The Sun.
London, England, 1848-12-01 00:00:00

THE SCO

The 183 d anniversary dinner of this most excellent
charity was celebrated yesterday, St. Andrew's Day,
at the London Tavern, under the most brilliant
auspices, since on no former occasion did so great a
number of Scotchmen and Englishmen (for the
charity has received most liberal aid from the natives
of South Britain) congregate within the walls of any
building to do honour to the Scottish Hospital. The
manegers, anxious to promote the increased prosperity
of the charity, obtained the ready aid of the Lord
Mayor, Sir James Duke, himself a Scotchman, and a
warm supporter of the institution. It being the first
public dinner in connexion with the charities of the
metropolis to aid which his Lordship has presided, a
vast number of worthy citizens, Scotchmen as well as
Englishmen, stepped forward to support his Lordship.
The announcement that upwards of 400 persons par-
took of the banquet will not be received with sur-
prise; certainly those who know what Scotchmen
can do when they " put shoulder to shoulder," will be
prepared for such a fact. The large room
''of the
Tavern was therefore crowded almost to inconve-
nience. The arrangement of the tables across the
room, and the utmost economy of space, failed to give
more than elbow room to each man. The room was
beautifully decorated with the national arms and ban-
ners, spears, targets, and Tartan scarfs of all the
leading clans. The gallery was graced by many
beautiful ladies. It was remarked that not one wore
the Tartan, except to the extent of a ribbon or a
scarf. Seventy or eighty gentlemen wore the kilt. The
Lord Mayor took the chair at half-past six. He was
supported on the right by M. Monthrot,
attaché to the French legation, and on his left by
Alderman Copeland. The ,Chisholm was croupier.
Amongst those present we observed :—Captain Forbes,
Chisholm Anstey, Esq., M.P. (who wore the kilt) ;
Lord Dudley Stuart, M.P. ; the Hon. J. Melville,
Mr. Alderman Finnis, Sheriff; Sir C. Malcolm,
General Milman, Mr. B. Cabbell, M.P.; Mr. Moffatt,
M.P. ; Major Campbell, Captain Denham, R.N. ;
Captain Dalzell, R.N. ; Captain Lamont, R.N. ' • Mr.
Alexander Thompson, the Rev. Dr. Stebbing, Mac.
donald, of Inch ; Mark Boyd, Esq. ; Charles Logan,
Esq. ; Tulloch, Esq.; Archibald Master, of Car-
lisle, dec., Sc.
Due justice having been done to the dinner, which
well sustained the high renown of the London Tavern,
The LORD MAYOR gave the " Queen," which was
received with the utmost expressions of loyalty. He
said on looking over the list of those who had aided the
charity, he found that the Queen had been a liberal
supporter of the charity ever since she came to the
throne—(Loud cheers)—an act which demanded their
gratitude and loyalty. It was a source of great con-
gratulation that no strife existed between the subjects
and their Sovereign, and:it was a proud boast for the
people of Scotland to be enabled to say that whilst the
nations of Europe were engaged in civil strife,
the Queen of England could go to her retirement in
the mountains of Scotland and remain there as secure
as if she were surrounded by:her soldiers. He might
say that there was nothing but affection in the brews
that floated over the heather and blue bells of Scot-
land.—(Loud cheers.) No doubt her Majesty would
long continue to visit their native land, and his hope
was, and he was sure it was echoed in the heart of
every Scotchman, that her Majesty might long reign
over a happy and united people.—(Loud cheers.) He
then gave " The Queen."
The toast was drunk with true Scottish enthu-
siasm.
The toast of " The Queen Dow ager" (whom his
Lordship said had been a liberal subscriber to the
charity for the last 30 years) followed, and was equally
well received.
The Loan MAYOR then proposed "The health of
Prince Albert," and said he was glad to find by an
Aberdeen paper that his Royal Highness had become
a Highland laird, which he was sure would endear
him still more to Scotchmen.—(Loud cheers.) Since
he had become a Highland laird, whenever he came
among them, he was satisfied they would give him a
Highland welcome.—(Cheers.) He begged to couple
with the toast, "Albert Prince of Wales, and the rest
of the Royal Family."
The toast was drunk with Highland honours.
The LOUD MAYOR next proposed " The Foreign
Ministers." The French Ambassador had been unable
to attend, but he sent them his private secretary.—
(Cheers.) In giving the toast, his Lordship said—
Since they had no right to quarrel with the mode of
government which other countries chose to adopt, it
was their duty to treat the representatives of those
Governments with the utmost respect.—(Cheers.)
