Star.
London, England, 1827-05-10 00:00:00

THE LITERARY FUNiA

The incorporated Society for the Management and
Distribution ttt the Literary Fund. celebrate.) their An
„iier,aty Fe,tival .e.te, day At th- Fre mas ns Tavern.
Great Q•leen-,(tete. Land Jour" Russet'. M.P. in the
Chair. Amongst th company, we noticed Sir William
Ashhuri.ham, B rt. Sir Wrn..Clayton, Bart. Mr. D4W-
son. ‘I.P. (tur Loo.11). and several other Gentlemen t
rank; hot the general attendance was by no means

Itinner""s•
The customary introductory toasts having been dis •
vo,ed of, the Noble CHAIRISAN rose to propose a Pros- ,
'faro rn the Literary Fund," and in so doing his Lord-
p stated, that he was unexpectedly called to the
Oran on this occasion. in consequence of a comtnimi.
cation received from the Duke of Somerset, signifying
his Grace's inability to attend, ping to indisposition.
but inclosine his annual subsciiption of ten guineas.
rod an additional &nation of twenty pound.. The
Noble Chairman also stated to the Society a circum-
stance from which, he said, they would anticipate great
benefire—namely, that they were•to hate, as their Pre-
sident at their neat anniversary, the Night Hon. Ge,rge
Canning—(Loud applause). His Loidship observe.t
that it had always been a governing p•ine'ple with this
Socie.y to nacluee all political c •nsiderations, and he
should certainly not deviate from that rule on the pre-
sent occasion; but Mr. Canning was himself a tac, ed
to literary pursuits, and therefore they might hail with
just piide and satisfaction the powerful support of that
distinguished individual. Cicero bad said that nothing
was more delightful, after the fatigues and business ot
the day were over, tha, the indulgence of literary lei-
sure. If, then, the man in power desired en'oyment
and recitation from literature, it was only fair that lite-
rature should receive protection from the man in power
..-(Applanse).—After alluding to the exquisite pleasure
afforded by the perusal of the winks of such men as
Milton and Shakspeare of term-r da►s, and Scott,
Byron, and Moore of our own time, and the debt which
we owed in return for such enjoyment, the Noble Lord
made some general observations on the obj cts and
claims ot the Society. and concluded by pr •posing pr o•_
perky to it. which was drank with the greate►t warmth.
Mi. Faso then (according to his annual cue.'
tom)mounted the platform, and recited a poetic address.
part of which was taken t tom that of the year 1799, and
the remainder from one ~f a mote recent date.
fir Ftrassamais health was &teak with peat applause; sad
►e returned thanks in a neat speech.

Mr. Dawson, Member for Louth, after ea eloquent eulogy on
Yugrish literature mad the prms, proposed the health of the Chair-
Lercriehn which was drunk with all the holmium

Lad Joint Roseau. returned thanks.
filr Wit. CLAYTON proposed the health of the Freaklent of the
twiny, the Duke*: Sontersot—(Applause )

The Rev. Gan. elle‘T read an able address to the meeting as the
principle% and object* of the Society, and eloquently enforced its
Urns upon general support. The following are a few of the passages:
•• I i. unquestionable that In the remelt age rare branches of
literature have obtained signal rtnrootratistc; hot its graver pro-
vinces are still but a barren inkeritence. While works of lime.
natio* are mut.illeently encouraged, all that vast and lofty swq

• - -
gioe which belongs to 'creme end learning is compacatiott un-
productim . The philosophy', the mathematkian, the classical
scholar, the divine, stand hut on the yew of that opulent
stream which swells round tie stove favoured literature. But
even in the mast prosperous canter of the most prosperous
Authorship reverses will come. 11l health will break up the
mind—the' centnion adafortunes of life will overthrow the most
ytudeor proviso/1a for its nature years. Age is, of course, hi-
wad by that decay of intellectual vigour, which may
woe at any time, and must tome at last, the noblest spirits, oc-
npied during their best years in the manliest labours of the un-
derstanding, may be reduced to a state of 'wretchedness, whose
alletiadon would be a simple impulse of humanity, eves if it
wets Dot suggested by the honourable sympathy of the scholar,
sod commanded by the still higher duty of the Christian. It is
not the purpose of the Literary Fund to reward able authorship,
which should look for its reward to the nation ; nor to encourage
bad authorship, nor to sustain the idle, tier to indulge the profits
gee; but to interpose as far as it may, between the meritorious,
.4 these calamities, against which no rank of merit can be always
a security; ton(' up the hoonurable and cultivated mind crushed by
nustenenes, that defy human prudence; to save thine from failing
whew fall would be a scandal to the literary honour of the country;
%help those who cannot help themselves; to save the half ruined
from being wholly ruined; to prevent casual poverty from being
degraded into desperate priv oboe ; sickness from being turned into
death; and, where death is inevitable, to soften the dying hour, by
the feeling that the widi.w and orphan of the man of genius wUI not
bent-loose to the bitter chances of the world.

