The Sun.
London, England, 1845-05-01 00:00:00

FESTIVAL OF THE GENERAL
ANNUITY SOCIETY.

The annual festival of the General Annuity So-
ciety was held last evening, at the London Tavern,
Lord John Russell, M.P., in the chair.
Shortly alter six o'clock about 150 gentlemen sat
down to an excellent dinner, consisting or all the de-
licacies of the season, which was put on the table in
admirable style. At the principal table, on the right
and left of the Chairman, we observed Mr. Baron
Platt, Hon. Robert Denman, and Sir John Pelly,
A. W. Robarts, Esq, President of the Society; W.
Tooke, Esq., and Luke James Hansard, Esq.
After the cloth had been withdrawn, Non Nobis
was sung in admirable style by Messrs. G-. Robinson,
N. J. Sporle, and Ransford.
After the toast of " The Queen " had been drunk,
the National Anthem was sung by Miss Steele, who
had kindly volunteered her services, sustaining one of
the solo parts.

The other loyal toasts having been drunk and re-
sponded to,
The CHAIRMAN proposed " The Army and Navy,"
and in proposing this toast it was always his custom
to give with it the name of an illustrious individual.—
(Cheers.) It was true that Nelson and Moore, and
many other heroes who had nobly fought in the
cause of their country, had been taken from us, but
there was one, the hero of a hundred fights, whom it
had pleased the Almighty yet to spare us—(Cheers)
—and whose name ought always to be joined with
this toast.—(Cheers.) He therefore proposed " The
Duke of Wellington and the Army and Navy."
—(lmmense cheering.)
The toast, which was drank with all the honeurs,
was followed by a duett from Messrs. Ransford and
Sporle.
The CHAIRMAN then proposed the toast of the
evening, Prosperity to the General Annuity Society.
—(Loud cheers) The Society had been instituted in
the year 1827, not for the purpose of contributing
to the support of those who had fallen into low cir-
cumstances through their own carelessness or impro-
vidence, but to assuage the povery of those who,
having occupied the station of merchants, bankers,
clerks, and professional men, found themselves, in
their latter days, unable to struggle against adverse
fortune, or to relieve their widows and children, who
had been left under a load of misfortune to struggle
against the sorrows of the world.—(Cheers.) When
he considered the objects of the society, he could
not but feel that it was entitled to the sup-
port of all those who were desirous of
succouring the afflicted.—(Cheers.) At the first in-
stitution of the society a larger amount had been
awarded to the pensioners on its bounty than it. had
since been found possible to continue. At that time
11. 12s. a month had been awarded to men, and 1/. 4s.
to women. But latterly the society had not been en-
abled to fulfil the expectations which it had excited—
it had not been able to continue the amount of al-
lowance. Now, he besought them to come forward,
so as to enable the Society to realize those promises.
which it had held out—(Cheers)—to enable the re-
cipients of the bounty to receive that small sum in
their declining years which the Society had origi-
nally awarded to them.—(Cheers.) On looking
over the list of pensioners, he found that there was
not one under 75 years of age, that there were several
who were upwards of 80, and that there were two
who were 87. He earnestly besought them
to make the declining years of those persons,
and they had but a few years left, more
comfortable than they otherwise would be.
—(Cheers.) No prudence or foresight could, under
all circumstances, ward off misfortune.—(Hear, hear.)
On ordinary occasions prudence might suffice, but
when misfortune followed misfortune, ro prudence
could guard against the consequences—(Cheers)—
and was it not too hard to say that, under such cir-
cumstances, those who had been thus unfortunate
should either:be suffered to remain unprovided for, or
be reduced to the degradation of accepting parochial
relief. It was their duty as men and as Christians to
come forward to the relief of persons thus situated.—
(Cheers.) They had no right to impose on these un-
fortunate persons such hard conditions, and he asked
the public to come forward to assist this institution.
—(Cheers.) He saw the name of his friend, l'
Abraham W. Robarts, as president of the in-
stitution.—(Cheers.) That gentleman was a man of
business, was well known in the City, and would not
have his name to any institution which he was not
convinced would prove beneficial to society.—
(Cheers.) He claimed thsir support for this charity,
because he believed that it was truly worthy of it;
and he did not think he was asking too much when he
asked them to enable the Society by their liberality to
give the recipients of their bounty the 11 12s. and the
1/. 4s. a mouth, which had been originally promised
them. The pensions were now larger than they had
been two years since, but still they had not yet
reached the original amount.—(Cheers.) On these
festive occasions he could not but contrast the com-
forts which they were enabled easily to enjoy, with
the distresses which were suffered by others who were
struggling with poverty, and he besought them to
show their gratitude for those comforts by contribut-
ing to alleviate the distresses of their less fortunate
fellow-creatures.—(Cheers.) The Noble Lord con-
cluded by proposing the toast, which was drunk with
three times three and one cheer more, and which was
followed by an extempore, local, and comic song by
Mr. Bruton.

