persons suffering from mister tures, and had therefore
an urgent claim upon the consideration of the wealthy and
chamitable part of the commuuity. The mode in which
this society in particular.was conducted had an especial
claim upon the gratitude: of the sOole body connected
with literature in general, taking into consideration the
extreme delicacy with which it dispensed the funds at its
disposal for the relief of literary men suffering from
straitened circumstances, and whose susceptibility in-
duced themlo shrink with the greatest reluctance from
appealing for support to .the charity or humanity of
others. One of its fundamental rules was that no name
of any one of the recipients of its bounty was ever
divulged, except, peihaps, to the individual who, like
himself, was called to fill the chair at its anniversary
meetings, and, Who was permitted to examine the records
of the institution with the view of bearing his testi-
mony to the care and attention observed in the distri-
bution of its funds. Looking back to the literary his..
tory of this country, without alluding to any particular
names, there was no doubt that many of_ our most illus.
triune men bad been, at some time or other in their'
career, in greatly straitened circumstances, if not in
absolute want. If any such were now placed in a simi-
lar position they could now have recourse to this society,
through the timely aid of which, so judiciously adminis-
tered, they might not, only be aided and assisted in a mo-
ment of great need, but enabled to assume a position in.
which they might be more useful to their country and
mankind at large than before. He sincerely hoped that
nothing would occur to make such a society* languish,
because it was one which reflected the greatest credit on
the general literary public by the support they gave it,
and because the assistance it rendered was not confined
to struggling men of letters in this country only, but
was occasionally extended to the relief of foreigners.
Of that they had an instance in M. Chateaubriand, who,
though at one time assisted from the funds of this in-
stitution, afterwards stood in the position of Ambas-
sador to this country, was accustomed to express his
gratitude for the benefits he derived when circumstances
made him a recipient of its bounty. He had been per-
mitted by Lord Stanhope and Mr. Cardwell, the literary
executors of the late Sir R. Peel, to announce that they
had sent a donation of 1001. to the funds of the society
—part of the proceeds of the sale of the first portion of
certain papers left by Sir Robert, and which were now
about to be given to the world. Such adonation reflected
great credit on the discrimination of those two gentle-
men, and was, as it were, a legacy tp the society by one
of the most illustrious statesmen of this country in mo-
dern times. (Cheers.) His Royal Highness conc:uded by
giving "Prosi-serity to the Literary Fund.'
The toast was drunk. with acclamation.
At a 'subsequent period of the evening his Royal Eigh•
ness p:oposed, in anappropriate speech, "The Literature
and Science of the United States and his Excellency the
American Minister."

Mr. DALLAS, in rising to respond to the toast, was en-
thusiastically cheered. He said—My lords and gentle-
men, after thanking, as I now do, his Royal Highness
for recognising by that toast the literature and science of
my cou❑try, and, alter thanking this company for hav-
ing received that toast with impressive cordiality, it
would perhaps be most prudent for me to resume my
seat, and to avoid the remarks necessarily incident to
the handling of a subject of which I cannot pretend to
be master.

