The Sun. — London, England, 1861-08-05 00:00:00

THE LOYAL INSURANCE COMPANY. The annual general meeting of the shareholders of this company was held on the 2d inst., at the company's offices, in North John-street—Charles Turner, Esq., the Chairman of the company, pre siding, ma nager of the company, Mr. The actuary and Percy M. Dove, fi r st read the advertisement con vening the meeting, and subsequently the annual report, as follows : REPORT FOR THE YEAR 1860. 4, In submitting to the proprietors of the Royal Insurance Company a report of the business proceedings of the year 1860, the directors desire to avoid any lengthened introduc tion, and prefer at once to enter on the subject-matter of consideration, under separate heads of detail. , 4 They commence, therefore, by a reference, in the first place, to the general progress of the compan y. ~ This will be found to equal, if not to s ur pass, any ex pectation which could have been formed of it. " As the success of the company, even in its earliest years, received the marked attention, and elicited the surprised comments of writers best acquainted with the history of in surance companies, it will not be unadvisable to contrast the advances anuually made in the years of its then in fancy with the increased magnitude of its income at the period of its present maturity. " The following brief statement, therefore, founded on a comparison made between the revenue of the company in its various departments for the last year with the revenue of the first few years of its existence, will very pointedly exhibit the progress of your business, and is now presented as worthy of your deepest and most careful attention. "It is found that the fire premiums of the year 1860 equal the total fire premiums collected for the seven years from 1845 to 1851 inclusive; that the life premiums of the same year (1860) exceed the entire life premiums of the eight years to 18,52, inclusive; whilst the amount received for the purchase of annuities in that same year alone, is largely in excess of the total collection on that branch of business for the first ten years of the company's operations. "No comment is needed, or would in fact serve to add force to the exhibition in this paragraph of an amount of progress which, it is believed is unsurpassed, considering that it applies with almost equal force and significance to each of the three branches of the company's business. RUT rt;iti tirc., more particular MLA " The Fire .Ims certainly show exi.aastion uuriun the year Isk . o. .4 quit impetus which had previously brought it to a positioa of the first magnitude among the insurance companies of the United Kingdom. The fire premiums in 1859 had advanced the sum of £228,314 7s. 3d. In 1860, the amount of fire premiums has arrived at a sum of £262,977 19s. 11d., showing an increase of £31,663 12s. 8d exceeding the large advance of the preceding year, so that in two years the fire revenue of the company has been enhanced by the enormous sum of £66,829 175. sd. " The Parliamentary report of returns of duty paid to Government for the year 1860 exhibits the augmentation of the business in a more prominent way, as it affords the means of comparison with other companies. The proprietors will be gratified to learn that the increase of duty paid by the Royal in the last year is more than double that of any other Company, either London or provincial, whilst only one of those companies even approaches to 50 per cent. of the ad vance of this company. Our increase actually equals 30 per cent. of the entire increase of the whole of the metro politan offices combined, whilst of the provincial offices it forms upwards of 30 per cent. of the total advance of the other 28 offices established out of London. " The report of August, 1860, expressed but little hope of a successful termination of the year now under investiga tion, from the unfavourable aspect which its expired portion then presented. It happens, however, that the large in crease of premium which has been received in the year has restored the position of the account, and the directors are enabled unexpectedly to announce a full average result in an amount of credit to Profit and Loss Account for the year of £11,067 16s. 3d. _ LIFE BRANCH. "The reports of the company for several years have had invariably to announce a constant periodical expansion of its life business, the new policies of each succeeding year showing an advance over the one that had immediately preceded it. A similar result is shown in the year 1860, the premiums on new policies, after deducting guarantees, being £15,079 17s. 10d., which is an increase on that item of £1,993 17a. sd. above the amount received for the year 1859. "But even this advance is small when compared with the sudden and remarkable momentum which has been given to this branch of the business in the present year (1861). " It was not until the commencement of the year that the public seemed to have become fully acquainted with the fact that the Royal Insurance Company had published late in the last year an account of the investigation into the assets and liabilities of the life department, under a novel form, and in as plain and intelligible a manner as the abstruseness of the subject admitted, together with the entire statements and valuations necessary for that purpose. "It is conjectured from the extensive notices of this pamphlet and its accompanying diagrams, which have ap peared in the periodicals of the day, that it has largely attracted the attention of vast numbers of persons in all parts of the United Kingdom, as well as in other parts of the world. Indeed a most satisfactory and conclusive that such is the case is afforded by the fact that the sum assured on new policies in the six months to the 3d of June in the pre sent year is actually 50 per cent. in excess of the sum as sured in the corresponding months of the year 1860, although thelatter amount in itselfexceeded the sum assured in any like previous period of time. " If this success be continued, the Royal Insurance Com pany would, with respect to the amount of its new business, be at once placed (at least with one or two exceptions) at the head of all the insurance companies doing business in this country, and the anticipations of the last report, to the effect that the details of the life business then to be pub lished would form an epoch of the establishment, will have a speedy and very happy realisation. ANNUITY BRANCH. " The accession of business in this department has been already