The Daily Times. — 1860-05-05 (Liverpool, Merseyside, England)

ROYAL HUMANE SOCIETY.  Tlie eight7-f.ilth anniversary of the above institution was celebrated on Thursday evening by a dinner, at the kreemakiis' tavern, niftier the presidency of his Grace the Puke df Argyll, euppotted by Sir Benjamin Hawes, K.C.B. ; Benjamin HaWes, N.; Wm. Hawes, Esq., and J. 'Walter, Esq., M.P. ; J. C: Macdonald,  Ecq.; Fraier (11th Hussars), Dr. Sptirgeon, Rev, Dr. Irons, T. Page, Esq., C.E. ; J. Wyld, Esq., ; Dr. M'Cann, Sir Wm. Frazer, Bart. ; Dr. Christian, Sir F. Heasate, Bart. ; lion. S. Smyth, M.P. &c., &c. Amongst the company were several recipients of the society's medal, including a midshipman in the Royal Navy (Mr. Whitehead), a private in the Irish constabulary (Peter Quigley), one or two sailors, &c. The Chairman, having given the customary toasts with great felicity, gave " The House of Commons," for which Mr. Walter returned thanks, and proposed " The health of the Chairman."  The Duke of Argyll acknowledged the compliment, and proceeded to dilate on the advantages of the society. One of the brightest features of modern civilisation, he said, was the abstract regard for human life which was wholly unknown to the ancients. To an ancient Roman the life of a friend or relative might be dear, but it was  in modern England that that regard for human life was  formed which induced heroic indivividuals to plunge into the most imminent danger to save even the life of a poor lunatic. His grace here repeated the story which has appeared in the papers of a poor woman in the Welsh lunatic asylum interrupting the whole business of a racecourse by her frantic cries for her husband, whom she recognised amongst a crowd on the opposite side of a river, and immediately plunged in in the hope of joining him. An utter stranger plunged in, and saved her, amid the cheers of surrounding thousands. Even shipwrecks— the most appalling way in which life could be lost— displayed the most heroic efforts, and the recreation of skating also—which was probably the acme of healthy physical enjoyment—afforded instances of persons who were always found ready to plunge into the battle with death, in the hope of saving human life. His grace then proceeded to communicate the cases for which medals were to be given on the present occasion. Moss, a boatman, had on the 19th of December, 1858, saved a shipmate off Dungeness ; Captain Moore, R.N., bad on the 6th of June saved the life of a man who had attempted suicide in the Serpentine; Captain Stirling had in the East Indies attempted to save a native, and was himself saved by Lieutenant F. Law. On the 30th of May, 1859, Private Buckley, 24th Regiment, was saved iu the river Don, by Ensign R. H. B. Airey. On the 9th of June, 1859, J. E. Gibson, Big., Eltham Light Infantry, was saved by Captain T. W. Woodall, of the same regiment. At the battle of the Rapteo, East Indies, Major Fraser saved several of his comrades by plunging into a rapid river under the fire of the enemy, and on the 14th May, 1859, Sub-constable Peter Quigley saved John Hunt, in Cork; and on 17th February, 1860, Mr. Heygate saved the life of his butler, who had fallen into a reservoir. In this gallant act Mr. Heygate was much aided by the courage and presence of mind of his lady. Major Frazer, Peter Quigley, Mr. Whitehead, R.N., a youth of 17, Mr. Heygate, and one or two others, received their medals in person, and made appropriate acknowledgments. In the other cases the medals were delivered to persons who had been deputed to receive  them. The Duke of Argyll gave "The health of the treasurer, Benjamin Hawes, Esq., a gentleman in his 91st year, and who on that evening attended the 71st anniversary of the charity." This toast, and the interesting annotincement by which it was accompanied, was received with the loudest cheering by the company. Sir Benjamin Hawes returned thanks for the VicePresidents, and one or two other toasts having been given; the party broke up. The subscriptions amounted to £2,000. A musical party, under the direction of Mr. Land, and comprising Misses Wells, Messrs. Lawler, Baxter, and Cumming, sang a selection of appropriate music during the evening.