The Sun. — London, England, 1848-01-19 00:00:00

THE PROVIDENT CLERKS' 'MU TUAL BENEFIT ASSOCIATION. The Seventh Annual General Meeting of the mem bers of the Mutual Life Assurance department of this excellent association, was held at six o'clock on Monday evening, in the large room at the London Tavern. Mr. Richard Henry Jones, the chairman of the board of management, presided. Amongst those present we observed Mr. G. Shep pard, Newcastle-on-Tyne ; Mr. orignall, of Bir mingham; Mr. W. C.Lowne, Norwich; Mr. J. King, Exeter; Mr. E. Bell, of Neath ; together with Dr. Jones, A. Smee, Esq., F.R.S., W. Rattray, Esq. G. Thompson,'Esq., and Mr. J. I. Scott. There:was a very numerous attendance of members. Dr. MULLINDER, LL.D., the Secretary, having read the advertisement convening the meeting, The CHAIRMAN rose and said—Gentlemen, in taking the chair on this occasion, which I do in my capa city as chairman of the board of management, I have to request your kind indulgence and forbearance. It became my duty, therefore, and it is one which I undertake with: a great deal of pleasure, to conduct the business of the evening. I hope to do se with the strictest impartiality throughout our whole preceedings ; and I trust at, the termination of the business, that my conduct in the chair will re ceive your approbation.—(Hear, hear.) I will now read the report of the board of management for the past year. The Chairman then read the report as well as the balance-sheet, ofwhich the following will be found a succinct abstract : ABSTRACT OP TUB SEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT OP THE PROVIDENT CLEW' ASSOCIATION. " Each succeeding year the managers have in creased pleasure in coming before the members at the annual meeting, because each successive report shows the increased prosperity of the association. The year 1847 has been one of a peculiarly' trying nature on account of the dearness of provisions, threatened scarcity at the commencement, and the vast amount of sickness, together with a severe commercial panic, which has een specially felt by all connected with commercial affairs, .and materially tended to retard life assurance. Notwithstanding such drawbacks the progress of the association has been great; last year the board reported that 374 policies had been issued, for an aggregate of 69,200/. ; they now announce that in 1847 they have issued 417 policies for 84,7501., being the largest amount of business done in any year since the formation of the association. During the past year 527 proposals were made to the office, of which 412 were accepted, 57 declined, 14 withdrawn, and 44 waiting examination. " At the special meeting held on the 18th of Ja nuary, 1847, power was given to the board to accept proposals above 6001., but not exceeding 1,000/. on one life. Since then they have received nineteen proposals for sums exceeding 500/., of which ten have been accepted, three declined, six wait ing examination, and the board being desirous of using such enlarged power with caution, and until a fair average of such 1,0001. risks should be obtained, de termined to re-assure a portion in another office. From the commencement of the assurance the rate of mortality has been uuprecedentedly small, for up to the end of 1846 five deaths had only occurred, making claims to the amount of 6001. ; but although the rate of mortality, as given by the Registrar-General for the past year, has been in excess seven per cent. over ordinary years,:yet the association has only been called upon to pay during the year just closed 2,2001. upon eleven policies, being scarcely one per cent. on the whole amount assured. Two of these cases were re markably illustrative of the value of life assurance. One was a sudden death from immigration fever, the other an accident caused by the incautious use of fire arms (not by the assurer, but strangers), both casual ties having occurred in Liverpool. Under this head the board ,have to regret the loss of their highly esteemed colleague, Mr. C. Lloyd, their late deputy chairman, whose seal and indefatigable exertions commenced with the formation of the association, and only terminated with his life. " In accordance with rule 32, the first division of profits will take place in 1848. The necessary data has been placed in the hands of W. Ratray, Esq., your consulting actuary, in conjunction with Griffith Davies, Esq., and as soon as the board receives these gentlemen's report the same will be laid before the members at a special general meeting. " The board, acting on the suggestion of the last annual meeting, convened a public meeting at the east end of the metropolis, on which occasion G. F. Young, Esq., presided, ably supported by J. A. Smith, Esq., M.P. The board, finding that other assurance offices were making in creased exertions to obtain business and disseminate the benefits of life assurance, deemed it their duty not to be behind hand, and being desirous of impart ing to the members in the country a full knowledge of the principles and operations of the association, sent a deputation to'Liverpool, Manchester, - Gloucester, Bir mingham, Bath, Bristol, Exeter, Cardiff, Merthyr, and Neath, and the result was a strong desire on the part of members and friends that public meetings should be held. The board, to meet these wishes, and being desirous of carry ing out the views of the agents to promote the general welfare of the association, again sent a deputation to attend a public meeting, which was held on the 14th of October in Birmingham, osier which W. Scholefield, E sq ,, M.P., ably presided, and subsequently, on the 25th of October, the wor shipful Mayor of Exeter, W. D. Moore, Esq., took the chair at a publi c meet i ng held i n t h at c i ty. Th e board have the greatest satisfaction in stating that at all these meetings, whether public or private, the most lively interest was shown, and a strong feeling to pro mote the success of the association manifested, and the board have the pleasure of further adding, that their personal acquaintance with the medical referees and agents has fully confirmed the judgment exercised in their original selection. " The board, on the subject of deputations, desire' to make one or two observations. First, the fact of personally coming into contact with country members who are unable to attend the public meetings in London is calculated to inspire confidence, and to show that the benefits of the association are common to all ; secondly, that they afford opportunities for explanation and information, which cannot be com municated by writing; thirdly, that they afford the best means of diffusing more widely a knowledge of the advantages of the association ; indeed the depu tation received many pleasing instances of the effi ciency of such a mode of procedure, and of the gratification with which country members hailed their visit. The board, on the subject of deputations, express a strong conviction that by periodical visits to the provinces, that spirit which it is the aim of the association to encourage will be most efficiently pro moted. The board consider themselves, and the members at large, under deep obligations to those gentlemen who so kindly and ably presided at the public meetings, and to the persevering exertions of the agents and local committees in promoting them. By the balance-sheet, which had been duly audited by three members, and which had been open for the inspection of members one week prior to the meet ing, it appeared that although the Board had paid in claims, for the past year, 2,2001., it had increased the funded property by 2,5001., which now amounts to 10,5001., independently of the guaranteed fund ; the annual income from premiums and interest on stock being about 6,800/. " The report then alluded to the fact, that by Rule 7 four managers would go out of office by rota tion, but who offered themselves for re-election, and that two other members duly qualified had offered themselves as candidates. " The report, in conclusion, stated that the board felt that but one feeling would pervade the meeting that they had used their utmost endeavours to promote the prosperity of the association, that great good had ,attended such exertion, the board pledging themselves to Unceasing endeavours, and calling upon every mem b er , whether in town or country, to combine with them in rendering the Pro vident Clerks' Association one of the moat useful in the kingdom." The reading of the report was received with re peated bursts of applause, - that portion which stated that " in 1847 the directors had issued 417 policies for 84,7501., being the largest amount of business done in any year since the formation of the associa tion," being received with prolong ed a pp lause. The CHAIRMAN then went on to say, that it only remained for him to move thet the report which had been read be received, adopted, printed, and circu lated, ac cor di ng t o the discretion of the managers. Before, however, he put the motion he expressed his readiness to hear any observations which the members might think proper to offer. No response having been made, he, after a pause, put the motion, and it was carried unanimously. Mr. HONEY then rose to submit the following mo tion for adoption :—" That the best thanks of this mecting be presented to the Board of Management for their attention and devotion to the interests of the association, and that the sum of three hundred Pounds be awarded them, for their valuable services during the plot year." In doing so, he said that the vastly increased amount of business that had been transacted in the I;fe department of the association, during the last year, I ) ,?ci much exceeded the very sanguine expectations he ham formed, and he was sure the members would coincide with him, when he said that the success which had attencitZd that department Was altogether beyond the expectations they had formed, when they enrolled their num, a as members. —(Cheers.) There could be no doubt that the euc cess of the institution was mainly owing to the great exertions of the present managers, and to the gentle ' en who were instrumental in establishing it.