He could not forbear calling their attention to the
kind invitation he had received from the National
Guards, on his accession to office, to visit Paris.—
(Hear, hear, and cheers.) He trusted they
would reciprocate the cordiality of feeling they had
evinced towards this country.—(Loud cheers.) The
recent speech of the French Minister would, he be-
lieved, do more to promote the peace of the two coun-
tries than twenty diplomatic negotiations.
M. Meerraaor returned thanks in French. He
said the French nation looked upon the people of this
country with the utmost respect, and he believed that
nothing would tend more to their mutual advantage
and the preservation of peace than the existence of that
reciprocity of feeling and communication to which his
Lordship had adverted.—(Cheers.) Whenever they
might come to Paris they would find a hearty
welcome.—(Cheers.)
The LORD MAYOR then proposed "The Army and
Navy."—(Drank with the usual honours.)
General MILLMAN returned thanks on the part of
the army ; and Admiral Sir CHARLES MALCOLM on
behalf of the navy.
The LORD MAYOR then rose and said—Gentlemen,
I rise to bespeak your indulgence whilst I endeavour
to address myself to the toast of the evening. If any-
thing is more gratifying to me than another, it is to
have the honour of presiding over such an assembly,
gathered together for such a purpose, on the
first occasion of my taking the chair at
a public dinner since I have been called
to the position I have the honour to hold. lam
proud, not only to take the chair on an occasion like
this, but lam proud—l may say lam especially
gratified—to see myself surrounded by so many dis-
tinguished men who have gathered together here for
the purpose of supporting this charity—(Cheers)—
and I hope the Gallant General will not be offended
if I say 1 think he took an unfair start of me in ad-
dressing himself as he did to the ladies.—(Laughter.)
I wish to address myself to the galaxy of beauty that
adorn yonder gallery—(Cheers)—and to beg that
they will consider—notwithstanding the humble in•
dividual who is now addressing them—how they can
best promote the prosperity of the charity, since, but
for their countenance and support, it lwould never
have flourished to the extent it has.—(Cheers.) I am
sure, if they will merely smile upon it, and interest
themselves in so good a work, that it cannot fail to
prosper.—(Cheers.) Gentlemen, it is unnecessary
for me to detain you by wearying you with any ob-
servations on this excellent charity, which has been
so long acknowledged as one pre-eminently deserving
of your support. It was founded nearly 200 years
ago, and has since then been supported with more or
less success, but always doing a great deal of good.
—(Cheers.) Gentlemen, it had its origin in that
feeling which I trust will long be cherished in Scot-
land „and amongst Scotchmen when far away from
home—namely, aiding each other.—(Cheers.) I believe
it was in that spirit, and for this laudalele purpose,
that first induced a few Scotchmen, here in London,
when railroads did not bring their own land so near,
or enable them to pass so frequently as they now can
to and fro—it was an equally rare thing to see a
Scotch Lord Mayor—(Prolonged cheering)—to com-
bine together for the purpose of helping their
destitute fellow-countrymen in the metropolis ;
but whether those resident in London visit
Scotland more frequently tnan they did, or whether
those in Scotland come more frequently to London
than in ',former days, I hope none of us shall ever
forget this institution which is so peculiarly Scotch.
