The Sun.
London, England, 1861-09-12 00:00:00

THE CONCLUDING MEETING.

At 1 p.m. to-day a meeting was held in the Town
Hall to receive the report of the committee of re-
commendations, and at 3 p.m. the usual concluding
meeting was held in the large room of the Free
Trade Hall, on which occasion a very large number
of members and associates were present, including
several hundreds of ladies.

W. Fairbairn, Esq., LL.D., F.R.S., C.E., the pre-
sident, occupied the chair, and he called upon the
assistant general secretary,
Professor Phillips, to state the financial results of
the meeting. That gentleman then said that the
average receipts of the Its soc iation during the last
30 years had been about £2,000 per annum, and
that the average attendance during that time had
been about 1,600 persons. This year was such a one,
both for attendance and money, as had never been
known in the history of the society. Up to this day
at one o'clock the treasurer had received for 321 old
life members, 108 new ditto, 184 old annual ditto,
119 new ditto, 1,588 associates, 818 ladies : total of
3,139 persons present. The amount received was
£3,909. Professor Phillips then read over the
amounts and purposes for which the committee had
determined to this year grant £2,363. One grant
has been made to a committee of gentlemen to report
upon the cause and best means of preventing rail-
way accidents.
The President then rose, and said it was his pleas-
ing duty to inform them how successful the present
meeting had been. Never had there been more im-
portant and more interesting papers read in the
various sections. He now came, he said, to the
mechanical section, about which he knew more
than any of the others. In that section he believed
there had been papers read which were more inte-
resting and important that those of any former
period. First, there was the patent law, and he
hoped they would soon be able to give
to the inventive talent of this country that pro-
tection to which it was so justly entitled. For his
own part he was one of those who would not give up
the patent law, would not throw open inventions
to the world—because he thought a man ought to
be paid for any invention of his which was likely
to be beneficial to the nation at large. Another
important subject discussed in that section was that
of our national defences—a subject, he might say,
which was of the very greatest importance perhaps.
Our stirring and energetic neighbours the French
were exceedingly active in this respect, and their
Admiralty were the first to protect their ships with
iron. Now, he held that it was our duty to be not
only not far behind, but far in advance with respect
to our naval armaments of every other nation in the
world—(hear, hear)—France not excepted. (Ap-
plause.) Then there was a very important discus-
sion on our artillery. Both these discussions would,
he hoped, lead to the best possiblb results. (Hear.)
After alluding to the success of each of the soirees,
and after saying that a letter had been received
from Miss Nightingale, thanking the association

for the interest it took in the sanitary condition of
the British army, he concluded by moving a vote of
thanks to the local committee and others who had
taken an interest in and had had the management
of the arrangements.
The Mayor of Manchester (Mr. M. Curtis) ac-
knowledged the vote, and said he hoped the asso-
ciation would again soon visit Manchester. (Hear.)
Professor Airy, the Astronomer Royal, proposed
a vote of thanks to the President, Mr. Fairbairn—
a vote which was responded to by the meeting with
acclamation.
The President having briefly returned thanks, he
declared the meeting was adjourned, and would
Imeet by adjournment at Cambridge next year.

IRELAND.

DUBLIN, SEPT. 11.

The Prince of Wales presented a new stand of
colours to the 36th Regiment at the camp yesterday.
The ceremony excited peculiar interest, as it was
known to be the last military display in which his
Royal Highness would take part before his depar-
ture from the Curragh. The Lord-Lieutenant, the
Commander of the Forces, and other distinguished
visitors arrived at the camp about half-past 11
o'clock by the train from Dublin, and were accom-
modated with places in front of the line and inside
the enclosed space. The wives and children of the
officers and soldiers of the regiment were present,
and stood in two parties on the right and left of the
saluting flag. Shortly after 12 o'clock the regiment,
which was formed in light companies of 34 files,
under the command of Colonel Hort, was drawn up
in line on the ground opposite to the Royal
quarters, a squadron of the 3d Light Dragoons, and
a party of the 36th forming a cordon round the space.
The Prince of Wales, who wore the uniform of a
Colonel of the Staff, attended by Major-General the
Hon. R. Bruce, Lieutenant-Colonel Keppell, and a
numerous staff, made his appearance precisely at
the hour appointed, a quarter to 10 o'clock, and was
received with a Royal salute. The ceremony then
proceeded. The four flank companies were wheeled
up three-eighths of a circle, and the two centre sub-
divisions advanced to within ten paces of the pile
of arms in front of the saluting flag, and upon
which the new colours rested, under the custody of
the two senior colour-sergeants of the regiment.
The colours were uncased, and consecrated by the
Rev. Horace Wheeler, senior chaplain of the Cur-
ragh Camp, who read the impressive service, and
delivered a touching and appropriate address. The
colours having been removed by the two Majors of
the regiment, Brevet-Colonel Haliday and Major E.
C. Butler. the two senior Ensigns—Messrs. George
C. Dumergue and Clements M. Bond—bearing the
old standards, approached the Prince of Wales and
knelt to receive the new colours.

His Royal Highness having presented them to the
ensigns, addressed the regiment as follows :

" Colonel Hort, officers, non-commissioned officers, and
privates of the 36th Regiment,—lt affords me very sincere
gratification, after having served some months in the brigade
to which you belong, to present these colours to you. Be
assured that I shall ever look back to my intercourse with
yourselves and the various corps composing the fine division
assembled in this camp with feelings of unmingled plea-
' sure; and I gladly avail myself of this opportunity of ex •
pressing my thanks for the cordial welcome given me on
ray joining the ranks, for the purpose of obtaining a practi-
cal acquaintance with the duties of your noble profession.
Time will not admit of my entering into a detailed narra-
tive of all the valuable services rendered by your regiment
to their sovereigns and country. From the year 1700, when
it was raised in Ireland—the birthplace of so many gallant
soldiers—until the close of the war in 1815, your records
might almost form an epitome of the military history of the
empire. During that- period the 30th served with marked
distinction in Europe, Asia, and America, throughout many
of the most brilliant campaigns in which our armies have
been enffaged. It was repeatedly named in very honourable
terms by Cornwallis and Wellington, and other eminent
commanders, and has on all occasions nobly vindicated its
title to the motto inscribed on your banners, and of which
has already
are so
)7ouhigh state of
a reputation, and is now in a
justly proud. To a regiment that
achieved suchesciency, under the able command of Colonel Hort, these
indeed
shall
besafelyin
arise, you will show
trusted; and I feel convinced
that,
coloursw
of the memorable eulogy once pronounced
hillenaeyver the opportunity
YoursOves worthy