adverted to. " From the increased applications to the office on this subject, it would appear that persons contemplating the purchase of annuities are now more than ever sensible of the necessity of sinking their money in companies of un doubted resources, and where facilities will be honourably and willingly afforded for the periodical payments to ba made to them wherever the annuitant may be residing. GREAT FIRE IN LONDON. " Although the event does not fall into the period em braced in the present review of the company's affairs, it would be obviously impossible to avoid an advertance to the late conflagration in London, which, from its calamitous extent, has not been equalled in this country during the last two centuries. The loss to be sustained by this office will be about £70,000, or perhaps £75,006. Considering, however, that the company effects the largest business in London f any provincial office, and now closely approaches some of the largest London offices in its issue of fire policies, it is con cluded that the above amount, undoubtedly large in itself, is nevertheless fortunately below the average of loss sus tained by the offices generally. It will not be inappropriate here to state that within three days of the announcement of the fire to this office measures were taken that the London bran-:h should be in possession of ample funds to meet every loss, in order that no inconvenience should be sus tained by the claimants, and that before the expiration of a week from the date of the fire immediate payment was ordered to such of these as were enabled to give a statement of their respective claims. "It may safely be affirmed that no company hag had placed before it so repeatedly the possibility of such fires as the recent one, and the directors cannot refrain from repro ducing the following passage from their report read to the proprietors in August, 1858. It is there stated— "'That the character of some recent fires, and the cir mistances attending them, have revealed more clearly than was perceived before, the significant fact that exten sive conflagrations, far beyond the ratio of ordinary occur rences of the sort, are within the bounds of possibility. These c things indicate strongly the necessity of prudence in 4 t4 ling with the surpluses of income which accrue. On which other l hand, it may koped that the sounder judgment exists on th e s u bj e ct o f i nsurances ma y l ea d to the adoption of a more protective rate of premium on many risks than has hitherto been obtained. The illusion which ihmasagihnitedher:iloamprietvuadiledf of late years on the subject of the busi ness, and of the e 3 the profits of a fire insurance husi involvingsmallnessal of the resources with which trans actionso has been for a time (large contingencies could be carried ? ia, r e pelled by of the offices which the adverse experience one afrer another, been discon tinued within the last few years; " The Groat Fire wlaichyllottrarksus.'ow taken place establishes this propriety of these rem t w l ull company hereafter to be establis.laedN° new fire insurance meet even with partial encouragement if it have n , o w t sufficiency, not of subscribed but paid-up capital talist will embark in such a new ente4 no Prudent capi the possibility that, until an ample reserve yet ignore which requires several years to accomplish, his investment, is collected, and it may be a large portion of his subscription',"s.traent, any moment be required to meet some unexp ecte 4t 3 l B g e ht at of an I equal, or even greater, magnitude than the rece n t one "At the same time it must be acknowleged that when such a reserve, fully equal to any probable contingency or any possible succession of them, is really obtained, and that the rates of premium established are judiciously remunerative, being neither excessive nor insufficient, both being equally reprehensible, no company established for any purpose whatever in this country has greater elements of stability within itself than a well-governed insurance office. " It is satisfactory to the directors to announce in con nexion with this subject, and it may perhaps be deemed a happy illustration of the truth of that opinion just expressed, that the amount to the credit of the reserve and profit and loss accounts of this company would be sufficient to pay the loss sustained by this hitherto unexampled calamity, were it thrice the amount it proves to be. "The reserve fund therefore being collected and retained for the precise purpose of meeting such exceptional occur rences, and for re-assurance of outstanding risks, is the source whence it is proposed the London claim should be paid. DIVIDEND AND BONUS. "The state of the accounts for the year and the condition of the company generally having occupied the attention of tho directors, they have arrived at the determination to re commend a dividend of 3s. per share, and a bonus of 4s. per share, together 78. per share, free of income tax. " CHARLES TURNER, Chairman. " July 27, 1861." The CHAIRMAN said—Gentlemen, the business of the company, for the year 1860, as detailed in the report which you have just heard read, does not, I think, call for any especial remark, beyond that of congratulation on its continued rapid progress in all its branches. (Hear.) The amount at the credit of 1 2rofit and loss on the 31st of December, 1860, _, amounted to £71,000, f r om which, if y ou a pp rove "I the dividend of 35., and the bonus of 4s. per abate , en „ nroen ' a % a making together 7s. per share, re deduct the by the directors, you must o f £ 37,000 a t %unt of £34,000, leaving a balance and, considerine carried on to this year's account ; the year 1860, L that th ere was , a t th e end o f serve fund of £166 o a o mount at the credit of the re tation whatever in advising the director s have no hesi (lend recommended in their rep or t, i nasmuc h as the profit and loss of the reserve' fund s till amount, after the dividetogether will £203,000, (Hear.) They raanicciehtrs r been paid to tion, notwithstand in g the ocoatrenee n e r e theommenda fire, which is allud ed to in the report, and which great does, not come into the calculati on of last year7shich pro fit, except as a matt er of p recaution i n looking for ward to the future. That fire w as unexampled in magnitude, and in the e/tent o f the loss which it inflicted on the insurance companies. I Wieve that no occurrence of similar magnitude, or inflicting a similar amount of loss, had happened for nearly 200 years. (Hear, hear,) But the