The Express.
London, England, 1863-07-11 00:00:00

LONDON ORPHAN ASYLIIJ4 CLAPPON.

A religious commemoration service and a fete,
embracing the presence of eubseribers, friends, and present
and former inmate' of the asylum, was held on Thursday in
celebration of the jubilee year of its establishment. The
London Orphan Asylum is one of the earliest of our metro-
politan charities for parentless and friendless children. Its
object is to afford maintenance, instruction, and clothing to
destitute orphans of both sexes, and to see them placed out
' in situations where they may have the prospect of an honest
livelihood. Children whose parents have been in respectable
circumstances, and children whose parents have lost their
lives in the army, navy, or marine, and manufacturing ser-
vices in general, are therefore esteemed the first claimants
on this charity. During the 50 years of its existence it has
always commanded the confidence and patronage of the
principal oommeacial firms of London. and its practical um-
(ulnae is demonstrated by the numerous recipients of
the charity who have achieved in later life high positions in
mercantile and other spheres. The first step in the present
jubilee celebration was the admission of 100 orphans. in-
creasing the number provided for in the asylum to about
430. Yesterday a sort of re-union was estabhabed, in which
the 430 orphans now in the asylum, with some 600 of those
who, a. orphan children, have at one time or soother during
the half.century just closed stood in the same position, met
together and exchanged greetings. The scene of the celebra-
tion was the grounds of the asylum, added to by the adja-
cent grounds of Claptoo-hell. which Dr. Oardeer, the pro-
prietor, liberally placed at the disposal of the managers.
The proceedings commenced with an examination of the
children and a distribution of prizes to the most successful
in the several branches of education. Afterwards the pre-
sent end past scholars, with the visitors and clergy.
proceeded m prooession to the neighbouring church of
St. James, Upper Clapton, where service was performed,
and an appropriate sermon from the text in Mark, "Suffer
little children to come unto me and forbid them not. for of
such is the kingdom of heaven," was reached by the
Bishop of London. After the company bad returned to the
grounds, a cold collation was served to the ex-scholars,
amongst whom were several evidently well-to-do middle-
aged ladies sod gentlemen. A vocal concert in the girls'
room followed, and cricket and other out-door games filled
up the time with those who preferred athletic sports to
music. The gentlemen comprising the "Pembroke-house
Band " enlivened the open-air proceedings by several
popular pieces during the afternoon, and the general scheme
being admirably conceived, and the minute details carefully
j filled in, thisjubilee commemoration was in all respects
successful and gratifying.

Fnuatr. STUDlerill or AZT.—Tho female students
of the various schools of art io London, oonsidering them•
selves aggrieved by the ~et determination of the Royal
Academy not to admit for the present, nor until a separate
school for the use of ladies can be erected, any additional
students of their sec, have prepared, sod are about to pre-
sent to the Howe of Oommoos, a petition inquiring whether
the Academy is justified in Tejo:tie( their application for
admission to the school' in Trafalgar-square ; also prayieg
' that an inquiry may be made inte the probability of the
early erection of such schools for their use. It =KM that,
no announcement of the resolatioa haring been made, many
aspirante are disappointed and iseoevenienced, litviog pre-
pared drawings which have not been examined.-41krunsm.