The Sun.
London, England, 1821-04-20 00:00:00

Tat .ROYAL MAthVbAY.

. -
10.024 THE 'COURT CIRCI.T.LAR.I
In conseqiietice:Ofkhe 'demise of the late KING
the number Of the4i'red, infirm, and afflicted,
re-
lieved by the itoy-ar Bounty, has been reduced
to fifty-nine,'hislitesent Majesty's age, who has
been-very grh.eleesly pleased .to continue his be-
nefaction chitin; their lives as supernumeraries.
On Monday 'itivi Tuesday last, Mr. Hanby, the
Secretary to the Lord High Almoner, and Mr.
Jones, the Groom, were busily employed in dis-
tributing the King's , bounty to eight hundred
poor objectt of charity, who had been recom-
mended, at the Almonry Office, in Scotland-
yard. Yesterday morning, at
.11 o'clock, 59
poor aged men and 59 poor aged women assem-
bled in ft • temporary building on the outside of
Whitehall Chapel, in Privy Gardens, when a
loaf, and piece of beef weighing about 41b. a bowl
of fish consisting of two sahnons,•two cods, and
36 herrings, accompanied by four loaves, were
distributed to each person by Mr. Hanby, Mr.
Jones, 'Mr. Nost, &c. the latter Gentleman be-
longs to the Lord Chamberlain's Office, and has
attended the King's charitable donations in their
distribution 48 years. .The whole was under
the superintendance of Dr. Goodenough, the
Sub-Almoner. At the conclusion of the distri-
bution, Dr. Goodenough said grace, and all the
recipiants of the King's bounty drank his Ma-
jesty's health in ale in a wooden cup, which
they kept according to ancient custom. In the
afternoon the same poor men anti women assem-
bled in Whitehall Chapel, and were seated in
the north gallery, under proper regulations, for
the, production of their tickets, &c. to avoid im-
positions. At three o'clock a procession entered
the Chapel, consisting of
Richard Howse, EsT Serjoant of the Vestry of the Chapel
Royal, in hiS robes, carrying his verge ; the Gentlenien of the
Choir of the Chapel Royal, consisting of Messrs. Ni2ld, Hawes,
Evans,..Mullineux, Sc.c. ; the Clergymen of the Chapel Royal,
consisting of the Holmei, the Sub-Dean, the
:Rev. John Priddcii, the Rev. Edward James Beckwith, the
Rev. Richard Webb, the Rev. James William Vivian, the
Rev. Dr. Henry Fry, &c.; the Rev. Dr. Goodenough, the Su-
b ; two boys'and two girls; Mr. Hanby, the Secretary,
and Mr. Jones, the Groom ; a Yeoman Usher, and ten Yeo-
men, two of them closing the procession. One of them carried
a very large gold dish, which has !nen attached to the Crown
since the reign of King William, in which were white and red
bags, containing the money to be distributed to the poor objects.
M soon as they had all taken their seats, Di-
vine. Service commenced, ',Filch was performed
by the Rev. James Wi'liam Vivian, which was
appropriate, and_specially appointed for the day.
The anthem was also appropriated to the day,
" Who is this that corneal from Edom P' by
Dr. Arnold. Tr.. Knyvett presided at the organ.
At intervals of the service, shoes, stockings,
woollen and linen cloth, were distributed to the
men ; in lieu of .which, to the women, ,11. 15s.
was given to them on Tuesday by tickets. There
were also distributed to each man and woman a
red leather bagi containing a 1/. Bank-note ;
and a white leather bag, containing 59 silver
penny,pieces., At the close of .the whole, each
'person .bad: a wooden cup filled with wine to
drink the King's health, they retaining the
wooden cup, .The Sub-Almoner, and all the
officers:in attendance belonging to the Ahnonry,
wore white sashes ; as also the boys
.and girls in
the ptoceSsion, and each of them, according to.
the ancient:custom,cartied a bouquet.

T'ROM A CCHIREiPONOENT.I
MAIJNOAT' THU asHAy.,—The title of Mauna, which has
been added to the Thursday preceding Easter; was formerly a
'Yneral name for a hand baSket, and it is still in use in parts of
orkshire: 'Hence Maundy y Thursday was considered ex-
-pressiVe of-the day,' when baskets, containing provisions, were
distributed by the different Christian Potentates, and by the
Heads of the Clergy in their several Dioceses, to alleviate the
necessities of thepoor ; but, perhaps it is more probable, that the •
Maund or hand-basket received its appellation from, .instead of
having given title to the day celebrated. Some consider it to
be a corruption of Mandate' Thursday, Dies Mandate ; so.
anciently called throughout the Church ; and it is a matter of
doubt whether it was so named .from the COMmAxnmExT,
which our Saviour gave to his Apostles, to commemorate his
last supper,- which he this day instituted after the celebration
• of• the'pasiover ; or from the NEW CQMMANDHENT which he
gave them " TO' LOVE ONE. ANOTHER," after having washed'
their feet, in token of his affixtion towards them ; but it is not
improbable that both Commandthents were alluded to. Edward
the Third, in 1363, was the first English Monarch who intro-
duced into this Country the practice of feeding, clothing, and
• distributing money to indigent persons on 3launuay Thurs-
day. It has been continued down to the present time without
intermission, and yearly, on this day, the Lord Almoner, or the
Sub Almoner, attends for that purpos:, in Whitechapel, when
after the religious service -of the day has been completed, as
many poor men, and as many poor women, 4... s the King has
reached years of age, receive the rural bounty, consisting of
woollen cloth, linen cloth, shoes, stockings, live threepenny
loaves each, beef, salt salmon, cod and herrings, wooden cups
of ale and wine ; and lastly, a piece of gold, for which recently
a one pound note has been substituted, with as many silver
pennies to each individual as the Monarch has numbered years.