The Sun.
London, England, 1820-05-22 00:00:00

DRURY LANE THEATRICAL FUND.

The Anniversary Dinner in aid of this Fund
was held on Saturday last, at the Freemason's
Tavern. Notwithstanding the attraction which
this entertainment offered to the theatrical awfl-
teur, in the reunion of so many dramatic anti
mu-
sical characters as were expected to contribute to-
wards the atnusetnent of the evening, the meeting
was less numerous than it had been on any tor-
. mer occasion._ The Duke of Yostx, President of
the Society, was in. the Chair, and among the
persons of distinction present was Lord YAR•
MOUTH, who sat on the right hand of . his Royal
Highness. Early in the evening, in graciously re-
turning thanks for the warm manner in which Isis
health was drank as President,
His Royal. HIGuNEss observed, in allusion to
the thinness of the meeting, that the fewer they
were in number the more it was incumbent on
them to do. He was happy, however, to hear,
that many who were unavoidably absent had not
forgotten the interests of the Charity.
The usual preliminary toNnts having been drank,
" The Drury-lane Fund and Mr.Keau" was pro-
posed, and drank with three times three, and
mock enthusiasm. •

KaAN, in returning thanks, said, language
could not express the feelings of his heart towards
iris Royal Highness for the uniformattentill and
support he had ever continued to give to the
Theatrical Fund since he first deigned to connect
himself with it. On finding his name mentioned
with that of this Fund, it became his duty
for the tbitd lime to thank its generous be-
nefactors, who had kindly interested them-
selves to succour and uphold those whom mis-
fortune had blighted, or who had suffered from

_ .
the. attacks of envy. To his Royal Highness
kis most particular thanks were due ; fur he con-
sidered that it was of to his magnificent ex-
ample, that already, only two years since its foun-
dasion, be had been able to establish a permanent
fond. This circumstance, however, should rat het
operate:es an appeiti to his bf.elltren to make greater
exertions, titan as an inducement to slacken them;
in (mitt- that such an increase might be mane as
would insure the certainty of relief to distress aat
its first approach. Unlike the countryman in the
fabl, it became his brethren to apply their own
sllouldus ii? the wheel, and stdtw (!)ernsrivetat

Mr. ELLISTON said, the flattering andhouour-
able admissio,, which hid been givsn to the
humble endeavours he had made tor the Stage,
awakened in him sensations, the just expression
of which surpassed the reach of hiS potvers art
(pence. It %vas his anxious wish to support the
interests of the British Drama that matte
aspire to the situation he was no‘v placed in. It
should be recollected that the genuin. Drama
ought to be the model of taste and rnOraliry ; anti
it was upon these principles .that his is,leavours
aimed at placing it. With the pa'ro,iag,. of it
liberal public, he did not despair of cart ying his
point; and he was sure the claims of ,h, ,are-
ranked higher than any e,mpetitor, when it was,
remembered that it had produced a Jorda,,, a Sta
tions, a Kemble, and though
Kean 1 He assured his Royal nighties., that the
assurance he felt that the present Assi !only did,.
sympathise in his undertaking, inspired him wt
those hopes which the idea, of prospenry alone
could give. One °hirer he should ever it ep iii
view in the execution of his task, was the encou-
ragement of every, species of dramatic talent; and
he trusted, by a due persevere! cc in t.lese pitnci-
plel, he should filially succeed in presentiog,
through the channel of toe Stage, a ptoper di-
rection to tile morals of the public His esyr ions,
ever would, must be great, because he should al-
ways endeavour to emulate the kindness of his.
friends.—(Applause.) '
In the course of the evening, Mr. Kv.tri read
over the names of the Patrons, and amount of
money subscribed at the and -try bv I:er-
sons who were absent At the head of (tie :ist
were his Majesty, for 105! ; the of Y,,k,
521. ; the Duke of Bedtot d, 521 ; L:trl aril, r it,,
201.; Lord Essex, the Marquess of atfiri, Row-
land Stephenson, John Brabant, and J. B. Mash,
Eskirs. 101. each ; Allen, Esq. enbet
Esq. and many others, si. ; and i\irs. Coitus, 50I„
The announcement of these het,efactions was re-
ceived with loud, applause, particulatly the last;
and in the course of the evening the Doke of
York proposed the health of Mts. Corals, whicik
was chunk with enthusiasm.

Mr. KEAN read a letter from Jolts SOANE,
of Lincoln's-inn-fields, expressing his regret that
he was utrable to have the pleasure ii; being pre-
sent on the occasion, and enclosing a cheque for,
1001, as his substitute Mr. KaAx th,n paid a
high arid ,ell•metited tribute to the liherali.v of
that Gentleman, who litvl been a ttequcnt bene-
factor to the' institution. Mr. SuANe's beiltb,
was then proposed and drank with warm and una-
nimous applause.

The total amount of the donations received tat
day was itinonocud. to he 12001.
Throughout the evening the e,)lmiroliv were re-
galed vvi;h a succession of ;2.lecS awl Ccp.rj,, Songs
trout MesitS. T. co,,KR, INCLHDoN, PEAHIVIAN4
KNIGHT, 1-IA4LEY.

