The Sun. — London, England, 1867-02-07 00:00:00

THE AT RE ROYAL Mr. DRUR B. Ch Ytterton. -LANE. So le Lessee and Manager, F. THIS EVENING, THE MAN OF THE WORLD. Mr. Phelps ; Messrs. E. Phelps, Barrett, W. M'lntyre, E. D. ton, C. \Varner ; Mesdames H. Vandenhoff, Hudspeth, Goner, Isabel Adams. To onclude ev:th the Pantomime, entitled NUMBER NIL' ; c or Harlequin and the Gnome-R.ing of the Giant Mountain. Commence at a Quarter to Seven. THEATRE ROYAL, HAYMAIMET, Sole Lessee and Manager, Mr. Buckstone, TO-NIGHT. A. LESSON FUR LIFE. Messrs. Eothe, Chippendale, Compton, Howe, tit-ndal, Gordota, Roge r r n s, B ra id. Clarke, Vin;;ent, ; Mesdames Chippendale, Moore, Wrik - ht, &c. Atte,- which, LORD DUNDREARY MARRIED AND DONE FO.i. .bless it. Sotherr, Rogers, Gordon, Clark, Weatherkby, White, i ; Meidlines k.hippend tle, Hill, &e. Followed by .1 ENNY LINO AT LAST. Miss lone Burke. Commence at Seven. OYAL LYCEUAI THEATRE.- It Sole Lessee and Manager, Mr. Fechter. E V ENING. ROUGE E r NuIR. Maurice D'Arbel a Ganibler). r. Pechter ; Messrs. Emery, Evans, Moreland, Fit.cpatrics. Dalton, Reynolds, Lomas, Newbound, Andrews, AnaerSOn, ViV.an, Bennett. and Edward Price; Miss Elea rade, Mrs. Leigh Murray, Miss Grattan, and Miss Carlotta Leclereq. Prece ded by TUE TWO POLTS. Mr. IL Widdicomb. 11HEATRE ROYAL ADELPHI. Sole Proprietor and Manager, Mr. B. Webster. THIS EVENING, Feb. 7, at Seven, A. SISTER'S PENANCE. Miss Rate Terry, Miss Hughes, Miss Emily Pitt ; Messrs. H. Vezin, Billington, Ashley, Eburne, Romer, and Stephenson. To conclude with the New Grand Burlesque of THE MOUNTAIN MILT ; or, THE KNIGHT, THE LADY, AND 'lllll LAKE. Messrs. J. L. Toole, PAul Bedford, Ashley, R. Ro Miss tt, . ROYAL OLYMPIC THEATRE. New Management. Sole Lessee, Mr. B. Webster ; Manager, Mr. 11. Wigan. Tti IS: EVENING, LONDON ASSURANCE. Mhews; essrs. G. Vincent, Addison , D. Murray, and Mr. Charles Mat Mesdames E. Warren, Milly Palmer, and Charles Mathews. After D. h, ROMANTIC IDEA. Messrs. G. Vincent, Addison, D. Mucr,y, and Charles Mathews; Mesdames E. Farren and Charles Mathews. Doors open at halt-past Sig; commence at Seven. HOLBORN THEATRE ROYAL. Sole rroprietor and Manager, Mr. Sefton Parry. THIS EVENING, a new Farce, MY TURN NEXT. Mr. Belmore, Miss Foote, hiss Lennox. After \vhich, Boucicault's drama of FLYING SCUD. Mssrs. N Belmore, Blake, Garden,Vollaire ; Mesdames F. e Josephs, C. Saunders, B. Foote, Raymond. ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE. Sole Lessee and Manager, Mr. Geo. Vining. THIS EVENING, DELICATE GROUND. Mr. Vining, Mr. J. G. Shore, and Alias Katherine Rodgers. Followed by, at 8 o'clock, a Lew and original Drama, by T. W. linbtsou, entitled SHADuW TittE SIIAFf. cha racters ty Messrs. Vining, J. G. Shore, C.Veruer, F. Villiers, 11 Forrester, H. Mellon, arid Cathcart ; Misses Montagu, Minnie EAmonds, and Katherine ltodgers. Roy AL STRAND THEATRE. Sole L essee and Manageress, Mrs. Swanborough. THIS .EVE.NING, N'EIG lIBOURS. Messrs. Parselle, Belford, and (1., Murray ; Misses Swanborough, Johnstone, and Iluglics. After which. will be produced a Grand Burlesque, entitled GUY FAWKES : [home James, Robson, and Fenton; Mesdarnesi ,Swanborough, Raynham, Johnstone, Hughes, Newton, &c. To conclude with A SLILY OF TWEEDS. c omme n,e at Seven. r l. HEATRE ROYAL, ASTLEY'S. Under the Sole Management of Mr. W. 11. C. Nation. Mr W. IL C. NA. fWS has much pleasure in announcing that TO-1", IU lIT, February 5,wi1l be the 64th Representation of the NATION-AL PAN ruMDIE. EVERY EVENING the elegant Comedy, DELICATE GROUND. Messrs. Fernandez. Riehardson, and Miss Laid law. After which, the Nation-al Pantomime, HUSH-A-BYE, BABY. With exquisitely beautiful Scenery by Mr. Hicks 3lieses Caroline Parkes, Nellie Nisbett, Gwynne, Marshal!, Burton, Mrs. Caulfield ; Messrs. Atkins, Stephens, Milano, the Original Little itowelia. 3IORNING t'EttFORMANCES, WEDNESD AY and AT URDAY. Prices for Children (Morning Perlormances ouly)—Stalla. es. 6d. ; Balcony, is. 6d. ; Boxes, Is. ; Pit, 6d. Free List suspended, l'ublic Press excepted. To prevent disappointment seats must be booked in advance. REFORM BILL for the PEOPLE.—AppIy at the THEATRE ROYAL, ASTLEY'S, not the West minster Theatre, EVERY E VEN .1N G. THE GREAT NATIONAL REFORM SONG. Composed by Mr. W. Corrie, and sung EVERY EVENING by Miss Nellie Nisbett, at the THEATRE ROYAL, ASTLEY'S, under Mr. W. H. C. Nation's manage ment. T ' R. "SUN" NEWSPAP ER.- G. GLEN IE, Sporting Library, 4, Connaught terrace, Ed4ware-road, is specillly appointed AGEN r to cl,bver the LATE EDITION of "TILE SUN " at the earliest possible moment after leaving the press. Lie is able to deliver copies in Town, the Suburbs, and in many parts of the Country at a comparatively early hour the same evening, say 40 miles by 9 o'clock. Orders by I'ost punctually attended to. TE "SUN" NEWSPAPER.- G. It. G LEN thi delivers the LAI E EDITION at C kielse 7.10 • Ki I bu. n, 8; Sturch - green , 8 ; Woolwich, 7.30 ; 9:20 ; Walfoid, 8.45. PORTING.—JOHN ROBERTS supplies the ► C LATEST EDITION of "TIEN SUN" as soou as pub- Bath-strcet, City-road, E.C. THE LAST EDITION of " THE SUN " supplied as soon as Published. containing all the LA VEST ENV'S 411 , 1 S:'ORTING INTELLIGENCE, by H. lIAILItiS, Nerrepaper Agent, 4, Illacklnars-road, London, S. LATEST EDITION of "TIIE SUN" 1_ supplied, as soon as published every Evening, by V. ALEXAN DER (late BROOKS), Newspaper Agent, 2 4 , Old Cav 2ndit4i- street, Oxford-street. FOR THE LATEST POLITICAL and SPORTING INTELLIGENCE see the Late Edition of " The Sun" at Mr. Blake's, Queen's Head, Windsor street, Clic bridge. LA TEST INTELLIGENCE.- " 01. o SAM SMITH," late of "The Mail Coach," bh,pherd's Bush, now or the White I fart, Acton, Middlesex. begs to intone his friends and neighbours that the L ATEST F.D11:10N of •• TII b; SUN" can be seen at his house as above. THE LATEST EDITION of "THE SUN." J. 1101. MES begs to inform his friends, and the pubic -r,vnerally, that he supphes the LATEST EDITION of .s. f[l SUN " as soon as published --No. 16, 11.mpstead road, N.W. rrilE SUN."—FRED. SQUIRES, of The 3litre" Tavcrn, Ikew Church-street, near the Alpha road, Paddiny ton, respt cttully informs his friends and the Witte that SUN " ; Third Euition), containing the Latest Sportim; News, Results of Races, ac., c. n be seen at his house as Wye "Ali the year round." *** A welt-selected and extensive Stock of WINES, SPIRITS, ..Ve. MOSES an d SO N, E• Readv-made and Bespoke Tailors, Habit Makers, Woollen Drapers, Hatters, Hosiers, Boot and Shoe Manu facturers, and General Outfitters for all Classes. E. MOSES and SON respectfully invite an inspection of their STOCK, which will be found to comprise all the most fashionable styles and an extensive assortment of the newest fabrics. A very large and well-assorted stock of OVERCOATS, and Winter Clothing generally, at their usually moderate prices. The following are the London addresses of E. Moses and Son:- 154, MINORIES. 155, MINORIES. 156, MINORTEF::. 157, MINOItiES. 83, ALDGATE. 84, ALDGATE. 85, ALDGATE. 86, ALDGATE. 87, ALDGATE. 88, ALDGATE. 89, ALDGATE. 506, NEW OXFORD-STREET. 507, NEW (AFORD-STREET. 508, NEW OXFORD-STREET. 1, H ART-ST REET. 2, HART-STREET. 3, HART-STREET. 137, TOTTENHAM-COURT-ROAD. 138, TOT TEN HAM-COURT-ROAD. 283, EUSTON-ROAD. Also, 19, BRIDGE-STREET, BRADFORD, YORKS. 