The Sun.
London, England, 1858-05-06 00:00:00

ROYAL lITE_RABY FUND.

The 60th anniversary festival of this institution
was celebrated at the Freemasons' Tavern, Great
Queen-street, last evening, the Right Hon. Vis-
count Palmerston presiding. The re was a very
large muster of the friends and stir porters of the
fund, covers being laid for 250. The occasion was
also honoured by the presence of many ladies.
Among the principal guests were—his Excellency,
M. Van de Weyer, Belgian Minister, bis Excel-
lency Cout,rt Platten, Swedish and Norwegian Mi-
nister, the Marquis of Weatnriniter, the Earl of
Ellesmere, Lord Talbot ile'Malatride, the Hon. P.
Pierrepont, the Hon. S. Sparkes, the Uni'ed
States' historian, Sir J. Davis, Sir J. Login, Sir
J. Forbes, M. Tourgeneff, Mr. Briscoe, M.P., Mr.
Wilson, M.P., Mr. Western, M.P., Mr. G. Lang-
ton, M.P , Mr. Botfield, M.P„ Mr. W. Martin,
M.P., Mr. Slaney, M. P., Mr. Philipps, M. P.,
Baron Marochotti, M. Merimee, M. .Panizzi, M.
Delapierre, The Chisholm, Baron Von ()Niel', the
Right Hun. W. Cowper, Mr. Hope, M.P., Slr R.
Murchison, Mr. M. MiMes, M.P., Sir R. Rawlin•
son, M.P., Sir D. Norreys, M.P., Professrr Creasy,
Gen. Sir C. Parley, Mr. R. Bell, Mr. H.Hamilton,
Sir H. Edis, Rev. J. B. Mozley, Mr. W. .Tooke,
the Common Sergeant, Mr. G. Cruikshank, Dr.
Beattie, Mr. Longman, Mr. H. G. Bohn, Mr.
Chapman, and Messrs. Hurst and Blackett.
In proposing " the health of her Majesty" the
noble CHAIRMAN referred to the fact that Queen
Victoria was the first Sovereign of tbiscountry who
had recognised literary attainments as a claim to
the distinctions which it was her peculiar preroga-
tive to bestow. He need not say he alluded to
the peerage which had been conferred upon Lot cl
Macaulay, not so much on account of his lordship's
Imerits as an orator and a politician, great as those
undoubtedly were, as for his brilliant reputation as
a man of letters. _ _ - -

