THE FIELD. 
C ENTRAL ASSOCIATION in AID 
of the WIVES and FAMILIES. WIDOWS 
and OK PHAN S, of SOL D 1 E K S ordered on Active 
Service. 
Under the Joint Patronage of 
Her Majesty the QUEEN, 
Field Marshal H.R.H.'the PRINCE ALBERT. 
K.G., and her Royal Highness the Duchess 
of KENT. 
VICE-PATRONS. 
His Grace the Archbishop of CANTERBURY. 
Lieut. -General his Royal Highness the Duke of 
CAMBRIDGE. K G. 
Chairman of General Committee— General the 
Earl of Beuuchamp. 
Vice-Chairmen — Viscount Ingestre, 1st Life 
Guards ; Lord Lilford. 
Trustees— Sir John Kirkland, Lord Henry Choi- 
mondeley, ALP., and Major the Hon. U. L. Powys. 
COMMITTEE. 
The Lord Bishop of London. 
The Duke of Manchester. 
The Marquis of Blnudford, M.l*. 
The Earl of Annesley, M l’. 
The Earl of Cavan. 
The Earl of Effingham. 
The Earl of Shaftesbury. 
Viscount Hill. 
Viscount Mnndcvillc, M.P. 
Lord Sondes. 
Lord Edward Howard. M.P. 
Lord Henry Cholmondeley, ALP. 
Lord Charles Clinton, M.P. 
Lord Fcvcrsham. 
Captain Archdall, M.P. 
Colonel Baker. 
Colonel Boldero, AI.P. 
Lieutenant-Colonel Hunter Blair. ALP. 
Alajor Cartan, Stall-Officer of Pensioners. 
Lieutenant-Colonel Caulllcld, ALP. 
J. C. Colquhoun, Esq. 
Cnptnin J. Douglas, 00th Royal Rifles. 
Colonel Dunne. ALP. 
John Lettaom Elliot. E«q. 
Sir Robert Gerard, Bart. 
Hon. A. Kinnnird, ALP. 
Lieutenant-Colonel Brownlow Knox, AI.P. 
Hon. Cant. William Stuart Knox, AI.P. 
Captain Lallan, ALP. 
Lieutenant-Colonel Lawrenson. 
Lieutenant-Colonel Hon. J. Lindsay, ALP. 
Right Hon. Joseph Napier, M.P. 
Colonel Sidney North. ALP. 
Captain Henry Owen, R.E. 
John Wilson Patten, Esq., AI.P. 
Melville Portal, Esq.. ALP. 
Alujor the Hon. II. L. Powys, 00th Royal Rifles. 
Andrew Spottiswoodo, Esq. 
Augustus Stafford, Esq , AI.P. 
Rev. F. J. Stuinfortli. 
Lieutenant-Colonel Taylor, M.P. 
Captain W. F. Vernon. 
Sir William Vemer, M.P. 
Shirley Woolmer, Esq. 
General Wyndham, ALP. 
Auditors— Goorgc William Bell, Esq., Law Fire 
Office ; and B. L, Sowell, Esq., Bank of England. 
Treasurer— Sir John Kirkland, 80, Pull-tnull. 
Hon. Secretary— Major the Hon. Henry Little- 
ton Powys. 60th Royal Rifles. 
Assistant Secretary— Frederick Ilayley Bell, 
Esq. 
The following report was unanimously passed at 
a General Committee Aleeting, on the 3rd of October. 
1854. 
The Right Hon. the Earl of EFFINGIIAAI in 
the chair : — 
This Association originated at the National Club, 
on the 24th of February, 1854, and was joined on 
the 25th of February by a deputation from the 
Army and Navy Club. 
It was formally instituted at a public meeting 
held in Willis's Rooms, on the 7th of Alarch, 1854. 
(the late deeply-lamented General Sir Peregrine 
Alaitland, GC.B. in the chair, > and has now com- 
pleted the|llrst half-year of its operations. 
