The Sun.
London, England, 1866-03-29 00:00:00

Royal General Theatrical Fund.

The twenty-first anniversary festival of this insti-
tute was held last evening at Freemasons' Hall,
under the presidency of the Lord Mayor, supported
by Mr. Charles Dickens, Mr. Buckstone, Mr. B.
Webster, Mr. F. Ledger, Mr. Levy, Lieut. H.
Pomeroy Gilbert, Mr. Charles Shaw, Lieut.-Colonel
Money, Mr. G. Vining, Mr. Robert Keeley, Mr.
Henry Huggins, and about 150 other gentlemen.
On the dais behind the chairman and in the galleries
there were several ladies.

The usual loyal and patriotic toasts having been
appropriately introduced and enthusiastically re-
ceived, Major Snell responding for the Army, Lieut.
Gilbert for the Navy, and Lieut.-Colonel Money
for the Volunteers, _

The CHAIRMAN proposed " Prosperity to the Royal
General Theatrical Fund." Unfortunately, upon
that occasion he had not to be summoned to any
rehearsal, while the terms of his engagement were
unsettled. He had never before made his appear-
ance before so critical an audience, but he could
assure them also that he was never before more deeply
impressed with the truth and justice of the cause
which he advocated. In every age the drama had
contributed to the progress of civilisation and the im-
provement of mankind. It has the impersonation of
the loftiest sentiments in the most expressive language.
The actor seemed as a link between the sovereign
minds of the world and the mass of mankind. He
brought the vast range of human thought andfeeling
within the limits of our comprehension. (Cheers.)
He (the Lord Mayor) therefore asked them, one
and all, to support their excellent institution. The
actor, when he could not work, could not live. In
youth and health he instructed and amused us, and
in his old age and adversity it was our duty to assist
and maintain him. (Hear, hear.) In conclusion,
he had to give them " Prosperity to the General
Theatrical Fund," and he asked them to couple with
the toast the honoured name of their treasurer, Mr.
Buckstone. (Cheers.)
Mr. BUcKSTONE rose and said—Gentlemen, it is
with great pleasure that I rise to address you this
evening, to explain the nature and object of our
fund, and to return thanks for our right hon. chair-
man's toast ; for althongh we have had illustrious
authors, great statesmen, and eminent actors pre-
siding at these dinners, we have been remarkably
fortunate this evening in obtaining the chief magi-
strate of the City for that office. He is the first
Lord Mayor who has so honoured this festival. Sir
William Walworth may have killed his Wat Tyler;
Dick Whittington may, from his good qualities and
his good cat, have been thrice Lord Mayor of Lon-
don ; the son of Sir Richard Gresham may have
built the Royal Exchange ; and other Lord Mayors
have doubtless performed many generous and noble
actions ; but I am sure all present who have a love
for the drama and an affectionate regard for its
professors will allow that the Lord Mayor of to-day
having kindly consented to be our chairman on this
occasion, that kindness will not be placed amongst
the least praiseworthy of any of the generous acts
ever performed by him or by his honoured prede-
cessors. On last Lord Mayor's day I had the
pleasure of being at an open window in Fleet-
street to see and be delighted with the show,
when of course, I had the gratification of seeing
our chairman in his great carriage well taken care
of, and guarded by a warlike-looking retainer in a
fur cap, and bearing a gigantic sword. Knowing
our chairman not only to be a friend to our