Page images
PDF
EPUB

assistance, was an honorable undertaking, and, it should seem, entitled to its just commendation.

:

In the metropolis are several societies, which address themselves to men of genius, that deserve respectful mention such as the society for decayed actors: the ABCDARIANS, for the relief of decayed Schoolmasters: the society for the relief of decayed Musicians the Royal ditto: the New Musical for ditto, their widows and children the society for the relief of Medical men, in the neighbourhood of London, their widows, and children.

:

It is only within a year or two that a SOCIETY TO ASSIST AUTHORS AND THEIR FAMILIES IN DISTRESS was constituted. The plan of this society is drawn up with much good sense; and, it is to be hoped, requires only to be more widely known, to be more generally encouraged.

CONSTITUTION OF A SOCIETY, &c.

"All the boasted distinctions of England have great obligations to the press. Princes are influenced, ministers propose measures, and magistrates are instructed, by the industry of literature; while the authors of hints, suggestions, and disquisitions, may be languishing in obscurity, or dying in distress.

This injustice, operating on irritable minds, generates that: particular species of rancour incident to genius in free states; producing personal satire on those of elevated condition; the malignant jealousy of literary emulation; and an indiscriminate, general calumny, as injurious to public interests, as it is dishonorable to human talents.

"It is thought these evils may be ameliorated, or removed, by an institution to obtain justice or compassion for talents injured and depressed; to withdraw the dreadful apprehensions and prospects, which warp integrity, and pervert genius; and to produce candor and harmony in the provinces of literature.

"Every description of genius and merit has some mode of compensation, except that devoted to general science, political disquisition, and the Belles Lettres. The learned professions, and allthe provinces of arts merely imitative, have probabilities of remuneration or refuge :-Literature alone is neglected, when become a distinct pursuit, and absorbing the faculties of the mind.

"It is the purpose of this institution to establish a fund; on which Authors, properly recommended, may rely for assistance, in proportion to the produce of that fund.

"The annual subscription to be not less than a Guinea; as much more as the abilities and inclination of the subscriber may admit.

"Donations of ten guineas, and upwards, within one year, to constitute subscribers for life; and legacies in trust will be gratefully received.

"As the theatres are supported by literary talents, it is not doubted, the managers will countenance such dramatic benefits as may be proposed by the committee for the advantage of the fund. "Every other mode of increasing the revenues of the institution will be adopted; whether suggested by public or private informa

tion.

“All business to be transacted by a register, treasurer, a committee of twenty, and a council of fifty.

2

J

"Every subscriber to be a constituent; and at noon, on the first Friday in May, to meet the other subscribers, annually, to choose registers, treasurers, a committee of twenty, and a council of fifty, if the number of subscribers exceed a hundred; if not, the subscribers to discharge the offices of council.

"At the meeting of the subscribers, councils, or committees, the president or chairman is to be appointed only for a year: the decisions to be by a majority; and the president to give only a casting vote on an equal division.

"The pecuniary appointments, for the collectors, messengers, &c. must be assigned and approved at their election. These officers may be suspended or discharged by the committee, on a complaint well supported by a member of the committee, or of the council, or by a subscriber. Security may be taken, by the committee, for the execution of their trusts.

"All applications for relief are to be made to a register; who, if the cases be urgent, may immediately summon a committee; if not, he is to submit them at the first meeting: and the committee is to meet at a convenient and appointed hour, on the last Friday of every month, at a fixed and known place, where it may execute its offices; and where messages, letters, and applications, may be received.

"If the subscribers should be too numerous for the room or rooms appropriated to the committee and council, their yearly assembly must be held in some large and public building, at a small price of admission; but all unnecessary occasions of expending the revenues of the institution should be avoided.

"The assistance afforded to authors in distress, or to their widows and children, shall be at the discretion of the committee, and be transmitted by a treasurer according to its order.

"All the stock, property, and revenues of the society shall be in the public funds, in public and competent securities, and at a banker's. No money shall be drawn for, but on an order of the committee; no securities shall be changed, nor shall any part of a

capital, whether in estates or funds, be disposed of, but by the consent of a general meeting of the subscribers.

"Books of accounts by a treasurer, and books of transactions and occurrences by a register, shall be always liable to inspection by the committee and council, or by any of their members. They shall be open four days in every year to any subscriber: i. e. on Christmas, Lady, Midsummer, and Michaelmas days.

"The monthly meetings of the committee shall be open to any member or members of the council, or of the society, if there be no council; who may attend to the occurrences of the institution, but not immediately interfere or vote. If any irregularities or abuses be supposed to arise, four members of the council, or of the society, if there be no council, by directions to a register, or by letters from themselves, may assemble the whole, to consider the measures in question, to obviate or approve their effects, and to suspend the operations of the committee, of the register, or other officers, until the general sense of the subscribers be taken.

"Temporary vacancies in the committee, or in the offices, are to be filled up at the discretion of the council.”

He

The above constitution was drawn up by my friend the late Mr. David Williams, the author of many most ingenious political and economical writings. It received its origin in the misfortunes of Mr. Sydenham, the translator of Plato. This worthy man had been most cruelly deprived of his property, under the false pretence of his being a lunatic, and reduced to the greatest necessity. was, at length, arrested for a debt of forty pounds. This he was unable to pay; and through horror of a jail, in the act of being arrested, expired. Several humane persons, on hearing this, immediately formed the design of establishing the above society, which confines itself entirely to the relief of authors.

