The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1821-02-16 00:00:00

REFUGE FOR THE DESTITUTE.

- •
The Fourteenth Anniversary Dinner of this
charitable Institution was celebrated at the City of
London Tavern yesterday; his Royal Highness the
Duke of You, President of the Institution. Was
in the Chair, supported on his right by the
Earl of Livsaroot., and on his left by Lord Vi.-
count SIDMOUTH.
Soon after six o'clock his Royal Highness enter-
ed the roan, attended by the Earl of Liverpool,
Lord Viscount Sidmouth, Mr. Wilberforce, Sir
W. C. Fairlie, and immediately afterwards the
dinner was served up, which contested of every
delicacy of the season.
As soon as the cloth was withdrawn Non Nobis
Dontine was sung by Mr. Broadhurst, Mr. Terrell,
and the other professional Gentlemen present.
The CHAIRMAN then gave the health of " The
King," which was drank with three lintel three.
Song—" God sore the KinK."
The Earl of LI•ERPOot. then rote, void proposed
the health of their illustrious President, " The
Doke of. York," which was drank with three times
three.
The Duke of. YORK returned thanks for the
honour conferred on him. His Royal Highness
• observed, that, although the Company were not
so numerous ay had been wimetimai seen in that
room, it would be found from the state of the
funds, that it arose from no lack of zeal in the
. cause of that highly useful Institution which they
I. were met to continemorate.
" The Earl of Liverpool's health" was then pro-
h posed by -Mr. WILIIRRFORCR; after which his
• Lordship returned thanks, mid paid the Inhale of
tilt approbation to the objects and vitas of the
. Institution.
Sir W. C. FAIRLIR then proposed the health of
-Lord Viscount Sidmouth, which was accordingly.
'drat.k ; after which his Lordship rose and thanked
the company for the gratifying manner in which
they had been pleased to drink his health; he said
--it gave bun great Oman* te be able to add !011ie
great atithontier which they already had heard in
favour or the Institution, the sanction of official ex-
perience; and he could declare„ that there did not
exist in this country, abounding as it did with cha-
ritable Institutions,• ally one which more merited
the patronage of' the community at large than the
Refuge for the Destitute.
The CHAIRMAN then proposed the health of
" Mr. Wilberforee," the friend of every charita-
ble Institution, which was drunk with loud testi-
monies of approbation.
... . . . _ .

Mr. WiLsearorece returned thanks for the un-
expected honour done him. lie was most happy to
aeld.his humble endeavours to those whose bounden
duty it was to be guardians of she Police of the
country, but who here in the cause of benevolence
were volunteers.

Alderman Rovaweet. then proposed the health
of " The Vice-Presides?'."
The Earl of Liveitroor. returned thanks, and
apologise(' for the absence of the Earl of Bristol. and
some others of the Vice-Presidents, from illness
and indispensable engagements elsewhere.
Mr. Sheriff WILLIAns, in proposing the health
of the Treasure► and Officers of the Institution, said,
that he hoped to be indulged with ■ few minutes
of the comptuay's attention whilst lie expressed his
sense of the benefits resulting from the Institution.
Very early iu his Shrievslty he ssas requested by
two boys, who had undergone the punishment
of whipping, to get them into the Refuge for the
Destitute, and he was induced from that to in.
quire into the stature of the Institution, and found
it exemplsry in its management and intermit re-
gulations. The presence of the clergyman who
stiemtled hiss was hailed by all the inmates, as if
• respected friend had come amongst them. No
One stvirilord milli our prisons but what must
be aware of the necessity of sonic intermediate
stage between the discharge of the criminal
mud Isis return to society at large. The Re-
fuge ►upplied that chasms ; it was a sort of
half-way house, its o 'licit the inmates of it might
rest, and acquire again that most difficult of all
things to attain when once lost—character. Within
its walls they remained fully employed, and tasting
again the happiness of virtsous industry, were re-
stored useful members to thst society, which, had
•it not been for this excellent lustitution, they would
Move most probably annoyed by a return to their
, former evil practises. He begged therefore to
propose the health of those by whose exertions so
great • good had been effected.
The health bring drank—
Mr. fl'on•T\R, the Treasurer, returned thanks
for himself and the Gentlemen of the Corninitter.
He announced the money which had been col-
lected in the room during the evening, and gave
notice that the Anniversary Sermon for the benefit
of the Charity would be preached at Curzon-street
chapel, by the Right Rev. the Bishop of Chester,
on the 15th of April next.
The health of several other friends to the Insti-
tution were drunk in the course of the evening. and
in the interval the company were entertained with
excellent singing from Mr. Bro•dhu►st. Mr. Ter.
mil, and the other 'professional Gentlemen present.
. Swarth's' ten o'clock his Royal Highness with-
drew, •ad the company shortly otter broke up.