20, BRIDGE-STREET, BRADFORD, YORKS• MOSES and SON'S ESTABLISHMENTS • are CLOSED EVERY FRIDAY EVENING at sunset till SATURDAY EVENING at sunset, when business is resumed till Eleven o'clock. All articles ate marked the lowest price in plain figures, from which no abatement can be made. Any article not approved of will be exchanged, or the money will be returned. Lists of Prices with rules for Self-measurement and Fashion Sheet, with Patterns and " History of London," gratis and post free. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. TlllB D.Y. —Morning, 3h. 4 1'n.—Afternoon, 31i. 57m. Tj....Slolutow.-Moruing, 4h. 14m.—Afterno3n, 4h. 34m, J 911. C j_t y '6 061 1 311 e5O LONDOY, 1 lILTSDAY, FEB. 7, 1867. What will Lord DERBY do is a question that is pretty generally asked just now, and to which many various answers are given. Perhaps, how ever, the doubts and difficulties that seem to en velope the matter of Peform iu the hands of the pre sent advisers of the Crown are more in vision than reality, more the creation of fiction than the illus tration of sober facts. A very pertinent reply to this question was given by one who signs himself " A Lover of Historical Dates and Facts," and whose letter was printed in our impression of yes terday. He she.. a manner that can only be wilfully misunderstood, that there is no reason whatever why we should not have a Reform Bill from a Tory Government ? In the _ . first place, " there is nothing to show that the Tories or Conservatives have always been the enemies of Reform." Eight years ago they brought in a most sensible Reform Bill, which the Whigs de feated in 1859. As for the Whigs they have since then enjoyed the good things of office, and the public have seen how much and how little they have done for Reform. Seven years is a long time in which to do nothing in a matter which they pro fessA to consider of so much consequence to the country, and concerning which they had pre tended to be so well-informed when their political opponents took it up and endea. voured to settle it according to the bcs of their ability. As it is truly said in this criticism of their conduct during their tenure of office, " the whole subject was as much, nay more, laid upon the shelf than ever during the adminis- _ . tration of that Tory of Tory Administra tions—" the Liverpool Cabinet." Alluding to the attempt made last year to introduce a measure of Reform, it is said people are apt to rely " much upon death-bed repentances," and the Whig Ministry was well known to be upon its death-bed, so no proposition of theirs was very likely to find lodging in the Statute Book. Those who have railed so much at the treatment which the measure of last year received at the hands of the House of Commons might find it very awkward to reply to some of the searching queries put by the writer we refer to. " Why," he asks, " during their so-called palmy days of office did the Whigs never attempt to bring in a Reform Bill ? why was it postponed until they were actually in the struggle between life and death ? a person neither materially ill-natured nor satirical might fairly call it their dernier ressort." It is, however, both more important and interesting to look to the present and the future prospects of Reform than to be for ever contem plating its past history ; and truly the retrospect is neither profitable nor pleasant. We return, then, to the charge, and ask why Lord DERBY should not bring in a Reform Bill? In his early days he was the warmest advocate of Reform, and a prominent member of that " very Administration, headed by the late Earl GREY, which carried the Bill, the whole Bill, and nothing but the Bill." It seems strange that it should be necessary to refer to this fact, which surely must be well known ; but then there is so much exaggeration used by certain parties and they leave out so much in their speeches and writings, that it is of consequence to remind those, whom they seek to delude what is and what is not the truth. Who, for instance, to hear the vocifer ous denunciations of Mr. BRIGHT and his clique about the matter, and the way in which they go on about the ruin of England and the shipwreck of constitutional government if the present Ministry remain in office, would think that he who is its chief was instrumental in carrying the Reform Bill of 1832, a far more comprehensive and complete mea sure than any which they can hope to carry, and which was more reactionary in its tendency than any change now introduced can possibly be? The Lord STANLEY of the days of the first Reform agi tation was as much the dread of the extreme Tories then extant, including the Duke of WELLINGTON, Sir R. PEEL, &c., as JOHN BRIGHT may be to the extremists of the party now. " It is not to be denied there is no man living who has done more for the cause of Reform and progress than our present Prime Minister." So much for the past ; and for the present it is asked, does the noble lord regret in 1867 the course he pursued in 1832 ? Would he, if in a position so to do, undo what he then did and with such zeal and efficiency, and call back rotten boroughs into existence while Manchester and Bir mingham should be left wholly unrepresented ? The answer is not far to seek. During last summer he referred to the course he took respecting the famous measure of the past. He did so with no attempt at regret or contrition for the very active part he then played ; and this may serve to confute the assertions of Mr. BRIGHT the other day when he first affected to forget that the noble Premier had been engaged in the work, and then insinuated that he would not now willingly renew those efforts or tread in those stei s. " Why, then, should the country," it is asked most appropriately, " doubt his bringing in a good and useful Reform Bill now ? both he and his son, Lord STANLEY, may fairly be called two of the most gifted statesmen of the age." It would not require any very great stretch of ingenuity on the part of the noble earl and his followors to make out a toler ably good case for themselvess and their party if they declined just now to promise a Reform measure or to assist the House of Commons in framing one. The abuses that in 1832 impeded the way of progress do not now exist, nor is the occasion so momentous a one, but the opportunity is not taken by the Conserva tives to contradict those who press forward the claims of Reform upon the country. All that the leaders of the party object to is acting too hastily and introducing ill-matured and hasty schemes. We do not wonder that, after having summed up the case briefly, but emphatically, the writer of this letter should exclaim, " Let the country therefore give Lord DERBY'S Government a fair trial, for I am certain it must by this time be sick and tired enough of being governed by the Whigs." If anything were wanting, indeed, to complete this weary and vexed feeling, it would have been furnished by the course pursued by Earl RUSSELL on Tuesday. The noble lord could not have made a worse beginning to a session than he then did ; and in all his remarks, retrospective and prospective, one could recognise not so much the disappointed advocate of a great cause, as the indignant ex-Premier who foresaw that his cherished idea would not be realised. In short, the more at tentively we study the political horizon the more clearly do we see the folly and the wrong it would be to begin over again the work of 1859, and sweep away a Conservative Government ready and willing to lend their aid to the work of reforming the repre sentation of the people. If such, however, be the end of this renewed attempt on their part to settle the matter, we hope that the common sense of the country will declare against the pseudo-Liberals, who will neither act themselves nor let others act; and, at any rate, let them not insult consistency by denouncing their opponents for not being Reformers when they have been so active in bringing about the result. The latest act of the dominant party in America tends still further to confirm the belief that the Radicals assume to themselves the functions both of Executive and Legislature. Their last object is to prevent the further contraction of the cur rency during the present year, and the House of ltepresentatives have passed a resolution directing the Committee of Ways and Means to prepare a Bill to that effect. 