The Sun.
London, England, 1868-05-07 00:00:00

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LONDON, THURSDAY, MAY 7, 1868.

It must have been with a feeling of great satis-
faction that Mr. DISRAELI turned from the strug-
gles of official life and the turmoils of Parliamentary
debate to enter upon the genial subject of li era-
ture. Last evening he presided at the anniversary
banquet of the Royal Literary Fund, and a nume-
rous and distinguished company assembled. Mr.
DISRAELI is always fortunate in filling the best of
chairs, and contrives to select what reminiscence
appertains to each subject that can give a charm
and a grace to it. Thus, in proposing the health
of the QUEEXI he reminded his hearers that since
he had had the hor.ourinf dining with the Literary
Fund her MAJESTY had inserted her name in the
memorable list of Royal authors, and her success
was most suprising, for those who read her pages
" must have recognised in them the touch of nature
which make all hearts kin." In the allusion male
to the members of the Royal family, the Chairman
mentioned the satisfaction experienced at the Prince
of WALES having been chairman at the banquet of
tha institution, in which he followed the example of
his father, who did more for the " refinement of the
taste of this country than any prince who flourished
since the days of the MEDICI." The attempt made on
the life of the Royal Prince in Australia naturally
awakes a deeper interest when the Royal family is
mentioned, and the reception accorded to the Prince
and Princess of WALES in Ireland is a proof of the
loyalty of the people not to be overlooked. In pro-
posing the toast of the evening the Chairman was
particularly felicitous, and he carried his audience
with him, although he prefaced his remarks by the
declaration that he had spoken before as chairman,
and could not say anything new ; besides, he added,
he came among them " like one who from the heat of
combat repairs to the pureflow of some pls cid stream to
slake the thirst of battle," and it was with an effort,
he said, that he attuned his mind to the gracious
and refined offices that he had then to perform.
He was, however, sustained by what must ever en-
dure—his sympathy for the good old cause. The
Literary Fund is an ancient institution, but it is
I one which has met with well-deserved encourage-
ment ; the changes inevitable to humanity that have
taken place since the period of its foundation have
materi,illy affected the position of the author, and
these were well summed up by Mr. DISRAELI. It will
be borne in mind that the right hon. g
well qualified to discourse upon this subject, for he is
himself a man of letters, and, even more than that
perhaps, possesses that true sympathy with
I his earlier calling, which is alike so essential to
true knowledge and so rare to witness.
When the Literary Fund sprung into existence, the
man of letters escaped from the patronage of nobles,
and took refuge in the more substantial protection

of the bookseller. But, as the Chairman reminded
the assembly last night, there did not then exist the
great feature of our time—" a reading public."
" Instead of the Grubb-street of Queen ANNE'S
time, literary men have founded a compact, a well-
organised, and an honourable profession. Still,
though literature has so happily flourished, we
must not suppose that the necessity for the Lite-
rary Fund has diminished, or the active exercise of
its offices is not called for.