- - Hear, hear.) He had intended t o move that a reater amount of remuneration than that proposed 1 4 1:1E SUN, LOND ON, WEDNESDAY by him et their last meeting should be given to the directors for their labours during the past year, for those who looked at the quantity of business they bad trans acted could not fail to be of opinion that they had been called upon to give a greater amount of labour and time to the institution than during the preceding or any former year—(Cheers)—but finding that such a proposition was contrary to the feelings of the managers, he had deferred to their opinion.—(Cheers.) Mr. H. B. REYNOLDS felt great pleasure in second ing the proposition, and as they had a great deal of business to transact, he would content himself by saying that he agreed most cordially in all that had been said by his friend. He considered that the report spoke far more truthfully and eloquently of the merits of the directors than anything he could urge on their behalf.—(Hear, hear.) The proposition was carried unanimously. The CHAIRMAN said—Gentlemen, on behalf of my self and my brother directors, I respectfully beg to tender you our best thanks for this additional mark of your confidence. Gentlemen, as one of the original promoters of this association, I feel on this occasion— the seventh time we have yearly met here—delighted at seeing so much interest evinced in the welfare of the association—(Hear)—and,every day convinces me that it is destined to become one of the greatest institu tions of which this country can boast. Its advan tages develop themselves more and more as it pro gresses. The experience of the past year shows its absolute necessity and striking importance. 2,200/. have been paid to eleven families during that period ; and it is highly probable that those families would have been left entirely destitute—at any rate they would have had to encounter much inconvenience and distress—if this institution had not been formed to aid them.—(Hear.) It may now be said that the so ciety has placed them in a position of comparative comfort. I need hardly say that we feel the deepest interest in the welfare of the institution, and that no exertions, no amount of labour on our parts, is wanting ;to promote its increased success.—(Hear.) lam sure I: am uttering the sentiments of those about me when I say that it is impossible for anybody of men to have a greater desire to promote the inte rests of any institution than those gentlemen have to promote the increased prosperity , of the Provident Clerks' Association.—(Hear.) No body of men could feel greater interest in its welfare, or put for ward greater exertions to promote that end, than they do.—(Cheers.) You, of course, can aid us very much, as the report has mentioned ; every one, how ever humble, can do something to promote so good a work. Let it be borne in mind that individual exec tions increase our aggregate strength, and that in promoting the objects of the institution by the intro duction of new members, you are benefiting your selves as well as your friends.—(Cheers.) You have recently been informed, by advertisement and circular, that four directors, whose term of office has expired, offer themselves for re-election. The expiration of the term of office of a similar number takes place every year, and a very wholesome provision I consider it to be. The names of the gentlemen who retire and offer themselves for re-election are Mr. John James. Iselin, Mr. William Jeremiah Jordan, Mr. NVilliam Maitland, and Mr. W. S. Sawtell. The gentlemen who offer themselves for election are Mr. John Parry, of the house of Messrs. Fletcher, Alexander, and Co., and Mr. Charles Reed, of the firm of Tyler and Reed, printers. Now, unless both these gentlemen retire, there is no alternative but to proceed to a ballot. (After a short pause)—l merely waited to know whether the " silence" of these gentlemen " gives consent." Assuming, then, that they intend to go to the ballot, I think it my duty to state, on behalf of the gentlemen with whom I have co-operated so long, that they are every way, in my opinion, entitled to your confidence.-- (Cheers). I think it right to state, thus much for the information of those who have taken an active part in the opposition which is about to be offered to their re-election. You have, by your recent vote, approved of our past proceedings, and unless some good cause can be shown for removing those gentle men from the board who have worked well I confess I really cannot see what object will be gained by those who oppose them. I trust my word will be taken ; I know several gentlemen here ; I have known them long ; and they will not believe that I would speak thus of my colleagues if I considered that they did not deserve the eulogy I have passed upon them. I feel I am but discharging a duty I owe them when I say that the gentlemen with whom I have co operated so long and so satisfactorily, and without the slightest manifestation of dissension, are worthy of your confidence, but at the same time it is for you to exercise your judgments with respect to them, and to decide whether you will give your confidence to them or to the gentlemen who will be proposed to•night. Each gentleman will be nominated, and each pro poser and seconder will have an opportunity of stating the merits of each candidate, and it will then he for you to judge, as I have said, who are the most fitting to be elected managers. I liave great pleasure in taking the lead by proposing the re-election of Mr. J. J. Iselin. Mr. PRIMETT seconded the motion. Mr. BELL enquired the qualification necessary to be possessed by those seeking election as managers ? The CHAIRMAN replied that an assurance for 3001. and the payment of 11. ls. annually to the benevolent fund, was the qualification required. Mr. BELL inquired if these conditions had been complied with in all cases ? The CHAIRMAN replied that the managers had in every case complied with this prevision. Mr. BELL wished to know if the same observation would apply to the new candidates ? The CHAIRMAN said it did. Mr. BELL said he was opposed to this provision, and wished to avail himself of every opportunity that presented itself of opposing it. He wished to know distinctly if each of the new candidates was assured for 3001. and paid U. Is. a year to the benevolent fund ? The CHAIRMAN replied that one of the gentlemen bad been an assurer for some time. Mr. Reed had become a member since last September, and had paid but one quarterly instalment of the premium upon his share.—(Cries of " Oh, oh I") Mr. J. W. WELCH (the Deputy:Chairman) said, before he proposed the re-election of the gentleman who stood next on the list (Mr. W. J. Jordan), he wished to say a few words with respect to the elec tion. He quite agreed with the observations of the Chairman, that they possessed a wholesome power of control over the Board of Management, because they 11 ere thereby enabled to dispossess any member of that board who had improperly performed his duties, when his term of office periodically expired. The Provident Clerks' Association was an institution that required from its managers a great degree of attention ; it was necessary that they should possess mature experience, and, in short, it was an institution which required the devotion of more time on the part of the managers to it than was ordinarily required in the management of life assurance offices, because they were aware that th e l a b o urs incidental to a benevo lent fund were combined with those of an ordinary life assurance office.—(Hear,) He could, therefore, reiterate, in the strongest terms, the statement of the Chairman, that every ge n tl e m an w h o had a seat at the board had done his duty, and promoted the in terests of the association to the beat of his ability.— He was not at all aware of the nature of the opposi tion intended to be offered to the re-election of the four gentlemen whose names had been mentioned. (Loud cheers.) The only ground he had heard stated for the election of the two new candidates was the necessity of infusing fresh blood into the constitution of the board.