The Press.
London, England, 1854-10-07 00:00:00

OCTOBER 7, 1854.

ciENTRAL ASSOCIATION
IN AID OF THE
WIVES AND FAMILIES, WIDOWS AND ORPHANS,
OF SOLDIERS ordered on Active Service.
Under the Joint Patronage of
HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN,
FIELD MARSHAL H.R.H. THE PRINCE ALBERT, K.G.,
And HER ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUCHESS OF KENT.
VICE-PATRONS.
His Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury.
Lieut-General his Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge, K.G.
CHAIRMAN OF GENERAL COMMITTEE.
General the Earl of Beauchamp.
VICE-CHAIRMEN.
Viscount Ingestre, Ist Life Guards.—Lord lAVont
TRUSTEES.
Sir John Kirkland, Lord Henry Cholmondeley, M.P., and
Major the Hon. H. L. Powys.
COMMITTEE.
The Lord Bishop of London John Lettsom Elliot, F,sq.
The Duke of Manchester Sir Robert Gerard, Bart.
The Marquis of Blandford, M.P. Hon. A. Kinnaird, M.P.
The Earl of Annesley, M.P. Lieut.-Colonel Browniow Knox,
The Earl of Cavan M.P.
The Earl of Kdingham Hon. Captain William Stuart
The Earl of Shaftesbury Knox, M.P.
Viscount Hill Captain Liam, M.P.
Viscount Mandeville, M.P. Li
eut. Lawrenson
Lord Sondes Li-Colonel Hun. J. Lind-
Lord Edward Howard, M.P. say, M.P.
LortiHenryCholmondeley, M.P. Rt. lion. Joseph Napier, M.P.
Lord Charles Clinton, M.P. Colonel Sidney North, M.P.
Lord Faversham Captain Henry Owen, R.E.
Captaiu Archdall, M.P. JohnWilsou Patten, Esq., M.P.
Colonel Baker Melville Portal, Esq., M.P.
Colonel Boldero, M.P. Major the lion H. L. Powys,
Lieut•Colunel Hunter Blair, 611th Royal Rifles
M.P. Andrew Spottiewoode, Esq.
Major Carton, Staff Officer of Augustus Stafford, Esq., M.P.
Pensioners Rev. F. J. Staiuforth
Lieut.:Colonel Caulfield, M.P. Lieut.-Colonel Taylor, M.P.
J. C. Colquhoun, Esq. Captain W. F. Vernon
Captain J. Douglas, 60th Royal Sir William Verner, M.P.
Rifles Shirley Woolmer, Esq.
Colonel Dunne, M.P. General Wyndham, M.P.
AUDITORS.
George William Bell, Esq., Law Fire Office.
B. L. Sowell, Esq., Bank of England.
TREASURER.
Sir John Kirkland, No. 80, Pall-mall.
HONORARY SECRETARY.
Major the Hon. Henry Littleton Powys, GOth Royal Rifles.
ASSISTANT SECRETARY.
Frederick Hayley Bell, Esq.
The following REPORT was unanimously passed ate General
Committee Meeting on the 3rd of October, 1854, the Right Hon.
the Earl of EFFINGHAM in the chair :
FIRST HALF-YEARLY REPORT OF THE CENTRAL
ASSOCIATION.
This Association originated at the National Club on the 94th
of February, 1844, and was joined on the 25th of February by a
Deputation from the Army and Navy Club.
It was formally instituted at a public meeting held in
Weeee on the 7th of March, 1854 (the late deeply-lamented
General Sir Peregrine Maitland, G.C.8., in the chair), and has
sow 000kileted the first half-year of Its operations.
lee vest amount of undeserved misery that this Association
has been the means of alleviating during the past six months
induces the Committee to make a half-yearly Report of their
proceedings; and this not only to show that the noble effort
made by the country on behalf of the silent sufferers has not
been a fruitless one, but also to direct public attention to the
urgent and absolute necessity fer the establishment of some per-
manent National Provision for the Wives and Families, Widows
and Orphans, of our soldiers.
Notwithstanding all that has been said and written on the
subject, the fact still remains in all its sadness, that for the wife
and family, widow and orphan, of our best-behaved soldiers, whe-
ther non-commissioned officer or private, no provision whatever
is made. Nothing but private charity keeps them from pauperism
when their husbands and fathers are taken away.
The marriage of these good men is fully permitted by military
authority ; it is even granted as a reward for good conduct; and
yet should they be ordered to the seat of war, ur die in the service
of their country, their families are cast aside iu utter destitution
and desolation.
To prove that this is no over-statement, the Committee have
selected a few cases out of hundreds, all of which are those of
wives of nomcommiasiuned officers and privates, who, having
been married with military sanction and approval, had been
placed on the strength of the regiment.
Case 490, Mrs. B.—Wife of a sergeant of the 35th. Married
with leave. Left destitute with six children, after she had spent
the small sum her husband left for her. Five of her children
provided for; the sixth being an infant, and the mother being
weakly, she received a weekly allowance of five shillings until
she obtained work as a washerwoman, for which the Association
furnished the means, and she now earns her own livelihood,
assisted by her two boys, aged 12 and 13, for whom situations as
pages have been found.
Mrs. E. F., Bth Hussars.—A most respectable person, married
HUB leave, in delicate health. Left destitute with six children.
Earns a little by washing, for which a donation of 21. was granted.
A weekly allowance of seven shillings.
Case 439, Mrs. W. H. IL—Wife of a private. 13th Light Dra-
goons. Married with leave; left destitute with four children. A
most respectable person. A situation as cook obtained for her,
and all her children provided for.
Case 73, Mrs. S. J. G.—Wife of a sergeant in the 21st Regt.
Married with leave. Left destitute with four children, and ex-
pecting her confinement. A weekly allowance of five shillings,
in Addition to the parish outdoor relief of three shillings a week
and four loaves.
Case 460, Mrs. W.—Wife of a lance-sergeant In the 6th
Dragoons. Married with leave. Left destitute with three chil-
dren, and expecting her confinement. A weekly allowance till
she became a widow, when she was granted $Ol., and one of her
three children provided for by the Birmingham Local Committee.
Case 193, Mrs. E. IL—Wife of a private in the 38th Regiment.
Monied with leave. Left destitute with four children. One
child provided for, and a weekly allowance of seven shillings.
Case 384, Mrs. A. F.—Wife of a private in the 77th Regiment.
Married with leave. Left destitute with live children. A weekly
allowance of ten shillings.
Case 433, 38th Regiment —Mrs. A., the wife of a sergeant.
Married with leave. Left destitute with four children. lies
been provided with a situation at 141. a year, and all her chil-
dren taken care of by the Association.
Mrs. E. F.,Bdril Regiment—Married with leave. Sixteen
years wife e private. Left destitute with five children. A
weekly allowance of seven shillings.
Mrs, E. T., 46th Regiment—Married with leave. Left desti-
tute with five children under ten years of age ; unable to leave
her infant. A weekly allowance of siren shillings.