The Sun.
London, England, 1824-04-12 00:00:00

CALEDONIAN ASYLUM,

The Anniversary of this Institution which has
for its object the support and
.education, of the Children of
. Soldiers, Sailors; and Marines, Natives of Scotland, who ha.ve,
died or been disabled in. the service. their country, was cele-
brated on Saturday evening at the Freemasons' Hall, Great
Queen-street. His Royal Highness the Duke of YouK was
expected to take the Chair, but was prevented-by. indisposition
from attending. In the absence of his Royal II ighnese, -Lord
ELGIN. presided.
After the cloth was removed, Benedict vs eit Deus in danis
suis was given with great effect by Mr.'BrOadhurst, Mr. Phil-
lips, and the other professional Gentlemen who attended.
The CHAIRMAN then proposed .",the health of his
jesty;" with four times four. In proposing this toast, his Lord-
ship took occasion to observe, that the gracious visit of his
Jesty to Scotland testified the respect which the. Royal Person
bore to that part of his dominions, and was attended with many
gratifying effects. The health of his Majesty was drank with
enthusiasm.
" The Royal Family," was next -proposed, and rank.
The NOBLE CHAIRmAN next rose to propose " d
the health
of the Duke of York, the President of the institution." All
present, he had no doubt,iamented the absence of his Royal
Highnesa ; the Mize's°, 'when they were aware, that illness
prevented him from appearing ;inning them. his Royal High-
nesS was justly a favourite with the purple of this country. It
was by his excellent arrangements,' is great zeal and abilities,
that the army of Great Britain, dui-Mg that awful contest
which agitated the world for so many years, and which termi-
hated so much to the honour, the safety, and the...glory of
England, were put in--a situation that enabled them-to per-
form
those great achievements which saved the country. in
his public situation, no- person could be more efficient than
his Royal Highness ; and,. in private he was the advocate of
charity, and the supporter of every useful and benevolent In-
stitution. The health of his Royal Highness was received with
applause.
Lord SALTOtIN rose, and read a letter',which he had that
evening received ::it was written by Sir Herbert Taylor, at the
instance of his Royal Highness; and stated, that his Royal
Highness regretted that indisposition prevented bins from pre-
siding upon this occasion.
" The Duke of York and the Army," and ." the Duke of
Clarence and -the Navy," were next proposed and drank,
Lord SALTOUN -next rose and-proposed " the health of Lord
Elgin." His Lordship, he said, was a Ngblepleal well-known
as-the patron of the Arts, and. the supperter of institution
that tended to promote the interests of the empire, and, of his
native country in particular.—The health of his Lurdsldp was
received with applause.
Lord ELGIN returned thanks. He said, that he regretted
that some person more competent to preside over the Meeting
had not been called to the Chair. He admired the objects of
this useful and benevolent Charity, and would always gladly
exert himself to promote them, where any . exertion.. of his
could be in any degree considereduseful. He concluded, by
returning thanks to the company for the handsome manner in
which his health
.had been received. •

The next toast proposed, was, •
" His Royal Highness the Duke. of Sussex, under whose
auspices, while President of the Highland. Society, the Caledo-
nian Society was first proposed"--(applause.)
The " Caledonian Asylum," was next proposed, and receiv-
ed with loud cheers.

Immediately after this toast was given, the boys of the .In-
stitution were introduced into the room—they. were dressed
in the Scottish costume ; their fine healthful appearance. ex-
cited the admiration of all . present, as • it atforthd the. most
practical and the most gratifying proof of fha value of this
Nol4 Charity.. The boys ware drawn up immediately behind
the Chair.