My excellent friend the secretary, Major Adair,
who is most indefatigable in the discharge of his
duties—(Loud cheers)—has informed me that this
charity provides for no less than 100 poor persons—
to whom it gives a pension of 101. a year, and
30 more aged persons receive 81. a year
each. Now, gentlemen, my experience tells me that
there is nothing so difficult as to discriminate in the
distribution of charity. The benevolent are always
subject to the basest deceptions by the idle and unde-
serving, but this excellent charity employs its funds
in succouring the aged above seventy years, when it
is impossible anything like imposition can be prac-
tised.—(Hear.) It is the means of preventing many
industrious, deserving men from being compelled to
adopt that dernier resort, the poor- house. Many
most industrious and deserving persons, I need not
tell you, become ultimately so distressed, from no
fault of their own as to have no other means of sub-
sistence ; and, herefore it is incumbent upon those
whom Providence has blessed with wealth to spare
out of that abundance something towards comforting
old age. (Hear.) These are always the feelings
that actuate me whenever I consider the applications
to me for charity ; and I am sure, if you take
into account the labours of this institution—
the numbers it hits relieved and the numbers it has
helped hack to their native home—you all agree with
me that it peculiarly deserves your generous support ;
for we all know well that nothing is more gratifying
to a Scotchnisn than to be enabled some time or
other to visit his ancient home.—(Cheers.) Though
he may be carried there on a bed of sickness, and pre-
sent himself there as an object of charity, yet
still it is satisfactorytland. —h to im tbe enabled
to die in old Sco(Cheero s.) Gentle-
men, these are the objects, the laudable objects,
of this ancient institution. I am sorry it has not
been so well supported as it so richly deserved. On
this occasion I am happy to know that this large and
important assembly have gathered here on this occa-
sion to kindly mark the respect which they entertain

It is unnecessary for me to detain you with any fur
ther observations, except to state that, as you must be
aware, the population of this town is greatly increas-
ing, and I am happy to know the number of Scotchmen
are also increasing. (Hear and laughter.) This
institution has increased demands made upon its
funds. I hope, therefore, I shall have the happiness
to-night, when I leave this chair, to find that I
have made a successful appeal on behalf of this
excellent charity ; and although I cannot call
upon the secretary to wait upon the ladies with
" book and bag," yet I count upon their assistance. I
am sure you will all add to the pleasures you
have enjoyed this evening, this (additional one, the
" luxury of doing 'good." (Loud cheers.) I ask
you to join me in a bumper to " Prosperity to the
Scottish Hospital and its Noble President, the Duke
of Montrose."
The toast was drank with the utmost enthusiasm.
The CHISHOLM, who is treasurer to the charity,
returned thanks on behalf of the Noble President
(who was unable to attend), and the other principal
supporters of the hospital, and expressed his regret
that the Noble Duke himself was not present, to add,
by the power of his tried and practised eloquence,
fresh fuel to the flame already kindled by his
Lordships's able appeal from the chair in be-
half of the Scottish Hospital. (Applause.)
He hoped the company would sanctify this
banquet, and make it a feast of love and charity ;
and, for his part, he esteemed it a high honour and
privilege to be enabled to do so.—(Cheers.) Certain
persons had slighted the claims of this charity, on
the ground that it possessed resources in the funds—
they withheld their support from it, because they
considered it was rich. Now, his reply was that it
was true the managers, in the exercise of that pru-
dence which was said to be characteristic of Scotch-
men, had provided in some measure against the
immediate requirements of the institution ex-
hausting all their available means, still he could
only tell them that unless they received the regular
subscriptions of the benevolent, the society would soon
find its hands to be tied, and have to turn the
aged and necessitous unrelieved from its doors.
He appealed to their charity, not because they were
rich, but because they were poor, and, being poor,
they were prudent.—(Cheers-)
Lord 1). STUART then proposed the " Health of
the Chairman" in a very complimentary speech, in
which he congratulated the citizens of London upon
their good fortune in having so able and talented a
Scotchman to fill the office of chief magistrate of the
first city in the world. Drunk with great enthusiasm.
The CHAIRMAN returned thanks in a very appro-
priate speech, in the delivery of which he was loudly
and repeatedly cheered.
The Cursmoras then proposed " Prosperity to the
City of London," associating with the toast the name
of Alderman Copeland.
Alderman COPELAND briefly acknowledged the com-
pliment, and in an able address commented upon the
fact that London, whilst it derived deserved fame and
renown as the mighty emporium of the world's com-
merce, received perhaps its highest glory from the
circumstance of its holding out to the world an
example of benevolence and charity, commensurate,
to a laudable degree, with its transcendent mercantile
and industrial celebrity.
The Cursuorm proposed the " Sheriffs of London,"
which was responded to by Mr. Sheriff Finnis.
The LORD MAYOR gave the health of " Mr. Chis •
holm Anstey, M.P.," who briefly responded.
The health of " The Chisholm " followed.
The Carsnorm, in responding, alluded to the dis-
tracted state of Europe, and regretted that civil broils
had led even to the shedding of blood on the steps of
the capital of Rome, and to the life of the Pope being
menaced. With respect to Scotchmen, he would
undertake to say of them that whenever their services
were required in defence of the liberties of their
country, they would be ready to fight " shoulder
to shoulder," as in the days of yore.—(Cheers.)
