t my family and myself do what we can for the support of
the great charitable Institutions of the country. I am very much
flattered by those remarks. I can only assure you--and I think I
may speak for the other members of my family--that it is one of
our chief objects to come forward as often as we possibly can in
support of Institutions which are so beneficial and so necessary
to the well-being of the country, and which are always so
munificently supported by all classes of the community. I thank
you once more for the honour you have done me, and assure you
that it is a great pleasure and gratification to me to take the
chair here this evening."

Other toasts being proposed and acknowledged, the Prince rose and
said:--

"My Lords and Gentlemen,--The toast I have now the honour to
propose is a bumper toast, and I know it will be received as
such. It is that of 'Prosperity to the Railway Benevolent
Institution and Board of Management.' When I look around me
this evening and see how numerous is the assemblage before me, I
feel convinced that you have come here intending to do honour to
that toast, and to do your utmost in every way to support the
Institution which to-day has reached its fifteenth anniversary.
It is difficult for me, especially before you, who are so well
acquainted with the merits of the Institution, to say anything
new concerning it. Still I think it my duty, as your chairman,
to mention a few facts by way of an appeal to your
consideration.

"The objects of the Railway Benevolent Institution may be
briefly mentioned under six heads. First, it has for its object
the granting of annuities of from L10 to L25 to the distressed
railway officers and servants incapacitated through age,
sickness, or accident; second, to grant small pensions to
distressed widows; third, to educate and maintain orphan
children; fourth, to grant temporary relief until permanent
relief can be afforded; fifth, to induce railway officers and
servants to insure their lives by dividing the payment of the
premium into small periodical sums, and by granting a
reversionary bonus of 10 per cent. out of the funds of the
institution; sixth and lastly, to grant small sums not exceeding
L10 to the families of those who are injured or killed in the
performance of their duties.

"When I lo