The Sun. — 1854-04-06 (London, England)

ROYAL HUMANE SOCIETY.  One of the oldest and not the least 'valuable of the benevolent institutions of the metropolis is the Royal Humane Society, which was founded so far back as the year 1774, for the recovery of persons apparently drowned or dead, and the 80th anniversary festival of which was list night celebrated at the Freemasons ' Tavern, Great Queen-street. The minutes of the committee for the year show that 152 cases were brought under notice of the society. which cases comprised 165 persons, who had either met with accidents, or attempted suicide ; of these 153 were treated with success, and 12 only were beyond recovery. That 24 honorary silver medals were voted for cases of rescue, attended by extraordinary courage and risk of life ; and 36 honorary bronze medals awarded. Thanks of the society, inscribed upon vellum, &c., were presented to 15 individuals, whose praiseworthy conduct in the cause of humanity hal brought them under the notice of the committee, and 108 other claimants (including landlords of receiving-houses) received pecuniary rewards.  The total number of persons who bathed in the Serpentine River throughout the year amounted to 223,250, as per the estimated and daily-registered number reported by the superintendent. Twenty-one bathers were rescued from drowning by the activity of the society's boatmen on duty during the hours appointed for morning and evening bathing, and not one fatal accident occurred. Nine other individuals were also saved, and four pre. vented from committing suicide, by the exertions and watchfulness of the boatmen throughout the day-time. During the late frost this institution may be said to have passed a trying ordeal. The watchful activity of its men, their coolness and courage at the moment of trial, and the efficiency of its establishment, were fairly put to the test. During 15 days of its duration, 50 persons, whose names and addresses were given, broke through the ice, and were saved by the society's men, besides several others whose names could not be ascertamed, and not one fatal accident occurred. In the February and March of the previous year, daring the ten days of frost, no less than 230 persons were immersed, and 229 persons rescued, only one individual case proving beyond rec,overy. Of the skill, devotion, and the disinterestedness of the honorary medical assistants of the institution the committee speak in the highest terms, observing that the manner in which they have performed their benevolent and gratuitous duties is beyond all praise. The medical assistants of the society appointed in the several districts attend on all accidents connected with the objects of the institution without fee or reward. The Royal Humane Society has improved the state of medical science, by ascertaining and pointing out the best means of restoring life in cases of suspended animation ; and numbers who were before the establishment of this institution consigned to the grave, through incredulity, culpable inactivity, or injudicious modes of treatment, might have been saved from a premature death. It-has thus effected a great and permanent benefit to mankind, by collecting and diffusing information, by rewarding meritorious exertion, and by exciting earnestness and expedition in assisting persons in danger of drowning. By these measures it has been the means of preservi-g annually very many lives. The festival of last night was on a scale of unusual splendour. The number of friends and supporters who assembled was very considerable, and the distribution of medals and honorary rewardsgave additional interest to the social reunion.  Lord Dudley Coutts Stuart, M.P., presided, and was supported by Captain Scobell, R.N., M.P., Montagu Gore, George Rennie, C.E., Rev. Dr. Croly, A. llobads, Rev. J. Woolley, Gore Langton, M.P., W. Hawes, Esq., J. Rowe, M.D., and about 120 other friends and supporters of the society ; while in the gallery facing the chairman were a number of ladies, who appeared to take a lively interest in the proceedings. The dinner and wines were excellent, and the musical arrangements, under the direction of Mr. Hobbs, added very materially to the pleasure and gratification of the guests. Miss Eyles took the leading part in the National Anthem, and several other airs, and acquitted herself most 'creditably ;, while Mr. Hobbs obtained a whole roomful of congratulations and compliments for the manner in which he sung a. newair to the glorification of the French and English warriors "Gone out to fight the Czar." Captain Scobell and Colonel Thompson of the Engineers, made some happy allusions to the contest in which this country was about to engage with Russia, and the noble chairman followed up the hint with all thu emphasis and energy for which lie is so remarkable. The most interesting portion of the evening's proceedings was the procession of men and women, boys, girls, and little children who had been rescued from drowning by the exertions of the society during the past year, and who formed the annual contribution to the astounding number of 30,000, who, we were informed, had been saved since the society commenced its operations. They were paraded round the room, preceded by the stewards, with wands, each of them bearing in his or her band one of the Bibles of the society. The medals of the company were distributed to such of the persons who had saved one or more lives dunng the past year as were present. They included gentlemen, clergymen, sailors, working men, &c., all of whom were addressed in words of compliment by the chairman, and all of whom expressed their gratification at having been instrumental in saving human life. A model of Mr. Parrates tubular life raft, which has been instrumental in saving many lives, and which has met the approval of the Adruirallw and the Emigration Commis stoners, was exhibited iu the ante-room, and !night, perhaps, fairly- put in its claim to one of the society's medals. The result of the festival has been a large and seasonable addition to the funds of this most useful society:  lIEALTH OF