n giving the toast of "Prosperity to the Institution," the noble
chairman said, that after the speech which they had just heard in its
favour from His Royal Highness it was scarcely necessary for him to say
another word. He could fully confirm everything which had been said by
His Royal Highness as to its value, and the urgent need of such an
institution was proved by the fact that there were in this kingdom no
less than 10,000 clergymen who occupied benefices of less value than
L150 a year. How was it possible for men with such incomes, who had to
move in a respectable sphere of life, to lay by anything for a period of
distress or to make a provision for their widows and orphans? He
therefore cordially concurred in the eloquent appeal made to them by His
Royal Highness.

The result of the appeal was a subscription list amounting to L1200,
including 100 guineas from the Prince of Wales.

It may be added that now (1888) there are about 100 pensioners, besides
special grants for urgent cases. Last year's receipts were L6,000, and
the invested funds are about L18,500.

WAREHOUSEMEN AND CLERKS' SCHOOL.

_June 18th, 1866._

One of the earliest public functions undertaken by the Prince (July,
1863) was laying the foundation stone of the School, near Croydon, for
children of warehousemen, clerks, and agents of wholesale houses and
manufactories, so employed in any part of the United Kingdom. The
building was not completed till the spring of 1866, and on the 18th of
June of that year, the Prince, on being applied to, at once and
cordially agreed to preside at the inauguration or formal opening of the
Asylum.

The Prince was received by Earl Russell, President of the Charity, the
Bishop of Winchester, the Lord Mayor of London, the High Sheriff of
Surrey, and other official and distinguished persons interested in the
Institution. Having thoroughly inspected the building, the arrangements
of which are admirable, and having heard an address explaining the
origin and purposes of the Institution, briefly replied as follows:--

"My Lords and Gentlemen,--It is a sincere pleasure to me to see
the work which we commenced in July, 1863, brought to a happy
conclusion. Such a consummation, when we reflect on the numerous
classes of the great commercial community of our country whose
interests it promotes, cannot but be gratifying to every one
present, and will induce us all gratefully to invoke the Di