event, lamentable as it is, demonstrates very clearly the necessity of an ample reserve fund in carrying on the business of an insurance company, and amply justifies those warnings, alluded to in this report, which have been given by the board from time to time in the reports of previous years. (Hear, hear.) I have already alluded to the uncertain nature of an insu rance business, when we look only at a single year, or at one or two years together ; and although I quite agree with the remark made in the report, that, looking at a large number of years, no busi ness proves safer, I also feel that, looking at a few years only, a reserve fund is absolutely necessary to give permanence and stability to the dividend, the very nature of the business being such, that the losses of one year may sweep away the profits of a great many years preceding. (Hear, hear.) The position, gentlemen, obtained by the Royal Insurance Company, and the promptitude with which it provided funds for the payment of its late losses, as alluded to in the report, has not only added to its reputation, but has already given an impetus to its progress, and its business has considerably increased, especially in London. (Hear, hear.) You will have seen, gentlemen, in the newspapers, reports of meetings held by the insurance offices from time to time, for the pur pose of considering the position in which they late disastrous placed, by an event of the nature of the disastrous fire. On looking into their business con nected with mercantile assurances, all the offices engaged in that business, in the port of London, found that the premiums received, taking the aver age of the last 10 or 12 years, were not adequate to the risks incurred ; and they came to the conclu sion, which I think was a very natural one, that the premiums should be brought more upon a par with those risks. (Hear, hear.) They did not attempt—as some ofth raise e L th o e nd ra o t n es m o e f re p h r a e n m t i s u s m ee , m fo to r I have supposed—to. the purpose of crea tin g a fund for the payment of past losses.. (Hear.), That did not enter into I their calculation, nor do I think it ought. (Hear, hear.) But they were certainly justified in looking to the future, and in taking care, that as far as possible, the premiums charged, in that particular department of their business, should be adequate to the risks whibh the offices were called on to incur. (Hear, hear.) Now, gentlemen, without reference to the great fire at all, the premiums previously received were found not to have been sufficient to cover the risk, and to pay the past losses, and if they were not sufficient, when that fire was ex cluded from consideration, the insufficiency was, of course, considerably greater when it was taken into account. (Hear, hear.) The rates, therefore, have been readjusted, with the view, if possible, of in ducing parties who have produce in the port of London to classify that produce, and those who have warehouses to build those warehouses with better provision for the security of the produce placed in them. (Hear, hear.) That is the basis on which the increased premiums were calculated. (Hear, hear.) The representatives of the insurance offices subsequently held a meeting, and came to the conclusion that those premiums might be modi fied. (Hear, hear.) They have modified them to some extent, and I believe our excellent manager, Mr. Dove, is of opinion that the modified rates will be found sufficient. (Hear, hear.) I need scarcely say, either of him or of the board, that we have no wish to charge exaggerated premiums. (Hear, hear.) Sueh has never been our policy ; but we do think, as I have already said, that the amount paid by the merchants should be adjusted to the risks incurred. (Hear, hear.) Gentlemen, it is a happy thing perhaps that a good many of the weak offices in this country had withdrawn from business before the occurrence of the late fire. If not, one or two things must have occurred ; either those weak offices would not have been enabled to pay their proportion of the loss, and so the insured would have suffered ; or, if the proprietors had been able to meet their liabilities, large calls must have been made upon them, and great misery must, in all pro bability, have been endured. (Hear, hear.) As it is, I believe nothing of the kind has occurred, or is likely to occur. (Hear.) You have heard some thing, no doubt, of a contemplated new office ; and a good deal was said lately, at a meeting of the mer chants of London, about the exorbitant rates of premium demanded by the insurance offices, and about the great success which some offices have achieved. That there have been such successes is no doubt true ; but there was one thing which these gentlemen kept carefully out of sight—l allude to the number of offices which, within the last 20 years, have given up business—some of them abso lately ruined, others because they found themselves on the high road to ruin. Now, in looking at what has been accomplished by successful offices, the fact ought never to be lost sight of that there L have been other offices which have been utterly unsuccessful ; and the only proper mode of coming ; to a correct conclusion is to take them all into ac count, and look at the average result. (Hear, hear.) Upon this point I have some very important and remarkable statistics, which I should like briefly to bring before you. One of the larger London offices, the Sun, publishes annually a list of offices discon tinuing business. (Hear, hear.) The last issue of that company announces the total number of these, during a lengthened period not precisely specified, as 95 ; while the number of existing companies is 52. But, gentlemen, taking a certain definite period, which perhaps will be the most satisfactory course, I find from other sources that, within the last 17 years, 48 new offices have been established, of which only 12 now continue in existence, showing that the fire insurance business has not been successful with all offices, at all events. (Hear, hear.) This gentlemen, refers to fire offices only ; but if the life offices are included the fate of the larger number of these offices must be considered most extraordinary. lam quite sure you are not pre pared for the statistics which I am about to read to you. During the 17 years to which I have referred, 580 new insurance companies have been projected, of whicn, 233 have ceased to exist, having altogether gone out of being ; 11 have amalgamated with other companies ; 134 have