'There are, however, symptoms that, in matters of general politics, the despotism of the Radicals is becoming intolerable ; and two incidents are recorded which, at the present crisis, are very significant. One is actually a retrogade movement on the part of THADDEUS STEVENS, who is not usually very apt at making concessions. The bill which he presented to Congress some little time ago as the new reconstruction scheme was the subject of the surprising change. ',this Bill, which THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 7, 1867. had been 'much debated, had been approved in the Radical caucus, and its object was to do away with South'e'.n State Governments and to establish testi toria't governments in their place, The Democrats of o purse opposed it strongly, and they were joined in tLeir opposition by a few Republicans. As time went on, however, the ranks of the objectors in creased very ranch in number, until some of the prominent Radicals rose in Congress and openly denounced the measure, one as " revolutionary," another as " unconstitutional," a third, Mr. BINGHAM, of Ohio, as " atrocious." 'The lawyers, of course, were strongly opposed to it, as altogether against the constitution ; and two able speeches made against it apparently gave it the coup de grace. Mr. RAYMOND, of New York, spoke it is said, on both sides, but his speech made a great impression on the House against the Bill. Mr. BINGH :131, who, as we have said, called it atrocious, was equally impressive, and the result was that THADDEUS STEVENS arrived at the conclusion that discretion was the better part of val Our, and that he would do more wisely to withdraw his Bill altogether than to force it through the House only to succumb to the PRESIDENT'S inevitable veto, which he would not be able to override. It is a matter for congratulation that so obnoxious a mea sure is disposed of, even though some persons explain its failure by saying it did not go far enough. Mr. STEVENS proposed retaining the Southern governments for local purposes, whereas other Radicalswant to do away with them altogether. The bill certainly deserved the epithet of revolutionary, and if carried into law would probably have precipi tated matters in the South to a crisis. The other great struggle in Congress was on the Bill which proposes to exclude any attorney or counsellor who has shown any sympathy for the rebellion from practising in the courts of the United States ; in other words, it aims at prevent ing any Southern lawyer from practising his pro fession, and thus will add to the wide-spread misery and desolation already existing in the South. The direct object of the Bill was to do away with the effect of the recent decision in the Supreme Court, and, in fact, the Bill was regarded as the first step towards undermining its authority. It has, after a momentous struggle, passed through the Lower House, but its progress was so extraordinary that the apparent triumph has been very damaging to the Radicals. It was brought before the House, and the Radicals openly announced their intention to force it through all its stages that same afternoon, allowing of course no discussion whatever. This was too much for the Democrats to submit to, accustomed as they have been of late to the despotism of Messrs. STEVENS and Co. They begged for an hour's discussion, but which, in this freest assembly in the world, which we are told represents so faithfully the opinions and intelligence of all classes, was mockingly refused them. Upon this began the extraordinary struggle. The Democrats taking ad vantage of the powers of the House interposed every possible delay, and had the roll of the House called no less than 25 times. This process, technically called the " yeas and nays," consists in reading over the names of the members and each one answering to his name. It takes nearly half an hour, so that some idea of the labour involved in twenty-five repetitions of it may be imagined. It is necessary for a fifth of the House to restrain the motion when the roll is called, and the Democrats, who barely exceeded the requisite number, kept every man valiantly in his place till the victory was won. The Radicals, who, we need not say, arelargely preponderant in the House, were able to relieve guard, but the Democrats dared not be a minute off duty. At last they carried their point, and after 20 hours' consecutive sitting, at 8 o'clock in the morning the Radicals gave way, and the hour's discussion demanded was allowed, the Bill being postponed for another day. The scene itself, as described to us by eye-wit nesses, was one scarcely creditable to the dignity of a Legislative Assembly, but the resistance made by the Democrats can hardly be regretted, since it serves two purposes. It may teach the Radicals a useful lesson, and it may show how utterly impotent and despotic is the spirit which animates these professed friends of freedom and equality. Meanwhile, though all these rival schemes of re construction are being brought forward in vain, the necessity for reconstruction on a broad and national basis becomes more and more apparent. We are glad to find that in spite of the political chaos Americans of all parties have united in establishing a Southern Relief Commission, whose object is to distribute supplies among the destitute, without re spect of race or opinion. At the monster meeting held at the Cooper Institute, Now York, with this object, several powerful addresses were made, and such speakers as Mr. WARD BEECHER, HORACE GREELEY, and Dr. BRIGHT, brought forward most moving evidence of the dire distress now existing Southwards. The great drought from which the Southern States have recently suffered has added to the desolation, and Mr. GREELEY, who said that at best only half a crop had been made, described a terrible picture—industry para lysed, the fields untilled, the people starving. Is it such a state of things that the Radicals of the North deliberately wish to perpetuate, or can they, after such full and incontrovertible evidence, plead ignorance as their excuse ? CORRESPONDENCE FROM PARIS. