The Sun.
London, England, 1845-05-17 00:00:00

SOCIETY OF FRIENDS OF
FOREIGNERS IN DISTRESS.
[The following is a more full report of the annual festival
of this Society than we could find room for on Friday] :
The annual festival of the supporters of this benevolent
institution took place on Thursday evening, at the London
Tavern, when a magniAcent repast was served up, and the
dessert was particularly good. An abundance of beautiful
flowers were interspered amongst the dishes.
In addition to an efficient military band, which serenaded
the company during dinner, and efficient corps of glee singers,
formed of °lllessrs. Francis, Cooke, Hatton, Machin, and
Masters Stevens and Willings, discoursed most excellent
music, and received the meed of deserved applause.
Mr. Toole, sen., was the toastmaster, and it is needless to
say that his arduous duties were performed iu first-rate style.
His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge was in the
cl"sair, surrounded by several foreign ambassadors and other
friends of the Society, amongst whom were the Count Kiel-
mansegq, Chevalier Bunsen, Mohan Lal, Consul General
Tottie, Lonsul General Tiarks, Consul General Prebost, Rev
G. W. Cartron, Rev. Mr. Dangers, Mr. Salmons, &c.
The cloth having been removed, the usual loyal toasts
were proposed and drunk with enthusiasm ; after which the
Noble Chairman called upon Mr. Horneman, the secretary,
to read the report. It stated that the past s ear had been tile
most prosperous one for this Society since its first establish-
ment, with the sole exception of the two years,lBl4 and 1833,
in the former of which the presence of the Allied Sovereigns
and other propitious circumstances first enabled it to invest
a sum of some magnitude in the public funds; while in the
latter, its shattered finances were replaced on a secure foot-
ing by the brilliant result of the never-to-be-forgotten
fancy fair, held under the auspices of her Majesty Queen
Adelaide. The Directors attributed the resent position
of affairs to the successive arrival on the British shores
of several foreign Monarchs, who had munificently contri-
buted to the funds of the Society. Many other large
donations and favourable circumstances had been the
means of raising the funds to the present favourable state.
The number of pensioners during the past year had been
70; 73 persons had, besides, received small regular allow-
ances ; 102 persons had been assisted with the means
of returning to their native countries • casual relief had been
given in 2,289 instances, among which there were 236 new
cases. But notwithstanding the ample support given to the
Society, it was not able to relieve the numerous cases that
came under its notice : the Committee, therefore, begged to
claim the liberal donations of the gentlemen present at this
festival. The total amount of receipts during the past year
amounted to 4,212/. 2s. 7d., and disbursements to 3,715/. 3s.
2d., leaving a balance in the hands of the treasurer of
4961: 19s. sd.
On the conclusion' of the report the Noble Chairman, in a
few words, proposed "Prosperity to the Society," and the
toast was responded to with immense cheering.
Chevalier Bunsen then proposed " The health of their
Illustrious Chairman," to which his Royal Highness briefly
responded.
The "Health of the Foreign Ministers" was then drunk,
for whom Count Kielmansegge returned thanks.
This toast was followed by the "Health of the 'Vice-Pre-
sidents," which was briefly acknowledged by Chevalier
Bunsen.
The Stewards' lists of donations were then read, and in
consequence of the great exertions and splendid list of Mr.
Brandt, in which appeared a donation of 100/. from the free
City of Hamburgh, his Royal Highness proposed the health
of that gentleman, for whom his son, Mr. Adolphus Brandt,
returned thanks, as follows :
Mr. Arspernes BRANDT said—ln rising to respond to the
toast which has been so kindly proposed, and so flatteringly
received, I must apologise to you, both on my father's behalf
and on my own. On my father's behalf, that he finds him-
self so oppressed by the feelings with which this unexpected
honour has overwhelmed him, as to be utterly unable to
thank you in however few words, and on my own, that 1 am
so inadequate to the duty which has fallen upon me. In
making up the long list of bountiful contributions which has
been presented to you in my name, I cannot pretend to any
great share of the merit. It is to my father's numerous
friends and his influence amonzst them, that it is to be attri-
buted. The Society has long been the object of his constant
solicitude, and on this especial occasion he has had a twofold
motive'.-his interest in its welfare, and the success of my
stewardship. The result would of itself have amply rewarded
