The Sun.
London, England, 1850-03-26 00:00:00

GENERAL THEATRICAL FUND.

The anniversary dinner of this society was held
yesterday, at the London Tavern, Benjamin 'Webster,
Esq., in the chair. About 250 gentlemen sat down
to the dinner, which was amply and liberally pro-
vided. Tile vocal arrangements were under the
superintendence of Mr. Balfe, and the professionals
who generously gave their aid were the Misses Dolby,
Ransford, M. Williams, Rainfortb, Lucombe, Mes-
sent, and Mrs. Weiss; Messrs. Whitworth, Weiss,
Land, Machin, P. Bodda, Shoubridge, G. Ginge,
Smythern, Binge,:Gray, and Master Sloman.
Among the company present were Lord Ernest
Bruce, M.P.; Mr. Tennent, M.P. ; Mr. Charles
Dickens, Mr. Mark Lemon, Mr. Moses Barnet, Mr.
Frank Stone, Sir Paul Joddrell, Bart.; J. B Buck-
stone, Eq. ; J. Leech, C. Man by, J. Bidder, W.
Sams, T. P. Cooke, &c.
On the removal of the cloth "Non Nobis" was ad-
mirably sung.
The CR 4IRMkN having proposed "The Health of
her Gracious Majesty," coupled with the announce-
ment that her Majesty had generously contributed
1001. to the funds of the charity—(Loud cheers)
The National Anthem was given in a purity of
style which was peculiarly pleasing seeing how rarely
the air is sung in its original integrity.
Tne toast of " The Array and the Navy," fal-
lowed, in giving which the Chairman adverted to Mr.
T. I'. Cooke, who wore a medal for having been pre-
sent at the battle of St. Vincent.
Captain PHILLIPS returned thanks for the former
service, and, responding to the loud call of the
company,
Mr. T. P. CooKE rose to return thanks for the
navy, amidst the most enthusiastic cheering. He
said he had just been honoured with a request to re-
turn thanks for the toast of the navy. He could as-
sure the company that the honour was perfectly un-
expected, and he could wish it had fallen into abler
hands than his own, fur he had been so long accus-
tomed to use the language of others, that he was
awfully deficient when called upon to respond to
such a toast on his own behalf. He feared,
indeed, that he was in a false position, for
he could not but suppose that there were
many officers of the Royal Navy present, whose
post he felt be was now usurping. He boasted
the unenviable privilege of age—he had been a ser-
vant of the public for upwards of half a century.
The early part of his life had been passed on the blue
waters, which had entitled him to the honorary dis-
tinction he then wore. It was not for any act of
personal bravery on his part that he wore his medal ;
fur he need not tell the company that fifty-three years
ago he was but a boy, on the high and giddy mast.—
(Cheers.) But he was old enough to remember the
day when the immortal Nelson performed one of his
most extraordinary exploits—when he used what is
called his " patent bridge" to board a three-decker.
Tnat bridge was not so splendid a structure as that
which had been erected by the enormous genius of
the great Stephenson—(Cheers)—but it was strong
enough for his purpose, fur by it he boarded the San
Josef by another enemy's ship, the San Nicolas. He
was proud indeed of having served under the hero
Nelson while living, and he was proud to represent
him after death. He hoped he had always endea-
voured to obey his commands. He hoped, that
whether on the deck of a vessel or on the boards
of a theatre, he had always endeavoured to do his
duty. Whenever the day should arrive that England
expected every man to do his duty, they might be
assured that there would not be wanting future
Nelsons to lead our forces to victory, and that the
blue jackets would maintain unstained the great re-
putation
_of our wooden walls.

The CHLIRMAN next proposed "Lord Ernest
Bruce, Mr. Tennent, and the Two Houses of Par-
liament."

Lord ERNEST BRUCE returned thanks.

