The Press.
London, England, 1855-06-09 00:00:00

THE BALTIC FLEET.

A telegraphic despach from Dantsic states that
her Majesty's ship Bulldog had arrived with mails
from the fleet.

The British and French fleets were on the 4th
instant close to Cronstadt. The Russian ships were
nearly all dismantled in harbour ; only three steameis
were serviceable. Admiral Saunders Dunda.s has
been in the Merlin to get a nearer view of the forti-
fications and to satisfy himself as to the propnety cf
an attack; it is said that he thinks it impracticable.
New works have been added since last year.
Sixteen Russian merchantmen, most of them
loaded with timber, have been captured and de-
stroyed near Cronstadt, and others run ashore and
burned.

The French reserve camp of Maslak consists of
45,000 men.

Prince Gortschakoff has reported from Sebastopol
that up to the 3rd nothing important had taken place
there, or generally in the Crimea.

Letters from Constantinople by the last mail
speak of the Sultan having it in contemplation to
visit France about the middle of August.

FROM THE LONDON GAZETTE.
Tuesday„func 5.
BANKRUPTCY ANN t.—Enasmus Bonn, Whartroad,
City-road, and Augel•terrace, Islington, soda•water manufac-
turer.

BANKRUPTS.—Wat. FAXON, High-street, Hampstead. sue-
timer—l.:min:in BUTLER, York-street, Middlesex Hospital, and
Gipsy-hill, Norwood. baker—Wm. BOUGH. Queen-street, Pimlico,
licensed victualler--Bmxiamth Bocci, William's-terrace, Kentish-
town, licensed victualler—FilANcis PARRY UCDASTIIY, Beech-
street, Barbican, metnl dealer—HENßY LAITNANN, F Wham,
lodginghouse-keeper—livolANAm Pinners'-ball-court.
Broad-street, underwriter-DAVID DOLLASON and IkksJsmiN
Bott.xsow, Bilsum, Staffordshire, tronniasters--FuEnciticx
DAWSON H ionise, Coventry, Warwickshire, ironmonger —Gito Box
brtimros, Birmingham, retail brewer—Wm. HaNcocx,
Hill, Staffordshire. builder—ABRAHAM DSS RY JAMES, Newport,
Monmouthshire, stonemason—Wm. WILLIAMS, Liverpool, Sailor.

Friday, June H.
BANKRUPTCY ANNULLKU.—Jons Ktircntmo, Clayton
Bradford. grocer. •
BANgIi.UPTI.R.—JAMES DARWIN Old Shot Tower Whart,
Commercial-road, Lambeth, potter and brickwaker—DAVlD
LEoetn.r LEWIS, Salter's Hell court, Cannon-street, City,
merchant—SAMUEL DuLLEy, Tipton, Staffordshire, tailor--
GEORGE FREDERICK JOHNSTONE, otherwise George Johnstone,
St. Ives, draper—llENßY ANDREWS SIMON, Albion road, Wands-
worth-road, boardinghouse•keeper—WlLmor JAMES NOSES,
Spitaltields, potato saIesman—CHRISTOPHER Rowt.ES BELL,
otherwise Christopher Roles Bell, Hounslow, Middlesex, coal
merchant—CllAßLES BLANKS, Hanningtield, Essex, black•
snlitll—RlcitAßD Ni ciroLeort, Liverpool, stonemason—WlLLl Am
Naar, Newtown, tailor and draper—M ILES ROBINSON, NOrWood,
farmer—Truism DAVIES, Cardigan, ship-builtier—lnomAs Poo-.
Wakefield, grocer—WILLIAM BEARDSALL, Manchester, plutubei „
—"UWE OLnIIXI. an 4 B4OBERT OLDFIELD, Manchester,
willow merchants—WlLLlAM MELLOR and DAVID Nonsusa.
Chorley and Algerly, Chester, cattle denlers--JAmEs FIAT
Bury, Lancashire. cotton manufacturer.
SCOTCH SEQU EST RATIONS.—JAMES Sc RIMGEOrn,
near, Cattle deiller— ALENANDEU MONROE, Glasgow, architect
and builder—WlLLlAM CAMERON. Dundee, merchant—YULE andWILE,WIE, Glasgow, engineers—Jomm Blustm, West Cralge, near
4dlablugh4deiler In grain. Inver

JUNE 9, 1855.