The Report was then read ; and amongst the long
ist of donations and subscriptions announced by Mr.
Richardson, the secretary, were the following :
Luke J. Hansard, Esq., 100/. ; Sir Thomas Baring,
Bart., 301.; A. W. Robarts, Esq., 101. 103., in addi-
tion to 1201. ; Earl of Cardigan, 20/. ; H. Kemble,
Esq., M.P., 101. 10s. ; Arthur E. Campbell, Esq.,
15/. ; C. Pearse, Esq., 101. 103. ; Chief Justice Tindal,
101. 10s. ; Lord Ashburton, 10/ ; Samuel GurnQy,
Esq., 21/. ; H. M. Hoare, Esq., 10/. 10s. ; Lord Vis
count Lake, 10/. 10s. ; Sir J. W. Lubbock, 101. 103. ;
Lord John Russell, M.P., 101.
Mr. Baron PLATT proposed the health of the Noble
Chairman, which was drunk with enthusiasm, and
briefly acknowledged by Lord John Russell.
The CHAIRMAN then proposed the health of A. W.
Robarts, Esq., President of the Society, who re-
turned thanks.

The health of W. Tooke, Esq., Vice-President,
was then drunk, and duly acknowledged.
Several other toasts were drunk in the course of
the evening, and the party broke up shortly after
eleven o'clock, highly delighted with the evening's
entertainment.

The galleries were filled by ladies, who appeared
to take great interest in the proceedings.
During the dinner the band of the Scots Fusilier
Guards performed several popular airs.

LLO YD'S SHIPPING.

NOTICE TO MARINERS.

LIGHTS IN THE ENTRANCE OF THE RIVER

GIRONDE.

Hydrographic Office, Admiralty, April 17, 1845.
The French Government has announced that, on the
15th of March, two new lights were exhibited in the
Gironde, in order to enable vessels to take shelter in
the Road of Richard, about nine miles above the Verdon
Road.

1.--TALLAIS FLOATING LIGHT.
A vessel, conveying a fixed light, 33 feet above the
surface of the river, is moored on the middle of the
eastern edge of Tallais bank, in four fathoms, at low
water, spring tides. Tallais bank fbrms the western
side of the channel, and Talmont bank the entrance—it
can be s'?en nine miles distance from the deck of a pilot
boat. The light is so masked that it cannot lead into
the channel, which lies to the westward of the Tallais
bank, and is readily distinguished, having a skeleton
ball at her mast head, the centre of which is 46 feet
shove the surface of the river. During fug a bell will
be kept ringing.
2.—HARBOUR LIGHT OF RICHARD.
A IA fixed light, 56 feet above the level of the
highest spring ticks, on the ne•v Faeverin, the west side
of the river, below the little Port of Richard. It bears
N. W. 44.84 fathoms of Tallais light on the steeple of
Gt 7,11, W.S.WI-., 21.84 fathoms, and may be seen eight
miles distant.