The Sun.
London, England, 1863-06-15 00:00:00

ROYAL CALEDONIAN ASYLUM.

The 46th anniversary dinner of the Royal Caledonian
Asylum, founded for the purpose of clothing, educating,
and supporting the children of Scottish soldiers who have
died or been disabled in their country's service, and also the
children of indigent Scotchmen resident in London, took
place on Friday night at Willis's Rooms, and by the exer-
tions of Mr. Daniels, the secretary, one of the most distin-
guished assemblies that has ever graced these festivals was
gathered together. Some 250 gentlemen sat down under
the presidency of his Royal Highness the Duke of Cam-
bridge. _ _

The stairs leading to the dinner-hall were lined with the
stout healthy-looking children of the school. The hall
itself was tastefully decorated with clan banL ers and de-
vices. Before and during dinner the piper of the Highland
Society and the piper of Lord Dunmore, by turns, played
pibrochs, reels, and strathspeys, on the bagpipes, alternat-
ing with band and pipers of the asylum, Many of the
gentlemen present wore the Highland costume ; these inter-
spersed with various uniforms of the army and navy, and
the volunteers, and the dresses of numerous ladies, who
provided with seats, gave the room a more than usually gay
appearance.

On the removal of the cloth, the CHAIRMAN briefly pro-
posed the health of " The Queen," which was enthusias.
tically responded to, many of the guests drinking it with
Highland honours. Before giving the next toast, " The
Health of the Prince and Princess of Wales, and the rest
of the Royal Family," his Royal Highness made the gra-
tifying announcement that the Prince of Wales had con-
sented to become the patron of the Royal Caledonian
Asylum, a statement which, as may be safely guessed,
in no wise dimini,hed the warmth with which the
toast was received. The toast of " The Army, the
Navy, and the Volunteers," was responded to on the part
of the army by Colonel Clarke, for the navy by Admiral
Sir Hope Johnston, who recommended the society to induce
some of their boys to enter the navy, and for the volunteers
Sir Alexander Gordon Cumming.
At this period of the proceedings, the children of the
schools filed into the room, headed by their pipers.
In proposing the toast of the evening, his Royal High-
ness the Duke of CAMBRIDGE said it became his duty to
draw attention more immediately to the subject which
had brought them together. He need not remind them
that he was going to propose prosperity to the asylum
which had brought under their notice so many interesting
objects of charitat•le compassion. The Royal Caledonian
Asylum was founded in the year 1818 by the Highland
Society, after a long war, to take care of the orphan
children of soldiers, sailors, and marines who had at that
time fallen in the defence of their country. The object,
therefore, was very interesting, and more particularly to
one who, like himself, had the honour of being connected
with one of those important services. It was doubly inte-
resting to him, because though it was well known from his-
tory that the Scotch and Highland regiments had especially
distinguished themselves upon every occasion, he had had
the honour of having three of those distinguished regiments
—indeed, including the Scotch Fusiliers, four—under his
more immediate command. He had seen the gallantry
and distinction of those corps—three of which were
under the immediate command of Lord Clyde—and
from his experience he could say that there were no regi-
ments in her Majesty's service more entitled to receive the
esteem and admiration of their country. With regard to
the Caledonian Asylum, it had at present within its walls
62 boys and.so girls. It would hold 140 or 160, but from a
praiseworthy desire on tha part of the society not to go
beyond their means, they had wisely determined to limit
the number receiving support to 112. Though that, no
doubt, was wise and prudent, it did not appear to him to
be satisfactory to those who desired to support this noble
institution, and, therefore, they ought to endeavour
to find funds to 'maintain the whole number of children
that the institution was calculated to contain. The
number of applications for admission were very
numerous, so that there would be no difficulty on that
score. It was, therefore, simply a matter of pounds,
shillings, and pence, and he hoped to be as successful in
extracting what was necessary from the large and influ-
ential body of gentlemen he saw around him as the
managers had been in collecting them at their hospitable
board. What the society wanted was annual subscrip-
tions. No doubt it was very desirable to augment the
funded property of such institutions. In the present
instance the asylum had £19,000 in the funds, but that, at
the ordinary rate of interest on Government securities,
produced but a small part of what was required for
the ordinary expenditure. Thanks, however, to the
liberality displayed on such occasions as the present, the
institution was not in debt, but prosperous and flourishing
so far as its means would admit. Though intended mainly
for the orphans of soldiers and sailors, its benefits had been
extended to the children of poor Scottish civilians, who
could make out a good claim. Under those circumstances,
he had a right to claim their interest in an institution
which was managed in such a way that the children, when
they left, turned out most creditable and respectable in the
various walks of life. (Cheers.)

The toast was received with the utmost warmth.
The CHAIRMAN next proposed the health of the Duke of
Buccleuch, the president of the asylum, which was drunk
with three times three, again repeated on the suggestion of
Si: C. Forbes.

Lord HENRY SCOTT, in the absence of the duke, his
father, acknowledged the toast.
The Duke of RICHMOND then in eulogistic terms proposed
the health of the chairman, which was drunk enthusiasti-
cally, with Highland honours.

His ROYAL HIGHNESS replied in suitable terms, and
then proposed the " Church of Scotland, and all other
Christian churches," coupled with the name of the Rev.
Dr. Cumming, who responded.

The remaining toasts were "The Highland Society of
London—parent of the Caledonian Asylum," " The Cale-
donian Asylum of London and the Scottish Hospital,"
"The Medical Officers of the Asylum," who give their
services gratuitously, and "The Ladies,"

During the course of the evening subscriptions to the
amount of upwards of £l,OOO were announced.
Mr. Harker officiated as toastmaster.

The new street from Blacktriars•bridge to the
Mansion-house is to be calla Southwark-street.

IN 1-
7 4,
411 Tit • elttular

HER MAJESTY.

WINDSOR CASTLE, June 13.
The Queen, accompanied by her Royal Highness
Princess Helena, drove out yesterday afternoon in a
carriage and, four, attended by the Marchioness of
Ely and Lieut. Colonel the Hon. D. De Roe.

Her Majesty, accompanied by their Roya; High-
nesses Princess Helena and Prince Leopald, visited
the Queen Marie Amelie, at Claremont this after-
noon, attended by the Marchioness of Ely, Mbjor
General the Hon. A. N, Hood, and Lieut. Colonel
the Hon. D. De Ros.

SUNDAY.

The Queen, their Royal Highnesses Prince
Alfred, Princess Helena, Princess Louisa, Prince
Arthur, and Prince Leopold, the Ladies and
Gentlemen of the Court, and the domestic house-
hold, attended divine service in the private chapel.
The Rev. W. Jolly officiated.
His Royal Highness Prince Alfred, attended by
Major Cowell, returned from London last evening.
His Royal Highness Prince Arthur, attended by
Major Elphinstone, arrived at the Castle yesterday
from Greenwich Park.

His Excellency Count de Lavradio also arrived
at the Castle.
Viscount Palmerston had an audience of the
Queen to-day.