The Sun.
London, England, 1857-04-07 00:00:00

ROYAL GENERAL THEATRICAL FUND.

The 12th anniversary festival of this most excellent in-
stitution for the relief of the members of the theatrical
profession who may from unforeseen circumstances r equire
assistance, was celebrated last evening at the Freemasons'
Tavern, by a very elegant dinner, it being the first occa-
sion the festival had been held at the west end of the town,
which many friends of the institution contend to ba the
natural home of the drama. It is, we believe, now gene-
rally understood that the festival is to ba held alternately
at the Freemasons' and the London Tavern, and doubtless
the proprietors will vie with each other in friendly rivalry
to prove which establishment can best contribute to the
comfort of their patrons. On the present occasion the
chair was occupied by Mr. Samuel Phelps, the talented
' tragedian and lessee of Sadlers' Wells Theatre, supported
by Capt. Sir, Charles ibbetson, Mr. Charles Dickens, Mr.
T. P. Cooke, Mr. Creswick, Mr. Backstone' Mr. Mark
Lemon, Mr. JerwOod, Mr. E. T. Smith, Mr. Hermann
Vezin, Mr. Sams, Mr. Henry Hill, Dr. }tov e, and about
200 other gentlemen principally connected with literature
and- the drama, there being a large number of ladies also
present.
The cloth having been removed, and grace given by the
vocalists,
The CHAIRMAN rose to propose " The health of her Ma-‘
jesty," who on this occasion, he was happy to say, had sent
her eleventh annual donation of 100 guineas. He was
sure, whether they regarded her Majesty as a Sovereign,
a woman, or as a patron of that institution, as well as of
every society likely to be beneficial to the people, they
would receive the toast with enthusiasm. (Cheers.)

The deep, sepulchral tone in which Mr. Phelps delivered
this, as well as the remainder of his address, created con-
siderable amusement, shoe ing how use becomes second
nature, and, though we may command spirits from the
deep, we are not so sure they will come when we do call
them. Indeed, never was the artificial and the real so
beautifully mixed ' • Mr. Phelps, whilst evidently intending
to be most natural, showing that the actor predominated,
and though addressing a convivial company in the Free-
masons"ravein, he could not overcome the conventional
appeal to the feelings and passions of the audience.
The hea'ths of his Royal Highness Prince Albert, Albert
Prince of Wales, and the rest of the royal family, having
been given,
The CHAIRMAN proposed " The -Army and Navy,"
coupling with the toast the names of Sir C. Matson and
Mr. T. P. Cooke.
Sir C. IBBETSON having returned thanks on behalf of
the army,
Mr. T. P. COOKE assured thecompany that he had great
difficulty in responding for that service with which he had
at one time been connected. Hitherto it had been generally
supposed that Englishmen would ever be anxious to uphold
the army and navy ; of late, however, it would seem that
several members of the Peace Society were of opinion that
Jack's only duty was, if he received a blow upon one side of
the face, to offer the other to be smitten. Knowing himself
something' f Jack's character, he would consider such hu-
militarians as nothing more than humbugs ; and whilst the
country possessed. one of the finest fleets that ever floated,
nothing would give them 'ereater pleasure than a good
stand-up fight, even though they were opposed to the Ce-
lestials commanded by the Sun and Moon. (Cheers and
laughter.) He had had some experience of what the fleet
was under Nelson, nearly sixty years ago, and he was quite
assured that ho would never have allowed any Celestial to
flag the. ag that " for a thousand years had braved the
battle and the breeze." (Loud cheers.)
The CHAIRMAN again rose and said—We are met this
evening to advance the interests and promote the welfare
of the Royal General Theatrical Fund. Its objects are
well known to many, probably to all, of you. (Cheers.)