BRITISH BENEFICENT INSTITUTION.
THE anniversary• festival of this most useful and
benevolent institution was held on the 30th ult. at
the London Tavern, Bishopsgate-street, his Royal
Highness the Duke of Cambridge, the president of
the society, in the chair. Amongst the guests, num-
bering more than a hundred, we observed the
Marquis of Clanricarde, General Sir James Macdonell,
Sir F. Agar, Sir Richard Paul Joddrell, Mr. Leopold
Redpath, and many other influential supporters of
the society.
The health of her Majesty having been drunk,
The CHAIRMAN said he had now to propose the
health of " H.R.H. Prince Albert, Albert Prince of
Wales, and the other members of the Royal Family."
He was gratified to find that a member of his family,
H.R.H. the Duchess of Gloucester, had lately shown
her appreciation of the value of the society by
becoming its patroness, and he would, therefore, with
their permission, also couple her name with the
toast. (Cheers.)
The toast having been duly honoured,
His ROYAL HIGHNESS rose and said :

Gentlemen,—At a moment like the present little or no
preface is necessary in introducing to you the next toast—
" The Army and Navy." (Loud cheering.) We are now
involved in a great and most important war, and the eyes
of the whole country and of Europe are directed towards
the proceedings of our gallant army and navy; and
although I am myself a member of one of those pro-
fessions—(loud and repeated cheers)—l think I may be
allowed to say that neither the army nor navy has lost any
in reputation during the last twelve months—
(cheers)—and I trust that we may confidently look for-
ward to renewed triumphs and victories. (Cheers.) lam
fully persuaded that both the army and navy are ready,
and anxious, and willing to perform their duty, and I am
further persuaded that they have the ability and energy to
perform that duty satisfactorily towards the country.
(Cheers.) But, gentlemen, in speaking of the army and
navy of the present day, it would ill become U 3 to forget
the deeds of that army and that navy in former and equally
important wars. We have the honour, and I have the
satisfaction, of seeing at the table one of the most distin-
guished officers of the army, who is now enjoying in repose
and comfort the laurels which he has won in the service of
his country. lam certain there is no man in the army
who stands higher in his profession than Sir James
Macdonell. (Loud and repeated cheers.) Passing over
a great number of actions in which he has been engaged, I
think it right to Ming to your recollection the fact that he
is the officer whose name became famous m history from
his defence of Hougemont. (Loud cheers.) He has
come here on the present occasion to support me in the
chair, and to show the interest which he feels in this
charity, and he has done this at considerable inconvenience
to himself. (Cheers.) 1 have great pleasure in pro-
posing " The Army and Navy," coupling therewith the
name of Sir James Macdonell. (Loud and enthusiastic
cheering.)
General Sir JAMES MACOONELL, who, on rising, was
received with great cheering, said :
Gentleman,—His Royal Highness having done me the
honour to associate my name with this toast, I have great
pleasure in responding to it, and I will avail myself of the
opportunity of expressing my sense of the benefits which
the widows and daughters of many officers have derived
from the munificence of this institution. (Cheers.)
Although it is my duty to return thanks for the army
generally, I hope I shall not be considered presumptuous
if I say a few words respecting that part of the service
which has for some time been employed in the Crimea.
(Cheers.) They have already performed many great and
valuable services to the country, and have added fresh
laurels to our former fame. (Cheers.) It is impossible
to touch upon this subject without adverting to the great
national solemnity which lately took place on the parade
at the Horse Guards, when her Majesty, with her usual
consideration, determined to distribute, with her own
hands, those medals which were appropriated 'o the heroes
of Alma, Inkermann, and Balaidava—(cheers)—and I
leave you to judge what her Majesty's feelings must have
been when the first soldier who presented himself to re-
ceive that well-earned honour was her near and dear rela-
tive. his Royal Highness, who now occupies the chair.
(Loud and continued cheering,) I wish to be allowed to
state one or two incidents which took place on that most
interesting occasion. When that gallant officer, Sir
Thomas Troubridge, was wheeled to the dais on which
her Majesty stood, her Majesty, in presenting him with
the medal which he had so dearly won, declared to him
that from that instant for the rest of his life he was her
aide•de•camp. (Loud and rapturous cheering.) In
making that declaration, her Majesty, while leaning over
and expressing to him her deep commiseration for his
misfortunes, dropped a tear upon his coat—that coat
ought to be encased in glass, and placed in our United
Service Museum. (Immense cheering.) I may be per-
mitted to mention anther incident. When one of our
gallant and glorious British tars approached to receive his
reward, the medal by some accident dropped to the ground.
It was picked up and presented to him by the Minister-
at-War, on which the gallant tar said he would much
sooner have received it from the hands of his Queen.
(Loud cheers.) Her Majesty immediately desired it to be
replaced, and then took it up and presented it to the
gall mt fellow, whose feelings may be better imagined than
des ribed at this mark of her Majesty's favour. (Great
cheering.) Gentlemen, I feel particularly proud that his
Royal Highness has intrusted to me the duty of returning
thanks for the army, and also for the sister branch of the
service, and I can assure you I do so with the most sincere
and heartfelt satisfaction, (Loud cheers.)

THE PRESS.

