The Sun.
London, England, 1862-06-07 00:00:00

FOREIGNERS IN DISTRESS.

The annual festival of the Society of Friends of Fo-
reigners in Distress was held yesterday at the London Ta-
vern, Mr. Sheriff Cockerell in the absence ofthe Lord Mayor
occupying the chair. The present time, when so many fo-
reigners are in London, is peculiarly opportune for drawing
attention to the strong claims which this society has, not
only on national, but on universal sympathy, for moral and
pecuniary assistance. Benevolent in design and admirable
in its administration, its objects are to grant aid to indigent
foreigners without distinction of country or religion, espe-
cially to those not entitled to parochial relief, and to furnish
gratuitous passages to those desirous of returning home,
the numbers asking for such assistance being neither few
nor far between. There are in London certain trades,
liable, like all others, to the various fluctuations of com-
merce, to which most foreigners on arriving in Eng-
land betake themselves, and the consequence is that
any temporary derangement or stoppage immediately
throws a vast number of applicants on the funds of the
society. This, owing to the suspension of our trade with
America, has been more particularly the case during the
past year. No fewer than 633 cases appear on the books of
1861, against 566 in the year 1860, while grants of no less
than 296 gratuitous passages have been made to disappointed
workmen eager to return home. Owing to these unexpected
calls on the funds of the society, the directors have been
obliged to encroach on their capital by the sale of £5OO
Three per Cents. Notwithstanding this extraordinary
measure, they found themselves on March 1, 1862, not
only without a balance, but actually anticipating the income
of the present year. A loan of £l5O had been contracted
to restore the finances of the Almshouses for Indigent Fo-
reigners, so great had been the demand on their resources.
Under such circumstances the pecuniary prospects of the
society were anything but cheering, and it is hoped that
the annual dinner will go far to restore a balance—
and, if we may judge from the amount collected,
we have no reason to doubt that the hope will be ful-
filled. An excellent dinner having increased the chari-
table tendencies of the guests present, the various loyal and
customary toasts were quickly disposed of. Mr. Sheriff
Cockerell then proposed " Success to the Society," and in
the course of his speech dwelt upon the forlorn and desolate
condition of a foreigner in this great city without friends or
resources, and with none or but small acquaintance with our
language. London, the great resort for foreigners whom
political offences or the pangs of want had driven from their
native land, was, he said, an inviolable asylum where the
advocate of national liberty might always find a safe re-
fuge. The casualties of shipwreck also threw many stran-
gers on our coasts, and it was the object and the pride of
such societies as these to minister to their distress and pro-
vide for their wants. Since the establishment of this society,
56 years ago, 100,419 persons had been relieved by its
agency—a fact which, joined with its unsectarian cha-
racter, strongly recommended it to the favourable conside-
ration of all nations. The society in the past year had
afforded a relief of £l3 each to 74 pensioners, of £2O each
to 10 pensioners, of £5 4s. each to 65 pensioners, and
of from ss. to 7s, a month to 9 others, while 23 aged persons
dwelling in the almshouses had received 7s. 6d. weekly
numerous applicants receiving a sick allowance of ss. a week.
These facts were more eloquent than words ; and when, in
conjunction with them, it was stated that the funds of the
society were not in so prosperous a condition as was desir-
able, he had not the slightest doubt that the company would
appreciate the past efforts of the society, and enable them
to renew them in the coming year. Several toasts were then
drunk, after which the secretary announced that the total
subscriptions amounted to £1,686 Ss. 6d., including a mu-
nificent gift of £lOO from the Queen. The musical arrange-
ments of the evening, under the direction of Mr. Benedict,
were of a very superior class, and were much enhanced by
the voices of the members of the Vocal Association, whose
rendering of Kucken's air " Come Dorothy," was a most
exquisite musical treat. Mdlle. Anna Whitty's " Non pm
mesta" was excellent, as was also the duet of the Misses
" Giorno d'orrore." It is seldom such singing is
heard at public dinners, and we suspect that its presence was
due to the musical tastes and requirements of the German
guests, who mustered in very strong numbers last night.
Mr, Higgs, as toastmaster, was all that could be desired,