The Sun.
London, England, 1824-05-07 00:00:00

ST. PATRICK'S DINNER.

Yesterday the Anniiersary . Dinner of this ex..
eellent and useful charity took place at the Free-
masons"ravern. 'The chair was to have been
taken by the Duke of SUSSEX, but owing to the
severe hurt in his kneei his Royal Highness was
prevented from attending, and Sir JOHN DoirLs,
G.Cs.B. presided, who read a letter from the
Royal Duke, regietinghis inability to attend,
and expressing his great anxiety to support
the Charity. " Religious instruction (said the
Royal Duke) was charity, and every good
Christian, upon this principle ought to allow
that consolation to his fellow-creature which
accorded best with individual feelings, and
not make religious sincerity, which was a most
benign and consolatory blessing, a stumbling'
block in the way of education." Amongst the
many distinguished persons present we noticed
Lord Stourton, Sir George Jerningham, the Hon.
E. Metre, the Greek Deputies, Massey.Dawsoot
Esq., M.P., Rev. Dr. Collins, &c. After 46 The
King"—" The Duke of York and the Army
and several other loyal toasts had been given,
the childreneducated by the charity were intro-
duced to the company. The collection exceeded
4001., which was a much greater sum than had
been collected at any former anniversary. The
company separated highly delighted with the en'
tertaiument of the evening.

PRAYER BOOK and HOMILY SOCIETY•

Yesterday the Annual Meeting in support of
this Society was held at the London Coffee House, Ludgate-
hill, when a numerous attendance of Ladies and gentlemen
took place. Among the persons of distinction we particularly
noticed Lords Gambier, Calthorpe, Rocksavage, and Bexley;
the Bishops of Clare and Ohio, Dr. Morrison, of China, Mr-
Marshall, Sir Claudius Stephen Hunter, Rev. Dr. Cunning'
ham, and a considerable number of Clergymen, &c.
Lord BxxLEY being called to the Chair, he opened the pro-
ceedings in a brief speech ; afterwards the Secretary read the
Report, which he prefaced with a short address, in which ha
dwelt upon the great encouragement and success the Society
had met with since their last annual meeting, since which ful
Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester had condescended 0,
become the Patron of the Society • and several Bishops anc,
other individuals eminent for piety had also become annual sub'
scribers. The Report stated, that during the last year the So'
ciety had circulated prayer-books and homily tracts, &c. in va-
rious parts of the globe, where their effects had been generalli
observable ; the number of prayer-books distributed amounted
to 9,245, and that of homily tracts 104,70.1. In China, through
the exertions of Dr. Morrison, much good had been done. The
Report was received with great applause by the company.
Lord Calthorpe, Rocksavage, and several other gentlemen,
delivered speeches in support of the Society; and Dr..Morri"
son, in an able speech, remarked, that he had translated the
Word of God, by which the Chinese were instructed with faci-
lity in the truths of religion.
The Meeting entered into a handsome subscription, and then
separated.

A sermon was delivered in the evening in support of the smug
object.

Yesterday, at two o'clock, the first division
(consisting of 500 boys), forming part of his
Royal Highness the COMMANDER-IN.Cniaeo
Royal Military School at Chelsea, preceded by
their band, and attended by their Officers, SC•
were entertained by Mr. CROSS. the Proprietor
of the Royal National Menagerie, Exeter 'Change,
with a free view of his noble Collection of Fo'
reign Animals; the fine little fellows seemed
highly' gratiffed with the treat afforded them ;
and at the conclusion each boy was presented by
the Proprietor with a bun and glass of wine to
drink his MAJESTY'S health, the band playing
" God save the King." The sight was highly
interepting, and should the weather prose pro..
pitious, a like number of these future defenders
of their country will partake of a similar treat not
Monday. This attention to our infant heroes on
the part of Mr. Caoss may be considered as 0.0
act of patriotic spirit that well entitles him to tits
public respect and approbation.

The skeleton of a large MAMMOTH, 1. e. a fossil
elephant of the same species with those which
occur in Siberia, and all over Europe, has beep
very recently discovered at Ilford, in the county
of Essex, near Stratford and Bow. It lay buried
at the depth of about 16 feet, in a large quarry'
of diluvial loam and clay which is excavated
for making bricks. Mr. J ohn Gibson, of Stratford,
has been diligently exerting himself in collecting
and preserving as much as possible of this skele.•
ton ; and a few days since he invited Pro.'
lessor BUCKLAND and Mr. CLITT to assist bias
in disinterring the remainder of the bones,
which he had purposely left in their natural
position in the quarry. These Gentlemen founa
a large tusk, and several of the largest cylindrical
bones of the legs, also many ribs and vertebra,
with the smaller bones of the feet and. tail lying,
close upon one another, so that there can be no
doubt that, with those before collected by Mr-
Giasos, they had made up an entire skeleton, at
least fifteen feet high; they were embedded in
tenacious clay (which is dug for bricks) being part
of the great superficial covering of diluvial clay,
sand, and gravel, which is spread over a large
portion of the counties of Essex, Suffolk, and
Norfolk, and along the whole East Coast of Eng-
land, at irregular intervals, and is almost avert
where occasionally discovered to contain similar
remains of antediluvian animals to those at Ilford,
viz, the tusks, teeth, horns, and bones of Lb*
elephant, rhinoceros, horse, and stag.