Star.
London, England, 1818-01-31 00:00:00

COVENT-GARDEN THEATRICAL FUND.

The third Anniversary Dinner of the friends and
supporters of this Charity, took place. yesterday, at
the Freemasons' Tavern, Great Queen-street. On no
former occasion was the company so numerous. The
great room was completely tilled—and the gallery
exhibited a bright assemblage of beatity, whose be-
nignant smiles were at once the incentive to acts of
kindness, and the best reward which suck acts could
demand, or could receive. •
The Duke of YORK took the Chair a little before
seven o'clock. As he entered the room, the band
struck up God Save the King. His Royal Highness
was ushered into the room, accompanied by the fol-
lowing Noblemen and Gentlemen, by the Stewards :
Lords Essex, Holland, Petersham, Yarmouth, Lowther, Tor-
rington, and W. Lennox ; General Gwynn • Messrs. Dnunrnond
Burrell, Massey Dawson, Pascoe Grenfell, George Colman, the
•.g.. ; :leilry Harris,-- Dent, Sir George Dean, Sir John
Sylvester (t • Rtcorcier of Lsndon), Sir W. Chatterton, Sir L
St. George Skeffington, &c. dr-c.
Dinner having been concluded, Non Nobis Doseise
was admirably sung. Mr. TAYLOR, of Covent-gar-
! den Theatre, conducted the musical part of the en-
tertainment, and conducted it most ably. Amongst
t the vocal corps were Mr. T. COOKE, Mr. DURUSET,
IMr. EVANS, Mr. LEETE, Mr. J. Isnncs, and Mr.
T 1 NNEY. he following toasts were then given from
the Chair:

Toast, " The King—God bless him." Song, " God save the
King."—Toast, " The Prince Regent." Glee, " Hail ! star of
Brunswick.' —Toast, " The Queen." Glee, " When order in
this land commenced."—Toast " The • Army." Glee, " How
merrily we live."—Toast, " The Navy." " Rale Malaga,-
sting in parts—principal -singers, Mr. T. Cooke, Mr. Taylor,
Mr. Evans, and Mr. Ise.
Lord HOLLAND now rose =II said, he was sure
the Gentlemen present would excuse him for inter-
fering, for a few minutes with their conviviality, when
they learned the reason which induced him to rise.
His object was, to propose to the respectable body
then assembled, in the shape of a toast, a health
which would enable them to express those feelings,
which, it was easy to be perceived, beat high m the i
breast of every Gentleman present. The toast he
was about to propose could not be put from the Chair.
If it could, he should have been silent on this occa-
sion. His object in rising was, to propose the health
of the illustrious individual who filled the Chair—
and, he was sure that this was the most compendious
way of expressing his own pleasure at. seeing the
Royal Duke in the Chair, at the same time that it
was the easiest mode of giving to others an opportu-
nity of expressing their satisfaction on so auspicious
an event. Many motives most induce the Gentlemen
present to rejoice, when they saw the Chair thus filled
—but he would not dwell upon them, because the
individual to whom they related was preienr„. The
exalted rank—the illustrious character the well-
known virtues of their Royal Chairmart, were topics
highly worthy of attention ; but he was sure that he
would offend the delicacy of that illustrious Person-
age, if lie touched upon them—and, actuated by
that feeling, he should abstain. It was, however, a
satisfaction to find that his Royal Highness was so
far recovered from his late accident as ,to be able to
attend on the present day—(Applause).—To those
who were acquainted with his Royal Highness as he
had the honour to be, it could not be a matter of
surprize, that an accident, which deprived his Royal
Highness of his usual amusements, of his customary
recreations, was not sufficient, although severe, to
prevent him from standing forward as the advocate
of twice-blessed charity !--(Applause)—He should
now beg leave to say a few, and a very few words,
on the Institution which the present assembly were
called on to support—and on that body of men, at
whose request, on this occasion, so important to them,
his Royal Highness had been pleased to take the
Chair. With respect to this Institution, as far as its
origin was concerned, his Lordship could saw very
little—hut, with its general object and scope he was
well acquainted ; and all those who heard him, were,
he believed, equally well acquainted with them, and
approved of them as much he did. His Lord4bip's
knowledge of the persons professionally connected
with the stage, arose from accident. Two indivi-
duals, now departed, and the memory of both of
whom he cherished, and ever should cherish, next
his heart, occasioned his acquaintance with that body,
for the helpless members of which the present Fuad
was intended. One of those individuals, the late
Mr. Sheridan, who was an ornament of the drama—
who was an ornament of the Senate—who was an

