be　generals；　colonels；　commanding…officers；　subalterns。　　But　what　are　the　private　soldiers　to　do？　　Many　have　mistaken　their　own　talents；　and　have　been　driven　in　early　youth　to　try　the　stage；　to　which　they　are　not　competent。　　He　would　know　what　to　say　to　the　indifferent　poet　and　to　the　bad　artist。　　He　would　say　that　it　was　foolish；　and　he　would　recommend　to　the　poet　to　become　a　scribe；　and　the　artist　to　paint　sign…posts。　　（Loud　laughter。）　　But　you　could　not　send　the　player　adrift；　for　if　he　cannot　play　Hamlet；　he　must　play　Guildenstern。　　Where　there　are　many　labourers；　wages　must　be　low　and　no　man　in　such　a　situation　can　decently　support　a　wife　and　family；　and　save　something　off　his　income　for　old　age。　What　is　this　man　to　do　in　later　life？　　Are　you　to　cast　him　off　like　an　old　hinge；　or　a　piece　of　useless　machinery；　which　has　done　its　work？　　To　a　person　who　had　contributed　to　our　amusement；　this　would　be　unkind；　ungrateful；　and　unchristian。　　His　wants　are　not　of　his　own　making；　but　arise　from　the　natural　sources　of　sickness　and　old　age。　　It　cannot　be　denied　that　there　is　one　class　of　sufferers　to　whom　no　imprudence　can　be　ascribed；　except　on　first　entering　on　the　profession。　　After　putting　his　hand　to　the　dramatic　plough；　he　cannot　draw　back；　but　must　continue　at　it；　and　toil；　till　death　release　him　from　want；　or　charity；　by　its　milder　influence；　steps　in　to　render　that　want　more　tolerable。　　He　had　little　more　to　say；　except　that　he　sincerely　hoped　that　the　collection　to…day；　from　the　number　of　respectable　gentlemen　present；　would　meet　the　views　entertained　by　the　patrons。　　He　hoped　it　would　do　so。　　They　should　not　be　disheartened。　　Though　they　could　not　do　a　great　deal；　they　might　do　something。　　They　had　this　consolation；　that　everything　they　parted　with　from　their　superfluity　would　do　some　good。　　They　would　sleep　the　better　themselves　when　they　had　been　the　means　of　giving　sleep　to　others。　　It　was　ungrateful　and　unkind　that　those　who　had　sacrificed　their　youth　to　our　amusement　should　not　receive　the　reward　due　to　them；　but　should　be　reduced　to　hard　fare　in　their　old　age。　　We　cannot　think　of　poor　Falstaff　going　to　bed　without　his　cup　of　sack；　or　Macbeth　fed　on　bones　as　marrowless　as　those　of　Banquo。　　（Loud　cheers　and　laughter。）　As　he　believed　that　they　were　all　as　fond　of　the　dramatic　art　as　he　was　in　his　younger　days；　he　would　propose　that　they　should　drink　〃The　Theatrical　Fund；〃　with　three　times　three。
  Mr。　MACKAY　rose；　on　behalf　of　his　brethren；　to　return　their　thanks　for　the　toast　just　drunk。　　Many　of　the　gentlemen　present；　he　said；　were　perhaps　not　fully　acquainted　with　the　nature　and　intention　of　the　institution；　and　it　might　not　be　amiss　to　enter　into　some　explanation　on　the　subject。　　With　whomsoever　the　idea　of　a　Theatrical　Fund　might　have　originated　（and　it　had　been　disputed　by　the　surviving　relatives　of　two　or　three　individuals）；　certain　it　was　that　the　first　legally　constituted　Theatrical　Fund　owed　its　origin　to　one　of　the　brightest　ornaments　of　the　profession；　the　late　David　Garrick。　　That　eminent　actor　conceived　that；　by　a　weekly　subscription　in　the　theatre；　a　fund　might　be　raised　among　its　members；　from　which　a　portion　might　be　given　to　those　of　his　less　fortunate　brethren；　and　thus　an　opportunity　would　be　offered　for　prudence　to　provide　what　fortune　had　denied　a　comfortable　provision　for　the　winter　of　life。　　With　the　welfare　of　his　profession　constantly　at　heart；　the　zeal　with　which　he　laboured　to　uphold　its　respectability；　and　to　impress　upon　the　minds　or　his　brethren；　not　only　the　necessity；　but　the　blessing　of　independence；　the　Fund　became　his　peculiar　care。　　He　drew　up　a　form　of　laws　for　its　government；　procured　at　his　own　expense　the　passing　of　an　Act　of　Parliament　for　its　confirmation；　bequeathed　to　it　a　handsome　legacy；　and　thus　became　the　father　of　the　Drury　Lane　Fund。　　So　constant　was　his　attachment　to　this　infant　establishment；　that　he　chose　to　grace　the　close　of　the　brightest　theatrical　life　on　record　by　the　last　display　of　his　transcendent　talent　on　the　occasion　of　a　benefit　for　this　child　of　his　adoption；　which　ever　since　has　gone　by　the　name　of　the　Garrick　Fund。　　In　imitation　of　his　noble　example；　funds　had　been　established　in　several　provincial　theatres　in　England；　but　it　remained　for　Mrs。　Henry　Siddons　and　Mr。　William　Murray　to　become　the　founders　of　the　first　Theatrical　Fund　in　Scotland。　　（Cheers。）　This　Fund　commenced　under　the　most　favourable　auspices。　　It　was　liberally　supported　by　the　management；　and　highly　patronized　by　the　public。　　Notwithstanding；　it　fell　short　in　the　accomplishment　of　its　intentions。　　What　those　intentions　were；　he　（Mr。　