Star.
London, England, 1830-03-25 00:00:00

DRURY-LANE THEATRICAL FUND.

Yesterday several of the most active Members of the
Committee, viz.—HUGHES, THOMPSON, WEBSTER, and 0.
SMlTH—attended in KEAN'S private room, for the purpose of
making arrangements for the celebration of the Fund Festival on
Wednesday next.
Mr. Huoisits stated' to the Committee that the following dis-
tinguished personages had condescendingly communicated their
intention of honouring the Festival with their presence ;_The
Duke of St. Alban's, Lord Vernon, Marquis Graham, Robert
Gordon, Esq. M. P. Andrew Maclew, Esq. the late Indian Judge t
F. M. Mart n, Esq. James Soane, Esq. Butler Danvers, Esq.
the gallant Admiral Sir Edward Codrington, Earl of Grosvenor,
Lord Leveson Gower, Lord Sahara, Lord Ranelagh, James Par.
let, Esq. &c. &c. &c. Re also stated that he had received a
aaggee from Mr. Anderson, the new singer, wbo so successfully played
Henry Bertram on Tuesday night, intimating his willingness to
attend the Fund Dinner, and to do any thin in his power calcu-
lated to contribute to the harmony of the evening. The Committee
expressed themselves hi terms of gratitude to h r. Anderson for his
liberal feeling towards this charitable institution.
An interesting subject—vie. " A provision for the Orphan Chil.
dten of Decayed Actors" was discussed ; and
Mr. Thompson, with the view of illustrating what great advan-
tages had accrued from the exertions of the Drury-Lute fund, in the
year 1789, and who had searched and collected the records handed
down from the highly gifted founder of the society, David Garrick,
read a letter, "dated September, 1789." which he had selected from
many others, proved that the son of an actress of Drury-lane The.
lure had, by his talents, become Prime Minister of England (Can.
ning); and that Samuel Reddish, an orphan, was reared, well
fed, indifferently clothed, but certainly classically educated, by the
Drury-lane Benevolent Fund! Young Samuel became an aceom.
pliahed scholar and gentleman ; but his talents (backed by the in-
terest of Sheridan and his brother George) no sooner raised him to
a high civil situation abroad, than he died ! We give a copy ver-
batim of the boy's whimsical letter, as ptoof of an ardent mind,
whose young ambition was properly directed :
" To the Directois of Drury.lane Theatrical Fund.
"Scorton, September 29, 1789.
"Gierrczatxx—Having now attained an age when I must
shortly expect your kind guardianship to cease, permit the feeling
heart of a grateful but inexperienced boy to thank you for your MOM
than paternal kindness. The sound and liberal education which
your bounty has bestowed on me will, I hope, enable me to struggle
courageously with the great world into which I am very shortly
to be thrown : and in whatever situation chance may place
me, I shall acquit myself with that unsullied reputation
which it will be the anxiety and ambition of my life to attain and
preserve. I now venture an a last intrusion on your liberality ; I
Ulan, from my reading, that in the world, a light accomplishment
frequently proves a recommendation, when sound erudition passes
unnotice& In your attention to my head, my dear and kind guar-
dians, my heels have been totally neglected ! I have never learned
to dance, though I am graced as the best classic scholar at Scorton.
I lam very graceless at entering a room ; if you will allow my
• last six months tuition to include Dancing, your now grateful
• boy may, perhaps, when a wean. be spar'd many a blush for his
lulls, in that society where his head may chance to place him ! I
r hope yottZililisardon the vanity of an ambitious toy, and grant his
• :ryes if you would add to that kindness, by allowing a new
• parr of leather orecehes for present use—five and nrne.pence ar.
rears for cricket bats and fruit, and only three months Italian.—
I think I shall then be • amed at all points,' and ready to encoun-
, ter those worldly difficulties which to the buoyancy of youth are al.

was The following was the laconic answer from the Fund Commit.
light."
tee
" Cricket Bats, Italian Literature, and new Leather Breeches
—Allow`d. Dancing—Oppoed I—as unnecessary to a Classical
Scholar; but it will be taken into consideration next month."
The reading of the Epistle and its eccentric Answer excited much
admiration and laughter ; and after the transacting of some routine
business, the committee adjourned, with " leave to sit again."
The Duke of Devonshire, with his Graces sister, the
Lad/ Orville,ui left Kemp•town ou Tuesday.
BENIFIT OF THE LAW.—A man named PiTIR
WALSH was tried and acquitted, at the Sligo Assizes, on a charge
of stealing ten pounds of straw, alleged to be the property eta magis-
trate of that county. The straw, it appeared, was worth but twopence.
and on suspicion of stealing it, the unfortunate man was confined in
prison for sixty_.three days. This is one of the beauties of the Irish
system.—Deblin Register.
ENGLISH BALL IN PARIS.—A grand Ball, for tie
benefit of the English Committee of Charity, took place on Thurs-
day last in the Salk des Menus-Plaisiss, which was decorated on
the occasion in a style of truly royal magnificence. The assem-
blage of company was very bpllisnt and numerous, consisting of
upwards of SOO persons. Leidy STUART DR SOTIRBAT WM at the
head of the list of Lady Patronesses. M. le Due. de Qumran
opened the Ball, which was kept up till a late hour. It is eakm•
laced that, including the presents sent by the Royal Family, the
proceeds of the Bali will be 30,000 francs (I.26ol.)—Joarsul des
Debate.
The following anecdote of the Duke of Northumberland
is communicated in a letter from " the Emerald Isle,"received by a
in this neighbourhood a few days ago
Horse Artillery, while lately riding in the Phoenix Pod,
mot a .umber of horses lse property of the Lord Lieutenant, ia
doge of dillsemit grooms.- One at the animals parlicolsrlY
atiamed hie ateention, and be maned his admiration of it 10
very glowing isms. About a fortnight afterwards a servant of the
Duke salved at Coked W.'s house with the identical home, and a
nerd from his Once, stating that it having cone to his knowledge
that Colossi W. admired the animal, he begged be would do him
dm favour to accept it, alma for not having sent Unhorse
sooner, in consequence of its vitegarnald, front which it was now
relieved. —Barham County Advertiser.