The Sun.
London, England, 1827-05-10 00:00:00

THURSDAY EVENING, MAY 10, 187.

Meeting, that the Prime Minister of this country,
the Right Honourable George Canning, had con-
sented to take the Chair, as President, at the next
Annual Meeting of the Society.—(Loud cheering.)
After the applause had subsided, the Noble Lord
said, that by a rule of this Society, no allusions were to
be made by. any of its Members to political subjects ;
but he could not refrain from observing, that it was
a proud circumstance, not only .to
.the Society, but
to the country at large, that the First Minister should
be a man possessing the firstliterary attainments, and
that he should not only be attached to literary pursuits
himself, but should become the patron of literary talent
—(immense cheering.)—His Lordship said, that a
great writer had observed, that men of business were
much indebted to literature for the 'gratification
which it afforded , them after their toils were
ended; and, as a man in power must have duties
of a most arduous and important nature to per-
formAhe ought to protect and favour letters (cheers).
But it was not to be understood, that a man in power
in this country could chain the Press in a state of
servile dependence—(Cheering)—though: time was
when men in office could obtain literary power, by a
corrupt influence, disgraceful to those who gave and
those who received it. The only reward men of
letters required was the approbation and concurrent
opinions of a large _and liberal public. He hoped
that poetry, and works of merit generally, would
meet with success, and increase with the increasing
knowledge and liberal opinions of the times in which
we lived. He concluded.by, propoeink, "Prosperity
to the Literary Fund." !Drunk with three • timei
three.)
W. T. FITZGERALD, Esq. recited the foll Owing
Anniversary Poem, which was received with much
applause :
Is there a sight the heart can hold more dear
Than what Humanity contemplates here?
Pure the delight that animates the breast,
To see you throng to' succour the distress'ci.
Manes of Butler, Otway, Dryden, rise ! •
Behold an object grateful to your eyes ;
England, at last, atoning for her crime—
England, that starved the witty and sublime !
With contrite feeling opes her ample store,
And bids the Sons of Genius starve no more.
'Tis said, that some to Poesy are foes,
And think that Literature engend. < woes :
Such would bring back a barb'rous age again,
For none but Vandals persecute the Pen ;
Though some profane the Muse's gift divine,
And bow at Avarice or Ambition's Shrine;
Though some illiberal Satire's pen employ,
And mingle hemlock in the cup of joy ;
Pierce the recesses of domestic life,
Expose the husband, or defame the wife;
The tale of scandal bring to public eye,
And in smooth numbers circulate the lie—
The Muse's nobler office is to prove
The bond of Friendship, and the lamp of Love ;
To harmonize the passions of
.the mind,
To please, instruct, and meliorate mankind.
By her the selfish feelings are suppress'd,
And social virtues kindle in the breast;
She points to Nature's wise and generous plan,
And chews how strongly Man depends on Man :
This sacred truth the thatch'd-roof Peasant owns,
And ermined Monarchs feel it on their Thrones !
A loyal zeal for Freedom she inspires,
And fans, with breath.divine, the Patriot's fires.
Is there a man so base; so lost to shame,
Who does not venerate the Patriot's name ?
Not to the proud leader Qf a servile crew,
Who grind the many to enrich the few, ;,
But he who, active in his Country's Cause, •
Asserts her Liberties, maintains her Laws;
Whose upright breast pArsutp ao private end,
• At once the Monarch's, and the people's Friend !
'Who stems Oppression; ivhiCla ''oftett'r 'aPrings
• From Tyrant Factions, 4diairfront:lfyrilte kitigs;
Arms for hit Saveri4g4Ao MistindiA Ties;
For Freedom congnergrtit foeitmeiloretliesi
. • Not filr;that Fiend, detested by- itlit flood;
That,bath'd unhappy Frispettwitli,kindred Blood ;

That brutapsed%:&44o4-4,onee komane,
Whose sire is Discord, dnd .whose offspring Pain I
That drinks the tears despairing orphans. shed,
Tortures the living, and insults the dead ;
That leads front crime to crime, from bad to worse,

The Prince's tyrant, and the People's curse !
Which, like a torrent, bursting every mound,
Destroys the harvest, desolates the ground :
saps the foundation of the loftiest tower,
And whelms the work of ages in an hour !
This fatal daemon, hated by the wise,
- Shuns the keen-searching of the Patriot's eyes;
"f is not for her his country's foes he braves,
In burning climes, or on the stormy waves ;
But for that freedom, native of our soil,
That dignifies command, and sweetens toil !
Whose graceful.form, unbent by time, appears
Blooming as youth, though sanctified by years !
For British liberty—that draws the line
'Twixt wild democracy and right divine—
With equal zeal the Monarch's power maintains,
And guards the subject from despotic chains :
The Slave, who once imbibes the English air,
Freed from his fetters, owns the Goddess there ! .
Where Heaven these words, in voice of thunder spoke,
The tree of freedom is the British Oak ! •
Now let the Muse a grateful homage bring
To our high Patron! to our. Patriot King I
Whose feeling heart has ever wished to dry
The silent tear that dims the scholar's eye ;
Who, With a polish'd taste and liberal hand,
Spreads wide improvement through his native land ;
And, like Augustus, -who embellished Rome,
Makes Grecian Arts his Denizens-at home !
Learning and Science never can despair,
When England's Monarch makes their cause his care;
Nor Genius pine, neglected and alone,
His all accomplished Patron on the Throne !
Whose Sceptre's honoured as his Sword was fear'd,
In War triumphant, and in Peace revered !
The " Henith of Mr. Fitzgerald" was drunk, and
that Gentleman returned thanks.