ornament of civil society—whose mind was as en-'
lightened as his feelings were kind and liberal—whose
talents were great and his charity infinite—( Hear )
he it was, who first brought him acquainted with actors.
—At a later period, in consequence of his situation,
as one of the Committee of Drury-lane Theatre, he
became more intimately acquainted with the cha-
racter and conduct of the prificipal actors in thii
great metropolis ; and, in the situation which he held,

he hid a lair 02p0rt...r..!-A or ma-Aid;their manners.
What was the result of 111; ~liserv.e.i.Au. I • lifoand
them honourable in their dealings—kind, affectionate,
and friendly to one another--and liberal in their
sentiments towards all mankind—(hear, hear.)—He
felt greatly delighted at seeing his Royal Highness
present on this occasion—not only becau,e he was
the root and support of this promising tree—but be-
cause he was at the head of that profession, of which
honour was the very essence I—(hear, hear,)—The
Noble Lord concluded by proposing the health of
his Royal Highness the Duke of York, with. three
times three.

The Duke of YoaK returned thanks ir. a few
words. He expressed the great pleasure he felt at
seeing so very numerous a company assembled on
this benevolent occasion. The idea, that every shil-
ling subscribed this day went to alleviate the dis-
tresses of some of those who had rendered our lively
hours more pleasant, or who had soothed the keen
feelings that stung us in our less happy moments,
would impart pleasure to all those who assisted the
Fund, however trifling their donation might be.—
His Royal Highness concluded by giving—
" Sums. to the Theatrical Fund."

Song—Mr. Duruset—m Blow! blow! thou Winter's Wind!"
Toast—" Lord Holland, and the Vice-Presidents." ,
The Earl of Essex returned thanks.

Song—Mr. Evana—" Tarry a while with me, my Love !"
Toast—,. The health of Mr. Fawcett, the Treasurer of the
Institution."—(Groat aiplatiasl
Mr. FawcErr rose and spoke as follows :—" In
rising to return our Illustrious Chairman thanks for
his gracious condescension in proposing as a toast
in, health, it may, I fear, be expected of me to say
something in behalf of our Institution—l say, I fear
it may, because, having had occasion often to speak
on this subject, the little information my limited
abilities have enabled me to afford, is now exhaust-
ed ; and I cannot recur to the history of the rise and
progress of this excellent Establishment, without
being thought (at least by those who have been pre-
sent on former occasions) tiresome and tautological.
But when I look round me, and perceive many ex-
alted and respectable characters, whose good feel-
ing towards the helpless part of my profession, has
induced them, for the first time, to he present. to-
day, I must !brow myself on the candour of our old
patrons, and 'implore their patience whilst I address
myself more particularly to our new ones. I have
strong reasons for thinking, that the precise nature
of this Institution is by no means generally under-
stood. I could wish, therefore, if I had the power,
to explain in a few words its great utility, and to
shew how it operates for the protection of the Actor,
so as to deserve the assistance of the public. It is an
Institution formed for the purpose of sheltering the
aged and infirm Pefformer from the last abyss of
human misery ; formed with the intention, also, of
rescuing him from the painful task of intruding him-
self before that Public (he once may have delighted)
when infirmity presses heavy upon him, when his
mind and body are bending under a load of natural
decay (and perhaps before he is sans eyes, sans teeth,
sans every thing), afford him a little leisure to col-
lect his scattered thoughts, and breathe, in quiet, a
short prayer before the curtain falls on him for ever.,
Age and infirmity, when pourtrayed with talent on.
the sage, create sydipderision,
athy, or in proPor."
tion as the character reirreiented Is virtuous or fiagi:
Lions ; but they would cease t 6 give the lease sr .1:
cation, indeed would be no longer tolerated, Or en'
dared by a British audience, if they suspected the
afflicted Actor before them was really suffering un-
der the pressure of either. It naturally follows, then,
that young men, or at least men in the vigour of
life, must perform the aged characters ; and it as
naturally follows, that the aged Actor must retire.
Retire ! retire is easily said ; and if any Gentleman
can give to the veteran who has never had it in his
power to hoard a shilling, a satisfactory explanation
of that word, retire, he will be under a lasting obli-
gation to him. That there are many who have
passed most respectably through a theatrical life,
appearing and conducting themselves like
.gentle-
men, on very slender means, is a fact that is noto-
rious. This is the character our Fund is most calcu-
lated to protect—'tis he who cannot dig—to beg he
is ashamed. It would be the climax of bad taste to
distress the feelings of this company, by dwelling
upon the unparalleled misery that has befallen my
aged brethren, when the l'heatres could no longer
retain them in their service ; to enlarge on these
facts must excite sympathy, but it would cast a
gloom over the enjoyments of the day, that would
be very foreign to my inclination ; I shall, there-
fore, content myself by declaring, the melancholy
case too often occurs, and shall leave it to your ima-
ginations to conjecture what that man's situation
must be, who, having passed the greater part of
his life on the stage, untied to business, or employ-
ment of any other kind, when he finds himself
suddenly, with no other warning than his infirmi-
ties, cast upon the world, to groan out a miserable
existence without hope, or shelter but in the grave.
If this company admit the claim of such an one to
their sympathy, what will they not allow to the fe-
male part of our fraternity ? It is a cruel and a vul-
gar prejudice to asperse the moral character of the
English Actress. No females in early life are so ex •
posed to temptation, and when they do deviate from
the path of •rectitude, the publicity of their calling
makes that notorious which, in another, might pass
unobserved. But, I am proud to say of them, col-
lectively, they are good wives, good mothers, and
excellent members of society—and I think you will
adroit I am borne out in the opinion, when I call to
your recollection the noble and highly respectable
marriages that have been made from the Stage.
And there are, I thank GOD, living proofs, of my as-
sertion, in the wives of Noblemen and Gentlemen,
taken from the Stage, who, by their private worth,
have become ornaments to the exalted stations to
which they have been raised. If, in the remembrance
of all of us, the stage has furnished such characters
for private life, I tale leave to assume many more
might be found—but, as it cannot be expected all
should be fortunate, so it may be wished those who ,
are not so could find alleviation in this Fund. For,',
though no man can be a more strenuous advocate
for them than I am, yet candour compels me to ad-
mit one fault they do possess—a fault that many of
them live to deplore—a sin of which they are sure to
be detected—and which they know, by the example
of their predecessors, is visited by the heaviest pe-
nalty: trie sin to which I allude is that of growing
dd. In this sin they continue to' indulge, notwith-

