The Express.
London, England, 1853-02-09 00:00:00

THE LONDON ORPHAN ASYLUM, CLAYTON- I
The annual festival of the subscribers was held
last night at the London Tavern, Bishopsgate-street, the
Earl of HAIIROWIIT in the chair—his lordship being sup-
ported by Alderman Thompson, M P. ; Alderman Salo-
! mons. Mr. Sheriff Carter, Mr. Henry Nun'll, the Rev.
C. Mackenzie, the Rev. Dr. Beattie, the Rev. Thomas
Jackson, Mr. T. Heakey, die., de.
The report for the present year stated that since the
g 1 meeting of 1842, 71 children had completed their
term and left, 8 had died (1 boy while under the care of his
friends), and 67 had been admitted. At the present time,
therefore, with the 30 elected on the 24th ult., the entire
number under the protection of the institution was 408,
making the total number benefited by the charity 2,039.
The following legacies hal been left to the charity during
the past year, namely, Miss Sehbon. 1,0001. Consuls;
trustees of the late Mrs. Anna Maria Ogle 2001.; Mrs.
Harriet Dunlop, 2701. Consuls; Thomas Dickinson, Esq.,
1.0001. ; and executors of the late Earl of Oxford,
3331.65. 8.1.: total, 2,8031. 6e. Bd. It had been found ne-
emery to enlarge the asylum by additions to the chapel,
the boys' school room, dining room, and dormitory, as well
ise by the erection of a new infirmary, more commodious
and in a better position than the old one—an improvement
which recent occurrences had abundantly justified. These
buildiugs will be completed in the course of the present
year.
The noble CHAIRMAN (having given the usual loyal
toasts), proposed " The Army and the Navy." Really
they must be very old fashioned people to have such a
toast as that upon their list. (" Hear, hear," and laughter.)
When the Manchester men should have diabandtel their
City police, and should be contest to sleep with their doors
unlocked and their windows unbarred, then they might,
with some show of grace, come forward and propose the
abolition of our national defences. (Loud cheers.) Of all
the impostures that had ever been attempted to be prac-
tised upon men of common sense, this last of the Peace
Society was the grossest ; for, to suppose that any man of
bit Mess would grudge a little expense for the insurance of
his property, was the greatest fallacy that could be con-
ceived. (lit ar, hear.) But they would find that they had
made a great mistake ; for be was cunviuced that at every
social meeting the toast of " the Army and Navy" would
be given and drunk with greater enthusiasm than ever.
(Loud cheers.)
The children were then introduced into the room for the
inspection of the company ; and they elicited great admi-
ration by their healthy sad intaigent looks.
The 3101)14. CHAIRMAN then begged to propose, " Prospe-
rity to the London Orphan Asylum."
The health, of the noble ettErtuan, the presidents and
vice presidents, the visitors, the honorary secretaries, the
medical officers, the ladies aubscritting, the board of ma-
nagers, aud the stewards, were also drunk; and subscrip-
tions
amounting to nearly 1,2501., including a donation of
100 guineas from the Goldsmiths' Company, 1001. from the
Grocers' Company, 301. from the present Duke of Welling-
ton, and 20 guineas from the Clothmakers Company, were
announced. The stockbrokers' list amounted to 3611. 45.,
and the sum contributed by former pupils of the institution
was 100 guineas.
The " lion " of the evening was a beautiful marble statue
called " Spring," by Mr. Miller, a former pupil of the
Asylum. It is a semi-nude female figure with her arm
raised, and supporting two doves. The composition is ex-
ceedingly graceful, and the arrangement of the drapery
displays much skill and originality. The general execution
deserves the highest praise.
Mr. Miller was the artist of the clever group, " The
Orphans," shown in the Great Exhibition; and the council
of the Institution having commissioned him to execute it
in marble fur their board-room, have recently presented the
model to the Institution at Wanstead.