sus pended their business ; and 42 are winding up in Chancery. (Hear.) I have thought it right to bring this matter before you, because a great deal of op probriuth has been thrown upon companies for hav ing raised their premiums as though they were en deayouring to extort a large amount of money from the public to which they are not entitled. I think the facts which I have given you are sufficient to show that that imputation has no reasonable founda tion. (Hear.) Ido not know that I have any further remarks to make, but I shall be happy to answer any questions which any proprietor may wish to put, and I now beg leave to move " That the report now read be received and adopted, and printed for circulation amongst the proprietors." Mr. SAMUEL HOLME—Mr. Chairman and gentle men,—l should consider myself guilty of great presumption, in a large meeting like this, in rising to second the resolution which has been put from the • chair, had it not been for the circumstance that first I had been requested by several gentle men to do so, and next that I had beer. connected with this institution from its very commencement. Sir, I do not look upon the seconding of the resolu tion as the mere formal matter which it is some times held to be ; because I admit the responsibility of it, and I say that every person who sanctions a t i p ob o e rt a i s n su d r or d se t s h it t , a h nd , sends it forth to the world With his imprimatur • and the public have a right to assured b t ea e r r ) eport we send forth so adopted,sane minneadaannadth. . is one which is a symbol of the com mencement of adopt i t , have ever had a a Now, sir, from the com t divi dend,eiffeeAbisesuetriaennceteArseseoeciviaitnigonwe r.:stahraetdwythat such dividend has IfOutplhliyinosior:s.. of the meeting who do so unless been warranted. —without reference tra s n e Ip h to the assured, and that nett e hall be an e o c l u d n t ia h r a y t c o o u n r s fi id r e st ra d t n io ty n t shall first give security it shall be placed upon of our own—is this a se re c a u s r o it n y ab a l lso to 1 such a basis as that there the assurers, together with a fair fit for the risk which the assurers runa, considerable sir, from an intimate knowledge of this assurance company, and from an acquaintance— believe, ep r o . acquaintance, though I am not a director, w i t h its details, that the Royal Assurance does offer this in faith and in sincerity, and that no dividend has ever yet been paid by this society which has not been fully warranted by the state of its accounts. (Hear.) Sir, reputation in public companies is just as necessary to eventual success as the reputation of an individual ; and unlimited confidence must be placed b y the pub lie in an association of gentlemen, who not only give eguarantee for the security of the property, but likewise give a guarantee that this security shall be perpetual, as far as human security can be made, for life assurance in some cases may not be payable for forty years, or in some fifty years to come; and hence the necessity that it should be placed upon a foundation which is undeniable and secure. Now, sir, my confidence in the Royal is unabated ; prin cipally on account of knowing the state of its affairs, and more so from the open, plain, and straightfor ward statements which are continually put forth. And I may just say here that I rejoiced when Mr. Dove sent forth that pamphlet to the world, clear and logical as it was, appealing to facts and not to assertions, throwing down the gauntlet, as it were, to the world, challenging opinion and criticism—if criticism were possible—and challenging contradic tion to the facts—if contradiction were possible— which were there put forth. Sir, we have just had to contend with a calamity, unprecedented, I be lieve, since the great fire in London in 1666; and it has swept away a large sum—the report states £70,000 or £ 75,000. It may be the latter, and this shows us the wisdom, and the security of having a reserve fund—(hear, hear)—not a reserve fund THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, AUGUST 5, 1861. which has been created by calling upon us for addi tional subscriptions, not a reserve fund which is taken out of subscribed capital, but a reserve fund amounting now to £166,000, which has been fairly and honourably created out of the profits of the concern, out of the premiums paid by the company. Therefore, sir, I assert that is a large foundation , and one upon which we may congratulate ourselves. With these few remarks I beg most cordially to second the resolution. (Applause.) The resolution for the adoption of the report was then put and carried unanimously. The CHAIRMAN next moved—" That this meet ing approves of the declaration by the directors of a dividend of 3s. per share, and a bonus of 4s. per share, out of the profits of the company to the 31st December, 1860, the same to be payable on or after the 12th day of August inst., free of income tax." Mr. C. MOZLEY, in seconding the motion, said— The resolution is one whieh usually elicits the kindly and sympathetic feeling of a meeting of shareholders, and which is invariably received with consideration and with regard. (Hear.) But in seconding a reso lution of this kind, under somewhat peculiar cir cumstances, I feel that it may be needful that I should preface it by a few remarks. They shall be but few; but, inasmuch as some objections may pos sibly be taken to the amount of dividend proposed, I think it due to myself to say that I am the last man to come forward in this meeting, or in any other, and to recommend a dividend to be paid which I did not think the finances of the company would justify. (Hear.) True it is, Sir, that a very severe loss has been suffered by this company, in common with many others, owing to the recent calamity in London ; but the able remarks which havebeen made by the chairman, and followed up by Mr. Alderman Holme, must have convinced the shareholders that while security is given to the assured, it is not ne cessary that we should deprive those who have been the assurers, by means of their property invested in this company, of that natural return which they have a right to look for from their investment. (Hear.) A remark may naturally be made that the business of the company, however great, and pros perous, shows only an amount to the credit of profit and loss of £71,000, while the loss by the recent fire was £75,000. I have heard it mooted out of doors that It 'IN conbiacrea trenching too far to as sign a