The Sun.
London, England, 1869-05-06 00:00:00

THE ROYAL LITERARY FUND.

The festival of the Royal Literary Fund was well
attended this year. In the chair was Lord Stanley. There
were present his Highness the Nawab Nazim of Bengal, the
Hon. Reverdy Johnson, Viscount Stratford de Redcliffe,
Viscount Royston, M.P., Lord Lawrence, Lord Col-
chester, Hon. Wilbraham Egerton, M.P., Lord Justice
Giffard, Vice-Chancellor Sir Richard Malins, Sir John
Simeon, Bart., M.P., Field-Marshal Sir John Burgoyne,
Bart., Messrs. B. Hope, M.P., Neville Grenville, M.P.,
Ward Jackson, M.P., Chandos W. Hoskyns, M.P.,
M'Clean, M.P., Eastwick, M.P., Scourfield, M.P.,
1, wt. Tv lva M.P., Thomas Baring, M.P., C. L.
Gruneisen, Arturo de Mae,ou. A,,thony Trollope, and
A. Grote.

Mr. REVERDY JOHNSON was called upon to return
thanks for the diplomatic body. He said that before
he came to that room he had to some extent
anticipated that his reception might have been
affected by circumstances of recent occurrence; but he
was glad to find that the kindness with which he had been
received ever since he had been in this country had not
abated. It would perhaps be improper in him to refer to
circumstances connected with a particular subject ; it was
sufficient for him to say that he hoped there was nothing
in that subject to make any one believe that the peace be-
tween the two countries would be in any way disturbed.
Whatever one man might say--whether that personage
had or had not succeeded in rejecting the convention which
was intended to settle all disputes between the two
countries, and which had been entered into between
the noble lord on his right and himself—was immaterial,
and he begged the company to believe that the person to
whom he alluded did not speak the sentiments—the real,
honest, patriotic sentiments—of his country. He did not
propose to make any reference of a political nature, but
he would say that there was one thing in which literary
men as well as all others were concerned, and that was
the preservation of the peace now existing between
England and America— a peace which could never
be disturbed without disturbing also literary as
well as other associations. He was an old man,
and he had always lived at the base of the mountain,
never having yet ascended to its summit, and while at the
base, and before he came over here, he could not see that
America had so many claims against England as had since
been discovered by those who had climbed to the summit
of the mountain. There was one thing which pleased him,
and he would mention it now, on the eve of his departure.
When at home be had occasionally had to pay taxes, but
he was glad to know that they would be very much
reduced soon, because England was sure to pay at least
one-half of the American debt. No one would doubt that
what it was the right of America to ask of England,
England would be eure to respond to.
The noble CHAIRMAN then proposed the toast of the
evening, " Prosperity to the Royal Literary Fund." In
the course of an eloquent speech he said he bad looked
into the records of the society, and felt that nothing new
could be said in appealing for funds. It was an institu-
tion the claims of which were known to everyone;
the history of which, dating back as it did to nearly a
century, was thick with proofs of its utility; and
the field of which was of the widest and most
universal character. From his own investigations into
past reports he was surprised to find how many
men eminent in mechanics, science, and art, had
been relieved by means of the society. There were at
least sixty men who would be considered eminent in the
sense that they were well known to the public in con-
nection with the professions which were so largely repre-
sented at this anniversary, vho had been assisted by the
fund. A great many others who, unknown to the world
(for it was a distinctive feature of the society not to
publish the names of persons aided by it), had experienced
the benefits of the fund were not men of so great eminence,
but they bad distinguished themselves by efficiency in their
respective vocations; and it was an immense ad van tage that
persons of this description, whose remuneration, especially
if they were connected with science, was precarious and
inadequate, should he able to obtain, without loss of self-
respect, temporary help in their hour of need. Another
remarkable thing which had struck him was, that, as a
rule, the recipients of the Royal Literary Fund bounty
were not rendered unfit for future work by their passing
misfortunes, for many afterwards attained positions, not
merely of comfort, but marked prosperity. He hoped
that those who, from adverse circumstances, were thus
thrown upon the fund, would not, when they no further
needed it, forget the claims which the society had upon
their memory.

The report having been read by Mr. George Godwin,
the secretary, the remaining toasts were disposed of, viz.,
"English Literature," proposed by Lord Justice Giffard,
and replied to by Mr. Anthony Trollope ; "The Writers
on Science," proposed by Lord Colchester, and acknow-
ledged by Mr. James Samuelson.; " The Chairman's
health," proposed by Sir J. Simeon, M.P.; and other
minor toasts, in which Colonel Sykes, M.P., Lord Law-
rence, Mr. Blackey, and Mr. B. Hope, M.P., took part.
Subscriptions to the amount of about £l,OOO were
announced.

A telegram from Norwich ou Wedneslay says it is be-
lieved that Sir Thon.as Western, Bart., will be elevated to
the peerage.

SY
DROPROBIA AMONG SHEEP.—During the past
two or three months hydrophobia has been alarmingly
prevalent in the neighbourhood of Preston. Many valuable
dogs of all breeds have been destroyed at the police-station
with prussic acid, the whole number, good, bad, and indif-
ferent, amounting to two or three scores or more. About
three weeks ago, nine lambing ewes, the property of Mr.
Draper, Bradley Hall Farm, Croston, near Preston, were
bitten by a strange dog, and having since exhibited un-
doubted symptoms of rabies, have just been all destroyed.
The lambs were preserved.--211cdical Press and Circular.
SINGULAR DEATH. —The &Tield Independent
reports a death from a very singular cause, which bas
just taken place at Itetford. A well-known veterinary
surgeon there accidentally allowed a dog's tooth to
slip down his throat. He believed that it had
passed into his stomach, and took little notice of it
at the time. Pain in his throat, 'however, subsequently
became very severe, and as it was found impossible
to reach the tooth surgical skill was of no avail. The
unfortunate gentleman died on the second day after the
accident.

THE MURDER NEAR ABERDARB.—Representa-
tions having been made to the Home Secretary respecting
this murder, directions have been received from the
Home Office to offer a reward of £lOO for the discovery of
the murderer. The Home Secretary will also advise her
Majesty to grant a free pardon to any accomplice that will
given such information as will lead to a conviction of the
others. It is probable that the £lOO will be supplemented by
a further sum by the magistrates of the district. The whole
affair is up to the present shrouded in the greatest mys-
tery, excepting that it is tolerably clear the object of the
murder was to obtain possession of the old woman's
money. It is believed that he did not succeed in his
object, but the evidence is not quite conclusive on this
point, as no one seems to know what amount of money
the unfortunate woman had in her possession. It is
hoped that some tangible clue will soon be found to the
atrocious murder.

DIAMONDS AT THE CAPE.—An " extra " of the
Cape Argus contains the following "On the 20th March
several private letters were received in Colesbarg from
Hope Town, announcing the startling intelligence that
the report which bad so long been in circulation, to the
effect that a Kaffir doctorwas possessed of a large diamond
which he refused to part with, had at length been con-
firmed. It seems that Mr. Schalk Niekerk, the finder of
diamond No. 1, bad, after much difficulty, succeeded in
inducing the Kaffir to part with his prize, in consideration
of receiving in return 500 sheep, 10 oxen, and a horse, and
that it proved to be a diamond weighing eighty-three and
a half carats, which Mr. Niekerk subsequently sold to
Messrs. Lilienfeld Brothers, of Hope Town, for £11,200.
This, of course, is far beneath its value, as it is said to be
a brilliant of the first water, and, consequently, worth at
least £20,000. It is reported that this diamond was found
within the colony, bat the latter statement requires ccn-
firmaitiolu _