The Sun.
London, England, 1844-04-25 00:00:00

THE ST. ANN'S SOCIETY.

The annual dinner of this excellent Institution took place
last evening at the London Tavern, Bishopsgate-street. The
company was larger than we remember it on former anniver-
saries, there being upwards of 250 gentlemen present.
The Right Hon. Lord Ashley, M.P., took the chair. His
Lordship was supported by the Hon. and Rev. Mr. Hervey,
Mr. Commissioner Harris, the Rev. Dr. Croly, Mr. Alderman
Johnson, and many of the moat influential merchants of the
city of I.ondon.
The cloth having been removed, the " Benedictus " was
sung by the professional gentlemen present.
The customary loyal and patriotic toasts were then given
in succession, and duly honoured.
" Prosperity to the St. Ann's Schools, and may the present
recipients of its bounty prove its future supporters," was then
given by the Noble CHAIRMAN, who, in his usual eloquent
manner, expatiated on the benefits conferred by the Charity
on a large and important class of the communitv—namely,
the children of those who had seen better days. He appealed
• -••4 • -
the ciciety's bounty, who had been introduced into the room
(in number 289, boys and girls), in furtherance of his rec,om-
' mendation, and the appeal was responded to by prolonged
and enthusiastic applause.
One of the boys repeated an address laudatory of the efforts
of the Noble Chairman in favour of the friendless offspring
of that humble class of the community of whose rights he is
considered the especial champion, which was greeted 'with
much cheering.
The children then left the room amidst the cordial appro-
bation of their assembled patrons.
The health of the Noble Chairman was then proposed, and
drunk with all the honours.
Lord ASHLEY acknowledged the toast with much feeling.
The able manner in which the present management have
conducted the affairs of the Institntion is evident by its pre-
sent flourishing condition. But ten years ago it was 2,0001.
in debt, and since that date the debt has been paid off, a new
building has been erected, the number of children has been
trebled, and upwards of 4,0001. funded. The sum subscribed
was unusually large; amongst the names announced by Mr.
Leeks, the active and efficient secretary, were many of the
highest rank amongst the dignitaries of the Church, and the
merchants and corporation of London. Her Majesty was at
the head of the list. The services of the stewards of the day,
and the officers of the Institution, were duly acknowledged;
and the company, having warmly kept up the hilarity of the
evening, separated at a late hour.

SOCIETY FOR THE EMANCIPA
TION OF INDUSTRY-
On Tuesday evening a numerous meeting of the friends
and supporters of this Institution was held at the offices
of the Society, in Parliament-street, for the purpose of
giving publicity to, and adopting steps to further the
objects of the Society. Amongst the gentlemen present
were several Members of the House of Commons.
Mr. ANDREW SPOTTISWOODE was voted to the chair,
and explained the nature of the meeting. The country
was detached into various and singular classes, who
each professed to have a remedy for the existing
evils, but whose professed remedy was fallacious and fan-
ciful. It was ix the principles of that society alone that
a remedy was to be found, and pamphlets and tracts had
been published to explain them. It had, however, been
ascertained that explaining them verbally was much
more effective, and much more conducive to the interest
of the society than by promulgating them through the
medium of tracts. It was, therefore, their intention to
hold weekly meetings in that place until the public were
fully made acquainted with their objects. The princi-
ples they advocated were not new ; on the contrary,
they were as old as Aristotle, Plato, and had been en-
tertained by all learned men from their day down to the
present time. They merely assembled together to ex-
plain that the principles held in the time of Aristotle
were worthy of every attention now. Previous to the
year 1819 twenty millions were advanced annually
towards reducing the National Debt, but since then not a
single farthing had been paid. It was clear, then, the
present monetary system of the country and standard value
of gold was wrong, and they were determined to agitate
until they obtained some reform, or were convinced their
views were erroneous.
Mr. LAMIE MURRAY followed with a series of re-
marks upon the injurious operation of the present system
of currency, and laid down the principles of the Society
as applicable to the circumstances of the country. He
elucidated, with considerable power, the advantages that
would accrue from a liberation of gold from the fixed
rate of 3/. 17s. 100. per ounce, and the allowance of a
paper circulation, convertible at the market or commer-
cial price of that commodity.
Mr. ATTWOOD, of Birmingham, advocated at some
length the revival of the Bank of Restriction. He never
heard of any objection being raised to it when in exist-
ence ; certainly it never was petitioned against by the
peopl, while, to his certain knowledge, 360 petitions
were, in 1819, presented to the House of Commons
against the then proposed change. It was the means of
carrying the country through a long and tedious war,
and he had no hesitation in expressing his firm convic-
tion that, unless the Bank Restriction Act were again
revived, to some extent,a revolution would ultimately be
the fate of this country.
Mr. Muntz, M.P., and several other gentlemen, also
addressed the meeting at some length, advocating a free
trade in gold, and an entire change in the monetary
system ; and thanks having been accorded to the Chair-
man, the meeting was adjourned till this day week.
rn

[ADVERTISEMENT.]—COURT BEAUTIES.—Much has
been said and written relative to the assemblage of
female beauty celebrated under this title. The portraits
by Sir Peter Lely and Vandyke, in Windsor Castle, are
doubtless faithful representations of those fair and suc-
cessful aspirants to a notoriety which endures to the
present day. But how gratifying are the conclusions
we are enabled to arrive at in favour of our own times !
The polished observances of modern society seem to
have had their effects in subduing the bold expression of
eyes akin to those that beamed upon the Restoration.
While a costume ever chaste and resplendent has super-
seded the stiff and formal sameness of the "olden time."
And to these important advantages may be added a
pleasing restorative and preserver of the complexion,
Gowland's Lotion, in removing every species of cu-
taneous impurity, and sustaining a brilliant vivacity of
tint, has long been appreciated in the highest circles.
An assurance of the sterling remedial qualities of this
invaluable article cannot be too firmly entertained by
all who suffer from irritability and discolouration of
the skin.