dividend to the shareholders when the profit of the company has been already absorbed. But what I contend for is that, by the results of our business up to the present period, and by the judi cious arrangement of our funds, we have made a re serve of £166,000 up to Christmas last, and that even when the dividend and bonus which you are now asked to give have been paid, you will still be add ing to that reserve fund a sum of £37,000, making its total amount £203,000. Now, unless we are to believe that calamities of this kind are to be con tinuous, I think that reserve is ample, not only to meet the contingency which has just occurred, but to enable the directors to give a dividend to the shareholders which will yield them the interest for which they are entitled to look upon the capital they have embarked. (Hear, hear.) On these grounds I approve of the dividend proposed by the directors. (Hear, hear.) The reserve fund you look to, not only to give security to the assured, which is a more important consideration than any other, but you look to it also to equalise the divi dend which you give to the shareholders, so long as the resources of the company, the state of the reserve, and the progress of your business shall be sufficient and ample to justify it. (Hear, hear.) The resolution, after a short discussion, was un animously carried. Mr. JOHNSTON then moved the following resolu tion :—" It being stated that the following tlirectors retire by rotation at this meeting, but were eligible for re-election, namely :—Michael Belcher, Esq., Thomas Bouch, Esq., G. H. Horsfall, Esq., R. L. Jones, Esq., E. T. Kearsley, Esq., William Smith, Esq., and Charles Turner, Esq. ; resolved, that the retiring directors be re-elected directors of this company." Mr. Johnston remarked that all the retiring directors were well known to the share holders, who were equally aware of the efficient manner in which they and the other directors had conducted the company's business. Mr. LANCASTER (of London) seconded the reso lution. The CHAIRMAN, in putting the resolution, hoped that Mr. Titherington would not next year move, and that Mr. Younghusband would not second, any addition to the dividend. He did not think it would be wise to declare any additional dividend until the reserve fund (after calculating for the £75,000 loss) amounted to something like £200,000. They should certainly not look forward to an increased dividend for next year, and probably not for the year after. The resolution was then put and carried. The CHAIRMAN, in moving the re-election of the auditors, said—lt is not for me, as chairman, to say anything about the auditors, who are put there to see that the accounts are kept correctly, and that the finances are properly applied, but as far as the opinion of the board is concerned, the auditors fully do their duty to the proprietors. (Hear, hear.) The following is the resolution :—" That Wm. Tither ington, Esq., and John Dickinson, Esq.,be re-elected auditors for the ensuing year." Mr. CORBALLY seconded the resolution, which was unanimously adopted, Mr. CARTER inquired what was the amount of the reserve fund ? The CHAIRMAN—It was £166,030 on the 31st of December last ; and the .£37,000 which will remain at the credit of profit and loss, after payment of the dividend, will raise it to £203,000. Against that must be set the loss of the £75,000, and the other losses ofthe year. These losses are primarily charge able upon the profits of the present year ; but the loss of the £75,000 is an exceptional and extraor dinary occurrence, and the business of this year will, in all human probability, show a certain amount of loss. Mr. CARTER—Does the amount received for pre miums, as stated in the report, represent a net amount, after providing for re-assurances ? The CHAIRMAN certainly. Mr. TITHERINGTON—In acknowledging your kind confidence in re-electing my colleague and my self, I assure you that to the best of our ability we have discharged our duties faithfully in the audit ing of these accounts. Our position is somewhat like that of detectives; at all events we are here to see that everything is right. (Hear, hear, and laughter.) We have, in reply to the summons of your manager, which I think it is but right in justice to him should be read, had access to every document connected with the company. Mr. Titherington here read the letter; — "Royal Insurance. office, Royal Insurance-buildings, North John-street, Dale-street, Liverpool, June 25, 1861. "Dear you oblige me by your attendance to audit the accounts of the company for the second half of the past year, at:your earliest convenience ? "Referring to our letters on former occasions asking for the strictest scrutiny into the accounts and examination of the securities held by the company for loans and invest ments and cash vouchers, 1 shall be much gratified by your examination of these documents on this occasion, and, in deed, on the occasion of every future audit likewise. " I trust you will be enabled to name an early day for the commencement of this work.—l am, dear Sir, yours truly, (Signed) "PERCY M. DOVE, Manager. " Wm. Titherington, Esq." I should wish it to go forth (he said) that we have access here—ready access, willing access—given to us to every document connected with the company, and we have passed again under examination every voucher, every deed, and every certificate (and it is matter, I assure you, of no light moment togo through them all in the case of a property represent ing something like £850,000), and I have great pleasure in testifying to you and the proprie tors present that we found everything in the most perfect order, and perfectly correct. (Applause.) I only regret, gentlemen, that I had to take excep tion ; but it was merely out of good feeling, and knowing that the company could afford a little more money. The CHAlRMAN—Gentlemen, I should like to say one word. I can assure you that the directors feel very sensibly the able and efficient manner in which Mr. Dove has discharged his duties, under very trying circumstances, during the past year, and particularly at the period of the late fire, when his opinion and his judgment were looked up to very much by the associated companies. Allow me to move that the thanks of the proprietors be given to the manager, deputy manager, and other officers of the company, but particularly to Mr. Dove, for ma x na r g . e y d o th u e N c co u m u p sß anl p s aff se a c i o rs n . ded (A t p h p e lau re s s e o . the able and excellent manner in