—(Cheers and counter-cheers.) That was, he admitted, a very wholesome principle, if the constitution of the board was unhealthy—(Loud cheers)—if the blood did not circulate freely, it might be necessary to infuse new blood; but, standing there as one of the managers, he declared—and he challenged any one to deny the statement—that the blood had circulated freely, and that the constitution of the body was healthy. Ile looked round him, and beholding the new members— the new blood infused at the last election—he con fessed he had yet to learn why any opposition had been got up to the gentlemen now about to retire, but who, in accordance with the ordinary custom , offered themselves for re-election.—(Hear, hear.) The power they possessed was wholesome and salu tary, because they were enabled to put a check on the further proceedings of those who had done wren -to.; and if there was no charge against these four gentle men, the exercise of the power they possessed on this occasion was injudicious, inasmuch as such a proceed ing was eminently calculated to cause confusion in their affairs.—(Hear, hear.) He was addressing himself to a body of gentlemen connected,with the com merce of the country, and he would explain his view of the matter by a plain illustration. If the junior partners in a house of extensive business were re moved at the expiration of one or two years, and if the clerks were changed every year or second year, what he would ask would be the state of the affairs of that establishment ? Why it was obvious that the business would by these frequent changes have got into b state of the utmost confusion, as it required time to enable a man to become acquainted with the details and the practice of an office.—(Hear, hear.) The illustration applied with still greater force to an institution like this, as time was required to enable those elected to the management to learn its details, its nature, and its character ; and if they were to be removed after acquiring this information, or as soon as they acquired it, the interests of the institution could not thereby fail to suffer.—(Cheers.) H e had not the pleasure of being acquainted with either of the candidate , ; therefore in the observations he had made he trusted they would recollect he had only spoken as his duty to the institution dictated. The members of the National Provident Institution passed a resolution tweire months ago to the effect that a certain number of the old managers should retire every year, and that they would not he eitele for re-election for sometime; but 00 Dkjectionable bad the Rly been found that a that a meeting is to be called to rescind the same. He might say that he respected ever . ; one at the board, and that he had no interest in the in,titution beyond seeing it prosper. lle felt great interest in it, because he considered it calculated to do much good to all the clerks of this country, and he wished to see its object extended, not only in the mutual insurance, but in the benevolent department. It was the duty of all to make provision for those accidents which no fore sight could guard against, but especially for those whom their death might, but for such a provision, leave destitute. He, for one, was ready that moment to tender his resignation if any gentleman in the room considered that he could do more than he had done for the Provident Clerks' Association ; because, having its interest deeply at heart, all he desired was to see them promoted to the utmost, and to accom plish all the good which he believed it capable of. He wished, with that view, to propose the re-election of a gentleman whom he had introduced, and who had, in return, introduced several more, which was the best proof a man could give that he had exerted him self for the benefit of the institution.----(113ar.) He begged to propose the re-election of Mr. J. J. Jordan. Mr. Bluer seconded the motion. Mr. B. PRICE proposed the re-election of his friend Mr. W. Maitland. In recommending him to their favourable consideration, he felt satisfied if they had witnessed his zeal in advancing the interests of the institution, as he had, they would join with him, and he was sure they would do so in cordially support ing his resolution. It must of course occur to all of them that a great deal of time and attention were requisite for the proper management of the institu tion, and although all the gentlemen entrusted with the management were zealous and assiduous in the discharge of their duties, he was satisfied that none of them discharged their functions more zealously than Mr. Maitland.—(Cheers.) He succeeded one of the original promoters of this institution, Mr. Woodward, of Bristol. He assured the meeting that he brought with him all the talent possessed by that gentleman, and no doubt equal energy. Ile bad brought many new assurers, and he was convinced that he had the interests of the institution at heart. —(Hear.) Mr. STEVENS seconded the motion. Mr. JEPPS prOposed the re-election of his friend Mr. Sawtell, and said he did so with a great deal of plea sure, because he had devoted a great deal of his time to the promotion of the interests of the institution, and was well conversant with its working, and he need not tell the meeting that time was required for the mastering of its details. He was sure that the energy he had used in the past would be put forth with in creased energy in the future, if they were pleased to re-elect him. Mr. NISSEN seconded the motion. Mr. COLEMAN wished to offer a few observations to the meeting. They had arrived at that period of the business when the gentlemen who wished to propose a new candidate must either elect to proceed or stay their proceedings, and. when the gentleman already nominated and seconded might, by a withdrawal of the new candidates, be elected without opposition.— (Hear, hear.) , After the way in which the nomina tion of the old managers had been received, it was obvious that they would be re-elected; he, therefore, advised the new candidates to withdraw their preten sions. If there was a stimulus wanting to induce them to re -elect the gentlemen so proposed, it was to be found in the report. That, he considered, was a sufficient reason why they should all be re-sleeted. If they had prospered well for six or seven years, and found that each year the number of policies and' the amount assured had increased—if the past offered anything like a guide of what would be done in the future, as he, considered it did, then was he justified in sayimg that these gentlemen had done their duty, and that they, as Englishmen, ought to invest them with new authority to carry out to a still greater extent the grand objects which the institution had in view. —(Hear.) He was confident he was ad dressing an intelligent body of men, who well under stood and appreciated the high motives by which they were actuated; and, looking at the success which had heretofore attended the institution, he considered that they ought to give these gentlemen a renewed certi ficate of their confidence in them.—(Cheers.) Mr RICHARD BELL thought that after the speech of the gentleman who had just resumed his seat it would have been as well if the new candidates had at once signified their intention of withdrawing their opposi tion.—(Hear, hear.) He quite agreed with the rules of the society, which enabled those gentlemen to come forward upon the present occasion, but if those rules were annually to be called into play, the effect would be most ridiculous, and highly injurious to the in terests of the institution. In some of the committees of the corporation of London, upon occasions when they have any important work to do, which would be interrupted by the returning of some of the members by rotation, they frequently make the chairman per manent; the consequence was that the new in-coming members get into such a habit of deferring to the chairman on account of his supposed expe rience, that it becomes a confirmed habit with them, and an undue influence is thereby possessed by the chairman. No injurious effects would, however, follow to this institution by making the chairman permanent, because, were the officers to be changed every year, they would have the chairman and some of the directors, instead of giving instructions to the clerks and subordinate officers, receiving instructions themselves from these parties. He really thought it a most preposterous thing to be continually electing inexperienced persons as directors of the institution, and if such were done he, for one, should have con siderably less confidence in the institution than he already possessed. He had effected an assurance with the society, but would not have done so had he believed that the constitution of the board would be liable to continual changes. He knew nothing at all of the new eandidates ; he believed they were per fectly honourable men ; but he thought it was the duty of the meeting to endeavour to protect their own interests, and he did not know how that could be accomplished better than by securing the services of those gentlemen who had already proved themselves good and worthy men, and able to promote the prosperity of the institution.