" A little learning is a dangerous thing •
Drink deep, or taste not, the Pierian 'spring."
(A. laugh.) There are, however, a few recollections that
stimulate me to do something more. Let me remind you
of an historical truth peculiarly interesting to me at this
moment. Over the sma.ll and hesitating meeting which
in 1773 constituted the germ of this now flourishing and
brilliant institution of beneficence presided a countryman
of my own—(cheers)—and it it be true, as doubtless it is,
that the severe and practical character of his mind re-
fused to entertain the sanguine hopes of your subsequent
founder, still it was Beejamin Franklin, the American
sage, philosopher, and statesman, who gave from the
choir of that meeting his grave sanction to the efforts
and purposes which subsequently—zealously persevered
in—have produced the triumph I now witness. (Cheers.)
Nor can I be altogether insensible to the fact that a re-
lative of my own was the great -grandson of your first
chairman. (Hear.) Marked by the intellectual charac-
teristics of his ancestors, and achieving now, is an official
occupation in the United States, and amidst the loftiest
spheres of science, a fame at least equal, I feel bound,
as his representative in a certain sense, to co-operate
in the expression of all honour and adhesion to the cor-
poration whose generously sustaining hand is unrestricted
by invidious limits. (Cheers.) It was my lot, about 10
years ago, as presiding chancellor of an institution for
increasing the diffusion of knowledge among men—all
men—men without distinction of class, of party, of
faith, or of country—to act in that capacity and at that
institution, founded upon and subsisting by the bounty
of a wise and benevolent Englishman—(sheers)—and in
accepting the munificent bequest of Smithson, in the in-
stitution bearing his name, and now in successfultbpera-
Con in the city of Washington, and giving that muni-
ficent bequest a direction analogous to your own, the
Government of the United States itself has paid a just
homage to the principles and practices of this society.
(Cheers.) It would afford me great pleasure, and per-
haps it would cater to my national pride, to have my
name identified with the intellectual band by whom the
literature and science of the United States have been
advanced and illustrated. I abstain from that at this
hour of the night. They owe a heavy debt, payable in
the coin of the brain, to the genius of this island. But
let me say that their labours are indefatigable to reduce
that debt, and already they cease to regard, as a hopless
achievement, the payment of that debt in full. (Cheers.)
Since my arrival, within the last seven weeks, in your
great capital, I have been delighted to listrn to eulogies
upon the system of American juridical science from lips
which are the most eloquent and learned in Westmin-
ster-hall ; I have been delighted to hear intermingled
the names of Alison, Bancroft, Prescott, Macaulay,
Irving, and Grote ; I have been delighted to remark
that no exclusion from the almost unimaginable pre-
cincts of Waverley," " Vanity Fair"; and se my
Novel" is 'harshly prescribed against the Indian ro-
mances and sea tales of Cooper, or against " The House
of Seven Gabels," and " The Scarlet Letter ;" in fine, I
have been glad to perceive that the sarcastic criticism
has grown obsolete and been permanently banished,
which I have heard in my youth, " Whoreads an Ame-
rican book ?" (Cheers.) It is from this harmony in
the scientific and literary expression of the two coun-
tries that we draw our best hopes of harmony in our
general intercourse with each other. (Cheers.) The
influence of authors over communities, when combined,
is neither to be doubted nor exaggerated. Let us, then,
trust that the copious, strong, polished language com-
mon to England and America will cease to be the me-
dium of strife, and become, on the contrary, an instru-
ment of mutual instruction, conciliation, and peace.
(Loud cheers,)
Mr. GODWIN read an extract from the report of the
society, from which it appeared that 53 grants, making
an aggregate of 1,6551., had been made from the funds
during the 'past year, being a larger sum than it had
ever before dispensed in any former year. Of these, 31
had been made to gentlemen who had been relieved for
the first time. The permanent Fund consisted at pre-
sent of 21,3001. Consols, producing an annual dividend
of 6391., in addition to about 4561., the produce and
rents of the stock of the Newton property and the New-
ton estate at Whitechapel.
Lord RAVENSWORTM, in a complimentary speech, in
the course of the evening, proposed " the health of his
Royal Highness the Chairman." Lord HARRY VANE
gave, "the Historians," to which the Rev. C.
MERIVALE
responded. Mr. R. BELL proposed, " the Writers of
13,riodical Literature," associating the name of Mr
Henry Reeve with the toast, which that gentleman
acknowledged. Sir WILLIAM FRASER gave, " the
Vice-Presidents;" to which the Bishop of OXFORD

..

re,poncleil. Mr. NAPIER, gaye; "the Writers
on Science, and Profeisor Oven ; ' • and "the Tria-
yellers, Ekucl Sandyvith " Was:"propesed by Lord.
DYNEVOR. .
The subscriptions amounted to 1;3501., of whiciii
guineas weregiven by her Majesty, 201. by the Duke:of
Cynbridge, and 450/. by. Mr. George Barron, a gentle-
man residing inTerkshire. tbb proceedingi were prp-
tracted to an ad..iariced hour.:

GRAND BANQUET TO HER, MAJESTI72

.MIXjSTJ $.