The vast amount of undeserved misery that this 
Association has been the means of alleviating 
during the post six months induces the Committee 
to make a half-yearly report of their proceedings ; 
and this, not only to show that the noble effort 
made by the country on behalf of the silent sufferers 
lias not been a fruitless one ; but also to direct 
public attention to the urgent and nbsolule necessity 
for the establishment of some permanent national 
provision for the wives and families, widows and 
orphans, of our soldiers. 
Notwithstanding all that has been said and 
written on the subject, the fact still remains in all 
its sadness, that lor the wife and family, widow 
and orphan, of our best-behaved soldiers, whether 
non-commissioned officer or private, no provision 
whatever is made. Nothing hut private charity 
keeps them from pauperism when their husbands 
and fathers arc taken uway. 
The marriage of these good men is fully permitted 
by military authority; it is even granted as a 
reward for good conduct, and vet, should they be 
ordered to the seat of war, or die in the service of 
their country, their families are cast aside in utter 
destitution and desolation. 
To prove that this is no over-statement, the 
Committee have selected a few cases out of 
hundreds, nil of which are those of wives of non- 
commissioned officers and privates, who, having 
been married with military sanction aud approval, 
had been placed on the strength of the regiment. 
Case 490, Airs. II.— Wife of a sergeant of the 38th. 
Married with leave. Left destitute with six 
children after she had spent the small sum her 
husband left for her. Fiveof her children provided 
for ; the sixth being an infant, and the mother 
being weakly, she received a weekly allowance of 
5s. until she obtained work as a washerwoman, for 
which the Association furnished the means, and 
she now enrns her own livelihood, assisted by her 
two boys, aged 12 and 13, for whom situations as 
pages have been found. 
Mrs. E. F.. 8th Hussars.— A most respectable 
person, innrried with leave, in delicate health. 
Left destitute, with six children. Earns a little by 
washing, for which a donation of £2 was granted. 
A weekly allowance of 7s. 
Case 439, Airs. \V. H. K.— Wife of a private, 13th 
Light Dragoons. Married with leave. Left desti- 
tute with four children. A most respectable person. 
A situation ns cook obtained for her, and all her 
children provided for 
Caso 73, Airs. S. J. G.— Wife of a sergennt in the 
21st Regiment. Alarried with leave. Left desti- 
tute with four children, ami expecting her confine- 
ment. A weekly allowance or 5s., 'in addition to 
the parish out-door relief of 3s. n week and four 
lonves. 
Case 460, Airs. W. — Wife of a lance-sergeant in 
the 6th Dragoons. .Married with leave Left desti- 
tute with three children, and expecting her con- 
finement. A weekly allowance till she became a 
widow, when she was granted £*0. and one of her 
three children provided for by the Birmingham 
Local Committee. 
Case 193, Airs. E. If.— Wife of a private in the 
3Hih Regiment. Alarried with lenve. Left desti- 
tute with four children. One child provided lor, 
anil a weekly allowance of 7». a week. 
Case 3*4, Mrs A. F.— Wife of a private in the 
7, , .h Moment. Alarried with leave. Left destitute 
with five children. A weekly allowance of 1 0s. 
Case 433 3Mh Regiment.— Mrs. A., the wife of a 
sergeant. Blamed with leave. Left destitute with 
lour children, lias been providml with a situation 
at *14 a year, and ull her children tnkcu care of 
by the Association. 
Airs. E. F., 63d Regiment. Married with leave. 
949 
Sixteen years wife of a private. Left destitute 
with five children. A weekly allowance of 7s. 
Airs. E. T. 46th Regiment.— Married with leave 
Left destitute with five children under 10 years of 
age, unable to leave her infant. A weekly allow- 
ance of 7s. 
Mrs. T. L.. 2Sth Regiment —Married with leave. 
Wife of a sergeant. Left with five children. Her 
husband left her some little money and his watch, 
to part with in case of need. The watch had been 
parted with when this Association helped her out 
of all her troubles, and she regularly receives money 
from her husband. 
Airs. K B . case 321.— Wife of a private, 89th 
Regiment. AInrried with leave. Left perfectly 
destitute with five children. The two youngest 
twins born since her husband left. In very bad 
health sinco her confinement. A weekly allowance 
of 12s. 