—(Hear, hear.) The rule ought, in his opinion, to be a dead letter so long as it was not necessary to apply it to any individual of the board who by his conduct might have become obnoxious to the institution or to society generally ; but so long as those gentlemen entitled themselves by their conduct to th 6 thanks of the society, it was advisable that they should not be re moved from their seats at the board.—(Hear, hear.) Mr. H. B. REYNOLDS had been connected with the society from its commencement, and it was with deep regret that he now saw two new candidates offer themselves for election when there was no vacancy existing, for they could only succeed at the expense of two tried and trustworthy servants—(llear)--- he thought that they would be showing a want of justice, or at least a want of courtesy. Such conduct would have a bad effect upon the board of manage ment. Any person that the meeting might send up to the board would no doubt be received with the right hand of fellowship, but it would be a source of regret to them if they were dismissed without any fault of their own. He did not think it would be in human nature if it were otherwise. Their directors were in some sense their servants, and there was a ♦ast difference, as many present knew, between serving a grateful and an ungrateful master. There would be no doubt the same conscientious discharge of duties, hut the heart & would not IH in the work.—(Hear.) He did not know a better way of throwing wet blanket over the concern than by dismissing those persons who had hitherto performed their work well. —(Hear, hear.) He thought, therefore, that if those gentlemen who were candidates would withdraw, that act would create a strong claim in their behalf when ever any vacancy might occur at a future period. Mr. H. K. &WITHERS said that the meeting appeared to be fighting a mere shadow. No person in his senses could suppose for a moment that either of these gentlemen would be elected. The meeting seemed to think that some wonderful danger was hanging over the institution. He for one was not so frightened of the result, and had no doubt that the meeting would warml3, support the four gentlemen whose names were before the meeting for re eleqion.—(Cheers.) _ _ _ Mr. CILARLES READ said that he was one of the candidates, but that he was not one of the " opposi tion." He was before the meeting as a candidate from very different feelings to that of opposition.— (Hear, hear.) When he proposed his name, at the solicitation of several members of the institution, it was simply 'manse he thought that at that time a vacancy had occurred in the election in consequence of the death of the late lamented Mr. Lloyd. He did not therefore agree with the gentlemen who had termed this a factious opposition, and urged the necessity of nipping the monster in the bud in order to prevent the institution from suffering. He believed that the success of the institution rested upon a much more secure basis than the eflbrts of those gentlemen who had hitherto ably performed their duties as directors.—(Hear, hear.) He had a full confidence in the direction as a body, but he thought it was a wholesome regulation that when any member of the direction retired there shciuld be some pause before his re-election took place. A regulation similar to this was adopted at the National Provident Institution, and it was found tots: work well. (Hear, hear.) He deprecated any system which tended to detract from the honour or merit of any men, or which said " we are better and ye are worse," or supposed that the gentlemen on th a t s id e o f th e green baize were better than those who sat with him upon the benches. They were all honourable men—(Hear, hear)—and they were all determined to establish the institution upon a secure and widely extended basis.—(Hear, hear.) He thought that the operations of the insti fution reight be very considerably extended in the provinces. By restricting the system nothing was pined; they must endeavour . to be catholic in their v - • J v.) it Y. principles, they mist not be confined to any place. He knew that there was a sort of aristocracy about such houses as Fletcher, Alexander, and Co., but there were others who could also help them forward. —(Rear, hear.) it was because he thought that the infusion of some new blood would he of service to the institution that he felt desirous of offering him self for election, and if any gentleman would propose and second him, he would go to the poll, although he had not made an application for a single vote, be lieving it to be the best thing for the institution to bring in some new life into the direction.—(Cheers.) Mr. LAIDMAN then proposed Mr. :Charles Reed as a fit and proper person for election to the office of director of the institution. Mr. GOSBELL seconded the nomination, On the ground that he believed thaf . if the .institution were to be allowed to operate in new spheres of action, great benefit would result the.r.efrom. Mr. WOOD proposed Mr. Parry for election. Mr. TOOLE seconded the nomination. He had no personal acquaintance with that gentleman ; be be lieved him to be in every respect what they w ished to see in a director of their institution. lie had been connected with the society from the period of its formation, and had gone on increasing the amount of his policy up to the present time.—(Hear, hear.) The father of Mr. Parry had been in the house of Fletcher, Alexander, and Co., for forty years, and Mr. Parry had also served them for the last eleven years, and now filled the office lately filled by the late deputy-chairman (Mr. Lloyd). He really felt grieved to hear the word " opposition" brought for ward, for he felt convinced that Mr. Parry's motive in coming forward was not anything of the kind.— (Laughter.) It was quite natural that some of the younger members of the institution might aspire to being, in time, managers of the society.—(Laughter ) But in order to prevent any joke being made at his expense, he begged to state that he (Mr. Toole) had no expectations of the kind. He would not be a director for the world.—(Laugh ter.) Under all the circumstances of the case he felt therefore compelled to second the nontination'of Mr. Parry. Mr. ISELIN would hare abstained from addressing the meeting on the present occasion had it not been for the observations offered by one of the new can didates, Mr. Reed, viz., that the board of manage ment were sitting as an aristocratic body on one side of the green table, as contrasted with the body of the members then assembled. Mr. Iselin, on this occasion, took leave to assure Mr. Reed, that if he imagined that such observations would tell upon that meeting, he had greatly underrated the quality and intelligence of the audience he was addressing. Mr. J. J. Iszerc said that he believed the rule to be in general a healthy one, and he thought that the meeting ought to make a bond fide use of it, provided however, they had sufficient reason for so doing. Now the reasons which had been given were some thing like this—the present directors were like the old spider, their web was wrought out and they were of no further use. He did not think that such was the case. He did not approve of the law which had been referred to as being in operation in the National Provident Society. He believed that rule rendered it compul sory upon two of the directors to go oat and remain out for one year. When the directors were well up in their work, the interruption of one year would be most fatal to the interests of the institution. He fully acquiesced in the right of every institution to turn any man out of the direction who had wrought himself out, or who was negligent of the duties he owed to the concern.—(Hear, hear.) He never sat among a more united or more zealous body of men than the present directors. There was a perfect unanimity of feeling among them ; and if any dif ferences did arise between them, they were adjusted with a celerity which he never saw equalled, and which, he was sure, could not be surpassed. Mr. Reed had alluded to the extension of the institu tion to the provinces. He (Mr. Iselin) hop- - el the time would soon come when Mr. Reed might become the cultivator of the provinces. The directors had already, by deputation, visited those fields of en terprise, and if they had not succeeded to the full ex tent of their wishes, it was because distant manage ment was not equal to local management. Vast fields also required vast capital, and he thought that the meeting would excuse the directors for declining to commence more than they were able to compass.— (Hear, hear.) He did,not think that anything could exceed the zeal of those four gentlemen who go out.— (Hear, hear.) If the meeting were resolv e d t o t u rn any of them out he begged of them to turn him out, as he was the least useful of any of the mem bers of the board. IL: was, however, not the least zealous of the hoard. He did not make use of the term opposition in any offensive manner.—(Hear.) He thought the distant prospect of the vast fields of enterprise which, as if by enchantment, had b'en opened out before the eyes of the meeting, which could not be realised because of the want of the ne cessary funds, was a mere chimera ; and if no better reasons could be found for the present opposition he thought it was brought forward upon very insufficient grounds.