The Sun.
London, England, 1848-12-29 00:00:00

SCOTTISH HOSPITALITY.

There is a proverb in France that Scottish hospi-
tality may be had, but cannot be bought; however
this may be, if we are to judge from what took place
on Saturday night last, Captain Lamont, R.N., must
have had ample gratification in return for his hospita-
lity. Captain Lamont invited some friends to dine
with him on that evening (instead of Christmas eve,
it falling on a Sunday), at the Piazza Hotel, Covent-
garden, where the dinner was served up i❑ Mr. Cut-
triss's best style. The juvenile band of the Royal
Caledonian Asylum, with their leader, Mr. Byford,
were present and enlivened the party with their de-
lightful playing. The gallant Captain did not forget
their parents, who were specially invited to partake
of the good cheer—they were regaled with an excel-
lent supper, with all its concomitants. After drink-
ing several loyal and patriotic toasts, the benevolent
host addressed the boys, in which he forcibly pointed
out their duty to their country, their gratitude to
their benefactors, to each other, and to themselves.
He reminded his guests, that in the ordinary course
of nature, to those little fellows around them, they
must ultimately resign the stage of life, and who
would take upon himself to say, that amongst them
some of the future governors of this great country
were not to be found? 'low much, then, was it not
his and their duty to cultivate, both by precept and
example, all the kindlier feelings of their nature, that,
in order to be happy themselves, their first care ought
to be an endeavour to make those within the sphere of
their own influence happy. It was but little that he
had in his power to do, but it was the delight of
his heart to do that little towards the interests of the
rising generation. The gallant Captain sat down
amidst much cheering—the boys having paid the most
marked attention to the address. One of them re-
turned thanks and begged his schoolfellowstojoin hit*
in wishing their friend, Captain Lamont, good health,
and many happy returns of the season ; the pipers
of the band playing " A man's a man for a' that."
The next toast was, " The Caledonian Society of
London" (of which the gallant Captain is president),
for which Mr. Craig myle (one of its members) returned
thanks, and took that opportunity of advocating the
views of its president, to establish a fund to be de-
voted to the apprenticing of the children of the Cale-
donian Asylum, and after referring to the host's
active benevolence, proposed the Captain's health,
which was received with warm enthusiasm. The
health of Charles Forbes, Esq., and the patrons of the
Caledonian Asylum followed, with well merited com-
pliments to their generosity and patriotism. The
boys and their friends took leave of the worthy Cap-
tain in the most grateful manner for his kindness
towards them, and the interest he takes in their wel-
fare. The rest of the guests soon after retired, much
delighted with what they had seen and heard that
evening.

THE MELANCHOLY OCCURRENCE AT THE VIC-
TORIA THEATRE.—Upon snaking inquiries last evening
it was ascertained that Henry Neat, one of the unfortu-
nate persons injured on Tuesday night at this theatre,
was lying at his residence, No. 97, Whickham-street,
Vauxhall, in a very precarious condition. Ile is still
attended by Mr. Sewell, but during the last day or two
he has complained much of pains in his side and ribs,
and it is extremely questionable whether or not the latter
are seriously, if not fatally, injured. The boy Astell, of
3, John-place, Webber-street, New-cut, is also attended
by the same gentleman, and it was yesterday found
upon examination that he was most extensively bruised
about the shoulders and back, the latter being
extensively swollen. The lad Tutchin is, owing to the
treatment he has received at the hands of Mr. Sewell,
considerably better; the lad Fraser is still suffering from
concussion of the brain, but it is the opinion of Mr.
Sewell that he will recover. A further investigation
was male yesterday by Mr. Osbaldiston, with the view
of learning the precise cause of the calamity, the result
of which was the following:—Mr. Edgar, the stage-
door officer, stated that some hours after the gallery
door had been opened, a couple of boys came to him
and brought the lower hand-rail of the gallery, saying
at the time that it had been torn or forced down by the
people waiting for admission, and about a quarter past
five o'clock a man belonging to the Rifle Brigade came
to the stage door, and said that he had been wait-
ing on the gallery stairs for admission to the theatre,
but so great was the heat that he was obliged to
make a retreat the best way he could, and if the doors
were not opened immediately some dozens of people
at the least must be suffocated. Edgar upon hearing
that went on to the stage and communicated the intel-
ligence to Mr. Higgie, who forthwith gave the signal for
the doors to be opened, and the crowd made their way
into the theatre. One man had hold of the beam on
the second landing, and with his other hand he succeeded
in pulling several persons up, whom he handed to those
below in the hopes of saving their lives, and it is no
doubt that the boy Leonard Tutchin was one of them.
The stairs were six feet wide, and one of the windows on
the staircase had the whole of the glass removed to
afford proper ventilation, the inside being protected by
heavy iron bars to prevent any one from being pushed
through.
FRENCH PRINCES AT OXFORD: DEC. 28.—The
Duke and Duchess d'Aumale and the Duke de Nemours,
with their suite, accompanied by the Rev. Mr. Hudson,
chaplain to the Queen Dowager, from whom the Princes
have just come, have visited to-day several of the prin-
cipal buildings of the University, the Bodleiaa Library,
University Printing-office, the Raffaelle and Michael
Angelo:Collection of Drawings,&c. The illustrious party,
who are staying at the Angel, were attended by the Rev.
Mr. Andrews, Senior Proctor, and the Rev. Mr. Raw-
linson, of Exeter College.
THE IRON TRADE.—WOLVERHAMPTON, THURS-
DAY.—The usual meeting preliminary to the general
quarterly meetings of the ironmasters of South Stafford-
-hire and the surrounding districts was held at the
Swan Hotel, in this town, to-day. The attendance of
the tirst firms in the neighbourhoods was unusually
numerous. Amongst those present were Mr. Foster,
the Messrs. Williams and Co., Messrs. Thorneycroft,
Mr. Grazebrook (the chairman), &c. After some dis-
cussion it was unanimously resolved to maintain, without
advance or reduction, the prices of the present quarter.
here will, consequently, be no alteration. Notwith-
standing that at the present time the Welsh makers are
uederselling those of Staffordshire, the ironmasters of
this district, rather than reduce the wages of the men,
are determined to adhere to the present rates.
REPRIIsVE OF THE CONVICT THOMSON.—On Tues-
day afternoon a dispatch was received in Greenock from
the Home-office, intimating that the sentence of death
passed on John Thomson was respited during her Ma-
jsty's pleasure. A letter was on Thursday received in
Greenock free] Ile. Sherie.-Depute, in Which he informs
the Town Clerk that Thompson's life would be spared,
and requests that the fact may be made known to the
magistrates.—Greenock Advertiser.