PETERSFIELD.
YOUNG MEN’S IMPROVEMENT SOCIETY.—This society has just closed its session for the current year, and on Thursday evening last the members, by way of finale, got up a very excellent supper at the Town Hall, at which about 50 were present, among whom were several gentlemen and tradesmen of the town. A letter was read from the Rev. J. M. Sumner, the president of the society, expressing his deep regret at not being able to attend. In his absence the chair was occupied by the Rev. M. A. Smelt, who contributed much to the interest and life of the meeting by the kindly tone of his remarks and the warm-hearted manner in which he entered into the proceedings of the evening. The room was tastefully decorated for the occasion, and the tables were graced with some choice plants, &c., from the conservatory of H. Atkinson, Esq. On the removal of the cloth, the Chairman gave, in succession, ‟The Queen,” ‟The Prince Consort, and the rest of the Royal Family,” ‟The Army and Navy;” he did not know whether there was any representative of the navy present, but they had at least one soldier in the room, and he begged to couple with the toast the name of Mr. Dixon.—Mr. Dixon returned thanks, and expressed, in glowing terms, the martial ardour that still animated his breast, though physically incapacitated for active service—The Rev. T. Field (the vice president) next proposed, ‟Success to the Petersfield Young Men’s Improvement Society,” and, in doing so, bore testimony to its usefulness; it was really what it professed to be—an ‟Improvement” Society, and he heartily wished it long life and all success.—Mr. Macfarland responded to the toast; and in a speech replete with sterling good sense dwelt at considerable length on the advantages of such societies as this, and urged upon the members the importance of exercising, not only the faculty of observation, but, above all, that of reflection; that so they might acquire the power of discriminating between the true and the false, in whatever might come under their notice. He regretted the unavoidable absence of the president of the society, who had always shewn a great interest in their proceedings, and who when asked to preside on the present occasion had most readily consented to do so. Mr. Macfarland followed up his speech by proposing ‟The health of the ladies,” coupling with the toast the name of Mrs. Sumner.—Mr. John Meeres responded on behalf of the ladies.—Mr. Gilbert Henson (Hon. Sec.), proposed ‟The Honorary Members,” with the health of Mr. Atkinson.—Mr. Atkinson returned thanks, remarking that he often found something more than amusement at their meetings, he gained information and instruction; he begged to propose the renewed health of the President of the Society, the Rev. J. M. Sumner, who had always taken a lively interest in its affairs as he did in other things that were advantageous to the town and neighbourhood. The Rev. T. Field returned thanks on behalf of the Rector. R. S. Cross, Esq., gave ‟The Tradesmen of Petersfield.” As an inhabitant of the town whose family had lived here for the last 300 years more or less, he felt a deep interest in all that concerned the prosperity of the town. As an honorary member of the society he had seldom attended their meetings, and his time was so occupied that he had not much hope of being able to do so, but he heartily wished them all success, and was glad to find that the tradesmen of the town felt an interest in the mental culture of those in their own employ. The mind required employment as well as the body; he begged to couple with the toast the name of a tradesman who was ever ready with his purse as well as his personal exertions in aid of every good work; he alluded to Mr. Small.—(Cheers.)—Mr. Small, in returning thanks, said he felt a great interest in the Young Men’s Improvement Society; he felt convinced that by encouraging such societies as the present employers were consulting their own advantage as well as the good of those in their employ.—Mr. Cross gave, ‟The Health of the Chairman,” who briefly returned thanks, and expressed the great pleasure he had felt in meeting them on that occasion.—The rev. gentleman here withdrew, and Mr. Atkinson having been called to the chair, the conviviality of the meeting was kept up for some time afterwards, interspersed with toast and song.—Mr. Outridge addressed the meeting, expressing his cordial approval of the objects of the society. ‟The Health of the Committee of Management” (Messrs. Dixon, Albery, and Lambert) having been drunk, Mr. Lambert responded.—Mr. Henson gave ‟The Press,” with the health of Mr. Duplock. Mr. Duplock returned thanks.—The toast of ‟The Choral Society” was responded to by Mr. Finley.—Mr. W. Carter, seeing that many members of the Young Men’s Improvement Society had formerly been ‟college boys,” gave ‟The Health of Mr. Dusautoy,” who returned thanks, taking occasion, as treasurer of the library and reading-room to express a hope that many more of the ‟young men” of Petersfield would be induced to join that institution.—A song from the chairman concluded an evening of unmixed harmony and pleasure, which, it is hoped, will prove the harbinger of many another happy gathering on similar occasions.