The Sun.
London, England, 1858-03-11 00:00:00

APPETITE AND DIGESTION IMPROVED.

NEA and PERRINS' WORCESTERSHIRE
.4 SAUCE imparts the most exquisite relish to Steaks, Chops,
ad all Roast Meat Gravies, Fish, Game, Soup, Curries, and Salad,
and by its tonic and invigorating properties enables the stomach to
pateetly digest the food.
The daily useof this aromatic and delicious Sauce is the best safe-
((lard to health.
Sold by the proprietors, Lea and Perms, 19, Fenchurch-street,
ondon, and 6fl, Broad-street, Worcester; also by Messrs. Barclay
red Sons, Messrs, Crosse and Blackwell, and other oilmen and neer-
.,fmts. London ; and generally by the principal dealers in sauce.
B.—To gurrd tgainst imitations, see that the names of "LEA
,•:1 PFI-37,NrS" ore .tnim the label and patent cap of the bottle.

EIGtIT PER CENT. OBLIGATIONS.

Interest payable half-yearly, in London, Paris, Frankfort, and
Hamburg.

rrHE GALVESTON, HOUSTON, and HEN-
D.. RSO t RAILW 'Y COMPANY is now prepared to re-
ceive applications for 5,0'0 Obligations of 211. each, r cleanable in
ni.e years, with a Premium of 21 each.
The annual Drawings to commence on let March, 1860.
The Obligations are secured on the Revenues of the Railway, and
on th- Free Grant of Land, which is at the rate of 10,240 acres for
every mile of Railway constructed.

Tile, Interest, at the rate of 8 per cent. per annu-n, is parable in
London on the let January and the Ist July on presentation of the
Coupons at the Commercial Bank of London, Lothbnry.
Subseribers for Obligations areentitled to one Free Share for every
Obligation subscribed.

Full parti ulare may be obtained on apnlication at the Agency of
the Company, 4, skinner's-place, Size-lane, City, or of Messrs. Price
& Brown, 4, Change alley, City.

THE CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.

We have received files of papers from the Cape
,o the 29th of January.

We take the following from the Cape Town, Mail
,f the above date

The Royal mail steamer Norman, Captain Boxer,
loaves Table Bay this afternoon (Jan 29) for En4land,
with a full cargo of colonial produce and about 20
passengers.

The-Royal mail steamer Phoebe, the fourth vessel
of the new line, arrived here on the 21st inst., several
days within her contract time, with the English mail
of Dec. 15. She will remain here to take home our
February mail.

