The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-06-21 00:00:00

NATIONAL BENEVOLENT INsTrterrox.

The Anniversary Meeting of the National Benevolent Institu. ,
tion was held on Saturday, at the Freemasons"favern. An de- 1
gent assemblage of ladies aid gentlemen were present, amongst 1
whom were Lord Archibald Hamilton, Lord Stourton, the 800.
Mr. Clifford. acd the Hon. Mr. Shore.
The object of this institution is, to provide for persons of eduea.
lion and respectability, who, in the decline of life, fall into distress.
Lord A. 'HAMILTON, on taking the chair, read a letter of apo-
logy from the Marquis of Lansdown, who was prevented from at.
tending in consequence of the dangerous illness ..f his lordship's
eldest son, the hart of Kerry. Ills Lordship warmly approved of
the Institution, and enclosed a draft for twenty guineas, as his sub.
scription towards its funds. A letter of apology was also; read from
his Royal Highness Prince Leopold.
A series of resolutions were passed in approbation of the proceed-
ings of the Committee, and the general management of the Insti-
tution, on the motion of several Reverend Gentlemen, who ad.
dressed the meeting very eloquently.
The Hon. Mr. SHOILE complimented the ladies who were pre.
sent, for the zeal and sympathy they always displayed in the cause
of charity, and moved that a Commute of ladies should be formed,
to investigate the cases of female applicants.
The motion was carried unanimously.
Mr. PETE a IlEaor, the founder of the Institution. read his an-
nual report, which was generally applauded. One case in parti-
cular deeply excited the feelings of the meeting.
Thanks were then voted to the Noble Chairman, who briefly ex.
pressed his obligation foe the honour conferred upon him.

MR. O'CALLAGHAN.

During the whole of Saturday a great number of respectable in.
dividusls called at llorsemonger.lane prison for the purpose d
making inquiries after /dr. O'Callaghan, and notwithstanding the
heavy rain that fell the whole morning, the prisoner and his friends
converted through the double iron gratings which separated them,
without any shelter whatsoever from the inclemency of the weather.
We understand Mr. O'Callaghan has received several letters
since his imprisonment from distinguished individuals, who had
seen the account of his trial, expressing their surprise and indig-
nation at the sentence which was passed on him by the Surrey
Bench of MaOstrates.
On Friday last, arm Captain O'Callaghan'a friend left Horse-
monger-lane gaol. the Rev. Mr. Mann entered the yard where Mr.
O'Callaghan was pacing up and down, and addressing himself to
that gentleman, said, " Mr. O'Callaghan, I hope that you now
feel well, and that your mind is satisbed and more composed than
it was." To which inquiry Mr. O'Callaghan replied. that he felt
well enough in health, although his mind was far from being satis-
fied ; and added, that he still considered a harsh and unjust
sentence had bccn pronounced upon him, for an offence which
every honourable man must feel he did not deserve. The Re-
verend Gentleman proceeded to say, that it was impossible to be
happy where there was no religion.. Al.r. O'Callaghan, in conse-
quence of what had occurred between him and the Chaplain the
preceding day, replied, that he was not at all anxious to have any
communication with him, and was about to enter his cell, but on
hearing the above remark directed to him, immediately said, " and,
Sir, 1 must say, that where there is no charity, there can be no
religion." kl r. Mann asked him if he meant this as an allusion to
him ? Mr. O'Callaghan observed, that he was cruelly treated,
and that the present was no time to tamper with his feelings on a
subject upon which he had already expressed himself. The motto,
" Palman qui meruit fens," he added, could not be claimed by
his prosecutor. Mr. Mann then said, " I tell you now, Sir, that
I can do nothing fur you." Mr. O'Callaghan replied, " Thank
God you cannot; for if it was in your power, I do firmly believe'
you would add to, instead of diminish, my punishment." The
interview then ended, Mr. O'Callaghan having walked into his
celL—Senday Paper.