Cases Nos 406, 407, 408. — The wives of privates 
of the 55th. All married with leave. Left desti- 
tute with 10 cliildren. A weekly allowance to 
each. 
Case No 9C8, Airs. C. B.— Wife of a private. 
Royal Artillery. Alarried with leave. Lett desti- 
tute with six children in great distress. A weekly 
allowance granted. 
Case 971, Mrs, A. C. — Wife of a sergeant of the 
3flth Regiment. Ararried with leave. Left desti- 
tute with ?ix children. A weekly allowance of 12s. 
Case 692, Mrs. T.— Wife of a sergeant of the 11th 
Hussars. Mnrriodiwith leave. Left with six chil- 
dren. Eldest dnughter provided with a situation, 
and a weekly allowance of 10s. to her mother. 
This dreary catalogue of destitution might he 
continued almost to an endless extent, and all the 
harrowing details accompanying each case might 
be given ; but the Committee are satisfied that a 
simple statement of these fact# Is more than suffi- 
cient to prove the need for, and the reality of, their 
work. It is true that the parish of the soldier may 
be compelled to support his wife and family ; but 
the Committee would ask whether the workhouse 
Is a fitting place for the families of men who can 
write such letters as the following? — 
“ Camp near Varna, August 30, 1854. 
“ Sir,— I sincerely trust that I may not offend 
vou by the liberty I take in addressing you -, but. 
haying heard of your kindness to the wives and 
children of soldiers now serving in Turkey, I am 
induced to request your kind assistance on behalf 
of my little daughter. By the last mail from 
England I received the melancholy intelligence of 
my wife's death, which occurred on the 9th of 
August, leaving my little girl entirely unprovided 
for, &c. ; I therefore humbly hope that you will 
kindly cause inquiries to be made, so that my child 
may not be left entirely unprotected or uncared for. 
I will most gladly contribute, ns far ns my means 
will admit, to defray any expense which may arise 
in placing her in any establishment which you 
select. Wc expect to embark for Sebastopol to- 
morrow. consequently I feel very anxious that some 
steps may be immediately taken to provide for her. 
“ I remain, Sir, most respectfully, 
“ G. H., Sergeant. 
*• To Alajor the lion. If. L. Powys, 
60th Reg. Rifles, Hon. Sec." 
The wife and child of this non-commissioned 
officer were entirely supported by the Association 
until his wife died of cholera, in London. His 
daughter is now comfortably settled at the Indus- 
trial School at Birmingham, at the expense of the 
Association, and when thoroughly trained and 
educated, will he provided with a situation by the 
managers of the Industrial School. 
" Devno. in Turkey, July, 1854. 
“ Ary Dearest Mary —I know vou will be glad to 
have this letter from your dear father. I hope and 
pray. Almighty God, that you and your dear little 
sisters are quite well and happy and comfortable. 
Give dear Fanny and dear little Afargaretmy very 
best and fondest love, with many kisses also to 
your little companions. I have not been yet where 
the 3«th Regiment is. AVhen I see the Regiment 
I will be sure to go and see their lathers. I hope 
you are well and happy altogether, and love each 
other, and be kind to one another. But, my dear 
child, you must look after and see to your youngest 
sister, for she is but a baby yet, and may God bless 
you all and keep you under His Almighty wings, 
always is the daily prayer of your loving father. 
Be kind to your dear sister Fanny, kiss her for me, 
tell her I send my very best love to her, and she is 
to learn all she can till I come home, which I trust, 
please God. won't be long. I hope you are all 
good children, and do what you can to assist Mrs. 
«{., who will, I know, he very kind and good to you. 
I hope she is quite well. Give her my best respects. 
I hope you love and obey your teachers. You 
must write to me, my dear Alary, &c. We are all 
in a very large canip. I dare say 10,000 men. We 
all sleep on the ground. We have our cloaks and 
one blanket to cover us. There are no houses near 
us for miles. Wc all went to a little valley yester- 
day, and heard Divine service, and very many of 
us received the Sacrament of our Lord Jesus Christ 
afterwards. Oh! my clear child, never forget your 
prayers, and be a good child, and you will nave 
God for your father and friend for ever. Pray for 
your dear sister : pray for your father ; and God 
will hear you. lie will bless and keep us always, 
and bring us to Heaven at last, for Jesus Christ's 
snk<>. And now, my darlings, good bye, and may 
God bless and take care of you all, is the prayer 
of your loving father, •• T. D." 
