Star.
London, England, 1830-04-01 00:00:00

FESTIVAL.

The Thirteenth Anniversary Festival of the Drury-lane Theatri.
cal Fund was celebrated yesterday, at the Freemasons' Tavern. At
six o'clock his Royal Highness the Duke of CLARENCE took the
Chair. Amongst the other distinguished personages present we no.
ticed the Duke of St. Alban's, Duke of Alontrose, Lad of Belfast,
Earl of Glengall, Viscount Templetown, Sir Edmund Antrobus,
Right Hon. John Caleraft, Mr. M. A. Shee, &c. Mr. Kean was
intwtluced to the assembly by one of the Stewards, and was greeted
with the most rapturous applause, ten years having clasped
since that eminent performer had attended the Anniversary of
the Fund.

After the usual loyal touts were drunk, the Royal CHAIRMAN
called the attention of the company to the business for which they
were assembled, and, In the course of his address, observed that,
should his health permit, he would annually attend et the anniver-
sary festival of the Fund, and, whatever situation he might be
invited to fill, he would always exert himself to support the interests
of the institution. He had arrived at an age at which he might be
permitted to form an opinion as to the utility of the institution, and
he could safely pronounce it to be productive of substantial benefit
to the members of the theatrical profession. The first maxim of
a monarch ought to be the happiness of his subjects, and he (the
Duke of Clarence) could imagine no spectacle more truly gratifying
than beholding the populace leaving the theatre contented and good.
humoured at the entertainment afforded them—(applause). Those
sentiments brought him there that evening, and he trusted he should
always express similar opinions on the same occasion.
The Royal CHAIRMAN, in expressing his acknowledgments on
his health being proposed by the Duke of St. Alban's, alluded to
his professional avocations, which had necessatily rendered him a
traveller, and the result of his experience enabled him to state that
there was no country in which establishments similar to that which
they had assembled to commemorate were supported with the zeal
and liberality they experienced in England. His Royal Highness
then adverted to the =latitudes of the English climate, by which
the menial and corporeal energies of actors were sooner exhausted
than in other countries, and esscluded by proposing " Success to
the Drury-lane Theatrical Fund."
Mr. HARLEY'S health being proposed. that gentleman returned
thanks in his characteristic way. After which he proceeded to an-
nounce the donations ; amongst which were-1001. from his Ma-
Dsty, 601. from the Royal Chairman ; Duke of Bedford 601.
uchess of St. Alban's 601. Mr. Soane 1001. and several others—
making altogether 1,1001.
The Duke of CLAssircs, in giving " Success to Drury-lame
theatre," observed be knew no distinction between the two large
theatres ; they were equally meritorious in their exertions, and de-
served to be equally successful in their efforts He could not,
however, forget that it was on the stage of Drury that the great
Garrick had played his part ; nor could he forget that, while yet a
boy, he (the Duke) had been placed in his mother's chair to see
that great muter undertake the character of Abel Drugger. The
remembrance of that scene was still in his mind, and it therefore
was natural that he should have feelings towards Drury-lane theatre
of the kindest nature. (Applause.)
Mr. CALCZAFT returned thanks for the toast that had been
drunk. The only rivalry between the two Theatres, was the honest
and gratifying one of which should gain the largest share of the
public favour. But, whenever the struggles made by Drury-lane
Theatre were remembered, there was one name which he could not
disconnect from the subject, as having been mainly instrumental to
its success--he meant that of Edmund Kean—(Laud cheers.)--He
therefore begged to propose the health of that gentleman. He was
sure that any one who bad the satisfaction of witnessing his repre-
sentation on last Monday evening, would feel that they still had a
right to expect that be should long continue an ornament to that
Theatre, on the boards of which he had so often and so successfully
appeared.
Mr. SEAN Gentlemen, I was not prepared for this honour. I
did not expect it ; I am, however, highly gratified at the honour
you have done me; and if I was in health, 1 would endeavour to
express myself in more able terms. But as it is, I will say in the
words of our great Bard—" Beggar as I am, poor in thanks, but I
do thank you." (Applause.)
The rest of the evening was spent with the greatest hilarity and
good humour, and the company did not separate till a late hour.

Letters from Havanni state that Colonel Osono. whose
arrival there has been already noticed, had been em-
powered by the King to enquire into the causes of the
failure of the recent expedition against Mexico, and that
the result of the investigation, as far as it had prcceeded,
had proved such as to induce a report that an impeach-
ment had been forwarded home against General BA R-
R A DAB for his conduct in the attempted invasion. Go-
vernor VI vis is stated to have preferred serious charges
against the unsuccessful Commandant.
The Austrian Ambassador and the Spanish Minister
had interviews yesterday with the Earl of ABERDEEN, at the Fo-
reign Office.
A Bill has been brought into the House of Lords by
the Marquis of SALISBURY, " to indemnify witnesses" who may
give evidence before their Lordships, on a Bill to prevent Bribery
and Corruption In the Election of Members to serve in Parliament
for East hetford. Witnesses are examined before their Lordships
on oath.

An account has been laid before Parliament and since
painted, of the salaries and other allowances made to Receivers. Ge.
neral of counties. These amount to about 60 0001. per annum, and
might, we should think, be wholly sitv‘d if the collectors wore en.
joined to pay their receipts into the Bank of England, the branch
or other banks giving security. I here are two Receivers for Lin.
don and Middlesex at 1,2001. per annum each, though the doors of
II the Bank of England are close to those of their offices
It is perfectly true, as stated by Lord ELDON, that the
Chancery Commissioners hare received nu direct remuneration for
their labours; but it is equally true that they undertook them with
a full understanding that they were to have none. Most of them,
however, it should be remembered, were Judges or other persons al-
ready enjoying large emoluments of office ; and by the unpaid Com.
In issionent, we believe, it was understood, that the experience ac-
quired during the investigation would peculiarly tit them tor alas.
ter ships when they bonnie vacant.—Herald.
Yesterday afternoon, upwards of 150 of the New Police
were " reviewed " in Wellington-street, between the tunipike-gate
of the Waterloo-bridge and the Strand. They were all armed with
painted staves, bearing the King's arms, and the hirer and number
of their division. Several of them had pistols. The novelty of the
detni-mintary force attracted a crowd of bystanders, who indulged
freely in their remarks and opinions upon the scene before them.
THE MISSES BoTu.—Our readers will recollect the
romantic but unhappy story of these unfortunate Hanoverian sisters;
of the live, two drowned themselves in Switzerland ; they tied a
shawl round their waists, and plunged together into the Lake of
Geneva; the remaining three, it will be remembered, plunged
from a boat into the river off Greenwich Hospital—one of them
perished, the other two were saved by the boat-man. Within
the last few months these two attempted to destroy themselves
by taking laudanum at a house in the Regent's-park—the life
of one was saved, she other died. Perhaps the most extraor-
dinary part of Me story remains to be told. The Newspapers,
lof course, carried the melancholy intelligence to Hanover,
where it was perused by a gentleman of high rank and cnnsi-
derable wealth, who bad been many years ago attached to this
only surviving one of the slaters. He immediately embarked for
F.ngland, offered marriage to Miss Adolphine Both,—she is now
his wife, and they are on the eve of embarking from London for
haly.—British Magazine.