In our last monthly summary for the English mail,
of the 30th of December, we reported the state of
Caffreland and the Caffres as the principal subject to
which •English emierante turn their attention when
the Cape of Good .Hope is spoken of. The geography
of the Cape is not very well understood by the mass of
the people, and it was often useless to state to them
that from the capital the nearest Caffres were about
as distant as Caithness is from London, and that
the colony as a whole was as safe from their assaults
as England is from a possible insurrection in Kirk-
wall. We have now to add that the power of the
Caffres, even in their distant settlements, is finally
broken and crushed, their principal tribes dispersed, and
their principal chiefs and all mischief-makers dead or
prisoners. Between 30,000 and 40,000 of these people
have been received into the colony for the sake of
humanity, to save them from perishing, with their wives
and children, by starvation, and have been successfully
distributed as servants and labourers, and promise under
proper management to become a valuable portion of our
rural population, as we have seen accomplished in the
analogous case of the Hottentots and Fingoes. Even on
the frontier of Caffreland the colonists feel secure in the
wise precautions of •Government, in keeping on hand a
powerful military force and an active mounted policy,
with other arrangements on the part of the colonists for
maintaining order and repressing crime. Two great
obstacles to the improvement of the colony are thus in
the course of being entirely removed—namely, hostilities
from Ceffreland and the want of labourers within. This
favourable state ot things is not an experiment fora.
upon South Africa by theorists, nor has it been stained
by injustice or violet ce. The destruction of the Caffres
as a people was their own act ; by simply acting as
benefactors and guides to a deluded population we have
gained .advantages which arms alone would not have
conquered for many years.
In addition to peace, and a supply of common labour,
mechanics, tradesmen, &c He recommen s e sa "Iff
lease of part ion.' of estates, which the pree-nt proprietor,.
cannot fully cultivate or occupy in a proper ense, train
their enormous extent. This will afford an opening to
industrious sober families of small farmers—an inva u•
able class in all c .untries, and one to which this colony
presents peculiar ad vaLtages.
In addition to the public] work,, such as buildings and
bridges, which are only waiting for suitable workmen,
it is likely that another class of works, for which a
peculiar class of labourers or workmen well known in
England are required, is about to be commenced and
continued for many years. We mean the deepening ot
river channels, the formation of canals for irrigation and
transport, and of tanks and reservoirs, both f r local
irrigation and the supply of rising towns and cities with
pure water. All these things, and many more of the
order, are now in prospect, and of certain accomplish
meet, the rapid growth of the colony, population, and
wealth, rendering them absolutely necessary, and at the
same time furnishing the means of carrying them on.
During the past month few events of any great tin
portence have occurred within the Cape colony. Peace
and general contentment continue to prevail. The grain
harvests, which have just been secured, are unusually
abundant, and the quantity of wine promises to equal,
if not exceed, that of any tornser year.
Two additional troopships have touched at the Cape
o.: their way out to the scene of strife. The Indomi-
table screw steamer, from London to Madras, 57 days
out, put in to Simon's Bay on the 9th January, having
on board 15 officers and 360 men of the ReyalArtillery.
She reported all well, and sailed for her destination on
the 13th. The Leopold screw steamer arrived in Table
Bay on the 25th, with 407 artillery, 196 infantry, and
18 officers, Colonel Montreseor in command. She is
expected to sail again in a day or two.
Remount horses for the troops in India continue to be
forwarded by every opportunity. By the Ville de Metz
90 serviceable animals have just left Algoa Bay, and 100
more are being shipped in the Granville, while 600 more
are ready for shipment.
The reported fall of prices in the English wool-market
has produced great caution in the buying and selling of
that article here. Very little has been offered at the
local sales, and even that little has been mostly with-
drawn, the farmers, few of whom are in needy circum-
stances, being strongly inclined to hold their own till
prices improve. In the meantime great efforts are made
to improve their stuck, and large sums are given for
rams of the finest breeds, several importations of which
have lately taken place.
Her Majesty's ship Boscawen, flagship, left Simon's
Bay on the 31 of January, on a cruise to St. Helena,
Ascension, and the West Coast ; the Admiral, Sir F.
Grey, en board. The Sappho left en the Bth for
Australia. The Hermes left for East London, with the
Governor, on the 19th. On the 27th her Majesty's
steamer Simooua arrived from Calcutta, and is now the
only vessel of war in Simon's bay.
The Golden Fleece arrived in Table Bay on Tuesday
afternoon, the 26th inst., with news from Calcutta to
the 23d December, and from Ceelon to the Ist January.
She has a valuable cargo for the English market, con-
sisting of 1,063 cages of indigo ; 2,284 bar ele saltpetre ;
149 bales hides ; 252 bags cowries ; 42 cases cowries ;
543 cases lac dye and shellac ' 52 cases silk ; 245 bales
silk; 299 bags linseed ; 245 bales tobacco ; 25 ca-es
elephants' teeth; 34 casesiwine ; 20 bales saM ewer; 20
cases cigars, &c. She is to sail on Saturday for Londen.
A Russian squadron consisting of eight or tan ships
under the command of Commander Koeznetzoff, is daily
erected here, en route to the new eglony of tne Amour.
A.iieeigst usher ships are inenti,n,d ti trie.ete Arkol
the corvettes Voirvoda, B tidre-n, and Noveek, anti
sloops Djeegheet, Strelock, and Plastoon.
There tiro no less than thirteen deserters from the
German Military Settlers gazetted to-day.
The Auditor-General (Maj.a. Hope), during the past
month, has published a pamphlet which will be of great
value to the East India Company. The subject of it is
" Can the Cape supply horses for the Indian service I"
The Auditor-General was one of those who, in 1846,
were employed by the Government to procure horses
and mules for the transport of the army in the Kafir war
of that year ; and again in 1851, els undertook the
dot (with C al. Ingiley, R.A., and the Hon. Mr. Field)
01 purchasing horses as remounts for the Cape Corps.
On several other occasions he was also similarly em
ployed. His opinion will be, therefore, taken as worth
something by the East India Company. He says :
" The great question now is, both for the interests of
this colony and of the Indian Government, can the Cape
supply a sufficient number of horses annually, and will it
be for the interest of the Indian Government to obtain this
supply ?" Ho answers, " I venture to say that the Cape can
furnish the horses in an increasing number every year, and
at a diminished cost; and that it will be the beet interest
of India to draw from the Cape as large a number of horses
as can be annually obtained. . . . The Cape may be re-
garded as the connecting point between England and India,
and the present the turning of the tide iu the affairs of
India. If in this crisis proper advantages are taken of the
position of the Cape, as a repot for troops, as a source from
which to draw horses and other supplies, India nay ba
vastly benefitted,
and may be independent of other and
foreign eastern countries to remount her cavalry and arta.

