The Sun.
London, England, 1823-04-10 00:00:00

THURSDAY, APRIL 10, 1823.

MENDICIT SOCIETY.

The Anniversary Dinner of this Society was
yesterday held at the • Freemason's Tavern. His Grace the
Duke of NORTH tr MBE R f." D took the Chair over a Meeting
numerously attended, and composed of highly distinguished
and respectable individuals. After the removal of the cloth,
and the appropriate toasts of " The King," " The Duke of
York, President." " The Royal Family,' and "-The Army
and Navy." had been drunk with three times thrie,
The Hon. C. J. SHORE proposed the health of the Noble
Chairman, who by his patronage, personal influence, and pecu-
niary contributions, had ever shewn himself a zealous friend to
the Society.
This toast was drank with great enthusiasm, and three times
three.

- The Duke of NonnitrifuEßLAND, in returning thanks, ex-
pressed his regret that his place teas not filled in a way which
would have been more serviceable and gratifying to the meet-
ing, by its illustrious President, the Duke of York. He pro-
fessed his anxious feeling for the welfare of the Institution,
which was as laudable in its public principle and intention, as
it was beneficial in its plicate individual operation. It had
succeeded in the proposed end, even beyond any' expec-
tation he had ever formed = and he believed the public
were sufficiently aware of its excellent tendency 'and effect.
He bad always, and should ever continue to contribute his
utmost aid to the support of the Institution ; and although the
funds were now low, lie was sure exertions, beyond the limits
of that Meeting, would not be wanting to bring additional sub-
seribers, and place the Directors in a state to accomplish all
that could be done in so important and interesting an under-
taking. The Noble Chairman concluded by proposing " Suc-
cess to the Mentlicity Society."
Lord Pn 17 Dlf 0 E proposed the health of the Vice-Presidents,
to whose personal exertions and zeal they were so much in-
debted. Ile regretted the absence of those Gentlemen on this
occasion.

Sir C. PRICE gave the' Board of Management" as a toast,
to the meeting. lie lamented the intimation contained in their
last Report, as to the sunken state of their finances, and al-
though they had hitherto thought it inconsistent with the spirit
of the Institution, to make a direct appeal to the publiefor aid,
they would no longer refrain from doing so, as it was obvious
that it' they did not in their turn become mendicants, they must
fail in their attempt to suppress mendicity, which, with all its
vices, would again re-visit the metropolis.
This toast having been drank with three times three, and
considerable applause. -
Mr. FnErsE, in returning thanks on behalf of the Board of
Management, advened to the inadequate means of the. Society
to accomplish the object they had in view. It had been justly.
said at the period of the establishment of the Society, that if
they-succeeded in only rescuing one individual from starvation,
its object would be answered. But the views and practice of
the Society had not been so limited; for its proceedings con.
tamed records of hundreds of such cases. It had been urged
against the Society, that its proceedings savoured too
,much
of coercion. This, however, was a false report ; and if their
system did melte a display of police in its train, it was only for
the purpose of directing charity to its proper course, anti
diverting it from those improper applications by which its
richest streams were dried up. He appealed to the compari-
son of what the Metropolis now is, with what it formerly
was, as regarded mendicity, in proof of the operations of
the Society. Amongst other good tendencies, it had the
effect a destroying infant mendicity, which was the vet), nor_
gory of cringe.. Although the number of subscribers had con-
siderably increased, still they were not sufficient to answer
their annual expenditure. The Society had begun with a large
sum from donations, 'which hid been drawn upon to answer
deficiencies, till it was all absorbed. He trusted, however, that
the liberal donations which began to come in, and a little exer.
tion to increase the number of subscribers to the extent of 300/.
or 4001. annual increase would soon put all-things on their right
footing.
.„ Amonithe donations reported to the Meeting since the last
statement, was the name of the Princess Sophia—the Gold.
smiths' Company, lOW and an individual connected with it, 201.
The Duke of NORTHUMBERLAND gave the health of the
~Master, Warden, and Members of the Worshipful Company
t!pt?l.4oltisrliitlis, which was drank with considerable applause.
Mr. Untrytx returned thanks.
The remaining toasts were—The 312g-bur:am and Police of
the Metropolis, with thanks for their co.operation.
The Treasurer of the Society.
The Noble Chairman and Stewards left at eleven o'clock.-.-
A military band played at intervals from the kailery, anti the
meeting was also regaled with a
great variety at ex
vival music from Messrs.. Pyre, Pinney, Jolley, Fitzwilliam,
Smith, and Master Smith. cellent
M
Amongst the donations made in the room (luring the dinner,
were. Lord Prudhoe 501., and Daniel Stuart, Esq. an Annual
Subscriber, 5!. ss. ,