The Sun.
London, England, 1845-07-03 00:00:00

THE LICENSED VICTUALLERS'

SCHOOL.

The dinner of the 39th anniversary of the establish'
ment of that excellent institution the Licensed Vie:
tuallers's School, was given yesterday, at White Condit"
House, Harvey Coombe, Esq., in the chair. An assay
blage of several hundreds met to honour the occasion,
and a spirit of harmony and conviviality had evideatif
thrown itself over the whole meeting. Good humoar,
kindness, and interchange of feeling, was the order of the
day. The dinner was put on the table with that prof le!
liberality which has distinguished the entertainments to
this House. Every attention was paid by the steward!
to their numerous guests, and a very judicious foresigin,
had evidently been made for the orderly proceedings °`
the day. A numerous band, under the direction of The
T. Adams, gave several popular airs during dinner. ,
vocal arrangements were under the direction of nit'
Ashton, who was assisted by a large number of able pro'
fessional gentlemen.
After the cloth was drawn and Grace had been said,
tho vocalists sang Nan Aobis Do:nine, with a delight°,
effect, not the least feature of which was the control'
which this splendid composition gave to the entertain"
ments which usually engage the ample space where the
dinner was given ; and it was an admirable pro"
of the spirit of those who have taken the charges
and are engaged in the conduct of this charity,
that during the delivery of this noble canticles
there was a continuance of silence and deference
to the great God, whose are all the blessings °(
the earth, which, considering the variety of characl
which was gathered in that meeting, spoke highly, an
with an irresistible force, to the heart, of that goodtlev,
of heart which human nature will always evince wile!,
unrestrained by any other influence but that which hew
prompted the liberal spirit by which the Licensed Vl,°'
tuallers of the metropolis, and we may add of We
country also, for it is evident that the same feeling .f
kindliness will, under the same circumstances, and 07
the same impulses, always be shown for the benefit
humanity.
The toasts were heralded by the sound of the trumPeti
and announced with admirable effect by Mr. Harker,
who seemed to have borrowed the lungs of Stentor for
the occasion.
On introducing the first toast of the day, the Clbilt
Max said, that he had now to propose a toast for We
meeting, which he trusted would be drank with the ear
thusiasm which it merited. He had to propose the
health of the first Lady of the land, who by the admit
ableness of her conduct, and the force of her character,
had done honour to the race from which she sprang'
Under her administration there had been a gradual Tr
sumption of prosperity in the country, which was ely
titled to, and would assure, the attachment and prove
bial loyalty of this country to the throne. With a deg
sense of the high merit of the illustrious personage el
whom he had spoken, he proposed the health of the
" Queen."
The toast was drank with a corresponding enthusiasts'
after which the National Anthem of " God save the
Queen" was given in most admirable voice, and in er
cellent harmony, by the vocalists, Mr. Ashton taking,
the solo, with that clearness of enunciation and le. ,te
his
voice truth of tune for which he is remarkable, "
voice filling the ample space till every semitone pervade('
its remotest corners. The chorus of the last verse roStli
above the assemblage, and came out in one burst °'
generous enthusiasm.
The CHAIRMAN next proposed the " Health of the
Queen Dowager," and said that, in proposing this twig'
he was anxious to do justice to the virtues of a lady wil°'
by the extent of her charities and the general bene"
lence of her character, had won the hearts of all. 1:60
was sure that the company would drink•the toast with
the respect that was due to it. He then gave the "Quel
Dowager,* which was drank with three times three, and
the utmost cordiality.
Mr. Genge then sung the " Four-leaved Shamrock
with excellent taste.
The next toast, the CHAIRMAN said, was "His ROY,
Highness Prince Albert," as the beloved consort of the
Queen, and one who had exhibited all the qualities of •
high-minded gentleman, and of a genuine Briton.
The toast was drank with all the honours, and ill!
way which, if he had heard it, would have gratified
Royal Highness, coming from so important a body
the Licensed Victuallers.
After the toast, the vocalists gave a new glee, written'
by Mr. Ashton, and composed by Mr. R. Butler, '2
Hand-court, High Holborn. It was admirably given'
and as this was the first time which it had been sung
in public, we transcribe the words
" We hail thee, Prince Albert ! Prince Albert, all hal
And joyfully sing to thy glory,
For virtues resplendent like thine, cannot fail
To honour Old England's proud story.
Oh, happy Prince, whose gentle mien,
Hach won the smile of Britain's Queen,
Be ever constant as the dove,
Still honour'd by Victoria's lave.
" All hail thee, Prince Albert! Prince Consort, all bail/
Exalted and blessed in thy station ;
May each Prince and Princess through life as the!
sail,
Rejoice in the smiles of their nation.
Oh. happy Prince, whose gentle mien,
Ilath won the smile of Britain's Queen,
Be ever constant as the dove,
Still honour'd by Victoria's love.
" We hail thee, Prince Albert, as patron and Fried,
To this truly good Institution,
Who cheerfully giveth, and heaven doth send
A blessing with each contribution."
When married to the notes, the effect of cordite'
greetine was in, .st admirable, and the spirit of friendship
which beamed through the words, and was embodied in
the air, gave all those indications of hearty respect ane
goad fi llowship for which Britain—and in the term /I
include Ireland as an integral portion—are remarkable.'
The glee was followed by a toast to " the Duchess ei
Kent and the rest of the Royal Family in England."
In proposing this toast, the CHAIRMAN said that hei
needed no other recommendation to an assembly °
Englishmen than the tact that it regarded those Wl°
lived in Britain, and partook of the generous impulse'
by which Britain was distinguished.
The toast was drank with that right cordiality will
betokened how truly the meeting entered into the spill
of the toast, and after it Mr. Bruton sang the song
which bore the title of " Hints to Emigrants," and which,
after alluding to the inconvenience to which emigranta
are subjected, goes on with the wording, with which'?
its usual sense, our readers are familiar ; but in this 111.
stance there was an introduction of all the, peculiar fee'
tures of the case, embracing a very happy allusion to the
Association having the Comb at his head.
The CHAIRMAN proposed "Prosperity to the Licenfej
Victuallers' School." In doing this he felt that he shot"
but feebly discharge his duty, if he did not advert to the
circumstances which peculiarly entitled this institution
to the support of the numerous and libels'
community to whose support it had been so long lee
debted. This school had been started by a few gentle'
men connected with the Licensed Victualler's 'mate'
tion, in 1806. Their exertions had, in the first place'
been most successful ; but it was well known that exec
tion was not only necessary that an institution should he
founded, but that it should be carried on. During thAe
first years of its existence, not less than 30 children 115"
found a home in the asylum ; but it was found after
wards necessary to reduce this number, and for a while,
the institution had languished, but its friends were 11°'
asleep, and 160 girls and boys had afterwards been el:
joying the advantages of the institution. Latterly it
had declined, and the number had been considerallif
reduced, but he should not be satisfied until not only the
whole of the number was restored, but that the asylnw
was filled with as many as its precincts would alloy'
The number had been 160, who were clothed all*,
educated, and found a home with which every bear'
must be satisfied. This, however, was not the only
portion of the institution which he wished to bring before
the meeting.—The toast was drank with the utmost
enthusiasm.

