The Sun.
London, England, 1845-12-03 00:00:00

THE SCOTTISH HOSPITAL.

The annual general court of the Governors of this charity
417411 held on Monday, at the Corporation-hall, in Crane-come,
Ser electing the officers of the ensuing year, and of re-
ceiving the accounts of the charity. The Chisholm, of
Chisholm, presided, and amongst those present were Doctors
Dixon and Webster, Professor Donaldson, the Rev. Doctor
Cumming, &c. From the accounts, which showed the grow-
ing prosperity of the charity, it appeared that no fewer than
300 cases had been relieved per month, in addition to peu-
eions to 80 infirm and aged persons, natives of Scotland;
thus expending 2,300/. up to Michaelmas last. His Grace
the Duke of Richmond was unanimously elected President,
in the room of his Grace the Duke of Sutherland, who has
resigned, and to whom a vote of thanks for his past services
was unanimously awarded. The members, friends, and sup-
porters of the hospital afterwards dined together at the Lon-
don Tavern, to celebrate the festival of " Saint Andrew," ac-
cording to their annual custom. The Chisholm, of Chisholm,
presiding, supported by Dwarkanauth Tagore and the
Meerza Mohun Lal, the distinguished Indian merchants ;
the Rev. Mr. Fisher, of Swallow-street, the Rev. Mr. Wil-
son, of River-terrace, and the following gentlemen in the
highland garb :—George Bain, Esq., Secretary to the High-
land Society, Charles Roderick Mackenzie, Esq., James
Murray, Esq., John Grant, Esq., James Cumming, Esq.,
and James Campbell, Esq., and a numerous assem-
bly, testifying the interest that is felt in the welfare
and prosperity of the charity, which, as the public are
aware, is applicable to the poor mechanic and artizan,
natives of Scotland, resident in the metropolis and its neigh-
bourhood. There is further, in connexion with this institu.
tion, the charity founded by late Wm, Kinloch, Esq, who
bequeathed the residue of his estate for the relief of five hun.
dred „poor and disabled Scotchmen in distress, who may
have lost their legs or arms, eyesight, or otherwise wounded,
in the army or navy, in the service of their country."
The dinner was excellent, being in the first-rate style that
characterises all that take place at this tavern, and the
arrangements, under the directions of Messrs. Bathe and
Breach, assisted by the attentive exertions of the stewards,
were complete.
The Cutstroest proposed the health of the Queen and her
Consort the Prince, and that of the Prince of Wales, Lord of
the Isles, and afterwards " the Army and Navy." These
loyal toasts having been duly and enthusiastically re-
sponded to,
The CHISNOLM proposed the health of the distinguished
foreigners who had favoured them with their presence on that
occasion.—(Cheers).
The BABOO DWARKANAUTH TAGORE returned thanks in
English, and said that he was quite unable adequately to ex-
press the feelings he experienced from the manner in which
his health had been received. When, three years ago, he
was in this country, he had the high honour of having the
freedom of the City of London bestowed upon him. He
was most proud of that honour; and thus, though he was
a stranger to this particular party, he was scarcely so to
this country, nor indeed, he might add to, Scotland and its
people. His connexion with Scotchmen dated from a very
early period of his life. The little instruction he had re-
ceived in English had been at the hands of a Scotchman.
He had mixed largely in business matters with Seotchmen;
all his affairs in India were now entrusted, during his ab-
sence, to Scotchmen, for all his partners were Scotchmen.—
(Cheers.) Great benefits, too, had been derived by the
people of India from Scotchmen. Their subscriptions had
established the college at Calcutta, lihere 1,500 boys were
yearly educated—(Renewed cheers)—and every one who
called himself an Indian should ever feel grateful to them.
Although this was a Scotch meeting, he should not, however,
deny that India had derived immense advantages from the
entire British nation. It had relieved his country from
Mahomedan: tyranny, and now all enjoyed the same pri-
vileges in India that hnglishmen did in this country.
Having been so kindly requested to come there by their
secretary, he had promised to do so, unless he was turned
out of the country by its climate. He was very glad he
had been enabled to perform his promise on the occasion,
as it was one of such a charitable nature.—(Cheers.) He
begged again to thank them for the way in which they had
received his health.
The MEEnza. Mollux LAL likewise returned thanks, and
said he would not detain them further, after what bad
been said by his distinguished friend in acknowledging the
toast.

