The Sun.
London, England, 1839-06-13 00:00:00

CHILDREN'S FRIENDS' SOCIETY.

The Anniversary Dinner of this Institution took
place yesterday at the London Tavern ; his Royal
Highness the Duke of Cambridge in the Chair. A
numerous and highly respectable company sat- down;
amongst whom were Sir C. Lemon, M.P., Mr. Wilbra-
ham, M.P., Lord Grosvenor, Lord Lyttleton, Lord
Stavorsdale, Mr. Serjeant Adams, Major Mitchell, A.
l3orradaile, Esq., H. Dyer, Esq., J. Conant, Esq., J.
Hall, Esq., J. Simpson, Esq.
The dinner was of the first description, served in ex-
cellent style, and the wines were worthy of the Lon-
don Tavern. We need say no more.
The cloth having been removed, " Non nobis" was
given in capital style by the professional vocalists
present.
His Royal Highness then gave " the Queen, Pro-
tcctress of the Institution," which was responded to
with great cordiality, and with the usual honours.
The Nationaf Anthem followed, by Mr. Hobbs, Mr.
Xtkitis, and Mr. Hatton (who presided at the piano).
Tne whole under the direction of Mr. Francis.

The health of the Queen Dowager and the rest of
the Royal Family was also drank with the customary
honour. Glee—"' Winds gently whisper."
The next toast, "the Patronesses, their Royal High-
nesses the Duchess of Kent, and Duchess of Glouces-
ter," was most cordially received. Glee—" Are the
white hours."
Toast-4' The Ladies' Committee and Subscribers?'
" Nymphs of the Forest."
Mr. Sergeant ADAMS then rose and said—By the
hind command of his Royal Highness, he rose, conscious
of his utter inability, however, to do justice to the toast
which he had the honour to propose—a toast which
should be drank with as much of solemn feeling as was
consistent with an assembly of the present description.
lie need hardly say he alluded to the memory of the
lamented and honoured Founder of the Inititution.—
Xlieers.) Educated for a profession, to which,
whether in war or in peace, the heart of every English-
man turned with enthusiasm, Captain Brenton, at a
time when 25 years of peace had quieted for a season,
the thunders of the British Navy—anly that they might
be ready to burst fbrth with increased effect, if required
in the future—Captain Brenton had struck out for him-
self a new line of philanthropic and patriotic exertion ;
in restoring to respectability and comfort those unfor-
tunate children, who might otherwise become mi-
serable and mischievous members of society.—
(Loud cheers.) Men called him an enthusiast—but
eo men had ever achieved greatness who were not
A firA derided as enthusiasts.—(Cheers.) The noble
,;pii it of his profission prompted him, when told of a
'•oy u hose temper was turbulent and intractable, to
:!y, " that bay requires education, and his spirit, when
ri4iitly directed, is just the spirit to climb your masts—
and fight your battic.;—and lead your enterprizes
throughout the world."—(Loud cheers.) He taught
us to regard that which lay at the foundation of national
prosperity of the rising generation—he never was dis-
couraged by that vice and degeneracy which, alas,
all who bad to do with the youth of this metro-
polis knew to prevail so lamentably—he found
that among all this degradation there were often the
seeds of the noblest character, choked, indeed, with
weeds, but in a luxuriant soil, and requiring only the
husbandinan's fostering hand to bring forth fruit, valtla-
ble and beneficial, instead of rank and noxious vegeta-
tion.—(Cheers.) Since 1832 this Society had been
in operation ; calumny had lately rained its voice against
it. ; but he (Sergeant Adams) would appeal to those pre-
sent if they could not testify to the beneficial practical
effect cf the Society. The station which he had the ho-
nour to hold might perhaps justify him in saying
that uo one but those who, like him, exercised
such offices, connected with the administration
of justice in this metropolis—none but those
who daily had their hearts rent by the exhis
bitions of those unhappy children, who received the sen-
tence of the law for crimes to which they had, in the
first instance, most likely been led by their destitution
and poverty.—(Hear.) He himself knew of a female
child, twelve years of age, who had been sent to the
Midiliesex House of Correction, for the offence
of--begging ! Such was the horrible state of
our law upon that subject.—( Hear, bear.) She had
no relation alive—no friend in the world ; she had
gained her living by begging—she got on an average 4d.
per G ty, of which she paid 2d. for her night's lodging.
She had been received by this Society. and saved from
vice.—(Cheers.) Happy was the Institution in the
patronage of her Majesty the Queen—(Cheers)—and in
the support of other Members of that distinguished
who had for 130 years swayed the sceptre of
thee realms with such honour to themselves and benefit
the country.—(Cheers.) Oh, that the brave seaman
who died in the thought thi t the ship was sinking could
see how well she had righted herself.—(Cheers.) He
hid kit others behind him, however, to continue
the great work which he had began, and those little
creatures whom he had saved from ruin, were living
monuments of his benevolence, more endearing than
s,aiptured marble.—(Loud cheers.)
4. Che Memory of Captain Brenton" was then drunk
to solemn silence.