Mackay）　need　not　recapitulate；　but　they　failed；　and　he　did　not　hesitate　to　confess　that　a　want　of　energy　on　the　part　of　the　performers　was　the　probable　cause。　　A　new　set　of　Rules　and　Regulations　were　lately　drawn　up；　submitted　to　and　approved　of　at　a　general　meeting　of　the　members　of　the　Theatre；　and　accordingly　the　Fund　was　remodelled　on　the　1st　of　January　last。　　And　here　he　thought　he　did　but　echo　the　feelings　of　his　brethren；　by　publicly　acknowledging　the　obligations　they　were　under　to　the　management　for　the　aid　given　and　the　warm　interest　they　had　all　along　taken　in　the　welfare　of　the　Fund。　　（Cheers。）　　The　nature　and　object　of　the　profession　had　been　so　well　treated　of　by　the　President　that　he　would　say　nothing；　but　of　the　numerous　offspring　of　science　and　genius　that　court　precarious　fame；　the　actor　boasts　the　slenderest　claim　of　allthe　sport　of　fortune；　the　creatures　of　fashion；　and　the　victims　of　caprice；　they　are　seen；　heard；　and　admired；　but　to　be　forgot。　　They　leave　no　trace；　no　memorial　of　their　existencethey　〃come　like　shadows；　so　depart。〃　　（Cheers。）　Yet　humble　though　their　pretensions　be；　there　was　no　profession；　trade；　or　calling　where　such　a　combination　of　requisites；　mental　and　bodily；　were　indispensable。　　In　all　others　the　principal　may　practise　after　he　has　been　visited　by　the　afflicting　hand　of　Providencesome　by　the　loss　of　limb；　some　of　voice；　and　many；　when　the　faculty　of　the　mind　is　on　the　wane；　may　be　assisted　by　dutiful　children　or　devoted　servants。　　Not　so　the　actor；　He　must　retain　all　he　ever　did　possess；　or　sink　dejected　to　a　mournful　home。　　（Applause。）　　Yet　while　they　are　toiling　for　ephemeral　theatric　fame；　how　very　few　ever　possess　the　means　of　hoarding　in　their　youth　that　which　would　give　bread　in　old　age！　　But　now　a　brighter　prospect　dawned　upon　them；　and　to　the　success　of　this　their　infant　establishment　they　looked　with　hope；　as　to　a　comfortable　and　peaceful　home　in　their　declining　years。　　He　concluded　by　tendering　to　the　meeting；　in　the　name　of　his　brethren　and　sisters；　their　unfeigned　thanks　for　their　liberal　support；　and　begged　to　propose　〃The　Health　of　the　Patrons　of　the　Edinburgh　Theatrical　Fund。〃　　（Cheers。）
  Lord　MEADOWBANK　said　that；　by　desire　of　his　Hon。　Friend　in　the　chair；　and　of　his　Noble　Friend　at　his　right　hand；　he　begged　leave　to　return　thanks　for　the　honour　which　had　been　conferred　on　the　Patrons　of　this　excellent　institution。　　He　could　answer　for　himselfhe　could　answer　for　them　allthat　they　were　deeply　impressed　with　the　meritorious　objects　which　it　has　in　view；　and　of　their　anxious　wish　to　promote　its　interests。　　For　himself；　he　hoped　he　might　be　permitted　to　say　that　he　was　rather　surprised　at　finding　his　own　name　as　one　of　the　Patrons；　associated　with　so　many　individuals　of　high　rank　and　powerful　influence。　　But　it　was　an　excuse　for　those　who　had　placed　him　in　a　situation　so　honourable　and　so　distinguished；　that　when　this　charity　was　instituted　he　happened　to　hold　a　high　and　responsible　station　under　the　Crown；　when　he　might　have　been　of　use　in　assisting　and　promoting　its　objects。　　His　Lordship　much　feared　that　he　could　have　little　expectation；　situated　as　he　now　was；　of　doing　either；　but　he　could　confidently　assert　that　few　things　would　give　him　greater　gratification　than　being　able　to　contribute　to　its　prosperity　and　support。　　And　indeed；　when　one　recollects　the　pleasure　which　at　all　periods　of　life　he　has　received　from　the　exhibitions　of　the　stage；　and　the　exertions　of　the　meritorious　individuals　for　whose　aid　this　Fund　has　been　established；　he　must　be　divested　both　of　gratitude　and　feeling　who　would　not　give　his　best　endeavours　to　promote　its　welfare。　　And　now；　that　he　might　in　some　measure　repay　the　gratification　which　had　been　afforded　himself；　he　would　beg　leave　to　propose　a　toast；　the　health　of　one　of　the　Patrons；　a　great　and　distinguished　individual；　whose　name　must　always　stand　by　itself；　and　which；　in　an　assembly　such　as　this；　or　in　any　other　assembly　of　Scotsmen；　can　never　be　received；　not；　he　would　say；　with　ordinary　feelings　of　pleasure　or　of　delight；　but　with　those　of　rapture　and　enthusiasm。　　In　doing　so　he　felt　that　he　stood　in　a　somewhat　new　situation。　Whoever　had　been　called　upon　to　propose　the　health　of　his　Hon。　Friend　to　whom　he　alluded；　some　time　ago；　would　have　found　himself　enabled；　from　the　mystery　in　which　certain　matters　were　involved；　to　gratify　himself　and　his　auditors　by　allusions　which　found　a　responding　chord　in　their　own　feelings；　and　to　deal　in　the　language；　the　sincere　language；　of　panegyric；　without　intruding　on　the　modesty　of　the　great　individual　to　whom　he　referred。　　But　it　was