The Sun.
London, England, 1844-05-18 00:00:00

No. 16,149. LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING SUN, MAY 18, 1844.

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THE CALEDONIAN ASYLUM.
The twenty-seventh anniversary of this Asylum was cele-
brated yesterday in a very gratifying manner, by the ceremony -
of laying the first stone of an addition to the school, which
will enable the charity to extend its benevolent efforts to the
girls of Scottish parents as well as to boys. For the last few
years the Directors have contemplated this extension of the
charity, but having no funds available for the purpose, they
were compelled to postpone it. In the course of last yeah,
however, the munificence of Mr. Matheson, M.P. (Ashburton),
who himself subscribed 1,0001. towards the expense of en-
larging the building, and the subscriptions 'on the part of
friends of the charity, have enabled the Directors to carry
out their intentions. The ceremony of laying the foundation-
stone of the girls' school, at the Asylum, Copenhagen-fields,
was performed by the Earl of Zetland, accompanied by
masonic forms. The Members of the Highland Society,
dressed in their picturesque costumes, attended on the occa-
sion. The President, the Duke of Buccleuch, Sir James
Macdonnell, Captain Forbes of Aslown, The Chisholm, and
the rest of the governors and directors of the charity, were
also present.
Mackay, her Majesty's piper; Macbeth, the Duke of Su-
therland's; Cameron, Captain Forbes's ; Stewart, Captain
Houston Stewart's; and Mackay, the Highland Society's,
were in attendance, and played many pibrochs, salutes, and a
variety of martial airs.
The splendour and interest of the ceremony were much ins
creased by the attendance of a very large number of masonic
brethren, in the full costume and insignia of the different
orders of the craft, in order to do honour to the Earl of Zet-
land, the worshipful the Grand Master. The spectators, the
Majority of whom consisted of elegantly dressed ladies, were
accommodated with a range of raised seats, covered by an
awning, opposite the spot on which the ceremonial was to
take place. The boys of the Asylum were in attendance,
dressed in the full national costume, attracting a good deal
of notice in the kilt and tartan. The fine band of the Scotch
Fusiliers enlivened the company before the commencement
of the proceedings with several modern airs and Scotch melo-
dies. The only drawback on the proceedings was the exces-
sive inclemency of the weather, the coldness of the wind
being almost unprecedented so late in the month of May.
The Masonic brethren, and the gentlemen attending the
proceedings; assembled at Copenhagen-house at half-past
two, some wearing their masonic emblems, some the High-
land costume, and not a few of them displaying both. Hay-
ing formed in procession, they accompanied the Grand Master
to the Asylum, in a body so numerous that the space was soon
crowded to excess. '1 he ceremony of laying the first stone
was then performed with the usual forms, a brass plate depo-
sited beneath it bearing the following inscription:--
In the seventh year of the Reign of
Her Most Gracious Majesty QUEEN VICTORIA,
the Foundation Stone of this addition to the
CALEDONIAN ASYLUM,
to extend its benefits to Female Children,
was laid on the 17th May, 1844, by
The Right lion. the Earl of Zrrissien,
Grand Master of the Fraternity of Freemasons of England,
assisted by
His Grace the Duke of BCCCLEUCH, President,
and supported by the
HIGHLAND SOCIETY OF LONDON,
and other Patrons and Friends of the Institution.
The procession arrived on the ground at half-past three,
and the whole ceremony was ever at four o'clock.
IRE DINNER.

The anniversary of the Society and the event of the day
were both celebrated by a dinner in the evening at the Free-
mason's Tavern, at which the subscribers to, and friends of
the charity mustered very strongly. his Grace the Duke
of Buccleuch presided, supported by the Earl of Zetland, and
Mr. Matheson, M.P. The fullowieg gentlemen were among
those present :--Capt. C. Forbes, General Fitzroy Maclean,
Sir John Kirkland, H. Rose, Esq., A. Gillespie, Esq., G.
Forbes, Esq., J. Tulloch, Esq., General Aitcheson, Sir Rd.
Hunter, &c., &c. Many gentlemen wore the Highland cos-
turn. A full band was in attendance, in addition to five
splendidly-dressed Highland pipers, and the gallery was filled
with ladies.
The vocal entertainments of the evening were under the
direction of Mr. T. Cooke, and though last, not least, the
dinner itself was excellent, and the wines of the best quality.

