The Sun.
London, England, 1844-03-02 00:00:00

ROYAL HUMANE SOCIETY.

The anniversary festival of the Royal Humane Society
took place on Wednesday, at the Freemasons' Tavern. Lord
Morpeth, one of the Vice-presidents, was to have taken the
chair, but being prevented by the critical state of the Earl
of Carlisle's health, Sir Edward Codrington fulfilled the
duties of the office very ably. After dinner the usual toasts
were proposed, and several of them were responded to by
gentlemen present. According to the custom practised by
the Society, honorary medallions were distributed to those
gallant persons who, during the past year, had distinguished
themselves in special acts of courageous humanity. Upon
this occasion there were several interesting cases, and the
presentation of the medals and the graceful compliments
conveyed by the Chairman to the recipients formed unques-
tionably the most gmtifyirig circumstances of the evening.
The individuals Ivho thus tame entitled to the public
thanks were—thZ* Rev. Dr. butler, Dean of Peterborough ;
Sir Walter Riddell, Bart.. Mr. H. S. Polehampton, Captain
Corbin, Mr. Edwards, and Mr. Whitehead. Dr.Butler—
upwards of seventy years of age—in the January of last
year, plunged into the Grand Junction Canal, near
Northampton, and brought out a woman who had precipi-
tated herself into it. The other gentlemen had signalised
themselves in similar heroic acts ; and, in each case, had
succeeded in preserving human life. The little narratives
which accompanied the delivery of the official thanks, and
the speeches of the intrepid men who were the themes, were
heard with unaffected pleasure by the company, and they
made many demonstrations of satisfaction during the pro-
gress of the business. Subsequently, some 30 or 40 people—
men, women, and children—who had been rescued from
death by the Society's intervention, marched slowly round
the room to the moaning accompaniment of the organ, an
exhibition which might have been spared, for the associations
it occasioned were anything but agreeable. The subscrip-
tions were considerable, amounting, as we understood, to
nearly 9004 including the twentieth donation of the Duke
of Sutherland of 1004 20 guineas from the Chairman, and
several sums varying from five to ten guineas each. Sir
George Staunton, Sir John Croft, Sir John Stodart, and Mr.
Serjeant Andrews were among the company present. This
Society has upon the strength of voluntary subscriptions
alone effected a vast deal of good during the 70 years of its
existence—upwards of 15,000 lives having been saved by its
timely interference within that period I

COURT OF SEWERS FOR WEST-
MINSTER.

Yesterday a Court was held at the Commissioners'
house, Greek-street, Soho-square, for the pufpose of
hearing applications and transacting the usual business.
The Secretary having read the minutes of the last
meeting, and a Report of the proceedings since that
time up to the present, the several sewers'-rate collectors
were called in to render their accounts, when some few
reductions were submitted to, and a great number: of
summonses and warrants issued against the defaulters.
A number of applications were then made by persons
for permission to run drains from various tenements,
chiefly in the neighbourhood of St. John's-wood, Lisson-
grove,, and in the north part of the district of West-,
minster, most of which were granted by the Court.
In none of these applications was there the slightest
point of interest, except to the parties immediately con-
cerned.

TURNPIKE TRUSTS.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
Sut,—A Bill, originating in the Upper House of Par-
liament, is to be brought in on the subject of " Turn-
pike Trusts."
The late " Reform Act," in its operation, takes in
many villages in the neighbourhood of large towns and
cities, and they become part and parcel of the "bo-
rough." In many instances there are turnpike-gates in
the intermediate spaces, which subject the inhabitants
to the payment of toll in passing from one part of the
borough to another. -
These village's now being subject to the borough rates,
should certainly be exempt from such toll. .In their
former position there was no ground for complaint; it
is therefore to be hoped (and, as I think, an act of com-
mon justice) that all turnpike-gates and toll-bars will be
removed to outside the boundaries of the boroughs.
Redland, near Bristol, "Feb. 28, 1844.

.In the irktse of Commons, last night, Mr. Blewitt
quoted - the following extract from Dr. Channing's
works :—" To a man who looks with sympathy and brotherly
regard on the mass of the people, who is chiefly interested
in the ' lower classes,' England must present much which is
repulsive. Though a monarchy in name, she is an aristocracy
in fact ; and an aristocratical caste, however adorned by pn-
vate virtue, can hardly help sinking an infinite chasm between
iteelf and the multitude of men. A privileged order, posses-
°ovemment chiefly exists, and
and that for them the nobleman
sing the chief power of the State, cannot but rule in the
spirit of an order—cannot respect the mass of the people—
coanagnhott
to
ofebeel
athdmatinfisorterther
holds his rank as a trust. The condition of the lower orders
at the present moment is a mournful commentary on British
institutions and civilisation. The multitude are depressed
in that country to a degree of ignorance, want, and misery,
which must touch every heart not made of stone. In the
civilised world there are few sadder spectacles than the con-
trast now presented in Great Britain, of unbounded wealth
and luxury, with the starvation of thousands and tens of
thousands, crowded into cellars and dens without ventilation
or light—compared with which the wigwam of the Indian
is a palace—misery, fantine, brutal degradation in the neigh-
bourhood and presence of stately mansions, which ring with
gaiety and dazzle witti pomp and unbounded profusion,
shock us as no other wretchedness does; and this is not an
accidental, but an almost necessary effect of the spirit of
impression on this mass
aristocracy and the sprit of trade acting intensely together.
It is a striking fact ti at the private charity of' England,
parochialsu St. ch Progress in the eastern
parishes authorities of
thoughbofeingmisery—thus
generous, almost int e
acr e
and
ed ih
net hi leg,
to ntihlaookoerloh to
titled to be just before
little
and
private
munificence
as a
remedy for the evil of selfish institutions."
ALARMING INC ASE OF SMALL Pox.—The Fa-
vaesof
ofthis Londondis ki n g
Leo-
nard's, Shoreditch, lave deemed it necessary to issue a
printed notice upon the subject, cautioning all parents and
guardians of childrei on the subject of vaccination, and the
penalties to which they are liable in eases of culpable neglect
eastehi ret
thema
during the presence 48mall-pox.