The Statesman.
London, England, 1820-07-07 00:00:00

SOCIETY OF CIIIII.sTI.IN BENEIYMENCI.

The friends of the abut e Society, for edneatinc poor
children, met yesterday afternoon to dinner, at the
Freemason.; Tavern. The attendance was numerous.
1)r. Collyer, in the absence of the Rev. liroadfoot
took the ('hair.
As souu as the cloth was removed, the worthy CHAIR-
MAN rose. and observed, that, however great his plea-
sure might be at meeting the present company, Mill that
tre was •damped, by the recollection that he was
t; the Chair, %Web would have been much better
filled by thellentleman who would have taken it had he
not been detained by domestic calamity. He then pro-
posed the health of
" The Kine. the Quern, and all the Royal Family."
The t•ii tint' tN again roar, to propose a tout, which
be n as sure would meet itch the approbation of all.
The time, by id.,erred, had gone past, when it was a
question whether education was advantageous to the
poor or not. The state of Scotland furnished the best
answer to that question ; but it was now too late to step
to consider it in this light ; for whether right or not, a
desire fur .education hail gone abroad, and they could
not check it if they would. The only thing, therefore.
that remained, was to give that desire a proper
direction.
" The fioelety of Christian ileuivolesee" was then drank
with loud acclamations.
The children educated by the Society were here in-
trodueed and examined. They were then addressed in a
most forcible and impressive manner by the Rev. Dr.
Waugh.
The health of Mr. Kerr and Mr. Waters were next
drank.
The Report was then read, and, on the motion of Dr.
WAVUH, received, and co tttttt itted,
Mr. Wallin!, Jon:, in proposing the names of the Corn-
Ishtar, took occasion to pay a high compliment to the
Scotch character, which, he said, was known and vene-
rated wherever the dignity of man was held in esti-
mation.
The health of Mr. Merle, the Treasurer, was then
drank.
Mr. FLANNAGAN (an Irish lientleman) then rose. He
should be unworthy of the character which he professed,
that of an Irish Roman Catholic, if he did not support
the sentiments which he had just heard from the Chair.
—(Hear !)-lle bad never felt more truly gratified than
in witnessing the operation of that benevolence which
did not confine itself to party or to sect, but educated
all who were willing to receive education.—(Hear!).—
Illi might be allowed to say, that although the Irish
were behind their more fortunate neighbours In this re-
upset, yet that, in point of disposition. is willingness to
learn, and in gratitude to those who taught them, they
yielded to no nation upon earth. But it was their mis-
fortune to be torn by political convulsions. to be biassed
by one of two parties, Neither of whom were willing to
comprosise differences, and to settle •dispetes. The
ariequessee was, that the poor Roma Catholic children
were neglected, and left without any isiocatiou at all.—
(Hear,_ hear!)—This evil originated with kirlltentoteM;
for *Den the great were a desire to WWI them
IssiOd through the country; int when dolitibmt ts prin.
elpieohe tower dame were demoralised. resides, the
higi wags a poopd impressed by Oorersmest, whose
aim it was to make a joh.of the country. 'Mt. Mialatees
acted melt cruelly by !reload ; they make a job it tie
Lord rieettiantry t they tend a poor ems Seale to en-
rich hisielf, who holds no Court 1 they eotteell the in-'

mil
terest of an Ihtlicidual, and neglect the welfare of
lions. When the times were gtood, the Lord Lieutenant
of Ireland bad hut 1111,1100/. a year; now, that they were
bail, he most have :1(01110/. a year.
. [The CHAIRMAN here intimated to Mr. Flannagan,
that as they had met for a benevolent purpose, it would
be better to confiwe himself to that object.]
Mr. F. resuinetl.—lle said, that they had listened
with attention to an eulogitoon oil the Scotch and English,
and he hoped that they would not deny him the plea-
sure of adverting to Ireland, as he was the only Irish-
man in the room, and a Roman Catholic. Me must
Any, that the Irish were an oppressed people. If one
of the Royal Dukes was sent there as Lord Lieutenant,
it would on a great measufe tend to• heal political dis-
contents, restore the fallen trade of the country, bring
home the absentees, and not only make Ireland what
she ought to be, but int-lease her revenue. Ile would
not intrude longer, lint he should always feel happy to
promote this or any other charitable Institution.—
(Lowl applause.)
The CHAIRMAN said, that he had listened with much
pleasure to many parts of Mr. V.'s address, and he would
now propose a toast, which. he was sure, would meet his
wishes. t. The cause of education in Ireland."
The health of the Stewards was then drank.

Mr. ItiotasiosoN returned thanks.
.9r. WA run rose to propose the health of a man whose
talent, private worth, and general usefulness, he said,
were above his praise. De meant their worthy Chair-,
mao. Drank with general applause.
31r. rIaNNAGAN proposed the health of the Duke of
Sussex.
After the Chairman retired, Mr. FLANNAGAN was
unanimously called to the Chair. He returned thanks
for the high honour conferred on him, and said, he hoti;tl
change the tone of the toasts; he begged leave- to pro-
' pose, " The health of the Quern,:'—three times three.
Ile lamented to find her ease, as he thought, eniscon—
ducted ; she ought to have time to quinin,on such wit-
nesses as were necessary to rehot the charges against her.
The ease of the Queen, alien Princess of Wales, was
brought before the Commons; so it ought now, for the
House of Coniniolis formed the grand Tribunal of the
Nation. If the House of Lords now claimed this as a
right, we ought to consider such a claim as a danerous
precedent; for the Rev.ilatinn FrAnre tartly ori-
ginated in differences of this kind, bete. eim the two es-
tates. He would support both the Catholic and the Pro-
testant religion ; for he now saw both assailed, and a
complexion of impiety going abroad. Ile said, let the
Queen be however guilty, she might to be prayed for till
proved so. The health of the Queen was now drank
with h enthusiasm.

Ihe Cit.srast or nest pmposed, " The health of the
Pride of the Ladies of England and Ireland—Lady
Handltner." Unbounded applanse.
'llse Right flonnurAble Charles fit-ant, Samuel C.
Whitbread, Alderman Wood, Mr. tlohhouse, and several
other toasts were drank, and the miring passed in the
most perfect order and conviviality: