The Sun.
London, England, 1858-06-04 00:00:00

PROVIDENT CLERKS' BENEVOLENT

FUND.

On Monday evening the friends of this excellent in-
stitution, to the number of nearly 200, sat down to a
sumptuoue entertainment in. the London Tavern. It
Lad been announced that the Right Hon. the Earl of
Danoughmore would presi le on the occasion, but his
official position as Vice. President of the Board of Trade
having precluded his attendance, the chair was taken
by Mr. R. W. Crawford, one of the members for the
City, who discharged its duties to the satisfaction of all
present. The chterman was supported right and left by
Mr. Thomas Baring, M.P., Mr. Thomson Hankey,
M.P., Aldi man Finnis, Mr. J. A. Hankey, Mr. J.
Mr. R. F. Remington, Mr. J. P. Fischer,
Mr. S. Barton, Mr. Webster Smith, Mr. Gervoise
Smith, Mr. Hugh Smith, Captain Snell, Mr. J. Hodg-
son, Mr. S. Herapath, A. &nee, Esq., F.A.S., J. Gay,
E•q., F.R.C.S., Mr. Jerkin Jones, &c., etc.
The gallery was graced by a brilliant array of lady
friends of the institution ; and the proceedings of the
evening were enlivened by a number of vocalists, under
the admirable discipline of Mr. Lackey, and by the band
of the Hon. Artillery Company. The herald of the
toasts was that time-honoured festive officer, Mr. Har-
ker. Altogether, the entertainment was characterised
by a profusion, variety, and excellence, whether in eat-
ables or drinkables, which showed that the present pro-
prietors of the London Tavern are determined to sus-
tain the world-renowned reputation which that establish-
ment has so long enjoyed.
After the removal of the cloth, the usual loyal toasts
were given and re-Tonded to.
The CHAIRMAN then gave " The Army and Navy,"
prefac:ng the toest with a few appropriate observations.
The toast was drunk with great enthusia
Captain SNELL, of the Hon. Artillery Company, re-
turned thanks on behalf of the army. He said he had
small claims to be identified with such a sentiment as
" The Army;" but he might say that he recollected, with
some degree of pride, that he formerly served in that
country to which all eyes were now directed—(hear)--
and had the pleasure of serving with such men as Out-
ram and Moore. (Cheers.) Some time ago the great quest-
tion discussed by everybody was the cause of the mutiny
—whether it had been brought about by greased cart-
ridges, interference with the religion of the natives, or
other circumstances ; but the great question now to be
considered was, whether the measure adopted by the Go-
vernor-General for the restoration of peace were founded
in wisdom or not. He would not abuse the privilege he
possessed of addressing the meeting by encroaching on the
tender ground of politics ; but he would beg, with refer-
ence to the case of Lord Canning, to recall a good custom
that prevailed in the military mess-room when an absent
comrade was in trouble, or likely to get into it—vie., the
custom of saying, " Hold your tongue, old boy, you
have not been there ; you don't know anything about it ;
when he is heard he will justify himself." (Cheers and
laughter.) The gallant speaker concluded by a feeling
altelon to the intelligence communicated that morning
of the death of the brave and lamented Sir Win. Pee).
The Rev. CHAR. BAKER, of Milstone Rectory, Ames-
bury, Wilts, as a former member of the naval service, re-
turned thanks ou behalf of the navy.
The CHAIRMAN, in proposing the toast of the evening,
expressed his regret for the absence of the noble earl who
should have presided, and who, no doubt, would have
been prepared to advocate the claims of the Provident
Clerks' Benevolent Fund with a great deal more ability
and effect than he (Mr. Crawford) could pretend to. At
the seine time, it was consolatory to him to know that the
merits of this institution were so well known to many of
the gentlemen present, that it was not likely, at least, as far as they were concerned, to suffer much in consequence
of the feebleness of its advocate. To those gentlemen
present, however, who happened to be strangers, he
desired to say that the Provident Clerks' Benevolent
Fund was established in London in 1840, by a few
gentlemen connected with some of the leading mercan-
tile and banking firms, and was the first institution of
the kind attaching to, or originated by, the large class
whose name it bore. These gentlemen, who were the
chief clerks in their various houses of business, obtained
by the aid of the merchants and bankers, a sufficient
foundation to render the institution in its subsequent
stages to a great extent self-supporting. A sum of 10,0001.
was raised, of which the Bank of England contributed
5001., and the fund commenced its career of practical use-
fulness, since which date it had relieved a great amount
of suffering and distress, and had in many cases been
the sole support of those who, by age, infirmity, or
affliction, had been rendered incapable of obtaining a
livelihood. In the course of time, owing to the support
which had been accorded to the institution, the capital
had been increased to 18,0001., and its supporters were
now asked not only to maintain this fund, but to in-
crease and extend its means of usefulness. (Hear, hear.)
Among the advantages offered by the institution was
the system of annuities, gratuities, and loans ; and with
reference to the latter item, he had great pleasure in
mentioning the fact, which was creditable not only to
the caution and prudence of the committee, bat to the
sense of honour and integrity of the parties assisted,
tt at in almost every case where money had been lent
it bad been punctually repaid. Regarded in every possible
point of view, be (the chairman) thought the institution
was entitled to general sympathy. Speaking for himself,
and the class to which he belonged, he felt great plea-
sure in yielding to the fund his most cordial support.
(Cheers.) He knew that it was desirable that an institu-
tion of that sort should be self-supporting ; and he there-
fore trusted that those who belonged more immediately
to the class for whose benefit it was founded would con-
tinue not only to render it ail the assistance in their
power, but use all the influence they possessed over
others to induce them to attach themselves to the fund.
He had no hesitation whatever in reiterating his appeal
on behalf of the object. It was well deserving of con-
fidence and aid, and he trusted that the subscription list
that night would show that it was sufficiently appre-
ciated by the commercial community.
The toast was drunk with all the honours.
Mr. Alderman FINNIC proposed the health of the
chairman, as a gentleman who had proved himself the
working member for the City, and who was foremost in
the advocacy and support of every good cause. (Great
applause.)
The CHAIRMAN, in returning thanks, said if anything
could induce him to take a greater interest than here-
tofore in the cause of the fund, it would be the kind re-
ception be had experienced that evening. In suitable
terms he then proposed "Prosperity to the City of Lon-
don, and the health of Mr. Thomas Baring, M.P.
(Great applause.)
Mr. T. BARING, M.P., in rising to acknowledge the
toast, said the chairman had been good enough to inti-
mate that he could speak for the prosperity of the City
of London ; but in reality that prosperity could be best
answered fur by English enterprise, by English industry,
and English honour, (Cheers.) The toast had been
often given within those wall, but never under more
appropriate circumstances then when it was associated
with the welfare of a class like the commercial clerk's,
who by their labours, their integrity, and their sagacity,
contributed so much to the prosperity and advance-
ment of the British metropolis. (Great applause.)
It was right to bear in mind that that was not
the anntvereary festival of the aseociation, for it did
not appeal every year for assistance, but only occa-
sionally, when circumstances rendered such a course
desirable or necessary. (Hear, hear,) In fact he had
been connected with the fund since its commencement,
and he only remembered two appeals of this kind that
had been made. This showed the efforts which had
been made to render the institution what be hoped
it would be—self-supporting. He concluded by re-
ferring in terms of eulogy to the zeal and earnest-
ness ruanifes'ed in the cause by the treasurer, Mr.
John Abel Smith, and expressed his hope that the clerks
as a body would more generally interest themselves in
promoting the success of the institution.
The Stewards having brought in their lists of subscrip-
tions, the secretary, Mr W. T. Lioford, read them over.
The CHAIRMAN announced, amid great applause, that
the total amounted to 1,1051., exclusive cf several sums
that bad been pronai,ed. He then proposed the health
of Mr. J. A. Smith, the treasurer ; Mr. Baring, Mr.
T. 'lackey, Mr. G. Prescott, and Baron Rothschild, the
trustees of the fund. (Applause).
Mr. T. HANKEY, M.P,, acknowledged the honour
conferred upon himself and his colleagues. He said that
ordinarily the duties of trustees were cf a very for-
mal chriracter ; but this was not the case in the
present instance, for the committee were so anxious
to promote the well being of the institution that their
application to the trustees were very frequent, as they
were constantly on the watch for the beet and safest
mode of investing the funds confided to them, and of
applying them in the manner most advantageous to
the institution. (A. lane.) At the same time he begged
to say that the larger the sums were that he and his
colleagues had to take care of the better would
they be pleased to act as custodians on behalf of the
fund. (Cheers.)

