Star.
London, England, 1818-03-12 00:00:00

England--(hear, hear)? MI: he suppose that the
great body of the nation cared one jot about his wild
plans. and Annual Parliaments, and Universal Sot-
fragn? Nay, could he reconcile to himself the justice i
or consistency of his plan of Universal Suffrage, as t.
was called ? How could he excuse the omission of
females, and of the insane, from the classes of Electors
and Representatives ? Oh ! calumniated females!
Oh ! calumniated insane !—(a loud laugh.) Was it
from any jealousy of the influence of female charms,
from any dread of the wisdom of reasoning insanity ?
(loud laughter.) Surely the Hon. Bart. should not be so
fastidious as to reject the insane--(shouts of laughter).
For his part, he could not conceive that ilonourable
Baronet engaged in the discharge of any more ap-
propriate duty, than presenting a petition for Reform
horn the madhouse at Kensington !—(Load laughter,)
--vouching for the respectful tenour of its language,
and pledging himself for the constitutional justness
of its argument—( Repeated shouts of laughter.)—But
if this were consistent in the Hon. Baronet, what
could be said of the Hon. and Learned Gentleman
who had just sat down, of him, who, in his heart
laughed at all these schemes of Reform, and looked
with the profoundest scorn on all who entertained
them : of him who knew that every petition on the-
subject came either from deluders or the deluded ; yet
under a pretence that he was a friend to something
like a reform, would every now and then present such
petitions, for the mere purpose of popularity—(hcar.)
That Honourable and Learned Gentleman had apo-
logized for pronouncing an eloquent panegyric on
the Constitution : there was no need of any apology;
he should be glad to join in it, if he saw that the
Constitution was in any danger ; but the case was
different, for who were the best tiiends of the abused
and deluded people; those who were always ringing
in their ears that they had rights, or those who, while
they told them of their rights, told them they had
duties also? (hear) He would say to the real friends
of the people—instruct, enlighten them, and then
there would be no danger—(hear, hear). But do not
teach them to feel jealousy at wealth, hatred at rank,
an a general malignity at all superiority—Vicar). It
was indeed the proud boast of our glorious Constitu-
tion, that the poorest peasant might emeige front the
meanest hut, and himself, or in his descendant, rise
to the highest rank in the State—Vicar). But was it
therefore to be said that there should be no peasant,
no Nobles? Those who would so level would not
e malize but destroy all ranks, all society—(hear,
h er). Yet, in spite of etis truth, hatred to Govern-
ment as Government, to rank as ra sk, had been in-
d istriously inculcated, and the starving artisan was
tild by his mischievous seducer that all his distress
arose from an imperfect represeatation in Parliament.
If this assertion meant any thing, it must be this—
that Parliament, as at present constituted, encouraged
unnecessary wars; that unnecessary wars produced
extravagant expenditure; that extravagant expendi-
ture produced exorbitant taxation ; and that exorbi-
taiit taxation produced overwhelming misery. Now,
what was the inference of the Parliainentary Refor-
mers? Was it that Parliament, more popularized,
more democratically constituted, would be less in-
clined to war? He would appeal to all history, an-
cient or modern, whether democratic States were not
al.ve Lys the fondest of war. Lcok at Athens, look at
Rome, look at the petty Republics of Italy ? Was
not the appetite for war in all those Governments per-
petually excited and perpetually indulged ? Would
the case he different among ourselves? Was it not
notorious that the humblest peasants in this country
had been used to sympathise with the victories of!
its warriors, and to feel themselves ?partakers in
their honour? True it was, that lately the most
sedulous endeavours had been excited to make them
dead to the glories of Waterloo, and alive to the
imperfections of Old Sarum —( Loud laugliter.)—
But it would not do: he must say that he distrusted
the motives or sense of that man who could build
any hope on such grounds. He was not disposed to
undervalue the evils that might arise to the Consti-
tution from a suspension of the Habeas Corpus, espe-
cially in the light of a precedent; but he could not
think that Parliament had shown any leaning against
the people. Those but ill read the signs of the times
who thought so. The dangers that now threatened
society sprung from a different source. It was not
more idle, in the time of imperial [tome, to declaim
about Brutus and Tarquin, than it .vas now to talk
about servile Parliaments, or an usurping Crown—
(hear !) It was at all times the duty of Parliament
to guard against the blasting of the lightning from
above, or the destruction by an explosion from below.
Ir would be the boast of the present Parliament, that
although they had fallen at a time when the very
ark of the Constitution trembled in its shrine, yet
they had the happiness of seeing, through • their
means, the shrine again secure, the temple still fit m
and unimpaired—(Long and loud cheering.)
Mr. LANIBTON rose to ask an explanation as to
the terms dolt and idiot, so liberally applied by the
Right Hon. Gentleman (Mr. Calming.)
Mr. CANNING observed, that the words dropped
from him unintentionally in the heat of debate, and
that he had no design of applying them in their com-
mon acceptation.
Mr. LAMBTON rose to say, that as the statement,
which he had made relative to Oliver had been so
frequently and so unfairly alluded to by the Right
lion. Gentleman who had just sat down, he now
pledged his character as a man of honour, to bring
forward the person to whom he had alluded, to the
bar of the House, and he would prove the fact. That
person was a man of mercantile respectability, un-
connected with any of the transactions or debates on
this subject—Wear.) Ile had not concealed that
which he knew of the conduct of Oliver, but had re-
peatedly mentioned it to persons of his acquaintance.
It was true that lie did not mention it to Lord Sid-
mouth, because he knew that Oliver was employed
by him. Notwithstanding all that had been said
upon the subject to-night, he remained perfectly con-
vinced of the truth of all that he had first stated on
the subject. All that he wanted was to have an op-
portunity of proving it.
Mr. CROKER said, that in order in any degree
to justify the silence of the anonymous individual, it
was necessary to believe that he knew Oliver to he in
the employment of Lord Sidmouth at the time when
the transaction alleged is said to have taken place—
a fact which it was manifest was impossible. If this
anonymous person was a man of respectability, how
was it to be accounted for that he had not Communi-

