Summary Of News For October.

the war in the east . In the meantime the Central Association have put forth a balance sheet , showing that they have already received upwards of £ 80 , 000 for the aid of the wives and families , widows and orphans of the soldiers engaged on active service ; and notwithstanding the large amount . of relief that they have already afforded , a balance of upwards of £ 65 , 000 remains in hand . Benefits at the Polytechnic Institution and the Crystal Palace , have been held in aid of the funds of this and kindred societies . The Unity Fire Assurance Association have determined to aid the cause , by giving the services of their numerous agents . throughout the country in collecting subscriptions .

The Cambridge Asylum directors have also put forward an appeal for increased support , to enable them to furnish 18 additional apartments and purchase more land for the extension of the Institution , which has this distinguishing feature , that whilst other funds propose to afford temporary aid to the soldier ' s widow , this is the only society that secures to her a permanent home . On the 5 th , the half yearly meeting of the Royal Dispensary for diseases of the ear was held , when a report was presented by Mr . " Harvey the surgeon , stating that

the number of cases admitted on the books , during the last six months , were upwards of 700 , consisting of diseases of the throat , in connection with deafness , rheumatic affections of the head , noises in the ear , & c . Tiiis Institution has now been in active operation for 38 years , during which period there had been admitted on the books 31 , 400 cases of various conditions of deafness amongst the poorer classes . .. Tlie executor of Miss Augusta Mary Jane Short , has paid the residue of her property , £ 72 , into the hands of the bankers of the Metropolitan Benefit Societies' Asylum , for the use of that Institution .

The managers of the London Orphan Asylum have passed a resolution , recommending to the General Court the free and immediate admission of six children of commissioned and non-commissioned officers of her Majesty ' s army ( who have fallen in tho present war ) into the Institution . At the meeting of the Governors of the Caledonian Asylum , on the 23 rd , it was resolved at once to admit to the benefits of the Institution , 25 children—orphans of Scottish soldiers , sailors , or marines who may have fallen during the present war . It

was also determined on the motion of Lord Kinnaird , to admit to the same benefits 100 more of the same class of children , whose fathers may have fallen or become disabled—on the presentation of other parties—they paying £ 52 10 s . for each presentation , which is one half the ordinary charge ; the boys , in both cases , to be retained until the age of 14 , and the girls to that of 15 years . The Governors of the British Beneficient Institution , elected on the 23 rd , three additional pensioners on its funds , thus increasing the number of ladies partaking of its benefits to 34 .

A special meeting of the subscribers to the Asylum for Idiots was held on the 26 th . The report for 1854 stated that 242 pupils were in the Institutions at Highgate and Essex-Hall , near Colchester , and that the entire family consisted of 303 persons , which would be increased by the election of that day to 318 . There were now in the male department persons engaged in the occupation of gardeners , matmakers , tailors , shoemakers , netters , plaiters , carpenters , and basketmakers . In the dumb classes , composed of about 60 children , nearly 30 were now beginning to speak . In the female department , there had been similar improvement , and classes had been formed for drilling , singing , knitting , bonnet-making , & c . Legacies have been left to the Society , during the year , amounting to £ 2 . 210 : but the sum nf £ 10 . 000 was still renuired to

complete the asylum at Redhill , in Surrey . Tlie statement of receipts and expenditure showed that the subscriptions , & c , during the past year had amounted to £ 9 , 478 5 s . 4 ., and the expenditure to £ 8 , 909 9 s . 8 d . —leaving a balance in the hand of the treasurer of £ 568 15 s . 8 d . On Tuesday , the 17 th October , Mr . Tredwell for a second time entertained the children in the schools of that most excellent Institution , the Royal Society of Saint Anne ' s Asylum , at Brixton , in the grounds attached to his residence , Leighliam Court , Streatham , the grounds being tastefully decorated for the occasion . At ' two o'clock