Its cause has been pleaded year after year at this annual
festival by " lips upon whose accents you have loved to
dwell"—by men whose eloquence has been of power suffi-
cient to stir the hearts and open the purses, too, of such as
I should conceive more difficult to move than those I see
around me—(no, no)--an assemblage composed of men
avowedly living under the softening influences of the drama,
literature, and the fine arts. (Cheers.) Knowing how
much has been said, and well said, by my predecessors in
the office I hold this evening, I feel most painfully my in-
feriority to those who have gone before me, and assure you
that nothing but a sense of duty and deference to the
wishes of others, has induced me to appear here in a new
character—(cheers)—and one, too, in which I feel myself
to be, and am afraid you will find me, very imperfect.
(No, no.) If upon my eloquence—Heaven save the mark !
depend any addition to the funds, or increase of good will
from you towards this association, I am powerless—
" Gentle breath of yours my sails
Must fill, or else my project fails;
Which was to plead '•—but I want
Spirits to enforce, art to enchant,
And my ending is despair
'Unless I be relieved by prayer
Which pierces so that it assaults
Mercy itself, and flees all faults."
Let my prayer be heard that you will allow your imagina-
tions in some degree to supply my deficiencies, and think
what might-be said by one more competent to the task iu
behalf of an institution having for its object to render easy
the declining years of those who have spent their lives in
ministering to the pleasure and instruction of others,
through the medium of as delightful, as humanising—aye,
and as noble an art, when rightly directed, as can employ
the faculties, mental and physical, of man. Few, indeed,
amongst the thousands who have or do practise that art
possess in a high degree its requirements; and even when
that does occur it ts been considered a drawback upon
the actor's powers that his creations cease to be when he
shall cease to live. True, but do not the vividness of its
present impressions compensate in a large degree for its
want of permanence? What other artists can produce such
immediate effects as the actor? What other artist can, by
one stroke of his wand, electrify the heart and brain of as-
sembled thousands—striking a chord that acts upon them
all—at once—and compelling a multitude involuntarily to
acknowledge kindred to each other, and wonder at the
power that has thus exposed them in the fulness of their
humanity. Gentlemen, if this be true—and there are few
who will deny it—l say again the actor's is as noble an ast,
when rightly employed, as can engage the faculties, mental
and physical, oilman. (Cheers.) And let not the actor him-
self complain that he lives not with posterity; for no other
artist receives the living homage that he does—so that his
account is fairly balanced. We know from testimony that
Garrick for 30 years was an idol. Thera may be some few
here that remember how many subjects bowed to the Sid-
dons' and John Kemble's majesty—(cheers)—more, whom
the flashes of Edmund Kean's genius has impressed with
memories never to be effaced--(cheers)—andla.st, not least,
Macready's power is almost felt amongst us even now.
(Immense applause.) To such men I would say, verily you
have had your reward. But these gentlemen were the great
wheels of the histrionic machine, who in all their vast pro-
portions stood nobly out to view, but who, save for the little
wheels that worked below, obscured from sight and scarcely
heard, could not have moved at all. (Cheers.) Gentlemen,
it is for the little wheels that I would plead to-night. If
the actor's power be what I have stated, it is a power that
may be wielded for great evil or great good. (Hear.) I
speak from a long experience of 13 years, passed in a some-
what peculiar position, which has taught me, I believe,
which prompts me to assert, and enables me to prove (if
that which is true of a part may be true of the whole) from
remarkable statistics, were it necessary, that the good
genius Civilisation, in exercising her influence upon masses
of the people, can receive no greater aid than that afforded
her by dramatic exhibition—(cheers)—and it'is upon that
foundation I would build the claim for support of an insti-
tution like this upon society at large, or at least that por-
tion of it who are not so b'inded by bigotry, or addle-
headed from any other cause—(laughter)—as to deny the
drama that position as an educatorial art to which it is
justly entitled. Let us drink increased prosperity, with
its lengthening years, to the Royal General Theatrical
Fund. (Loud applause.)