stag ling *ll its cOnseqneeCts ; but, as charity toiert
a multitude of other sins, su,l'hope, this charity will
cover thelig. One more case ivilth- your permissior.)
I would wish to state, before I close the catalogue of
woes, that this Fund is calculated to soften, if not al-
together relieve. The case I would wish- to 'press
upon your particular cousideratioa is that of either
actor or actress, who, in the very prime of hie, by
some mental or bodily infirmity, is suddenly de-
prived of all power to follow this uncertain profes-
sion—for insignificant as some persons may please to
think the actor, he must possess every faculty in full
vigour, or fall to rise no mom. By the persons last
described the importance, and value of this Fund is
felt with a warmth of gratitude not in my power to
express—and indeed, inadequate as I am, I can give
hut a faint idea of their ftclings, or of the prodigious
importance of this Fund to the respectability and
lwell-doing of the Stage."
This speech was received with tke most enthu-
siastic applatise. . . . .

Lord HOLLAND rose, and said that he had it in
command from his Royal Highness to inform the
Meeting, that hooks would be immediately sent
round to all the tables, to receive the names of such-
persons as wished to add their names to the list of
subscribers. He felt it unnecessary to add one word,
in order to impress the assembly with the utility of
this excellent Institution, after the very able address
which had been just delivered by Mr. Fawcett. A
more eloquent and feeling Address, he would say,
never was uttered in his presence.--(Applause.) It
was owing in a great measure to the exertions of that
Gentleman that the Fund was so successful.
The books were then sent round to all the tables ;
and when this operation was finished, Mr. E:trnY
sung an excellent Song, the burthen of which w4;--
" 'York you're wanted." Those who remember the
Drama of " The Slave," well know that this burthen
has some affinity with that Play, and Mr. EMERY, at
a short notice, wrote the following additional stanza,
which was received with loud applause and encored
At this big room I next look'd in,
Where gentlefolks wire drinking;
At that Fm sure I'd tee a part,
Wi' any man I'm thinking !
But Charity's their business here,
So off I quickly jaunted,
For my poor means could do no good,
'Tons likynt York was wanted I
After this song, the health ef " Mr. Harris and the
Proprietors of Covent-Garden was drank.
_ _. _