—(Hear.) The following gentlemen were then appointed scrutineers on the part of the board :—Messrs. J. Clark, J. Smith, W. Brown, R. Bell, and 11. B. Rey nolds; and on the part of the meeting, Messrs. Lar mond, Primet, Smithers, Howden, and Bower. While the preparations were being made for taking the ballot, Mr. Wnesn said that the institution was deeply indebted to the medical officers for their skill in the examination of the various applicants. To the local agents they were also much indebted. He had great pleasure in speaking of their zeal ; they appeared to have the benefit of the association at heart. One of the agents, Mr. M'Lea, of Liverpool had sent up that morning four proposals, for the sum of 1,3001. They were also indebted to the labours of their excellent ac • teary, Mr. Rattray, and to the solicitors of the society. Ile had therefore great pleasure in moving—" That the most cordial thanks of this meeting be presented to the medical officers, both in London and the provinces, to the local agents and committee, to the consulting actuary and the honorary solicitors, for their valuable services during the past year:' Mr. JORDAN seconded the resolution, which was unanimously agreed to. Dr. MULLINDER, the Secretary, then said that he rose with considerable pleasure on the present occa sion, for a twofold reason ; first, because this was the first day that the Provident Clerks' Association had emerged from its apprenticeship —they had completed their seventh year; secondly, because this was the anniversary of the birthday of one of the most bril liant stars that ever trod this earth—a man noted not only for his scientific attainments, but also for his p hilanthropy. li e alluded to Dr. Franklin, the lather of the press ; and as his resolution bore upon that question, he thought he could trust himself with that little exordium.—.(Cheers.) The press had stirred up the beat sympathies of man, and pointed them to a refuge and a harbour of safety.—(Hear.) And he knew of no better harbour or safer refuge than the Provident Clerks' Association. He did not say the press had merely stimulated and urged many to join their association, but he wasproud to see before him members of the fourth estate, not only in London but in the provinces, who were then provident clerks themselves, who assured with them, and went hand and heart with their operations.—(Bear, hear.) In their travels through the provinces they had many opportunities of meeting with gentlemen connected with the local press, who had afforded them the most s atisfactory assistance, and ho thought that they would be only doing their d uty by rendering gratitude to those to whom gratitude was most certainly due.— (Hear.) He would, therefore, beg to move—" That the best thanks of this meeting be presented to the gentlemen of the press, both London and provincial, for their continued able advocacy and support during the past year." That the press had accomplished much they must all admit, and he only wished that the press would make the few lines that he was about to read to them as universal, as it was a perfect picture of a man trusting to his own exertions, and a man trusting to casual and eleemosinary charity. The extract he was about to read was from the "Life As surance Almanac." " THE WIDOW AND ORPHAN'S FRIEND . 4, when God removed Papa to Heaven, And yfa was left to strive for seven, With scarce enough for burial fees, (So lingering was poor Pa's disease) Th ou gh full of grief, we'd no d espa i r , Relation , spoke so kind and fair. Our Grandpa said that he for one Would think and see what could be done; Our Uncle William and our Aunt Hoped we would not come to want; But Mother's brothers talked the best, A great deal kinder than the rest. Th e y said that home th ey ' d take us all, Only their rooms were few and small; We'd promises from Uncle Page, To push us forward when of age. went home ; b ut stop, I miss— They then They gave us every .ne a ki ss. And said, be good and mind Mamma, And we will be to you Papa, So much engaged, were they at home, For many weeks they could not (..me Until they heard Mamma had found A writing for five hundred pound, Which some Insurance. offic e paid. So Ma commenced :4 genteel trade— And then they came—it seemed so funny— To beg Mamma to them money. But Ma said no, if you are poo r , A trifle will your ';',fe insure ; And then the offce (cur best fric-nd) Whenever your good life shall end, Will comfort to your orphans send." Seconded by Mr. LINTOTT, and carried unani mously. The meeting then roceeded to the election of four managers, in room of Mr. J. J. Iselin, Mr. W. J. Jordan, Mr. W. Maitland, and Mr. NV S. Sawtell, who went out of office by rotation. The ballot having been concluded, The CHAIRMAN annotinePd the report of the scru tineers to b, as f'ollows :—Votes fur Mr. William Jeremiah Jordan 125 Mr. John James Iselin Mr.. "Wiliiam Maitland Mr. William Stanhope Sawtell ll6 and for the new candidates— Mr. Charles Reed 26 Mr. John Parry 2l The CHAIRMAN then declared the four first gentle men to be re-elected managers of the institution, amid much cheering. •Mr. J. J. ISELIN then rose to address the meet ing, and was received with considerable cheer ing. He had been requested by his three bo ther managers to return thanks to those pre sent for the honour they had done them in re-electing them managers .of their valuable insti tution, and in so doing he must confess that neither they or he regretted the discussion that had taken place.—(Cheers.) Although they (lid regret the in • convenience and loss of time that had arisen in cen , sequence of opposition th a t h a d t a k en p l ace, . a t t h e same time he - trusted that the observations he made would not be construed into imputing any vindictive or improper motives to those from shorn the opposition emanated.—(Cheers.) He was bound to admit that the new candidates bad explained with great fair ne:s the ground-e on which they had come for ward—(Hear, hear, and cheers) —end after that explanation no person could for one moment suppose that any offence was intended to any one.—(Cheers.) On the part of the three gentlemen and himself, who had been re-elected managers, he had no hesitation in saying that tkey were all satisfied no offence was in tended to them—(Cheers)—but at the same time they could not but feel that these gentlemen who had come forward that evening,' strangers as they were, had done so under rather peculiar circumstances. — (Cheers.) Air. Reed had only lately joined the institution. He (Mr. Iselin) hoped that he would long remain a member of it, as he was sure, from his statements that night, he would be a valuable one.— (Cheers.) With respect to Mr. Parry, he'understood that he had been connected with the association for a much longer time. Now, with respect to that gen tleman, it appeared to him that he, being the suc cessor of their late lamented and respected vice chairman, Mr. Lloyd, in the office in which he had .been employed, that he had been informed by some of the gentlemen connected with the association, that if - he only got himself elected as a manager, that he would be on the high road to fell the office in that , institution which the late Mr. Lloyd had done, arid' that, in short, like the pupil of the prophet of olieette mantle of Elijah might fall upon Elisha.—(Cheers and laughter.) Now, it had been said that the chief object in proposing the two new candidates for the management was to infuse new blood into it ; that object -44/as most commendable when necessary, but he could assure those " 'who enter tained such an opinion, that their fears were wholly groundless, as - by the immutable course of events great changes were continually taking place in every institution, and not less at the board of management of that than any other.—(Cheers.) As an instance of that, and in order to show that new blood was continually being infused into their board of management, he might state that during the course of the last year two gentlemen had been added to their board of management—Mr. Lintott and Mr. Dawson—and four gentlemen the year before ; so that at all events five new members had been elected to the board of management within the last two years.—(Hear, and cheers.) He mentioned this in order to show that the fears of those who thought their board of management was always the same were groundless—(Cheers)—andthey might depend upon it that the board of management of that association would never be anything like a standing aristocracy—(Cheers)—therefore whatever jealousies might exist they might depend upon it the very force of circumstances would always give them an opportu nity of having a board of management, happy, willing, and ready to do everything in their power to further the interests and objects of the association.-- (Cheers.) In conclusion, he begged, on behalf Mr. Jordan, Mr. Maitland, Mr. Sawtell, and himself, to return all present their best thanks for the honour they had done them in re-electing them on the board of manage ment, and at the same time to compliment the gentlemen who had been opposed to them on the extreme moderation of their opposition, and the fair, open, and candid manner in which they had explained their reasons for coming forward. Mr. CHARLBS RRAD trusted the meeting would pardon him for making a few observations.