The Express.
London, England, 1867-12-02 00:00:00

THE SCOTTISH HOSPITAL.

On Saturday, being St. Andrew's-day, the 203rd
anniversary of the Scottish Hospital was celebrated at the
Freemasons' Tavern, under the presidency of the Duke of
Hoz or nous, K.T. The Scottish Hospital was incorporated
by royal charter in 1665, for the purpose of assisting the
infirm aged and poor natives of Scotland resident in Lon-
don, not in receipt of parochial relief. Under the admi-
nistration of the charity pensions varying from 61. to 251.
per annum are given to 185 individuals, and casual relief
is distributed to upwards of 200 applicants every month.
Among 385 pensioners and cannel applicants 17 are para.
lysed, 14 blind, 32 upwards of 80, and 129 upwards of 70
years of age. Many of them have occupied good, some of
them superior, social positions, and all of them have" seen
better days." The school fees, cost of books, /ea., of 140
poor children are paid annually from the school fund, and
pensions to the amount of nearly 2 000, are allotted from
the Kinloch bequest to about 406 disabled soldiers and
sailors.

The dinner on Saturday evening was attended by a large
number of the Scottish residents in London, ladies being
for the first time in the history of the anniversaries of
this charity allowed to sit at the tables, instead of being,
as is oowmonly the case, secluded in the gallery. Among
the principal supporters of the noble chairman were
Colonel Sykes, /LP., Mr. A. Kinnaird, M.P., Admiral
Milne, Sir James Anderson, Sir W. Ferguuon, Sir P. Col.
quhoun, Professor Black's, and Mr. J. J. Powell, Q.C.,
M.P. The usual loyal and patriotic toasts having beau
duly honoured,

THE HON. COLONEL C. H. LINDSAY. M.P.—lt
is gratifying to announce the steady progress of this
honourable M.P. towards recovery from his late serious
saddest. Repeated operations, however, have left him in
a state which renders rat and quiet absolutely necessary.
His appearance in the house for the present is, conse-
quently, impossible, and in order to remedy his absenee as
tar as may be, he has paired until such time as restored
health shall again enable him to take his seat.

SODDEN DEATH 07 THE MAYOR OP BATH.—A
melancholy occurrence took place at Bath on Friday night.
For some years past it has been usual during the winter to
have weekly penny readings there. On Friday evening
the newly-elected mayor, Mr. Francis Slack, took the chair
in the presence of a very large number of people assembled
in the Guildhall. His worship was observed to grow sud-
denly faint. Three medical men, who happened to be
present, immediately ran forward, but their naaistance was
unavailing. The mayor was dead. Mr. Slack was a soli-
citor in very large practice, and in that capacity he took a
very prominent part in the proceedings connected with the
Road murder, and instituted a special and extra-judicial
inquiry. As a politician be had taken an active part as a
moderate liberal. He was elected mayor for the first time
on November 9of the present year. He had entered upon
the duties of his office with extreme assiduity, and had, on
Thursday, presided at the distribution of prizes in connec-
tion with the Oxford local examinations. It was then
noticed bow fagged Mr. Slack looked, but no one appre-
hended that he was seriously ill.
THE ALLEGED FENIAN COLONEL—After our re-
port left on Saturday, the Flamers were again remanded,
bail being refused.

THE, PENINSULAR AND ORIENTAL COMPANY
The directors of the Peninsular and Oriental Company
have issued their annual report, in anticipation of the
meeting to be held on the 6th of December. It is of •
somewhat unfavourable character as regards the working
for the past year, but expresses hopeful anticipations of
the future, based on the renewed contract for the postal
service to the East, which has been arranged with
the government. An abstract of the accounts, which
is given, shows under the head of capital that
the total assets are 4,242,744/. 12s. 4d., and the
liabilities 3,952,545/. 11.4. 9d., showing a surplus
of 290,1991. Is. 7d, which is represented by
the balance at the credit of the general reserve
fund. The revenue account shows the expenditure, in-
cluding interest on debentures, outlay for reuewal, and
other purposes, to have been 2,511,440/. Die. 44., and the
gross income from all sources, including balance of undi-
vided profits from last year, 2.084,393/. 14a, leaving a
deficiency of 177,047/. 5. 44. The underwriting account
shows a balance of 00,700/. to be carried to the general re-
serve fund, and the latter fund, after being debited
with the deficiency on the revenue for the past
year, amounts to 290,199/. Is. 7d. The report also
gives full details of the changes in the com-
pany's fleet during the last year, and of the en-
gagements which have been entered into with berldajesty's
government in connection with the Abyssinian expedition.
The directors then explain at length the negotiations with
the Postmaster-General on the subject of the mail contract,
and state that they look with confidence for the approval
by the proprietors of the course adopted in consenting to
an arrangement which almost guarantees a moderate divi-
dend for • number of years. In pointing out that the re-
sult of the company's operations for the put year prevents
the declaration of any dividend, the directors at the same
time state, as • satisfactory feature, that the loss has
arisen mainly on the business of the first six months of the
year.