The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-03-25 00:00:00

MARINE SOCIETY.

This valuable Institution had its Anniversary Dinner yesterday.
at the City of London Tavern. His Royal Highness the Duke of!
Clarence in the chair. During the entertainment a band, placed
in the gallery, enlivened the scene with many delightful pieces of
music. After the cloth was removed.
The PwEiIDE KT of the Sociry proposed "The health of his
Majesty."
This tout was drunk with the moat enthusiastic applause—Four
times four.

Air—'• Ual save the King."
The next health proposed was " The health of the Royal
mily." Three tii-tes three.
Air—" Hail, Star of Brunswick."
" The Duke of York and the Army." Three tines three.
Song—" Merrily a: live that soldiers be."
The President of the Society, Lord Rostor.r, addressed the
meeting, and said he had a health to pmpuse, which he was sure
would be approved of by all, tin the benevolence practised by the
Royal Duke on all oceasiors, and esptcially for the cordial support
given by him upon all occasions to the panne Society.
The health of his Royal Highness was then drunk with three
times three and the most unequivocal symptoms of approbation.
After the applause had subsided, his Royal Highness rose, and ,
after returning his sincere and unaffected thanks toe the manner in
which his health had been drunk, said he could not refrain front
congratulating t:te meeting upon the ,joyful and pleasing occasion
which had brought them together. Ihe cause of that meeting wait
charity. He knew he was addressing a meeting of Englishmen,
and therefore it was not necessary for hint to say much upon the
subject, for when he addressed Englishmen, he was aware he ad-
dressed men who were well instructed in all the feelings of charity,
and had them imprinted upon their hearts. He believed the
English to be as mural a people as any in the world, and in the pre-
sent case the obligations of charity were essentially connected with
the interests of this cottlatercial country. As this country was eir-
,curnstaneed, it could not be great or prospemus wimout the aid of
enninetee, and greatness derived from commerce it could never
possess if it hild not ships and men ready and prepared to carry its
productions to the various parts of the world. Fur the purposes
and advaneentent of trade it was essentially requisite that boys
should enter the navy when young, and their minds should be ap-
plied at as early period to these pursuits, and the necessity of this
education should be impressed upon them at as early • period as
possible. He was perhaps the more impinged with the nerahaity of '
this early education in the profession of a sailor, as he hail himself,
entered the service when he was but young in life. lie approved
so much of the objects of the Society, that whilst he enjoyed the Ides-
rings of health he would engage and pledge himself to be amongst
them. He knew he was addressing an assembly of Englishmen, and
be trusted no ohe who heard him would condemn hint foe saying, that
though his family were originally from another country, yet as
every member of that family had been so kindly and so favourably
received Is this county,, thee might be considered altogether as
Englishmen. (Loud applause.) From the persuasion, conviction,
and detennination he felt of the utility of this most excellent Insti-
tution, and the many benefits conferred by it, he was resolved to'
support it by every means in his power t and he would conclude by
dnnking the health', collectively and individually, of all those he
had the happiness to see around him. (Loud applause.)
Lord Ro mit Er proposAl a favourite toast—" The Navy of Eng-
land."—He separated this valued branch of the public service front
the name of the Royal Chairman, that the meeting might have the
opportunity of drinking each toast separately. This toast was
drunk with three nines three.
_ _

Admiral STorr•oau returned thanks. He said it was within
the Wu week he had the opportunity of be•toaing his mite upon
another excellent institution—the Seaman's llospital. lie was cure
that many of the individuals whom he saw at that meeting were'
also the supporters of that Institution. He wan well aware, when
objects of utility and benevolence were to be supported. the Gentle-
men of London would not be far off; and, in his opinion, it was
impossible to assist at such meetings, and not return a better man
than when the individual a nt out. Bard and cold must that hi,:att
Ibe which refused to sympathise with an institution, the objects of
which were the benefit and improvement of the country. He
I could not refrain from making a declaration respecting the Royal
Chairman, whose fellow aatchman and shipmate he had the ho•
nour to be. Those who had the honour to be his companions knew
his Royal Highness to be ever anxious in the discharge of his
duty--ever prone to obey the commands of his superiors. The
splendor of his rank was lost sight of in the qualifications of his
hart; and in consequence of these qualifications, the attachment
of all those who knew him became fixed, rivetted, and unalterable.
He would detain them no longer ; and, in the name of his brother
officers, he returned thanks fur the honour done them.
Air—`• Rule Britannia."

His Royal Highness said, there wa. one more toast which he felt
it his duty to propose, and as he had the honour to sit in the Chair,
he could not give it without some remark. He would, without
troubling the meeting with the history of the Institution, point out
some of its advantages. It was to be recollected that the country
had now enjoyed the blessings of peace for two or three years, and
the Society had sent to sea, between January 1823 and the end of
the year, not fewer than 744 boys--2:15 to his 3lajesty's service,
216 to the East India service, and 276 to the general merchants'
service. Though this was early in the year 1824, 236 boys had
been sent to sea. From the formation of the Society in 1750,
39,316 boys had been sent to sea. This Institution had provided four
173,624 men, and though the country was at profound peace at pre.
sent, it was possible thi. peace might not last, and it was the custom
of a wise institution to look to futurity : it was generally supposed
Lthat anuanairessa saties in die Kindle anis this opinion was
erroneous, because in time of active service the King's officers had
not time to pay the necessary attention to the buys. He was sure
the Gallant Admiral, in whose friendship he took a pride, and
whom he had known for forty .four years, would say that boys should
be sent a. early as possible to sea. He would now propose the suc-
cess of an Insutktion creditable in every point of view, and which
he must main and again remark, possessed every qualification to
recommend it—he meant the Marine Society.
This toast was drunk with three tunes three, amidst the loudest
applause.
At this moment the scene was highly gratifying i the boys of the
Institution entered, under the guidance of their officers; some of
them carried the English flag. They marched round the room,
whilst the band played, " Hearts of Oak." The healthy, cleanly,
and comfortable appearance of those who are to be " the future
men of England," attracted general notice and approbation. After
giving three hearty cheers, as a testimony of gratitude to their be-
nefactors, they retired amidst the loud applause of the meeting.
The list of the subscribers was read by the Secretary ; after
which the health of Sir George Cockburn was drunk.—'fhe gal-
lent Admiral returned thanks, and said he felt it his duty to state—
and the fact ought to be communicated to all the boys of the In-
stitution—that one of the lads had, to his own knowledge, been pro-
moted to the rank of Post-Captain. (Loud applause.)
The following health, were then drunk with applause :
.. The Corporation of the City of London, which contributed
16001."

Mr. T. WILSON returned thanks.
" The Sheriffs of the City of London."
Mr. ShetiffUrniwTwww It returned thanks.
" The East India Company," which contributed 304 guiaeas
sinew the last anniversary.
Mr. ill usreaww returned thanks.

The Secretary mentioned several sulAcriptions received at the
hands of Captain Parry, and stated the sub.criptions received
within the year, and at the dinner, to be 6601. (Loud applause.)
" The health of the ladies who approved of the institution" was
drunk with three times three.

" Lord Melville, and the Lords of the Admiralty."
The Hon. K. Dorn LAS returned thanks.
" The health of Lord Romney, the President of the Meeting."
Lord ROW XEY returned thanks.
His Royal Highness retired at ten o'clock, and the conviviality
of the meeting continued to a late hour.