The Sun.
London, England, 1840-04-25 00:00:00

PRINTERS' PENSION SOCIETY

The 13th anniversary of this benevolent society was
celebrated on Thursday (St. George's Day) by a public
dinner at the London Tavern, over which his Royal
Highness the Duke of Cambridge presided.
The object of the society is the relief of compositors
and pressmen, and their widows, in seasons of adversity,
and it is eminently worthy of public support—" for,"
as is well observed in the address of the Society, " from
the very nature of his occupation, the condition of the

printer is comparatively unknown to the community at
large. Immured, as he is, in a close and confined

place of business, from en early to a late hour, and
frequently throughout the night breathing little else than
a tainted atmosphere, it is no wonder that he should dis-
play a cadaverous countenance, and altogether an ema-
ciated appearance. Independently of the confinement
his employment necessarily entails upon him, he is subject
to various compl tints almost inseparable from the nature
of his occupation. It is true that much that was obnox-
ious has been retnoved,yet much still remains which it does
not appear possible to remove to the advantage of
the art of printing. The compositor is the individual
who endures all that does remain which is hurtful to
his health." The. annual report gives a very satisfactory
account of the progress of the institution, there having
been admitted since the formation of the society 57
men and 35 women, and there remaining on the funds
18 men and 24 women. Besides this relief, " the Corn-
niittee have again been able to add to the amount of
the funded property, haring caused the 3611 18s. id.,
which the Siciety had in the 3i- per Cents., to be in-
creased to 6001, making the Society's dividends now
69/. a year. The ordinary expenditure, including the
payments to the pensioners, and the printing the list of
subscribers (which occurs once in three years), has been
613/. 11s. 4d., which has been more than met by the
annual subscriptions and the dividends, which have to-
gether amounted to 644/. tis. 9d., leaving the income
derived from other sources, and which is upwards of
230/., applicable to the further increase of the funded
property."
The usual loyal toasts were drunk on the removal
of the cloth, with the full honours, nftcr which
The CHAIRMAN proposed the toast of the evening,
" Success to the Printers' Pension Society," and in so
doing took occasion to remark, that the object of the
Society was so good that it would require but few words
of his to recommend it, because those who knew the
sufferings, the dangers, and the privations of the printers
better than he did, knew full well the great importance
of a society having for its great object the relief of this
meritorious class when they should fall into decay. Yet
he must add, that the Society was deserving of increased
credit, because it was principally supported by the sub-
scriptions of the printers themselves, and he would be
indeed happy if his presence that day should have con-
tributed to increase the success of so valuable an in-
stitution.

Mr. Morgan enlivened the meeting with the ever
famous song from the " Ingoldsby Legends," " Father
Maguire's Account of the Coronation," which elicited
great laughter► particularly is the lines wherein it is
said that—

" Lord Brougham was missing,
And he had gone a fishing
Only a'case Lord Essex would'nt give him leave."
Indeed the whole evening was spent most harmo-
niously, and the result was a munificent subscription
list, which included H. K. H. the Dike of Cambridge,
25/. ; Lord Viscount Mahon, 10/. 10i. ; Mr. Alder-
man Harmer, 10/. 10s. ; Holm,is, Esq., 5/. 55.;
W. II irrison Ainsworth, Esq., 51 ;S. Jones
Esq , 3/. ss. ; the Journeymen at Mr. C. 13;11d-
win's. 2/. 10s. ; Messrs. Harrild, Si. ss. ; J. Wilson,
E!.q., 51. ss. ; H. M. Martin, Esq., 5/. ss. ; H. V.
anti J. Fggins, 5/. ss. ; W. Thorogood, Esq., Si. ss. ;
H. W. Caslon, D.q.,5/. ss. ; V. Figcios, Esq ,5/.55.;
S. 13.:!leher, Esq , Si. ss. ; J. Prescott, Eq., 51. ss. ;
J. K. Chaponao, Esq., 2/. 2s. ; T. Lyons, Esq.,2/. 2s. ;
J. Rickerby, Esq., 21. 2s. ; E. Varty, Esq., 2/. 2e. ;
H. Allard, Esq., '2l. 2s. ; G. B Davidgi, Esq., 21.25.;
- Remlrey, E•q , 21. 2s. ; G. Paul, 2/. 28. ; J. Vial-
detibergh, 21. 2s. ; W. Huley, 21. 25.; Mr. W. Long,
21. 2s. ; B. Gilbert, 2/. 2s. ; T. Gough, 2/. 2s. ; S.
Apps, 2/. 2s. ; Mrs. Marchant. 2/. 25., &c. &c.

