The Statesman.
London, England, 1815-05-05 00:00:00

LITERARY FUND.

The Anniversary Dinner of this truly laudable
and interesting Institution took place yesterday, at
the Freemasons' Tavern, his Royal Highness the
Duke of Kent in the Chair. Soon after six o'clock
the Duke entered, accompanied by the Lord
Mayor of London, Sir John Cox Hippisley,
Bart. M. I'. Sir Benjamin linhhouse, Bart. M. P.
the lion. I.yttleton, M. P. and several other
distinguished characters. Dinner was then served
up in the hest style, after which Non Nobis Domine
was sung by Messrs. Incledon, Taylor, and Bellamy,
with suitable eirect.

The illustrious CHAIRMAN then proposed the
heal'', of

" The Kine.".— Air, " God save the King."---" The Prince
Regent, the lintron of the Institution."—Air, '6 Flail, Star of
Briociwick,"—aud " The Queen, and the rest of the Royal
rainily."
These toasts were drunk with great applause.
The Duke of KUM then rose, and in an able
and eloquent speech, detailed the history of the In-
stitution of the Literary Fund. ft had commenced
nearly thirty years ago, under the auspices of a ve-
nerable and respected Gentleman, Mr. D. Wil-
liams, whose absence, occasioned by growing age
and infirmities, lie greatly lamented. Its object was ,
to solace and relieve the calamities of those whose
mental vigour had been directed towards the in-
struction and improvement of their fellow-creatures.
It was needless for him to say, that of all classes in
society which had most benefited the community, '
there was not one who in its progress was more ek-
posed to the neglect of its private interest. The
history of genius showed, that he who was absorbed
in his study, rarely glanced at his ewn pecuniary
interest. It was the lot of a literary character, as-
sailed
by misfortune, to feel his fate more keenly
than other men, and yet to hide in silence his cala-
mity—there was, therefore, a double duty upon
those who sought to cherish merit when found in'
indigence, and pining under the pressure of do-'
mestic woes; one part of this duty was to relieve;
the sufferer, the other to afford that assistance with-
out piercing the tender fibre of acute sensibility.—
[Applause.]—The aid given under such Circumstances
was but the inadequate retribution which society
owed to the person whose meditations and labours
afforded them the materials of improvement and
recreation.—[Applause.]—The Royal Chairman,
in paying a tribute to the manner in which the
funds of the Society were directed, alluded to the
suggestion which had more than once been made,
that annuities would be the, best mode of rewarding
meritorious claimants. Here his Royal Highness
observed, that this was a question not of option,-
but of necessity, with the Directors=for their guide
must be the weight of their purse, and if they could
not extend the limits of this to meet their object,
they must confine their object within the circle of
their purse. The Royal Chairman concluded by
reading the report of the Registrars, Doctors Chas.
Symnions and James Anderson, and Mr. John

The Duke of KENT next proposes " Prospe-
rity to the Institution"—which was drunk with
three times three, and called on Mr. Fitzgerald,
who recited his annual Ode, which was received with
warm approbation. Mr. Fitzgerald's health was then
proprosed from the Chair, and drunk with great ap-
plause.
The Hon. J. LYTTLETON, as one of the Stewards,
rose to express the great benefits which the Insti-
tution derived from the noble example which the il-
lustrious Chairman, and other Members of his Fa-
mily, had set by their patronage and munificence;
he would therefore propose " The health of the
Duke of Kent."—[considerable applause.l—His
Royal Highness returned thanks, and expressed his
warm satisfaction at having been thought worthy of
the approbation of the company assembled on this
occasion.

Sir BENJAMIN ITOBHOUSE rose, to express his ad-
miration of the patronage with which his Royal High-
ness the Prince Regent, and their present illustrious
Chairman, had honoured the Literary Fund. These
Royal Personages had by this act shed an additional
lustre on the brightest jewel in the Crown, and an-
nexed a fresh ornament to the splendour of their ex-
alted characters.

The Duke of KENT, after a short preface, in
which he begged that the toast he was about to give !
should be abstracted from any political feeling,
proposed the" Health of the Duke of Wellington,"
adding, that he trusted his services, if necessary for
the public weal, would be always at hand, bat stilt
hoping that the hero would seldom be called into pro.
fessional activity. This toast was drunk with great
enthusiasm.

The health of the Doke of Somerset was drunk with
three times three.

The Lord Mayor's health was then received with
considerable applause.
His Lordship returned thanks, and observed, that
he had for many years been a subscriber, and an
earnest admirer of this linnitution—formed, as it was,
for so laudable and patriotic a purpose.
Upon the health of the Vice-Prolgent of the So-
ciety being given—
Sir J. C. IllepintY rose, and warrofy enforced
the obligations which the Duke of Kent and his
Royal Brother had conferred upon the Literary In-
stitution.

The health of Mr. D. Williams, the founder, was
then given from the Chair, and the tonvivialty of the
evening was kept up until a late hour by the Duke
of Kent, who continued giving from the Chair seve-
ral patriotic sentiments, which were accompanied by
the genial influence of the vocal talents of Messrs.
Incledon, Bellamy, Taylor, and Master Barnett.
In the course of the evening the Treasurer read
the state of the accoents to the Meeting. The present
donations were—

(The 19th) from the Prince Regent, 100 guineas.
From the Stock Exchange, out the prolit3 unlawfully ob-
tained by Lord Cochrane, Mr. C. Julistuue, and others, 100
guineas.
From tt,e Lord Msynr, 10 ruiners.
Sir J. C. llippidry, Bari. 10 guinea,.
Sir Wiltioin (largo, 10 guineas; and several smaller do-
baiions.

The balance in the hands of the Treasurer, after
the necessary disbursements, amounted to nearly 6501.

On Fliday evening last, St. Margaret's Church,
Westminster, was robbed of the surplice and several
other articles belonging to the Vestry.