The CHAIRMAN said that he was sorry to announce that
his prace the Duke of Sutherland was compelled by uncer-
tain health to resign the office of President of their Society ;
but he had the pleasure of stating the Duke of Richmond had
agreed to succeed him as their President. He. accordingly,
proposed, " The Duke of Richmond and Lennox, President
of the Scottish Hospital."
Mr. MURRAY, in an excellent speech, called on the com-
pany to pledge a bumper to the health of The Chisholm,
their Chairman, for the able manner in which he exercised
those duties. He was sorry that he was not clothed in the
•` garb" that he was sure he loved in his heart, as he pos-
sessed the genuine feeling of a "Highland chief," and he
begged that the company would give it with " Highland
honours."

Mr. Mackay, the Queen's piper, and Mr. Macbeth, the
Duke of Sutherland's piper, played a " Gathering," and the
" Reel of Tullochgorum," around the room.
The CHISHOLM having briefly acknowledged the compli-
ment, and apologised for not having appeared in the costume
of his clan,

Various other toasts were drunk, and a large subscription
announced in favour of the charity, including Dwarkanauth
Tagore, 201.; Mohun Lal, 104 ; Carmichael, Esq., of Bel-
fast, 10 guineas ; Alexander Grant, Esq , 10 guineas ; James
Grant, Esq., 10 guineas ; John Grant, Esq., 10 guineas ;
William Grant, Esq., 10 guineas; and David Grant, Esq.,
10 guineas, which were hailed with cheers testifying grati-
tude to the generous donors, after which the assembly broke
up, with a Highland reel, danced by four gentlemen in High-
land costume.

The musical arrangements, both vocal and instrumental,
were well conducted. The Misses Fraser sung several fa-
vourite national melodies with great energy and enthusiasm,
and several popular glees and ballads were successfully
executed.

THE APPREHENDED FAMINE.
On Monday Mr.Wakley, M.P , attended at the George-Inn
Coffee-house, Holborn, to meet the overseers of the several
metropolitan parishes, whom he had invited by advertise-
ment, to discuss the propriety of calling upon the Govern.
ment to throw open tke ports, or repeal the corn-laws, and
thereby prevent the evil of a scarcity of food, and the pesti-
lence which is its result.