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) PARJS, Wednesday Evening. The Moniteur announces that the Emperor pre sided on Monday at a general meeting of the Council of State, summoned to discuss the project relative to the reorganisation of the army. From Munich it is stated that the Prince de Hohenlohe Schillingfurst, President of the Council, and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bavaria, left on the 4th for Stuttgard, to take part in the delibera tions relative to the reorganisation of the military forces of Southern Germany. He is accompanied by Baron de Prankh, Minister of War, and Count de Tauffkerchen, who fills an important office at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The news from Florence is that the bureaux of the Chamber of Deputies of Italy have concluded their discussion of the project of law relative to the liberty of the Church in the State and the liquidation of the property of the Church, and have unanimously decided against the adoption of the project. There was another Cabinet Council yesterday at the Tuileries, at which the Empress was pre sent. The Queen's Speech was received in Paris last. evening through the medium of the Havas Bul lier Telegraph, always more or less inaccurate, which is probably the reason why none of the Paris morning papers have any observations upon it. They wait till they receive the accurate English report from the Sun and other evening papers. Tre Tribunal of Geneva has given its decision upon the question so important for literature which was lately raised between the Societd des Gens de Lettres and the journal La Nation Suisse, which illegally republished a work of M. Henri Augu. After hearing M. Paul Feval, president of the So ciety of Literary Men of Paris, and the reply of M. Subit, the Court decided in favour of the society, thus maintaining the principle of literary property in foreign countries. . . _ Laatnight the ternrest way very violent, and to, day it has blown what the sailors call " great guns." It has rained in abundance, and the Seine continues to rise. The towing-paths are under water, and the inhabitants of villages between Paris and Sevres are in alarm, for the water again threatens to invade their houses. The Observatory calculations pre sage storms and rough weather both on the conti nent and the coasts of England. A curious wager has been decided between the French and English residing at St. Pierre, near Calais, for a stake of 400 f. The question was who would go in the shortest time from Calais to Bou logne on foot, without running or trotting. The disputants left the Calais cemetery at 1.14 in the afternoon, and reached Ma Canzpagne, the Frenchman in five hours five minutes, and the Eng lishman in five hours thirty minutes, so that the lat ter last by twenty-five minutes. The Frenchman is a cattle driver, named Charles Galant, and the Englishman is Mr. Raubot, a steward of one of the boats running between Calais and London. Each of the competitors received 100 f. They were both very much exhausted on arriving at Boulogne. This may be imagined on considering the distance. The diligence takes four hours and a half to perform it, and often more. The Frenchman did it in three hours and 50 minutes, and the Englishman in four hours and a quarter. The latest and I believe the most accurate version respecting the new law upon the press is that the amount of the security required will be higher than at present (2,000). Some reports say it is fixed at £4,000 sterling ; but this is supposed to be an exaggerated estimate. Literary papers will be exempt from the condition of finding security ; but they must be stamped. The stamp for political journals will be 3 centimes (three-fifths of a sou). Offences of the press will be judged in the first in stance by Correctional Tribunals and on appeal by the appeal chamber of the Correctional Tribunals. The four Ministers charged with the arrangement of the law did not appear to be in favour of appeal to the Imperial Courts. The "Provident Clerks." It has been well said, " Happy is the nation that has no history ;" and the saying may be well ap plied to bodies far less in importance than nations. If we may judge by the specimen that lies before us, we should say, Happy also is the life office which has no history, for never have we seen so brief and unadorned a report combined with results so gratify ing. For very nearly a quarter of a century we have yearly devoted a portion of our columns as February came round to the report of the institu tion whose name stands at the head of this column, and year by year the address of the directors to i their members has been glowing with congratula tions, and urgent in pressing upon them the duties which, as " mutual" assurers, they are called on to fulfil in promoting the interests of their association ; but on the present occasion they have contented themselves with letting the figures of the balance sheet tell their own tale. This discloses the largest new business, the largest rate of interest, the largest balance of profit, and the smallest percentage of expenditure, which any year's accounts have ever disclosed ; and the board think, perhaps wisely, that to add any comments of their own to so satis factory a state of things would indeed be " to gild refined gold, to paint the lily," and would be en tirely superfluous on their part. That the simple statement of these facts was abundantly satisfactory to the members the congratulatory nature of the proceedings amply evinces, and to an outside observer it is positively refreshing in these days of frauds and failures to meet with an association whose •statement of accounts is so simple that it can be read and understood by a child, and whose honesty of purpose is rewarded by a constantly growing amount of public confidence and esteem. At its pre sent rate of progress a very few years will elapse before the Provident Clerks will boast an income of £lOO,OOO and a solid accumulated fund of half a million sterling, while the energy and prudence o the management are the best guarantees that the future will not be less successful than the past. We heartily congratulate the directors and the executive of this prosperous association upon the result of their labours, and as heartily commend the system which has produced that result to the imitation of the commercial world in general. RETIREMENT OF GEN. MANTEUFFEL.—A letter from Berlin says :—" The retirement of Gen. Man teuffel is the most striking occurrence of the week : it has a signification greater than might be expected. Quito lately this general was charged with a mission to St. Petersburg of the highest importance, and everybody knows that lie fulfilled it to the entire satisfaction of his royal masters. From this the Inference is drawn that his withdrawal has some gravity, and has not been quite so voluntary as it is said to be. For many years the inti mate friend of the King, and chief of the military cabinet, on which depend all the personal affairs of the army, and which counterbalances, if not surpasses, sometimes the influence of the ministry, the general was one of the first personages of the Government and Court of Prussia. Ho was considered as the incarnation of the anti-liberal, feudal, and high Protestant system, and remarkable by his firm and decided character. Even by the side of a Prime Minister of the capacity of Count Bismarck he always retained great influence as military adviser and in timate friend of the King. Ile in some sort counterbalanced Count Bismarck." THE LATE FATAL ACCIDENT TO OFFICERS AND LADIES AT MADRAS.