The toasts of "The Members of the Committee,"
(responded to by Mr. Junes), and " The Ladies," to
which Mr. J. Smith, t.e son of the highly esteemed
Treasurer, John Abel Smith, Esq., M.P., returned
thanks in a neat and appropriate speech—terminated
a❑ evening which, in addition to the pleasure it conferred
upon all present, considerably enhanced the welfare of
an admirable institution.

NEW SPECIMEN OF IRON PAVEMENT IN THE CITY.--
Mr. Haywood, the engineer to the City Commission of
Sewers, has received instructions to use, in one of the
City streets, to be chosen by him, a new specimen of
iron pavement, upon an improvernentpatented by General
Knapp. The new patent differs in many essential par-
ticulars from the old system, a trial of which was recently
made in Leadenhall-street, but which proved to be a
failure. Tee iron blocks are of a totally different form,
and the engineer has expressed au opinion of their entire
suitabiAy for metropolitan traffic.
AN OYSTER PANIC.—A panic has seized Paris as to
next y ear's supply of oystus. The banks are said to
have all stopped. At Cancale and Granville, 18 out of
the 23 beds are exhausted. Out of 15 banks in the Bay
of St. Brieuc only three are now solvent. Those in the
roadstead of Brest are utterly gone. An influx of
inn-cles has got intermixed with the other bivalves, and
had the Eff-et of tans in a wheat field. At Rochelle,
the isles of Rhe and Oleron, the green oysters called
Maremms, superior to any known in England, are
nearly exti, et. Tie importance of this stoppage may
oe judged from the fact that Paris, which in 1804 eat
annuaily 17 millions cf huitres, consumed in 1853 70
Id lions from the R ,cher de Cancale, 1,360,000 from
Oritend, and 360,000 c•f the green quality. Pisciculture
flaB come to the re,cue. Mr. Corte has been off to soW
broadcast five mil ions of the shell-fish in various places,
end diving-bells are in use to strew the bed of the sea
Nith branches, &e., to retain the spawn of the summer
mouths. This scientific functionary is the very pastoral
Proteus of the various flicks that pasture in the lakes,
r.vers, and along the shores of France.