The meeting was called fur eight o'clock, and after waiting
more than half an hour, there were not more than eight or
ten gentlemen present, representing the parishes of Clerken-
well, St. Andrew's Holborn, St. Giles's, and the Rolls Liberty.
Mr. WAKLEY, under these circumstances, suggested an
adjournment, in order that the metropolitan parishes should
have fuller notice of the meeting. Considering the very
grave importance of the subject, he was quite astonished
that some effort had not been already made in the metropolis
to avert a calamity so dreadful as that of a deficiency of
food, which was sure to produce disease. If the gentlemen
present concurred that a borough meeting would have
greater influence. he should do all in his power to promote
one, but his object was to collect the opinions of the over-
seers of the poor as to the expediency of convening meetings
in all the metropolitan parishes for the consideration of that
vitally important subject.
Nearly every one present expressed their concurrence in
Mr. Wakley's suggestion, that an effort should be made to
induce the Government to issue an Order of Council for
opening the ports, or for calling upon the Legislature to re-
peal the corn-law. It was considered that parish meetings
were more appropriate than a borough meeting, which would
probably be regarded as a party movement. However, there
seemed to be a general wish that Mr. Wakley should express
his sentiments on the question, as it would have the effect of
exiting public attention.
Mr. WAKLEY said, that having been called upon for his
opinion, he had no hesitation in declaring that, with regard
to the importation of food, he was an advocate for the repeal
of all prohibitory duties. He had no doubt whatever that;the
present law operated most injuriously to the working classes,
not only as tending to deprive them of a sufficient quantity
of food, but that disease was generated, and to a most fright-
ful extent, by want of sustenance. The tendency of what
was called the sliding scale had been to serve certain classes,
at the expense of other classes. The repeal of the corn-laws,
even before the publication of Lord John Russell's letter,
had always been treated as a party question. His opinion
was, that it should never be fettered, or frittered down into
a mere question of party, and in that sense he, for one,
should never engage in any such discussion. It could only
be viewed in the light of a great national question, which
affected the whole mass of the community.—(Cheers.) It
had become now more than ever important that the Legis-
lature should settle that question, for it had become one of
life or death to thousands. All the accounts received from
the conntry tended to show that the evil extended over the
length and breadth of the lane. It was perfectly notorious
that a disease had prevailed for years amongst cattle in fo-
reign countries, and from animal that disease had extended
to vegetable life. It was obvious to every reflecting mind
that some dreadful calamity was impending. There were,
no doubt, differences of opinion as to the remedy, but that
was not the question. He would ask whether they were to
be content with high duties on food, or, on the other hand,
should there be any duties at all, so long as the people
were in want of food? (The Hon. Gentleman then
referred to an article published in the Liverpool
Times, showing that :after Belgium had thrown open
the ports, large quantities of wheat, rice, peas
aa d other provisions had beeen imported from England). Thus
it appeared that food had been sent out to other countries at
a time when famine was impending in our own country. The
evil probably might be not now apparent, but who could
predict what would be our situation in three months? It
was frightful to contemplate, and the Goverment was respon-
sibe for the consequence. No danger was apprehended, simply
because we did not see men dying before us ; but, as a
medical man, and as coroner for a county, he knew that
famine produced pestilence. He rejoiced to find that Lord
John Russell had come forward as an advocate for the un-
conditional repeal of the corn-laws; and, although some dif-
ferences might have existed between the Noblo Lord and his
supporters on that great question, he trusted those differences
would be forgotten. He was certain that the ports, if once
opened, would never be closed again ; but, as Parliament was
not likely to meet before January, if then, he felt that the
people ough to call upon the Government to guard against a
scarcityof food. Sir It. Peel would yield, but not until he felt
the pressure from without.—(Cheers.)
It was ultimately agreed that parish meetings should De
called to petition for the opening of the ports for the 'admis-
sion of grain daty free, and the meeting separated.

EXTRACT or k LETTER FROM II M.S. PN
DATED M-. HELENA, OcT 13 We left on' the Septem-
berl9tEhEL°PE
for the coast, and on the 26th a sail was reported ahead,
which was soon made out to be a steamer, and knowing that
none of ours were there, supposedl her to bo the French Com-
modore (as that was th only
we knew of), were getting
ready to salute, but as we beaded we could not understand
why she did not show her colours.
when we saw her hoist a Brazilia We tired a blank gun,
overboard, and, we passed papefinoaTisign, and throw a parcel
glVe stopped and put
the cutter to board her, and when thue
B:onvreaTht attached to
saw another parcel of papers, with boat left the ship we
the Lieutenant
it., thrown from the stern; and as
fitted for the
boarded he hailed " No papers, and cornpletel
Campos, in
completely
ngO of slaves.
slave-trade." She proved to be the Cacique,
, but as she
and intended
the Brazils, and cruizing oft the coast for a
She had been to the mouth of the Congo
could not
get the whole of them she was obliged to leave,
to return in a few days, when there was to have been 1,500
slaves ready for her, but as we pinned her we save her
the trouble. The Cacique 'is an American-built vessel,
with a high pressure engine on the upper deck, of forty
horse power; all the crew live on the upper deck also, so
that her full length is given to the slave deck. Her crew
consisted of twenty-six men, and two stokers (Americans).
We sent one lieutenant, two midshipmen, and two engineers
and twenty-eight men to bring her to this place for condem,
nation; and on the morning of the 30th, at day light, a sa-
lves reported, which proved a brigantine called the Legairil
with no papers, but a slave deck laid. We sent her also to
this place, as they are both Vice-Admiralty Court cases, but
there has been such a prevalence of light winds, we cannot
expect them here yet. We arrived at St. Pauls de Loando
in the evening, and sent two of our boats to cruize for four
cellaiyuslobittut
.t....hey could not get anything, and we left Loando
D• V 0 top or t Tolegreph,