Society For Improving The...
The Times, 1824-06-07T00:00:00

Tbe anniversary dinner of this Society was held on Saturd I at 'WiDllgs Rooms. A dinner given on the same day by the Ri Honoturable the Secretary of State for Ireland, caused the abst of many noblemen and gentlemen who vwould otherwise have atte ed this meeting. The company, although by this circu'stano was less numerous than had been expected, was highly respecta Sir J. -Doyle and ir. RichardUkesleyair, and mas supporter of importance COMCCnedt with this countrv and with Irelan5, we e Lord Dunallv, the Right Honourable lIt. Fitzgerald, Air. S. 1 and Mlr. J. Grnttau.' * After the cloth was removed, and the usnal toasts of "I King," &c. had been drunk- the Sectetary, at the Chairman's quest, read the report. of tle Conmmittee, an account of which gave in our number of the 17th ult. To the satisfactory statem, contained in that repert, were added on the present occa. some extracts from an Appendix not yet ready for pu cation, detailing the successful and beneficial results 'w- had sprung frotm the charitable loan system adopted by committee in various parts of Ireland. It was found that fumishing small sums to the peasants, by way of loan, they ' enabled to turn their industry to X he most profitable account; - this had, in aU the instances mentioned in the Appendix, been d at an annual expense, so small that it is scarcely worth mentioni A fact no less gratifying,and which excited the applause of the sembly, was, tat in no instance had the peasants failed to repay sums lent to them in the manner which had been stipulated for. The report, and the list of subscriptions which tollowed it, v7 received with loud approbation. The CHAIRMAN then drank " Success to the Society," and short bat impressive speech pointed ouit the benefits which the es tions of those who composed it had effected. He trusted that example which had thus been set would be followed by those sons in England to whom the welfare of Ireland was an import consideration, and that those gentlermen of Ireland who had hithb not done all that was within their power and that their peasar bad a claim upon them for, would now be convinced of the faci with which they could discharge one of their mostimportantdutit that of promoting the happiness of their tenants. Alr. RaCHAsnD WFElLELSLE, the Chainnan of tbe Commiti returned thanks. He expresse lhis admiration of the activebene lence which had been displayed in England upon the occasion of t distress which two years ago had borne so heavilv upon Irela When the immediate cause wlhich excited that benevolence I ceased to operate, the present Society received its birth * aud t good which had sprung from a merely temporary ocasion assun a permanent shape, and would, he trusted, endure, while Irels should contain objects for its bstntv. Mr. M.ARTeN congratulated the Societv upon the good which I been already done. Although he was suffidenty rewarded by succcs which had attended those efforts in which he had, howve humblv, participated, he could not help feeling something of pr at the extessive benefits vhich had flowed from so obscure an orig He was, however, desirous t'sat those benefits shnuld be still fiurt diffrised, and to effect this object, he knew no means more eff-ect than to callin the influence of the fair sex. He recommended t a meeting should be held annuallv, or oflener, at whlch the preset of ladies should be invited; and he did not doubt that, under th patronage, this work of benevolence, like all others which tl favou=eo, would become as universallypopular as it dservedlio bi The healths of the Duchesses of Glocester and Cuniberland w then drank; and rhose of the Duk-e of Leinster, Earl Clarend Bishop of Limerick, of ihe several Loan Committees in Irelai followed. Un *' The Local Associations of Ireland" being drank, the RI [Ion. MIAURICE FITZGERALD rose, and in a neat and irpreW speech congratulated both countries on the new species of connex now established between them, by a systematic interference of benevolent and enlightened in this part of the united kingdom, relievinm the moral sad physical necessities of the other. The healtb of Air. Spring Rice was given by the CrAInIW and the compliment acknowledged by that gentleman, who confe ed that he had not hitherto bestowed on this Society the attent which ft merited, but pledged himself to a zealous and diligent si port of it in fiuture. The Chairman's health was proposed by Sir JoiHN DMn amidst louid applause, aud dlretv from the hon. gentlenian a teresting reply. The health of the stewards was the last given; for wlich thai were returned in their names by DJr. STIRLING, who wan preve ed by the lateness of the hour from going into details, ac lie mil otherwise have wrbhed to do, respecting the precriet means ofthe ciety, and itsdemands upon the murificence of the public. The festivity of the evening continued until nearly midnig when the company broke up. I SOCIBTY FOR IMPROVIAG THE CONDITIOAr - THE IRISH- PEASANrTRY.