The Sun.
London, England, 1868-06-25 00:00:00

ROYAL CALEDONIAN ASYLUM.

The fifty-third anniversary festival in support of
this institution was held last evening at the Free-
masons"favern. The object of the charity is to
clothe, educate, and support the children of Scotch
soldiers and sailors, who have died or been dis-
abled in their country's service, and also the chil-
dren of indigent and deserving Scotchmen resident
in Lyndon. The chair was taken by the Duke of
Richmond, K.G., and the company included his
Royal Highness the Prince Christian of Schleswig-
Holstein, K.G., the Bishop of Argyll, Lord Mac-
donald of the Isles, Sir J. Maxwell, Sir Graham
Montgomery, M.P., Sir Thomas Gladstone, Lord
Strathallan, Sir Charles M'Gregor, Vice-Admiral
Sir Alexander Milne, K.C.8., Captain Arthur
Palliser, Captain Kennedy Erskine, Majot Ken-
neth Macleay, Mr. Robert Crawford, of West-
brook ; the Lord Advocate, Staff Surgeon-Major
Mackinnon, V.C., C.B. ; Colonel and Brigadier-
General Grant, C.B. ; Dr. Logan, C. 8., Director-
General of the Army Medical Department ; Colonel
Roe, Colonel Chambers, Dr. Jameson, Inspector-
General of Hospitals ; Dr. Ramsay, Mr. Daniel
Mackenzie, Dr. Daniell (secretary), Rev. J. H.
Ewing, Mr. Macrae Moir, and Mr. W.
Spooner. The hall was decorated with banners
bearing the heraldic insignia of the various
clans, and in the course of the evening a num-
ber of national airs were played by Highland
pipers. The band of the Hon. Artillery Com-
pany was also in attendance, in addition to which a
selection of vocal and instrumental music was per-
formed under the direction of Mr. Theodore
Distin. After the usual loyal toasts had been
duly honoured, the noble chairman proposed,
" The Army, Navy, Militia, and Volunteers," which
was responded to by Brigadier-General Grant, Ad-
miral Sir Alex. Milne, Major Kenneth Macleay,
and Colonel Chambers. In giving the toast of the
evening, " Prosperity to the Royal Caledonian
Asylum," the noble chairman briefly explained the
objects for which the institution was founded, and
went on to remark that he had the honour of being
for the present year president of the Highland So-
ciety, to which the Caledonian Society owed its ex-
istence. The asylum was founded in 1815, and the
first meeting in support of it was held in that very
place, and presided over by his Royal Highness
the Duke of Kent, father of our present most gra-
cious Sovereign. Since that time more than a thou-
sand children had been brought up in the institu-
tion, and at the present moment the number of
pupils was about DO. The buildings, however, stood
in need of thorough repair, and it, therefore, be-
hoved the friends of the institution to redouble
their efforts in order to maintain the institution in
its present state of efficiency. A tree was known
by its fruits, and he could not do better than
read a single entry in the Visitors'-book, written
by a former pupil of the asylum, who was now a
captain in the Royal Artillery. It was as fol-
lows :—" Twenty-seven years ago I left this school,
entered the army, have visited every quarter of
the globe, and gone through the Crimean campaign.
I thank the Almighty that through many dangers
and trials He has been pleased in His infinite
goodness to bring me back to the scenes of my
youth, to an institution where I. spent so many
happy days." That spoke volumes in favour of
the institution, which, he trusted, would be
most liberally supported on the present occasion.
The toast was acknowledged with all the honours,
and the subsequently announced sub-
scriptions secretary
amounting
to £1,060. In proposing "The
Visitors," the noble chairman coupled the toast with
the name of Prince Christian, who, in responding,
said he desired to be regarded not merely as a guest,
but as an earnest well-wisher of this noble
institution. He had very pleasant recollections of
Scottish sport enjoyed in the society of the noble
chairman, and it was no less agreeable to him to be
associated with his Grace in a work of charity for
the benefit of Scotland. The Lord Advocate then
proposed the health of the Duke of Buccleuch,
president of the asylum. This was followed by
several other toasts, and the company separated at
a late hour.

MORTALITY OF TROOPS IN INDIA.

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The return of the sickness and number of deaths
among the troops serving in India, prepared by the
India-office, shows the effect of climate on Euro-
pean, as compared with native, troops in each Pre-
sidency. In Bengal, in 1866, out of an average
strength of 35,841 European troops, there were
48,264 admissions to hospitals, 690 deaths, includ-
ing 47 from cholera, and 1,573 invalided. Out of
an average strength of 44,137 native troops there
were 51,060 admissions to hospital, 602 deaths, in-
cluding 99 from cholera, and 858 invalided. In Ma-
dras, in 1866, out of an average strength of 12,127
European troops there were 17,937 admissions into
hospital and 238 deaths, including 26 from cholera.
Out of 30,411 native troops there were 24,631
admissions into hospital and 375 deaths, including
101 from cholera. In Bombay, in 1866, out of an
average strength of 11,970 European troops there
were 16,927 admissions into hospital, 146 deaths,
including six from cholera, and 555 invalided.
Out of 24,481 native troops, there were 28,068
admissions into hospital, 169 deaths, including
eleven from cholera, and 920 invalided. The
aggregate for the three Presidencies was as fol-
lows :—Out of an average strength of 59,941
European troops in 1866 there were 83,128 ad-
missions into hospital and 1,074 deaths, including
79 from cholera; while out of 99,036 native troops
there were 104,666 admissions into hospital, and
1,146 deaths, including 211 from cholera. The
average strength and the number of deaths from
cholera among European troops employed in all
British India in each of the years 1861-5 respec-
tively were 72,791 and 1,079, 71,069 and 508,
61,902 and 231, 63,284 and 145, and 64,405 and
339. The average strength and the number of
deaths from cholera among native troops employed
in all British India in each of the years 1861-5
respectively were 113,890 and 289, 101,031 and
288, 97;612 and 181, 95,151 and 328, and 94,386
and 454.

A marriage is said to be about to take place be-
tween Prince Albert of Prussia, nephew of the
King, and the Princess Mary, daughter of Prince
Frederick of Holland. Prince Albert will, it is said,
be ma'e Lieut.-General, and receive the command
of one of the new provinces—Hanover or Cassel—
in which he will reside permanently.
On the 29th instant, which is the Festival of St.
Peter, the Pope will announce the departure from
Rome of the special couriers who are to convey to
the various Catholic Bishops of Christendom the
Papal missives convoking them for the (Ecumenical
Council which his Holiness, jam eertes eundi, intends
to hold on the Bth of Dec., 1869.
In the little island of Montserrat, which has a
governor and a system of laws all its own, the judge
came down recently to the legal headquarters, but
there was no business of any sort, either civil or
criminal, and he had a fair of white gloves pre-
sented to him.