_
The toast was duly honoured, as were also the
other loyal and patriotic toasts.
Thanks were returned for '=the Army" by Sir
C. Pasley, and for " the Navy" by
portion of his
Count Platten,
the Swedish Minister, who passed a
career in the service of this country.
The noble CIEAIRMAN, who was receivedi with
loud cheers, then roseand said, t
Ge emen, I now
beg to propose to you the toast of the evening,
"Prosperity to the Royal Literary Fund"—the
prosperity of that institution fur the promotion of
whieh we are now assembled. There is nothing
more stlikingly characteristic of th's great country
than the manner in wh'ch private combinations and
co-operation accomplish works and undertakings
which in other parts of the world require all the
power and resources of Government. (Heir.) The
face of England is literally covered with the spies e-
did achievements of these associated efforts. But
among the various results attained by this potent
agency there is nothing perhaps more honourable
to this country than the admirable mode in which
associations of private individuals collect together
large funds forpurposesiof benevolence and charity.
(Cheers.) We have only to look threueli those pe-
riodical records in which the ltboors of such socie-
ties are described to see the extent to which private I
associat ous achieve honourable and praiseworthy
ends. But among the various objects aimed at by
such combinations there is none,perhaps more cal-
culated to excite sympathy and admiration thauthe
assistance and eneouragemene of teen of lettersand
of genius in their hours of adversity and of trial.
(Hear.) Au association for such a purpose is surely
well fitted above all others to attract to itself the
co-operation of all men of generosity and good feel-
ing. Now, the institution, the claims of which I
have the honour to advocate is peculiarly designed
to aid and succour the distresses of those who have
directed their intellectual faculties to literary and
scientific pursuits. There are oth-r branches of
human skill in which the genius of man displays
itself, and which though they may give equal scope
to the development of that genius, yet stand, in re-
gard to the mode and f the extent to which they ap-
peal to the feelings mankind, in a somewhat dif-
-1 forentpositioe frgm letters. The painter, thesculptor
and the architect and do possess, the
fire of genius in as may possess,
as the poet, the
historian, or the novelist. But the productions of the
painter the sculptor and the architect are restrict ed,
to
se to speak,a given local habitation ; they are
condenud in a specific work, which affords, indeed,
the highest delight and instruction, and awakens
noble emotions in the breasts of these who are so
fortunately situated as to be able to behold them ;
butuy apace, tli eir influence ehceon mankind at large is limited
confined to those who are on the
spot where the originals are to be seen, or where
they can do -honour to. those originals through the
medium of the
best copies that can be produced.
The literary roan on
oti the other hand, has this ad-
vantage,—that hiss works travel over the whole faCe
g
of the civilised that in every nation where
intellect is cultivated they are found alike among
rich and poor, forming the enjoyment of the social
family circle, or furnishing materials for the reflec-
tion and meditation of the student in his serious
hours. (Hear.) The benefits, therefore, which
mankind derive from the results of literary effort
are more wide-spread and
universal than those
which flow from the most successful exertions of
human intellect in the other departments to which
I have advertt Butl. there is yet another advan-
tage literature
may
ea
posss
rls over those other arts,—
viz., in what Ithe immortality of its pro-
ductions. The architect and the sculptor are taught
to remember that they cannot rely for enduring
fame upon the faithless eoi utnu or the crumbling
m
bust." Their works live long, and yet they
must sooner or later succumbay to the ravages of
time. The painter, too,however great the glory
he may )
acquire for a lengthened period, produces
works still more open e ---
o the destructive effects of
time, even if they escape the more fatal, though,
perhaps, less unfriendly efforts of the restorer. (A
laugh.) But literary productions survive for thou-
sands of years. • And we have an example not only
of the duration of sueh works, but of how the ge-
nius of one age may stimulate the genius of another,
for we have recently seen an elaborate dissertation
published by
upon the greatest pee.t of. antiquity
Oue of the_most distinguished men
of our time.
(Cheers,) %But, gentle mere, the car of men of
career
letters is nut without its difficulties and its trou-
bles. The mount of literary fame may rise at
first in a gentle slope above the level plain ; the
upward road
may appear smooth, easy, and in-
viting ; and some are teeipted to make the ascent
by fancying that the summit is near at hand and
their strength is sufficient to bring them the re. But
as they advance they find 'heir difficulties increase
and many stop short almost at the foot of the
mountain ; others are arrested
midway ; while a
few rare spirits, spurred on by ambition and gifted
with indomitable energy, reach the topmost height,
and from their lofty elevation survey that horizon
of glory which their labours have entitled them to
enjoy. But even with them the rewards are some-
times doubtful. My excellent friend Sir Roderick
Murchison can tell any traveller who starts from
Somerset House to any part of the globe what
strata he will meet with, in what peculiar geolo-
gical formations he may expect to discover the
cious metals, and where he may direct his energies
with the prospect of au adequate recompense ; but
be cannot tell the literary aspirant who tries to
climb the steep to which I have advertel whether
midway or at summit lie will find an El Dorado to
reward his exertions. (Laughter.) Gentlemen,
we all admire the results of literary' labour ; but
there are those who know all the anxietiee and
difficulties by which those brilliant results have in
many cases been accomplished. Could we but see
the man of genius meditating alone—could we but
have laid bare to us the stregglieg thoughts swel-
ling within his bosom and endeavouring to embody
themselves in a work which he believes will im-
mortalize his name, while, ou the other hand, he is
dragged down by domestic cares, or by some of the
many accidents and misfortunes which are the com-
mon lot of humanity—.could we see the inward
workings of that man of genius, we should not only
say with the ancient philosopher, that the noblest
sight is a great man battling with adverse fate, but.
we should feel the high advantage of association
like this, which steps in at such conjuncture
• with assistance, not gle3t in itself, but