Letter addressed to the Honorary Secretary of 
the Dublin Association : — 
"September 2. 1854. 
“ Sir,— Only for the relief I received weekly from 
you, l would have been obliged to go into the 
workhouse, with my two children, which would 
have been worse than death to me ; for if we were 
dead, our miserable existence would be ended here. 
I could not have maintained myself and children 
only for it, though I worked day and night to do 
so, and tried every means in my power, yet I found 
it was impossible. I was making shirts for Gilpins, 
in Alolesworth-street, at 5s. per dozen, and I could 
not complete the dozen in a week ; so it I had not 
had that relief, what should I linve done ? I never 
received any money from my husband since I left 
him, nor liad no one to ask me or my children to 
have a meal of victuals since I lost my only friend 
— my dear husband And now, through your 
kindness and interest, I have got a situation’; and 
if you did not still allow me a little to pay for my 
children, I should not be able to remain in it. as I 
Imve not enough wages to pay for them and clothe 
myself and them 
“ I hope God will reward every one who has so 
kindly helped the poor soldier's wife and child; 
for most of us have been thrown out of a comfort- 
able home to face a frowning world. I hope the 
I.ord will reward you also. Sir, for the kind interest 
you have taken in the soldier's wives. &c. 
„ *' Airs. J.” 
Many more letters might be quoted, showing 
how grateful these fine fellows are for the care that 
has been extended to their wives and children ; 
but quite enough, it is hoped, lias been stated to 
satisfy the Committee that they not only are doing 
what is right, but that it is the bounden duty of 
England to carry out the work that has been thus 
happily commenced. 
Nor are the poor women themselves ungrateful 
for ull that has been, and is doing for them. W ith 
a few exception?, all have evinced the greatest 
thankfulness. and readiness to find employment 
for themselves. Two wives of soldiers who had 
been temporarily relieved with weekly allowance-, 
offered to repay the Association as soon as their 
husbauds remitted money; and one of them, 
directly 6he received a remittance from her hus- 
band, insisted on repaying a sovereign to the 
Association, saying at the same time. •• That there 
was many a poor soldier's wife who needed It more 
than she did. .More than 200 have been placed in 
situations as housemaids, cooks, nurses, washer- 
women. &c. and. generally, have given satisfao- 
omcer° - ° f thCI “ writea ,hus t0 t,,c Inspecting 
“ Sir.— According to promise. I now let you know 
how I am getting on. I never was so happy in 
nil my life. I have indeed a kind master and 
mistress ; they look to my comfort in every way • 
1 might well say it is equal to my own home I 
onlv wish to God that more of the women were so 
well provided for as I am, Sir. Will you rat urn 
the Association thanks in my nanus for their kind- 
ness to me and my child ; also for the 10s. I have 
received, with which I have bought some clothes. 
1 hope that I will keep my situation a long time. 
The lady seems to like mo very well, and she says 
that anything in her power she will do to promote 
my comfort With my sincere thanks to you for 
your kftidness. Your obedient servant, K. 1) " 
Many women, natives of Nova Scotia and Cannda, 
on being provided a passage by Government to 
their own country, have been granted a donation 
ol £3 each, to provide them wit 11 comforts lor them- 
selves and children during the voyage. To 17 
women of different regiments, all married with 
leave, has the Association been thus beneficial 
On the 26th of June information was received 
from the Portsmouth Local Committee, that 34 
women and 72 children would be forwarded to 
London, on their way to their husbands' parishes, 
from Malta, from whence they had been ordered 
borne, their regiments having gone on to Turkey. 
