The herald., 1837-05-05

the Drama VIII read with please an account ei the
twentieth anniversary of this useful charity, instituted
and partly endowed by David Ganick 1t was cele-
braed in the Freemasons' Hall, Great Queen street !;
Ben. Bond Cabbe Esq. in the chair. After the health
Of the Royal family had been drunk, that OF Mr. Har
ley was proposed, which elected from that gentleman
a speech ofrare excellence of which we have space
only for few extracts =
My lords and gentlemen-To the privilege of adj
dressing you, gratifying is ever looked forward
with trembling anxiety lest the interests OF those
who lie near my heart should suffer from my ma
blity 70 plead their There two things lha'
have never yet been able TO accomplish long lace
and short sseech The first, your past iaVors ana
presea smiles forbld and, as for the secono, though
as vlrtaousy given as any gentleman IN 0nlis.ehuoh
10 eurtal my tedlousness, my goou is'entohS, me
Edlstafs repentance, Of transient dtrauoi, when
the honor of my art and the welfare oil It's professors
are my thenc Age cannot wither IL, nor custom
state its infinite variety; kinale as 90 on, TILL like
volcano, am fairly bnrnt out uhtii our next ami
versary.
"The stage has been the especial delight of merry
England from the time when Iarletsn 'undumplsh-
cd the virgin queen with his quips and cranks TO the
present-when Mr.. Harley assayed serfo comic
Grafton, and .arIoned less for his own, than his
subjects sake. And here my lords and gentlemen
take leave TO mount my hobby, and invite you &c ac-
company me my annual excursion. Many we'll
remembered pilgrims to the shrine of charity Joy
fully reesgnise-elhers, who about to enter upon
the hallowed path, l gratefully welcome. Happy
they who can snatch from lle's dull realities mo-
ments like these!
"A shrewd observer of the world once remarked
Show me the popular ballads of the time, and will
show you the temper and taste of the people Show
me, say, well-regulated stage, and will show you
nation happy, intelligent, and free
"The British drama Is the volume OF MANKIND
Search its pages, from ShaSspear to Sheridan, and
where shall we find such school OF eoquence, SO
rich, passing rich in natures supreme attributes.
passion, Imagination, and wisdom? Do we desire
the noblest examples of patriotism and virtue all that
is beautiful in fancy, and brilliant IN WITT England
dramas the treasury where such gems will be sought
for and found 1t presents us with every object In
natures landscape, with the added charms of phllo
sophie and metaphy scaf lore. The veil that separates
the material from the lmmateria world tdraws aside
and we behold the wonders OF that mysterious region
1t subdaes by that would not exchange for
mrth and exhilaraes by merriment, that which
might unbound the dali brow of melancholy, and re-
lax it into a smile. Ii exhibits morality and science
in the many colored fpoetry and philosophy
cheerful, benevolent, and sublime!
Something then belongs to the poor player,
whose magic art calls forth from the secuson OF the
closet these exquisite creations and with voice, ira
tme, and action, exhibits to assembled thousands a
living picture of human character, IN all it's eccentric
varieties. Ii is idle to talk about plays not beng
written for the stage. Shakespeare. the dramas morn
ing star and meridian, looked far beyond the closet
for his immortality He wrote net exclusively for the
lettered student, but mankiad he limited not his am
bltlon TO the narrow circ2 OF learned criticism, but
appealed 10 the sympathies Of the whole human
race. And gloriousy has his All hail! hereafter
been realised. Never vision more prophetic.
Surely then, the actor may be permitted to pur-
su: the triumph, and partake the gale Of these high
intelgelc,s having himself contributed so much
TO the public stock of harmless pleasure. For
him / plead with fread's anxiety and brothers.
love for him who may have rellnqushed pro-
fesson that led 10 certain wealth; for one bright
and Elusive arduous and luetuating How few, toll
ing up the steep ascent have reached the summit
where Garrick, Siddons, Kemble Kean, and the joy
spirits of that merry eyslum, beckon the youthful
and nopf In araa pp1pa hicb
only be entered by patient study perseverlng in
dustry, and co nmanding genius. To be the repre-
sentative of Shakespeare heroes-to revel in the eo-
quent inspiration Of that divine poet more than pays
the penalty of this privilege lie too often passed
between pleasure and poverty; but pleasure without
reproach, and poverty without meanness. Every ac-
ter Is enthusiast, for without enthusiasm II Is I'M
possible to be an actor.
"To remedy the inequality Of kind heart and
unkind fortune open asy ylum to those with whom
are associated the remembrance Of intellectual hours
never to return, this fund was established; and nosy
has it fulfilled the intentions of the founder and his
successors.
"Let me hope that while time is continually ro-
moving many Of our valued friends, u will supply
their places with others who are equally Jealous TO
upon the course of benevolence Thesacred
fount of charity thus replenshcd shall flow in its
silent and majestic course and pour into the wounded
hearts Of the aged and nrm-the broken in spirit and
fortune-ths bereavcd in frendship-the young, the
innocent, and the he'll pless its sautary stream. BY
supporting this institution you do the drama good
service, by Inducing, the part Of the actor habits
of seadness and economy, and offering this stimulus
to his exertons-that when time has impaired his
ergies AM silvered his brow, honorable retire
Hent frugal comforts, and the consolation that his
widow and children will not be left destitute, shall be
his well-mened reward"
The guests were numerous and respectable, and the
subscriptions, which included his Maesy's annual
donation of one hundred glneas of the Duchesses Of
Kent and 81. Adams of 50l each; the Dukes Of Bed
ford and Devonshre of like sum, and others equally
bountfu, amounting in the whole toupwards of l060
which, IN these piping times must be admitted 10
be no tnconsiderabe sum. Or the many contrbu-
tons were hailed more enthusiastically by the
assembled company than the announcement of those
of Stephen Price, Esq, and "Jim Crow of ten
guneas each, and the very munlfcent donation Of 50
by Mr.. Forrest. On the latter being announced the
chairman coupled the name Of the donor with the
toast which no had next TO propose, prosperity 10
the American stage" which the company at once re-
sponded to in the most cheerful aad hatter,nq man
ner-a compliment which Mr.. Rice lost no time in
properly acknowledging.
Such an institution has been talked Of in this CITY
We hope the lberay Of the British laws Of the dra mn
will stimulate our corps theatrical to follew go good
an example
From The Philadelphia o. ). Gazets1