—(Cheers ) He exceedingly regretted the steps that had been taken on his behalf. He felt grateful to the 2G gentlemen who had voted in his favour, and could assure them that he felt honoured, though astonished, at 26 votes being recorded on his behalf. He trusted all present would accept of his best thanks. He had proposed himself as a candidate under error, and he was sorry for it.—(Cheers.) He had not as yet heard why a vacancy had snot been declared ; perhaps some gentleman would be good enough to enlighten him upon that point. He was proud andshappy in be longing to the society. Ile trusted that he should continue to do so for many years to- come, and that the expiration of every twelvemonth would show its increasing prosperity.—(Cheers.) Mr. J. W. \Yemen, the deputy-chairman, thought 1 that it perhaps might be more delicate towards the Chairman, if he explained why a vacancy in the board of management had not been announced. Last year that board was placed in a most curious position. lie alluded to the illness of no less than three of its members, of which he was one ; he was laid upon a bed of sickness, and in such a state as to render it very improbable that he would ever be able to resume his seat at the board again. Another' member, Mr. Maitland, was in a similar position ; and Mr. Lloyd, whom, he regretted to say, they had had since lost, was in a very delicate state of health. It was to provide against this contingency that it was thought advisable to propose two to the board, as it could not be told what might happen. It was his happy lot to be enabled to say that he had perfectly reco vered, but since then they had lost Mr. Lloyd, and it had not been deemed necessary to fill up his place. —(Cheers.) It was, to the best of his belief, the reason why no vacancy had been announced. Mr. 'rrioseas (the late Chairman of the Associa tion) rose, with great pleasure, to move a vote of thanks to the present Chairman for the able manner in which he had conducted the proeeedings of the evening, and for the general attention he had paid to the interests of the institution.—(Cheers.) Ile had worked with that gentleman for some time, and was convinced of his anxiety on all occasions to do his best for the interests of the society. Although lie (Mr. Thomas) was not now the chairman, he was as anxious as when he:was so for the interests of the institu tion and if it was in his power to promote the benefit of the association he should be most happy to do so.—(Cheers.) He wished to see the benevo lent fund placed upon a better footing. lie thought it required some change to snake it more attractive to clerks and the public generally, more especially to those whose lives were not assured. He thought it could be altered so as to snake more certain provision than it did at present. He trusted that the board of management would hereafter take the subject into their consideration, and if they did he was in hope the day was not far distant when they wou►i see the fund large and effective.—(Cheers.) The worthy gentleman concluded by moving the cordial thanks of the meeting to the chairman. The motion having been seconded, put, and de clared to be carried, amid much cheering, The CHAIRMAN rose to return thanks. With re- ' spect to the observations of Mr. Thomas, he could assure him that the board of management had always solicited suggestions from the members of the asso ciation, and they would be most happy to receive any from Air. Thomas, and, if possible, adopt them.—(Cheers.) If that gentlemen would only - forward to the Board of Management his views he could assure him of the greatest attention being paid to them.—(Cheers.) They would likewise be most happy to receive any suggestion or plans from any other gentleman.—(Cheers.) They had all one common object in view, and that was the interests of the association. The worthy chairman concluded by returning his sincere thanks for the honour that had been done him. Mr. Ilownax said before the meeting sepa rated, they had another pleasing duty to perform to one to whom they were all indebted for the kindness, urbanity, and willingness he always displayed in giv ing information to the members of the association, and to whose exertions they were greatly indebted for the success of the institution.—(Cheers.) lie alluded to their worthy secretary, Dr. Mullinder.—(Cheers . ) He thought all would agree with him that they ought not to separate without carrying unanimously a vote of thanks to the worthy Doctor for his strenuous ex ertions in their behalf.—(Cheers.) The resolution being seconded, The CHAIRMAN put the question amid much cheer ing, and declared it to be carried u nanimously. Dr. MULLINDER rose to return thanks, and in doing so was greatly cheered, It was not his inten tion to trespass for more than a minute or two upon their time at that late hour. He would only say that he believed it to be one of the proudest moments of a man's life, placed in the situation in which he was, on coming personally into contact with his fellow members, to find that he had secured, not only th e i r respect and esteem, but their friendship.—(Cheers.) Ile believed he had done his duty to the best of his ability, and had been at all times ready and willing to give to every member requiring it all the informa tion in his power. Ile was delighted at the success, the continued and increasing success, of the institu tion, not only in London but in • the provinces.— (Cheers.) They had sent the glad tidings of the benefits of the association to Liverpool, to Manches ter, to Birmingham, to Bristol, and to Coventry, and he could assure them that the bearers of those tidings had in every instance been received with open arms, a timk !ed. to 2,5201. 15s. 10d.; w hil e t h e demand of Mr. Alia - - hams, the surveyor acting under Mr. Braithwaite t had been cut down from 9001. to 5001. A SUAREOLDERS remarked that 1,0001. had been spent in reducing Mr. Abrahams' claim by 400/., and he wished to know who was to pay the expenses:of carrying out this. dissolution ? t The CHAIRMAN replied—The company, of course; • Several Shareholders expiessed themselves not posed t9 e sTlissolve under those circumstances. Mr. Irma, one of Dr. Phillimore's solicitors, gave ritas his opinion that it would be an act of folly to , proCeed in bankruptcy while, if time were allowed, the trustees would be prepared to render an account of theiernovernents. Mr, 44 1 / 4 .4xcE strongly recommended the meeting to proceedmith the dissolution. The votes were - then taken upon the resolution,' when there appeared—the holders of 4,540 for it, but none against it. This number not being sufficient to entitle the meeting to declare the company dissolved, it was' suggested-that the meeting had 'aetter be adjourned. Mr. TIREMAN, at the request of the shareholders; undertook, on behalf of the trustees, to produce a detailed statement of accounts at the next meeting. The meeting was then adjourned, till next Tuesday. SALE OF RAILWAY SHARES BY AUCTION.—(THIS DAY.) ®Messrs. Lamond and Co.'a,:ale was well attended to day, and a fair amount of husiness done at about the former quotations. The following are a few of the prices:— East Indian, Reg . Ambergate, Nottingham, and Roston-- 0 8 0 Reading, Guildford, and Reigate 7 12 6 -- -CsoittjousteMbourg Sou h Tar4hlre, Doncaster, and Goole 1 2 0 Eastern Counties ........ 16 0 0 Shrewsbury and Birmiiigham ( A)... ... . North Staffordshire - 10. . 0 0 Paris and Lyons 5 10 0 Boulogne and Amiens ... 13 10 0 Manchester and Southampton.. ...... 0 7 0 Great Northern 4 10 0 LATEST PRICES OF SHARES, IN BANKS, ASSURANCE, AND OTtIER COM- PANIES' STOCK. From the GI)Fell! List, PUBLISH:IW svinty TIJEADAT AND ra NINA. LONDON. TUESDAY, JANUARY 18( JOINT-STOCK 1311.NES: • Dividend Amount Name of Company. per I of Paid. Price 1 Annum. Share. 1 '--..--- , £ s. d. A s. d. ustralasia .......... k ; 40 0 0 40 0 ,0 15 1 3ritsh North American 54 per cent. 50 0 0 50 0 0 45 Ceylon - ••••••• • • . 1 . -• • 6f. Or cent. 25 0 0 • 25 D o _ 'Lloinraerelal of tomlon 61. per cent. 100 0 0 20 0 0 - -- ..loionial.• -.. • • ..i ii. per cent. 100 0 0 26 0 0 - ' Gloucestershire .... • • 151 per cent. - - - lonian ••••••. . .• • - • 51. per cent. 25 0 0 25 0' 0 - Londn and - Westmiastr .61. per cent. 100 0 0 20 0 0 : 24, . Ditto .... - - 13 0 0 --...- London Joint-Stock ... 61. per cent. MI 0 0 10 0 0 1534 Provincial of Ireland.. 8/. per cent. 100 0 0 25 0 0 - Ditto, New......... 81. per cent. 10 0 0 10 0 0 - e National.of Ireland .. Si. per cent. So 0 0 22 10 0 - Nat. Provneial of Eng. 6/. per cent. 100 0 0 35 0 0 - Ditto, New......... 61. per cent. 20 0 0 10 0 0 - South Australia .•• •• - -` 22 10' 0 - Union 01 Australia.... 61. per cent. 25 0 0 25 0 0 * 23 --,210 , 0 - ' Union of London... - 61. per cent. 50 0 0 10 0 0 - 1 Union of Mearkt - 40 5 0 40 0 0 - . .. ..„ Names of i IDividoud „,,,,. Names of i* Dividend : Companies. 4 per ' P..- Conipanles. . wr ei per Price. Annum. m Annum. . • , E ..._ - A.shtn& Oldh '97 1 54 e7O Macclesfield. 100 • r - 15 Barnsley ••• • 1601 12 . 180 Neath ••• • • • 100 201. 340 Brenk&Abrg 1801 M. 80 Oxford.. •• • • 100 201. " 200 M Birmingham 351 41. 