all his trouble • but the manner in which it has been received
by you, he bids me say, adds so greatly to his satisfaction, as
to make this a day which he can never forget, which he will
remember with pride and gratitude to the latest moment of
his life.—(Cheers.) To my father's warmest thanks I may
be permitted to add my own, for the honour you have con-
ferred upon him; and allow me to express the hope that
future anniversaries of this excellent charity may be as dis-
tinguished as this has been, both in individual and aggregate
amount of contributions, and that my successors in office
will, year after year, exert themselves to render each suc-
ceeding festival more beneficial to its funds than the last.
The list of Mr. Adolphus Brandt amounted to the enor-
mous sum of 1,2461. 16s.
Mr. SALOMONS then rose, and spoke to the following effect :
.—I obey the call of your Royalf Highness to introduce to this
great meeting a toast committed to me from the unavoidable
absence of Mr. Colquhoun, the Chagd d'Affaires of the Hanse
Towns, who is prevented from attending by indisposition,
which I most sincerely regret. I have to perform an im-
portant, although an invidious duty, to select from among
the contributions of this day, poured in upon us from all
parts of Europe—indeed, from all parts of the globe, from
the coasts of America to the shores of the Bosphorus—one
which particularly merits our attention and especial acknow-
ledgment, It is that from the Senate of the Free City of
Hamburgh. It is not long since that devoted city was visited
by an awful calamity, which appealed to the hearts of every
one of us, and claimed a universal sympathy. The donation
of this day is an evidence of her having recovered from the
effects of that terrible visitation, as well as of her gratitude
towards those who sympathised with her in the hour of mis-
fortune. Again we must acknowledge the persevering and
kind exertions of the philanthropic Mr. Brandt, a native of
Ilamburgh, although so long established amongst us, and
now to be numbered among the merchant princes of this
great metropolis, where I trust his name will be preserved
for many generations. He it was who brought the claims of
this Society to the notice of the Senate of Hamburgh, as will
be seen from the copy of the letter from Sindicus Sieveking to
Mr. Colquhoun, and which, by the permission of your Royal
Highness, I will venture to read, at least that part only as
is material to my present purpose :—" The request of a con-
tribution towards the friends of the Society of Friends of
Foreigners in Distress, coining from a man who has so just a
claim upon his native city, as Mr. Emanuel Henry Brandt,
has been taken into favourable consideration by the Senate,
and you are authorised to subscribe, on behalf of the Senate,
through Mr. Brandt, the sum of one hundred pounds as a
donation." Thus we see the good effects of high and ho-
nourable example, such as ever has been set us by the Royal
Family of England, such as our daily experience offers us of
your Royal Highness's kind and distinguished patronage of
the metropolitan charities—setting a laudable example to
us all, assisting us to raise the splendid monument of philan-
thropy peculiar to this country, where all charitable estab-
lishments flourish by the exertions of private benevolence,
unassisted by State contributions. We rely entirely on the
extended influence which charity never fails to beget, where
men assemble together to encourage each other to soothe the
distress of our fellow-men. It has happily become part of
our every-day life to cultivate these sympathies, to give play
to these feelings which are planted in the heart by our
Almighty Father, urging us to listen to tales of sorrow, and
prompting us to relieve the distress of the forlorn and destitute
stranger. I trust that these sympathies will ever be culti-
vated and extended, not alone by ourselves, but by surround-
ing nations; and I hail with great delight the contribution
from the City of Hamburgh as an earnest of their desire to
promote and extend the field of philanthropy. I beg to pro-
pose the toast of " Health and happiness to the Senators, and
prosperity to the good and grateful City of Hanaburgh, and
thanks to the Senate for their liberal contribution."
This toast having been done justice to
Mr. THORNTON proposed "The health of the Duchess of
Cambridge," which was drunk amidst general applause.
The Noble CHAIRMAN then proposed " The health of the
foreign clergymen, and the other directors of the Society," to
which the Rev. Dr. Kuper replied in a very appropriate and
feeling manner.
The company sat until a late hour, and broke up highly
delighted with what had taken place.

