The Sun. — 1863-07-23 (London, England)

GORTSCHAKOFF."  Newsvendors' Benevolent and Provident Institution.  The twenty-fourth annual festival of this institution was celebrated on Tuesday evening, at the Freemasons' Tavern, under the presidency of Mr. Benjamin Webster, supported by Mr. Mark Lemon, Mr. Watkin, Mr. W. S. Johnson, Mr. Borlase Child, and Mr. Leger. About one hundred friends of the institution sat down to an excellent dinner, and several ladies were among the guests at the table on this interesting occasion. The usual loyal toasts hiving been gracefully introduced and heartily responded to, BORLASE CHILD spoke to the toast of " The Army and Navy," and Mr. MARK LEMON, " one of the fullest privates in the service" as he described himself, returned thanks for " The Volunteers," pointing to the glories of Wimbledon as an illustration of the very effective manner in which foreigners who attempted to invade our shores might naturally expect to be " peppered" on beating, as they assuredly would, a hasty retreat.  The CHAIRMAN then proposed the toast of the evening, " Prosperity to the Newsvendors' Benevolent and Provident Institution." He said—Had I been on my own ground, that is, dramatic ground, I should not feel so nervous as to my ability to do sufficient justice to what is termed the toast of the evening—(hear, hear)—the advocacy of the institution for the interests of which we are here assembled. Remembering who have filled the honourable post—first and foremost my friend, Mr, .Charles Dickens, a host in himself —it is not affectation to say I know, by comparison, my task to be a very responsible one ; but, as Dogberry says, " Comparisons are odorous"—(laughter)—so do not, for my sake, think of the past, but the future—of those who may need your help ; consequently, I shall not endeavour to interest your feelings on the bygone exertions of newsvendors of the Acta Diurna of ancient Rome, nor the Gazette of Vienna of the 16th century ; nor the English Mercury of the time of good Queen Bess, published by authority for the contradiction of false reports, though Mercury is presumed to be the father of lies, So that even then all was not true because  it was in the papers. (Laughter.) Nor for the vendors of the first weekly newspaper in 1622 ; nor for those who circulated the quarto-sized papers during Charles the First's rule—one called "Discoverers Stript Naked, which I trust will not be the fate of Messrs. Speke and Grant—nor the sellers of the first daily of Queen Anne's reign, nor the first country newspaper in 1706, published at Norwich, and called the "Norwich Postman," at the price of one penny, but:stating that a halfpenny would not be refused—(hear, hear)—which fact informs us that penny and halfpenny newspapers date back for more than 150 years; and how the* did it for the money without the aid of machinery appliances is curious to contemplate. These ere of the past. But I shall, if not " bestowing all my tediousness on you," come to the immediate purpose of our meeting. In 1838, the year before this institution was founded, the annual sale of newspapers was nearly sixteen millions. Since that time it is not exaggerated to assume that that number must have quadrupled, which would give conbiderably over 60,000,000 of newspapers circulated through the agenoy of newsvendors to the public in a year. Therefore the institution is one which ought to enlist the sympathies of every class that loves its country and its position in the world. (Hear, hear.) To know that every day, in every house of this vast metropolis, a paper can be furnished containing the news of what is passing, not only of our own home and the United Kingdom, but throughout the civilised and uncivilisee world almost to the hour of our waking in the morning for our daily avocation—to know thlt the news is forwarded to every village, town, and city of this kingdom, and every country on earth, and all through thei untiring and indefatigable agency of the newsvendor, is a claim that is irresistible on the bounty of the public. Wisat would become of Reuter's Telegrams; what would become of that intellectual analysis of events with which our public press enlighten mankind, but for these agents of universal dissemination—the newsvendors ?To them we not only owe the chief comfort of our morning meal, but the information and guide for our daily mercantile and political oprations, which have tended to make this the chief nation of the world. Are we not bound then, high and low, to take into our dearest consideration the early and late toil of those who conduce to all these ends ?—when it is known that at the early hour of the morn when many sleep at their ease, dependent upon their success on the knowledge they derive, after a good night's repose, from those who are obliged to steal rest by snatched moments from their cares, and who, exposed to the inclemency and every variation of the seasons, engender those ills to which man is heir. Who has not woke up with a species of delight at a railway stn tion when the clear shrill treble of a poor boy cries out paper I" and who has not rushed to his door " Second edition!: " Great victJry," a:?:netvhrenesiinengcry,, :rf "Defeat of the Ministry ?" and all these sensations are provided you by the newsvendors, wet or that might diy, frost or snow, sunshine or rain.lwould itray voice were trumpet-tongued and cosmopolitan,l spread far and wide the claims of the newsvendor... am confident I have only to appeal to the ladies, either here or vweos,rneranthdeugnefo intended rnthnt ahteere h, et owes vnel ins dt:et hr e when r hseynm the births and marriages, though by a singular newspaper arrangement the through such agency of conning over i i to bo so, remember the daily pleasure afforded Po autrh eeet tfeerr thhael e the th n births always come before the marriages ; absorbing interest of murders, brutal treatment of husbands, with t-,he just punishment of six months , the suicides, fires, shipwrecks, railway accidents, breaches of promise,and the trials in that peculiar court of domestic infelicity where union is not strength nor a united service. Touch but a woman's heart on such a theme as this and out of it will well up the feeling that will open the hand to melting charity and secure their influence over the ruder sex; and there is no eluded by proposing influence so powerful to do likewise. The Chairman coneztz leral " Prosperity to the Newsvendors' Benevolent and Provident Institution. (Cheers.) The toastev R. m havingr. nA v been drank grpreeapteeeendth "The iesmhe The health of Mr, Charles Dickens, President of the Society." Mr. M. LEMON spoke to the toast of " The Press," and gave " The Health of the Chairman," which was enthusiastically received. Mr. REDDISH proposed " The Health of the Vice-Presidents and Trustees." In the course of the evening subscriptions of £lOO were acknowledged.  [