which they have which was carried unanimously. com pliment paid to rne E . Mr. PERCY Dov • said— Mr. Chairman, and to theremarks am oh i which obliged h t )l o u h i y i a o o ‘ u n , The proprietors for the e fallen from the preceding speakers and from the chairman only serve to confirm my impression that as respects the company its loss of £75,000 may, in many ways, be useful in securing a future career of increased prosperity. (Hoar.) Let the true principles and uses of a reserved fund and the necessity of its being fully ample once be fixed, as it will be after the day's proceedings , on the minds of the proprietors,and I am satisfied the company will continue to be one of the most firmly established, as it is certainly one of the most successful companies in the country. and have no doubt, I say, that in future years, through a lengthened period far beyond what any of us shall live to see, it will be second to none in its permanent hold off the confidence of the com munity. (Hear.) Without entering on the pro cesses by which it is calculated the end may be at. tained, I may venture to state that long and re peated reflection on the position of the company since the great fire has brought conviction to my mind that the prospects of the future were never so bright for us as they are now. The fire branch. as you have heard, has arrived at a magnitude which no one anticipated or dreamed of ten years since. The life business has recently made a rapid spring far in advance even of its former success. The late enormous loss to the offices forms an additional page in the lesson which teaches us that the element of danger from fire has been greatly enhanced in the last few years. I only pause to name two causes— the general use of lncifer matches and the increased instances of spontaneous combustion. This event, I say, will inculcate caution and prudence in every representative of an insurance company at all capable of acquiring wisdom by experience. Much has been said of new insurance companies. One or two may certainly arise from time to time, destined, however, I fear, if we may judge from the crude and delusive statements which were received as truths at some recent meetings in London, to add to the beacons of warning with which the last few years have been prolific. But indeed any company, old or new, seeking to obtain unfair advantages over their con stituents by excessive rates, on the one hand, or temporary popularity by insufficient rates, on the other, will meet a like fate—utter disappointment and failure. The directors of the Royal will, lam satisfied, continue to act on right principles and with sound judgment ; and I hope that measures in contemplation, yet in embryo, will make this com pany known and esteemed wherever the knowledge of British commercial enterprise shall extend. (Hear, and applause.) Mr. TITHERINGTON was satisfied that no single mind could grasp the whole of the company's vast operations without suffering from the strain caused by such heavy resonsibility, and he hoped, there fore, that Mr. Dove would confine himself as much as possible to the higher portions of the business, and surround himself with master minds in the various departments. Otherwise he felt sure Mr. Dove's mind must yield to the enormous pressure. Mr. Titherington hoped that the meeting would give an expression of their opinion that the Board would never stint Mr. Dove that assistance in the heads of departments which the increased and in creasing business of the company might require. The business was really enormous, and by and by would astonish the proprietors. Mr. HALL had great pleasure in proposing the following resolution :—" That the thanks of this meeting be presented to the Chairman, Deputy- Chairman, and Directors of the Company ; to the Directors and Secretary of the London Branch, and also to the members of the Managing Com mittee, and the Company's Agent at New York, for their valuable services during the past year." Mr. DOWDALL seconded the resolution, which was adopted unanimously. The CHAIRMAN, on behalf of himself and his colleagues, returned their sincere thanks, and as sured the proprietors that they were at all times most desirous of doing their duty to the company, their energies and minds being constantly devoted to this object. He trusted that their endeavours, with the able assistance of the manager and the other officers, would be as successful in the present as they had been in previous years. (Applause.) The proceedings then closed. ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE. WESTERN CIRCUIT —BoDmIN AUG 3 ___ _ • Charity Hoskin was indicted for the wilful murder of Annie Hoskin, at Truro, on the sth of June. Mr. Stock prosecuted ; and Mr. Holdsworth, at the request of the judge, watched the case for the prisoner. From the statement of the counsel it appeared that the prisoner was a person in very humble life and had passed most of her days in extreme poverty. A few years ago she 'married a person named Hos kin, by whom she had three children, two of whom were dead, and the other lived chiefly with the pri soner's mother. Some four or five years since her husband deserted her, and since that time she had been in the very depths of poverty, generally living in different workhouses. In the month of April she went into the workhouse at Truro, being at the time large in the familyway. On the 10th of May she was delivered of a female child. She remained in the workhouse until Tuesday, the 4th of June, when, by her own desire, she quitted it, taking her child with her. About a quarter before twelve o'clock on that night she was seen by a woman named Williams in a street in Truro. She then had a child with her. About 4 o'clock in the morning a policeman saw her, but then she had no child with her. About 5 o'clock that morning a barge man, going down the river with his barge, dis covered the body of a child in the river. He took it up, and found a piece of tape tied to the arm of the child and a piece of culm tied to the other end of the tape, as if to sink the body. The bargeman then carried the body to the police-station, and it was identified as the body of the prisoner's child. A surgeon was called in, who examined the body, and he stated that the death of the child was caused by drowning. When the policeman saw the prisoner at 4 o'clock in the morning, he asked her what she was doing at that early hour. She said she was wait ing to see Bennett the butcher, to send a message to her mother. The policeman then walked