The Marquis of CLANRICARDE, after adverting in
complimentary terms to the services of his Royal
Highness in the Crimea, proposed the health of the
" Royal President of the Institution," which was drunk
with all the honours.

His Row. HIGHNESS, in acknowledging the com-
pliment, said:—

Gentlemen,-4 can assure you that the handsome way
in which my name has been received on the present occa-
sion, and on all other public occasions, is most flattering
to me, a most ample and satisfactory reward for any ser-
vices which it has been in my power to render to the
country. I can only say, with respect to this institution
that l cordially enter into its objects and intentions, and,
,
if it is in my power in any way to further the object of
such institutions, my services are very much at their dis-
posal- (Cheers.) Ido not wish it to be understood that
I would, without consideration, support any institution,
but I am most anxious to support such institutions as are
likely to be productive of public benefit, and I have not the
slightest hesitation in saying that I consider it my duty to
come forward and give my cordial and hearty support to
this institution. ( Loud cheering.)
His ROYAL HIGHNESS, after a short pause, again
rose and said :

Gentlemen,—lt now becomes my duty, as far as lies in
my power, to plead the cause of this institution, in honour
of which we are assembled this evening, and I must say
as far as my humble judgment goes, that I have under.'
taken no very difficult task, for I conceive that the institu-
tion presents itself to the public in the most favorable
light. (Cheers.) The object of this institution is to
afford relief and assistance to a most deserving class of
persons whose pecuniary resources have been diminished
by the loss of their relatives and friends. The patties to
be benefited by this institution are the widows, or sisters,
or daughters of persons in a higher sphere of life—military,
naval, and professional, and the relatives of gentlemen of
broken-down fortunes. It is for these that I now plead
and I am sure every one at this table will agree that the'
position of these unfortunate persons is peculiarly difficult
and distressing. Many of them are in such a pontion tha.
they cannot probably do much for themselves. Having'
been accustomed to comfort and ease, which, when they
become old and decrepit they can no longer enjoy, they
frequently find themselves under the necessity of either
going to the workhouse or asking charitable relief,
and this is peculiarly distressing to persons of their
condition. If the position of such unfortunate ladies
can be mitigated by such a society as this, every
exertion ought to be made to increase its funds and extend
its benefits. (Cheers.) I said that I had no difficultyand
no doubt in attending this meeting, and I will tell you
why. In addition to the circumstance that this is a charity
which, under any circumstances, well merits general
support, I think that at this peculiar season it is particu-
larly entitled to the aid of persons like myself who are
connected with the military profession. (Loud cheers.) I
sin convinced that during the present year, and for some
years to come, the wives sad families of many of the
gallent men who have perished during the war will have
to apply to this charitable institution for assistance, and I
am confident they will receive its liberal support so far as
its funds extend. (Renewed cheering.) But, in order to
enable the institution to become more useful, it ought to
be more generally supported by the public in this great
metropolis. I therefore consider it peculiarly my province
to appeal to your feelings, and to request your support to
this institution. (Cheers.) lam happy to find that the
institution at the present time affords relief to the extent
of 301. per annum to no fewer than thirty-four ladies.
(Cheers.) I believe that there are at present thirty-four
other candidates who are desirous of becoming annuitants,
and I believe, generally speaking, their claims are entitled
to the favorable consideration of the society. Unless,
however, the subscriptions' become more liberal, I very
much fear that few of those applicants will receive the aid
which the committee are desirous of affording them. I
again appeal to your sympathies, because I deem this in-
stitution well worthy your consideration and support.
(Hear, hear.) The manner in which the institution is
conducted is, as far as I am able to judge, perfectly satis-
factory. The most searching inquiry is made into all the
cases which are presented, and the council are particu-
larly careful in ascertaining the character of the applicants
for annuities—every care being taken to make the in
quiries in such manner as not to harass the feelings of
those unfortunate ladies, who would otherwise come for-
ward with much less satisfaction and with much greater
reluctacce than they do at present. (Cheers.) As a
further security for the proper application of the funds, I
believe in the case of every application four persons are
required to come forward as annual subscribers of one
guinea each. I think, therefore, the public may repo,*
every confidence in the management of the institution,
and I bring these points to your notice for the purpose of
showing that you are not blindly giving your money to an
institution without being convinced that its objects will be
legitimately carried out. (Cheers.) The society have,
with a most laudable forethought, not expended all their
receipts in the shape of annuities, but they have retained
and funded a certain amount so that they may be able to
meet any liabilities which may come upon them. (Hear.)
Of course, the larger the amount of subscriptions, the
greater will be the number of annuities granted by the society.
No person is eligible under the age of fifty-five, unless
under very peculiar circumstances—such as blindness, for
instance—and I think you will admit that the age fixed
upon is one at which relief of this kind may fairly and
properly be given. (Cheers.) I may add that I believe
the institution is under great obligations to the members
of the Stock Exchange for their very liberal pecuniary as-
sistance, and I think it is our duty to think them for their
kind and generous support. (Loud cheers.) I will not
detain you longer, bat will aim propose the toast of the

