l in 1862. The support given to the charity encouraged the
building of the present asylum, near Snaresbrook, in a healthy and
beautiful part of the country.

It was for the opening ceremony of the erection of a new dining-hall
that the Prince and Princess of Wales visited the Asylum, on the 28th of
June, 1866. Received by a guard of honour of the Hon. Artillery Company,
their Royal Highnesses were conducted to a tent where luncheon was
served. In proposing the health of the Royal visitors, Lord Alfred
Paget, who presided, said that "he had known His Royal Highness almost,
he might say, before he knew himself, and that he could bear testimony
to the interest he took, not only in every manly English sport, but in
everything which tended to contribute to the advancement of such
institutions as that whose success he testified by his presence on that
occasion his desire to promote."

In returning thanks the Prince of Wales said:--

"I am, indeed, deeply sensible of and deeply grateful for the
excessively kind manner in which the noble lord has proposed my
health and that of the Princess of Wales, as well as for the
very kind manner in which you all have been good enough to
receive the toast. My presence here to-day affords me the
greatest satisfaction, because we have come to honour a work
which to me is particularly interesting, inasmuch as the
foundation stone of this asylum was laid by my lamented father
in 1861. But, under any circumstances, it would be a pleasing
and a proud moment for me to be here on such an occasion as
this. We must all know how important a part our mercantile navy
plays at the present moment, and how important it is that we
should provide for the orphans of those brave men who are
exposed to so many dangers. As you are well aware, this
institution has furnished an asylum since its opening in 1862
for upwards of 180 boys and girls at a time, and it must, I am
sure, be greatly gratifying to us that I should to-day be called
upon to lay the foundation stone of an additional room, which I
understand will embrace part of the plan of the original
building. I beg again to thank you, on my own behalf and on that
of the Princess, than whom, I assure you, nobody takes greater
interest in the work which we are assembled to promote."

Lord A. Paget next proposed the toast of "Prosperity to the Merchant
Seamen's Orphan A