—The following extract from a private letter gives sad but intending details of the fatal boat accident at Madras—reported by telegraph some days since—to the Misses M'lver (late of Dingwall) and two Indian officers—Lieut.-Colonel Temple and Captain F. H. Hope, and which had created the 'most painful sensation throughout all the district, as well as in this country: — "Madras, Dec. 27, 1866.—A. sad accident happened in Madras last Sabbath evening. Mr.ll 4 lver's two daughters, along with Colonel Temple and Captain Hope (one of the Governor's aides-de-camp), and Mr.. Bostock, the P.O. Company's agent, went out in a little boat on the Adyar River about six o'clock to have a row. After being out some time they thought of returning home as it was getting dark, when somehow or other the boat struck on a sandbank. They all got out till the boat was righted, but had no sooner got into her again before she went down, bows foremost, and they were all in the water. Mr. Bos tock, the only survivor, can scarcely tell how the sad catastrophe happened. The last thing he hoard was Col. Temple call out 'Bostock, can you swim ?' On his replying he could. Temple and Hope set off, each supporting one of the ladies, and they were never afterwards seen alive. Bostock reached an island which was about 20 yards dis tant, and called out to his companions, but got no answer. Mr. Mayne, who was in his garden, heard the shouts, came out, and found Mr. Bostock in a dreadful state. They got a boat, and ho was taken ashore, it being now quite dark. Colonel Temple's body was found about midnight; they say he looked just as if asleep. Captain Hope was washed ashore next morning, and his features showed b y their contortions that there had been a sore struggle for life. In one clenched hand was found a quantity of the young lady's hair whom he had endeavoured to save. The same evening Miss Kate M'lver's body was found. She had only arrived by the previous steamer from England, after com pleting her education. The elder sister's body was not recovered till Tuesday, when it was found in the surf. She was to have been married to Captain Hope on the 15th felt great for gloom the oom overbereaved the of next month. This melancholy occurr ence has cast a father, em m u M n r i . t y 3. 1, dinner for Christmas-day, and all the balls, dc., have been and vor 1 . :(1 uTchi The sympathy i Governor's r, s s put off. Lord and Lady Napier and the Commander-in- Chief attended the funeral of the ,poor girls, who were buried in the Roman Catholic cemetery at St. Thomas."— Edinburgh Evening Courant. THE LICENSING QUESTION. —Mr. Gladstone yesterday received a deputation fromMauchester, at his residence in Carlton-house -terrace. It consisted of some 20 working men of various trades and political parties who were appointed at a large and enthusiastic meeting recently held in the Free-trade Hall, to consider the sub ject of the sale of intoxicating liquors on the Sunday. The deputation was accompanied by the Hon.A. Kiunaird, M.P , and was introduced by the Ilev. John Garrett, D.D. The subject was opened to Mr. Gladstone by Mr. F. Smith, joiner, who stated various facts and brought forward many arguments, to prove the impolicy and injustice of the pre sent system, and, as a working man, appealed to the right hon. gentleman to introduce or at least to support a bill for extending the present restrictions to the whole of Sun day, in order that the neighbourhood i nhabited b y I working men might be as quiet and orderly on that day as the localities in which the wealthier classes reside. Mr. Gladstone entered into a conversation on tho subject, which was prolonged for more than an hour. Mr. Ball and other members of the deputation brought befo re his notice facts and figures to prove that these houses are de moralisin g the people and causing increased crime and immorality, which was well sustained by statistics quoted by Mr. Foster. Mr. Gladstone asked many questions, and requested to be sup plied with detailed information upon three points, which he specified as of vital importance in bringing the matter before Parliament, and expressed much pleasure at having received such a deputation, LA TEST INTELLIGENCE hear.) They each and all worked for one common re-election, and said he should ever endeavour to • end, and the meeting would at once see the result. emulate ithe actions :of those who had gone before (REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.) With such an end in view no society could go him. wrong, especially where all worked together har- Mr. Lloyd, Mr. F. Toole, and Mr. Woolley moniously for the welfare of the association. He having been re-elected auditors, had, on former occasions, alluded to the pleasurable Mr.WooLLEv, injreturning thanks, said —Coming fact of their all working so well together, and he fresh from the books, he could not refrain from had heard them called in the room the happy family. expressing his pleasure in the state in which All he could say was, that he hoped that would he found them, and he trusted they would continue to be their appellation. (Hear, hear.) permit him to move a vote of thanks to They had each of them received their usual circu- their zealous secretary and their efficient and admir lar on the opening of the New Year, and he had only able staff. (Cheers.) to ask them to aid the directors in their exertions, Mr. REYNOLDS said he must be permitted the which they could do very easily, by attend- I pleasure of seconding such a well deserved vote of ing to the little request that the send- I thanks. ing of the document implied. Ho had only The CHAIRMAN said he was extremely sorry that now to thank them for the patience with which they I he had been forestalled in moving a vote of thanks had listened to his remarks, and to formally move the to the Secretary and staff. (Hear, hear.) lie held resolution for the reception and adoption of the re- at that moment the resolution in his hand which port and balance-sheet. He need hardly say the he but a minute or two ago drawn up with the inten directors would have the greatest pleasure in ex- tion of submitting it to the meeting. plaining any item or answering any question that Mr. WOOLLEY said he was sorry to have robbed might be put to them by any of the members now their excellent chairman of the pleasure, but he present. (Cheers.) would at once adopt the resolution he had drawn The motion having been seconded, and the up as the one he would submit to the meeting. chairman having waited some considerable time, he (Cheers.) It was as follows :—" That this meeting was about to put the question to the meeting as no expresses its thanks to the secretary for his zeal, and person seemed disposed to rise, when to the officers of the staff for their exertions during Mr. WARWICK said he thought it would be the pastyear in promoting the welfare of the society." scarcely respectful to the directors, who had pre- (Cheers.) sented such a very favourable statement of affairs, The resolution was carried unanimously. if some in the meeting did not express to them the Mr. LINFORD, who was very warmly received, satisfaction their exertions hal produced. He had returned thanks. He said these public recognitions had differences with them on former occasions, but of faithful service, coming