The Sun.
London, England, 1856-03-18 00:00:00

LONDON, T JESDAY EVENIN G, MAR

L GENERAL TIItATRICAL FUNINI

lo'your bands, with every hope and faith in your. gene.
-:Think of the goad time coMing,—every prbspect
.of peace--.a.return of wealth-to-the country—increased
commerce, and.a.possible reduction in taxation. Every-
thing at this moment promises well. Even-tbe•hdpes of
the French Eniperor have not been di,iappointed ; he has:
received an addition.tO his family, arid it is a boy ; and
to-night we hope to receive a great addition to our
financea in' the shape of a thumplbg bop, whose name
will be
."-Lilieral,Donation"t a hope that we all feel
convinced not "-thin evening b.t blighted by you.
Mr. •Buelzstone; iTtbe delivery of his address, was fre-
quitutlyinterrupted by laughter and cheers.
_ _

The CHAIRMAN next proposed " The health of the
Trustees," conplinge with it the name of Mr. C. Dickens.
-Mr; C. Dicteres, en rising-, was received with loud
cheers. lie said :—I well remember that when the
opera of Gustavus was first produced at Coventgarden
Th&ttre, a most ludicrously•cotnic effect was produced
tie hero 'referring the most teomentoue onestior,
whether he should or not go to the hall where he
received his .death-wound, to a .walking gentleman,
Mr. Baker,- who had never before opened his lips
or given any
.sign of his exieteeece. When Mr.
Baker, who was 'dressed in a want physician's suit
replivid to his master, the audienee'were certainly not KO
serious as .under any other circumstances they might
have been. gow the trustees are the court physicians
and walking :gentlemen in this piece, having nothing
whatever Wein, save to return thanks once every year
for the honeur:yon confer upon them of drinking their
health. But inesinueh as you have coupled my name
With the toast, I must say that my interest in this
society dates from the establishment of the fund itself.
(Hear, hear.) I found in the betibalking a plain, unpre-
tending reality, designed-for thelFeltefit of actors of all
degrees, administered gratuitously by actors for actors),
and supported from month to inotith, and from year to
year, out of the small earnings of actors. (Hear, hear.)
From that time to the present tie society has main-
tained its character, being ex-:ctly what it claims and
professes to be. There is no kind of false pretence about
it, and I do thoroughly believe that it is one of the most
deserving institutions in this country. (Cheers.) Some
days ago. I had a commuoicat:on from my friend and
fellow trustee, Mr. Macready, on the subject of this
fund,'and it arose out of that great change which has
made Covent-garden Theatre a heep of ruins. That cir-
eamstance made us reflect that the English (Irma half
no home, cr hope of a home, in that waste spot, and also
to take into consideration the present state of the
Covent-garden Theatrical Fund. (Hear, hear.) Con-
' sidering that it will be impossible that any new claim'
upon that fund can be created, I most say that I do
indulge a hope, amounting almost to conviction, that
the eccumulated wealth of that institution wilt ulti-
mately flow into the coffers of this society ; for if it is
found that the object sought by that fund cannot be
realise ), I cannot imagine what can become of that
great capital, unless it goes to augment an institution
accessible to all persons connected with the drama
throughout the king km. (Hear, hear) Mr. Dickens
concluded by wishing that prosperity might ever attend
this truly valuable society.
About this period of the evening the secretary, Mr.
Culled*, read the li-t of donations, at the head of
which appeared her Majesty's annual subscription of
1001. The chairman had presented 101. 10=.; the Dake
of De,. 'shire, 101. 10s. annually ; Earl Fitzhardicge,
Si. annually ; Mr. C. Manby, 51.; Mr. B. Webster, 51.;
Mr. C. Kcan, 51. Si.; air. W. C dike, of Astloy's, 51.
annuilly ; Mr. W. d. Robson, 101. 103., and 51. ss.
annually ; Mr. E. T. Smith, 151. 155.; Mr. A. Wigan,
51.; Mr. Albert Smith, 51 55.,
_ _

Viscouut RAY:slum Zen proposed "The Health of
the CLairrnan," who, in au albs speech, expressed his
a:ilent wish for the we:fare of the institution.

Mr. R. TAYLOR gave " The Dramatic Author',"
coupling with the toast the health of Mr. Osenford, who
returned tlanks, and proposed " The Health of the
Theatrical Managers of the Metropol:s."
Mr. WEBSTER responded,` and several other toasts
having been drank,
Tue SECRETARY announced that the subscriptions of
the evening amounted to 5761., shortly after which the
Chairman left the chair, and the proceedings terminated.
The musical arrangements of the evening were under
the management of Mr. Lovel Phillips, and appeared to
give+ the greatest satisfaction.

PROPOSED .I4PB,OVEMENTS IN PALL-
GL,,,i4iYP DO TVA ING-STREET.

