The Sun.
London, England, 1859-06-22 00:00:00

THE PLAYGROUND AND GENERAL

RECREATION SOCIETY.

The annual general meeting of the friends and
supporters of this society was held yesterday after-
noon at Willis's Rooms, the Earl of Shaftesbury in
the chair. In opening the proceedings the noble
chairman said that the business upon which they
were met required little explanation and less argu-
ment. The title of the society alone was sufficient
argumei4, and they were there assembled to resolve
the question how the operations of the society might
be best carried out. There were two ways open to
them. Some persons advocated the intervention of
Government, while others considered that the ob-
jects in view ought to be accomplished by private
assistance. He himself did not consider this a case
for Government interference, because, while he ad-
mitted that the Government were bound to supply
parks and to care for all sanitary improvements, he
thought that private amusements and recreation
ought to originate with and be carried out by pri-
vate individuals. Every one who had occasion to
walk through the crowded streets of the metropolis
must have seen how necessary it was that the num-
bers of young children of the poorer classes should
have some place free from the fetid odours of damp
lodgings and narrow alleys, where they could play
without risk to themselves and annoyance to the
passers-by. A proper amount of play and exercise
was essential to the health and full development of
the body, and necessary to strengthen the capacities
of the mind to receive the benefits of education.
But not only physically was it of great importance
that children should have proper play hours and
proper playgrounds, but also on moral grounds, as
they would be kept in a better frame of mind and
temper. How was such an end to be accomplished ?
It was easy enough to obtain land for playgrounds
in the suburbs, but in the centre of a large city,
where every inch of land was valuable, it was an
almost insuperable difficulty. A very liberal pro-
position had been made to the society by the Mar-
quis of Westminster. The noble marquis proposed
to devote an acre of ground near St. Barnabas at a
nominal rent of about 6d. a-year for the purpose of
forming a playground. If the society accepted the
offer they would have to put the land in proper
order and to build a small house upon it for the use
of the keeper . Of course this could not be done
without funds. In advocating a liberal subscription
he said that by the contribution of a small sum a
very large amount of moral improvement might be
effected in the condition of young children, and
that those who contributed would go far to abate
those evils which were a degradation to this coun-
try and to the religion which we professed. Mr.
West, the secretary, then read the report, from
which it appeared the society had been most active
in its efforts to obtain a site for a playground in the
metropolis, and had at length found one well adapted
for their purpose in a thickly-peopled part of Cam-
den-town ; and that arrangements were now in pro-
gress for its purchase. The committee had also called
the attention of Government to the advantage of
retaining part of Smithfield open, and had received
an assurance from the Chancellor of the Exchequer
that the part belonging to the Crown should be
preserved in an open condition. A request to the
First Commissioner of Works that a portion of each
metropolitan park should be enclosed and made
available for school treats under the superintendence
of a park-keeper, met with the same ready acquie▪
s-
cence. Communications had likewise been ad-
dressed by the committee to the mayors of large
country towns, soliciting them to hold public meet-
ings in aid of the objects of the society.. The repo
rt
concluded by thanking the press for its ef calve
and unsolicited efforts in forwarding the cause.
The report was adopted unanimouy,anad
vote
ei▪
ouosf
resolutions were paesed, after which
thanks to the Chairman terminated the proceedings.

The Queen and Prince Consort, accompanied by
the Princesses Alice and Helena, honoured the performance
at the Haymarket Theatre last evening with their pre-
sence. The Royal suite consisted of the Duchess of Atholl,
Mr. R. Ormsby Gore, Lord Colville, and Captain the Hon.
D. de Ros.
THE KING OF THE BELGIANS.—His Majesty
the King of the Belgians was expected to arrive at Dover
last night, en route for London, on a visit to her Majesty
and the Prince Consort. Lord Raglan, Lord in Waiting
to the Queen, and Major-General Wylde, Groom in Wait-
ing to the Prince Consort, proceeded on Monday evening
to Dover to receive his Majesty upon his arrival in this
country. Some persons are disposed to surmise that the
visit may have reference to the proceedings said to be con-
templated by Prussia, with the view of bringing about a
treaty of peace between France and Austria.

Lord John Russell received yesterday at the
Foreign-office the ministers of foreign Governments ac-
credited to this Court.

MINISTERIAL APPOINTMENTS.—Sir Alexander
Cockburn has been appointed Chief Justice of England in
the place of Lord Chancellor Campbell. The Right Hon.
Henry Fitzroy will become First Commissioner of Public
Works, and Mr. Massey, late Under-Secretary of the Home
Department, will succeed Mr. Fitzroy as Chairman of Com-
mittees. It is said, but we can scarcely credit it, that Mr.
Laing, M.P. for Wick, late Chairman of the Brighton.
Railway Company, and of the Crystal Palace Company, and
intimately connected with several commercial undertakings,
is to bo Financial Secretary of the Treasury. Lord Alfred
Paget resumes his old office at the Court as Clerk Marshal.

—Times.
We are informed that Lord John Russell has
appointed the Hon. George Elliot and Mr. George Russell
to be his private secretaries. Mr. Villiers Lister has been
appointed Precis Writer. The self-denying patriotism
and generous sacrifice of mere family considerations in
these appointments are worthy of notice. The first gen-
tleman is Lord John's brother-in-law, the second his
cousin, the third his stepson,—Xorning Zrerad.