I.te children belonging to the Institution then en-
tered the room, and walked round, accompanied by
tli,ic t,aehers. There were about fifty of each sex, we
thuviti say. Their appearance' was clean, comfortable,
lngiAtheerful, and excited the unqualified commendation
persons present. Some of them were quite in-
fiats ; the eldest did -not -teem more than-twelve or
thirteen years old. They came from the asylums at
Hackney Wick and Chiswick.

His ROYAL HIGHNESS hCre rose and said, after the
cratifjing spectacle which had just been witnessed, of
so many children who had been rescued from vice and
rain by this Society-, he was convinced he need say
rothing in support of the toast which he would now
give, " Prosperity to the Institution."—(Cheers.)
The toast was drank with three times three and
great cheering, increased by the lusty huzzas of the 1,
little boys who had been suffered to remain in the
room. 1

Earl GaosvENoß rose to propose the health of his
his Royal Highness, who so kindly occupied the chair
on the present occasion—a member of that Royal Fa-
mily, who had presented such a union of condescension
and digniy—and availed themselves of every opportu-
nity to support the cause of charity and benevolence.—
(Cheers.) His Royal Highness had on the present
occasion, much to his inconvenience, stepped for-
ward, because he had felt it to he the duty of every
person at this crisis so to do, who really valued the
objects of the Society.---(Cheers.) Let all here as-
sembled then join in drinking his Royal Highness's
health, with three times three.—(Cheers.) The toast
wis accordingly drank in the usual manner, and with
co.i.siderable applause.

H.s ROYAL •IlmitNEss said he felt highly flattered
by the way in which his health had been received. It was
with great satisfaction he had presided on this occasion.
nfortnuate stories had been recently propagated against
the Society, and from every thing he had heard,
though he confessed he did not know much of the de-
tails—he believed that injustice had been done to the
Society. It did so happen that the scene of the alleged
mismanagement was so far off that some time must elapse
beforo an explanation could be received. Meanwhile,
the stories circulated necessarily produced great effect.
No human establishment was, or could be, entirely
free from fault. —( Hear, hear.) If it were expected to
find Societieswithoutabuses, Societies must altogether be
given up.---(Hear.) In the present case every effort
had been used to correct abuses. What more could be
done?—(Hear, hear.) Every year improvements were
attempted in the political world—whether beneficially
or not lie would not then discuss.—( A laugh.) But he
did believe that this was a very useful Society, and he
should be glad to do anything in his power to support
it.—(Cheers.)

"I'Cie SECRETARY then read a list of donations
the Duke of Cambridge, 2'sl.—(Cheers.) Earl
Grosvenor, 20/.—(Cheers.) Lord Edon, 201. Duchess
of Roxburgh, 101. Lord Luke, 101. J. Hall, Esq., 101.
Rothschild and Co. 101., &c., Total amount,
101.—(Cheers.)
Francis--" There's a sweet little
rhtirttb."—(Much applauded.)
His ROYAL Iliclisuss gave, " The health of Earl
in;svenor, President."—(Drunk with all the honours,
r great cheering.)
Earl GROSVENOR in returning thanks' said, he knew
that his Grace the Duke of Richmond took a strong
interest in the welfare of the Society, and had been un-
oirlably prevented from attending.—(Cheers.) His
;al Highness had said that abuses must exist in all
human institutions. No doubt that was true ; but cer-
fainlv in this Institution he (Earl Grosvenor) had not
been able to discover any. The Society had
taken every possible means to prevent abuses,—had po-
,itively anticipated objections, and provided for every
difficulty that could be foreseen,—had sent out a Chap-
lain to the Cape—had prescribed the forms of the ap-
prenticeship indentures ; and had formed respecta-
ble Committees of Management in all the foreign
stations.—( Hear, hear.) It had been said indeed that
the Society had been taken in,--deceived. Now he
(Earl Grosvenor) knew several gentlemen who had
been in the foreign stations of the Society, and who had
:riven the most gratifying testimony. That evil had not
happened in any case would be absurd to suppose, while
human nature remained what it was—(Hear, hear)—
but the Society had taken every possible means to pre-
vent these evils. No doubt this Society, like all others,
must pass through the severe ordeal of public opinion,
It had lately incurred much censure. He hoped that
facts would be made known.—( Hear, hear.) But be
regretted that the press should have taken up the mat-
tzr so hastily and injuriously.—(lfear, hear.) He was
astonished that so respectable a journal as the Times
should have acted so—stating, for instance, that at the
annual meeting, no persons were allowed to express
Opposite opinions respecting the Society. He ap-
pealed. to those present—he staked his own veracity
,h eragoewnenvatthis assertion.—( Hear.) He was convinced
, that the ultimate result of the unjust attacks
would be that. the Society would rise with fresh vigour
and suceess.—(Cheers.) The more the truth was
;nv,itigated the more would the balefitial effects of