Royal 1-11gttorss sod party did not rise from
table till ...het eleven, o'clock, anti the compary
entirely broke op before i lye.

. EXTRAORDINARY CIIARGF..—A hu!v of rink :1111
foomie tttl reside,ll has been C
by a gentfetwto's servant with stealiue oo
last a one-pou d note, front a box,
held by a gentleman at the door of the or:;,;•.;-k
Chantl to receive contributions fur ti,e be,,t
'he National Schooi.;. Tbe serva))( yL:s•
ter bears evidence to his strict.- vetacity ~tit iote-
gtity) asserts, that the lady, pticeivin,.:
obsei veil, muttered, as she passed hi.n, "1 is try
own note.'' The man instantly replitd, `. No,
Madam, you took it out of the box." ',the
toes on to state, that the lady then passed. on,
endeavouring to mix with the crowd, bn he t,i-
lowedher so clos,:ly, that on reachiog
vreet, and still fi,d:ng him at her heels, ,Its 1..
turned back, and !Hiking her way to toe Vest; y-
room. exclaimed, " I have discover« d a one-ponipi
note in lily sleeve, which I
5111,0,,5e 1 must ;:C1
dentally have taken tip when I put my tiwoittott
into the httx."—So;ne corroborkmog co,1„11,
stances are said to have come to light no'tll h-
standing which, the lady persists in asserting hut.
innocence, and we find front the lii,4ltes: Hutto/11,y
that she is a woman of the s•riciest honour. .nd
veracity, A thorough investig4tion ot Ihe htfAir
is likely to take place it has Caused much
iu Uath.

WEEICIS RETROSPEU'f.

It lies lot►g tri2en our intention to introduce a

review of .the chief occurrences which. npiy

it.ive taken &Ace 'during the preceding week ;
adopt this plAn for the future, and carry it
into effect on evety Mondmy.—The imprisonment
ut Hurir, &c &c. by kch!ch the country has been

relieved from one of its chief disturbers, though
only c-mprehending a few despicable
matter of no slight interest to the Nation, as
it -tends to the irteservAtion of public peace.—A
mote important consideration arises from the Pe-
titi..n of certain MerchAnts to Parliament, pray-
iog fora refTlOcAl of all restrictions upon foreign
imports.—This Poition has been most ably op-
posed by another from the great body of the Ship-
owners, the object of which is to sbcw the vast
iojory which our Colonial possessions would suf-
f4r by a want of due eitcourageumnt to their
Timber Trade with this Country, aoci its mis-
chievous effect upon our mari!itne interests. We
have presented the Petitions to our Readers, and
have impartially invited both sides to advocate the
cplestion, though for our own part heartily assent-
ing to the arguments of the Ship-owners.—

Another topic which hAS occurred during the
relates to tl►e appointment of n fifth Baron
iu the Scotch Court of Exchequer. This ap-

rointment, it is said, was reconvinended by Mr
ADANt, formerly H flaming Patriot end the frien(

of CH ARLES Fox, but who long since entered into
the Ministetial ranks,and is likely to continue steady
on that side for the remainder of his life. We

confess, wi'b ali our confidence in Government,

We do not think that the appointment in question
was properly justified, considering the pressure
of the times and the absolute necessity for all pos-
sible retrenchment, and more particularly because
retrenchment has been graciously recommended
from the Throne.---The proposed removal of the
Elective Franchise from Graml►onnd is alto worthy
of an attentive consideration. The third rending

of the 13ill will doubtless produce a more ample
discussign, and till then we 5h,411 not presume to
enter farther into the subject. We are adverse to
rotten Boroughs and occasional Voters ; but,

though admitting that some alterations, arising
from long=established abuses, may be necessary,
and expected by the People at large, the work
of correction should proceed with caution. One
great remedy, however, is the positive enfotce-
mew of the BRIBERY OATH in all places, and the
Infijetion of exemplary ponishtnent on those who

are found gniky of petjury —There are other sub-
jects which merit attention, but as they may be
said to be yet in progress, we shall wait for
for:her illustration before we offer our own opi-
nions. But while we solemnly adhere to the sys-
tem of that unrivalled Statesman, WILLIAM PITT,
to whom our Paper is indebted for its existence,
we shall vigilantly watch over the interests of the
Public, having chiefly at heart the happiness of
the People and the prosperity of the Empire.

FOR THE SUN.

EWC‘I6TI.E, MA7 19.

SIR. EDITOR—As I see by your Prwer of yes-
terday and to-day that the Ship-owners in Lon-
don have taken up the busines3 of the American
Timber Trade, I send you a copy of the Resolutions
and Petition that have been prepared at this Port,
which I have just procured front the parties, and
which Petition is now in the course of signatore,
in order tbdt you may see that the Ship-owners of
this Port are feelingly alive to the Question.
I am, Sir, your's, etc.
An ARDENT ADMIRER of the PRINCIPLES and
PATtuoTisM of THE SUS.