The Express.
London, England, 1861-05-16 00:00:00

(Stamped, id. Additional.) [TWOPENCE

great intermit and difficulty in a spirit and an a style
not altogether unworthy of that matchlese character whose
exploits and whose narrative of them be has
analysed with admiring but severe scrutiny. I have
always believed that the time would come when we
should be indebted to him for the production of some work
which would live in the language of that country which he
luitted with sorrow, but left with honour. (Chien.) We
live in an age of strange vicissitudes. The noun of
revolution is as rapid ea it is startling, and empires dis-
solve sad die, and dynasties are scattered. Happy the
prince who, from no fault of his own banished
from the court and camp, can find consolation is
the library and generous occupation in the rich gallcriee
of learning and art. Happy is the prince who in •
foreign land mixing with his fellowmen on equal terms,
is stall marked out by the pre•emiocnce of his nature
I —happy the prince who, under such circumstaoms, ppeessoe
testing the realms of literature, may yet perhaps establish
• throne which may defy the fate of 4.13 uastira. (Cheers.)
It is with these feelings that I propose "The Health of
our illustrious Chairman, his Royal Highncsa the Duke
d'Aumale." (Loud cheers.)
The toast was drunk with applause.
The CIII•DILUI briefly returned thanks.
Mr. IL lfauirs, t[. P., proposed " The Ambassadors,"
which was acknowledAed by his Emelleucy VAN DI
Wil7M, who gave " e Literature of Croat Britain."
Mr. TSOLLOPS having responded,
Mr. 'Tniacuratar, in appropriate terms, gave " The Lite-
rature of France," and is doing so acknowledged the obligat-
i time he was himself under to that literature, which he hoped
would enjoy the same freedom and prosperity which happily
belonged to the literature of this country.
The remaining toasts were, " The dcientifm Travellers,"
proposed by Sir R. MURCHI6OA, and asknowledged by K.
au Clunxv; and " The Ladles."

TiaTiarti;iiiesOf the7veningwere kept up until an ad.
named hour.

FESTIVAL 01' THE SONS OP THE CLERGY.

The 207th anniversary of this most excellent
society was celebrated yesterday, under the dense of Bt.
Paul's Cathedral, with • full choral service. We may
preface our description of the ceremony wit il a few remark@
on the origin and progrw of this, one of oar most valuable
institutions. tie far beck as 1655 the tint festival was held
in the same cathedral in which so many, now upwards of
900 years after, met to carry out the same cluiritable tign.
In those times, as in the present times, there were cer-
tain zealous members of the church moved with composition
for the helplessness and privations of the clergy," and they
formed themeless into en association to alleviate their die
trees. The privateassociation thus formed from the highest
motives led to the establishment of a public body incorporated
by royal charter by Charles 11., and which, from the drown-
stared that the Bat promoters of the festival were all sons
of clergymen, became known as "The Corporation of the
Sons of the Clergy.' Reading this title one would be apt
to form a circumscribed notion of the great value of this
society ; and we may perhaps correct a popular error when
we state the real olre of the corporation. They are
thew—assisting necessitous clergymen, pensioning their
widows and aged single daughters, and educating, appren-
ticing, and providing outfits for the children of clergymen.
In proof of the benefit thus conferred—a benefit ari-ing out
of the philanthropy of • pad age, and nobly seconded up to
the very moment at which we write—we may state on official
authority that 111000 its foundation the charity has distri-
buted something like 2,000,0001. is peosious and donating.
to 30,000 clergymen, their widows, aged single daughters,
and children. It commenced without endowment, and has
share subsisted on reinstate contributions—a trenchant
proof at arses of the liberality of the country and of the
excellense of the object. At the present time there are
712 widows and daughters of clergymen in receipt of pen-
sloes of from 10/. to 25/. per annum, and 500 clergymen
and children are also annually assisted. During the last
year 16,2001. have been distributed amongst these classes,
but," as the report states, "so numerous are the ap-
plicants that the foods permit only of very limited and
Mee inadequate grants being made." The governors
therefore appeal to the clergy and laity for a continuance
al their support—their especial desire being to mid the
amount of the pensions to the widows and aged single
daughters of clergymen ' • end thus placing in view before
the public the object of the corporation, they met yesterday
according to annual custom under the magnificent dome of
St. Paul's.

Tien was, sa there should have been on such ao occa-
sion, a full &Madame. Beneath the dome, and la the
easterudortion of the cathedral, every available span era
*mu On this occasion the sermon is preached before
the and sheriffs, the archbishops, the bishops,
sad stewards shortly before "three o'Hoek. the hour
appointed for divine service, the precession came through
the aisle, sod took their seats in t appointed places :
The Lity Mashed, the vergers of the otthednd, the mem-
bers of the various choirs, the canons and prebeodarica of
the cathedral, the Bishops of London, Winchester, Carlisle,
Durham. Llandsff, 3t. Amph, the Lord Mayor, Mr. Sheriff
Lusk and Mr. Sheriff Abbas, Archdeacon Hale, the Rev.
Dr. Kaman, Alderman Meohi, and Alderman Ilium.
The Itev. J. H. Coward, minor moon, read the prayers.
and the Rev. W. J. Hall, minor canon, and the Rev. J.
Toilenharn read the lemma. The service was br Ebdoo,
h O.

--fie following choirs were present:—Her Majesty's
Chapels Royal, St. Paul's, Westminster, and Temple, with
900 roam of St. Paul's evening choirs.
The Rev. W. Carus, Incumbent of Christ Church, Win-
chester, and Canon of Winchester, preached the sermon in
aid of the charity, taking as his text St. Matthew xx., 28.
The anniversary dinner took place in the Merchant
Taylors' Hall. About 200 sat down to table ; the Right
Hoe. the Lotd Mar presiding. Among the guests
preseet were the Archbishop of York, the Bishops of Lon-
don, Durham, Winchester, St. Amph, Llano/ Lincoln,
Ripon, adLichfield, the Hon. sad Hey. H. Lei" Arch-
deacon Hale, the Rev. Crowns Jennings, Cans, and Jeerer-
see, the Rev. J. H. Coward, aid the Rev. Oeo. Vivian,
Mr. Barns Channel, Gemara! Sir R. Diatom', Sir Brook
W. Badges, Bart., and Sir R. P. Glyn, Bart.

Mr. Ononon THOH2ISOI moved the rood resolutioa.
" That by the •Isetka of representatives to
_parlialasok
holding views similar to tholes expressed by Mr. Harper
Twolvetrem during the recent contest, the people may best
hops to secure a just and cone probe naive measure of reform."
The speaker having onforoed his resolution in his usual
eloquent manner, it was seconded by Mr. WASHINGTON
WILLS and earned.
The ker. Kilsby Jones, Kr. S. Pope, Mr. Raper, and
other gentleman then addressed the meeting, which New
rated at a late hour. An excellent band enlivened the pro-
mudsceedings of the evening with some well-execnted pieces of