too from those who were notwithstanding that he could not refrain from of course well qualified to judge how far they were saying that the) had carried out all their transac- deserved, were very gratifying, and would always tions in the most honourable manner. Caution and act as inducements to continue their best exertions, prudence were invariably exercised in all the transac- and on behalf of himself and the staff he thanked tions of the directors, and they were headed by a them very heartily. Referring to Mr. Stubbs, the chairman, to whom he felt the association owed a chief clerk, Mr. Linford said he believed that no debt it could never repay. (Loud cheers.) It was association possessed a more able or efficient very gratifying to find so large an amount of officer, and it gave him great pleasure to funds to meet all their claims, because it bear this public testimony on behalf of placed the association on the soundest foundation. a gentleman who had served them so long 5P - I The directors were unceasing in their endeavours to and so well, and who was highly esteemed further the prosperity of the association ; things not only by all the board, but by all those present were managed well, and be felt he but spoke who knew him. His friend Mr. Coleman had the sentiments of the meeting by saying such a state spoken of the past fourteen years and its progress ; of things produced unqualified approbation. He but with the name and position the association has had on a former occasion brought under the atten- won, he scarcely knew what limits could be fixed tion of the meeting some matters connected with to the prosperity of the next fourteen years. a lapsed policy ; and he should feel much gratified He well remembered a gentleman at one of if the directors were invested with a discretionary these meetings a few years since speaking power in such cases, when the lapse appeared to of a quarter of a million of assets as a sum have taken place under accidental or unavoidable which could only be reached by great labour circumstances. In the case referred to he was and in a long time. They had far exceeded aware that the board had been tied by the rules, and that sum, a very feW years more would see a solid had carried them out with every desire on their half million, and at their present rate of progress part to avoid the injury of a member ; not many years could elapse before the Provident but he wished these powers extended, Clerks would have a fund of at least a million and gave an instance of a Life-office in which the sterling. He did feel that the satisfaction ex rules would has e operated in favour of the assured pressed by the board, when they saw the results of on this point. the work done by the office (he knew how closely Mr. FILCHER doubted very gravely the expedi- every department was watched and guarded by ency of altering the rules on this point. They were them), and the commendation expressed by the already exceptionally liberal, and he believed that auditors at their examination of the books, were by the most moderate care on the part of a member testimonies of which the staff might justly feel the rules would provide for every reasonable case. proud. He thanked them very sincerely for this The SECRETARY confirmed Mr. Warwick's state- renewed mark of their kindness. ment that the directors had no power to act in any A vote of thanks, moved -by Mr. FILCHER and way but that adopted in the case referred to; but he seconded by Mr. FRY, was awarded to the chairman strongly deprecated throwing upon the board such for presiding over the meeting that evening. responsibility as to decide in whose favour the The CHAIRMAN felt obliged for the compliment. existing rules should be relaxed. It was open to As an earnest of what might be expected next year the members, by an alteration of rules, to extend or he had to inform the meeting that this year, up to shorten the very liberal time now allowed (12 the present time, they had already completed 182 months and 14 days) for the revival of a policy, but policies for £36,350. (Cheers.) it would be found absolutely necessary to fix some The proceedings then terminated. time, or they would be open to constant appeals to their feelings, and would really never know their liabilities. The duty of deciding between deserving and undeserving cases as a mere matter of opinion, would place the directors in a very painful and in vidious position. Mr. Linford's remarks appeared to be fully endorsed by the members present, and were also supported by the chairman. The report was then put to the meeting and car ried unanimously. Mr. MINTON said he wished to state to the meet ing that the present year had been marked with much distress, but with respect to the Provident Clerks' Association it had fortunately experienced its usual run of good fortune. The directors were animated by the most invincible desire to do their duty to the members, and the result of their zealous and faithful exertions was now the theme of universal congratulation. (Hear, hear.) It would not be expected from directors that they should bring business which made up the success of an office; but the members had a right to expect that, when business was brought to the office, it should be done in a proper manner. The manner in which their business was conducted was too well known to need eulogy from him ; but the pleasant fact to all was that whilst their business exhibited increased exertion, their expenses for the last year were less than those of the preceding one. The directors of the Provident Clerks, it was a great satisfaction to find, were not mixed up with other institutions— (hear, hear) ;—they kept themselves aloof in order that they might carry out the busi ness of their own affairs in a successful and efficient manner, and such a circumstance, he felt, had not escaped the attention of the great body of members. (Hear, hear.) In former meetings they had heard some talk about a change in those who managed their affairs ; but he felt convinced they would agree with him that change was uncalled for and altogether un necessary, and in the highest degree undesirable ; and he had great pleasure in moving the following resolution :—" That the best thanks of this meeting be given to the directors for their exertion's during the past year, and that their remuneration be the same last year." Mr. CULL said it gave him the greatest pleasure to second the resolution. The SECRETARY then put the resolution, and declared it carried unanimously. The CHAIRMAN, in returning thanks, said it was extremely gratifying to bear the remarks of friends, and all he could say was that he felt his colleagues fully appreciated the compliments they had passed upon them. He thanked them for the kind vote the meeting had so unanimously agreed to. He would, having said so much, now proceed with the business of the meeting, which was to re-elect two of the retiring directors. The chair man then put the names of those gentlemen who offered themselves for re-election, when they were again returned to the Baud in the most emphatic manner. Mr. E. COLEMAN said he felt a great deal of pleasure at the manner in which he had been re elected, and he also felt very deeply the expres sions of approbation which had been passed on the exertions of the Board. It was personally doubly