After the toast the children were brought before the
meeting. Their appearance indicated the care which
had been bestowed upon the recipients of the charity'
the 'success of which was of the utmost importance to
the general interests of the charity.
A pupil of the name of Brayshier, whose enunciation
of the following address we could not but admire, thes
delivered the following verses:—
Again the cheerful summer comes; again
The flowers and blossoms dress the fragrant plain;
Joyful the tribes of earth their voices raise,
And hymn their annual truthful songs of praise.
So comes again to us the pleasant day,
Beaming around its bright and gladdening ray;
That day, more welcome than all time beside,
That circles onward in revolving tide;
For now we meet these FRIENDS, whose generous care
To us bath given a home of bounteous fare ; •
Whose Christian and parental kindness thus
The opening paths of life bath smoothed for us :
We greet this day with joy, but words may not reveal
The warm emotion youthful bosoms feel.
Dear FRIENDS and PATRONS ! grateful we would bless
The hand that guides our age of helplessness.
Safe 'neath the circle of your fostering shield,
You brought us from the drear and dangerous field,
Where pale-eyed want spoiled e'en the fertile ground,
And IGNORANCE breathed a pestilence around,
To where sweet PLENTY spread her generous board,
And rest and comfort tended on her word :
But, costlier far than these, was that fair boon,
That gentle freewill gift conferred thus soon,
Which gave to culture and the care of truth,
The precious moments of the morn of youth.
Patrons, revered ! grateful our bosoms glow,
We feel the nature of the debt we owe ;
Yet how shall we return, or make essay
Such true, paternal goodness to repay?
But onward, onward glides the rapid time,
Sounding abroad its ever-warning chime ;
And soon the numbered moment will appear
That calls us forth, to active life severe :
'Twill then be ours in real guise to show
That we remember what to you we owe.
Our minds shall vigour take from timis one thought,
And, aided by the precepts wh were taught,
With modest steps we'll enter on our way,
Our hands shall labour, and our hearts obey
The sacred laws of truth, of industry,
Good faith, good will, and strictest probity ;
And we will reach that goal of good renown
Where honour waits deserving men to crown :
Thus, would we please our God who reigns above,
And, patrons dear, thus meet your care and love.
A well-educated pupil repeated the lines at the other
end of the hall, afterwards, with a conseiousness
that no great blessing could possibly result that had not
the foundation of a good education to begin with. The
address was delivered by the senior scholar, Brayehiire,'
who was followed by Howe, both connected with indi-
viduals who had been subscribers to the Asylum ; 111,0
3_
though we have seen many school exhibitions of the
same sort, we nem were present at anything which o
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