on. About 7 that morning the 'prisoner was appre hended in the Truro market-house. She was asked where her child was. She said she did not know, but afterwards said "I gave it to George Willes yesterday afternoon to put it out to nurse." Willes was t hen apprehended, and asked what he had done with the child. He said he knew nothing about it. He afterwards said to the prisoner " I never saw you yesterday afternoon. I never saw you till 10 o'clock last night at the Barley Sheaf." She made no answer. They were then put in separate cells. About 8 that morning two policemen went to her cell to search her pockets. She handed over a purse containing some pence. She was much excited. She said " My God, 1 will knock my brains out before to-morrow against the wall; hand my clothes over to my mother. I shan't be alive in the morn ing. I wish I had left the child in the road and thrown myself in the water instead." A policeman remained in the cell with her and she repeatedly threatened to destroy herself. She asked if there were any marks or bruises on the child's face. The policeman told her he did not know, but it was bleeding at the mouth. She said " Oh, I never slap't it, or bruised it, or b ro k e anything." She then asked it there was anything broken. The policeman replied that he did not think thei e was. She said George 'Willes ought to have given her some money. She had done it all for want. She said " I am so miserable, if I had a knife I would cut my throat. You shall not have to go to Bodmin against me. I don't care where Igo to, I will soon follow it." In the course of the day she asked if they ever hanged women. The policeman said Yes, but in such a case as this they might not, as it was a young child. It appeared that the prisoner had been living with George Willes for some months. When the prisoner was before the magistrates she said " 1 have none it through poverty." Mr. Houldsworth addressed the jury on behalf of the prisoner. Their sympathy would be for this poor woman. There was every probability that some other person had committed this act, be cause the prisoner had a home in the workhonse. There could be no doubt Willes was the father of the child, therefore she was anxious to put the child to Willes, in order that she might provide a livelihood for herself. He urged that the prisoner should have been cautioned before the policeman questioned her. She had stated that she had given the child to Willes, and when he denied it and she found his story believed instead of hers she had be come in such an excited state of mind that she did not know what she said when she made statements which they had heard detailed by the policeman, The act was more that of man tt an a woman ; it was more the interest of Willes to get rid of the child, because he would have to provide for it. What object had she of getting rid of the child ? He sub mitted that there was not that conclusive evidence which would 'justify the jury in convicting the pri soner. Mr. Baron Channel], in summing up, told the jury that they were to discharge their duty a - xording to their oath upon a calm review of the evidence. The jury retired for a long time, and then brought in a verdict of Guilty, but strongly recommended the prisoner to mercy, on the ground of her extreme poverty. Mr. Baron Chaunell then, in the most feeling manner, passed sentence of death upon the prisoner, but said ho would take care that the recommenda tion of the jury should be forwarded to the proper quarter. Richard Perry Wm. Arthur and Richard Cory were indicted for killing and slaying Samuel Mit chell at Medrese. The jury at first returned a verdict of Not Guilty, but the judge asked the . jury if they thought the death had arisen from natural causes, and not from the fight. 'l'h;; jury said, " Oh no, it was from the fight." :The Judge then explained the law of the case to the jury, and after some time they returned a verdict of Guilty. The prisoners were sentenced to one week's imprisonment. (Before Mr. Justice CIVIL. Byles SIDE and a Common Jury.) TRETITEWAY V. GREGG. Mr. M. Smith, Q.C., and Mr. Kingdon were counsel for the plaitiff ; Mr. H. T. Cole appeared for the defendant. The plaintiff in this case was a miner, and the defendant was a gentleman carrying on business in Lombard-street, and the action was brought for work done to a mine called the East Fowey Mine, in Cornwall, of w hi ch the defendant was one o f th e adventurers. Evidence having been given to prove that the defendant was an adventurer in the mine and that the work was done , The jury found for the plaintiff for £5l 9s. KNIGHT V. HORSIVALL. Mr. M. Smith, Q.C., and Mr. H. T. Cole were counsel for the plaintiff; Mr. Collier, Q.C., and Mr. Kingdon for the defendant. This was an action for breach of promise of mar riage. It was stated that the parties had agreed upon a verdict, and the defendant was desirous of stating that there was not the slightest imputation upon the character of the lady, and that he had not been induced to break off the match from any miscon duct on her part. A verdict was then taken by consent for the plaintiff, £lOO damages. )1;p!=i) TEE GREAT ROBBERIES 01 SUGAR. FINAL EXAMINATION AND COMMITTAL OF THE PRISONERS. On Saturday Frederick Henry Drake, aged 29, late clerk and cashier in the service of Messrs. Bryant and Hodge, sugar refiners of Fieldgate street, Whitechapel, and Henry Cooper, a grocer, of No. 18, Aldgate, at the corner of Jewry-street, were brought before Mr. Woolrych, at the Thames Police -court, for the fifth time, to answer numerous charges of larceny, fraud and forgery, by which they had obtained hogsheads of raw sugar, refined sugar, and treacle, valued at upwards oil:2,000, the property of Messrs. Bryant and Hodge. Mr. Sleigh, barrister, instructed by Messrs. Langford and Marsden, solicitors, conducted the prosecution ; Mr. Charles Young, solicitor, de fended Drake, and Mr. Ribton, instructed by Mr. Buchanan, solicitor, appeared for the receiver Cooper. On the prisoners being placed in the dock there was a tremendous rush of persons at all the doors of the court, which was immediately crowded, and continued so until the close of the proceedings. For the better understanding of the evidence given on Saturday a short summary of the testi. may given at the former examinations is necessary. Drake, whose connexions are of the highest respec tability, and who has received a first-rate education, had been in the service of the prosecutor for three years. Great confidence was reposed in him by his