Mr. DAWSON, ill proposing "the health of the
Chairman," prefaced his speech with some remarks
highly complimentary to the Noble Lord. It was
drunk with three times three, and his Lordship re-
turned thanks.

Sir W. CLAYTON proposed " the health of the
Duke of Soinerset." Drunk with three times three.

The Rev. Mr. G. CROIVLEY, the Secretary, read
the Annual Address of the Institution, and was
much applauded.
The Treasurer read the Report of the Committee,
by which it appeared that the Society was in a very
flourishing condition.
The " health of the Vice-Presidents, and other
Officers of the Institution," being drunk, the Chair-
man left the chair, amidst very loud and general
cheering.
As far as this line the Poem was written in the year
1799.

We are happy to hear that the objections taken
to the Birthwaite Estate, purchased by. Colonel
and Mrs. Beaumont, from the Assignees of
Messrs. Wentworth and Co., are likely to be re-
moved, and with them the principal impediment
to making a second dividend to theocreditors of
that firm.—Leeds Mercury.

A few days since, a constable and an over-
seer, not a hundred miles from Uckfield, were
in search of a gamekeeper (remarkably expert
in detecting poachers) on a charge of bastardy.
All their efforts to discover him were for a
time fruitless; at length it was suggested that
if a pistol were fired in the neighbouring wood,
the well-known sound might bring him from
his hiding-place. This was done without effect;
the second fire, however, brought the game to
view, and the wily officers immediately pounced
upon their prey.

COMMON COUNCIL.

A Court of Common Council was held yesterday
at Guildhall, in pursuance of a requisition to the
Lord Mayor, for the purpose of considering the pro-
priety of petitioning both Houses of Parliament for
the repeal of the Corporation and Test Acts; and
to take such other measures as might be deemed ex-
pedient for the same purpose.
Mr. FAVELL introduced his motion on this sub-
ject by an address of some length, in which he
took a review of the origin and effects of these acts,
and pointed out what he contended to be the impolicy,
the injustice, and the absurdity of their being al-
lowed to continue upon the statute books of this
country. As he had no wish to embarrass the present
Government, he would not press the question upon
Parliament at this particular moment; but at the
same time he was anxious that this Court should put
upon record their sentiments on this important sub-
ject, which not only affected two millions of Dissen-
ters, but involved a question deeply interesting to
the majority of those who were conscientous mem-
bers of the Established Church, inasmuch as it con-
verted the sacred ordinance of the Lord's supper into
a passport to civil power. The worthy gentleman
concluded his speech by moving a resolution which
embodied the substance of his observations, and for
which see advertisement.
Mr. POCOCKE seconded the motion.
Mr. DIXON could not see why the Worthy Gen-
tleman opposite had changed the form of his mo-
tion (which was originally for a petition to Parlia-
ment) since the last Court day, unless it was in
consequence of certain individuals who were now in
power, having stated their intention of postponing
certain important questsions which they dare not
bring forward at present. But he thought that this
Court ought to act independently of the movements
of any men. With respect to the resolution before
the Court, he saw no reason for adopting it, inas-
much as the acts in question were never put in force,
and he therefore thought that it was better 'to let
well alone. He concluded by moving the previous
question.
Mr. SAVAGE seconded the amendment.

Mr. Alderman WOOD supported the resolution,
but thought that the Court ought not to delay pe-
titioning Parliament on this subject. Although the
Prime Minister had avowed his intention to oppose
the repeal of these acts, and the question of reform,
yet he was now surrounded by a large number of
men who were pledged to support these measures,
and, consequently, he conceived the present to be a
favourable moment for bringing forward their petition.
Mr. Alderman WAITIIMAN agreed with his Hon.
Colleague that these Acts were a disgrace to the
Statute book, and ought to be repealed; but then
the friends of such a measure ought to choose their
own time for bringing it forward, and not suffer their
enemies to choose it for them. He therefore sup-
ported the resolution.
Several other gentlemen expressed their senti-
ments, all condemnatory of these acts.
The question was then put, and the original reso-
lution carried by a large majority.