world, no one is more highly or more deservedly respected than the British merchant, who by spirit and enterprise gains and brings home the wealth of distant lands, with which to enrich this favoured Isle, and promote the happiness of his countrymen. On the present occasion I beg leave to propose the health of a Sheffield merchant, who is always ready with his person and purse to promote the interests of this his native town; who, in his own conduct and that of his family, shews that a reasonable enjoyment of the amusements of life is not incompatible with moral rectitude; and who has done us the honour to act as Chairman of the present MeetingMr. Peter Brownell. SONG-Mr. De Camp-" The Debating Society." The health of the Vice Presidents was proposed by Mr. Rimington. Mr. Sayle, in return, spoke as follows:-" Mr. President and Gentlemen-on behalf of my brother Vice President and myself, I beg to return you our best thanks for the honour you have done us in drinking our healths. If we have in any way contributed to the pleasure of this day, we feel highly gratified; but we feel a further gratification if we have at all assisted in defending the talent, the genius, and the ashes of Shakespeare from the attacks which have recently been made upon them. Upon this subject we allow every man to entertain his own opinion, and we wish not to impugn the motive from which that opinion is made public; but we claim the same privilege for ourselves; and if any man tell us that because we go to the theatre we cannot discharge our duty to God or our neighbour, we claim the right of telling that man that we think he is mistaken, and illiberal and uncharitable, in the conclusion which he draws upon this point. Questions will arise in the minds of men, upon which we think every man should exercise his own judgment, and determine for himself; and we think the question of how far occasionally going to a theatre be offensive to God, or injurious to our neighbour, is one of those which ought only to be determined in that court of conscience, which every man can and ought to hold within his own breast; at least to that court we mean to appeal for judgment, and we will not allow the Best man on earth to determine the point for us. With a decision of the court I have mentioned in our favour, let us, as members of a Club bearing the name of Shakespeare, continue to shew to the world that we are admirers of the Drama-that we are frequenters of the theatre-and that we do not think on that account we are less likely humbly to do our duty to God, or justly to discharge it to our neighbour." SONG-Mr. Pearman-"Love's young dream." The Duke of Wellington, and the heroes of Waterloo. SONG-Mr. Pearman-" The Shamrock, the Rose, and the Thistle, my Boys." The President for the ensuing year. Mr. Sayle again rose, and spoke as follows: "Mr. President and Gentlemen, I have again to thank you for the compliment you have paid me in drinking my health, as the next President of this Club. I shall certainly have pleasure in meeting the present good company upon this occasion next year; and if I shall then succeed in discharging the duties of that Chair, in the able and gentleman-like way in which they have been done this day, I shall feel extremely happy; but if, on the other hand, I fail in the attempt, I hope that failure will be attributed to my want of ability, and not to any want of zeal in the cause." SONG---Mr. De Camp---An excellent Medley. The memory of Dr. Browne. The promoter of the Club-Mr. Favell. SONG---Mr. Pearman---"May we ne'er want a Friend, nor a Bottle to give him." The Stewards. SONG---Mr. Wilkinson. The memory of the Rev. James Wilkinson, who, for a long period, so well discharged the duties of an active Magistrate, a pious Clergyman, and a polite Gentleman. Mr. Wake proposed the health of-- Mr. Kemble, one of the best practical Commentators on the Text of Shakespeare. Dr. Younge, the President of this Club last year. The Treasurer-Mr. Pearson. The Secretary-Mr. J. S. Bramhall. Mr. Bramhall, in return, observed that he was proud of being of any service to a Society, whose object was to render due homage to the great name of Shakespeare; a name he considered as the brightest gem in the literary diadem of his country. He trusted they would never permit the vapours of fanaticism to obscure the brilliancy of its lustre. Mr. Rimington, the first President of this Club. Mr. Pearman. SONG-- --Mr. Pearman, from Moore's Melodies-"Wreath the bowl with flowers of soul." Mr. Butler. The Rev. Charles Hope, Vicar of Derby, one of the distinguished admirers of the illustrious Shakespeare. The following gentlemen were, in the course of the evening, nominated to form the Committee for 1822 :Benjamin Sayle, Esq. President. Mr. Thomas Pearson, Treasurer. Brammall, Ellison, William Fisher, Favell, George Hounsfield, Thomas Howard, Jackson, surgeon, Pearson, Rimington, Sykes, James Sorby, William Smith, attorney, B. J. Wake, Dr. Younge. The Play bespoken on this occasion was, "As You Like It." one of the most pleasing Dramas of our immortal bard. There is a wildness and picturesque romance about this charming comedy, that never fail to delight and interest the spectator. The fine imagination of the writer has every where adorned it with the sweet play of his fancy, and enriched it with the choicest poetic gems. His Jaques moralizes like a philosopher, and his ethics are replete with deep reflection, and strongly impressed with moral feeling. Orlando is a spirited and F romantic youth, and his attachment to the aged follower of his fortunes "who after him had many a weary step limp'd in pure love," marks the kindness and benevolence of his nature. Rosalind is a delightful and animated portrait of a very playful fascinating woman; Touchstone is a shrewd observer of the ways of men, and a sportive and pointed satyrist. Taken as a whole, this is one of Shakespeare's most beautiful dramas; the characters that it presents are forcibly marked, and they speak the language of poetic inspiration. Shakespeare has the art beyond any other man, of throwing his whole soul into the character he pourtrays; he always feels himself the being that he represents, and he enters into every movement and variation of passion by which they are agitated. Like the magicians of romance, every thing moves obedient to his will, and with his mighty wand he excites laughter, melts the soul to pity, and draws tears, as his story may require. It has been objected to him, that his scenes are sometimes blurred with allusions offensive to the ear of modesty; we wish we could successfully defend him from so gross a charge. We wish, too, that his pages were as pure, and the matter they contain, as unquestionable as his talents. We must, however, take him as he is, "for all in all;" and it is highly probable that we "shall never look upon his like again." We may blame him---justly blame him, we confess---but we "should not examine too curiously;" nor should we condemn the whole because some passages are offensive. In contemplating the faults of Shakespeare, let us not forget the many heart-ennobling sentiments, the sublime morality, and the eloquent reflections with which his pages are embued.. We could point out innumerable passages, the perusal of which can hardly |