The Sun.
London, England, 1856-03-13 00:00:00

THE LITERARY FUND.

The annual general meeting of the members of this
society took place at their rooms, 72, Great Russell-
street, yesterday. Much interest was excited in the pro.
ceediugs in consequence of the previous circulation of
the following intimation amongst the members :
" London, March 1, 1856.

"We, the undersigned, beg to acquaint you that it ill
our intention, at the annual general meeting of the Lite-
rary Fund, to be held at the rooms of that society on
‘Vednesday, the 12th inst,, at two o'clock, to propose
and support the resolution of which we now forward you
a copy. You may perhaps be aware that at the last
general meeting a similar resolution was proposed, and
was left in a minority of four.
"Resolved,—That whereas during the 11 years from
1344 to 1854, both inclusive. the cost of assisting 477
applicants to the Literary Fund amounted to 5,601/.
13s. 7d. (exclusive cf collector's poundage, advertise.
meets, and expenses attending the anniversary dinner) ;
and whereas the cost of assisting 624 applicants to the
Artists' General Benevolent Fund within the came 11
years amounted to 9941. 4s. 10d. (also exclusive of col-
lector's poundage, advertisements, and expenses attend-
ing the anniversary dinner), this meeting is of opinion
that the expenses of managing the Literary Fund are
unreasonable, and that a great change must be made in
the administration of its affairs.—We have the honour
to be, your obedient servants,

" CMAIILES DICKENS. " NETT, ARNOTT.
W. B. PROCTOR. PZTER CUNNINGHAM.
JOHN FORSTER. HEPWORTH DIXON.
C. W. DILKE. D. T. ANSTED.
WHITWELL ELWYN. C. W. PA LEY.
MARK LEMON. C. WENTWORTH DILKE."

Mr. B. B. Cabbell, MX., presided, and there were
also present Mr. C. Dickens, the Rev. Dr. Whewell,
Master of Trinity College, Cambridge, the Rev. Dr.
CrOly, Mr. Albert Smith, Mr. Mark Lemon, the Rev.
Thomas Hartwell L-Torne, Mr. Oliveira, M.P., Mr. John
Forster, Dr. Forbes Winslow, Mr. Charles Baldwin,
Mr. C. W. Mike, Mr. Toole, Mr. Webster, Q.C.,
Mr. R. Bell, the Rev. W. Cureton, the Rev. J. li.
Gurney, Mr. M. Milner, M.P.' Mr. Twining, M. J.
Ivatt Briscoe, Mr. Bentley, Mr. Webster, of the
Adelphi, Dr. A. Guest, Mr. Thornton, &c.
The treasurer's report having been received,
Mr. DILKE said that he intended moving the same
resolution substantially that he proposed last year, when
ho and the party with wheal ho acted appeared to he in
a minority ; but that result was brought about by the
gentlemen whose conduct was impugned, Jiainely, the
committee, votin,, in their own favour. He trusted the
committee would not vote on this occasion. After going
through the society's statistics, he moved the resolution
above-mentioned.

Mr. PROCTOR (Barry Cornwall) seconded the motion.
Mr. R. BELL thought the committee ought not to b 3
disfranchised. They had subscribed 1,3001. to the funds
of the society, and should not be called upon to refrain
fermi voting, even if their services were not taken into
consideration. It would be a strange thing if, wben in
Parliament, a motion were submitted inculpating the
Government, the members of the Government were not
allowed to vote. Some statements had been made in re-
ference to the manner in which the fund had been dis-
tributed, and a comparison had been instituted Letween
the manner in which this fund was administered, and
the manner in which the committee of the Artists' Be-
nevolent Fund disposed of their resources. It should be
remembered that artists formed a more compact body
than literary men composed, and that consequently re-
lief could be administered to that body at much less cost
than it could Le to the latter. Mr. Rill cited many of
the London societies for the purpose of showing, by
comparison, that their expenses for management were far
higher than those of the Literary Fund. He showed also
that the eatery of the secretary had been from time to time
increased by general meetings, and presents made to him
in consequence of his extraordinary exertions in behalf of
the society. He was of opinion that if these who die.
approved of the proceedings of the society objectel to
giving 20/. a-Sear to the secretary, or paying 140/. a-year
for a house, it was but fair that they should put their
Views in the form of specific resolutions.
Mr. DICKENS said it might be assumed from the
speech of Mr. Bell that the committee considered they
had not spent sufficient money, and were now about to
awake to the great reform of how they could spend
more. The members were told last year that this wag
a model sort of concern, and Vlat only about 401. out of
every 1001. were spent in carrying on its machinery.
He objected altogether to the manner in which the
affairs of the society were conducted. Last year Le went
to Willis's Rooms, to attend a special meeting of the
society, and, with the exception of the 'younger of the
fairer sex, it wag very much like Almaeikln in the morn-
ing. (Laughter.) A noble marquis walked through a
minuet with very great decorum, mid was succeeded by
- „
then by a bishop—after