. .
Last night the Lord :Mayor entertained her Majesty's
lginisteis at a magnificent !magnet in.the -Egyptian Hrill
of the Man.,ion,hc use. The dinner to her Alajesty's
Ministers, although an event of annual 'oecurienee in the
City of London, was on: the present occasion rendered
of more than usual interest inconsequence of the con-
clusion of the treaty of peace. The festivity partook,
therefOre, of something of the nature of a peace festival,
and, the addresses •of the various members of the Goverri• I

,
merit possessed in consequence amore than ordinary
amount of interest. The magniacent bill in which the
banquet took place peas decorated with great taste, And
•

.
a injority of the guests being in court or official costume
gave an 'appearance of 'magnificence to the enteitaic-
ment harmonised. well with the importance of the
occasion. .

Among the guests preseht we noticed—The French
Ambassador and Countess de Parsigny, the Turkish Am-
bassador and Madame Musurus, Madame Van de Weyer,
MaiqUis d'Azeglio, Sardinian Minister. M. Tricoupi,
Greek Minister, and Madlie. Tricoupi ; Baron Bentick ;
Count Bernstarf, Prussian Minister ; Count Vitzthum,
Viscount Patmerston, DtiChees of Sutherland, the Lard
Chancellor and Lady Oran worth, .Earl and 'Countess
Granville, Sir George and Lady Grey, Earl of Harro,a-by,
Earl and Countess Clarendon, Right Hon. 11. and Lady
Mary Labouchere, Lord Panmure, Sir G. Cornewall
and Lady Theresa Lewis, and Miss Lyster, Sir Charles
and Lady Mary Wood, Right Hon. M. Talbot and Me,
Baines, Right Hon. R. and 'Mrs. Vernon Smith, Lord
and Lady Stanley of Alderley, Eart Spencer, Marquis
of Breadalbane, Right Hon. E. and Mts. Horaman,
Right Hon. R. and Mrs. Lowe, Right Hon. Sir Ben-
jamin and Lady Hall, Marquis of Anglesea, Marquis of
Clanricarde and Marchioness of Clanricarde, Earl For-
tescue, Earl and Countess Wicklow, Viscount:and Vis.
countess Torrington, Viscount Ebring ton, Marchioness of
Townshend and Viscount Raynhatu, Viscount and Vis-'
countess Duncan, Lord and Lady Wodehouze, Ler,'
Monteagle, Lord Denman, Lord BrCughton, Lord
Campbell and Countess Stratheden, Lord Chief Justice
and Lady Jervis, Lord Robert GrosVenor, Lord and
Lady Alfred Hervey, Lord and Lady Alfred Paget,
Lord and Lady Ernest Bruce, Baron and Baroness and
Miss de Rothschild, Sir Walter and Lady C. Stirling,
Sir James Duke, Bart., Sir Augustus Clifford, Bart.,
and Lady Elizabeth Clifford, Admiral Sir E Lyons,