cated his information at a time when the House was
engaged in an inquiry upon the subject—when Ad-
dresses were presented on the subject? It was said
he was deterred by fear of the Suspension Act. Now 1
he begged it the observed, that the outrage on the '
Prince Regent was perpetrated on the '2Bth of Ja- I
nary—the Suspension Act passed on the 4th of
March—during that interval proclamations were is-
sued, offering rew rds to any person who could give
any information as to the persons concerned in the
outrage; an investigation was going on for six weeks
at the Public Office, at Bow-street. Why, then, was
information not given when it was called for by the
law, and if Oliver was the author of the outrage,
that he might be brought to condign punishment?
If Oliver since that time had done any mischief to his
fellow-citizens, that man who knew his conduct, and
concealed it, was answerable for such subsequent
mischief; for he—by doing that which the Procla-
mation called for, which the law enjoined, which the
feeling of every good man would dictate—might
have stopped Oliver in his career, and upon his head
must be charged all that was done subsequently by
Oliver. But he (Mr. Croker) would tell the lion.
and Learned Gentleman, who said the Suspension
Act prevented the information being given, that he
must get over the duties which he had mentioned
before any such statement could be listened to—
(hear, hear, hrar).
Sir JOHN NEWPORT, amid loud cries of Ques-
tion, persevered ia speaking shortly against the Bill.
Mr. MONEY also said a very few words against
the Bill, and hoped that Parliament would reject it
with indignation.
The Huuse then divided, when the numbers were'
Ayes '23B—Noes 6.s—Majority for the Bill 173.
The Bill was then committed pro forma. The
Chairman reported progress, and obtained leave to
11 sit again this day.—Adjourned at One o'clock.

DRURY•LA NE THEATRICAL FUND.

