The Sun.
London, England, 1864-07-27 00:00:00

From a report which wee circulated in the room,

it appears that the amount distributed in pensions
and temporary relief had been increased this year
to £6l 8s 4d, and the funded capital augmented to
over £2,000, and a balance in hand to be carried to
next year's account, of £2l 3s sd.
After the usual loyal and patriotic toasts had been
duly honoured,
Mr Alderman LusK, the chairman, gave the toast
of the evening, " Prosperity to the Newsvendors'
Benevolent Institution." He said he would not
waste their time by any remarks deprecatory of
himself. (Laughter.) He would not enter into a
long explanation of how sorry he was that the duty
had not fallen into other hands—(laughter)—be-
cause he felt proud of the duty which had been
entrusted to him, and he remembered that when a
chairman, on a similar occasion, had said how sorry
he was that the toast had not fallen into abler hands,
some ill-conditioned; person rose and said, " So we
are all." (Laughter.) He would therefore not apo-
logise, but do the best he could. (Cheers.) The
object of their assembling on that occasion was to
further the interests of a {32:serving institution; and
without attempting anything brilliant he would try
to bring a common-sense view of the question
before them. He admired the orator who was so
fluent and attractive that the listeners were tempted
to exclaim, "Flow on thou shining river." (Cheers
and laughter.) He admired the intellectual feats
which were performed every day by those who pro-
duced the newspapers of this country. (Hear, hear,
and cheers.) He gazed with wonder and with ad-
miration upon the sheet of paper which to• day was
a perfect blank and to-morrow was vital with
":words that breathed and thoughts that burned."
(Cheers.) That which to-night was a blank was
to-morrow the reflex of the progress of the world at
large. (Hear, hear, and cheers.) But this mighty
engine for the promotion of progress in the world
would be shorn of half its power were it not for the
newsvendors, who distributed its wondrous in-
fluences and made them permeate the entire
social fabric. (Cheers.) He sympathised with the
newsvendors in the trials incident to their vocation.
(Cheers.) lie knew practically the value of the part
which they played in the dissemination of Intel-
ligence. (Hear.) People were not apt to be over
considerate with newsvendors. They were generally
cross if " the paper" was a little late—(cheers and
laughter)—and he had often wondered if newsven-
dors were as impatient with the public, as the public
often were with them ? (Cheers and laughter.) In
this, as in all other occupations, from a variety of
circumstances members of the trade fell into distress,
and it was the bounden duty of those who had been
more successful to administer to the necessities of
their suffering brethren. (Hear, hear.) He was
glad, therefore, to do all he could to promote the
prosperity of an institution such as this. If they, as
a trade, were only true to themselves, this institution
would enjoy a far higher degree of prosperity than
it had hitherto known. (Hear, hear.) No task could
be more noble than that which they had undertaken.
He was glad to see so many ladies present, for he
was sure that he should not appeal to them in vain.
(Cheers.) He concluded by proposing "Prospe-
rity to the Newsvendors' Benevolent Institution."
The toast was drunk with great enthusiasm.
Several other toasts were given, and the proceed-
ings closed in the usual way.
Mr. Toole was, as usual, an efficient toastmaster,
and the subscriptions reached to nearly £l5O.