The Sun.
London, England, 1868-03-13 00:00:00

ROYAL VISIT TO CHRIST'S HOSPITAL.

Last evening the Prince and Princess of Wales,
with the Duke of Cambridge, paid a visit to Christ's
Hospital, the object being to witness one of the
" public suppings," so called, which are invariably
held there once a week during the Lenten season,
in accordance with a very ancient custom. The
Duke of Cambridge was present in his capacity of
president of the hospital, and their Royal High-
nesses the Prince and Princess accompanied him as
guests. On these occasions the whole of the boys,
about 750 in number, are accustomed to sup in
public in the great hall, which, next to Westmin-
ster Hall and Guildhall, is the largest and most
stately in the whole metropolis. It is a frugal meal,
consisting of bread and cheese and a bowl of milk
for each boy, served in a homely manner, and the
materials of which are carried into the hall in bas-
kets by the boys themselves. On one of these occa-
sions, in March, 1845, the Queen and the late Prince
Consort honoured the hospital with a visit, the re-
membrance of which is still treasured there. Last
evening the royal visitors arrived at the institution
about seven o'clock, and were received at the en-
trance with every mark of respect by the treasurer
(Mr. Foster White) and by a goodly number of the
governors, including Mr. Alderman Carter and Mr.
Alderman Gibbons. Thence they were conducted
to the Governors' private room, and afterwards
escorted to the great hall, his Royal Highness the
Commander-in-Chief giving his arm to the Prin-
cess, and the treasurer accompanying the Prince of
Wales, followed by a long line of governors carry-
ing wands. There a select company had already
assembled, including Dr. Jacob, the Head Master,
and the rest of the masters, among others, and
the flue hall was brilliantly illuminated. The
Duke of Cambridge, as president of the hospi-
tal, having taken. the place assigned him on the
dais, with the Prince of Wales on his right hand,
and the Princess and Mrs. Foster White, the wife
of the treasurer, on his left, the boys sang the Old
Hundredth Psalm to an accompaniment on the
grand organ. The Prayers and Lessons usual on
such occasions were next read by one of the Gre-
cians (Mr. Robarts), three taps being given before
each with a wooden hammer on a table to enjoin
psilence among the boys, according to custom. A
hymn and afterwards an anthem followed, and then
the boys 5a.45 down to supper, which lasted about
half an hour, and while it was being discussed their
Royal Highnesses the Prince of Wales and the Duke
of Cambridge, accompanied by the Treasurer,
walked round tha tables. Supper over, the rem-
nants of the meal were collected in baskets, and
borne away on the shoulders of some of the older
boys, the whole 750, those carrying baskets among
the rest, presenting themselves in couples before the
dais, and making each an obeisance to the Royal
visitors. The National Anthem, accompanied by
the organ, was then sung with fine effect by the
whole of the pupils, at the conclusion of which
three enthusiastic cheers were given—first for his
Royal Highness the President, next for the Prince,
and thirdly, with extraordinary vigour, for the
Princess. 'With that the ceremony terminated, and
the Royal party took their departure. On leaving
they were again loudly cheered by the scholars as-
sembled in the quadrangle and by the crowd
outside.

MR. DISRAELI AND THE WORKING CLASSES.
The following communication has been received from Mr.
Disraeli, by the secretary, in reply to the resolutions
adopted at the meeting held at the Freemasons' Tavern'
for the purpose of expressing regret at the retirement of
Lord Derby, and confidence in his successor:—" 10,
Downing-street, Whitehall, ,March 10. Sir—Mr. Disraeli
has received and read with much satisfaction the resolu-
tions passed at a meeting of the Metropolitan Working
Men's Conservative Association, on the 6th instant, of
which you have been good enough to send him copies
and he desires me to request that you will convey to the
members of the Association his thanks for the honour
which they have done him.—l am, sir, yours, &c., G. W
FREMANTLE. Frederick W. Jarvis, Esq., Secretary.
ROYAL COMMISSION ON WATER SUPPLY.---'
Meetings of the commission were held at the House of
Lords, on Wednesday last—present, the Duke of Rich-
mond (in the chair), Sir John Thwaites, Colonel Harness,
Sir Benjamin Phillips, Messrs. Harrison and Prestwich
aLd on Thursday, March 12—present, Sir John Thwaites
(in chair), Colonel Harness, Sir Benjamin Phillips, Messrs.
Harrison and Prestwich. The Secretary, Mr. W. Pole+
also attended.
THE FREE LIBRARY MOVEMENT. A public
meeting was held last night in the Town Hall,
Leeds, for the purpose of considering the advisability of
adopting the Free Libraries Act. The Mayor presided'
There was a very strong opposition to the scheme, the
reasons advanced being that such libraries were not used
so much by working men as by other classes, alai that the
local taxes were already sufficiently heavy. When the
vote was taken the Mayor declared it to be in favour 0f
adopting the act.
HEAVY GALE.—Weymouth, Wednesday, 6 pill'
—A furious gale has been blowing on this part of the oco
since 3 this morning, and continues with unabated far/
The weather has been extremely unsettled in this locality
for the last three days, with light to moderate winds fr°ll,
S. by W. to N. W., and With a fluctuating barometer, wilic`.
gave rapid indications last evening of the approach of the,
storm now expending its fury from S.S.W. Several sligli"
casualties have occurred to vessels which were caught
it off the Start, and they were obliged to bear up swat' t°
Portland Harbour of Refuge, where they had been Pre;
viously detained upwards of a fortnight by the previellf
adverse winds, and there has now accumulated a fleet °,l
over 200 vessels of nearly all rigs, waiting fair wind
weather to proceed westward. The steamship Cygetio,
Captain Falle, belonging to the Weymouth and ba;
nel Islands Steampacket Company, which started
_c.)a,
the Channel Islands at the usual time this more;
(six a.m.), after two ineffectual attempts to mak° ,
passage, was obliged to return to harbour, where sbe
rived at noon, having encountered a tremendous see °u
side the Shambles Lightship and Bill of Portland. uracig
going about to return to harbour a tremendous sea str_oe
the vessel on the starboard bow, completely going °y
her, smashing in the paddlebox, but beyond shiPll,„o-
-few more seas no further damage was done. Thebm-50
meter has now fallen to 29-20 inches at the level of t.:the
and there is every appearance of a very stormy night I
Channel.