The Sun.
London, England, 1852-12-01 00:00:00

SCOTTISH HOSPITAL.

The festival of Saint Andrew (Scotland's patron Saint),
was celebrated yesterday evening by an immense number
of the natives of that country and their friends—under
the management of the Directors of the Scottish Hos-
pital. This anniversary has been honoured by similar
demonstrations for nearly 200 years, but we question
whether it ever before viewed so many collected together
to do it homage, caused perhaps from the interest created
in the announcement that Lord John Russell was to pre-
side on the occasion, and the indefatigable exertions of
the secretary of the institution to insure a good attend-
ance. Whether the great number present yesterday, is
owing to that cause, or from the known love that Scots-
men bear to any institution having national interests
in view, matters not. The largest room in the capacious
tavern was filled to its utmost limits, therefore nearly
400 persons must have dined. It may riot be uninter-
esting to state, that this society is the offspring of one
that was formed in the reign of James the First, by the
natives of Scotland resident in the metropolis, for the
charitable purpose of relieving those of their countrymen
who might not be so fortunate or successful in their
pursuits as themselves, and who, but for this assistance,
would be subject to all the privations of poverty. In
after years its usefulness became so well appreciated,
as to receive the support of the most distinguished
of the Scottish nobles and gentlemen, and with their
exertions it was incorporated by royal charter tin-
der its present designation. It still continues its
charitable labours, but on a more extensive and defined
scale than its parent, and still numbers among its con-
tributors the most eminent persons connected with
Scotland ; its particular object being now to relieve the
poor of that country not receiving parochial allowance ;
and also to return to their homes those who may have
been unsuccessful in getting employment in the metro-
polis. With such benevolent objects as these, it is not
to be wondered that its Mends rallied round its anni-
versary last night ; although, be it remembered, that the
30th of November is a jubilee with Scotsmen in all parts of
the world, and the enthusiasm with which they are wont
to celebrate or do honour to anything nationally when most
distant from their native land, is well known and often
commented upon by those who could not enter into such
feelings, as something ridiculous. The spirit of clanship
and nationality displayed yesterday, showed that they
were in no way degenerated. The music arrangements
were conducted by Mr. Genge and, Mr. F. Smith.
Mr. Mackay, her Majesty's piper, with the juvenile
band of the Caledonian Asylum were also present, and
played alternately appropriate airs and pibrochs. The
galleries at both ends were filled with elegantly dressed
ladies, the wives and relatives of the company, who were
treated to a collation in an adjoining room, during the
progress of the more important dinner. Among
those present were Lord John Russell, M. P., sup-
ported on the right and left by Lord Esk
Lord Panmure the American Minister, Mr. Sheriff
Croll, Mr. Alderman Harmer, Ex-Sheriff Nicoll,
Sir John Taggart, M.P., Charles Cowan, M.P., R.
Milligan, M.P., James Wilson, M.P., Johnstone
of Alra, M.P., Frederick Dundas, M.P. Sir James
Dames, M.P., Sir James Anderson, M.P., Captain
Scobell, M.P., Colonel the Hon. Lauderdale, M.P.,
Lieutenant-General Aitcheson, Colonel Sir Duncan Mac-
dougall, P. F. Robertson, M.P., and Crauford,
M.P. The Vice-President was the Lord-Advocate of
Scotland, who was supported by Captain Sir John Heron
Maxwell, R.N., Mr. R.N. Craufurd, Mr. R. Hepburn,
Mr. Peabody, Mr. Andrew Maclure, Mr. W. S. Lind-
say, Mr. Bain, Mr. J. B. Allan, Mr. Alexander Grant,
the members of the Caledonian Society, and many
deputies and members of the Corporation of the City of
London, as well as the directors of the hospital.
On the cloth being removed, the grace was very beau-
tifully sung.
The NOBLE CHAIRMAN, on rising to propose the first
toast, was received with immense cheering, which was
continued for several minutes. He said he had to pro-
pose the health of the Queen—(cheers)--and he had only
to say that that was a toast which required but little
preface at a time when loyalty to the throne was becom-
ing all subjects of this realm, and when that loyalty was
strengthened and confirmed by attachment to the person
of the Sovereign. That attachment was so well known
by the virtues of the person who wore the crown of these
dominions, that he felt that he need say no more, but
simply propose the health of her most gracious Majesty
the Queen, which was greeted with loud cheers. His
Lordship next proposed the healths of the Prince of
Wales,- Prince Albert, and the rest of the royal family.
Mr. Genge and his party, after this toast, sang with
excellent effect the well-known glee, "As I cam doon
the Canno'gate "

Then followed the Army and Navy, for which General
AITCHISON and Sir JOHN HERON MAXWELL, R.N., re-
spectively returned thanks.

