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

St; THE St; N, LONDON THURSDAY EVENING MART LT 11, 18.

readily indeed to be explained. It results, in fact, 1
simply from the discovery, within the last ten
years, of a flaw in the wording of the Charter.
Of that casual blunder in the "letter of the law,"
the Managing Committee have adroitly taken ad-
vantage. Insomuch that the Council is now
altogether a nullity. Or as the Reformers
amusingly put it—by the reductio ad absurdum :
"The Council has now no existence but in name,
never meets, and never will meet; the General Com-
mittee having decided that it cannot be so much
as called together by any human authority." The
consequence of this oligarchical Managing Com-
mittee, thus endowing itself with the attribute of
irr
organizationesponbility, is—a train of flagrant abuses in
the of the Society, in the distribution
of its funds, and in the annual expenses entailed
upon the institution, by the mere process of that
distribution, abuses which the Reformers have,
year after year, since 1855, set themselves ener-
getically at work to disclose and to dissipate.
Observe, we speak of them advisedly as
Reformers—not merely as would-be Reformers.
Although their self-imposed toil began now only
three years ago, it has resulted already in more
than one really notable improvement. Changes
for the better suggested by these very innovators,
and, first of all, scornfully refused by the Com-
mittee, have been, at last, at the eleventh hour,
in the most grudging manner in the world, of
course without a syllable of acknowledgment as
to the actual originators of the amelioration,
granted. Hitherto, for instance, in obedience to
one of the most flagrantly irrational of all the
bye-laws of the Fund—a man who had written a
might claim the advan-
btaogoeks of the
, however
while a man who had
only written in periodicals, however powerfully,"
institution, worthless,
was altogether precluded from seeking its assist-
ance. The Reformers pointed out this most
absurd anomaly in 1855, and again in 1856—a1l
in vain ; but at length in 1857 the bye-law is
quietly abrogated. Hitherto, again, the notion
of granting any relief at all in the way of annuity
was scouted by the Committee as something ridi-
culous, whenever the idea was urged upon their
consideration by the indefatigable and indo-
mitalde Reformers. It was thus in 1855.
It was thus again in 1456. But ultimately
in 1857 there sneaked out through the yearly
report the laconic intimation, that one an-
nuity had been awarded, and that consequently
the long-continued principle had been meekly
adopted after all—..again without a hint of
acknowledgment.

Ungraciously though these concessions are
made, they are nevertheless very encouraging.
They can hardly fail to hearten the Reformers on
to new exertions—in the hope that those addi-
tienal efforts may prove equally effectual in
bringing about yet
more comprehensive ameliora-
tions. That some stimulus is indeed required for
the Charity, in the way of an improved organisa-
tion, is by this time sufficiently apparent.
This, of course, thanks to the exposure of facts
brought to the public knowledge by these resolute
and unflinching antagonists of that secret com-
mittee, that irresponsible oligarchy, that closest
of all close corporations. Thus, for example, as
amply demonstrative of the necessity for a total
reorganization of the Charity—is there not the
startling fact that while it had no less than 394
annual subscribers in 1802, it has now absolutely
very little over one hundred ? Remember, too,
that out of the monies distributed year after year
by a society whose funded property amounts to
some 30,0001., and whose landed estate brings in
some 2001. a year additional—as much as forty
per cent. is deducted from funds received in trust
for distressed literary men, is deducted for the
mere coat of applying those very funds to their
assistance. Insomuch is this monstrous extra-
vagance of expenditure persisted in, that the yearly
cost of administering the affairs of the Literary
Fund nearly equals one half of the amount
annually distributed. The sum of 1,2251. having
been distributed last year in relieving claimants,
the sum of 5321. constituting the expense of that
very distribution. No wonder, with these facts and
figures before us, no wonder at all that these re-
formers designate this cost as "enormous beyond
all precedent." It can scarcely, however, be any
matter of surprise to find that aggregate of 5321.
attained, when we recollect, as illustrative of the
economic management of the Fund, that a house is
kept up from
year's end to year's end—in order
that nine meetings maybe held during the course
of every twelvemonth in one of its rooms, each
meeting occupying from two to three hours iu its
duration. This fact is merely one out of many ;
but it is charactetistie. It is more; it is—we do
not hesitate to say it—scandalous. As if to
epitomize the whole pamphlet in one terse sen-
tence, our three Reformers remark at page 14 ;
" The case of the reformers, summed up, is That
the Literary Fund Society
itisgoveniintentionexpressed of its charter, by an irresponsible
committee ; because it limits its proceedings, in direct
opposition to the evident aad expressed intentions of its
founder, to dealing with the followers of literature as
beggars only ; and because its enormous annual expen-
diture will net bear comparison with the expenditure of
any other similar instantion on the face of the earth."'
This briefly is, iu very truth, "the head and front
of its offending." We doubt not for au instant
that the time is now rapidly approaching when
the Society wit' pay the penalty of these reite-
rated and overwhelming exposures.

