13 MAY 1837, Page 9

The members of the " Protestant Association " had their

second anniversary meeting at Exeter Hall on Wednesday; the Earl of Winchelsea in the chair. The chief spokesmen were Mr. Plumptre, M.P., Lord Roden, Captain Gordon, and Mr. Hugh 31'2s:rile. The only resolution was one of thanks to the chairman ; and the only business done was the adoption of the report, which described in woftil terms the spread of Atheism and Popery in the land.

The Duke of Cleveland has sent 103/. for himself and 50/. for the Dutehess of Cleveland to the fund for the relief of the Spitallields weavers.

A pavilion is to be erected in Gray's Inn Road on the ground formerly occupied by Light Horse Volunteers, for the accommodation • of the City Tories, who intend to have a grand feast there.

A meeting of the Committee for erecting the civic statue to the Duke of Wellington was held yestetday, at the Mansionhouse. It Was decided that the statue should be equestrian ; Sir Frederick Trench having intimated that his Majesty had graciously consented to waive the exclusive privilege of time Royal Family to have equestrian statues erected in their honour ! A iii:eussion arose as to whether Mr. Wyatt or Sir Francis Chuntrey should be the sculptor employed. There were 14 votes for each, and the Lord Mayor gave the casting. vote for Chimney.

On the 1st instant, the House of Refuge for the Houseless Poor

Was closed for the season. Mr. Saul, the Superintendent, in a letter to the Lord Mayor, read at the Munsionhouse on Thursday, states that " The doors of the asylum have been open for 126 nights, viz. from the 2lith of December to the 1st of May, (the longest period since the establishment of the institution); during which time, 3,317 men, 1,255 women, and 549 chil- dren, making altogether 5,121 individuals, were admitted within its walls, most of whom were in a state of great want and wretchedness, and several told me that had it not been for the seasonable aid afforded them by this charity, they must have perished ; 4'2,136 nightly lodgings were given them, and 99,806 ra- tions of bread distributed. Divine service was regularly perthrined every Sab- bath day, by the Reverend Dr. Vale, to very attentive auditories ; and a large number of religious tracts (kindly even by the Religious Tract Society) were distributed amongst them, especial:), on Sundays, which were received with

avidity. The number admitted has nei:rly doubled that of inc: previous season, and many were in a state of the most melancholy destitution."