The Sun.
London, England, 1852-01-28 00:00:00

WEDNESDAY

N.E WSVEND 0 RS' BENEVOLENT AND
PROVIDENT IN,
T;te rt o•eid dinner, in Odd of this excellent institution,
este,blishod is 1839, fur granting temporary relief also
permanent a,sieteuce to roasters and servants engsged
as newsvendors, who, from ego, infirmity, or distress,
may require the aid of the benevolent, was held last
evening—Mr. John Forster in the ebnar, supported by
Mr. C. Dickens, Mr. J. Leech, Mr. M. Lemon, Mr. C.
Knight, ,Mr. P. Cunningham, Mr. 13radleury, Mr. r, •
Evans, &c.
The usual loyal toasts having been drunk with all the
honours,
The CHAIRMAN rose to propose the toast of the even-
" Success to the Newsvendors' Benevolent and Pro •
vident Institution."—(Cheerr.) He felt that he laboured
under a great disadvantage in coining
before theta to
support the claims of the institution to their kindness and
conideradon, after the eloquent appeal which had for-
merly been made to them • from that chair by his excel-
lent friend on his left, Mr. C. Dickens. He would,
however, endeavour to do his best to enlist their sympa-
thies on behalf of a class of men than whom none were
wore deserving of assistance. It
seas very often said
that no one knew the cares of a man's position
more than the person himself, and he was sure
that no one could know the claims which the newsmen
had upon their support better than those who were en-
gaged in the newspaper press. No one could know bet-
ter than ho did theleardships and labour which the ven-
dor of the newspapers had to undergo for little gain—
how he had to be up early and toil late for so little re-
muneration, that if he should be out of work or meat
with casual distress, no prudence of his could guard him
against the eff,es. Having made himself acquainted
with the details of the origin and progress of the insti-
tution, ho could confidently assure them that the news-
men had patiently, prudently, and constantly exerted
themselves, under great disadvantages, and with very
limited resources, to place their institution on a footing
which should prove beneficial to their body. He did not
know any institution which, with a little available means,
and apparently under such adverse circumstances, had
done so much or had so great reason to hope for the
future. The great majority of the members of the trade
received remuneration for their-labour, so low that they
could hardly hope to lay by anything
to provide for the
future, whilst many of them, like a character so beauti-
fully drawn by his friend Mr. Charles Dickens, had their
small income reduced by the comforts of a large family.
—(Laughter.) These men, however, had done much to
render this society self-supporting, and he was assured
that the gentlemen present would duly appreciate that
self-denial, and endeavour to aid theM in their efforts.
That society had been established by a few of the more
active members of the trade, assisted by their president,
Mr. Harmer, who was always ready to render his sup-
port to any good work, and the more especially to con-
tribute to raise the position of those with whom ha had
been in auy way connected. This society had taken its
rise little mere than twelve years ago, it having been
previously the habit for the men and boys engaged in
the trade to be annually regaled at a dinner provided by
the subscriptions of the newspaper proprietors, and the
principal members of the trade, some of whom suggested
that much more good might be done by the raising of a
fund for the relief of the aged and distressed. The esta-
blishment of this society was, therefore, determined
upon; and, though the subscriptions were principally
only 58. per annum each, they bad now a funded capital
of 1,2501., from the interest of which two pensioners
were maintained—one male and one female, the forther
receiving W., and the latter 10/. per annum; in addition
to which, about 1101. had been expended in casual relief.
In looking at the difficulties this society had to contend
with, he could not but think that it had retained a very
satisfactory position, and he was sure that every person
that was connected with periodical literature must see
how much the newsman, humble as he might be, had
done to promote their fortunes, and would cheerfully
render them their aid to assist a society established for
his benefit when he should fall into distress.—(Cheers.)
Mr. TERRY returned thasuks, and stated that he could
not but feel that the newsman bad become an indispen-
sable member of society, as no breakfast table, no draw-
ing room, no counting-house, could now be deemed to
he complete without the newspaper was lying on the
table. It was through the exertions of the newsmen
that upwards of 60,000 morning papers were daily dis-
tributed throughout the land, and his efforts and labours
were untiring. Ile had to be up early and out late, and
he regretted to say, without in any way wishing to of-
fend those proprietors of Sunday journals present, that
to a large number of newsvendors the Sabbath offered
no rest;
indeed, their labours with the weekly papers
were even greater than those with the daily. He knew
that was a necessity of the present mode of publishing
those papers, but he hoped the time might come when,
without injuring newspaper property, the necessity of
Sunday labour might be avoided.—(Cheers.) Ile,felt
that, for those labours, the newsmen had a claim, in
their distress, upon the assistance of the public; and he
felt assured that the merits of their institution had only
to be made known to receive it.—(Cheers.)
Mr. CHARLES DIcRENs rose, amidst loud cheers, to
propose the health of the chairman, and in doing so, said
he felt that this society was worthy of all support from
the public, and the more especially from those person's
who were connected with the literature and press of
England. He. was happy to see the claim of the news-
vendors to support acknowledged by the presence of that
great and popular artist,'whose benevolence and talent
was alike displayed by his pencil and his pen—Mr. John
Leech; of the talented representative of the newspaper
press—their worthy chairman; of that worthy colleague
of Mr. Leech in the conduct of the paper of the people,
Punch, its editor—Mr. Lemnos of the representative of
antiquarian literature, " distinguished alike for his talent
and research—. Mr. Peter Cunningham; of the great pro-
moter of periodical literature—Mr. Charles Knight-,-
(Cheers)—of the enterprising and successful publishers
—rele,srs. Evans and Whiting, and many
other equally
influential gentlemen.—(Loud cheers.) He was gra-
tified to see the chair so ably filled by a gentleman
whose friendship he had to lone enjoyed, and of
whose merits he could not venture to speak in fitting
terms in his presence. lie was further gratified to see
that the newsmen sufficiently honoured their repre-
sentatives of the pre:s 'and of literature, as the proper
representatives of the people, as to invite ono of its dis-
tinguished members to preside over them upon that oc-
casion. lie trusted that their
reunion would long con-
tinue, and that the Newevenciors' Benevolent and Pro-
vident Institution would continue to flourish as long as
literature existed in this country.—(Cheers.) In con-
clusion, he begged to give the health of his friend Mr.
John Forster, their worthy chairman—(Cheers.)
ft
The CHAIRMAN having br. •
-le acknowledged the
compliment,
Mr. WHITING, as the representative of the oldest
newspaper firm in London, proposed the health of Mr
Harmer, the president of the' institution.
Mr. HARMER returned thanks, and expressed the
great gratification he felt at the by
this society, in the prosperity of progress makingwhich he should always
ad great pleasure in pro-
feel the deepest interest. ti
—e '
posing to them a toast which he was sure they would
receive with the greatest
satisfaction—the health of Mr.
Charles Knight and the visitors
Mr. KNIGHT having responded,' one or two other
toasts were drunk
company separated shortly
before 11 o'clock., and the
In the courseannouncedevening in aid he funds of the charity,
amounting to upwards of 150/.