The Sun.
London, England, 1814-03-28 00:00:00

.
On §atitialay a Meeting toblt place at the Free-,
tnasons-Hall; for the relief of the SdfferingS of
the inhabitants of Germaq, in clinsetittenca:, of
the ravages of war, Ilk Royal I<right*l the.
Duke of \Tom( was iii the Chair. Duke Of
SUSSEX, the Archbishops of YORIt oft GlN:f#ll.
BURY; and several of the Bislmopi arid Nobility,
with a great ntirtibtir lff distitighished persons of
both 'sexes, were present.
The Duke of Volta: opened the hitsines6 of the
Meeting by' saying; that the respectable company
present were too, well acquainted with the state
iii Which Europa bad existed for the last ten years,
to need many.wthals in explanation of the purpose
for which they were. met Germany, after many
years of oppression, under foreign yoke, had li-
berated herself; but this had been effected after a
severe struggle, which had been attended with all
the calamities. consequent on war. _During this
arduous contest; by the event of which well9ll,
been so benefited, we had escaped from all; the
calamities which'Germany had laboured: undeli`
nothing, therefore, Was more natural; and just,
titan that We, who. had tm-ffered nothing, should
endeavour to
_assist those who had suffered so
much. He should say, no more,. and ,he. thought
no more need he said to excite.the generosity of
a Thitish Audience. He Concluded by desiri6g the
Secretary to read the Report of the COnntiiff•ee.
%Ir. MARTe.N, ,one of the Secr:qarics, read the
Report he'Co:nfflittee,2which contained a'state
mem of the safe;'ings which had hetn.caiised 'in
(rermany by,the'ivar, and 1111:iippeat- to.t be:British
Public torfelivf.- 'it also contained an extract of
a letter frOnt 'Pvague; in Which the misery•Of that
city and its neighbonrhood was pathetically
ile-
scribed, aml in which it was, stated,_ that the n -
deavours of the beiieolent iu Germany were di-
rected to the supply of the sufferers Nvith straw
aid fitod,.and corn for sowing the ground. The
Committee had sent. some assistance to these
sufferers. The Report' also. gave an account of
the exertions of the Ladies of Berlin, who„ when
the French left that city in March 1813, made the
utmost efforts for the.relief of the sick and wound-
ed :it the hospitals—some
.employing themselves
in fine_svolks, the produce of which Was employed
to purchase necessaries for the sufferers—some in
preparing lint and bandages, and' washing the
wounds. The Princess William of Prussia joined
this benevolent association'. By the exertions of
the Ladies of Berlin, .thousands who would other-
havelicrisheci, hild been preserved to the State,
end were fighting the battles of their country with
the gallant Blucher. -The Committee had trans-
mitted 100)1. to be. put' at the alisposoal,of the
Ladies of Berlin.
The Report having been read, the Secretary
proposed' the Resolutions of support to the stir-
fererse, and for a subscription, which were unani-
rnously agreed to.
The' Committee was then nominated, and the
names, especially those of Messrs. Wilberforce and
Thornton, and of his Royal Highness the Puke
of York, were received with great applause.
The Secretary then read a Letter from Lord
Sidinouth to the Chairman, infOrming him of the
Prince Regent's gracious intention of subscribing
5001:—(Applause).
Lord KENTON also deliliered. the Secretary a
Leaer whiCh be bad received from th,lt Noble
Lord; desiring him to set down his name for. woo.
Mr. G. Ro..:s tbs. pm oppiert that a Subscription
should be imimo entered into.
The Archbishop of CANTERBURY said, that af-
ter the ftesolutiops, which had been adopted, the
next step was to raise a subscription for the pur-
poses which had been • stated. The Company
would .bearla mind one thing—sthat froM the ef-
forts of Germany we had 'derived great aflean-
tages, 'without heaving eXpericnced the, horrors
which had fallen on that country in consequettee.
It was therefore our laity to exert ourselves to the
utmost in the restoratiou of that country arliich
had suffered from the.war which had raged io its
howe!s—(Applause). On this ground they Ayere
called on' to'support tbe.subscription.
The Duke of SUSSEX also warnily and ably spoke
in favour of this Subscription.
The Earl Of BUCBINGHAV proposed a vve of
thanks to the Duke of York, observing,: that a
charitable institution seldom occurred in which
that Royal Duke was not conspicuous.
This proposition' was received with great ap-
plause, but not-pat, owing, we suppose, to the
Royal Duke not having then left the Chair.
Mr. WILBERPORCE was sure that what distress
hue felt on the present occasion, and it was impos-
sible for him to conceal from them that he felt a
considerable degree of-distress, did not arise front
his not participating. fully in the sentiments ex-
pressed by the Noble Earl, sentiments so just
that they fOund an echo in every breast, nor front
any wish in hint
cto delay the expres.sion of this
common feeling 'of thanks which was ready to
burst from the assembly, but from the' eonscions-
ne'ss of his inadequacy to do justice to the wish
expressed by some friends beside him, that he
would second the motion of the -Noble Earl.—
In truth, it was not his wish to .remain
when an opportunity was proposed" to do that
to avhieli he was strongly. led by fife-best feel-
.lugs- of the heart. fie felt, however; that he
would be abusing their patience if he delayed
for a single moment. the expression of their
,thanks. They were now, called together on a great
occasion for the display of national generosity and
benevolence ;" and on occasions of such a nature
they were always accustomed to see his .Royal
highness take the lead-7-(Applause). When by the
kindness of Providence they were spared the suffer-
ings and calamities which hall fallen to the lot
of other nations, it was highly gratifyitt to see
what they Witnessed that day, whatever was high-
est in rank and dignity camesforwarti .to contribute
their countenance and aid in the relief and allevia-
thin of distress—(Applause). They lived in R coun-
try which was in the enjoyment of many and high
,distinetions, dist inctions which none knew betteror
• felt more strongly than himself, for-few nien had
, been more favoured by Providence than himself ;
but ire. barl never felt more highly what it was
.stol.lie4irEnglishrnan than that Ilav, when he saw
the Digpitari'es of the Church setting a bright ex-
ample of christian Virtue, in, relieving the neces-
sities of time destitute, and softening, if they could
norcure, the distresses of the sick. While he