A Grand Public Dinner was given yesterday at
the City of London Tavern, for the purpose of in-
creasing the Fund for the Benefit of decayed Actors
of the above Theatre, which was numerously attended.
His Royal highness the Duke of YORK entered the
room at a quarter before seven, and immediately took
the Chair. His Royal Highness was accompanied by
The Earls of Yarmouth and Essex, Lord Holland, Lord
Montford, Sir John Sileester, Bart. Pascoe Grenfell, Faq. J. H
Massey Dawson, Esq. John Dent, Faq. the Hon. Douglas Kin.
naird, Richard Wilson, Esq. &c. &c. &c.
On the cloth being removed, the usual loyal and
patriotic toasts were given, and " Non Nobis
" Goo save the Krso, &c. were sung by Messrs. Pyne,
Broadhurst, Taylor, and other vocal performers.
The kealth of the Duke of YORK was propused by
the Earl of ESSEX, and drank with three times three.
His ROYAL HIGHNESS, in returning his thanks, ex-
pressed the great pleasure he felt at seeing so nume-
rous and respectable a company assembled ; and, he
w4is sure, they could not have assembled in a better
excise. Amongst the various Charities with which this
metropolis abounded, none, said his Royal Highness,
came more home to their feelings than the present.
Every Englishman must feel a pride in nurturing and
encouraging the genius of his own country ; and they
could not effect that object better than by affording a
comfortable retreat to those who had passed " their
best years in the service of the public. -(Cheering.)
He should not detain the company longer, assembled
as they were (or a convivial as well as a charitable pur-
pose, but would propose as a toast, " Success to the
Theatrical Fund of Drury-Lane Theatre, and their
worthy Master, Mr. Kean."—This toast was received
with long-continued applause.
Mr. KEAN then rose, and spoke to the following
effect ;—" The generous sentiment whith your Royal
Highness has been pleased to express, with reference
to the Drury-Lane Fund—assisted as it has been by
The plaudits of this. kind company—induces me to
r undertake a task, to the just performance of which,
notwithstanding all your kindness, I am inadequate.
In the name of-my brother actors, subscribers to this
Fund, which, by your presence, your Royal high-
ness will this day greatly assist—in the absence of
those whose prayers for your welfare arise from the
retreat of poverty and from the bed of sickness—in
the name of those unfortunate persons, who may, here-
after, be indebted for relief to the Drury-lane Fund ;
allow me to attempt to express the thanks which
their hearts must necessaril y feel, but to express which,
with the force and feeling the occasion calls for, de-
mands powers infinitely greater than those which I
possess. As Master and Treasurer of the Drury-lane
Fund, it is necessary that I should make some obser-
vations as to the nature of that Institution, and the
particular causes which occasioned this Meeting.—
This duty I will endeavour to discharge. But amongst
the many circumstances which prove how little fitted
I am for the task assigned to me, there is one that 1
must particularly allude to—l mean the presence of
a Gentleman, whose knowledge of the Drury-lane
Fund must enable him to speak of it with more cor-
rectness than I can do ; whose eminent abilities did
honour to his profession ; whose private virtues lent
a grace to the Institution, and whose name added a
lustre to it. (Great applause.) I allude to my imme-
diate and most respected predecessor, Mr. John
Bannister—a Gentleman, whose long professional ca-
reer was constantly marked by public favour and
by private esteem—(Applause)—a Gentleman whose
retirement from the stage, though it deprived every
actor of a brother did not withdraw from him a friend.
His contributions to the Drury-lane Fund must rank
foremost amongst the most useful and disinterested
acts of his life. To myself, it is a particular source of
regret, that any circumstance should have operated
to occasion me to succeed him. But, placed in this
situation, I ant called on to offer some history of the
• nat•ii._ of cur Institution. The name by which our
Institution is not uncommonly, nor improperly known,
1 at once declares its founder and chief benefactor—
[Generally known as " Garrick's Fend.]"—It was his
happiness, ten years after he first set this plan on
foot, which was in the year 1766, to receive front
Parliament its sanction, establishing this as a Cor-
porate Body. From him, as Patentee of Drury-lane
Theatre, the Fund derived the greatest advantage.
He generously devoted one night in the season to its
benefit—and his last will recorded his posthumous
liberality. Up to his death, prosperity attended th,.
Institution—and, after his decease, his spirit seemed
to hover around that fabric which he had reared—
' and, in aid of it, his Executors placed 4000/. in the

