The Sun.
London, England, 1862-06-03 00:00:00

ROYAL CALEDONIAN ASYLUiII.

Last evening, the forty-fifth anniversary festival
of this institution was celebrated at the Freemasons'
Tavern, Great Queen's-street, Lincoln's• inn-fields,
under the presidency of Earl Russell, who numbered
amongst his more immediate supporters the Duke
of Buccleuch, the Marquis of Abercorn, the Earl
of Fife, Lord Stratford de Redcliffe, Sir Charles
Macgregor, Sir Stuart Donaldson, Sir S. Heron
Maxwell, Sir George Clerk, Bart., Sir J. Dalzymple
Hay, Sir J. Gordon Cumming, Colonel Sykes, M.P.,
the Bishop of Nova Scotia, the Marquis de Paroles,
the Minister from Monte Video, the Spanish Con-
sul-General, &c.
The institution, it appeared, was founded for the
purpose of supporting and educating the children
of soldiers, sailors, and marines (natives of Scotland),
who have died in the service of their country, and
of indigent Scotch parents, resident in London, not
receiving parochial relief. According to the speech
of the Chairman in proposing the toast of the even-
ing—" The Royal Caledonian Asylum, and may the
offspring of the brave never want a friend"—the
institution was incorporated at the close of the war
in 1815, and since that time a large number of
children had received an education through its
agency who would otherwise have received no edu-
cation at all. There were now 118 children upon
the books of the asylum, and the committee were
most anxious to extend the means at their disposal,
for experience showed that they could do a much
larger amount of good than they had yet accom-
plished if the funds at their command were in-
creased. At present it appeared that when there
were five children to be elected there were not less
than twenty-five candidates ; and this fact alone
was sufficient to prove how greatly the advantages
of the institution might be extended. When they
considered the benefits derivable from such a so-
ciety, they should reflect that in conferring those
benefits upon the children of brave men who had
fallen in the service of their country they were per-
forming an act of justice rather than of generosity.
It should also be borne in mind that those who oc-
cupied the higher places in the army received the
reward of their gallantry in the proud acknowledg-
ments of their country; but no such boon was in
store for the poor soldier, by whom fame and im-
mortality could never be expected, and hence it was
only right that they should have the consolation of
knowing that their children would not be left to
beggary. He commended this excellent institution
to the goodwill of all who appreciated the benefits
to be derived from its operations, and he trusted
that efforts would be made to extend the sphere of
its usefulness.

The toast having been responded to with the
greatest enthusiasm and with true Highland hon-
ours, Sir J. Heron Maxwell proposed the health cf
the President of the institution, the Duke of Buc-
cleuch, who afterwards gave the health of the noble
chairman. These toasts were respectively responded
to with the usual Highland honours, and in the end
subscriptions and donations were announced to the
amount of £l,OOO.

The musical arrangements were under the super-
intendence of Mr. Theodore Distin, who was ably
assisted by Miss Poole, Mr. Carter, and others, and
in addition to their vocal efforts, the company wore
entertained by the band of the Scots Fusilier
Guards, under the able direction of Mr. C. Godfrey,
jun.
Mr. Spencer officiated as toast-master.

- -
FATAL ACCIDENT IN THE MERSEY.

LOSS OF FIVE LIVES.

A sad accident occurred on Saturday evening in
the Mersey. Several stevedores, who had been
employed in stowing the cargo of the American
ship Fairway, lying at anchor in the river, were
returning from that vessel in a " gig." When
within a short distance of the landing-stage the
boat filled with water, having either been struck
by a steam-tug or partially swamped by the swell
caused by the vessel's machinery. The boat being
crowded, the men were in great danger of their
lives, and this being noticed from the steam-tug,
life-buoys were thrown out, and other means taken
for their rescue. In consequence, however, of the
men moving from one side of the boat to the other,
in order to seize upon the ropes and buoys which
were thrown to them, the gig upset, and the whole
of the men were at once struggling for their lives
in the water. Some boats were put off from the craft
lying in the river, and also from the landing-stage,
and by these means 16 men were saved. Five, how-
ever, were drowned, and leave wives and children
unprovided for. The names of four of the men who
were drowned are—Michael loran, Patrick Daly,
Patrick M'Donald,and Jas. M‘Kenna. Thefifth man's
name is not at present known, but at the time of
the accident he was a servant in the employ of the
Duke of Bridgewater Trust.

EARLY SWARM OF LIGURIAN BEES.—A hive of
Ligurian or Italian bees, belonging to Mr. J. Swan, of
Dunse, produced a fine natural swarm on the 27th May,
which weighed Gib. This variety of bee, since their intro-
duotion, have proved themselves not only extraordinarily
prolific, but also very superior honey-gatherers, and, from
the forwardness of the hives at the commencement of this
season, arc likely to maintain the character they have
hitherto received as superior workers,—,Soloman.