80 Peak Forest. 78 . '"( 40 Coventry.... 1001 251. - Regent's •• •• 33' :IV if .„.„, s. 18.1424,4 Der be ••• • • 1001 61. 63 Rochdale ... • 85 '''t, 41. 54 EllsTreScChs 1331 41. se Somrset Coal 150, 71: 10s. Ixo Ere, ash • • .1100: 321. - Do.Lk Fd St 121 6/. p. c. - tiratelJunetn l loo' 51. 79 Stffrd &Wore 140 281. 275 GrandSurrey,loo, - 30 Shrewsbury.. 125' ' 1 51. _ k..rand Unioniloo' 11. 10s. 213¢ Stourbridge.. 145. 201. 305' Grantham • • 'l5O 121. - Severn anal &emit & Avu 39: 7s. 6d. 5U Wye Rail. j 26 11. Bs. 30 Lee.ls&Livrp 100 341. ! 505 Warwick& -/ , Leicester .... 140 101. , 75 Birming. j 00 51. 65 Letestr &Nth 83 1 41. 36 Warwick& } , 1 8 - 4 6 rieughborogh 142 70/. 530 Napton.. Monmouthsh 100 81. - Worestr &1 78 21. 39 Matgemrysh 100, 5/. , - Binning. j ... ~ MeltnMwbry 100, 101. 1 - Wilts & Brks 67 1 1. 11 , - • -I ' INSURANCE COMPANIES. ' - Dividend Amount i r • Name of Company. per of Pa i d. P rim Annum. Share. .2 s. d. X s. d. '1 Albion .. • • - Alliance Brit. and For. 6 per cent. 100 0 0 11 0- 0 , 17 Ditt..) Marine. ••• • • • 61. per cent, 100 0 0 5 0 0 )6% Sties • British Commercial .. 7s. per share 50 0 0 50 0 6% Clericl,Med.Bt Gen. Life 51. per cent. 100 0 0 10 0 0 2034 Oxinty .. ••.•••• • • • • • 31. 100 0 0 10 0 0 - 13s. SO 0 0 5 0 0 II Eagle •. En g .& Scot. Law •• .• 5/. per cent. 50 0 0 , 212 6 2xd European Life •••• •• 53¢ per cent. 20 0 0 ' All pal4t.- - FamilyEndowmet Soc. 41. & bs. 4 0 0 4 0 V h> V: eepeasons' .•• • • - 0:: - .,1,e - -'" 12 1 S ' Civarili an ...... • ... • • 51. per cent. 100 0 0 36 10 0 44 5 e Imperial Fire -.•- .• 12 per cent. 500 0 0 50 0 0 214 imperial Life •••• • • • • 12s. 100 0 0 10 0 0 143 k Indemnity Marine- •• 11. sh. & be. 100 .0 0 513 1 - Law Fire .• •••• - • • - - 100 0 0 210 0 3 ,Law life.. -•• • • .... 11. ss. 100 0 0 10 41-.0 45 Legal and General Life - 50 0 0 20 • 0 - 14.: . edtm Fire •••• • • • • 10s. 25 0012 10 0 13 London Skip •.••• • • • 102. 25 0 0 12 10 0 13% 100 0 0 15 0 0 ..-- 'Med. Invlid&Gen.Life .04/. per et. 50 0 0 20 0 X% National Lean Fund•. W. per cent. 20 0 0 210 , O, _-- Is ational Life • • - g Palladium Lilo ...... • • Sl. per ce nt. 60 0 0 2 ti , 3 - 7 - - W. p. et. & be. - - 165 Pncenix 'a elector Life.. - •... • W. per cent. 20 0 0 1 0 0 • ....., 'dent Life.. ••• • .. 11. ss. 100 0 0 10 0 0 ..... TC.V Rock Life. . Royal Exchange 5l. percent. Stock. - - ',en Fire .'.. ••• • .. - - e..- ~,,,,, !Atte Life. • • • • • • . • • 11 . 6s. - - - Universal Life lO%l. pr cnt. 100 0 0 810 0 - Victoria Life ... - - 4 0 0 - GAS...LIGET AND COKE COMPANIES. . _ - - - - - Dividend Amount Name of Company per of Paid. Price. Annum. Share. , ---...,---..-- _-- _ -______ ___,,.... X.. s. 11. I. is, ii„ • British ••••••• • • • • • •• 11. 140 0 0 is 0 0 174, Ditto Provincial- •• 11. Bs. 20 0 0 19 0 0 23% Bristol ••-•••• .. • • •• ICI. per cent. 20 0 0 - - Brighton - - ~4g city of London .. •• • • 101. .10 0 0 0 100 00 , Cont i n ental Consolldat. 925. pr shar e 50 0 0 39 5 0 4 Ditto, New •••• .. -85 s. pr share 50 0 0 37 10 0 'SI t si Equitable. •-- . • Imperial ••••-• • • • • • 61. per eeht. 150 ' 0 0 50 0 0, SOX, Independent ....... • • 6/. per cent. 140 0 0 40 0 ; ft 64 London. ••••••• • • • • • • 23¢1. pr cent.l so o 0 50 0' 0 .-- Ditto ••••••• • • • • • • • 6/..per cent:: 50 0 0 SO' 0 0 - manila . • .. ..... 5/. per cent. -I 60 0 P, 45 0 0 35 Rateliff ••.•-..•• •• • • 51. and bus. 100 0 0' -90 0 0 SC United General ...... 4 54 1 . pr cent. 50 0 I) 60 0 0 17 Westminster Chartered 34 50 0 0 - 55 3 4 xd Ditto, New ... ..... 12s. 50 0 0 10 0 0 1,1% .. . 7 IVIISCELMANNOUS. Dividend Amount 1 ' Nanut of Company. per of 'I Paid. Price Annum. share. ----- - - X. s. d. X. s. d. ' Australian Avriculturl 100 0 0 30 0 0 --:. Anglo-Mexican Mint., 11. 48. 10 0 0 10 0 0 Ditto, Half Shares.. 210 0 - Canada ............. 61. per cent. 100 0 0,32 10 0 - Uppr Canada Bonds 5/. per cent. .- • -- City Bonds.. .. - Comp. Cppr Mars Eng. 5/. per cent. 100 0 0 70 0 0 '- • 1 Gen. Revers. & Invest. 6p. clic bs, 21 100 0 0 100 0 0 103 Equitable lit eversisnry 43 , V. pr cent• 100 0 0 95 0 0 90 Clea. Steam Navigation 11.82. 15 0 0 , 14 0 0 London Institution ..• —o Peninslr & Orient.Stm. 21. per cent. 50 0 0, 60 0 0 5938 Reversionary Int. 800. 3 1 ,41. pr cent. 100 0 0 100 0 0 97 Royal Mail Steam.... 3% /. pr cent. 60 0 0 48 South Australian - 61. per cent. 25 0 0 25 0 0 - Tan Diemen's Land.. 100 0 0 23 0 0 4 Universal &alvage -..— 25 0 0 5 0 0 , - 113IUDGES Dividend Amount Name of Company. per of Paid. Price Annum. Share. ---. --- -- ____ X. s. d. £. E. d. Tlungerford • • • • .. • • •• _ Southwrk, Nw Sub. Av. 632 12 8 2 Ditto Nw of 734 p• c• 355. per cent. 50 0 0 'lO Waterloo •••••• • . • • • • 10 0 0 0 _ s)v Ditto 010• Ann. of 81. 11. ss. 4d. _ 60 0 0 28 Ditto Nw ditto of 71. 11. 2s. 2d. 40 0 0 211 you Xll .••• • . . Ay. li. 16w, 70 10 0 ^ 26 '~~ i DEATH OF PROFESSOR FINN - MAdNUSEN. The announcement of the death of this distinguished Icelander will be received with sorrow by all friends Of Northern philology. He was born at Skalholt, in Iceland, ite,the year 1783. Having shown pro mise Of thosb: attainments for which he was after wards so deservedly celebrated, he ii3esent at an early age to the University of Copenhagen, where he completed his education, and took the usual degrees. Ilikving•turned his attention for a time to the study - of the law, he returned to Iceland on his father's death in 1800, and was appointed an advocate' ", in the Supreme Court at - Rejkjavik, the , capital of the , island. 'ln this position he remained with' little interruption till the, _year 1812, ,when be left Iceland and establilhed himself 'permanently in Copenhagen,ln oriler thlits4e might devote himself exclusively to northern literaitik and science: His profound learning, and rare powers of 'imparting that learning to those who listened to him, "oupled with his amiable mariners, soon secured for him the friendship of the most distinguished men of the day, and hits late Majesty King Frederic VI., as well as his present Majesty King Christian, were pleased to bestow on him especial marks of their favour. In 1815 he was made Professor of Northern Literature in the University of Copenhagen, and in 1829 Keeper of the State Archives ; he was: also a Knight of the Order of the Dannebrog, and of that of St. Anne of Russia. As might be expected, he was ever foremost in advancing the cause of Icelandic literature, and took an active part in founding the various societies nhich - hive sprung up of late - years ill, Copenhagen for that praiseworthy purpose. He wasanccessively secretary, vice- president,.and president of the Icelandic literary society, and on the foundation of the Royal Society of Northern Antiquaries, of which the Crown Prince of Denmark is President, Professor Finn Magnusen was elected Vice-President, an office which he_filled with honour till the day of his death. , Of his irtiinerous works it will suffice to mention the greatest. These are " The Theor y of ,the Edda and its Origin ;" in which-the -jlt* and progress of the old Northam beliefs as to the relations of Gods and men, the Cosmoeny of. the--North, , in a word, are traced-I6—their origin in the East, while-at the i`t#me time those beliefs are compar4d with, and illus trifed ,by the Cosmogonies of the Indians, Persians, and GreAs, and Other peoples. Ile was also one of the editors of the lsecond and third volumes of the great , edition of " Stemund's Edda," and, if we mistake not, sole comptVr of the voluminous mythological lexicon which forms by far the greatest portion of the third volume. In his work, entitled " Runamo og Ru neree " he was the first to throw light on th e palaeo graphy of the North, and to propound rational ideas on the Runic system of writing. Besides these great works he took an active part in preparing the various editions of early Icelandile works which have been brought out with equal taste and criticism by the Arne rnagnsean Trustees, by the Icelandic Literary Society, and by the Society of Northern Antiquaries; and in the transactions of those societies numberless arti c l es are ~to be met with by his hand, almost up to the period of his death, all testifying that he retained to the last his love for that science to which he had devoted his life, and for his native island, which has preserved uncorrupted during so many centuries a language the early literaturc,of which surpasses both in beauty and abundance that of any European people. , Professor Finn Magnusgri, who, -during a visit to England some years berE, became acquainted with many to whom his memory is still dear, had been in ill-health for somesinonths before his decease, which took placC at Cdnhagen on Christmas Eve. From what we haveadready said it will readily be conceived that Jair death has caused a blank in Icelandic litera ttFeAvihich will riot easily be supplied. ''' l 2Pittikat4lfißATßlCAL FUND. —(Under the patron agekf her Most Gracioui Majesty.)—We are happy to learn-that Six Ede:4rd. 'Billwer Lytton, Bart., has con sented 'fielstWe the chair at the annual dinner of the above excelleo inititution, at the London Tavern, on Monday, April 1.7. ~ WEST LorinortAxitl-ENcLosuzß:4.ll,9grApßiv,,77:. At the la.,t committeeVisee.tineeartlii lissYciation at Clarke's-rooms; 114, Edgeware-road, J an . 