The Sun.
London, England, 1854-03-09 00:00:00

THE SEAMEN'S HOSPITAL CHARITY.

The 331 anniversary of this charity was celebrated
last evening at the London Tavern, under the presidency
of the Right Hon. E. Cardwell, M.P., President of the
Board of Trade, and though not so numerously attended
as on previous occasions, yet the munificence of the con-
tributions amply testified to the estimation in which this
excellent charity is held, as well by the public as the
members of the nautical profession. The dinner was
served in Mr. Bathe's best style, and the musical ar-
rangements were most satisfactorily conducted under the
superintendence of Mr. G. Gengc.
The Chairman, in proposing the toast of the evening
—" Prosperity to the Seamen's Hospital," referred to
the act of last session (the Merchant Shipping Act), by
the operation of which a sum of 1,2001. per annum was
lost to the charity. However, he expressed a hope that
the " vacuum would be abhorred" by the assembled
friends of the charity, and that so excellent an institu-
tion, which had afforded relief in the past year to no less
than 4,000 seamen of every clime and language, the only
claim being necessity—would not be allowed to suffer on
the present occasion.
The toast was enthusiastically responded to ; and
after the usual routine, the subscription list was declared
to have realised 1,1471., including her Majesty's annual
donation of 1001., 281. from the Emperor of the French,
and 201. from the Czir of Russia, which latter contribu-
tion was received with partial cheering and laughter.
The company separated shortly before eleven o'clock.

THE NEW TWO-AND-A-HALF PER CENT. STOCK.—The
following note relates to the position of the holders of
the New Two-a-ed-a-Half per Cent. Stock created under
the late conversion act :

" " Lombard-street, March 8.
Sir,—ln consideration of the nerves of the holders of
Two-and-a-Half per Cents., which may be somewhat
shaken oy the statement of Sir F. Kelly on Monday night,
it will, be kind to let them know that they have not lost
201. 'Co 251. per cent.,' as he stated, by their too credulous
ase,ent to the Chancellor of the 'Exchequer's proposal for
t'ae conversion of their Three per Cents. into Two-and-a-
Half per Cents.
" The case stands thus : —Had the said stockholders
wisely rejected the Government offer, and stuck to their
Consols at 100, they would dill have lost 9 per cent. of
their capital at their present price of 91. As it is, how-
ever, their 110 Two-and-a-Half received by them in ex-
change are, at 78 per cent., worth 851. 16s. ; so that, in
fact, they are comparative losers by their assent of 51. 4s.
per cent, only—a hard case truly (in which I wish the
Government could adopt Sir F. Kelly's suggestion of ' com-
pensation for a loss to which they have been so mainly
instrumental'), but not so bad as that made out against
the Chancellor of the Exchequer by his learned opponent.
sir, your obedient servant, B."

-
DEPARTURE OF THE AMERICAN MAlLS.—Yesterday
afternoon the United States mail steam-ship Pacific,
Captain Ezra Nye, sailed from the Mersey for New
York, with the usual mails for the United States, 70
passengers, and a large and valuable cargo of merchan-
dise on freight.
THE EXPLOSION AT MR. COTON 'S FIREWORK MANI.I.
FACTORY. —lt has been ascertained that Mr. Coton and
a boy, named Charles Berkshire, were the only persons
killed by this unfortunate explosion. The rest of the
persons in the premises at the time, consisting of work-
men in the business, Mrs. Coton, and other members of
the family, fortunately escaped.
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