f the proceedings there occurred a scene thoroughly "racy
of the soil" of which most of the noblemen and gentlemen present were
natives. The children of the schools were brought into the room, and
"St. Patrick's Day" having been struck up by the band, the boys and
girls proceeded to make the circuit of the tables. The national air of
Ireland told alike on the benefactors and the recipients of the charity.
The children looked with glistening eyes on the company, and the latter,
as the young ones passed by, loaded them with fruit and cakes to such an
extent that before the juvenile procession had made its exit from the
apartment the tables had been cleared of the entire dessert, which was a
very liberal one. The boys and girls raised a loud cheer as they left
the room, and the entire company, including the illustrious President,
appeared all the happier for having made the festival the means of so
unusual a treat for the little sons and daughters of poor Irish parents
struggling for their living in London.

After the performance of a selection of Irish airs, the Prince of Wales
again rose and said:--

"My Lords and Gentlemen.--The next toast which I shall have the
honour of proposing to you is the toast of the evening. We are
here to-night for a very excellent and charitable purpose. The
objects of the Benevolent Society of St. Patrick have been so
often stated--so many able speeches have been made at so many
successive anniversaries of this festival, that there is very
little left for me to say; but having accepted, which I did with
pleasure, the post of chairman this evening, I feel it is due to
the institution and to this company that I should make a few
observations. I may as well at once say that I am about to call
upon you to drink prosperity to the Benevolent Society of St.
Patrick. This Society was instituted in 1784, with the object of
relieving the necessitous children of Irish parents resident in
London. One of its first patrons was my grandfather, the Duke of
Kent. I have always understood that he took a very great
interest in the Society, and I may further observe that several
of my grand-uncles acted as presidents at your annual dinners.
At the present moment I believe the schools are in what may be
called a flourishing condition, They afford education to as many
as 400 children. That the boys and girls are in good health and