Bart., and Miss Lyons, Admiral Eden, Mr. Attorney-
General, Mr. Solicitor General Lady and Miss Bethell,
Sir 11. L. Bulwar and Lady Bulwer, Sir Roderick and
Lady Murchison, Major-General Sir E. Cast, General
Fox, Sir Georga Maclean, Right Hon. Harry Fitzroy,
M.P., Right Hon. C. Villiers, M.P., Baron and Ba-
roness Goldsmid, Right Hon. B. Goodenough Hayter,
M.P., and Mrs. Hayter, Lord Advocate for Scotland
and Mrs. Moncreiff, Right Hon. Attorney-General for
Ireland, and Mr. J. Wilson, M.P., and Mrs. Wilson,
Bernal Osborne, M.P., and Mrs. Bernal Osborne, Sir
Joseph Paxton, M.P., Hon. Mr. Bouverie and Mrs.
Brand, Mr. Danby Seymour, M.P., Mr. Massey, M.P.,
Mr. F. Peel, M.P. Mr. J. Ball, M.P., Mr. R. W.
Grey, M.P., Mr. E. H. Craufurd. M.P., Mr. Raikes
Currie, M.P:, and Mrs. Raikes Currie, Mr. W. Chaplin,
M.P., and. Mrs. W. Chaplin, Mr. Alderman Cubitt,
M.P., Mr. Divett. M.P,, Mr. G. Carr Glyn, M.P.,
and Mrs. G. C. Glyn, Mr. Cbarles Grenfell, M.P., and
Mrs. C. Grenfell, Mr. Samuel Gregson, M.P., and Mrs.
Gregson, Baron and Baroness Chasseron, Mr. Hickman
Hodgson, Mr. Thomson Hankey, M.P., and Mrs. Thom-
ism' Hankey, Colonel Copham, Mr. Hall, M.P., Mr.
Headlam, M.P., and Mrs. Headlam, Mr. S: Laing,
M.P., Mr. R. Monckton Milnes, M.P., and Mrs.
Monckton Mines, Mr. J. Ricardo, M:P., and Mrs.
Ricardo, Mr. J. B. Smith, M.P., and Mrs. J. B.
Smith. Mr. J. Walter, M.P., and Mrs. Walter, Mr.
and Mrs. P. Salomons, Mr. and Mrs. Wagg, the
Governor of the Bank of England and Mrs.
Wiguelin, Deputy Governor of the Bank of England,
Col. Sykes. chairman of the East India Company ; the
Hon. D. Mangles, R.N., deputy chairman of the East
India Company ; and Hon. T. Mangles, treasurer of
Christ's Hospital ; Mrs. Gilpin, Alderman and Colonel
Wilson and Mrs. Wilson, Alderman and Mrs. Morti-
mer, Aldermaa and Mrs. Hunsphery, Alderman Sir. W.
and Lady Magnay, Sir G. Carroll and Mrs. Cobden, Sir
J. Musgrove, Bart., Mr. Alderman and Mrs. Sidney,
and Sir F. G. Moon, Bart., and Lady Moon, Mr. Al-
derman and Mrs. Wire, Mr. Alderman and Mrs. Carter,
Sir H. and Lady Muggeridge, Alderman and Sheriff
and Mrs. H. Kennedy, Alderman and Sheriff Rose, Mr.
Alderman Eagleton, Mr. Alderman Lawrence, Sir Joho,
Lady, and Mrs. Key, Mr. and Mrs. C. Pearson, Mr.
and Mrs. Baker, Mr. and Mrs. Lott, Mr. and Mrs.
Hale, Mr. and Mrs. Wood, Mr. Causton, Mr. Under-
Sheriff and Mrs. Stone, Mr. Under-Sheriff and Mrs.
Rose, Rev. Mr. Weekes, Rev. and Mrs. Moon, Mr. Bro-
therton, M.P., &c.