METROPOLITAN IMPROVEMENTS.-011 Fli-
d:ty, the 10th ins,., Sir Frederick Trench moved in the House
of Commons, " that an instruction be given to the Select Com-
mittee of this House appointed to consider the petition of the
Corporation of London relative to the embankment of the River
Thames, and to report their obporvations and opinions there-
upon to the House, together with the best means of earrying
the same into effect," to the following import, " that they shall
not adopt any plan which does not embrace the formation of a
terrace or quay along the banks of the Hirer from Southwark
Bridge to Hungerford Market, which will facilitate the conve-
nience of public communication, and contribute greatly as well
to the embellishment of the Metropolis as to the health, com-
fort, and recreation of its inhabitants, especially those who are
engaged in sedentary employments, and who often reside in
close, crowded, and unwholesome apartments."
GENERAL ORDERS TO THE QUEEN'S TROOPS
IN INDlA.—llead Quarters, Poonah, September 24, 1839.
The Commander-in-Chief in llndia has been pleased to make
the following promotions until her Majesty's pleasure shall be
known :-16th Dragoons—Major C. It. Cureton to ba Lieut.-
Colonel, without purchase, Tice Arnold, deceased, 21st August,
1539; Capt. A. C. Lowe to be Major, vice Cureton, August
21 ; Lieut. W. V. Jilliard to be Captain, vice Lowe, August
21 ; Cornet W. S. Mitchell to be Lieutenant, without pur-
chase, vice Inverarity, deceased, 20th May; Cornet J. P.
Smith to be Lieutenant, vice Jillard, 21st August. The Com-
mander-in-Chief in India is pleased to make the following pro-
motion by brevet: —4th Foot—Lieut.-Col. J. Leslie, K. H. to
be Colonel in the East Indies. Date of rank 18th June, 1831.
THERE IS A PROVIDENCE FOR DRUNKARDS.
—As narrow an escape from loss of life as could, with possi-
bility, occur, happened en Wednesday forenoon, about eleven
o'clock. One of Basing's -Newbury large waggons, laden to the
height of nearly 30 feet, was passing down Holborn, a little
to the east of Dean-street, and cn th top of the load was a
stout young countryman lying drunk and asleep. He rolled
off, and fell to the ground with that sort of noise described
by Virgil of hu»zi procumbit hos. He was picked up sense-
less, with his face besmeared with blood. The waggoner and
his helper supported him to the door of a surgeon's shop, just
opposite to which the accident occurred ; but as they reached
the door, and some one in the crowd advising that he should be
bled immediately, he rallied somewhat, as if from the fear of
blood-letting, and obstinately refused to enter the shop. His
companions then led him, staggering, to the next public-house.
and having washed his face, and administered to him a glass
of brandy, they led him away almost as well as if nothing had
occurred.

HER, MAJESTY'S THEATRE.—On Thursday
night the pleasures of the Opera were restored to us, and we
had Lucia di Lammermoor. If anything could reconcile the
fashionable tenants of the stalls to the absence of first-rate Terp-
sichores it. would be the animated little ballet of the Pages du
Due de Vendome, which exhibits to co much advantage the
forms, graces, and esprit of women, without requiring those
tours de force of choregraphy of which only the highest talent
can veil the effo. t. A new danseuse was introduced to the
public on Thur,day light. in the person of Mademoiselle Al-
bertine, of the French Academie Royale de Musique. On
Thursday night also, a favourable reception was given to M.
Bretin, likewise of the Faris Grand Opera, whose qualifications
a, a dancer are certainly of a higher order than those of M.
Ma.hieu. Next week we are to have an Italian debutante in
the same department. The Opera on Thursday night was not
fully attended, several boxes
having continued vacant to the
close of the cm erainments Her Majesty the Queen Dowager
honoured the theatre with her presence.