The Siamese Ambassadors are preparing to quit Paris.
They have excited little attention in the political world.
The Duke and Duchess of Northumberland arrived at
Northumberland Houso yesterday afternoon from Stan-
wick Park, Yorkshire, for the season.

Miss Coutts gave a grand entertainment, on Tuesday,
at her mansion in Stratton-street, to their Royal High-
nesses the Duchess of Cambridge and the Princess Mary.
The following were invited to meet theirroyal highnesses:
--The Lail and Countess Grey, the Lord Chancellor
a
, Viscountess Stratford de Red-
clud
lffe,LytandeDCealitlelowfs'rd
Westminster, Lord and Lady Charles
Wellesley, the Right fon. Sir B. Hall, M.P. ; the
Right Hon. W. Cowper, M.P., and Afro. Cowper; lion.
Mr. and Mrs. W. 11.
North, Sir James Brooke, Sir
T. Freemantle, and Professor Wheatstone. Lady Caro-
line Murrayand Major Home Purves were in waiting
on the Dii cliess of Cambridge. Later in the evening Miss
Coutts received a select circle, the Duke of Cambridge
being preset-t.

TireCouotess of Derby had a reception last night, at
the noble Premier's residence in St. James's-square.
Their Royal Highnesses the Duchess of Cambridge and
the Princess 141.0.rY. attended by Lady Guorgiana
Bathurst and l Rome Pun-es,
laj,r honoured her lady-
chip by their company,
shortly after eleven o'clock. His
Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge also attended
the reception. Mort of the chief members of the foreign
dirlomatic body were present.
'l'-Lt AND
20 miles of the 84:111:::::
the rail,vay between Taunton and Watchett, in the
Bristol Channel, will be commenced, and in a few months
downylle::::::V e ry a
sfar shortly
a s
Gillingham, will
ii,., ;,w-."- be opened. About 25 miles of the
ndablirei'it'd.'e"veen Southampton. and Dorchester are

s t
rO,
uxr: or : lang,o
EN Vxotne cn
Lave been 7,900/.
WAY.—Tne receipts of this company, including the
16,'. 2...1., and the cxpendCitaunrael,'
Es:II AND WOLUERTIAMPTON RAIL-
280a Feb.,
the corresponding psiiod -of 1357 amounted to 7,579 i.
for the tiihndec.;u d fortnighti whilstg thtahto soei endingtfohre
Stourbridge Exi.en?.ion Clnal, 3,6711. Bs. 2d., being at
the rate of 50.93 per cent., whilst those for the corres-
ponding period of 1857 amounted to 3,7311. ls. 3d , or
at the rate of 49.22 per c:.nt. The sum of 23,8441. 7e.
10J. being receipts for the first three fortnights of the
half-year added to the 7,2001.8 -. id. ad above, makes a
total receipt of 31,044/. 154. 11J.,
as against 32,418/.
75. 41 for the corresponding three fortnights of the
previous year. And the sum of 11,914/. 10s. 8., being
expenses for the first three fortnights of the half-year,
added to the 3,671/. Bs. 2d. as above, makes a total ex-
penditure of 15,585/. 18.. 10d., beingatthe rate of 50.20
per cant. as against 16,110/.163.7J. for the correspond-
ing three fortnights of the previous year, or at the rate
of 49,0 per cent.