The Sun.
London, England, 1864-06-21 00:00:00

Asylum for Fatherless Children.

The general meeting and midsummer election of this
charity took place yesterday at the London Tavern, Alder-
man Lusk in the chair.

The Rev. T. W. Aveling (the hon. sec.) read the report
of the committee of management, which stated that the total
receipts from May,1863, to May, 1861, amounted to £10,582
Is sd, which sum had been expended, with the exception
of a balance of £323 fis 7d. Since the 15th May, £350 more
had been paid off the building debt, reducing it to £10,450.
The year now closed had not passed without one of those
visitations of sickness to which children are exposed, and
from which not the most unremitting care of the officers
and house committee could possibly preserve them. Au
epidemic common to childhood appeared three months ago,
but through the blessing of the great Father of the family,
the instant and constant attention of their friend Dr Rose'
the senior physician to the charity, and the sleepless vigi-
lance and superintendence of all employed in the establish-
ment, it has passed without the loss of a single life. The
health of the children at the present time was very good.
Towards the close of 1863 a most generous and unexpected
offer was made to the board by one of its oldest friends, to
give the handsome sum of 1,900 guineas to the charity. This
offer was coupled With a request that the further sum of
5,000 guineas should be raised, within two years, as a ape.
dal effort, and the whole amount be applied to the reduction
of the debt. Another generous friend weo desires to be
anonymous, immediately offered 500 guineas towards the
latter sum, and pledged himself to get a similar amount in
addition, of which 100 guineas have been already obtained.
Other friends responded to the appeal which the board at
,once put forth, to the amount of £1,280. Thus, since last
year, the debt had been reduced by the sum of £3,805, leav-
ing now due £lO,BOO, towards which there are promises,
extending over certain periods, to the amount of between
£l,OOO and £l,lOO. Special contributions towards the debt
were still earnestly solicited, as well as increased annual
subscriptions and donations towards the current fund. This
latter had not quite met the ordinary expenditure, although
the annual subscriptions had increased by the sum of £100;
but the board' had been encouraged, by the continued
liberality of the public, to receive during the past year 30
instead of 20 children, the number formerly admitted. As
the debt diminishes the board trust to be able to increase
the number of admissions, and they hoped to see the build-
ing, capable of accommodating 300 inmates, completely
filled. The present number of children was 186.
On the motion of Mr DONNINGTON, seconded by Mr
HARDEN, the report was adopted.
A vote of thanks was passed to the treasurer, Baron L,
Rothschild ; the sub .treasurer, Mr Harvey, the honorary
secretary, the Rev Mr Aveling; and to the physician and
other officers of the charity.
The CitAIRMAN said the charity was in a very satisfac-
tory condition, and everything was prosperous. The
children were in good health, and that being the case he
should ask the friends of the charity for their support in
order that the institution might be made the most prosper-
ous in the metropolis.

A vote of thanks was passed to the chairman, and the
election of five girls, out of a list of 20 candidates, and 10
boys, out of a list of 54 candidates was proceeded with.