God speed the gallant lifeboat!
God speed her noble crew!
In storms that yet await her
In work she has to do!
And may the towns be prospered
That launch her out today,
With many a fervent blessing
As speeds she on her way!
May perfect concord bind them
In unity and peace!
And from this day henceforward
All civic tempests cease!
The first four verses of the foregoing lines, evidently refer to the fatal wreck, eastwards of Hastings which set the St. Leonards gentlemen to the work of procuring a life-boat and collecting subscriptions for that object. The last verse also plainly refers to the unfortunate revival of the postal contention.
A Grand Bazaar
On Easter Tuesday, the day after the reception and launch of the life-boat, another great effort of usefulness was demonstrated in the holding of a bazaar in aid of the building fund of the Holy Trinity Church. The St. Leonards Assembly Rooms were fitted up for the occasion, and the sale of articles - which were mostly of an elegant and recherché character – continued for three days, during which it was visited by about twelve hundred persons. The bazaar was remarkable for the aristocratic bearing and high character both of those who assisted and those who visited it. The attendance at the stalls were the Countess Waldegrave, the Countess Sheffield, the Countess Cathcart, Viscountess Chewton, Viscountess Jocelyn, Lady Susan Vernon-Harcourt, Lady Elizabeth Douglas, Lady Henrietta Cathcart, Lady Elizabeth Waldegrave, the Hon. Mrs. Somerset, the Hon. Mrs. Hussey, Lady Micklethwaite, Lady Edith Ashley, Lady Selina Needham, Hon. Miss Waldegrave, and the Hon. Misses Jocelyn. Also among the company were the Earl and Countess of Fife, Viscount and Viscountess Stratford de Redcliffe, Earl Jermyn, Viscount Pevensey, Viscountess Chelsea, Hon. Mrs. Canning, Viscountess Frankfort de Montmorency, Lady St. John, Lady Elphinstone, Lady Parish, Lord and Lady James Stuart, Lady Webster, Baroness de Tessier & party, Lady Lamb & party, etc., etc. The receipts were £900. Of the stall-holders there were seven whose residence was east of the Infirmary and eight, who resided west of the same (including White-rock Villa); whilst of the noble and aristocratic visitors, eight-tenths were those of St. Leonards. Here, as in all other public matters where money was wanted for a good purpose, St. Leonards was the chief contributor, notwithstanding that there were three separate attempts to deprive her of postal and other privileges which she enjoyed in the same -
