d to take a cab if the rain comes on!

"There are now between 11,000 and 12,000 cabmen, and the amount
of the expense in cab fares comes to a most colossal sum,
something between L4,000,000 and L5,000,000 sterling. With
regard to the remark I made as to the honesty of cabmen, it may
perhaps be not out of place if I mention an anecdote which was
told me to-day. A gentleman drove in a cab to a shop, left the
cab, and entered the shop. On coming out of the shop, he was not
in so quiet a frame of mind as when he entered it; it was
evident to the passers-by that he was dissatisfied with the
shopman; he left the shop and went away. The shopman threw a
case into the cab. The gentleman had forgotten it. But the
cabman immediately drove to Scotland Yard and delivered the
case, which was found to contain jewellery worth L2300. This
will give you some idea of the honesty of these men, for whom we
are endeavouring to do much. Some considerable good was done
only four years ago by a philanthropic and noble lord whose name
is known to you, who started cabmen's shelters. There are now
twenty of these, and they shelter 2000 cabmen, doing much to
alleviate the discomfort of the men, who sit so many hours of
the night suffering from the inclemency of the seasons.

"When I see this large assemblage I feel I shall not call in
vain, and I call upon you to augment the capital which already
exists. With this toast I have great pleasure in associating one
who is treasurer of the Association, Lord Richard Grosvenor (now
Lord Stalbridge), member of a family well known in works of
charity and philanthropy. I thank you for the kind way in which
you have listened to my imperfect remarks, and now I must ask
you to drink with enthusiasm 'Success to the Cabdrivers'
Benevolent Association!'"

It is pleasant to find from the latest published report that the
Institution, which the Prince of Wales so warmly commended, is in a
prosperous condition. The annuities have been raised to L20, and there
are 40 annuitants now on the books. The receipts in 1887 were L2191, and
the funded property was L10,000. Temporary relief was given to upwards
of 200 cabmen. Upwards of 1200 members contribute 5_s._ annually, but
this is a small proportion of the whole number of cabdrivers, more of
whom ought to be persuaded to join as members, as they alone rece