"When I look at the list before me I must say it is indeed a sad one; but at the same time it must be a gratification to us, who wish well to the Institution, to see that from the 16th of November, 1871, to the 16th of November last as many as 1067 cases were relieved out of the casualty fund. I may also mention that the officers of the railway companies subscribe half a guinea and the servants 8_s._ a year. In fact, I may say that the railway companies give this Institution in every way their official support, and they may indeed well do so, because there is no institution which more heartily deserves our support than this. "There is, however, one curious fact which I should like to mention. I believe I am correct in saying that the number of officers and servants employed on railways in the United Kingdom amounts to something like 300,000, but only 35,000 of them are subscribers; and in Ireland there is not a single subscriber. I am sorry to have to make this fact known; but all the more reason is there that we this evening should be liberal with our purses, as I am sure we shall all be when we consider how often we travel by railway. Not a day goes by but most of you travel once--probably twice. In stepping into a railway carriage, do you not think of the risks you may run? An accident may happen to anybody, though every possible security and guarantee may be given that no accident shall occur.