On the removal of the cloth,
The CHAIRMAN gave the Queen, the Queen Dowager,
Prince Albert, the Prince of Wales, mid the rest of the Royal
Family. They were all drank with the warmest delllelutTa-
tions of loyalty.
The "Army and Navy" followed, and the toast was ac-
knowledged by General AITCIIESON.
The children of the Asylum were then introduced, and
marched round the room, preceded by the pipers. They
stepped with much military precision, and their clean, cheer-
ful, and healthy appearance, excited general admiration.
The CHAIRMAN then gave the toast of the evening, " Pros-
perity to the Caledonian Asylum." After adverting to the
interesting appearance of the children, his Grace gave
a-sketch of the origin and progress of the Institution, from
1815 till the present day, regretting that its means had not
allowed the Society to extend the benefits of the charity to
the orphan daughters of those Scotchmen who had fallen in
the service of their country, as well as to their sons, and
stating in the warmest and most grateful terms the obligation
the Institution was tinder to the munificent donor of the sum
of 1,000/. (Mr. Matheson, M.P.), which had relieved them
from the difficulty, and enabled them, with the subscription
of other kind friends, to complete their good work, by the
commencement, that day, of the school for girls also. He al-
luded to the education which the children received, and to
their religious instruction in the principles of the Church of
Scotland, strongly, but not more strongly than justly, eulo-
gizing the conduct, zeal, and attention of the Rev. Mr. Lees,
who, lie stated, was about to remove from this scene of his
labours.
Mr. HECTOR Ross then read the statement of accounts, by
which it appeared that the Society had received in the past
year, in all, the sum of 2,2521:, and had expended 1,8261.
He mentioned the singular and gratifying fact that in twenty
years there had been only one death in the Asylum.
The CHAIRMAN; having given " Their Royal Highnesses
the Vice-Patronesses of the Society and the other Vice,

Patronesses,"
The Earl of ZEMAND proposed the health of their Noble
Chairman the Duke of Buccleugh, which was drank with
" Highland honours."
The Duke of BUCCLECCH returned thanks in a brief, but
feeling speech ; after which the health of the Earl of Zetland
was given, and drank in the same manner.
The list of contributions for the evening was then read by
Mr. Hector Ross. The following are some of the principal
donations :—Her Majesty the Queen 1001., Prince Albert 52/.
10s., the Duke of Buccleugh 501., Sir C. Forbes 1004 Mr. 11.
Melville 10/. 10s., Mr. Alexander Grant 304 Mr. D. Robert-
son 471., the Duke of Roxburgh 30/., the Eari of Zetland
211., Alderman Johnson 101. 10s., Mr. Alexander Gillespie 321.,
Mr. George Forbes 33/., the Caledonian Society 211., &c.
Altogether the donations amounted to 880/.
The whole amount of funds for the year is about 2,100/.,
and the building expenses will require some 500/. more than
that amount.
General AITCHESON then proposed the health of Mr.
Matheson, M.P., which was enthusiastically drank with all
the honours.
The toast was followed by that of the " Highland Society,"
" The Church of Scotland," (which was acknowledged by the
Rev. Mr. Lees), and the " Caledonian Society."
The Duke of BUCCLEUGII then quitted the Chair, and left
the meeting.
Mr. MATHESON was unanimously called to it, and the fol-
lowing toasts succeeded :—" The Presbyterian Clergy of
London," " the Duchess of Buccleugh and the ladies pre-
sent," "'the Stewards," and" Success to the next meeting."
The meeting soon after separated, having spent a very
pleasant evening.
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