The members of the Manchester Athenseum held their third annual
&Arlie, in the Free Trade Hall, on Thursday. It was a brilliant evening, though there were some serious disappointments. Mr. Charles Dickens was detained at home by the delicate state of Mrs. Dickens's health. [The Punning Mr. Lover said that he was nearly kept away by a similar circum- stance, as he was detained at a place called " Babbicombe.1 M. Eugene Sue was kept away by his own indisposition. But there was an enormous
attendance: the place, which will hold 3,000 persons, was crammed; and there were plenty of notables. Sergeant Talfourd presided; and speeche* were delivered by him, by Mr. Mark Philips, Mr. Frank Stone, the artist, Mr. John Bright, Mr. Douglas Jerrold, Mr. Milner Gibson, Mr. Lover, Mr. Cobden, Mr. Heywood, and Mr. E. Watkins. They were worthy of the occasion; but we can only find room for one matter-of-fact statement by the Chairman: the prophecy of Mr. Dickens in 1843, the exhortations of Mr. Disraeli in 1844, have been fulfilled, and the affairs of the society are now flourishing: it has 138 life-members, 2,500 paying members, an annual income of 4,0001., and a debt almost expunged.
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