Mr. HARRIS, in returning thanks, said, the Pio-
prietors of Covent-Garden Theatre would feel very
happy if, in the most remote degree, they could claim
the merit of having assisted the Theatrical Fund. He
hoped it would long continue to flourish—he trusted
it would prosper more and more every year. It was
his wish that it should proceed in the inverse ratio of
his speech.—(Laughter.)--That would 'be very brief,
and he trusted the Theatrical Fund would be most
extensive. He should conclude by giving the health
of a Gentleman, who, as an author and a manager,
had given the greatest delight to the whole British
public. Having said this, he hardly need mention
name of " George Colman, the Yonager"—(Cheers.)

Mr. COLVAN--" Public Speaking is totally out cf.
my Way.
_I halve. indeed wine share of Cut diffidence
wltieh• mrbtiotheepanager, ,Mr.Tfarris, feels—and
which.
Gestilemen-appertalitins to the Stage ate
PetoveOrgli Ivsscssect pc,ipiggiger„)"M7speech
dial therefore be as short as tht shorteg thing I can
recollect. It shall be as short as—a simmer season
in the Haymarket Theatre—(Laiigder.) After this,
Gentlemen, I shall say no more, but express my
gratitude for the honour you have done me, by drink-
ing, in return, all "your healths—(.liptuuse.)
Toast.-" Success to the Blitish Drama:

The health of the Cuioniittce was then drank with
applause.
Mr. YOUNG returned thanks in a few words.

Mr. T. Cook favoured the assembly with an imi-
tation of the Italian Opeta. He accompanied him-
self on the piano, and was extremely successful in a
very singular effort.
The remainder of the evening passed away in the
utmost pleasantry. A scene of-happiness was visible
in every eye that sparkled throughout the room.
There. could not have been less than four hundred in-
dividuals present. Eve' y thing was conducted with
, the utmost regularity. .

In the eour.it of the evening Lord !Tom. forts gave
" Mrs. Siddons's health," as the departed -heroine ct
the Stage; and his ROYAL HIGHNESS afterwards
gave, in allusion to the foregoing toast, " the lir:alth
of Ikir. Kean," as the present hero of the Stage.
Mr. KEAN having Left the room previousrv,
Mr. I)Exr, as a Proprietor of Drury.lane Theatre,
returned thanks, and said that the prosperity of both
Theatres depended on their unanimity.

It was announced that the PRINCE HU:TNT sub-
scribed to the Fund One Ilundred Guineas; the Duke
of Yoni: Fifty Guineas ; and several Noblemen and
Gentlemen considerable sums. The total of the even-
ing's subscription amounted to mom than 1,0004

The lion. CIIARLES LAMM"! has resigned his post
as a Member of the Sub-Committee of Drury-lane,
and is succeeded by Lord Yaitmouru.
The new tragic Play, taken from the Poems of
Lord BYRON, is from the pen of Mr. Distowo. The
hero of the Piece is to be personified by Mr. KEAN.
It is interspersed with music.
The new Comedy in rehearsal at Drury-lane is
I from the pen of a Gentleman of the name of
The remains of the late Mr. Tnomas SHERIDAN,
which arrived a few days since at Portsmouth, from
the Cape of Good Ilope, are to be deposited with
those of his mother and grandfather, the late Mr
LINLEY, in the vault of St. Pancras Church.

The Edinburgh and Glasgow Papers contain ac-
counts of the celebration of the anniversary of Mr.
Fox's birth-day in both those Cities.
Thursday evening aaiother juvenile robber was de-
tected at Covent-Garden Theatre. The first crov:d
having gone in after the first opening of the doors,
1, Donaldson and Rice, the constables, observed a youth
returning down the two shilling gallery stairs, and
apparently concealing himself, and 'endeavouring to
avoid them; they seized him, and on searching they
found three silk handkerchiefs concealed in his
breeches, and other property, supposed to have been
stolen.• He was taken to Bow-street Office, and un-
derwent an examination, when a Gentleman attended
and identified one of the handkerchiefs, which he had
' been robbed of, and the prisoner was cemmiticd.