The Sun.
London, England, 1849-05-17 00:00:00

The Bishop of ()amino, in seconding the resolution,
observed, that when asked by the committee to do so,
he had been led to examine some of the statistical de-
tails of the society, with the view of recommending its
plan to their adoption. But that request had been made
before his Royal Highness, who prezided over that meet-
ing, had entered upon the statement by which their pro.
ceedings were commenced. But after the singularly
lucid and comprthensive speech with which his Royal
highness had opened the subject—(Hear)—very little
remained for him or any other speaker to add to that
statement.—(Hear.) In fact his Royal Highness had at
once and aptly sketched out a correct description of the
present society when he said it was not a charitable so-
ciety, but one to enable parties to sustain and assist them-
selves. To show what an adequate provision could be
made for such a great number of persons by such a
plan as a benevolent fund, he would just say, that it had
been calculated that it would require a capital of no
less than 100,0001, to secure a pension of 2CI. a year for
only 175 persons.—(Hear.) He thought there were
many reasons which ought to induce them, and which
made it their bounden duty, to afford the advantages
held out by that institution to that large class who had
eo just a claim upon them. Many persons might say
they would provide for their own servants in old age,
but could those individuals answer for their own ability
to du so when the necessity arose ?—(Naar.) One great
disadvantage which arose from the circumstances of the
present social system of this country was that the old re-
lations between servants and masters were dissevered.
The present society he conceived was a step in the
direction of remedying in some degree that evil.
perioden tere d
osfer vliicfee
ait t ww-ahsiehgenerally
at that early period of life at which people
cal-
culation, and they imperceptibly acquired the habit of
Pryeersaorllniytstle forethought or provident as‘hVtpaehdnetduhan'etg all their earnings until it was too late to re-
claim it. Another evil of the present social system was
that a feeling of servility distinct from service was gene-
rated. It was just a consideration of the money paid,
and the service rendered for it.—(Hear, hear.) Now,
humanly speaking, that society afforded the servant a
safeguard against that; for it would tend to give the
servant a feeling of self-reliance and independence. The
Right Rev. Prelate concluded an eloquent and touching
appeal, of which we regret want of space compels us to
give only an outline, by calling on them to give their
support to a society which deserved it so well.
The Bishop of LONDON then, at the request of his
Royal Highness, read the resolution, which was to the
effect that it was desirable to encourage providence and
thrift amongst servants, and hold out to them the ad-
vantages proposed by that institution through the means
of the Annuity Act.
The resolution passed unanimously.
Lord ASULEY, in proposing the second resolution,
said it was one of such a practical nature as would re-
quire no rhetorical flourish to recommend it to the
meeting. It went to pledge the meeting to carry out
the recommendations contained in the report. The
Noble Lord, in moving the resolution, condemned the
principles of what were called benefit societies, which
often had a very injurious effect on the moral habits and
temporal welfare of those who joined them; and he
strongly recommended the encouragement of such insti-
tutions as they were that day met to advocate and sup-
port. He also pointed out the advantages which would
result from the establishment of model lodging-houses
for men and women servants, as very successful conse-
quences had ensued from some experiments of a le iwilar
kind which had been lately made in this metropolis.
The Very Reverend Archdeacon MANNINO, in se-
conding the resolution, called the attentton of the meet-
ing to the wide-spread benefits which would !result from
that society in a moral, social, and political point of view,
in consequence of the salutary effects which its working
would produce amongst the families, children, and con-
nexions of domestic servants iu all parts of the kingdom.
The second resolution having been put, like the former
one, was also carried unanimously.
The Bishop of LONDON, in rising to move the third
resolution, said that it would hardly be expected that
in thus doing he should extend his observations to
any great length in addressing a meeting, the pro-
' ceedings of which had not commenced until past
three o'clock. • He could not hope to urge any
stronger or additional arguments in favour of that
institution than had been already used; and, more
especially, after the opening speech of his Royal
highness—(Hear, hear)—a speech not more remarkable
for the deep Christian principles which pervaded it, than
for the comprehensive philosophy which marked his
views.—(Hear, hear.) lle called on the public to sup-
port such a society as the present by their influence and
contributions. It was not a charitable association; but
it was calculated to promote the interests of those who
came forward to sustain themselves.—(Hear, hear.) It
was their duty to do so. Nay, they themselves would
benefit by it; for there was no tot of duty or charity
which did not confer a benefit on those who performed It.