lny, as well as calling out the resources of this colony, to
the advantage of both countries and governments."
Horses for India are being daily sent from here. Col.
Apperley, Mr. Roger', and those employed with them,
do all in their power to procure the best horses. Some
very fine animals have been sent off. The Mystery em-
barked in Table Bay 135 horses, and left for India on
the 19th January. The Ville de Metz, a French ship,
embarked at Port Elizabeth 90 horses for the Indian
service, and proceeded to India on Thursday morning,
Jan. 21. The Lwow', Granvil'e, Johanna Stoll, and
Viscount Canning, now lying in Table Bay, are being
fitted for the reception of horses, and will shortly leave
for India with further supplies.

THE LITERARY FUND.

The members of the Royal Literary Fund held
their annual meeting yesterday, at their house in
Bloomsbury-square. There was a very full attend.
ance of members, amongst whom were Earl Stan-
ope, Mr. Monck
e ton Manes, M.P., Mr. Cardwell,
M.P., Mr. B. B. Cabbell, Mr. Charles Dickens, Mr.
Dilke, juu., Mr. B. Cooper, Mr. Robert Ball, Mr.
W. Smith, Mr. Tooke, Mr. Pollock, Mr. Black-
more, Mr. Rceve, dec.
The chair was taken by EarlSeerrieoPE, who com-
menced the proce, dings by expressing a hope that
in 'be discussion which might follow, every gentle-
man would get a fair hearing, that the debate would
be conducted with as much good humour and cour-
tesy as was consistent with the state of the case,
and that gentlemen would, as far as possible, avoid
refei ence to extraneous matter. (Hear.)
The minutes of the last meeting were read and
confirmed.
The reports of the registrars, treasurers, and au-
ditors were then received. By the treasurer's report
it apree,red that in the course of the 1 ast year 55
grants heel been made pr clueing 1,7801., and that
77 1. had beau disbursed to a new class of grants.
Oe the motion that 4,1170t(4 of thnks be passed
to the tioneraiy -offieers of tit society for their
Services daring the alb year,
Mr. CHARLES DICKENS (who bast lately published
a pamphlet cemelainiug of the cost of conducting
the institution as compared with the amount of
relief distributed) said, that in reply to the very
gracefal and conciliatory speech of the noble earl
in the chair, he (Mr. Dickens) would promise not
to make a speech, but on the contrary to adopt a
course which he hoped would be acceptable to all
parties. (Hear.) This might be cheueht by some
gen lemon present to be a romantic expectation,
but he ventured to indulge the hope that it would
lead to a practi. enl. On former occasions, the
majority of which, by the way, the members of the
satisfied and
lGenaudeartaolryerertte,ehaidormobejdecatehdigtholyhis drawing a
comparison between the working of the Royal
Literary Fund and any other institution in the
known world. (Laughter.) No such comparison
would pass his lips on the present occasion. On
the former occasions to which IL had referred, the
dry details of figures were pronounced unpalatable,
and the majority even resented any allusion to
them as tedious and out of place; he should, there-
fore, on this occasion, merely state, for the benefit
of any gentleman present who might have attended
for the first time, that he would not venture into
the details of the last published accounts of the
society, as it would look like the wanderings of a
lunatic if he were to point out that the 41 checques
drawn by the society on their bankers during the
past year had cost 13/. each---(laughter)—absolutely
more, in three cases, than the atnounts for which
they were drawn, and that the cost of working the
society was equal to 45 per cent. of
the amount distributed in relief, although
only 15 new cases had been relieved, the
others being cases where the recipients of grauts
had got them from one to eight times.
(Hear, aid laughter.) He would, therefore, confine
himself to the simple assertion of the principle be-
fore the public, who were. after all, the real judges
of such matters. He would, then, fasten upon him-
self the responsibility of the distinct assertion of a
plain principle, and also fasten on the committee

