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fail to mend the heart of the reader, and were we disposed to pursue this theme, we think we could prove, that our immortal bard was the noblest moralist this country has produced; but our limits will not admit of this at present.

EDR.

FOURTH ANNIVERSARY

OF THE

SHAKESPEARE CLUB,

November 7, 1822.

B. SAYLE, ESQ. IN THE CHAIR.

THIS Club celebrated the fourth Anniversary of its establishment, by the members and their friends, in number about seventy, dining together at the Tontine Inn, on Thursday, November 7, 1822. On this occasion, B. Sayle, Esq. presided, assisted by B.J. Wake, and James Sorby, Esqrs. as Vice Presidents. Several of the Corps Dramatique were present, and amongst them Mr. De Camp, Mr. Yarnold, and Mr. Neville, whose vocal talents contributed much to heighten the pleasure and gratification of the Meeting. In proposing the toasts, the Chairman, in a very happy manner, accompanied them with illustrative passages from our great Dramatic Bard. The dinner and wines were excellent, and it was evident that those gentlemen who, at the request of the Club, had taken on themselves the various arrangements for the dinner, had spared no trouble to promote the comfort of every one present. After the cloth was drawn, and Non nobis, Domine! had been sung, the President gave

The King.

6

The Chairman then rose and said:- 66 Gentlemen,In proposing the Memory of Shakespeare,' under the sanction of whose name we are this day assembled, I have but little of introductory matter to offer. The veneration we entertain for the memory of this mighty bard-mighty in comparison beyond any poet this country has produced-is amply justified by that astonishing talent, which the pages of his dramatic writings display. The admirable manner in which he has pourtrayed every character in every grade of society, from the king to the beggar-from the hero to the poltroon-and enriched the whole with moral reflections and poetic inspirations, constitutes a powerful claim to our admiration; and we therefore pay him our ready homage both of tongue and heart. His Tragedy is enriched with the characters of Hamlet and Othello, the wonderful productions of his wonderful talents; and his Comedy contains a Bardolph and a Falstaff-the varied creations of the same exalted imagination."

"Each form of many-coloured life he drew,

Exhausted worlds, and then imagined new."

He then gave--

The immortal Memory of William Shakespeare.

The Stage-Long may it continue to hold the Mirror up to Nature.

The Memory of David Garrick, the Roscius of the British Stage.
Mrs. Siddons.

The Memory of Mr. Sheridan.

The Chairman observed that the world was indebted to that dramatist for the most eloquent speech which had perhaps ever been heard in a British Forum, and the most elegant comedy in the English language.

Mr. John Kemble.

Mr. Munden.

The Supporters of the Sheffield Shakespeare Club.

Mr. De Camp, and success to the Sheffield Theatre.

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Mr. De Camp then rose, and spoke as follows:--"Most potent, grave, and reverend signiors,--my very noble and approved good masters,'---in rising to thank you, as I ought, for the honour you have done me, I own I am somewhat at a loss. Rude am I in speech, and little gifted with the set phrase of speech,' but when your kindness is proposed my fee, my proud heart sues and prompts my tongue to speech.' Only I have left to say,' the service and the loyalty I owe in doing it, pays itself.' When I call to mind the particular circumstance which have induced the gentlemen of Sheffield to form themselves into a Shakespeare Club, I own I feel proud in belonging to the same profession with our immortal Bard. To protect the stage, to encourage its professors, and to correct its abuses--- for where is that palace, whereinto foul things sometimes intrude not ?---is the part of an enlightened society. Honour pricks you on;' and do not suffer a refined prejudice or false feeling to prick you off again.' 'The Stage, whose end, both at the first and now, was and is to hold, as 'twere, the mirror up to Nature; to shew Virtue her own feature, Scorn her own image, and the very age and body of the time, its form and pressure.' Proud indeed ought we to feel, when we reflect that our profession is upheld by the enlightened part of society throughout Europe, sanctioned by most of our Clergy, protected by our Legislature, and patronized by our King. Go on, then: 'still your cause will conquer: thrice is he armed that hath his quarrel just, and he but naked, though locked up in steel, whose conscience with injustice is corrupted.' For my part, I never yet felt an ill will towards the man whose opinion

did not go with mine; but it is not liberal to consign the Stage, its professors and its patrons, to irredeemable perdition.' Truly, thou art damned, like an ill-roasted egg, all on one side;' for remember, 'that in the course of justice we none of us should see salvation. We do pray for mercy, and that same prayer doth teach us to render the deeds of mercy;' and 'we should forbear to judge, for we are sinners all,' and' for mine own part-no offence to the general or any man of quality, I hope to be saved;' 'something too much of this;' 'anon we'll drink a measure the table round;' 'be large in mirth;' in the mean time, salutation and greeting to you all;' and believe, Gentlemen, that 'your pains are registered where every day I turn the page to read them.'

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The Female Friends of the Shakespeare Club.

Dr. Younge here rose to propose the health of the Chairman, which he did with his usual elegance of expression, wanting nothing of deserved eulogy, and free from fulsome adulation.

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Mr. Sayle returned thanks "If I have at all contributed to the amusement of this day, I am most amply repaid by the handsome way in which you have told me so; but, Gentlemen, I have not the vanity to suppose this has been the case; the pleasure of the day has been owing to yourselves, for you seem to have brought with you a large stock of good humour, good spirits, and a desire to please and be pleased: but, Gentlemen, I do think the cause on which we are met is one of which we ought to feel proud; for I believe, Gentlemen, we are here assembled in the face of the world to defend, as far as we can do it, the genius and ashes of Shakespeare from the narrow-minded, illiberal, and bigoted attacks which

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