The Inspecting Officer of the Association was 
immediately ordered to the Waterloo Station, 
where, having with difficulty got them all together, 
he took them to the Pay Office in Westminster, 
where they were to receive passage warrants for 
their different destinations. But they were unable 
to proceed till the next day ; and thus would hnvo 
been left utter strangers ; in the streets of West- 
minster, searching in vain for lodgings, which, 
with the small Government allowance granted for 
that purpose, they were unable to pay for Respect- 
able lodgings were found for them all and their 
children ; and the next day they were despatched 
to their destinations, with a small donation for 
travelling expenses. It Is needless to add, that all 
these women wore married with leave, and many 
of them most respectable wives of non-commis- 
sioned officers. 
Upwards of 3,500 women and 7,000 cliildren have 
been kept from actual want during the lust six 
months, the greater part of whom still remain 
claimants on the Association, especially those who 
have become widows and orphans. Tills bus been 
done by the outlay during tbe past six months of 
£9,172, chiefly in weekly payments, both by the 
Central Committee and the 7s Local Committees. 
Besides these 10,500 women and children, fresh 
applications are made almost daily to the office ; 
thus showing that the number of women uud 
children left behind is much greater than the 
public were led to suppose by the Parliamentary 
return called for in both Mouses of Parliament. 
This, however, is accounted for, by showing the 
inaccuracy of the Parliamentary Return, us 
follows: — 
63rd Regiment —Parliamentary Return.— No. of 
Women and Children, 170. 
63rd Regiment.— Association Return No. of 
Women and Children, 245. 
The Association return was received during the 
same month that the Parliamentary return was 
given, and as it coutnincd the name of every 
woman, and tho number and ages of ever/ clillrf, 
and was signed by the Colonel oommiuiaing the 
regiment, it may very fairly be considered to have 
been tho most accurate one. If there be such a 
discrepancy in the returns of one regiment, what 
must there be in 40 ? 
MARRIAGE WITHOUT LEAVE. 
It is a curious tact that has been brought to 
light by the practical experience of this Association, 
that, without exception, those soldiers who have 
married with leave, or whose wives were admitted 
into barracks, and recognised by the regiment, 
have left the largest families, and. in consequence, 
are by far the most deserving of commiseration, 
To these persons the Association has been of the 
greatest benefit ; while, at the same time, amongst 
those women married without leave, much misery 
lias been found to exist, which the Association 1ms 
not refrained from alleviating. 
The Committee, however, regret to find, flint 
notwithstanding all the positive and practical good 
that has been effected by the Association, there 
stilt rcinnin in the minds of some military men 
strong objections to its operations ; it is still urged 
that undue encouragement is given to marriage 
without leave, and that large numbers have thus 
married since the institution of the Association. If 
the operation of the Association hail afforded such 
encouragement, surely evidence of it would have 
appeared from a number of applications for relief 
on tho part of women who had married in antici- 
pation of it. Only one application has been inudo 
at this office by the wife of u soldier whose marriage 
certificate was dated in 1854 ; so that thoobjeotiou 
would appear to be entirely groundless; and it 
might be considered almost needless to say more in 
answer to it. But the Committee have it to show, 
lliut while they have only contemplated those cases 
as entitled to relief which they found already 
sanctioned by Government, or acknowledged by 
commanding officers, they have made a rule (No. 3), 
and have taken ull the means in their power to 
give it publicity, which puts it out of their power 
to relieve any who may have married calculating 
on assistance from them; thus taking into con- 
sideration and providing against a contingency 
which might have arisen, but which lias nut 
occurred. 
The following are the rules with reference to this 
subject;— 
1. No soldier's wife is entitled to relief whoso 
name is not entered in the regimental return, 
which, though it contains the names of ull women 
whether married with or without leave, is yet 
signed by the Colonel commanding the regiment, 
aud thus they are partially acknowledged. 
2. The Government niukcs no difference between 
these women, and the passages of all are equally 
defrayed to the parishes of their husbands. 
3. 1 be rules for the relief of soldiers' wives mar- 
ried without leave is only retrospective ; for no 
soldier who has married without leave since July, 
1854, will be entitled to relief lor bis wife. 
