The National Register.
London, England, 1820-04-17 00:00:00

FOR PROPAGATING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE IN SCOTLAND

The London Anniversary Festival of this Society was
celebrated on Thursday, at the Albion, Ahlersgate-street,
by many of the natives and friends of Scotland. The
Duke of Sussex was in the Chair, supported by Sir W.
Grant, the late Master of the Rolls, (whom we are
happy to see in apparently excellent health), and the
Lord Mayor. Many most respectable Members of the
Clergy of the Church of Scotland, who form the Dim-
tation to present an Address from that respected hotly to
the King, were also present.
At six o'clock the company sat down to an excellem
dinner. After the usual unuis,
The Royal Chairman rose to propose the toast—
" Prosperity to the Society," which he preaced by some
romarks on tile nature and origin of the Inst.tution. It
was formed soon after the Union of the two Kingdoms,
Ly some benevolent individuals, and so early as 17(i9,
received a signal mark of Royal favour, in a patent of in-
corporation from Queen Anne. At first, tile efforts oI
the Society were confined merely to literary and religious
instruction, but in the reign of George 11. by a new

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charter, the company was enabled to e mend its endea-
vours in instruction in the useful arts, and thus, at pre-
sent, industry and elementary instruction in learning
were enjoined, as they should be, to reader there not
only innocent, hut most useful. In this mariner, there
were nearly 20,000 children taught in the various schools
—but the demands upon the Institution were such as it
was unable to answer. lie trusted, therefore, that an
appeal to the present company would be attended with
success, for there was no native of Scotland who was
not proud of the country to which he belonged, and he
could do no better than leave to their own Scottish
hearts, to do what they thought fit to promote an insti-
tution so beneficial to their native land. (Applause.)
His Royal Highness, in toe course of his speech, made
a feeling allusion to the support the Society had received
from the activity and zeal of his late illustrious Brother,
and trusted that his memory would- be found to be as
beneficial as his presence would undoubtedly have been.
The toast was drank with loud applause.
" The memory of the late l)uke of Kent and St►a-
theni' was drank in respectful silence.
"The Kirk of Seotlaud" having been drank,
Dr. Macfarlane returned thanks, and said, that he
took a peculiar interest in the affairs of the institution,
as his father, 60 years ago, had made a minute survey of
the Highlands, on the memoranda of which the lush-
union still proceeded; and as he himself, in 30 years
attention to the duties of his profession, had had parti-
colar opportunities of observing the usefulness of the
society, he assured the company that his brethren in
Scotland warmly felt the as►istance which they had
derived from the London branch of the soci.ty.
The Royal Chairman proposed " The City of London
and its Chief Magistrate," which he prefaced by an
eulogiuni on the encouragement which the inhabitants
of this vast Al etropolis a&rded to every charity, however
remote the objects of it might be from their own imme-
diate connections.
The Lord Mayor returned thanks, and observed,
that as the City of London, in its commercial pros-
perity and general happiness, af)•orded a striking proof
of the bendicent etieets of the ehristim religion, he
should always feel it his duty to do his utmost to pro-
mote those principles. •
On the health of the Vice Presidents being drank,
Sir W. Grant, one of them, returned thanks in a
warm and at med manner, and assured the company,
that as long as his assistance was worth acceptance it
should be at the disposal of the Society.
Liberal subscriptions were announced.
Many songs were given by Messrs. Pyne, Taylor,
Broadhurst, and other professional gentlemen, and the
company continued together to a late hour.