At present the house-rent alone paid for Government
offices amounts tciaoinewhere about 30,0001. a-year, ex-
erosive of the large sums paid annually for r.pairs and
alterations. It is proposed to alter this system, and for
the State to have offices built upon its own ground, and
to do away with_rentine mieeciwhiele, 10,JAke-sialile
time, are bothiacommedioniand atiAiy. The first step
in the r ght direction is to be taken in reference to the
War Department. It is pereposed to pull down Buck-
iugham-hoese and the houses that intervene between
that and the present Ordnarice-effice, and to erect a
splendid set of offices ueder the roof of which all the de-
partments connected with the Minister of War may be
caaried on. The frontage thus gained will be more than
150 feet, and will fill up the space between the Carlton
Club and the Ordnance-office. It is felt that, consider-
ing the character of the property in Pall-mall, the new
office of the Minister of War should certainly be up 0,
if not superior to, the splendid edifices which at present
grace this magnificent street. To this end the Chief Coin-
missiener of Works has determined to depart from the
usual reutaie of his department, and instead of giving
the designing Of „Ale plans to the officials in his (ace
as a thing of coueire, has determined to throw it open to
competition. With this view circulars hive been sent.
to sane of our, most distinguished architects, askirg
. them to furnish deigns. This proceeding, as may easily
be imagined,
has thrown the Institute of Architects into
a great sled pleasing state of excitement, and among those
who have already promised to send in plans may be named
Nl' C. Barry, Mr. S. Smirke, Mr. J. Shaw, and Mr.
Pennefather. It is proposed by the Government to give
to each of the eucces-ful candidates 1001. ; and their
designs, if they accept this sum,, to become the pro-
perty of therGovernment. The step thus taken will, we
believe, meet with the entire approbation even of the
most rabid reformers in existence. Thus much with
reference to the proposed new War-office. But the Chief
Commissioner of Works does not stop here. It will
be reinecebered that last year the late Sir William Moles-
worth brought before the House of Commons a plan for
taking down the offices in Downing-street and rebuild-
ing teem using, at the same time, the vacant piece
of ground between the Board of Trade and Fludyer-
atreet. The cost, for which a vote was asked, was
904110/. The House of Commons rejected the proposal,
onlim ground that it was the .duty of the Government
,4;t.-ct: propose a design of a more complete character, by
.hick the several Government offices might he perma-
enently brought together.. They therefore voted nearly
10,0001. for making the offices ire Downing-street tem-
porarily secure, and 30,0001. for the purchase of land
contiguous to Downing-street.; In the House of Lords,
Lords Redesdale, Derby, Mouteagle,. Ellenborough,
Hardwick, the Marquis of Lansdowne, and Lord Stan-
ley of Alderley, all spoke in favour of a more extended
and grander design, and obtained a promise from Govern-
ment that they would give the subject the fullest considera-
tion. This they have done, and the plan of the Chief Com-
missioner of Works is, it iii said, as follows :-114,pra-
poses to purchase the entire block of buildings commenc-
ing from Downing-streeteto Great George-street, includ-
ing the north side of . Parliament-street. Supposing
this dune, there would be an open space from Perlis-
ment-e.teeet to. St. James's Park. It is then proposed to
erect a mageeificerit gauge of .public offices, in a direct
line from the Treasury-chambers to George's-street,
Storey-gate so that cne portion would look to the
west and the other into Parliament-street. IRy these
, means the road frOm the Horse Guards to Great George-
street would be of the same width; and would form one
of the most magnificent thoroughfares in Europe. By it
the beauties of Westminster Abbey and the new Houses
of Parliament 'would be brought prominently forward.
Of course these alterations cannot be effected but by a
large outlay, and, one, perhaps, that would startle the
House of Commons out of its propriety ; but then to
meet this expenditUree so that it should not fall too hea-
vily at. once, it is propOied to throw the return of the
outlay over a period .of years. Designs, such as the
above, Lave been floating before the minds of successive
Commissioners 'of Works, but they had not the pluck to
bring them forward ; it es niew,belieyed that the present
commissioner, backed" by the • G wernment, will, early
atter Easter, bring the plaiabefere the House of Com-
mons, and ask for, their approval, which there is not
much doubt they wilLaccord.— Observer.

DESTRUCTIVE FIRES NEAR FOLKESTONE.

On Friday last two very serious and destructive fires
broke out near Folkestone. About noon a chimney
took fire in the farm-house of •Mr. Pilcher, when a flake
of burning soot fell upon a bay-rick and set it on fire. It
then spread so rapidly that the house, outbuildings, and
stacks and ricks were very speedily burnt to the ground.
The fire having been seen by a sentinel at the camp of.
the British German Legion at Shorncliffe, it was imme-
diately reported, when a large body of cavalry and in-
. b
fantry, with three engines, proceeded with great haste to
the spot, and the place baving.been surrounded by the
infantry, the other troops went to work in good style,
but from want of water they could not arrest the progress
of the flames. Their conduct, however, was so kighly
appreciated, that the owner presented the men with 30
pigs that were roasted by the fire.
The second fire was at a windmill adjacent to the rail-
way, rear the upper station at Folkestone, about two
miles from the camp. It broke out accidentally at about
six O'clock ; the German troops were soon present, and
rendered most valuable and effective service in saving
property, although the mill was completely gutted.
Nearly all the flour was say, d. One of the German
cavalry brought out on his back more than 20 sacks
from amidst the fire, and the greatest praise is due to
the legion for their prompt assistance.

TUE CNA FLOATING BATTERY.—The Grier for thr
launching of this battery on the 24th inat. has been.
countermanded.