On the ith July, 185 1, at the largest Meeting ever 
held by the General Committee (General the Earl 
of Beauchamp tn the chair), it was unanimously 
resolved 
*' That from and after the date of this resolution, 
the Ith July, 1854, no wife or widow be entitled to 
a donation or pension who shall have married a 
soldier without leave, whether they belong to regi- 
ments on active service or to regiments now under 
orders of readiness for active service, provided that 
such orders ol readiness were received subsequently 
to the formation of this Association, on the 7tlt 
March, 1854." 
As the Government, the officers commanding 
regiments,* and the Association have fuuud it 
• One commanding officer who could not find 
amongst his soldiers' wives married with leave u 
sufficient number willing to embark with their 
husbands, and leave their families behind, were 
permitted by authority to complete the number by 
selections lrom tho childless women inurricd with- 
out leave, living out of barracks. 
absolutely necessary to countenance, to a certain 
extent, marriage without leave, and as it appears 
from the returns of the married men of the thirty 
regiments of the line, and the ten regiments of 
Cnvulry, that a large proportion of them in each 
regiment are married without leave, it becomes a 
serious question how far the treatment hitherto 
carried towards wives of soldiers lias been success- 
ful in the prevention of matrimony. It is evident 
that, in spite of all tbe certain misery entailed upon 
them, soldiers will marry, and can find respectable 
women to marry them ; it is also evident from tho 
mm anal sympathy shown to their wives and fami- 
lies on the present occasion, that the country would 
glndly befriend them effectually ; tho Committee 
would, therefore, direct particular attention to the 
concluding remarks at the end of Ibis report, in 
hopes that some practical measure may bo decided 
upon as speedily us possible, to prevent the recur- 
rence ol so much unmerited misery and destitution. 
COLLECTIONS ON T1IE DAY OF 
HUMILIATION. 
thousands upon thousands of Her Majesty’s 
loyal subjects joyfully followed her most gracious 
example ou this day, anil poured in of their nbund- 
niico lor tho support of uti Association which their 
beloved Queen and his Royal Highness l’rinco 
Albert had honoured with their Joint pntrouugo 
lrom its first commencement 
Had it not been for the noble contributions made 
on the Day of Humiliation, this Association would 
have been totally unable to grapple effectually with 
the dire distress and destitution brought to light by 
Its ODOmtiollM. 
All the great religious communities In the king- 
dom, except the Roman Catholic, unanimously 
Joined on that day to help the soldier's wife and 
child. 
To the Church of England especially this Asso- 
ciation is indebted for considerably more than 
two-thirds of the total amount collected. Tho 
Wesleyan body also contributed largely ami gener- 
ously ; the Jews, too, Joined munificently in this 
national effort by having collections in their syna- 
gogues. The Committee remnrk with much plea- 
sure that these astonishing collections were quite 
voluntary. No Queen's letter was issued, and 
never was any public subscription so heartily 
assisted by tile poor man's penny. In numberless 
congregational collections more than one pound's 
worth of halfpence was given. Even the prisoners 
In a large Government prison put their names 
down for a subscription of more than £2<>. The 
total amount collected on that day would have 
been even greater hud not many of tlio collections 
been made for the sailor’s ns well as the soldier's 
wile. Of these collections the Committee had the 
pleasure of paying over one-third to the Associa- 
tion for the widows of sailors and marines. 
The Committee would point out most emphati- 
cally that, notwithstanding the remarkable excep- 
tion in the Fast Day Collections, no religious dis- 
tinction whatever Is made 111 the distribution of 
tills noble charity, the recipients arc not even asked 
to whut religion they belong. 
OTHER COLLECTIONS. 
At the head of these stands the county of York. 
Tho Yorkshire Association (with Hi? Grace the 
Archbishop and ull the nubility and gentry of the 
county ns patrons and liberal subscribers) hits re- 
mitted to the Central Association the large sum of 
£5.000. The press has very considerately mid effec- 
tually aided the cause of the soldier's family, but 
no paper, either of dally or weekly circulation, has 
so practically assisted these poor people ns tho 
" London Journal." The editor of that paper, by 
the weekly issue of 12 supplements, at one hall- 
penny ouch, has realised the surprising sum of 
£1.124, which has been paid in weekly instalments 
of £120. Nothing proves so unanswerably as tills 
does tho sympathy of the poor, as the purchase of 
the supplement was not compulsory on the sub- 
scribers to the paper. 
