The Express.
London, England, 1862-02-15 00:00:00

LONDON ORPHAN ASYLUM.

The forty-ninth anniversary of this charity was
celebrated last evening by the usual festival at the Loudon
Tavern ; the LORD Maio* presided, and about 140 of the
subscribers to the institution and their friends sat down to
a banquet embracing all the resources of the great city
e,,iaine. Mr. Sheriff Twentyman, Alderman Phillips,
Messrs. Margeteon, it. Fowler, Lusk slate Sheriff), C. J.
Kinciaird, Lowry, Capel, Fowler, Gibbs, Creatorex, Her. C.
Yaclieerie, and several other heads of the chief mercantile',

establishment& of London, were amongst the guest.. The
usual loyal and constitutional toasts having been appro-
priately given and duly honoured, the orphan children w be are
now the recipients of thebounty of the institution were intro-
duced, and in their presence the Chairman proposed the toast
of the evening, "Prosperity to the Loudon Orphan Asy.
lum." He drew attention to the healthy, orderly, and
cleanly appearance of the children, and stated that the
instruction they received at the asylum, as ascertained by
himself during a visit paid to the schools at Claptoa that
morning, was quite opal to that afforded by many of the
endowed schools of Lngland. In fact, when he saw the
character of the education which these children received,
end tested it. efficiency by an examination, he felt that the
old foundation schools must mind what they were about or
the London Orphan Asylum would beat them. He rejoiced
to find that many of those who had received the benefits of
the charity, and who owed to it their introduction to life, were
amongst its mast zealous supporters, testifying thereby the
high rains they from personal experience set upon the be-
nefits the asylum was calculated to afford to children who
were deprived of the care of their natural protectors.
- -

It was stated in the course of the proceedings that there
were 431 orphan children in the asylum, of whom the
Leester number attended the celebration, and that the total
number received since its Ent establishment were 2,712.
The subscriptions announced during the evening amounted
to 1,7401., of which upwards ot 170/. came from young
men who had themselves been recipients of the charity.

THE SHOE•BLACK SOCIETIES' WINTER TREAT.

Last evening a large number of persons assembled
at the Hanover-square Rooms, to celebrate the annual
gathering of the various shoe-black societies, on the mai-
anon of the winter entertainment given to them midst the
auspices of their friends mid patrons, the Earl of Shaftes-
bury presiding. Upwards of 300 boys were present from
the schools called respectively—The Ragged School Shoe-
black Society, the East London, South Loncbm,
North-West London, West London, Islington and
North London, Notting Hill, and Union Jack
(Limehouse) Societies ; and it appeared that their
total earnings for the past year amounted to
4,6654 A most acceptable repast in the shape of " tea"
was provided for the youthful guests, who were attired in
the various uniforms belonging to their respective corps ;
and after they had refreshed themselves in a manner which
abundantly testified their appreciation of the good fare sup-
plied them, the Earl of Shaftesbury observed that before
he came to the meeting his excellent friend Mr. Ware, the
secretary, had told him that the absence of speeches would
materially contribute to the hilarity and comfort of the even-
iug. In this healtogether agreed with that gentleman, for
the history of the shoe-black brigades was well known to
everyone ; and it was mist gratifying to him to Bud that
there were now present upwards of 300 boys, who, had it
not been for the assistance which, under God's blessing,
thEighecereceived from these institutions, might. have been
a to their generation instead of an useful element
in society. This entertainment was called a " winter treat,"
and be was quite sure that the greatest treat he
could bestow upon the boys would be to sit down,
and leave them to the enjoyment of the performance they
were now anxiously anticipating. This performance con-
sisted of Mr. W. B. Miller's entertainment, called "A
Journey from the North Pole towards the Equator," a spe-
cies of panorama on a small scale, wherein the artist gave a
description of • series of adventures which were so inge-
niously rendered as to instruct whilst they amused the
hearers. At various intervals during this entertainment
the " matter" of the lecturer was illustrated by appropriate
song and chorus ; " Rule, Britannia " and " save the
Queen" being executed by professed singers, accompanied
by the boys themselves.
At the conclusion, Mr. PAWS (who has always identified
himself with the interests of these institutions) recited some
humorous verses apropos of the occasion, making especial
reference to the fact that this was Valentine's Day, and
stating that he wished all the boys many happy returns of
that agreeable anniversary.

the company were retiring the "hand" attached to
the brigades, and consisting exclusively of shoe blacks, per-
formed several popular airs in a manner which not only ex-
cited the surprise of all present, but really led to the con•
dunce that the patrons of these societies had given rise to
the display of mimics' talent, where the intention was
merely to increase the useful occupations of everyday life.

CROWN-OPTIC; Fla. 14.—Mseutaft RETURNED
TO SERVE IN 11l PREMED. PARLIAVENT.—John Brumley
Moore, of Aigbarth, near Liverpool, in the County of Lan-
caster, Esq., for the City of Lino3lll, in the mom of George
Fieschi Renege Esq., who hrgimped the office of
Steward of her Ma)edy's Chiltern Ilunadreds.--Gruette.
Diooree or Calmar. PRIMA:M=7'B. The
Rev. Sidney Henry Armitatead, RA., hiss been bombed by
the Lord Bishop of Chester to the pevetnal eumey of the
Di, rhumb of St. John the Evangelist, Sand-ltenth,
Cheshire, on the nomination of the Rev. John Armitstead,
M.A., patron. Tile Rev. Francis Sleek has been licensed
to the !stipendiary curacv of St. Catherine's Church. Twin.
men, Cheshire, on the nomination of the Rev. William
Elli 0; incumbent.