The Express.
London, England, 1862-03-18 00:00:00

BENZVOLENT SOCIETY OF ST. PATRICK.

Yesterday being St. Patrick's-day, the 79th &n-
-aive:sou of this society was celebrated by a banquet at
the Freemasons' Tavern, Great Queen-street,
Litiaoln's inn-
fields, under the presidency of the Duke of Cambridge, who
was supported by the Earl of Courtoun, the Furl of Lan-
ford, the Bishop of Kilmore, the Attorney-General for Ire-
land, Sir Bernard Burke (Ulster King-at-Arms), Sir Ralph
Howard, Bart., General Pennefatber, Major-General Wet.
kins, Lord Arthur Hill, Major Snell, Colonel Dunne, M.P.,
Mr. Herbert, jun., of Muckross, Colonel Latouchs,
Samuel Jones, Mr. Morgan John O'Connell, D. O'Connor,
D. Mtwara, &a.
Thebesefits arisiegfrom this institution will be best appro.
dated by reference to the statistics of the society, which
show that it was founded in the year 1764, and had for ite
object the improvement of the condition of the children of
poor but deserving Irish parent", resident in London. Five
hundred such children of both sexes are now in the schools
of the society, where, In addition to • plain but sound and
useful education, they have the advantage of good clothing,
and a substantial daily meal during the winter months.
The society's care of these young people does not, cease with
their departure from the schools but after being fitted for
respectable service during several subselitYears they are
watched over sad manually commended and rewarded
should their employers report favourably of their conduct.
Many of the boys are apprenticed to useful trades, and to
them the same system of supervision and reward is ex-
tended. In numerous instances former pule have attained
to positions of trod and respectability. So far as its means
permit, the Benevolent Society of St. Patrick extends its
benefits to all children of necessitous Irish parents resident
in London, irrespective of creed, and no interference what-
ever is attempted with their religious belief ; but the
children in the schools are enjoined regularly to attend the
teaching of the ministers of the religion in which their
parents may wish them to be brought up.
The usual loyal and patriotic toasts having been disposed
of, that of her Majesty being given, at the request of the
noble chairman, in silence,
The children who are receiving the benefit' of the insti-
tution were then introduced into the room, sod after they
had made their obeisance to the illustrious chairman, his
Royal Highness gave the toast of the evening, "Prosperity
to the Benevolent Society of St. Planck," observing that
the children who had just been seen were only a smell
portion of those educated by this charity. This was owing
to the unfavourable weather, which had prevented the
promoters of the society from producing all the children
under their care. The objects ef the institution were cer-
tainly of • most laudable chereeter, mod its benefit" had been
greatly attended. There were now MO girls and 300 boys
receiving the benefits of the amity, mid assuredly their ap-
pearance was calculated to show that • greet amount of
good had been conferred by the society in dothin them
decently and enabling them to make a respectable figue in
the world. One great point to be observed was that they
were not overeducated, but'were brought up in a 'Maple and
unostentatious manner. In his opinion it was a most foolish
thing to over educate children in their position. There
should be • "happy medium" preserved, and education
should not be pushed beyond that point which the circum-
stances in life of the pupils required. They might depend
upon it that if they educated children above than station
they made them discontented ; and he was glad to God that
this society had adopted the wise and prudent come of
giving to those under their care • sound and useful educa-
tion, the result of which had been that a great num-
ber of good members of society had peeped through this
school, and had shown such merit as enabled them to con-
duct themselves satisfactorily. After they had been edu-
cated they were not sent forth into the world without
further assistance, but they were provided with the means
of starting in life ; and he had reason to believe that the
mode in which they had uniformly conducted themselves
bad been most praiseworthy. The institution was one of
old standing, having been originated in the year 1784, and
afterwards amalgamated with the Dial' Charitable Society
in 1787 ; and be was happy to say that the two societies
combined were now in a flourishing condition. He could
not but regret that there were not more Irish present, as
they might assemble on an occasion such as this upon nen.
trel ground, end under circumstances which sanctioned re-
ligious toleration and the exclusion of all political feeling.
The toast was resireq.aid,e: to with the warmest enthusiasm,
and was followed "The Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland,"
and "The Bar of " he.
These touts were received with cordial acclamation, and
subscriptious were announced amounting in all to upwards
of
The business of the evening was enlivened by some excel-
lent singing, under the direction of Mr. Land, the principal
vocalist" being Miss les, Mies J. Wells, Mr. Baxter, Mr.
W. Cummings, and Mr. Lewis Thomas.

A return of 147 pages was issued this morning,
°omitting exclusively of "Copies of all memorials and
letters which have been addressed to the Lord President of
the 004111 Ca, or to the secretary of the Committee of Council
an Education, on the subject of the revised code, by the
anthoritiss of any educational society, board, or committee,
or of any training schooL"
To-morrow Mr. Wykeham Martin will move in
committee of the whole home for leave to bring in a bill to
amend the laws relating to the sale of spirit'.
The select committee appointed to try the Great
Grimaby election petition will be chosen by the Glom'
Committee of Elections as the let of April

Mr. Baxter on Friday will move that, " In the
opinion of this house, the multiplication of fortified places
in distant plane involves a useless expenditure ; and that
the cost of erecting and maintaining fortifications at plains
not being great naval stations, in self-governed colonies, is
not a proper charge on the Imperial tressury."
Mr. Lindsay intends to move on the Ist of next
month, "That, in the opinion of this house, it Is the duty
of her Majesty's government to adopt, at the earliest possi-
ble period, the neosseary measures to carry into effect the
recommendations of the commissioners ►ppointed in 1858 to
inquire into the formation of harbours of Mop on the
coasts of Great Britain and Ireland, and to carry out the
resolution of this house of the 19th of June, 1860."

Mr. Stansfeld will put a question to the Under
Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, on Friday, relative
to the armed interference of Austria in the Sutorina, which
took place in the beginning of December last.
On the 4th of April Admiral Walcott will draw
the attention of the Chief Commissioner of the Dowd of

Wads to the locamplete state in which the base of the
Nelsen 'Leawood is dill suffered to remain. '
Qunurrewrion nos Omen' BILL Lord'
Taunton has lined the monad reeding of this hill for the
25th last. (mot Tuesday), by which time, therefore, it will
be necessary that any pinnies in in favour iniald in pre.
seated.

1115/MIDAT.

x. arttahi.--4.-LWr io N.W.
bosh to dross o/m7.
Intisat—(l.ll. to N.W., mo-
derato to fro* 'shay.
Oentral.-B.W. to N.N.W.,
trash, some rain.
Z. Coast —B.W. to N., mode-
rato to fresh, showery.
Kagland.-8.8.W, to ti.W., W.S.W. to N.N.W., strong to
treats to strong, rainy. moderate.

W,S.W.toY,;tiong to mo•

derate.
W. to. N. fresh to moderate,

W.& W. to N., moderate,
showery.
W. to N., trash.