gratifying to him, because, when he served as an auditor in 1852, the income of the society at that time was £17,229, and its assets £47,627. What it was now they all well knew. (Cheers.) The result was satisfactory to all, and to none more so than himself. But he must bear his testimony to the zeal, activity, and intelligence of their secretary and staff. (Hear.) They had worked energetically, and he,rejoiced to say successfully, and if anything indeed were want ing—which he was happy to say was not the case—tho proceedings of the evening would be quite sufficient to induce all to do their best to further the interests of the society. From the moment of the organisation of the society in 1840 down to the present, from first to last there there had been one long, steady, and resistless pull together, and the result of that was its present pros perity, which he hoped would continue. Mr. SANCTON WOOD thanked the meeting for his re-election. He felt a pleasure in being a mem ber of the board of directors, because they all worked together with such singleness of pur pose. (Hear, hear.) During the whole of the time he had been a member of the executive body, he did not recollect, during the whole of the 14 years, one occasion of serious division amongst them ; and at the same time he would also tell them that during that period he had never once been canvassed by one of his colleagues to give a vote or to form a part of a clique of directors. (Cheers.) The continued prosperity of the society would be his greatest pride and pleasure. Ur, ROGERS also returned thanks for his HUNGARY. PESTII, Feb. 7. Herr Deak will shortly proceed to Vienna, the Austrian Government having expressed a wish that he should make a visit to the capital. The Emperer and the Empress are expected here in the middle of the present month. PLYMOUTH, Thursday Morning. Intelligence has reached here of the loss of the Padstow lifeboat and five men, with 12 hands. She went out yesterday and rescued the crew of the schooner Georgiana, of Boston, from Havre, for Cork, which was in a sinking state. On returning a sea washed all out of the boat. The drownel are Captain Shea, Truscott, Cremills, and two others. The saved are Hill, Harris, May, Brenton, Bate, France, and Bennett ; all had lifeboats on, and seve ral were two hours in the water before they were picked up. It is believed that the crew of the schooner are saved. 'LYE. Pe' t VSA: 4 =0. 4 (Oli A. \: t HER MAJESTY, &c• WINDSOR CASTLE, Feb. 6. The Queen, accompanied by their Royal High nesses Princess Louise, Prince Arthur, and Princess Beatrice, and suite in attendance, arrived at Wind sor Castle yesterday at half-past 5 o'clock, from Buckingham Palace. Her Majesty the Queen, witk their Royal High nesses, left the Castle this morning at half-past 10 o'clock for Osborne, attended by Lady Waterpark , the Hon. Emily Cathcart, Lieut.-General Hon. C• Grey, Major-General Sir T. M. Biddulph, Lord Charles Fitzroy, Lieut.-Col. the lion. D. de itos , and Major Elphinstone. The Prince of Wales rode out on horseback Yes" terday, attended by Major Teesdale. The Princess of - Wales, attended by the Mar chioness of Carmarthen, took a carriage drive. Their Royal Highnesses, accompanied by his Roirxt Highness the Duke of Edinburgh, went to th e Adelphi Theatre in the evening. Mr. Thos. Hughes has, it is said, been appoin ted on trades'th u c n o i m o n m s i s a s n i o d a o t t o h er inquire asso i c iat n i t o o h n st of o organisation enlplo yei.sl o o.. f workmen. KAVANAGIL—The new member for th e county of Wexford, concerning whose first appea r : ance in Parliament much curiosity had been excited , ,153 sworn in yesterday at the table and signed the Parliame °- tary Roll. The hon. member entered the House from the direction of the Speaker's private apartments, seated in library chair, the mechanism of which is so contrived that ho can wheel himself with ease to any point he wishes t ° reach. The large copy of the Testament used in admit:d r tering the oaths to members was managed—one cannot use the word handled—by Mr. Kavanagh without the le ss ! difficulty, and he wrote his name with as much quickaes° and apparent ease as any of his fellow members of Parlia" ment. The process was as follows :—The clerk handed t ° Mr. Kavanagh a pen with a handle of the length to Nvi at t he is accustomed. The hon. member clasped the handle between what represent his arms, and, steadying it by ting the end into his mouth, guided the pen over tt -74 parchment with singular fluency and steadiness. 111.- c i nended, quitted soon h at o hf tee w rn a w s oaur i s n d es t o Mr.duThc The proceedings, K d a to van t the Sp , h S p r 0 6 _a lia k op e wp r ctapparent ly e e r r m em i n o a n t y i when the majority of members had left, and, accorelea°lo by one or two friends, proceeded to familiarise hir°seds with the internal arrangements of the building, as rl a a r o e the distribution of seats, lobbies for voting, &C. A b moment, his friends having walked on a little in asisnielo Mr. Kavanagh showed of what exertion he was Cie to by propelling his chair with such velocity as spee d " overtake them. 'at t tt THEATRICAL RIOTS.--There was a great r- ett the Portugal-street Theatre in 1721, in Rich's time, W : o a Quin and his brother-actors flashed out their sword s to drove out the wild young rakes who had threateae'oo pink the manager. There was a great scuffle befor e aze a at the (same house when, wishing to insult the b t he ir Duchess of Portsmouth, some tipsy gentle:nen drevi tb blades in the pit, and flung blazing flambeaux alti °l3g i6ot actors on the stage. There was the Foottaale'° flo rl in 1737, and the prodigious mutiny, too, in Garlick'S '"itsited Lane, in 1754, about those foreign dancers. The p it tht. °DOS, the boxes, jumped on the harpsichord, broke ule b e13 , 1 0/ 0 slashed the scenery, and pelted poor Davy's W in Southampton-street. And that terrible eaf on' also, at the Haymarket, when thousands theatre raged tailors threatened to surge into the tor s to prevent old Dowton playing "The TailorSl,oolll Tragedy for Warn Weather." One of them w as 3 1 0 01 , bold enough, without even the help of his eight P 3 ' pat to fling a pair of heavy shears at the great conaeditul' as the minnow is to the whale, so were all these P_t°locli' effervescences compared with those tremendous 9 , 1 ) 6 1 crous disturbances in 1809, which, for n o less nights, under the name of the 0. P. Riots, agit 3 „ t . ° r deo." . don, divided society, and cony alsed Covent Li`t Dicken's " All the Year Round." n an r!nnrav 4 THE MURDER NEAR WORCESTER. —t-'''''A ie sclAJ Thomas Colley, father and son, were on ss ioe S brought before the Worcester magistrates at petty it : ° r to 0 1 ° charged with the murder of William Colley, b r°t ii o first-named prisoner, near Worcester, ou Saturdolo The facts of the case were reported yesterdaY!:tojer! medical evidence proving that death resulted f e r ° tw icer o to the skull, and Thomas Colley having been 0° 1 1 1 , ,) , on t strike his uncle on the head with a dolly as 11 %;iloy ° ll o r ground, the magistrates committed Thomas u to 0 1 charge of wilful murder, and discharged prisoner. a s3 y. cb te EXECUTIONS AT MADRID.—A letter boon e 31 says :—" Three condemned prisoners hav° . „ 1 i 5 00, 11 , ' cuted to-day. A fourth committed s uicid 1 . 