The relations between master and servant in this coun-
try were not the same as formerly, when the domestics
were looked upon more in the light of children than any-
thing else, in the families which they served. Now
though it might be impossible, under existing circum-
stances, to restore those relations to what they were be-
fore, he thought the society was one step towards the
accomplishment of such a desirable end. Though it
might be melancholy to contemplate the number of do-
mestic servants that were inmates of our workhouses,
yet it was consoling and gratifying to be able to state
that a very small proportion indeed, of those who had
been househo!d servants, and consequently exposed to
great temptations upon their honesty, were criminals in
our gaols or penetentiaries.—(Hear.) There might be
various associations which held out greater advantages
than that society, but none possessed the same solid ad-
vantages; and with respect to societies based upon the
same principles and with similar objects, they would
offer to receive them, and give them all the good which
h
the
em
goods e I vaend s.
prudent Their
servantchief object
supportw as
that of
himself in his old age by his own honest earnings and
t p
enablings
sessed in
tht
industry.—(Hear.)
Sir T. ACLAND (on behalf of Mr. W. E. Glad& one,
who was unavoidably absent) having briefly seconded
the resolution, it passed.
The Archbishop of CANTERBURY proposed a resolu-
tion conveying the deep gratitude and humble respects
of the meeting to her Majesty the Queen and the Queen
Dowager for their patronage of the society, and to his
Royal Highness Field-Marshal the Prince Albert for his
condescension in presiding over the meeting that day.
The Marquis of WESTMINSTER having seconded the
resolution,
The Bishop of LONDON put it to the meeting, when it
was earried by acclamation.
His ROYAL HIGHNESS then rose and said—Gentlemen
—Allow me to thank you for the very kind feeling you
have expreE:ed and manifested towards myself per-
sonally. The part which I have had to bear in the pro•
ceedings of this day has been a very light one, and I
can assure you it has been gladly borne.—(Hear.) Let
me remind you on parting, that on you it will depend
to make the words which have fallen from this platform
realities in life—(hoar)—dud to carry into operation
and effect the recommendations which we have made.
His Royal Highness then bowed to the meeting, and
withdrew amid loud and prolonged expressions of ap-
plause.
The assemblage then broke ep.

co uitT CIRCULAR.
The Queen gave a sta`e ball (the second this season;
last evening, at Buckingham Palace, to a party o
nineteen hundred, comprising the members of the Roya
Family and Foreign Princes and Princesses in England,
all the members of the Diplomatic Corps and their
Ladies, the Ladies and Gentlemen of the Royal House-
holds, and a very numerous circle of the Nobility and
Gentry,
The State saloons were opened for the reception, and
were brilliantly illuminated with handsome chandeliers
and candelabra, the recesses being decorated with choice
and beautiful plants in flower, which were also tastefully
arranged at the southern end of the Picture Gallery,
occupying the whole width and height of the gallery.
The company were invited at half-past nine o'clock,
and soon after nine the visitors began to arrive, alighting
both at the entrance in Pimlico, and at the temporary
entrance in the garden, at which latter a guard of honour
of the Foot Guards was stationed, with the band of the
regiment.
A guard of the Yeoman Guard was on duty in the
Grand Hall and Staircase, under the command of Sir
Seymour Sadler, Exon in Waiting. The officers present
were Sir George Iloulton (Ensign) and Captain Bellairs
(Exon).
Her Royal highness the Duchess of Kent arrived at
half-past nine o'clock, attended by Lady Augusta Bruce,
Baroness de Speth, Sir George Couper, and Lord James
P. Murray.
Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cambridge was
accompanied.by their Royal Highnesses the Hereditary
Grand Duke and Grand Duchess of Mccklenburgh Stre-
litz, bud was attended by Lady 11. Cadogan and Mr. Ed-
mond Mildmay.
Their Royal Highnesses were received by the Hon.
Misses Murray and Macdorald, the Maids of Honour in
Waiting; Sir Edward Bowater, Groom in Waiting;
Captain Francis Seymour, Groom in Waiting to the
Prince; General Wemyss, Equerry in Waiting; and
Lieutenant-Colonel the Honourable Alexander Gorden,
Equerry_ in Waiting to the Prince, who conducted the
Royal Duchesses :to the White Drawing-rocan, where
the Queen and Prince Albert received their illustrious
visitors,
Their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess Au-
gustus of Saxe Coburg joined the August Circle.
His Royal Highness Prince Leopold, Count of Syra-
cue, was attended by General Prince Castcleicala, the
Neapolitan Minister, and the Chevalier Coloni.a.
Their Serene highnesses Prince Edward of Saxe