"My Lords and Gentlemen,--Although it is very unusual on a public occasion of this kind for the health of the Chairman to be given so early in the evening, yet mine has been proposed so kindly by the noble Duke and so well received, and has, moreover, been so kindly coupled with that of the Princess and the rest of my family, that I think it my duty to rise at once and respond to the toast. The noble Duke has been kind enough to say that 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 £10 to £25 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 £10 to the families of those who are injured or killed in the performance of their duties.