0 Vt i o avoid witnessing the death of his accompliee s _ Leoo 1010,1,, tence was pronounced by a military court, tbe roy resisted the civic guard. There is such sec the 0,.0 „o t'' proceedings hero that it is only a few hou r s bol . eo iyod , t he cution that the Administration of Justice rulooligea to send the executioner. A compa ct crowd place of puuishraeat FRANCE. BOURSE, Feb. 6.—Two o'clock.—The market continues firm. Three per Cents. are at 691 r. 45c., sc. higher. Credit Mobilier shares have advanced 6f. 25c.—to 528 f. 75c. Comptoir d'Escompte are quoted at 762 f. 50c., ex coupon of 32f. Credit Foncier are at 1,485. Railway shares are again very firm. Lyons have advanced lf. 25c., and Lombard 2f. 50c. Three o'clock.—Greater buoyancy has been dis played towards the close, which has taken place at the following higher quotations : 41 per Cents — Do. end month — 3 per Cents. — Do. end month 69 571 2 Credit Mobilier Bank Shares — Italian Loan — Do. end month 54 70 Mexican Loan 2l 50 Do. Bonds 145 Do. end month 532 50 Credit Foncier Do. end month 1490 Spanish Threes 35 Home Debt Deferred For Ace;)unt. Orleans Northern l2OO Lyons and Mediterranean 920 Southern 570 Westerß 583 75 Eastern Sardinian Austrian Lombard 407 50 North of Spain llB 75 Saragossa . 132 50 Ditto to Barcelona — Boylan. The Provident Clerks' Mutual Life As. surance Association. The 26th annual meeting of the members of this association was held last evening at the London Tavern, Bishopsgate-street, for the purpose of re . . . . ceiving the report of the directors and the balance sheet for the past year, and the transaction of the general business of the association. The proceed ings were presided over by Mr. Richard Henry Jones, the chairman of the board of directors. Mr. LINFORD, the secretary, read the directors' annual report, which was as follows : The Board of Directors have the pleasure to lay before the members their 26th annual report, and beg to congra tulate them on the continued prosperity of the association. The new proposals received during the year 1866 were, 1,387 for £309,200, of which were completed and policies issued 1,139 for £242,750, the remainder being deferred, declined, or now under consideration. The new annual income arising from assurances completed during the year is £7,010 10s. The total income from premiums, dtc., is £68,667 3s. 3d., of which £33,147 ls. bd. has been added to capital account. The sum of £2,415 9s. has also been received is purchase of annuities. The funds of the asso ciation amounted on the 31st December last to £317,695 7s. 7d. 135 policies, assuring with bonuses £23,905 Gs.lld., have become claims by death. The following directors re tire by rotation, but being eligible offer themselves for re election :—Mr. Edward Coleman, Mr. Sancton Wood, Mr. Henry Rogers. The following gentlemen, duly qualified, are proposed as auditors for the ensuing year J. R. Lloyd, Mr. F. F. Toole, Mr. C. Woolley. The satisfac tory nature of the above report will, it is hoped, operate as an additional inducement to the members of the association to continuo their exertions in extending more and more widely its sphere of usefulness. The CHAIRMAN said it gave him great pleasure in meeting, for the twenty-sixth time, so many friends as he did on the occasion. Since they had last met an eventful year had passed, one entailing sorrow and misery on many who might have become mem bers of that association, some of whom at least he knew personally who had been swept away by the panic. Notwithstanding this melancholy circum stance, the directors had the pleasure of informing the meeting that their association had expe rienced that prosperity they had always enjoyed. Through the unfortunate state of things that had existed they had not perhaps done as much as they otherwise would, but he had the greatest satisfaction in informing the meet ing that their success had exceeded all former years, and for that he thought they ought to be thankful. He told them last year that their watchword was " progress," but he feared that had led him to be covetous, for he wished it now was " excel." This might easily be achieved; in fact it would be a very easy thing to bring about if every one of their members only made up his mind to do something. It was a very simple thing to do, as surely all had at least one friend they could ask and urge to be come a member. Some of their friends had done good service to the cause, and to those he, on the part of the directors, begged to offer their acknow ledgments and thanks. He hoped they would not let this hint of his pass by as valueless, because if they determined to azt upon it it would increase the scope of their association in a very large degree, and at the same time it would be doing an act of good to the families of every one who was induced to become a member. In taking that chair that evening he became sen sible to the fact that another year of his life had passed away, and this thought made him exceedingly anxious to carry out to the fullest extent that which had always been his great desire, namely, its pros perity and welfare. (Hear, hear.) It was his privilege and pleasure to preside over them that evening, and he always wished to do the best he could to further the interests of the Society; and he became doubly anxious, because that might be the last year he would be amongst them, and he was exceedingly anxious to quit with a good character. He therefore heartily wished they would set about doing that request which he had made to them ; there was nothing like doing things at once, because postponement was dangerous. The report and balance-sheet which they had heard read, though short, showed a satisfactory state of progress ; and he, perhaps, might let them pass without further comment, but there were one or two items which he could not refrain fro m alluding to. In the balance-sheet for the year 1865 showed the total income to be £62,800 whilst that for the present year gave it as £68,600, showing an increase of nearly £6,000. The expense of management in the year 1865 was £9 6s. Od. per cent, whilst the per tentage for 1866 was £8 9s. 6d. (Hear, hear.) The rate of interest on all their fixed investments up to Dec., 1866, was £4 17s. 6d.—(hear, hear)--which he had no doubt would be looked upon as highly favourable ; and it was a striking fact, that in the issue of the eleven thousand and thirty-nine new policies, it had not caused any increase in their ex penditure. They had punctually met all their claims, paid all their bills, provided for all expenses, and having done all this, they had carried over a very handsome balance. There was one thing, he thought, he ought to tell them, and that was that they held £3,000 of debentures in the London, Chatham, and Dover Railway Company. They all knew the position of that company, and therefore he need not further refer to it, but he hoped for the best. His only reason in referring to the matter at all was that they had no secrets from their members. (Hear, hear.) All these transactions were open and above board; and it was that fact alone that made him mention the subject. The gradual increase of business, year by year, ho thought was brought about by three causes, viz., the exertions of , the directors, the eal of their secretary, and the activity of the excellent staff. (Hear,