• .
the dtitinct assoition of another principle, equally
pliin and manifesr. The very mOderat amend-

went which he ventured very respectfully to sub-
mit, was to the following effect :—" That the ac-

counts of the Literary Fund, showing a systematic
expenditure of from 40 to 45 per cent. in giving
away every 1001. of the funds were not quite
satisfactory ; that such an appropriation of the
money subscrihed with a clearly defined object is
not quite eight ; that its continuance as a distinct

feature of the Literary Fund is not so consistent
with he professions of the Literary Fund as to
tend to uphold *hat institution iu the general coefi-
w, ;,..
pro e reeelie.t.l _Ludt uSe • tleittlikll#.ll.9.f! .should
see ,nded ; it would be pu. from the chair ' • it
would be negative f ; the persons who proposed it
would be satisfied ; the majority who disapproved
of it would be equally satisfied—(laughter)—and
it would then he proclaimed that the accounts of
the Literary Fund were quite satisfactory—that
such an approprietion of the money, subscribed
with a clearly defined object, was quite right—that
its continuance as a feature of the Literary Fund
was so consistent with its professions as to tend to
uphold it in the public estimation—that its con-
tinuanee should be sanctioned and that it was not
protested against. He would confine himself to
accepting the converse of this proposition, and leave
the responsibility of the other on the committee. He
had, in conjanction with two friends, circulated a
pamphlet, i u which were set forth certain grave objece
tions to the management and expenditure of the in-
stitution. If any champion of the society should,
upon his personal honour and accountability answer
him, and impugn the veracity of the statements,
he would undertake to prove them ; but neither he
nor his friends would be led into a general discus-
sion of matter not pertinent to the issue raised.
(Hear, hear.)
Mr. JOHN FORSTER, secretary to the Lunacy
Commissioners, briefly seconded the resolution.
Mr. MONCKTON MILNE'S entered at some length
into a defence of the General Committee, arid ob-
served that on a question of principle there was no
such word as " quite." Either a principle must be
right or it must be wrong. He submitted that Mr.
Dickens and his friends had not put. the question
fairly. They had dealt in generalities which could
only be answered by going
itto details which the
public could neither appreciate nor understand.
Mr. Rekens's mode of reforming the society was
somewhat similar to that in which the sepoys en-
deavoured to reform the garrison of Lucknow—by
destroying them. It wee true the
expenses of the
collection and distribution were large,
but then they
were ever-recurring, and they would be just what
they were at present if the fund were doubled, or
if it were not half as large. The services of a secre-
tary who could deal personally with the delicate
and difficult cases which came before the board
were invaluable, and in his opinion it would be im-
possible to get such duties as their secretary dis
charged performed elsewhere for a salary of 2001.
per annum. He confessed that the committee who
had conducted the affairs of the society for so many
years with unimpeaehed honour, felt indignant
that anything short of corruption or dishonesty
was charged agqnst them by Mr Dickens and
his friends. An allegation was made in the
grants of 1001. each had been given
signets ra
of
two members of . the com-
mittee, whose husbands were in a position to leave
legacies to others ; but really these cases had oc-
curred 30 years ago (althono
pamphletto the
say so) ; and therefore it was 'unfair to hold the
present committee responsible for them. In con-
clusion, the hon. gentleman expressed a hope that
Mr. Dickens and his friends would forget their pre-
judices, and join with the great majority of the
members in m.king the society to re useful and
wore effi,•ieet for the relief of their suffering
thren in the world of literature. (Hear.)
Mr. Wet. SMITH, Classical Examiner at the Lon-
don University, said he could not but feel held regret
so
that gen lemen who high a place in litra-
ture as Mr. Chas. Dickens and his friends should
have connected themselves with so unworthy a pro-
duction as the pamphlet to which so much reference
had been made. He assured those gentlemen that
the General Committee were not blind to any re-
commendations that might be made to ensure the
greater efficiency
or the better working of the in-
stltution ; but Mr. Dickens and his friends advo-
cated reforms in such a tone, and with such a tem-
per, that showed the world that they were the
enemies and not the friends of the society. He
denied that the grants were doled out in a penuri-
ous and grudging spirit, and that the recipients
were compelled to submit to degrading conditions
before they could accept it; as he could affirm that
the money was freely and generously granted in all
deserving eases, and that there were no humiliating
conditions annexed to its
receipt. It had been urged
that the society should be governed wholly by lite-
rail? men. Now, he must say that he could not
approve of this suggestion. It had been tried in
other societies, and had failed. Moreover, literary
men were not the most competent in the world
to transact affairs of business, and it was just
possible, if there were no lay controlling ale'

