The Express.
London, England, 1863-07-30 00:00:00

MERCHANT REAMER'S ORPHAN ASYLUM.

Though in a oountzy claiming to hold the first
Felten as a maritime power, no charitable institution can
have higher claims upon public support than one which
seeks te provide for the destitute orphan children of merchant
seamen, it is difficult eves with regard to such an object to
ottain for • elms charity that amount of general aid to
which its purpoes would seem to °otitis IL The Merchant
Seaman's Orphan Asylum was foevided in 1827, with the
design of rescuing from poverty and vice those children of
British seamen whom accident, diseamor shipwreck had de-
prived of their chief support, and it bas bees stabled it the
thirty-five years of its mates°, to provide a home for 680
children, and to Kiva them an education calculated to mete
them nsiful and respected members of society.
it is considered that duriog the last ten years about 33,000
British seamen have died whilst on active service, and that
about two-thirds of that number leave, ea it is computed,
widows with an sewage of three children each, it will be
sees how large a field there is left for the extension of the
operations of this institution. The premises which the
society lately occupied at Bow afforded accommodatioe
alter several eulargeineute, tor 12D isrphees only, but thi;
expiration of the lease having obliged the management to
provide another establishment, and the funds having con-
tinued steadily to morose., • large handsome building has
been erected at Searesbrook, capable of accommodating
250 children, and of being extended as increased contribu-
tion@ allow additions to be made to the number provided
for. At present there are only 120 orphans of both sexes
in the asylum, but the elections, which take place next
month, will increase the number to 132. The building
stands in upwards of seven acres of ground, and • chapel
for the use of the iumates--the gift of Lady Morrison—
edjoins it.
A fancy fair in celebration of the first anniversary of the
opening of the new asylum commenced yesterday, and will
be continued to-day sal to-morrow. It takes place under
the patronage of the Duchess of Northumberland, Lady
Duke, Lady Elizabeth Moore, and other distinguished
ladies, and the proceeds will go to meet the cost of the
building, upon which there is at premed • deficiency of
10,0001., including 6.0001. advanced from the general fund
of the institution. Amongst the attractions see stalls for
the sale of fancy goods, presided over by lady friends, •
museum containing a red gorilla ^to be seen for the low
chugs of 6d., machines for tasting human weight and
meesuremeut, "lucky bap" waylaying the visitor at every
turn, Aunt Sells and knock-em-downs, and a very credit-
able drum and fife band, composed of the boys of the
institution.

The suitors yesterday were aumerom, and judging from
the purcbasee effected at fancy fair prices, and the patronage
bestowed upon the varioea amusement', the malt of the
celebration promises to make no iumosiderable reduction in
the balance of the budding account, towards which motet.
butlers base already been made by lady Morrison and Mr.
Henry Green, the treasurer, to the amount of 500 i. each.