Mr. STEWART NICHOLSON, one of the, Directors,. rose,
and in a very animated speech enlarged on the objects of this
charity. lle entered into-a statement of the progress of the In-
stitution, and strongly and eloquently recoinniended it to the
patronage and support of the- public. .
As evidence of the,pzogrel3..s made by the boys at the Caledo-
nian School, the lion. Gentleman read the following Report of
the Minutes of the.Lond-on Presbytery :
All theboys in . the • sylu m without any.e::ception, and
almost with equal proficiency, read out of the Scriptures with
distinctness and understanding, and were found proficient in
spelling. With the exception of those who came at the last
term; arid- the term preceding, they have made respectable pro-
gress in English Grammar. Nearly one half of the whole are
conversant with the first principles of the Solar System and of
Geography, and are in the way, of becoming acquainted .with
the history and manners and customs of the various nations of
the world.. And in arithmetic, the whole, without any excep-
tions, were found acquainted with the first rules ; about two-
thirds have advanced so far as to the Rale of Three, and fully
one-third are acquainted with Vulgar and Decimal Fractions.
Their writing have us equal satisfaction.; and. in all the secular
parts of education, there was evince,: much carefulness on the
part of the teacher, and conesponding progress on the part of
the boys, . But what the Presbytery has most pleasure in re-
porting; is the state of religious knowledge and feeling in which
they found the youth. Here their teacher, the Rev. Mr. Lees,
has approved himself worthy of the-Church by which he was
ordained,.ancl of the trost.committed to his charge—a faithful
steward over the souls of the children.
" The Presbytery cannot conclude without congratulating
the Directors of the Caledonian Asylum on the state of their
Institution. The style of education is truly Scottish—plain,
substantial, and unostentatious, wherein conduct is founded on
religion, and character formed by -piety ; and while tbin,s con-
tinue so well ordered as we have this day found them, a blessed
thing it is for every Scottish youth who finds his way to the
door of this,Asylum,
and obtains a place among the little ones
who are therein training up for the-life that now is, and the life
that-is to come." -
_ _

After Mr. gicholson concluded, " Scots wha hae wi' Wal.
lace bled" was sung by the children with great animation and
effect, Shortly after they. retired, followed by the applause of
the; company.

The next toast was,' The Highland Asylum of London, the
Parent of the Caledonian Asylum."
The Rev. EiftvanD Ittvißo returned thanks..
On the." health of Lord Saltoun," being drank,
His LORDSHIP returned thanks.
Th•e following toasts. were then proposed, and drank with
applause ;
" The Earl of Breadalbane, and other early subscribers to.
this Charity, by whose exertions:the Institution has been greatly
benefitted. _ _ -

--‘7.lWeltarchioness of Stafford, the Countess of Breadalbane,
Lady Gwydyr, and other Ladies, aabscribers to the Institution.
—Glee, Oh, Nanny, wilt thou gang wi' me.'
" The Memory of those who have gallantly fallen."—' Peace
to the souls of the. Heroes.'

" The Vice-Presidents dents and Directors of the Institution."—
Song; by Master Smith. _ _

"-The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and
may the Rost, Shamrock, and Thistle, be ever united."—Song
or Glee.

" The ,City of London and the Trade thereof."—Gow
.Money in both Pockets.'
Mr. Sheriff LAURIE returned thanks.—Glee, ' Ye Gentle.
men of England.'
" Auld Reekie."—Song or Glee.
" Stewards of the Day."—Song or Glee.—Gow : Good
night and joy be wi' you, a'.'
Colonel INlnteoilt returned thanks in an animated speech.
Ile said, that being. one: of those who had led on to battle the
fathers of these orphan boys, he felt it a sacred duty to watch
mier; to Shelter and protect them. He: had no doubt whatever
that the country, to whose service the lives of their fathers had
been devoted, would watch over these infants with generous
care, and shield them from the evils of ignorance and poverty.
" The•Stewards.elect" was :text drank with applause.
The health of Mr. JAS. M‘Doxfu.n having been proposed,
that Honourable Gentleman returned thanks in an eloquent
speech'. He enlarged upon the benefits that were likely, to fol-
low from the Society. The gratifying scene . they had that
night witnessed, he believed affected and delighted every per-
son in thatroom, nor would it be lost on the interesting objects
of their country. The recollection of thnt night-the kind-
ness they-received," would make a deep and grateful impression
on their tender minds.

" The health of Mr. Herries" was next proposed.—The Ho-.
nourable (lentlernan shortly returned thanks.
:Thortly before -twelve o'clock The- Chairman retired. The
company immediately broke up, after an evening spent in the
most pleasing and the most gratifying manner.