where,oftle funds, portions
ra.might
ingothi
net?micintatagreteinnt
res perhaps, undue
affluence might be brought to bear. He protested
against the attempt which had been made to exclude
the aristocracy, who subscribed largely to the so-
ciety, from any influence in its management, and
ho urged upon the members to resist any endea-
vour that might be made to array class against class,
and to invest the management of the corporation
in the hands of purely literary men, as he believed
such a policy would be suicidal. (Hear, hear.)
The society had by a vast majority already decided
upon rejecting the propositions of the minority,
who, however, returned to the charge year after
year, and appeared resolved not to be convinced.
Mn ROBERT BELL (the compiler of the British
Poets) also defended the committee in a speech of
considerable length, in the course of which he ob-
served that he was quite willing to give Mr.
Dickens credit for not doing that which he believed
to be right, andhoped that, in return, Mr. Dickens
would believe that the committee were equally dis-
interested and sincere. (Hear.) His solemn con-
viction, after the most careful consideration of all
the circumstances, was that Mr. Dickens and his
friends were wrong in principle, and that the com-
mittee were right. The principle charge against the
committee was that the expense of collecting and
distributing the income of the society was excessive
—that it amounted, in fact, to 401. or 451. on every
100/. expended. Now this was not a fact, as in the
calculations made by Mr. Dickens, he included in
5321. charged for expenses the expenses of collect-
ing as well as distributing the fund. The total dis-
bursements in the past year were 5321., and the in-
come 2,6641. ; and therefore the cost of manage-
ment was rather under 20 per cent. Charges of this
kind to be just should be extremely accurate, and it
was absolutely necessary that facts should be clearly
and distiucly understood. If Mr. Dickens thought
the expenses of management too large, why didnot
Mr. Dickens, instead of dealing with generalities,
bring forward a specific resolution directed to a spe-
cial object ? The main-expenses were for a house and
secretary. The founderdistinctly laid it down that
there should be a house, and the general meetings had
sanctioned the appointment of a secretary. Why,
Mr. Dilka himself had moved the appointment ;
and it was Mr. Bruce, seconded by Mr. Mike, who
had proposed the very form of testimonial which
was now objected to ! He denied that the income
of the society had fallen off since the appointment
of a secretary. The expenditure in the 17 years
antecedent to the appointment of Mr. Blewitt had
been 1,0431. and the income 28,700/. ; but in the
17 years succeeding his appointment the expendi-
ture had been 13,0001. ; but the income had in-
creased to 39,0001. The difference between the
expenditure in the two periods was 2,9761. against
the latter period, but against this should be set the
increase of income, which amounted to 10,3501.
This appeared to km to be a very good way of in-
vesting 2,9761. Again it was saidin the pamphlet
that the General Committee, taking advantage of a
word in the charter, had excluded the Council, but
iu doing so they had only acted in strict conformity
with the charter, upon which they had taken the
advice of the most learned counsel at the bar. With

regard to the charge that a member of the corn

miLtee had betrayed his trust by giving to a book-
seller a list of the names of the persons who had
received relief from the society, the committee had
no control over the actions of their members ; be-
sideg, the transaction referred to in Mr. Dickens's
circular occurred 19 years ago, and the member
had been expelled for it. (Laughter.) The com-
mittee were equally blameless in the matter pf the
two grants of 1001. cash to the widows of deceased
members. The grants had been made in 1828 and
1829—(laughter)—and as well might a charge be
brought against Lord Darby because Sir Robert
Peel gave the Roman Catholics emancipation a
quarter of a century ago, as the committee be
held responsible for the affair in question. It
was next alleged that, whereas any man who