cessions were afte-rwards represented. lie did not like
that system of toadyism. (Hear, hear.) At the last
meeting, towards the small hours, a distinguished lite-
rary man, who occupied the chair, said he felt something
like a servant in plush who was left to sweep the stage
when there were no more distinguished people to come
on. (Laughter.) The house in Blooinsbury-square, and
the 'tending secretary, were a species of the same scut
of chow. He said this openly and plainly, because this
fend eves pompously and unnaturally administered,
whereas it ought to be modestly and quietly adminis-
tered at a email expense. The members of the Literary
Fund had now been told for the second time during
the last twelve months that the charges upon the
society were unreasonable, and it was now for 'them to
say whether or not they would act upon the matter. At
present the fund seemed to rely upon its annual dinner
and upon toadying once a year to a number of persons
of distinction.
Mr. BLACKMORE contended that if the affairs of the
society were conducted by purely literary men• it must
inevitably fail. It was perfectly untrue that the affairs of
the society were mismanaged, and that it was unworthy
of public patronage.
Mr. J. FOR3TER said the society was formed for the as-
sistance and social elevation of men of letters, and that
they had a right, according to the intention of its foun-
der, to have a voice in the administration of its affairs.
Mr. M. MenNEs, M.P., thought the ccuree taken by
Mr. Dickens and his friends was not in the spirit of men
whose sole object wes the improvement of the institu-
tion. Theirs was the attitude of men whose desire evi-
dently was to turn the society to something else, or, fail-
ing in ehat, to ruin it altogether. He thought that it
would be highly undesirable that the committee should
be composed exclusively of literary men, in whose hands
ha believed it would soon become a cii lee or a coterie.
Mr. MURRAY, of Albemarle-street, moved the follow-
ing amendment :
" That the two items of enpenditure which constitute
the princidal charge upon the Literary Fund consists of
the rent of a house and the salary of the secretary, and
that these charges have been incurred under the recom-
mendation and continued sanction of successive general
meetings ; that the maintainance of a house was always
considered indispensable from the earliest period of the
existence of the institution, and that a fund, called the
House Fund,' amounting to 6,541/. 25., waelexpressly
funded for that purpose bye separate subscription, which
was opened in the year I SOS ; that with reference to the
zeal and ability with which the duties of the office of
secretary are discharged by the gentleman who new
holds that appointment, the salary attached to it,
which was rased to its present amount by the unani-
mous votes of general meetings, iii not excessive ; that
the increasing prosperity of the institution clueing the
11 yews affords satisfactory evidence of the judgment
and efficiency with which its affeire have been adminis-
tere 1, and that whilst this meeting recognises the Aeces-
city and importance of a wise economy, it is of opinion
that that object will be beet attained by confiding to
the consideration of the doipmnittes the adoption of eueli
retrenchments in the general expenditure as may be
consistent with the security of the fund anti the exten-
sion of its reeourees."
Mr. 11Anatisox :.ecanded the amendment.
The CHAIRMAN then took the votes of the meeting,
and there appeared—
For the us iginal motion SO
For the amendment

Majority for the amendment '2l
The amendment was declared to ba carried.

committee for the coming year having; been elelled,
thank,; were unanimously awarded to the chairman, and
the meeting aertrated.

The funeral of Madame Marra. mother of the ex-
Pre ident, of the Constituent Assembly, took place on
Monday. Agiong the mourners were MA. Carnot,
Goadchaux, Marlin (de Strasbourg), and other former
rep,e3entatives and political friends of Armand Marrast
FESTIvAL OF TUE SAIIIRITAN INSTITUTION.—The
anniversary festival of this in.titutiou was celebrated
last night at the London Tavern by a party, small, but
select. Lord L ndesborough was to have presided,
but he sent a medical certificate at the last moment
to the effect that indisposition precluded his attend-
ance. The chair was, therefore, taken by Mr. C.
Sneyd Edgeworth (brother of the authoress), and
the list of stewards included the names of Mr. D.
Ker, M.P.. !Mr. Wolverley Attwood, Mr. Chancli,s
Pole, Mr. J. Penn, Lc. The report of the society
shows the great extent of benefit which it has con
Jarred, and still confers, on the lower orders, seeing that
during last winter no le. than 75,632 destitute persons
were relieved by theEs "good Samaritans," while 15,431
attended Divine service, and received Scripture instruc-
tion at the institution, and 20,298 houselees poor made
use of the free baths and lavatories. A subscription of 2501.
was announced at the close of the chairman's speech,
proposing success to the charity. The arrangements of
the festival, under the supervision of Mr. Funge and
Mr. Palmer, gave every satisfaction. The vocalists
present were Miss Lucy Escott, Mr. Leffler, Signor
L . Mariani, Mr. Allen, and Dir. W. Lee.