The Sun.
London, England, 1870-05-25 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVEMNG, MA Y 25, 1870.

THE ROYAL PATRIOTIC FUND.

A paper has been issued from the War Office in the
form of a return to the House of Commons, giving
particulars of the formation and distribution of the
Royal Patriotic Fund. At the conclusion of
the Russian War it was resolved that the widows
and orphans of soldiers, seamen, and marines, who lost
their lives in the war, should be provided for to a certain
degree by the State. The Fund was accordingly
established, and allowances for the education of
the children of deceased officers and men, and
annuities to their widow have been annually granted
ever since. The orphans entitled to the ordinary relief
from the fund were those born after marriages contracted
prior to the Ist of January,lBsB. It was decided, however,
that other orphans who fathers had served in the Russian
war, who were not eligible for the ordinary relief from
certain circumstances connected with the death of the
father, or the date of marriage, should, nevertheless, be
assisted in their education by the Executive Committee.
At a meeting of the Fund Commissioners, in March
last, it was decided that a portion of the surplus,
which was expected to have arisen from
the moneys invested on behalf of the Fund,
should be applied in the relief of the orphans of
other wars than the Russian. It had been found,
however, that the matter must be considered somewhat
further before positive help from the fund can be
given to such orphans. Meantime it has beenthought
necessary. to issue a statement explanatory of
the original agreements under which and to
meet which the money was raised, as well as
of the manner in which it has been and will be applied.
The following is the chief paragraph of the statement
which the Commissioners have addressed to the Queen :
There appears to be a widely prevalent opinion that
all widows and orphans of men who served in the Russian
War are entitled to allowances from the Patriotic Fund,
irrespective of other conditions, such as the
date of marriage ; service subsequent to the war ;
whether or not the husband was wounded, or
suffered serious injury whilst engaged on active
service, or the date and cause of his death. Not
only is the foregoing opinion held as respects those whose
husbands or fathers served in the Russian War, but, though
to a less extent, a belief prevails that the widows of any
other war, or even that the widows of any men who
may have died in the service of the Crown, have
a claim on the fund. In the hope of
removing these erroneous impressions, we request your
Majesty's attention to the following extracts from the
original commission, deffning the persons for whom the
fund was intended :—" Whereas amidst the glorious suc-
cesses which, through the power of Almighty God, have
attended our arms during the present war, many soldiers,
sailors, and marines serving in our armies and
fleets, have gallantly fallen in battle, or by other
casualties." " And whereas it bath been repre-
sented to us, that many of our loving subjects
throughout our kingdom and dominions, are anxiously
desirous of testifying their loyalty and love to us and to
our Throne, by a just and generous benevolence towards
the widows and orphans of those of our soldiers, sailors,
and marines who have been killed, or may hereafter die
amidst the ravages or casualties of war. and also by their
gifts and subscriptions to contribute a por-
tion of those means with which our na.
tion has been blessed, towards the succouring,
educating, and relieving those who, by the loss of their
husbands and parents in battle, or by death on active
service in the present war, are unable to maintain or sup-
port themselves." There can be no doubt that these pas-
sages apply only to those who became widows or orphans
by the loss of their husbands or fathers in service during
the rpresgpt' Russian War, and did not contemplate those
women who might after the termination of that war marry
soldiers or sailors who -had been engaged therein. In
order, however, that the benefits of the fund might be ex-
tended as widely as possible, the powers entrusted to the
commissioners have been interpreted liberally. Relief has
been granted to widows and orphans not only of men who
were married et the time of the war, and whose deaths
did not occur until loig after it had ceased, bu
also in some cases to the widows and orphans
of men who did not marry until after the war had
ended.; and, for several years, the only condition requi-
site to establish a claim for an allowance was that the
death of the husband or father was connected with his
previous service in the war, On the 18th of March, 1865,
however, after the lapse of nine years, and after much
consideration, the committee deemed it necessary to
establish a regulation as to the date of mar-
riage ; and a rule was made that no widow could be re-
cognis@d as a widow of the war unless married prior. to
of the IstJanuary 1-858, The regulation was approved of
by the former Commisgicueps? as reported in their Sixth
Report to your Majesty. But oven now, though 13 years
have elapsed since the termination of tli4 Russian war,
allowances are given to the widows and orphans of men
whose deaths can be traced to their service in that war, if
not sxclaided by the rule as to the date of marriage. And
further, assistance is given in the education of, and in
providing outfits for, orphans of men who have served in
that war, but who are, by the existing rules, excluded
from the ordinary allowances.
Having received the present_ condition, habilities, and
prospects of the fund, the commissioners add :—The
present expenditure for allowances to widows and for the
maintenance and education of orphans, is in excess of the
income, and will be so for two or three years. Sup-
posing no further liabilities than those already known are in-
curred, there would ultimately remain a surplus of probably,
not less than £llO,OOO, nor more than £170,000. The ap-
plication of this surplus towards the relief of orphans of
other wars mast be reserved for consideration when the
necessary data shall have been received. Meanwhile
the present financial condition of the fund renders it im-
possible to extend relief to the orphans whose fathers
have lost their lives in the ordinary service of the Crown.

The clothes of a female, saturated with blood,
have been found by a passer-by in a wood near Sheffield.
It is feared that a miirAer has been committed. The police
are investigating the matter. ' '

. -
M. Paul du Chaillu, the African explorer of gorilla
celebrity, is now in New York, and has been presented
with a silver medal at a meeting of the American Geo-
graphical Society. The medal was awarded by the
Imperial Geographical Society of Paris.

NATIONAL TEMPERANCE LEAGUE,

Yesterday, what was designated a Missionary Con-
ference was hela at the City Terminus Hotel, in connec-
tion with the above League, papers having been promised
by a number of returned missionaries, on the obstacles
presented by intemperance to the progress of Christian
missions. The Rev. Lord Wrottesley Russell presided,
but the attendance was not very large. The chairman in
opening the meeting, said they were engaged in a most
important work, and they had a large field before them.
They knew the great evil drink was at home, but how
much more mischief did it produce in heathen
countries, and how fearfully did it stand in
the way of the spread of Christian truth among the
heathen. It was their duty, first, to hold out their hand
and rescue these poor creatures from the effects of drink,
and then place within their reach the glad tidings contained
in the Bible. So far as he was concerned he
became a teetotaller for the sake of others, believing if lie
did so he could extend his own usefulness as a servant of
God. He had not been disappointed in this respect, and
now he adhered to the principle for his own sake. He
had carried it out consistently for seven years, and had
found himself a better man. He could do as much
work as he could before, and he brought a more unclouded
mind to bear in considering the various subjects which
came before him. He therefore hoped to see the useless-
ness of the society appreciated, and its good work suc-
cessful and greatly extended. Several interesting papers
were then read upon the subject. The paper of the Rev.
John Gritton, M.A., secretary to the Lord's Day Obser-
vance Society, and formerly missionary in India, was
listened to with much interest. It dealt chiefly with the
evil effects of the opium traffic in that country.
Papers were also read by the Rev. T. W. Blanchard
(Wesleyan), formerly a missionary in Africa, and
others. Finally, it was agreed that a committee,
consisting of the Rev. John Gritton, M.A., and
the. Rev. Andrew Kesser, LL.D., be appointed
to draw up a set of pointed queries in reference
to intemperance and Christian missions, to be
forwarded to all British missionasies abroad, and
that the information so obtained be classified
under the direction of the committee of the National
Temperance League. After the meeting tea and coffee
were served in the refresnment rooms, and in the evening
a conversazione took place.