Mr. DISRAELI has studied the subject deeply,
and [he assures us that, on the contrary, there
is an increased demand for it. The author is
of peculiar organisation, and it is a suggestion
worthy of all praise that such individuals
should not have to resort to the com-
mon practices of charity, but should find
an institution which, like the one flaw referred
to, should minister to their wants and " appreciate
their idiosyncracies." The object of the Literary
Fund, as its gifted exponent said yesterday, was to
found a society which, instead of expecting grati-
tude from those succoured, feels that it is honoured
by his acceptance of the sympathy offered. In re-
viewing the causes which create so universal a sym-
pathy with the literary character, Mr. DISRAELI
truly said that one important reason was that there
was a feeling that society was greatly indebted to
literature ; and if we think for a moment what
society would be without books we may fully ap-
pre;iate the justness of that expression. Thos e
who are themselves unlettered owe a vast
deal to the " cultivated record of the im-
pulses of invention and the discoveries of truth."
The state cf its literature is the test of the condition
and mind of a country, and if we look at the em-
pires of antiquity we shall see that they arc but
phantoms in the consciousness of men. They have
not left us " human examples" to be our instruction ;
and why not ? " Because they have left us no books,
they have left us no literature. We have heard of
their conquerors, their statesmen, and their poets,
but never of their authors." Other countries that
are equally remote still impress us by their litera-
ture, and though three thousand years have passed
since they flourished they will probably continue to
influence mankind till the end of time, because they
left us literature and produced authors. Mr. DIS-
RAELI thinks that England may be well satisfied
with her exploits in this line, and if called
upon to mention the leading characteristic
of our literature, he would remark upon its " exu-
berant reproductiveness." There is a vigour and
versatility in our literature which has well sustained
the commanding influence of the English language.
Englishmen now do not appeal to the inhabitants
of their own island, illustrious though that be; its
confines do not bound their aspirations and set
limits to their intelligence. On the contrary, if the
author is capable of it, " he may affect the feelings
and influence the conduct of the inhabitants of
every transatlantic city, and his productions soothe
the labours and solace the life of the workers of the
antipodes." The very tone of all this proves how
important it is to sustain and support the votaries
of the Muse, and through whose noble efforts
maintain the high place of English literature from
the rising to the setting of the sun. Many causes
may conspire to bring about results that are fatal
to the prolongation of the one cherished pursuit,
and then it is that the Society referred to steps
in to minister to the needs and necessities of
the worn-out and exhausted author and man
of letters. Mr. DISRAELI pleaded the cause
of the profession he has adorned with the
most brilliant success ; he spoke with real feeling
and perfect understanding of his subject, and he
Lams • a right, to for he in one who has
always appreciated the true nobility of in-
tellect and the real importance of literature.
The brotherhood of literature to whom he
addressed himself must have felt the truth of his
remarks, and acknowleige the importance of the
society which brought them together on that occa-
sion.

Lord STENHOPE proposed the health of the Chair-
man, and thanked him for his excellent speech,
which he said would greatly further the interests
of the society. The noble lord made an interesting
Epeech, and in descanting upon the merits of the
right hon. gentleman who presided over their enter-
tainment on that occasion, ha said they were much
indebted to him for coming among them at a time
when the cares of state pressed so heavily upon
him. Whatever might be their political opinions, they
could not refuse their admiration to the great talent
which, in spite of many formidable obstacles, had
raised the Chairman to the position of the.first man
in what with pardonable partiality they might call
the first country in the world." In " Coningsby,"
one of the most popular of Mr. DISRAELI'S works,
he had said of one who had to make his own way
up the steep hill of life, that " he was master of his
subject, in all things the secret of success ;" and
this, Lord STANHOPE thought, well illustrated the
career of their distinguished president on that oc-
casion, for a knowledge of details marked his pre-
cepts and practice. In some respects the occasion
of last night was particularly interesting.
The Prime Minister, a man of letters himself,
presided over the anniversary festival of the
Literary Fund, showing at the same time to what
a height literature may lead the aspirant in this
country, for it was by his pen that Mr. DISRAELI first
became famous, and we now see how he is appre-
ciated by those in high places. This is as it should
be, and all true lovers of literature will rejoice to
find it duly honoured, while they must feel that
those in prosperity cannot do better than seek to
aid those whose adversity is doubly sad, since it is
partly caused by the efforts that have excited the
admiration of society, and which gifted minds may
delight to dwell upon when the creator of the glow•
have passed away from the scene
ionfghpiaassataruggesemesa!

The continued illness of Mr. STANBERY has
thrown Mr. JOHNSON'S defence into other hands,
but there seems no lack of ability or of legal in-
genuity in the conduct of his case. At the continua-
tion of the Impeachment Trial, on April 25, Judge
NELSON delivered a long argument on behalf of the
President. He sketched his life, and cited his
loyalty during the rebellion, declaring, moreover,
that his case did not come within the provisions of
the law. Judge NELSON quoted the opinions
of several Attorneys-General in support of the Pre-
sidential right to remove and appoint members of
the Cabinet. Another point on which the advocate
insisted was one which the Radicals would be
very unwilling to allow. Congress, with ten States
unrepresented, has, he affirms, no constitutional
right to attempt an Impeachment. We cannot
suppose that the force of this argument
will be admitted for a moment by the
PRESIDENT'S adversaries, yet it must have weight
with those who are not blinded by party feeling or
absorbed in personal ambition. The Impeachment
professes to be carried on in the name of the whole
nation. Mr. LINCOLN and Mr. JOHNSON were
elected as President and Vice-President of the United
States—not of the Northern States alone, and conse-
quently Mr. JOHNSON, who in the natural course
of things has succeeded to Mr. LINCOLN'S vacant
place, cannot in reason be deposed from his autho-
rity without the express consent of the whole
nation. The Congress, whose members are so bit-

