The Sun.
London, England, 1866-06-29 00:00:00

Merchant Seamen's Orphan Asylum.

The pleasant little village of Snaresbrook was en
fête yesterday afternoon, in consequence of the
visit of the Prince and. Princess of Wales, on the
occasion of laying the foundation stone of a new
dining-hall at the above asylum. Occasion was
also taken to hold the anniversary festival previous
to the ceremony, the dejeuner taking place in a
tent adjacent to the building. There were between
500 and 600 guests present, and the weather being
extremely fine, all the approaches to the asylum
were crowded with carriages filled with ladies in
most elegant costumes. It was, in fact, one of the
gayest and most fashionable gatherings which has
taken place in the neighbourhood since the late
Prince Consort visited the spot end laid the founda-
tion of the handsome building which has been erected,
and which is a lasting memorial of the large bene-
volence of our great shipowners and merchants.
Between 200 and 300 orphan children are comfort-
ably supported in this noble establishment, and at
suitable ages sent out into the world under circum-
stances of very great advantage, considering their
station in life. During the whole of the day some
hundreds of people perambulated the establishment
from top to bottom, and greatly admired the ex-
treme neatness and cleanliness of every department
of the establishment, and all belonging to it, while
the healthy appearance of the inmates, and th eir
quiet and orderly derrteanour, bore ample testimony
to the care, both moral and physical, which they
received at the hands of those entrusted with the
onerous task of management. The general proceeds
of the festival exceeded £2,000, and it is gratifying
to find that some of the outports are coming for-
ward and recognising the benefits conferred by the
asylum by giving their cordial support. The
ports of Whitby, Brixham, Aberdeen, Sunder-
land, and Dartmouth are particularly prominent in
this respect. In consequence of his royal highness
having first visited the Worcester merchant seamen's
training school, off Erith the Royal party did
not arrive all together, but shortly after 2 p.m.
the Princess of Wales, who was attended by the
Countess of Macclesfield and Lady Sunderland,
drove up in a carriage, and was received, amidst the
cheers of the spectators, by the lady visitors of the
asylum, Mrs. 11. Green, Mrs. J. Gurney Fry, Mrs.
T. F. Buxton, Mrs. Ximenses, and Mrs. Burners,
and was by them conducted into a very pretty little
extemporised boudoir to await the arrival of the
Prince, her husband. His royal highness, who was
attended by Gen. Knollys, Lord Harris, and the
Hon. Col. Keppel, arrived about half-past 2 p.m.,
and was received by Lord A. Paget and the com-
mittee of management. His royal highness was
cordially cheered on passing through the crowded
thoroughfares leading up to the asylum gates. Both
their royal highnesses looked in excellent health and
spirits. The Prince having joined her royal highness
the august party proceeded to the public reception
room, where they both recorded their names as
visiting the institution, after which they were con-
ducted to a spacious marquee, where an elegant de-
jeuner was served. In the absence of Lord Russell
the chair was filled by Lord A. Paget; and after
the toast of the Queen had been loyally responded
to by the company, the noble chairman gave the
health of the Prince and Princess of Wales and the
rest of the royal family. The toast was received
with perfect enthusiasm.
The Prince of WALES, on rising to respond, was
met with defeaning cheers. His royal highness said
—My lords, ladies, and gentlemen, I am indeed
deeply sensible of, and grateful for, the exceedingly
kind manner in which our noble chairman has pro-
posed my health and that of her Royal Highness
the Princess of Wales ; and I am as deeply grateful
to you for the excessively kind manner in which
you have been pleased to receive the toast. Our
presence here to-day affords us great satisfac-
tion, as we have come to assist in a work
which to me is of particular interest, inasmuch
as the first foundation stone of this asylum
was laid by my lamented father in the year 1861
Under any circumstances it would be a pleasure and
an opportunity of which I should feel proud to take
part in such an occasion as the present. (Cheers.)
We must all remember what an important part the
mercantile marine of the United Kingdom play at
this moment, and how important therefore that we
should provide for the orphans of those brave men
who are exposed to many dangers. (Prolonged
cheers.) As you are well aware, a year after the
foundation stone was laid—in the year 1862—this
asylum was inhabited, and I believe I am correct in
saying that its inmates number now over 180 boys
and girls. This, I am sure, must be exceedingly
gratifying to the friends of the institution. (Cheers.)
I feel for my part very pleased on this occasion to
lay the foundation stone of an additional wing to
the building. I understand it was for the purpose
of a dining hall, without which the original plan of
the building would not be complete. (bear, hear.)
Let me now thank you once more for the reception
you have accorded to us. I am sure that nobody
feels more pleasure than the Princess in being pre-
sent on this occasion, or takes more interest in the
work we have undertaken to perform. (Loud
cheers.)
His Royal Highness subsequently proposed " The
health of Lord A. Paget," who briefly acknowledged
the toast.
Their royal highnesses were then conducted
through the building to the chapel, and thence to
the tent, where the stone was laid of the new din-
ing-hall, with the usual ceremonies, the choir of
the Forst school, under the direction of the Rev.
H. J. Wardell, together with the children com-
posing the full choir. The band of the Royal Ar-
tillery accompanied some of the psalms, and played
during the dejeuner. The 3d Essex Volunteer
corps, numbering about 250 men, and a guard of
honour composed of 100 men of the corps,were pre-
sent. Purses were laid on the stone after the cere-
mony, and a considerable amount raised ; and alto-
gether the proceedings passed off with very great
eclat.