Subscriptions huvo been received from all parts 
of the world ; from I’mimua, Bahia, Bombay, Que- 
bec, Nova Scotia, St. John's, New Brunswick, 
Brussels, t’au, Luusailiic. Bonn, Paris, Calais, C11I- 
cutta, Ceylon, Montreal. Boulogne, the Black Sea 
Fleet, Bermuda, Fredericton, New Brunswick, ka. 
The generous sympathy of the Navy for the wives 
of the Army has been very gratifying; indeed tho 
first person who, by an able letter m the 1'uiu,, 
roused the public to a sense of their neglect of the 
soldier’s wile, was " A Naval Officer." 
But of nil the subscriptions, perhaps the most 
touching was that ol the Chelsea Pensioners. Ouo 
old veteran in paying his penny was heard to 
remurk, “ I Ind there been such an Association in 
my tiny, when I was away at the wars, my pour 
old woman would not have died in the workhouse " 
Several bodies of men of the workiug classes hnvo 
agreed to send in weekly penny contributions tho 
men of Price's Patent Caudle Factory, mid the 
men of the Crowe Locomo'ivo Department, hnvo 
already paid in considerable sums collected iu this 
way. 
From several large towns considerable nmounts 
have been remitted, from Walsall, Cheltenham, 
kc ; but the town of Bath has exceeded them all 
by several hundred pounds. 
THE RAILWAY COMPANIES— LYING-IN 
1IOSP1 PALS. 
So universal lias been tbe sympathy displayed 
towards the poor people whom this .Association 
liu.» taken by the band, that ull the great lines of 
railway have been made free to the soldier S Child. 
Particularly the London and North-Western, and 
the Portsmouth Line, where not only have the 
Cliildren been curried free of expense, but tho 
extra weight of baggage of their poor mothers has 
not been charged for, an example which tho Com- 
mittee earnestly trust ail the Railway Companies 
will universally follow. 
Two lying-in hospitals in Loudon— the British 
Hospital, in Eudell-street, uud tho Queen Char- 
lotte's— most generously opened their doors to the 
soldier's wife. Many a poor woman lias hud deep 
cause for thankfulness for the care taken of her at 
the Hi i. I'h Lying' In Hospital in Endell-strcct. 
Music, poetry, and the line arts have all been 
enlisted iu this good cause. One simple poem by 
a child realised nearly £20 for the Association: 
and the admirable sketch by George Thomas, E>q. t 
ol the soldier’s " .Separation from his Family," 
presented by that gentleman to the Committee of 
the Bath Fancy Fair, has done good service to the 
cause,— representing so truthfully as it does the 
reality of the distress which this Association is so 
effectually mitigating. 
LOCAL COMMITTEES. 
The assistance and practical working of the 78 
local committees all over the kingdom has been 
most invaluable. To the clergy ol the Church of 
England, the staff-officers of pensioners, the 
garrison chaplains, the local magistrates, and 
other benevolent persons, the committee desiromost 
cordially to tender their hearty thanks. Hud it not 
been for the indefatigable exertions of the .Senior 
Garrison Chaplain of Dublin, the Rev. Charles 
Hurt, upwards of 4 0 women and «oo children 
would now have been the inmates id the work- 
house, lor in Ireland no out-door relifff is granted, 
ilte stuff-sergeants in the several districts havo 
proved themselves worthy of the profession to 
which they are uu honour : one Hue fellow, ou 
being offered remuneration for the great truul.do 
ho Intel taken iu relieving the poor soldiers' wives 
in his district, exclunm d, " God forbid that I 
should take any payment for helping my comrade-.' 
wives and families in their distress." A perfectly 
organised sy»tcm is now established by menus of 
the Local Committees throughout the kingdom, 
quarterly statements are regularly transmitted, 
showing the number of women aud children, and 