terly hostile to the PRESIDENT, and who profess to
be such strict upholders of Constitutional law, are
in reality acting in direct opposition to all laa
and tradition. It was never contemplated
by the founders of the American Republic
that so large and important a share of the States
was to be omitted from the general representative
assembly. Taxation without representation was
the burden of their complaint against the British
Government, and yet the Southern States are taxed
heavily by their descendants without being
allowed to take the slightest part in the
government of the country. If any of the
primary actors in the affair were really
desirous of establishing a sound constitutional pre-
cedent, they would assuredly realise the folly and
inconsistency of such an attempt under the present
constitution of Congress. This is one of the
strongest points in favour of the PRESIDENT, se far
as reason and justice is concerned, but unfortu-
nately reason and justice have very little to do with
the matter.

We learn that Mr. JOHNSON has nominated Gen.
SCROLFIELD Secretary of War, vice STANTON, to be
removed. Another of these unlucky secretaries
pro tem. is, therefore, preparing to assume the
troublesome dignity, with what success remains to
be seen. It is not very likely that Congress will
under existing circumstances give its consent to any
appointment or nomination of the PRESIDENT'S,
while it is scarcely possible for a Minister to act in
defiance of it.

The House of Commons, which has been of late
too much absorbed in political contests to pay much
attention to minor affairs, fills up its leisure on a
Wednesday by a series of small bills of no particular
moment. It is well, however, that some fraction
of time should be spared for them, since there is
good reason to fear that we shall have very
little practical work done this session. Last
year members of both sides prided them-
selves on the quantity of business which
they had got through in spite of sundry disasters
and drawbacks, but at the close of this session they
are not likely, if we are to judge by present appear-
ances, to have much to boast of. Last night the
Mines Assessment Bill was brought under discus -
sion, its second reading being moved by Mr
IVvrmuat. The object of this bill is to obtain a
more equitable distribution of local taxation.
As matters are at present arranged, the
burden of the rates falls unequally on the
local proprietors. The proprietors of mines
are not bound to contribute to the rates, and are of
course glad to avoid doing so if possible. But the
wear and tear of the roads from the heavy mineral
traffic necessitates great expense to the rest of the
community, and, what is worse, a large number of
miners are often thrown upon the rates owing
to the dangerous character of certain mines
Thus, in 1865, in one of the Cornish districts
out of 324 paupers who were relieved, 273 were
miners, the miners not having in better days con-
tributed a farthing to the rates. At the same time
while Mr. WYNDHAM is anxious to remove these
anomalies, he does not wish to press heavily on the
holders of such property. In Devon and Corn-
wall, where mining operations have been
during the lass two years in a de-
pressed state,
he proposes to treat them
exceptionally, while Derbyshire mines he would
exempt altogether from the operations of the
bill, as they contribute to existing rates. The
general principle of the measure was received with
favour, though some
objections were taken to
matters of detail. The whole question of highway
assessment demands investigation, since the
charges in many instances press very un-
equally on the local owners ; and while some
are taxed for the benefit of their neighbours, others
are altogether omitted or very slightly chargei. We
must have a full and fair investigation into the
manner in which the local taxes are assessed, since
no one likes to be unduly pressed for his share of
public burdens even though the sum charged may
be of no great moment.

LATEST INTELL LGENCE.

(REUTER'S TELEGRAM.)

PROPOSED ➢IARRIAGE OF THE PRINCE SS
LOUISE.

COPENHAGEN, May 7.

The Dagstelegraphen of to-day says It is
stated on reliable authority that the English Minis-
ter, Sir Thomas Wycke, will arrive here shortly
with instructions relative to the proposed marriage
of the Crown Prince with the Princess Louise of
England.