The Sun.
London, England, 1853-06-30 00:00:00

LICENSED VICTUALLER& SCHOOLS.

The anniversary dinner in support of the above schools
took place yesterday at the Highbury Barn Tavern, and
was one of the most successful festivals known for many
years past. Considerably upwards of 2,000 persons sat
down to dinner in an immense marquee on the lawn,
and nearly the same number of ladies was accommodated
in a gallery which ran round the whole of the interior.
The chair was taken by Lettsom Elliott, Esq., sup•
ported by several of the most influential members of the
trade.

On the removal of the cloth the bealths of her Ma-
jesty and Prince Albert were given with the usual
honours, the National Anthem being sung in full chorus
by the children. Occasional verses were then recited by
Cook, first boy ; and Jones, second, the latter eliciting
considerable applause by his appropriate and emphatic
delivery. The children passed round the marquee in
procession, and their healthy and respectable appearance
was the subject of general commendation.
The CHAIRMAN next proceeded to call attention io
the charity whose anniversary the company had met to
celebrate. He testified from personal inspection to the
excellent management of the school, and expressed his
belief that every care was taken to impart to the chil-
dren a useful, moral, and religious education. For their
health the company could judge fur themselves, and he
had only to remind them, that since the foundation of
the school in 1803, 1,300 children bad been reared and
educated in the school, and sent forth into the world to
pursue respectable and fortunate careers. (Hear, hear.)
Of that number 300 had received 51. each as apprentice
fees, and upon the remainder upwards of 2,0001. had
been spent in outfits for various descriptions of service.
(Cheers.) Such advantages could not have been ob-
tained without a very liberal expenditure, and it was
well known that the expenses of these schools were
upwards of 3,0001. a-year. They had only 6,0001.
funded property, a sum only sufficient for two years'
expenditure, but that was a proof of the well-grounded
confidence of the governors in the subscribers, as all
the funds were expended as fast as they were re-
ceived. The privileges were great, as an annual subscrip-
tion of one guinea entitled a subscriber to a vote for each
child who was a candidate at any single election ; and a
life subscription of ten guineas entitled the donor to four
votes at each election. As a proof of the good effected
by the school, he might mention that he had to acknow-
ledge a subscription of 100 guineas from one who attri-
buted all his success in life to the education and training
he had received under the auspices of the Licensed Vic-
tuallers. (Cheers.) As a further incentive to their cha-
rity, he begged to remind them that the schools were
now open to the children of licensed victuallers through-
out the United Kingdom. The chairman concluded an
eloquent appeal by calling on the company to surpass on
the present occasion all former contributions to this most
excellent charity.
Mr. SMALLEY, the secretary, then read the list of sub-
scriptions, from which it resulted that the society was
enriched by donations, &c., to the amount of upwards of
2,0001.
The company then adjourned to the grounds and ball-
room, to enjoy the amusements incidental to these anni-
versaries.—Mr. Higgs officiated as toastmaster.