2,148
548

1,050
234
243
2,413
4,372
2,065
869
7,534

1,316
15,964

1,044
3,521

855
6,242
756
3,144
4,946
8,263
565
1,383

299
1,273
5,1135
6,145
300

SCENES AND ADVENTURES IN SPAIN.—The chief
interest of this work consists in the faithfulness of its de-
tails respecting the late civil war in Spain, in which the
writer was actually engaged. On this account the work has
an historical value which a book of mere travels cannot
possess. It was about the end of May, 1835, traversing the
beautiful valley of Aspe, the author proceeded to Taragoza,
thence to Toledo and Pampeluna, and advanced through the
country to Santander. From that place he pursued his
journey to the interior, and finally arrived at Madrid. The
military details give an animation and an interest to the nar-
rative that no art at second hand can accomplish. The
effects of the unnatural struggle which for years convulsed
Spain are vividly depicted. The writer gives his antagonists
due praise for bravery in many a hard contested fight, and
exalts far beyond what we have been accustomed to give
them credit for, the personal valour of the Spanish soldiers.
The writer remained some months in Madrid, and his descrip-
tionof the Spanish capital is minute, and accompanied with
a good deal of interest.--Atlas,
A MAN FOUND.—About five o'clock this morning
a man was found dead in the Finchley-road, near the Swiss
Tavern. He is about 35 or 40 years of•sge ' - height five feet
four inches ; dressed in a brown frock coat, black waistcoat
and trousers, blucher boots, and socks ; a shirt with blue:spots
on it; and one of his hands is marked T.G., with blue ink.
The body was taken to the Yorkshire Grey, Hampstead, to
in
quest.
EFFECTS an
EFFECTS OF RAILWAYS ON TIIE WEATHER.—It
has been suggested that the state of the electricity of the
atmosphere, on which depend most of the meteorological
changes, may be greatly altered by having iron conductors
traversing the country in all directions. Thus, iron trans-
mits electricity easily from one end of the country to another ;
but not being insulated, it only opens a communication of
easier transmission in all the directions of the iron rails. It
has been said that not more than half the quantity of rain
has fallen during the past year. The electricity of the clouds
would be puzzled were the surface of the earth covered with
a non-electric, as glass ; and why should not a complete con-
duction in certain lines give passage to much electricity,
which in the ordinary character of the usual surface of the
ground would be more naturally and more beneficially dis-
tributed 7—The Builder.
COLONIAL MISSIONARY SOCIETY. Last evening
the annual meeting of the friends of this society was held at
Weigh-house Chapel, Fish-street-hill, J. R. Mills, Esq., in
the chair. The objects of this society are chiefly to assist
other missionary institutions, and to educate a native agency
in the British colonies. From the report it appeared that
the society had stations in America, different parts of Africa,
and Australia, in most of which their endeavours had been
rewarded with a large share of success. The receipts for the
past year amounted to 3,338/. 145. Bd., and the expenditure
exceeded that sum, leaving a debt of 7801. due by the corn
rnittee. Several addresses' were delivered on behalf of the
society.
The Dowager Lady Sitwell gave a brilliant soiree
at the British and Foreign Hotel attached to the Institute, in
George-street, llanover-square, on Thursday evening. The
company was very numerous, and the entertainment of the
most sumptuous character. Among the visitors were the
Speaker of the House of Commons and Mrs. and Miss Shaw
Lefevre, the Hon. Mr. Bathurst, Lady Caroline Bathurst,
and Miss Bathurst, the Hon. Mr. Stewart Mackenzie and
Miss Mackenzie, the Dean of Litchfield, Count Stravenski,
Mr. and Mrs. Jones Loyd, Colonel Le Blanc, Mr. and Mrs.
Le Blanc, Mrs. Wyldman, Mr. and Mrs. Howard. Mrs. Watt
Russell, Sir George and Lady Sitwell, and the Misses Sit-
well, Lady Harris, Sir Francis Hopkins, Sir Edward Pierson
and Lady Pierson, Sir Richard Sutton, Lady Wheeler, Dean
of Windsor, and others of the fashionable world, who ex-
pressed themselves all highly gratified with the style in which
the Whore u•ntei:taiument was conducted.
The Bishop of Exeter 11 st in a letter to a gentle-
man of this diocese, declared his intention to join in a resist-
ance to the measure for the endowment of Maynooth College,
when the Bill shall reach the Lords.—Plymouth Journal.
WAKEFIELD CORN MARKET, FRIDAY.--The ar•
rival of grain is moderate this week. Fresh thrashed Wheats
meet a fair sale at fully the rates of this day se'nnight, but
the demand for other sorts is very limited. Barley 'quite as
dear. Oats and Shelling steady. Beaus do not vary in
Beier} 1201vre,
•