wrote any book; however bad, might apply to the
fund and obtain _ relief, no writer of periodical

literature could be eligible ; but here again the
minority were at fault, for although it was not the
intention of the founder that relief should he ex-

tended to the latter class of persons, the committee
considered themselves justified in departing from
the rule, and had, at his (Mr. Bell's) suggestion,
admitted the writers of periodical literature to a
participation in the funds. (Hear, hear.) Objec-
tion had also been taken that the committee had

not granted loans or annuities to literary men.
Now, in reply to that accusation, he might say that,
however willing the committee might be to do so,
they ba I not the power under their charter, and
thbrefore no annuitants bad been re-elected although
a resolution had been pawed by the committee that
Mr. Bell concluded by expressing a nope inst way
o ,ntest would now be brought to-a close and that
the minority. would accept as final the division
- -

about to be taken.
-The CHAIRMAN then put the resolution, when
there appeared—For, 14 ; against, 70 ; majority

against 66.
Mr. BURTON COOPER, Q.C., moving the appoint-
ment of a select committee to report upon the pos-
sibility of making any retrenchments without in-
jury to the efficiency of the institution.
Mr. POLLOCK opposed the proposition, because
it would be tantamount to a reversal of the deci-

mon just arrived at.
After a short discussion, Mr. DICKENS and Mr.
FOSTER urged the meeting to vote in favour of the
motion, as affording a chance of bringing the pain-
ful dispute to an amicable conclusion.
The resolution was then put from the chair, and
negatived by 18 to 66.
A ballot was then taken for the election of the
general committee, registrars, auditors, and trea-
surers of the society, who were re-elected without
change.
On the motion of Mr. Cmis,LEs DICKENS, a vote
of thanks was passed to the noble Chairman, and
the proceedings terminated.

(Front the Morning Post )
The annual meeting of the Royal Literary Fund took
plain yesterday, and we regret to observe with a repeti•
Con of the attempt made for several years past by a few
members, led by Mr. Charles Dickens, to coerce the
Corporation into the adoption of a course of policy in
regard to the administration of the Charity which has
been time after time formally negatived by the great
body of the society.
_ _

It in at all times a subject for regret, as well as for
animadversion, when a society devoted to the prosecu-
tion of literature or science, and still more when its
labours are directed to the more sacred duty of dispens-
ing charity to the unfortunate, is broken up into sec-
tions and parties, its strength impaired, and its efficiency
en langered, by the bad taste or mischievous propensities
of a few men whose aim is rather the gratification of
their own vanity than the general good of the society of
which they are members. In such cases, no matter whe-
ther the object aimed at be accomplished, the injury in-
flicted upon the institution is more or less certain. The
public is easily led to believe in a charge affecting the
existing order of things ; it is at all times ready to listen
to attacks upon the credit and honesty of individuals ;
and it is therefore much more easy to disseminate a libel
than to remove the effects of it from the public mind.
Charges, therefore, embodied in highly offensive lan-
guage, and thrown year after year against a public body
of honourable men, although intrinsically worthless, be-
come, from the mere fact of repetition, formidable. Few
not immediately interested in the matter will give
themselves the trouble to investigate the facts for them.
selves ; and, indeed, amidst the multifarious employ-
ments of an active life, we cannot reasonably expect them
to do so. There are few, we say, who will undergo this
trouble, but whose minds, predisposed to that which is
right, are, in spite of themselves, misled by the false
statements which, unaccompanied by any refutation,
year after year are laid before tloem, It is natural that
in all such cases the influence of the power of evil shnuld
prevail ; for, like potters' clay, the mind receives the
first impression ; and this, like much that left the
aocient potter's hands, may be exceedingly impure.
The effect, therefore, of the deliberate misrepresentations
of Mr. Dickens, who, by his own acknowledgment, is
the author of the pamphlet recently circulated, we fear
to be very great, and very prejudicial to the general
interests of one of the most noble charities of England.
Now, this is a question in which we have no personal
interest whatever. If the management of the Royal
Literary Fund be so vicious as represented by Mr.
Dickens and his supporters, we have no hesitation in
saying that it ought to be reformed immediately. No
honest man can have any sympathy with such an infamous
neglect of duty, such a perversion of the intentions of
the bounder, and such a mal-adminstration of the funds
of a charity, as is set forth by Mr. Dickens, According
to his version of the case the Royal Literary Fund
ed a
corporation as much and as scandalously
the Royal British Bank. But what will the public think
when they are toll that Mr. Dickens, the well-known
novelist, has conspired with certain persons whose names
t
are more known for what they have notl.lone than for what
acasefor the publi
they have done, for literature, to get up
• to himself to
which is opposed to fact, and detrimental
in its
an extent courtesy forbids us from designating
mismanagas ,
proper terms 1
Will the public believe that those mis-
statements which have been sedulous ly
ldinto without
Will the woe
be possible that Mr. Dickens could condes-
an expedient fee the r
cend, as a gentleman, to such
pose of exalting his own name, or of gratifying his own
pouredtheir
ears are without foundation 1
believe it to
vanity, as to seek to destroy the efficiency of a society
established for tho express purpooo of affording reliof to