Mr. BUCESTONE rose, amidst continued applause, and
said— Gentlemen, as this is our first appearance at the
Freemasons' Tavern, and the aspect from the stage here
not being quite so familiar as the one we have been accus-
tomed to in the City, I trust to be excused if I show the
trepidation usual on making a first appearance on strange
boards. (Cheers and laughter.) At the same time, I hope.
we shall find that in removing, according to the Post-office
directions from Bishopsgate-street, E.C., to Great Queen-
street, W.C., wo shall be 0. K., which last initials were
said to be used by a certain American President when he
indorsed any Government papers that he considered all
correct. (Laughter.) At all events, gentlemen, whatever
may be the result, we have achieved a great advantage by
appearing to-night, under the management of Mr. Phelps,
whose professional experience, acknowledged talent, and
great popularity, must ensure the curtain falling this even-
ing on a most successful entertainment ; while our friends
present, and the patrons of the drama, will, I am sure, be
glad to hear one fact, that, although we have been hon-
oured by titled chairmen and gentlemen of high position
presiding over us on these occasions, yet, whenever wo have
had an actor in the chair, our receipts, to use a .technical
phrase, have always been greater than at any other time ;
therefore, gentlemen, what must wo hope they will be to-
night, when we have such an actor as Mr. Phelps to ap-
peal to your sympathies, and plead the cause of his bro-
thers
and sisters of the stage? (Cheers.) It is always
necessary on these occasions, although it is certainly more
than a thrice-told tale, to explain to you the objects of the
General Theatrical Fund. The institution was founded
for the purpose of granting life annuities to ()Very esta-
blished performer, vocalist, pantomimist, or prompter,
in town or country, who, after subscribing to it for a
certaie period, might become incapacitated from follow-
ing his profession by age, accident, or infirmity. It is-
now somewhere about 19 years ago since a few ewers and
their friends met together to lay the foundation of
this fund, the capital of which has gradually increased
froth very small beginnings to 10,0001., which sum, great
as it may appear, will be the amount of our means when
the festival of this evening has terminated ; while, to show
you that we have made good use of this capital, I have
only to state that the sum paid during the last 12 months
to performers claiming their annuities was 770., and an-
other considerable amount has been disbursed for funeral_
and other expenses ; but as the members are nueneroul,
the claims upon our resources must yearly increedsue tDe
been most
our
hoves us to use every exertion in our power to abet:
capital. These festivals, gentlemen, have alwarnaiebraiing
most
productive, and I am convinced the
this evening will not be less so than sonny°
brilliant
thisassem-
taspredecessors;
while it is most 'gratifying to see by
warm and generous
blage that the drama has find
read
aethmeeother day in a
supporters, and that the p
yeetormaacatyor can still a
friend. Yet.,tfrwomeelad
appear
newspaper,who consider
I only the statement could
overpaid.
h I allude to referred es.
Le, the
elm-
the poor actor
be proved. The paraesar statement
wishrl
some Colonial
Secretary sums lavished upon _ actors—that the al
Secretary was not so well paid as a certain performer, and
the representative of the Home-office received for his ser-
vices considerably less than a popular actor, once at the
Horn=
.eee• Allowing these to be isolated facts, yet, in
defence of our art, permit me to observe, that in the House
of Commons, the political coteries, and the clubs, you
would ba certain of finding 50 colonial secretaries, and as
wally representatives of the Home-oflice—all quite ready and
willing to take these places immediately, if not sooner—
where you could not meet with one actor that any manager
would give any salary to whatever. (Laughter.) Gentle-
men, lam proud of my profession. I have great pleasure
in announcing to you, as you have already heard from Mr.
Phelps, that her gracious Majesty has again sent us her
munificent donation of 1001.—loud cheering)—thus prov-
ing what a friend that illustrious lady is to the
dramatic art—and, indeed, she is a friend. Witness her
frequent visits with her family to the best theatres —(cheers)
—the countenance she gives to the drama under her own
roof at Windsor Castle. (Cheers.) And, believe we, I feel
proud to declare this evening, and before such an assembly,
that a demonstration of the small amount given to a cer-
tain actor, on a recent occasion, for his services there, had
nothing whatever to do with the generosity of the Court,
or the director of its theatricals. (Cheers.) A liberal sum
is allowed for these performances. I know, as regards my-
self, I have always been well and sufficiently remunerated.
(Cheers.) And the receipt by this actor of the small pawr
meat which he presented to a police poor-box as
a question with which hey Majesty had nothing to do,