*Since its commencement in the year 1790, the Literary Fund
kr distributed no less a sum than 812,000 among upwards of one
essetsod cases ; some of them of a remarkable nature, and in
Wind the le:nit of the relief was immediate and public. But the
few instances which may have thus escaped into observation, can
hrniala no estimate of the actual extent of service. How vast a masa
misery the bounty of the Fund may have lightened, or
eves extinguished; bow many sinking spirits it has cheered to new
exertions; what sick beds it has made the beds of health; what
years if helpless decay it has made years of comparative comfort ;
Whit agonies of mind among a class of men whom the habits of
Mew wa.de lives, thcr education. and intaligence, render moat vul-
atrabk in the mind, have !wen healed; must be beyond human re-
cord; but they will not be lorgetten where it is most important for
ate, and even for Institutions. that they should be remembered.
With those principles and purposes the Institution feels itself
landed to appeal to every rank of intelligent society. To the noble,
stoat literature endows with a second and not less authentic nobi-
ky ; to the opulent member of the learned professions, so many of
efloseless fortunate brethren it leas sustained; to the successful man
olkttere, whose very triumphs have taught him the difficulties of
die literary career. who knows' the nerve where agonies are born;
sod who owes a debt to that literature by which his name is to be
fned among the permanent glories of his country ; and including all,
and in a still higher menu, to those who know that the supreme
earthly duty of man is to feel fez man, that the most distingui•died
ability and success are valueless where that duty Is neglected ; and
that, ' though we possessed all gifts and an knowledge, and spate
With the tongue of men and angel., withont charity we are nothing."
Sir WK. Asaumusessit..in proposing the health of the Vice-
Presidents, took occasion to deliver a high euieghtm ea Mr. Canning,
tke mast refused literary genies,_, the mow splendid orator, and the
kw statesman of the age—(Loud raose).
Ilk W. CLAY/011 as the oldest ice-President present, returned
thanks, and expressed a deep interest in the welfare lathe Institution.
The Noble Cuatasaan proposed " the health of Sir B. Hobbouse,
their commit friend and supporter"—(Applausej. The Noble
Lard stated that the Hon. Baronet wan prevented from attending
by that disagreeable complaint the gout. He saw that many of the
&swards mitres Used for the day had not attended ; and he regretted
that they had use the same excuse for their absence—(A laugh).
lie soderstood, bewever' that they had sent the beat apologies in
tic dupe or stibeamtkins.
bowie liberal sebseriptions were announced during the evening.
" Unisperskin of the United Kingdom" were toasted, and
The Royal Academy."
)le. Suss, in the absence of the President of the Royal Academy.
teamed as behalf of its Members in a very swat speech, in
%Aid• e ,hewed themes:airy connection between Literature and
tie Ana, and the consequent interest which Artists must feel in the
*gale of -tach ao Institution.
INY Noble CMAILMMI, after some complimentary observations,
PI, tat Vernal. Authors of Great Britain."
rte Newt Couleur( left the room about balf.past ten, and the
"%W) sown followed his example.
Allot the numerous sunacribent to the Fund, we noticed the
111111"4 the tollowLn .di milted literary characters:—The Rt.
Nft. +mug
uhnir Canning, Vi•coune Chateaubriand, the Hoo. Agar
11. v, Arckdeacou Cu; Rev. George Crabbe, Rev. Geo.
cra"./.. NI Humphrey they, Thos. Ditulin, Req. J. D'lsratili, Eat
Pion tool liall, 11. diam, RI. Di. LTA'. Thomas Moore,
irnhsrn udlwd, Esq. and SodwaY. E 44
An tif,ctire Vocal Cot ps enlivened the evening with singing, and
la *WI paned off to the great satisfaction of the eon") fly.