his distressed literary brethren ? Will the world believe
that Mr. Dickens has adopted such a cream, and-that,
as our readers may see from the summary of Mr. Bell's
s
peech, which appears n another part of our paper, the
pamphlet be has published is not only in its spirit dis-
ingenuous, bat false in its most important particulars ?
Yet, as it would appear, this is the mode which Mr.
Dickens has adopted, in order to bring about, what he
is pleased to term, a reformation in the management of
an old-established Charity, whose books and papers are
open to him, whose system of management is fully
known to him, and whose officers, by their own avowal
yesterday, are ready at any moment to adopt sugges-
tions which appear to be advantageous to the general
efficiency of the charity.
But there is another, and, if possible, amore objection.
able attitude assumed by the minority of 14 against 70,10
reference to which we may say a few words. Mr. Dickens
and his friends assume to themselves the pre-eminent
rank of the Literary Men of England. If the question
were not so serious, we should be disposed to laugh. The
liter&ry status of England must, indeed, have fallen very
low if it can find no better representatives of its scholar.
ship, its learning, its philosophy, than are embodied in
Mr. Dickens and those who have supported him on
these occasions. Without in any way wishing to de-
preciate that branch of literature with which Mr.
Dickens is exclusively identified, it would be magi.
featly absurd to igncre the great -r and more sub-
stantial claims upon the country of men whose lives
have been devoted to studies from which the present
and subsequent generations may derive real knowledie
and sound instruction. The value of all knowledge is
relative, and must depend entirely upon the advan-
tages mankind derive from its possession. Teat which
ennobles the mind and chastens the heart—that which
teaches us our true position in the scale of humanity
—that which, in fact, tends to make us wiser and
better, is 'more worthy of cultivation, and has a higher
claim upon our intelligence than that which is de-
signed merely to amuse. Thus to arrogate to them-
selves the position of the literary men of England is,
as we humbly think, on the part of Mr. Dickens and
his friends, to commit a great mistake—to place them-
selves, as they would place the Society, in a false
position. But, throughout tko entire proceeding 'there
is no rational and napeejucliced man who can eater--
tain any other conviction than that the aim has been
directed more to the material injury of the Charity,
than to the establishment of a system by which its
resources may be more effectually developed.
With a sincere and friendly feeling for every effort
made in behalf of literature, we are not disposed to
remain silent in the presence of such events. We regard
this vexatious opposition carried on year afteryear with
a trumpery minority, as disgraceful to those engaged in
it and derogatory to the character of the literary pro-
fession in England ; but at the same time, we must
avow our belief that with such triumphant facts at their
disposal, as set forth yesterday by Mr. Bell, the corn-
mittee is open to much and deserved censure for not
having at the outset met these paltry accusations in a
formal and complete manner, and es placed the facts
before the world as not only to refute, as was done
yesterday, the min-statements of the minority, but to
shield the corporation from the possible injury it may
receive from one of the most malicious attacks a
charitable institution has ever encountered at the kends
of its subscribing members.