The Sun.
London, England, 1857-04-25 00:00:00

COURT OF EXCHEQUER.

Their lordships were engaged the whole of this morn•
ing in hearing technical cases, none of which possessed
the slightest interest except to the parties immediately
concerned.

THE IRON, HARD WARE, AND METAL

TRADES t ENSII,N SOCIETY.

The anniversary of this meritorious institution was
celebrated at the Albion Tavern, Aldersgate•street,
London, on Thursday evening, and resulted in a large
accession to the funds of the 'charity, together with pro•
raises of future support on a scale commensurate with
the extent and variety of the interests appealed to. The
Scotch houses in particular have this year evinced un-
wonted sympathy, and their example is being followed by
several of the iron companies in the south and west
who have hitherto been more indifferent than oi)uld
be de-ired, but are likely to respond with somewhat
increased alacrity for the time to come. The sub-
scriptions and donations in the room on this occa-
sion, together with the proceeds of the concert ant
late ball at Willie's, exceeded 500/_ There were no less
than sixty stewards, one-third and upwards being from
the neighbourhood of Birmingham and Wolverhampton,
many of them, as in the case of Mr. Richard Turley,
having been vice-presidents in previous years, and• mu-
nificent benefactors in that capacity. The chairman of
the evening, and an excellent one he made, was Mr. W.
Bird, well supported in every sense, as usual, by Mr.
R. W. Kennard, president of the society, himself and
various members of his family sub,cribing with their cus-
tomary liberality, and animating others by their exer-
tions in the details of the work of benevolence, twenty-
one males and considerably more than as many female
pensioners being now secured a decent provision for
the remainder of their days. Mr. Bird gave some highly
curious statistics of the rapid growth of the British
iron trade of late years, and augured for it a future of
continuous progress, with a corresponding profit to all
engaged in it who should control their enterprise by
prudence ; and he therefore urged the duty of the pros-
perous; in proportion to their own gain, to be mindful of
the unfortunate and decrepit of their body. In addition
to Alderman Rose, Mr. Crowther, Mr. W. S. Burton,
Mr. Dale, Mr. Farwig, Mr. Gould, and all the usual
heads of London firms, who actively countenance these
reunioes, and whose names have so frequently appeared
in this journal for toe last ten years, there were Mr. Geo.
Furness, contractor of the Pernambuco Railway, and a
considerable number from a distance. The health of these
gent'emeu was responded; to by Mr. J. Rateliff, Mayor
of Birmingham, who in a very effective speech assured
the committee that if they came to the capital of the
Midlands they should meet with the warmest sup-
port, in the same manner they had done at
Sheffield ; that, for his own part, nothing should be eft
unattempted to promote objects in every way so earn-
mendabless theirs; and in the hope of conducing to such
end, he would reserve his subscription till their arrival,
that his donation and the personal zeal be meant to exer-
cise might operate as an incentive to his townsmen
worthily to sustain so excellent an association. Mr. Ral•
cliff's speech was received with great cordiality, as was
also that of Mr. Edward Perry, Mayor of Wolver-
hampton, who occupied the vice-chair, and discharged
its duties most creditably. Amines incidents aleserv-
, big of record, two should be specially caned. First, a
propoaiticn from an anonymous source, to give ten gui-
neas,, provided nine other gentlemen gave a like sum
within the next twelve months, an overture that was
accepted with acclamation, and partly complied with on
the. spot. Secondly, the vocalists, consisting of the
Quartet Club, and who sang some part-songs with a
purity and verve that excited general admiration, re-
turned the money they Lad received for their professional
services, thus giving their notes without gold. The even-
,
ing, s proceedings, which did not terminate till nearly
midnight, were alogelher of a mot Batista:tory charm-
ter, fully bearing out the assertion of the chairman, that
the affairs of no charity are more economically adminis-
tered, and that the subscribers have the assurance that
every guinea of theiemoney reaches its destined pur-
pose with the smallest possible diminution from extraor-
dinary charges of ex-fcutive or otherwise upon it. !gr.
J. S. Nottage, so long identified with the society as its
secretary, and whose labours cond'ieed so much to its
success, has resigned, in consequence of his business as
head of the Stereoscopic Company, 54, Cneapside, re-
quiring his undivided attention. His successor, Mr.
Hoole, discharged the responsibilities of the post on
Thursday very becomingly, and with a little mere prac-
tice will make a valuable officer.-- Birmingham Journal.

AN EXTRAORDINARY TROUT:CAUGHT IN THE THAMES.
—During the last Jew days one of the largest and hes-
viebt fish of the above description captured for many
years past in the River Thames was taken by a gentle.
man connected with the bankinglouse of Messrs.
Drummond and Co., of Charing-cross. The fish was
hooked by means of an artificial fly at a spot in the river
near Kingston, in Surrey. It measured two feet and a
half in length, and weighed just 10114 Mr. Grove, the
fishmonger at Charing-cross, is of opinion that if the
above fish had been captured two months later in the
season it would have exceeded 121 b. in weight, as it was
evidently ill fad and out of condition. This is a sur-
prising specimm of the river trout.