17th, Goodwin Barmby in the chair, H. D. Qrriffithe moved, and Mr. Clark seconded, the following tesolution, which was agreed to, viz., " That a vote of thanks be accorded to eolonel -Leyronnet Thompson, M.P.,-tan additional gilt of books to the library of this asseeMion . ; and for instructinw the association in the way to m6ictitirn foot paths, &c., by the presentation of that for which no advocate tiir footpath rights should be without, viz„ the sth and 6th of William IV., on Highwa”." The chairmen:also presented a volumil to. the library. Mo s t ' kind and encouraging letters were read from the Colonel, and after a warm euloeium from the chairman upon the Colonel; # merits, the meeting was adjourned till the fol io eifig*londay, at half-past seven for eight. FINN AT BETIiNAL-GRELN.—Last night, about a quarter past ten o'clock, the neighbourhood of Bethnal green-toad was thrown into a state of considerable bustle and confusion, in consequence of the sudden outbreak . of ii fire pf a most alarming character, uporille ui rea k is e e r s belonging to Mr. Laws, a bread . and b C s h spread, ela p y urc stre , carr t yin ß g e o t n hn b a u l. s g in r e e s e s m at A No n . i 7 . B s , ta G n l t hr a a wl r ai t rt a ra r- o rO uw w t w ad ; s and Mr. Laws and his fam il y w ere hichhadbarely been done ap prised of the outbreak, a i ge sheet of flame which through the windows, wh oa and _scf such fury did the fire travel, that it was at, ! ve time I feared the whole of the contiguous houses. 4A14 have fallen a prey to its fury. Notwithstanding &ineiff or t s o f the firemen and an abundant supply of witerAke ~work ol'destruction continu e d, an d i t was net untilAi:LT*4m o'clock that the fire was safely got under, tinknWilatil every portion of the premises, with the exceOlbis*:gs• _ front shop, were d estroyed. The total loss is consi*lfible. OUR NATIONAL DEFENCES.---Last evening4meet ing of the inhabitants of the borough of Soutlawankival .field at the Bridge House Hotel, London-bridge, for die purpose of petitioning Parliament against any addition ' to the existing naval and military forces, the enrolment of the militia, or the establishment of .additional for.. tresses. The meeting was got up under the auspices of the London Peace Society. Apsley Pollatt, Esq., d the was voted to the chair. Samuel Sturge, Esq., Move first resolution, to the effect, " That the meeting believing the system and practice of war at variance with the true principle of Christianity and the interests of mankind, deeply regret the attempts now making to excite the public mind to believe war imminent, and to make an addition to the military establishme,nt of the country." He maintained that a large military force always en tailed a deterioration in the morals of the people. G. W. Alexander, Esq., seconded the resolution. The re solution was put by the chairman and carried unani mously. The Rev. J. Burnett moved the second reso lution, whieh was as follows :—" That the meeting desires to record its deliberate conviction that the ap prehension of war and invasion is unfounded, and that an increase of the existing naval and military forces of the empire, whether by the enlargement .of the army, the: enrolment of the militia, the establishment of ad ditional fortresses, or by any other morals, is not only uncalled for and unnecessary, but 'must inevitably tend steruuuciter optrothveemneantti,,,na.n„d Taghgerarvyasote to destroy rather than make peace, lower the tone of public l t u h t e io r wa aia seconded by A. B. Stevens, moralit aratotedl: Esq., and carried Parliament was then, ~y iia th ai Sation.. A p etitio nsepadatte;signEdsTthuenm.-feDtlgniNG HIGHWAY ROBBIAT. -Abort a quarter past one o'clock on Saturday, the Rev. T. N. German, the head master of onr grammar school, was driving out in his gig, gccompanied by Ids wife and daughter, up the Cheetharn4faroad, and bad driven as far as the entrance to Eaton-park, and on. turning down the rural lane which leads from Rensal moor to Miiidle ton; and known by the name of Sheepfoot-lana,, all got out to walk, and sent the gig on a short distance before. them. They had not preZ.,eeded more than ab u t thirty yards, when two men r us h e d on M r. Germe,n, and each. presenting a pistol to his breast, dentanP, e 'd hi s inc;noy:. He begged that they would not do , any harm to the Indies, and ho would give them what, he. had. He then. delivqed to them his gold watch, and purse, containing all the money he had, and the villains made 'off across the fields, Igo time was lost, in giving information to the police, - and in the course .if the evening two men were apprehended in the neighbourhood of Blakeley-strrtet, cm. suspicion of !II(1 robbery.--Lie pool Mercury. • . . „. „_...: = - ---:447 '„ '''v • - . -V ' • :,-- . ''. ---- :----, '_ ~..,-**.:' . 2, . --- 7-4 A . . --.....„.._•• . ee - 1 * ... •--.- -r.,, -, a .... . . • .. - " 4 .- - - - Ja y . 1 SOC 4, • ~..._.:,, . . .., -......e.:0 0 ,-......,....... lee-, - , --=- ,,, e , eeeeee-, -. .- -4. hearty welcome and the institution had greatlybere- : • -.- ... ' Tit:AND './.11.L.,111?-..L. fitted by it. (Cheers.) There appear e d t o .hi m t o h e a ' L a g m eve the perforanceS at this little theatr s ifr degree of freemasonry connected with Provident Clerk- were tor the efit of *ss , Coleman, on which ism —(Laughter) —whi c h belonged to no other ism, occasion - she w ' 4 aupportld by e*, any old favourites of with the exception of Free- masonryism, for it the play-goinc • ,lic. The ; ; „ ;fr ,,, selected were Caused every one to look upon nil who were con- Pecilt's stet . ''.• ...•,.- of Th _ • • ;: Draught, fleeted with the Provident Clerks' Association as ./214?!..tat0 j '' , -,' . . ::: cm', and the Pantomime , friends and brothers.—(Cheers and laughter.) He Of the. acting in ilkevfus e,` _ . ! farce we must speak trusted that that spirit and that feeling would long in the jiigtest priyito; i': • -1- ~.. ' s e_ we seen OxberrY. continue. He most cordially begged to thank them who sustained 'the iliracter ', POpolino, richer in for the confidence and support with which they had humour than he woe . taste.n ., -. . Mr. Henry, as so long honoured him, and he begged t o assure t h em, Yaldo, the Dr. Vincuyi - sifil a Yarnold, and the in conclusion, that no exertions should b e want i ng on Bruno of Mr. Rogersion;'ver - c-,'..- h well sustained. his part to insure the continuance of that confidence, Miss Terry, as Nor l a& alt; e .. ,,,i t , , , -, alone, in her support, and kin' f ee li ng th a t had been ever shown peculiar line, can ,ectl.. rea . .-' : ; , r a , very pretty to him by all connected with their valuable instit u - song, which wigraPtu ''-, '•• : .oited. is he tion.-- (Cheers.) / Jealous ? followed, in wide . Ak , ..' '-- Sk C. Percy .. - •• The meeting then broke up„ sustained the character of Beliii6Uree: cAlen - yy. .-Nriss ,- . . 74 "'"--__ —"..• ,_ - = Love, as Harriet, elicited fres:4w rom9l- 0 Appla..usei - * . ' * ' ' Oxherry's clever petite clranni,of-;1/4) Fe. tine tol i r , _ t ton _ . lowed. This drama liras ch seri,. „lye- Ow -or the riyi.,,. .r• „.„.., purpose of showing the versatility a- , a k o i t \- Miss' . • __—______„. Jane Coleman, a n d never h ave we ben ~"" o g did, last evens:. = lieh_en .. ,e- -_ 5..-e ~ DIRECT LOND ON AND EXETER advantage . than we appeared in the character of Fortunato 'FaICO 1 IiAILWAY_COVANY.--(TiIIS DAY.) It is undoubtedly her greatest character. - g The orl'-, -. ''' A special general meeting of the shareholdes in nal song, but set to , a new and very prettr• "49.... -- e he Direct London and Exeter Railway Company was Mr. G. Yarcold, was sweetly sung by Alias Col --'7.• ~ ..... • .- Ad this day, at the Guildhall Coff ee eha use , f o r th e arid narrowly escaped a double encore, and tse I. ye 1 - iurpose of winding up the affairs of th e concern , i n ccordance with the provisions of the Dissoluti.an Act. no doubt, when published, it will be fou44 on the )r. Barnett was called to th 6 ebair. , , , music-stand of every pianoforte. Mr. Hunt, as Mr. HUNTER proposed, and bit. HARRISseO.4.I,HAV....----1 _Matteo ' was very good, and Huntley, as the corporal, , i' resolution, declaring the c o mpiuy to be dissolved. was humorous in the extreme. Miss Coleman was twice called before the curtain, and during the even- In answer t o ques ti ons , The CHAIRMAN stated that a letter had been re- i m ng received the plaudits of a delighted audience. eived from the solicitors of the trustees, appointed a t__-enere . was some i‘iiis very pretty dancing during the Gilbert's Clever pupils, Miss L. former meeting, stating that the• company wall i n :- evening . by . . Avent at the time of their appointMent, inasintreh as , Colemah Miss Mosel and Miss Lewin ; the Cachuca, le assets were less than the claims -u on the corn- by the former and a m edley by Miss Mosel;, were my. Mr. J o h n B ra i t h wa i te claimed 6,5 p OO/. at the encored.. TO Pantomime concluded the performance me, but the claim h a d b een contested, and reduced ,of oilk_of the most successful evenings of the season. ~. A