Loan 96 RLF 3/3

Bound volume containing the reports for 1815-1820 inclusive. For 1814, only the Poems are included:

1814 (20 pp.): 'Poems for 1814' by William Thomas Fitzgerald, Samuel Birch and Allan Cunningham

The following reports contain an 'Account of the Institution of the Society for the Establishment of a Literary Fund', the 'Constitutions of the Society' and an article on the 'Transactions of the Society', by Charles Symmons, James Anderson and John Nichols, 15 Aug 1807. These materials are missing from the 1816 report. Each report also lists the Fund’s subscribers and officers (Patrons, President, Vice-Presidents, Council, Committee, Treasurers, Registrars and the Clerk), along with details of their financial contributions. Reports also contain accounts of contributions to the permanent fund, details of stock purchases, an abstract of the Fund’s cash account and a list of 'Subscriptions to the House Fund.'

Additional content, mainly poetry, and changes to the above contents are described below:

1815 (67pp.+ 8 pp.): 'An Address for the Anniversary of the Literary Fund, 1815', by William Thomas Fitzgerald (additional 8 pp.)

1816 (48 pp.): 'An Address for the Anniversary of the Literary Fund, 1816', by William Thomas Fitzgerald, with additional glee (additional 8 pp.)

1817 (76 pp. + 7 pp.): 'An Address for the Anniversary of the Literary Fund, 1816', by William Thomas Fitzgerald, with additional glee (in main report) and 'An Address for the Anniversary of the Literary Fund, at Freemason's Hall, 1 May 1817' by William Thomas Fitzgerald (additional 7 pp.)

In 1818 the Fund was awarded a Royal Charter. This was celebrated in the report for that year. Subsequently, the 'Constitutions of the Society' was replaced by the text of the charter and a series of bye-laws and the article on transactions was retitled 'Of the Utility and Operations of the Society' and amended to include additional text dated 14 Apr 1819. The list of officers also includes Auditors from 1818 onwards.

1818 (84 pp.): 'An Address for the Anniversary of the Literary Fund, at Freemason's Hall, 7 May 1818', by William Thomas Fitzgerald

1819 (71 pp. + 12 pp.): 'Poems for 1819' by William Thomas Fitzgerald and Henry Neele (additional 12 pp.)

1820 (71 pp. + 8 pp.): 'An Address for the Anniversary of the Literary Fund, at Freemason's Hall, 4 May 1820' and a song by William Thomas Fitzgerald (additional 8 pp.)