just in all his dealings, and faithful in all his engagements.

Cheers.

MR. WEBSTER was deeply grateful for the compliment paid to him, though he was not egotistical enough to believe that all the merit was due to him that their respected Chairman had been pleased to express; but he could assure them that, to encourage the drama to the best of his ability, in its highest and most intellectual walks, had been at all times the endeavour of his life.— (Cheers.) The drama of this country, he considered, stood in a prouder position than that of any other country in Europe-for England alone had given birth to a Shakespeare, whose works enlisted the sympathies of all, and by their truthfulness to nature spoke home to the hearts of the people of all nations and all ages.— (Cheers.) In the present day, the drama owed much to the genius of their distinguished Chairman.-(Cheers.) And he should like to see the man who, having witnessed the performance of one of that gentleman's dramas or comedies, had not been electrified by his spirit-whose sympathies had not been enlisted in the fortunes of the people of his conception, or who had not been sent home happy to bed.-(Cheers.) A worthy companion to their chairman in dramatic literature was his old and esteemed friend Sheridan Knowles (Cheers); and next they had the finished comedies of Douglas Jerrold (cheers), and the lively pieces of his friend Buckstone.-(Loud Cheers.) Whilst the English stage possessed such authors as these, they need not despair of the drama (cheers); and he trusted the international law of copyright would prove of advantage to them, and that the English stage would never

imitate the example of some of its foreign contem poraries, and fall into the pit of exalting vice instead of promoting virtue.-(Cheers.) Both as an author and an actor he had derived great pleasure in listening to the very satisfactory position of the fund, and he could assure them that it would always be his best endeavour to support the art of the actor in its purest and most poetical position, and to assist a fund which must tend to do so much towards securing the respectability and independence of its members.-(Cheers.) As he had alluded to the dramas of Douglas Jerrold, he could not sit down without asking leave to propose the health of a gentleman he saw near him, whose name was almost indissolubly associated with the success of some of the principal of those dramas, and who had imparted that life to them which ensured their popularity on the stage—he meant Mr. T. P. Cooke-(loud cheers)—who, with the true liberality of one of those nautical heroes he had so often represented, had left by his will the magnificent legacy of £1,000 to the funds of the Institution, with contingent advantages.-(Cheers.)

MR. T. P. COOKE, who was received with loud cheers, said that he was completely taken by surprise by the toast they had just drank, and after the many eloquent speeches they had heard that night, he felt he could not say anything to enlist their attention, though he was deeply grateful for the compliment paid him.-(Cheers.) The communication that has been made to you, relative to the legacy I have left this fund, it was not my intention should be made public, but was meant only for my friend Buckstone's private ear; it seems, however, that if I had determined to "do good by stealth and blush to

find it fame," he has determined it should not be so, and if it can be productive of the slightest good to the fund, by stimulating others to "go and do likewise," he is perfectly right, and I can have no wish to keep it secret; but do most fervently hope that my poor example may be numerously and largely followed by those who have better means than myself, particularly by my more wealthy professional brethren; for myself I feel I have merely performed a duty in first providing for those near and dear to me, and then remembering others by whose assistance I have been enabled to do so. In conclusion, I would beg to suggest that all present would study the instructions recently given by the Lord Chancellor for making a will, and if they have anything to give to bestow it on the poor player, who has strutted and fretted away his existence for your amusement, for of this be assured that no legacy can be better or more prudently bestowed.-(Cheers.)

The CHAIRMAN was sure they could not part without expressing their obligations to those gentlemen connected with the literature of their art who had honoured them with their company that evening.-(Cheers.) He would not, upon the present occasion call upon their friend Mr. Buckstone to acknowledge the toast, as he had already so eloquently addressed them—and he was sure that his friend, Mr. Robert Bell, whose delightful comedies they all admired (cheers), would be happy to have the opportunity of doing so.-(Cheers.) They were also favoured with the presence of their friend Mr. Mark Lemon, whose wit and humour added a charm and polish to the lighter drama.-(Cheers.) Trusting that the future productions of these gentlemen might be as sharp as

a Lemon, and possess the power of acid-be as sound as a Bell, he begged to give them "Dramatic Literature and Mr. Robert Bell."—(Cheers.)

Mr. ROBERT BELL responded to the toast.

Mr. BUCKSTONE then proposed "The health of the Professional Ladies and Gentlemen who had contributed to the amusement of the evening," for which he was sure they were all deeply grateful.

It being now past midnight, the Chairman retired, followed by the greater portion of the company, and the festivities of the evening were brought to a close.

In course of the evening the following list of subscriptions was read by Mr. Cullenford :