On the toast of " The Fund" being propounded,
Mr. B. WensTett observed that he should leave to
Mr. Buckstone, the treasurer, the task of describing
the views, and position, and prosperity of the fund, but
he felt that, being for many years connected with the
stage, both as manager and actor, some remarks on
the " poor player" would be expected from him on
the present occasion. He said that, of all professions,
that of acting was the most precarious, the most
abused, and the most unsubstantial; and yet, however
strongly these truths were pointed out to youth, once
fascinated, on they rushed to seek the bubble reputa-
tion, through every indignity, every privation. The
born genius oft ate of the chamelion's dish, promise
crammed. The toils, the thousand anxieties which attend
this arduous profession were patiently—nay, cheer-
fully—endured by the young aspirant for histrionic
fame, in the hope that he might arrive at that envied
sum of all his ambition, public approbation ; but
none could imagine the labyrinth of difficulties which
the first advances to the stage presented hut those
who had passed through the bitter and painful
ordeal. If he were a true artist at heart and mind,
his life was one continued straining to fathom the
depths of every passion, and their workings under
every phase of character—a never-ending labour ;
for, to every fresh creation emanating fro:n the
brain of dramatic genius he had to give lit% and soul.
Out of fifty, nay, a hundred candidates for public
favour, rarely more than one achieved absolute emi-
nence—then what was the fate of the unfortunate
many ? Independently of the heart-broken feeling
of a hopeless future, they were deprived of the means
of providing for age and sickness, and often of a bare
subsistence. A desolation of home and heart was
then their doom, for the greater the aspiration the
more crushing was the failure. Many imagined that
actors were improvident ; this was a mistake, for no
class were so anxious for independence, though it
gave but the commonest comfort. Hardly an actor
of note, either in this country or any other, who had
the time and chance, but had proved the truth cf this
assertion. Garrick left behind him 100,0001., and in
his pride of wealth forgot not his poorer brethren, by
nobly founding and endowing the Drury-lane The-
atrical Fund. Quin, the epicure Quin, gentleman
Smith, Moody, King (the original Lord Ogleby),
Lewis (whose son had lately left 10,000/. to the
Royal Academy), Irish Johnstone, Munden, Bannis-
ter, Knight, Kemble. Siddons, all realised large for-
tunes, and so had many now living, though lavishing
on their families costly education. In earlier times,
Shakspere had retired wealthy, and his brother actor
Allen, as renowned for piety as for perfection in his
art, while an actor was enabled, single-handed, to
found, build, and endow the splendid charitable insti-
tution of Dulwich College. There was, besides,
abundant evidence that actors had a hand
open as day for melting charity, and the books of
Lloyd's would prove that the patriotic fund for sail-
ors' widows and orphans was at its formation contri-
buted to by handsome sums from every theatre in ex-
istence, down to the lowest itinerant companies.
There they had done as they would be done by. Was
it mete, then, that the actor, who, when in the zenith
of his fame and prime of intellect, was lauded,
courted, followed, should, when he fell from his proud
estate into age, sickness, or withering poverty, be left
to beg, or linger out his miserable existence in a
workhouse, amid wretched beings, the very opposite
of his nature and feelings ?—a prospect most repug-
nant to the educated mind ; and an actor, by
his profession, imperceptibly. (if not previ-
ously read) acquired a familiar knowledge
of the most brilliant writers, and Shakspere
is his household god that gems his daily
speech, whether in affluence or penury. In after
life, then, think that when some recipient of their
bounty who was wont to set the theatre in a roar, or
draw the beads of sorrow from the fount of truth,
was dead and turned to clay, should cross the memory
of other days, think of the self-approving pleasure of
being enabled to exclaim, " Alas! poor fellow! I
helped to smooth his death-bed pillow." If they were
the prodigal children of nature, they were without
the wished-for goal ; and he felt that in this opulent
country, where true benevolence never sleeps, they
had only to point to the rich, whose wealth is derived
from hereditary possession, or acquired by the various
means that this great commercial country daily ex-
pands to enterprise, the crying merits of this charity,
to ensure their bounty. Yes, the seeds of liberal and
diffusive benevolence were each in this land on a pro-
lific soil, and he had this day a confident hope of a
rich harvest; for could the holy head of charity be
extended to a sublimer purpose than to the pouring
the Samaritan oil and wine on the wounds of the af-
flicted, and on their errors drawing the " Grecian
painter's veil ?"

- At the close of his speech Mr. Webster was hailed
with cheers and vehement applause.
Mr. BUCYSTONR congratulated the company on the
fact that the society was prospering. They had got
a capital of nearly 5,3001., which it was hoped that
evening would be greatly increased. They had al-
ready five annuitants of 30/. each on the fund, and
they had determined in the past year to pay 201. a
year to another claimant, so that, though they were
young, they were by no means " sore afraid."
Charles Dickens was the pioneer of their periodical
diggings. He was their first chairman and trustee.
Our limits do not allow us to give a singularly lumi-
nous and witty speech.
Mr. CHARLES DICKERS proposed " the health of
the Chairman." Before be proceeded to discharge
the very acceptable office which had been intrusted to
him, the company would perhaps allow him to con-
gratulate them on this agreeable mode of spending
" quarter-day "—(Loud laughter)--which was not
always connected with such pleasant associations ;
but they would allow him to renew his congra-
tulations on the prosperity of the General
Theatrical Fund. In approaching the toast he
was about to give, be would not express the re-
gret he felt at that toast not having fallen into bet-
ter hands, because he was glad it had fallen into
his own, inasmuch as it gave him the opportunity of
paying respect to the character of a gentleman to
whom this fund and Lthe public also were much in-