Having proposed these loyal toasts, the noble CHAIR-
MAN, in proposing "the Memory of his Grace the Duke
of Wellington," observed that he could not allow the
present occasion to pass without paying a tribute to that
great man's memory. It was to the Duke of Wellington
that the arms of England, and he might say the arms of
Europe, owed their success. At an early period doubts
as to the conduct of the war had arisen, and the lustre of
the British arms had been dimmed ; but when the Duke
of Wellington was placed at the head of our forces, con-
fidence was felt in his military skill, and it was not too
much to say that his Grace had achieved not merely the
freedom of England but the freedom of the world. (Cheers.)
It had been his (the Chairman's) lot to be about that
time travelling on the Continent, and he well remem-
bered seeing the memorable lines of Torres Vedras, as
formed by the noble Duke. They all knew how anxious
the people of England then looked for intelligence from the
seat of war, but England's great military chief knew that
he had but one army, and he wisely, postponed every
other consideration rather than endanger its safety by an
attempt to secure immediate success. He (the Chairman)
well remembered his eagle eye at that time, and he was
glad that the country had recently shown that a recol-
lection of the noble Duke and his services lived in the
hearts of the people of England.
The next toast was " The health of the President of
the United States, coupled with the name of Mr. Inger-
soll, the Minister of that country now in London."
Mr. INGERSOLL, in acknowleding the toast, observed
that he hoped the people of England and America would,
as the noble chairman had aptly remarked, live in per-
petual amity, and that between the great western country
and this a single cloud might never be seen. (Cheers.)
The object of the present meeting was, however, to pro-
mote the cause of benevolence, and he (Mr. Ingersoll)
was glad to bear testimony that no country in this re-
spect did so much as England, at the same time that no
people stood so little in need of the help of charity. . _

- The CHAIRMAN said that he had to fulfil a duty which
he felt ought more properly to fall to some of the distin-
guished Scotchmen he saw around him. (No, no.)
Seeing that he was supported by his friend Lord Pan-
mure, who reflected so much honour on the distinguished
family from which he was descended, and that he was
faced by a. gentleman (the Lord Advocate) who, by the
exercise of his profession of the law and his well-known
abilities, had passed all his competitors, and now filled a
most distinguished position in his native country—he felt
that one or other of those gentlemen would more fittingly
have filled the chair than himself. (No, no.) He sup-
posed, however, that as the object they were met to
promote was purely Scottish, that the Scotchmen had too
much modesty amongst them to allow them to do justice
to the subject. (Cheers and laughter.) Therefore it was
that he filled the chair, and had now to bring before them
the claims of the Scottish Hospital. (Cheers.) When King
James the First came to this country, he was naturally
accompanied by a great many followers. The majority
of them found the way of pushing their fortunes, and
very many became distinguished in various trades and
professions. Others, however, as would be the case in
all countries, were ess able to do so, and, being away
from their friends and native country, fell into distress.
Those, however, who had been fortunate, to their honour
be it spoken, did not forget thou who were less so ; and
this society was established for their relief under the un-
pretending title of the Scottish Box, which title it re-
tained until it became incorporated by royal charter, in
the reign of Charles 11. • From that time those Scotch-
men who had come to this country, and were unable to
obtain sufficient means of subsistence—or, in old age,
found themselves without the means of support—had been
assisted and aided by this institution ; and at the present
moment above 100 poor persons, above 70 years of age,
received allowances of 101. per annum each from it, and
30 more, above 65, received smaller sums, whilst the
casual relief averaged above 2501. per annum in addition
to education being provided for the children of poor
Scottish parents. 'lt appeared to him that such a charity
was particularly worthy of the support of all Scotchmen
—the more particularly as the Scotch had no claim upon
the parishes of England to be sent back to their own
country, and he trusted that they would that night
maintain their character, and liberally contribute to the
funds of the hospital. (Cheers.) He would not further
detain them, but propose "Prosperity to the Scottish
Hospital, and health to the Preses and Vice-Preses."
Lord PANMURE, as one of the vice-presidents, returned
thanks, and expressed his conviction that no leal Scotch-
man would ever, no matter in what part of the world
he might be, forget his native country, or the claims of
his poorer brethren for assistance. He felt that Lord
John Russell was peculiarly in his place that evening,
as, though he was not exactly a native of Scotland, he
might be almost called a Scotchman, he having received
from Professor Playfair the education and lessons which
had made him what he now was—he having selected to
adorn his fire-side one of the fairest and noblest of Scot-
land's daughters—(cheers)—and he delighting to spend,
his period ofrieoli noneti o
but
nfromthtohsee denuggtiaeseodf
relaxation public life—a
in public life
could truly appreciate—in that country. (Cheers.)
afterwardsnext drunk, n
proposed pd re-
spondedsed''The
to by Le oorfd ELrosrkdisn"e,wwasho
n
the health of the noble lord in the chair, .nwho h briefly
acknowledged the compliment. " The" o
Sutherland and Ladies Patronesses ;" "The City of
London ;" The Hon. Abbott Lawrence," responded to
by Mr. Davis ;" " The Duke of Buccleuch and the
the hEdinburgh Branch ;" and other toasts having been
drunk, the company separated a few minutes before 12
o'clock, a collection of about 7001., in aid of the funds
of
The hall was tastefully decorated with flags and
shields,with plaids
having been previously announced.
them.laids of various el to tartans gracefully
overP
Mr. Higgs was toastmaster, and discharged his duties
in his usual good style. Messrs. Bathe and Breach pre-
pared an excellent dinner and feat-rate wines for the
ocmic.n. . -