The Health of her Majesty, of Prince Albert, and
the rest of the Royal Family," having been proposed in
suitable terms by the Lord Mayor, and drank with the
usual loyal enthusiasm by the company,
The LORD MAYOR proposed "The health of the Em-
peror and Empress of the French." In do so his lord-
ship said the world has recently beheld the spectacle of
two great nations cordially co-operating together for one
common object, for the purpose of securing the interests
and stability of the great cause of Eur.,pean civilisation.
The attitude which France and England has assumed in
the prosecution of the war, and the friendship which has
been cemented in the battle-field, will, I trust, continue
during long years of prosperous and unbroken peace. It
was his most hearty wish, and that, he believed, was
shown by all the citizens of London, that the Emperor
and Empress of the French might be blessed with every
blessing of domestic felicity. (Cheers.)
His Excellency M. DE PERSIGNY, the French Ambas-
sador, in acknowledging the toast, said Messieurs
Les sentiruens qua Milord Maire vient d'exprimer re-
pondent filelemeht a ceux de l'Emperenr et de la France
a l'egard de l'Angleterre. (Hear, hear.) Apres cette
guerre .qui dans le court espace de deux annees a resolu
l'une des plus grandes question de notre siecle ; apres
cette guerre qui a ete noble entre toutes les guerros,
par le but qu'elle s'est proposee, par les principes d'hu-
manite qu'elle a mis en pratique et par la moderation
qui en a fire le termo ; apres cette guerre en no mot qui
restera dams l'histoire l'un des plus glorieux episodes de
la civilisation ; ce que la France desire avant tent c'est
de conserver dans la pair l'alliance qui dans la guerre a
produit de si grandes chores. (Cheers.) Ce vceu de la
France qui est egalement, j'en, suis convaincu, celui do
l'Angleterre, co vceu sera, exauce. Car, messieurs, au
point de l'histoire ou nous semnies parvenus, it n'eXiste
plus rien qui paisse nous diviner. (Cheers.) Nos anciens
ressentiments, nous les avons eteints a jamais dans a
confraternite de champ de bataille ; mais nous avons fait
plus encore peutetre pour notre union en repudiant lee
uns et les mitres ces fansses doctrines economiques du
passe jui fondaient la prosperite d'un pays sur la ruine
de ses voisons. (Cheers.) Dieu merci, nous savons tons
aujourd'hui que le principle de la 'richesse des peuples
c'est le travail ; que le commerce ne s'etablit que de
producteurs a producteurs ; et que, par consequent,
l'activite de nos voisins est aussi essentielle quo In notre
au developpement de notre prosperite. (Cheers.) One
personne ne cherche done a nous deviser, car persoune
n'y reecuissira. Mais que i'union fraternelle de l'Angle-
terre et de la France se continue dans l'union generale
de l'Europe ; et qu'elle serve de base solide et inebran-
lable pour toutes lee alliances qui auront serieusement
en vue l'aggrandisement des relations internationales, le
bonheur et la dignite des peuples. (Loud cheers.)
The LORD MAYOR next proposed "The Army and
Navy." His lordship said—l am sure that the people of
this country will not fail to entertain the deepest sense of
gratitude to our noble army and navy for the exertions
which they have recently made on carrying on the war.
I regret the absence of the gallant nobleman the Comman-
der-in-Cbief, whom I hoped to have had the pleasure of
meeting on this occasion. The noble lord has, however,
been prevented by indisposition from being present, but
a gallant veteran, Gen. Fox, who is present, will reply
on the part of the army, and the right hon. Bart. the
First Lord of the Admiralty will, I have no doubt, do
the same for that profession of which he is the distin-
guished head.
Sir C. Woon, in replying to the toast on behalf of the
navy, said—l rise to express on the part of that noble
profession, with which my name has been associated,
their grateful thanks for the manner in which you, my
lord, have proposed their health, and the cordial man-
ner in which the toast has been received by this most
distinguished company. Although, during the late war,
the navy did not have much opportunity for displaying
its innate valour and well-known courage, still, the ser-
vices which they bad an opportunity of rendering suffi-
ciently proved that that the navy of this coun,ry had lost
nothing of its ancient preAle. In the Black Sea, my
gallant friend Admiral Lyons inspired that portion of
the navy under his command with a portion of his own
zeal and undaunted courage—and also employed his
best energies in aidingour gallant army by his valuable
assistance. The navies of England and France had left
not an eneiny to contend with on the ocean. I cordially
reciprocate the sentiments—and I am sure that every
one in this room will do the same—which we have heard
expressed by his Excellency the French Ambassador,
that the union of England and France may long continue
in peace, as it has during the war, to contribute to ce-
ment the affiance between the two nations, and to the
promotion of the welfare and happiness of the human
lace. (Cheers.)
Major-General Fox, on behalf of the army, said—l
regret the absence of those who would upon this oc-
casion have performed in a manner so much abler
than myself the task which has devolved upon me of re-
turning thanks on the part of the army for the manner in
which its health has been proposed and received. While
feeling incompetent to discharge adequately the duty
conferred upon me, I may take the opportunity of saying
that no person could feel more strongly than I do the
. honour which the array lass acquired by its late services