bands of the Trustees. The fund progressively in
creases till 1793. Our records then thew a dreary
4ind barren waste of twenty years. Not only were
no bequests made during that time, but our receipts
fell lamentably short of the claims that were made
csta the fund. So much so, that the melancholy task
I devolved upon those who administered the fund of
decreasing, in a ratio of 10 and even 20 per cent
the pittance which had previously been the solace
of misery and wretcheeness. In 1814 and 1815,
prosperity again shone on us—and by the kind per-i
mission of th' Committee of Drury-lane, a benefit
was again resorted to, which enabled es to restore to
our annuitants what we-had long withheld from them.
Having made this statement, it is now my duty to
express to your Royal Highness the deep obligation
I feel for your presence on this occasion. Allow me
to say, that this day will stand proudly distinguished
amongst the numerous records of the City of London.
Great are her charities—wealthy and respectable are
her citizens—and it must fill them with sentiments
of the most gratifying nature, to reflect, that they
have ever found, in your Royal Highness, a cham-
pion in the cause of virtue—a guide in the pursuit
of every thing good and estimable--(Cheers l. The
list of our patrons on this occasion is already before
the world—our possessions amount to 3201. per an-
num—and I need scarcely say, that is a sum mani-
festly inadequate to meet the claims which the decay
of our brethren may expose the Fund to. lam con-
vinced, that, were our records known by the Public,
they would afford the best commentary on the state
of the Institution—and the best reason for support-
ing it. Our records disclose a long list of hopes
destroyed, of expectations disappointed ! There is
not a page of it that would not draw a tear of pity
from the most obdurate—that would not afford to the
moralist a lesson worthy of the deepest consideration
—(,4pplanse). All the varieties of distress which the
Poet has painted are there to be found
" Ambition this shall tempt to rise,
Then whirl the wretch from high,
To bitter scorn a sacrifice
And grinning infamy;
The stings of falsehood these shall try,
And hard Unkindness alter'd eve,
That mocks the tear it forc'd to now,
And keen Remorse, with blood
And moody Madness laughing wild,
Amid severest woe!"
(Cheering).—The poet might have found in our brief
'-
chronicle' many realizations of this last sad descrip-
-1 don. Permit me to express my gratitude to you:
Royal Highness for your appearance here this day—
and to apologise to the company, for having detained
them so long. 1 have now only to hope, that the
Master's defects will not prove the Society's misfor-
tune."—( Cheering.)
The Duke of -YORK then proposed, " The heat
of the late Master, Mr. John Bannister."--(Applause.
Mr. BANMSTER thanked his Royal Highness, ant
the noble company present, for the high honour con•
(erred upon him. When he retired from the Stage
he had considered it a rest happiness that he had at.
opportunity of resigning the situation of Master of
the Theatrical Fund to Mr. Kean, whose exquisit
and original talents were calculated to render it most
important services. If heretofore the Committee
Drury-lane Theatre had experienced any feelings
disappointment while contemplating the superior p:
tronage enjoyed by the Theatrical Fund of Coven:
Garden, he hoped, after the experience of this da?
Mr. Keas might be allowed to say, in his usual e:
cellent manner—
" Now is the winter of our discontent
" Made glorious summer by the sun of Yoes !"
( Thunders .landause..)
" The Vice-Presidents," " The Committee of Drury-Lane
Theatre," " The Performers," " The Ladies of the Stage,"
" the Memory of Garrick," " the Memory of Sheridan," ant
" the Duke of Bedford's health," and " The Covent-garden
Theatrical Fund," were among the toasts which followed.—
Thanks were returned by Lord HoLtstris, the Earl of YA:
iouns, and others. A variety of judiciously selected songs at
glees diversified the entertainments of the evening. The Luke
of YORK left the room before eleven o'clock, amidst the plaudits
of the whole company. Mr. Ksaa had previously reported the
subscriptions to amount to nearly 10001.
_ _ _

THE E ENLNG STAR.

LONDON.

THURSDAY, MARCH 12, ISIS.
THE FUNDS.
PRICE OF STOCKS Tills DAY AT TIVELVF. O'CLOCK
Reduced shut—Cons. 77Z 78—Cons. for Ac.
4 per Cent. shut—Navy Annuities 105-1, t
India Bonds 93 95 pr.—Exchequer Bills 10 13 pr.

The Paris Papers of Monday arrived this morn
The French Metropolis has, like our own, bei
visited by a most violent tempest. Such was

violence of the wind on Saturday, that persons p;
ing along the quays were thrown down, and C\
horses were stopped in their course. The driver
a fiacre was killed on his seat by the falling of
chimney in the Rue de Bac, and another man
his arm broken by a similar accident. The street
were strewed with tiles and slates. The Ivad co'
ing of the Hotel of the Bank of France, and'
roof of the Palais Bourbon, and of several other pi
lie edifices, were greatly damaged.
Baron D'EssEN, charged with notifying to
French Court the death of the King of SwEues,
the accession of CHARLES JOHN, has arrived at P-

One of the journals announces the arrest of
dame CAL'CHOIS LEMAIRE.

An article from Frankfort states, that preparal
are actually making for the reception, at that p
of the Emperors of AUSTRIA and RUSSIA, and K
of PRUSSIA. It is said that they will pass sonic w
there together, and afterwards repair to Dusse
where the Congress is expected to be held.

The Grand Duke CONSTANTINE has been de
by a majority of 103 voices, to be Deputy to the
lisp Diet for Praga, one of the faubourgs of Wa;

Yesterday the Duke of YORK transacted !II:1i
business with the PRINCE REGENT, at Oarlton-lb

The closing Lent Oratorio performances at I)re
Lane Theatre, took place last night, before a crow
audience, and gave well merited satisfaction.

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