The Sun.
London, England, 1847-05-31 00:00:00

THE CALEDONIAN ASYLUM.

The thirtieth anniversary of this national and truly
excellent institution was celebrated on Saturday
evening at the Freemason's Tavern. The patron of
the institution, his Royal Highness the Duke of
Cambridge, presided. His Royal Highness was sup-
ported on his right by the President, the Duke of
Buccleuch, and on his left by Lord James Stuart,
M.P. Many of the nobility and aristocracy of Scot-
land, and many distinguished Scotchmen were pre-
sent. About two hundred sat down to dinner, which,
with the wines, was highly creditable to the establish-
ment.

The cloth having been removed, and " Non nobis
Domini" chaunted by the vocalists, the Chairman
gave in succession the usual loyal and constitutional
toasts, which were, as usual warmly responded to.
The children who are educated, fed, and clothed,
' by the institution, were then ushered into the hall.
• They were all dressed in tartan—the boys wearing
kilts—and all looked healthy and happy. A more
gratifying sight we never beheld ; but it struck us
that the hair of the children—especially the girls—
many of whom had light blue eyes and auburn hair,
and nearly as many the sand-coloured hair of their
country, had been too closely cropped—that a bowl
had been placed on their heads, and that all the strag-
gling hair, which stretched beyond its limits, had been
clipped by the shears of the barber of the institution.
We knew a lady who discharged her servant because
she wore ringlets, and was taken for one of the family,
but we are at a loss to understand why the poor
forlorn soldier's daughter, whom misfortune
has compelled to seek shelter in the asylum,
should have her locks fashioned after the inmates of the
House of Correction. The object of the institution
is to support and educate the children of soldiers,
sailors, and marines, natives of Scotland, who have
died, or been disabled in the service of their country,
and of indigent Scotch parents resident in London,
not entitled to parochial relief. It is only within
this year or two that its benevolence has taken a
wider range, as it has extended its benefits to female
children. n the year 1843, James Matheson, Esq.,
of Achany, M.P., offered a contribution of one thou-
sand pounds, provided the directors would undertake
to carry out the object without delay; and the pro-
position having been cordially acceded to, an addition
to the building was commenced in May, 1844, and is
now completed ; so that the house is capable of ac-
commodating 100 boys, and an equal number of
osfoetehuvmerearntelweetionese hildren, in an appropriate manner, with ade-
quate play-grounds for each, and under such regula-
tious as to ensure a rigid attention to good order and
efficent discipline. Twenty-five girls will be ad-
mitted in June next, which, with the boys already
on the foundation, will make an aggregate of 115
children, a much larger number than was ever before
admitted to the benefits, of the charity. The clirec-
`tors; 'therefore, appeal-rialt-VaNiestlyla the present'
supporters of the institution to come forward with
liberal donations for the purpose of meeting the in-
creased demand made upon their funds, and to use
their best efforts in their respective circles, by dona-
tions and annual subscriptions, to augment the funds
of the institution ; and they beg to remind them that
they have been already compelled to sell 5001. of their
Stock, to meet in part the demands upon them, and
any further inroad upon that fund will only cripple
the means of maintaining the increased number of
children.,ten whTilyeeena childrenrtab, oya n
da
ra
err
retained
admittedtaapiporeed apprenticed
ti
tillee d fromtheyto thetrades,
ra d arriveaeg or
fourteen, of
disposed of according to circumstances.
teachers;ot'
Church
uee
evening,
ivcaeh nhiennareceivegtaLo,n wodbaneutdpdthol:oanyin Owing
theira
runeds eo fonumttchloeoee
rrdat
ahuycl
ecl
eaeaanrtprgidooypsn religious,
b ni
cd yt he the utmostinstruc-
tion, t
rinu eo d-
t
hereeuspcnsr,deabesAerulnt:meti hAeoeNafg superintendence eovrrr iotrniseotesenbnsytdoteoenpfr
reytoehpoeofsosefpttehheeec
hsetcompetent.scoowtttso
e
the
nhi oeTnt the
deli-
vered in the course of the evening wetireoennh. easarsidgbnyedutsc:
His Royal Highness was understood to say that those
who witnessed the cheerful and healthy appearance
of the children must be sensible of the great benevo-
lence and national importance of the institution. It
was a pleasing thing to look upon their happy faces
and to know that their welfare was the object of the
institution—and God knew how many it had spared
from perhaps falling into evil. (Cheers.) They had
assembled to celebrate the thirtieth anniversary of the
institution. It had stood thirty years; which was
owing to the great exertions of those intrusted with
its management, who had watched its progress from
year to year, and who had left nothing undone to
promote its interest in every way in their
power. At first not more than twelve boys
were admitted to participate of its benefits; sub-
sequently, the number was increased to forty ;
and ultimately, when the building in Copenhagen-
fields was erected, to ninety boys. But it was only
recently that it had been extended to female children,
and he had now the happiness of seeing before him
forty-one girls—(Cheers)—thus, owing to the ex-
ertions of the friends of the institution its advantages
have been extended to nearly two hundred children.
—(Loud cheers.) He was delighted to see them look
so well, and as he had inspected the asylum he was
in a position to state that it was-o,...iuoted with the
greatest regularity, and that in every respect it was
creditable to those placed over it. The annual ex-
pense of providing for 200 children was 3,5001.,
700/. only was derived from the funded property, thus
2,800/. had to be supplied by benevolence alone ; but
when he bore in mind the support which it had re-
ceived during its existence, and the wealth and mu-
nificence of its friends, he wapstiecsasosnlitd(seLnootub
jdtheccatt
etwehraess)in_t-o
in-
creased demand, owing to the extended nature of the
institution, would not be made in vain.---(Cheers.)
Ile considered it was an institution which eminently
aaun deservedsuccour
otner
rto
hft
therefore
their
uhenengcbao
enugdr
gatgehdee encouragement,
give " The Caledonian
Asylum, and may the offspring of the brave never
want a protector.' -7(lmmense cheering.)
The toast was responded to with the greatest en-
thusiasm.
Mr. CHARLES FORBES, the treasurer of the insti-
tution, said a gentleman had presented the institution
with a medal of the value of 255., for the purpose of
being presented from year to year to the best gram-
marian produced by the school. The youthwho
wasse tlec:e,do
years
on the present occasion—and he was not only selected
by the managers of the institution, but by his col-
leagues in the school—was James Thompson, who
w
school. The
age,
medal was placed round the boy's neck by his Royal
Highness, who highly complimented
a s scarcely ca r
youngercel y th itrhtaene nt
he years
eldest
hoy
in andth e
him on the
occasion. Mr. Forbes then went on to say that he
deeply regretted the unavoidable' absence of the Rev.
T. C. Cook, the inspector of the schools, who had
examined the children, and who would have stated
that they had given him the greatest satisfaction.
The Duke of BUCCLEUCR then proposed the health
of the chairman, which was drunk with Highland
honours.
The CHAIRMAN briefly returned thanks, and pro-
,Hanigdhlloanngd
tirthelithe honour
seuwfl eorie d
them that
i
i
s
no one felt more sincerely for the welfare of the insti-
tution than he did.
A number of other toasts were also drunk.
Theoun te ud
coursedonors were Prince
of the evening
am
Albert 1001., the Duke of Cambridge 201., the Duke
of Buccleuch 501., the Duchess of Buccleuch,
subscriptions
1,p2t6i6i0 zn. s
among in the
the
101. 10s., collected by the Rev. Dr. Cumming 100/.,
by Captain Laurant, R.N., 1001., and 4301. proceeds
of the Caledonian ball, 2781, were also subscribed for