547

evening—" Prosperity to the British Beneficent Institu-
tion." (Loud and repeated cheers.)
A long list of subscriptions and donations,
amounting to upwards of 8001., was then read out ;
amongst which were his Royal Highness the
Duke of Cambridge, 20 guineas ; the Marquis of
Clanricarde, 10 guineas ; Mr. Leopold Redpath, 20
guineas ; Major General Sir William Robert Clayton,
Bart., 10 guineas ; and a " Citizen," to commemorate
his Royal Highness taking the chair, 50 guineas.
(Loud cheers.)
His ROYAL HIGHNESS said he had heard the list
of subscriptions with great satisfaction, and was
particularly flattered to think that his presence had
been the means of inducing a citizen to contribute
so handsome a sum as that which had just been
announced. (Loud cheers.) He now begged to
propose the " Vice-Presidents of the Institution,"
especially naming Sir Felix Agar, the President of
the Council, who had taken the greatest interest in
carrying out the objects of the institution. (Loud
cheers.)

Sir Fzux AGAR, in returning thanks on behalf of
the vice-presidents, laid stress upon the economy
observed in the management of the institution.
His ROYAL HIGHNESS then proposed " The Coun-
cil of the Institution," coupling therewith the name
of Profs:ssor Murphy, who acknowledged the com-
pliment, and hoped the assembly would remem-
ber, now that the 18th of June was close at hand,
that the widows and orphans of that army which
then distinguished itself equally as its successor has
lately done at Alma and Inkermann, still remained
amongst us ; some of whom, not unknown to the
distinguished general present, were candidates for
the society's annuity. (Hear, hear, hear.)
Mr. GEORGE WHIELDON, who up to the present
time subscribed annually five guineas, announced
his intention of doubling his subscription, and ex-
pressed a hope that other gentlemen would do the
same. (Loud cheers.)
His ROYAL HIGHNESS trusted that the spirited ex-
ample which had just been set would be extensively
followed. (Cheers.) He then proposed the last
toast of the evening—" The Stewards "—particularly
mentioning the name of the Rev. Charles Mackenzie,
who briefly returned thanks.
The musical arrangements were under the direc-
tion of Mr. Genge, by whom, and Miss Wells, Miss
J. Wells, and Mr. Farquharson, many excellent songs
and glees were given. Mr. Harker ably officiated as

Yv
The dinner was one of more than ordinary magnifi-
cence, in consequence of the liberality of Mr.
Leopald Redpath, who, from the earliest establish •
ment of the institution, has taken the greatest inte-
rest in its welfare—he and the whole of his family
being large subscribers to its funds.
The party did not separate until a late hour.

THE SEBASTOPOL COMMITTEE reassembled on
Wednesday "to consider resolutions." The public
were not admitted. All the members were present,
and the sitting lasted from twelve till past four
o'clock. It is stated that draught reports were sub-
mitted for consideration by Mr. Roebuck, Mr. Drum-
mond, Sir John Pakington, and Lord Seymour.
Upon discussion that presented by Lord Seymour
appeared most in harmony with the views of the
majority, and the others in consequence were laid
aside. The committee had not come to any final
decision when they adjourned, but it was expected
that Lord Seymour's report, after it had undergone
some further modifications, would be agreed to.
Ix seems tolerably certain that Rus"ia intended to
try her band at a diversion in India, bad we not
deranged her plans by the invasion of the Climes.
There is a Russian officer now at head-quarters who
belongs to a regiment that was actually told off for
a march to India last year. Several other regi-
ments were destined for the same expedition, but
they too found themselves encamped on the Alma
on the 19th of September, and on the road to
Baktchi-Serai the following evening. The officers
had been provided with books relating to India,
and had been studying " the manners and customs "
of the Hindoos and Mussulmans of the great pe-
ninsula.
THE CZAR has conferred the order of St. Anne,
with the insignia in diamonds, on Baron de Chazal,
aide-de-camp of the King of the Belgians.
THE DEATH OF THE BEY OF TUNIS is reported
by a telegraphic despatch from Cagliari. The event
occurred yesterday week, the Ist instant. His suc-
cessor and cousin, Sidi Mohammed Bey, has ascended
the throne without opposition. The late Bey, Ahmed,
was not more than fifty years of age. About two
years ago he had an attack of apoplexy, by which he
was in part paralysed, and it is probable that his
death has been the consequence of that attack. Mo-
hammed Bey, who has been long considered as the
legitimate heir of his cousin, and who is now on the
throne, is forty-four years of age, and is regarded
with great respect both by the native and European
populations.