The New York herald., 1868-05-24

constant effect upon the life and conduct of exist
ing generations There Is not day tnat tne inc.
Is not day that their household words DO not AMI
mate and adorn the hearths around which we I'VE,
ana az this very moment there Is no part oi Tue
world which is not Influenced by the conduct and
the thought OF nations who, though slight IN popu-
this nnnan ana % d wsys Because thew
left out literatures and had authors. load
cheers Now, If II be true that the state OF litera
think may say without the language OF exaggera-
ton that England may look with pride and satisfac-
ti0n to the vernacuar literature with which are
all conversant, and which at this moment commands
the admiration and respect OF the world. OF our IL
terature say it has this characteristic which distin-
guishes 1t from all the other literatures Of modern
Europe, and that is its exuberant reprOductveness.
Other countries at peculiar epochs have produced
admirable specimens OF the thought and expression
Of men in all its forms OF history, philosophy, poetry
and science, but they have rarely repeated them.
there is a reproductveness about it which is most
valuable feature, and without parallel in the his
tory, ancient or modern OF any other nation 1t is
now forty or fifty years ago, as some present no
doubt will remember, when England produced a con-
steIaton OF poets such as really no other nation could
rva Those poets were not alone in their glory, for
at that time, too there was development OF critical
p0wer-a power supposed TO be most contrary TO the
creative power-,hat was most remarkable. indeed,
every department OF literature there was excellence
They nave al passed away, but that period mas not
been succeeded by one of long and ser reaction hut
the contrary. II would be nvidious at this moment
to mention instances, but think speaking olliy
truth when say We are living In an ace Wien he
working with vigor and versatility which has never
been exceeded; when historical. investigation mas
been conducted with an ornate sagacfty WhCi very
few periods OF literary excellence rival when Inc
conclusions Of science have been communicated to
the multitude iii classic tongue which certainly
century ago was waning We can therefore boast
for vernacuar literature not merely that it has
produced classical authors or peculiar epoch but
that there vgor ana versatility in the power and
expression of the literature of this country that
tains and commands the influence OF the English
tongue. Cheers? | confess l myself am not sur.
nrisp at hIcrQ nf WI
to be proud; but think 1t may be accounted for.
attribute II in great degree to the wide circle to
which an English rter appeals. 1t Is no longer
an appeal to the inhabitants of the island in which
he lives. II he is capable of it, he can affect the feel
lngs anu influence the conduGt OF the nnaoltants Oh
the labor and soace the life OF the toiers in the
antipodes. 1t is in this great and expanding tribunal
to which the English author can appeal that find the
finest elements of his inspiration But If tbs view
which have sketched, and sketched with great i'm
perfectness has some foundation in it, il IL be. as
believe, true, think there is an additional reason
why we should earnestly and seriously consider the
condition OF those paefaced voares OF the muse by
whose devotion to the cultivation of these arts these
great results are In some Instances obtained and In
so many instances aspred to. We must recollect
material success combined with intellectual excel
lence 1t is in the nature of things and it is the neces
sary consequence of this very enlarged sphere of lite
rary sympathies which adds so much excitement
ana stimulus to literary effort. 1t Is In the
nature of things that there must be many
and frequent instances when sympathy and
aid are required to meet the broken feelings
and repair the battered fortunes of our literary broth
ers. (Cheers) The most popular author suddenly
finds that the literary passion OF his age is capricons,
and he falls from The high empyrean in which he
thought 1t was his destiny to soar for ever. The
scholar VINO devOtes his life to the noble pursuit OF
some investigation which cannot bring any material
support, though in its results it may influence the
character OF natiOnS ana above all the man Wh0 fu
OF success, falls victim TO shattered nervous sys-
tem and just when he within the vision OF glory
with palpitating triumph of intellectual power
sinks into despondency and despair; these are the
men, ana these are the instances repeated ron the
very excited condition OF literary life, to which tnis
society may bring that remedial aid which fulhls
of the most beautiful Offices OF benevolence This IS
the case | have to plead tonight | wish j could
have pleaded it In condition OF mind more adapted
to subject which is worthy of the best feelings of
our heart. But i have this advantage ap-
peal to those who at least sympathise
with the subject, If they may not with
are brotherhood, who, either by their
profession by their tastes all literary men;
and if | cannot bring forward TO you those argu-
ments which ought to influence your intelligence,
can name to you sub ect which will am sure touch
your hearts, 1t is the toast, prosperity the Royal
Literary Fund" U4Oud cheers.)
Earl STANHOPE having responded,
Mr.. GEORGE GOODWIN announced subscriptions to
the amount OF about 81, 500.
Mr.. DsRAEL in response to the toast of his health,
proposed by Earl Stannope thanked the company
for their Kindness, and added, ~ can say that, what
ever may be my fortunes in life, my sympathies will
always be faithful to the literary fund" (Cheers
The remaining toasts were ''Poetry and Imagina-
tive Literature" proposed by Sir stafford Northcote
and responded to by Mr. Venables; "The Judges and
Legal Literature" proposed by Lord HOughton and
acknowledged by Chief Justice BOvil "Cassical and
Historical Literature" proposed by Lord Ravens
worth and spoken to by the Dean of Westminster;
'rhe Stewards" proposed by Sir J. Napier and
acknowledged by Sir W. HUT, and "The Ladies' -
proposed In a brief speech by the chairman.