It has been frequently observed, that though useful discoveries

Mr. Williams, who is considered as the proper founder of this society, has himself written a very excellent work concerning it, intitled, "The Claims of Literature; or, the Origin, Motives, Objects, and Transactions, of the Society, for the Establishment of a Literary Fund, 1802. It was thought best to insert, in the present DISSERTATION, the original constitution, though` in the annual accounts now published, the constitutions, (agreeably to the powers vested in their committees,) appear in their revised and altered form, according to the present state of the society.

2 This institution, so small in its beginning, is now risen to a very considerable establishment, of which the Prince Regent is the Patron; and at their last annual meeting, in 1818, a belief was expressed, that it would shortly have a charter. The present state of it may be seen by the printed accounts of the institution, which are annually published. Their general monthly committees now meet at No. 69, Queen Street, Lincoln's Inn Fields.

`in literature depend on the exertions of individuals, yet societies may afford them considerable encouragement and support. Accordingly, learned men in different parts of Europe have formed themselves into literary fraternities. For the origin of these we are indebted to the Italians. The Academy of Lyncæi, instituted in 1603, served as a model for similar societies in Great Britain. Hence proceed the Royal Society, the Antiquarian Society, the Society of Arts and Sciences in London; the Manchester Society, and Bath Society of Agriculture; the Royal and Antiquarian Societies in Edinburgh; and the Royal Society in Dublin. The sole object of these institutions is, if I mistake not, the improvement of the arts and sciences.

The utility of a society, that should unite in its design the progress of elegant literature, with the means to assist distressed genius, has frequently struck my mind: and men of understandings more inventive than mine, and possessed of more influence and authority, might be able to realise a scheme, productive of permanent advantages in both those respects.

There exists a mathematical society in Spital-fields, consisting, in general, of persons in the middling classes of life. Many eminent mathematicians have been members. It was first established in the year 1717, by Joseph Middleton. In the year 1772, another mathematical society, held in Spital-fields, was incorporated into this, and brought with them their books, instruments, &c.: and in the year 1782, the two societies, being then united into one, removed to the Black Swan, Brown's Lane, Spital-fields, where they now meet. In the year 1783, an historical society, held in Carter's Rents, Spital-fields, united itself to this, and brought with them their historical library. In the same year their regulations were printed. The following are some of them.

ARTICLES.

"I. The number of members, who compose this society, shall

not exceed

"II. This society shall meet every Saturday evening, between the hours of seven and ten; when each member present shall pay four-pence; and every member not present shall be fined one

penny.

" III. Every member shall pay one shilling per quarter, towards defraying the expenses of the society.

❝IV. If any member curse, swear, game, or lay a wager during the hours of meeting, he shall forfeit one shilling for each offence. "V. A member being accused of behaving riotously, or of using abusive language, during the hours of meeting, the sense of

the society upon his behaviour, shall, at the request of any member present, be taken by ballot the same evening; and if the charge be confirmed, the offender shall immediately pay a fine of two shillings and sixpence, or be excluded from this society.

"VI. No person shall take either a book or instrument out of the repository, without the permission of a steward, on forfeiture of sixpence for each offence.

" VII. If any member takes out a book, or instrument, for the evening, he shall return it to the stewards before they begin to shut up the repository, or pay a fine of three-pence for neglect.

"VIII. Any member may borrow, on any other night of meeting than quarterly night, any instrument, (except the large globes, the large air-pump, the large microscope, and the large electrical machine,) with a book of its use, and a book having a table of logarithms; or may borrow either from the mathematical or historical library any book, or one from each, (or two from the mathematical library, provided they are by the same author, and the subject be not contained in one, for each of which he shall be fined in the same manner as if he had borrowed one from each library,) but if not returned the first night of meeting following, he shall forfeit one penny to each library; the second night of meeting following, two-pence; the third night of meeting following, threepence; and so on, rising in arithmetical progression, whose common excess is one penny, to the end of eight weeks; but no fines shall be charged on the night the books or instruments are returned and if not returned within the time limited, or if damaged, the borrower shall make good the loss sustained thereby, or be excluded the society. And when any member returns a book or instrument, he shall not be permitted to take it out the same evening, if previously applied for by any other member.

"IX. For the more easy transacting the general business of the society, the first Saturday in January, April, July, and October, shall be quarterly nights, when every member shall clear the book of his quarterage and fines, or forfeit sixpence; and those who do not clear it, on or before the next monthly night, shall be excluded. Also, the first Saturday in every month shall be monthly night; on which every thing proposed, and ready to be ballotted for, shall be determined by a majority: and the business shall commence between the hours of nine and ten, and the meeting of the society be continued until the business be closed.

"X. Any member, if seconded by another, may propose, in writing, what he thinks may be for the benefit of the society; (the reservations in article thirty-six excepted). But if what is proposed shall have been agitated within twelve months, it must then be made with the consent of the majority of the society, who shall

« EelmineJätka »