The LORD MAYOR then proposed " Prosperity
to the Caledonian Asylum." He wished to couple
with the toast the name of the great benefactor of the
institution, Sir Charles Forbes, who had not only
devoted his money, but his best energies, to raising
the institution to its present eminence.—(Cheers.)
Captain CMAieLEs FORBES said the Caledonian
Asylum had been appropriately termed the "twin
sister of the Caledonian Scottish Hospital, he trusted
it would long continue so. His father and family had
ever taken the most lively interest in the welfare of
the institution, and, would, as they had heretofore
done, use their best efforts to promote its increased
efficiency.—(Cheers.)
Major ADAIR (the Secretary) read a goodly list of
subscriptions in aid of the charity already collected,
for the purpose of providing for the wants of the en-
suing year. Among the principal contributors were
—the Duke of Sutherland, the late President (half-
yearly subscription), 501.; the Right Hon. the Lord
Mayor, 20 guineas; Alderman Copeland, 10 guineas ;
Admiral Sir C. Malcolm, 10 guineas ; Lord D.
Stuart, i guineas, &c.
The company did not separate till a late hour.
Miss Ransford, Mr. Ransford, and Mr. Genge con-
tributed much to the harmony of the evening.
Mr. Cooper, the well-known singer of Scotch
songs, also enlivened the company by singing some
good old songs in superb style.
Mr. Higgs was the toastmaster. The embellish-
ment of the room was tastefully accomplished by
Mr. Douglas, one of the officers of the new society of
Scotch Archers.

THE ELECTRIC LlGHT.—Further experiments
were made last evening in Trafalgar-square with this
newly invented apparatus for the production of light ;
and vast crowds of astonished and delighted foot passen-
gers assembled from all parts of London to witness the
extraordinary effects of this new and clever application
of electro-galvanism. The flame, although small, from
its intense whiteness and purity, is thrown, by means of
a reflector, a considerable distance down Whitehall ;
while in the immediate vicinity of Charing-cross a manu-
script or small type may be perused with the greatest
facility and pleasure. The discovery is of very great
Importance, and, after a short time, we should not he
surprised to hear of the total extinction of half the gas
companies in the kingdom.
INQUESTS.—Yesterday no fewer than five inquests
were held in the metropolitan districts. Two of these
were upon persons unknown, whose bodies were found
in the river Thames; a man, apparently about 30 years
of age, six feet in height, and dressed as a lighterman,
and a respectably-attired woman, rather above the mid-
dle stature, about 28 years, attired in a stuff dress. The
man was found on Monday, opposite the Fox-under-the-
hill, Strand; and the woman on Tuesday, off Hunger-
ford Pier.—A third inquest was held at St. Martin's
workhouse, on the body of Frederick Lo Sage, aged 57,
who destroyed himself on Saturday night, at the Model
Lodging-house, George-street, Bloomsbury, by swallow-
ing luudanurn.—A fourth on the body of John Herring,
aged 45, who, having gone out for a walk, was after-
wards found drowned in the Surrey Canal, into which
it is supposed he accidentally fell, the banks being in a
culpably unprotected state.—And the last up on the body
of Thomas Carrol, aged 40, a labourer in Covent-garden
market, who was accidentally run over by a Piccadilly
omnibus.—Verdicts in accordance with the evidence were
severally returned.

THE SWELL Mos.—For some time past various
robberies have been committed ia
railwayb carriages, on
iages3,con.
adjacent lines, supposed to be effectod'
ments of the London swell mob, whose rey-bsmpecatable dress
and often affable deportment elude all suspicion of the
purpose of their travelling. Two young seen of gentle-
manly exterior, who have been seen to take repeated
trips on the Edinburgh and Northern line, without any
apparent legitimate purpose, were apprehended by the
police authc,riiits on Monday, and brought by Mr.
Moxey before the Magistrate on Tuesday, where failing
to give an account of their mode of hying, or to make re-
ference as to character, they were awarded the highest
punishment the New Police Act inflicts on vagrants,
namely 60 days' imprisonment. This clause reaches all
cases where the party, having no employment, or ob-
vious means of living, is found wandering about idly,
and with a suspicious purpcse. No substantive act
could be alleged against the parties in question, but the
strung suspicion which attached to their manners and
conduct seemed to the Magistrate to warrant. the putting
is force of this provision.—Caledonian Mercury.
There is a boy in Salem so bright, that his mother
has to look at him through a piece of smoked glass.—
New York paper.