employers, and he lived on their premises. He was dismissed on the 29th of June last, and imme diately afterwards proceeded to Ramsgate, where he lived with his wife in the fast style to which he was accustomed for a few days, until he was ap prehended by Dunaway, a detective offieer, 129 H, The manner in which the prisoners carried on their nefarious system of plunder was very peculiar. Forged orders for the delivery of goods purporting to be signed by several wholesale grocers, customers of Bryant and Hodge, were given to carmen ofrespec tability, presented at the prosecutors' sugar-house, and the goods named on the orders, consisting of hogsheads and tierces of raw sugar, puncheons of treacle, and refined sugar in large quantities, were obtained. Cooper was the principal receiver of the stolen property. After the apprehension of Drake, Mr. Hodge waited upon Cooper and found on his premises in Aldgate four hogsheads of sugar which had been stolen from prosecutors' premises and de livered to a carman on the production of a "manu factured order." Three other hogsheads of sugar consigned to Cooper, and obtained in a similar man ner, were found in Smith's warehouse, in the City. They had been deposited there in the name of Francis. Cooper, on being questioned by Mr. Hodge, said that Drake represented to him that he had the privilege of dealing in sugar with his employers' customers, and obtained a commission of ls. or 6d. per cwt. on all sales he effected. On the following day, and before Cooper was given into the custody of Dunaway, the detective, he gave Mr. Hodge a written statement, purporting to be an account of all his transactions with Drake. The prisoners had been frequently in the practice of meeting at the Prince of Orange public-house in Fieldgate-street, and at other times employed a boy named Sutcliff, in the employ of Bryant and Hodge, to convey mes sages and money from one to the other. Drake managed to obtain a "duplicate order" for the de livery of one puncheon of treacle from Mr. Pepper, a gentleman in the employ of Travers and Son, wholesale grocers and tea dealers in the City. This order was altered and mutilated, the 1 transformed into a 6, and the words "duplicate order" torn off. With this order a carman employed by Drake managed to obtain 6 puncheons of treacle from the prosecutors, and the prisoner sold them to a grocer in the Whitechapel-road for £5O, which was alleged to be £lO below the real value. Mr. Bo wdler having read the voluminous evidence given on former examinations, and of which the above is a summary, Mr. Sleigh called the following additional wit nesses. John Carey, a carman in the employ of Statham and Co., carriers, said that he had been to the pro secutor's sugar refinery with orders for hogsheads of sugar, which Drake gave to Messrs. Statham's clerk. Caroline Elizabeth Mears, landlady of the Prince of Orange public-house in Fieldgate-street, said she had frequently seen the prisoners in her house. They were in the practice of meeting once a-week, and sometimes oftener. When Cooper visited her house he used to ask her to send to the prosecutors' sugar-house for Drake. In cross-examination by Mr. Ribton, the witness said that when Cooper called he said that he wanted to see Drake to negotiate for the purchase of a pub lic-house. Cooper also told her there was an action about it, Mr. Peter Parton said he was a carrier, in part nership with Mr. Statham, of Gould-square, Crutched-friars. On Saturday, June 22, he sent Carey, one of his men, to Bryant and Hodge's sugar-house with a van to fetch four hogsheads of sugar. The delivery order for those hogsheads was given to him by Drake. Carey obtained one hogs head of sugar only, which he delivered to Cooper at his shop in Aldgate. On the following Mondayand Tuesday he sent Carey to the prosecutors' sugar house for the three other hogsheads, but he could not obtain them. On the Tuesday afternoon he came to his office. He said to him " I have had another lost journey after the three hogsheads." Drake said he would see all about it, and gave direc tions for the sugars to be conveyed to Smith's ware house, in H trp-lane, Tower-street. Two or three days afterwards Cooper waited upon him, and said, I want them there three hogsheads of sugar which you have deposited at Smith's warehouse." He had previously obtained the three hogsheads of sugar and warehoused them in Harp-lane, in the name of George Francis and Co. He told Cooper it was no use asking for the sugars unless he had an order for their delivery. Cooper called a second time, and said, " Why can't I have those sugars?" He repeated what he had before said, and Cooper expressed an intention of seeing Drake, and obtain ing an order. An order was subsequently obtained. He saw it on his desk. That order was destroyed by himself or Mr. Statham, his partner. Mr. Hodge was recalled by Mr. Ribton and cross-examined. He said he was not aware that Drake was dealing with Henderson and Constable. Drake had made purchases of treacle of Newson and Co., and he was censured for doins so. He was sure Drake had no dealings with Henderson and Co. Drake had dealings with a grocer, and sold him six puncheons of treacle obtained from the sugar-house by means of a manufactured order. He ivas not aware Drake had extensive dealings with other people. Ile was sure it was not so. Cooper had given him an account of his transactions with Drake. The books and accounts delivered to him by Cooper had been examined by a public account ant by his direction. In answer to Mr. Sleigh, the witness said—There are now four hogsheads of our sugar on Cooper's premises, and three more at Smith's warehouse. They were obtained by the prisoners from our sugar-house with "manufactured orders," purport.. ing to be signed,by customers of ours. Cooper was never a customer of ours. I never saw him in our sugar-house. Mr. C. P. Kemp, accountant, of Gresham -street, said—l have examined Cooper's books, handed to me by Dunaway, the detective efficer. In my judgment, the books, which purport to contain an account of transactions with Drake, the receipt of sugars, and the payment of money, were all made up at one time. It was a singular fact that the ac count with Drake was on the wrong side of Cooper's ledger. All the other accounts were accurately posted. This witness then went into very minute particulars, all tending to prove that Cooper had made all the entries in his books of transactions with Drake at one time. He was frequently inter rupted by the prisoner. At last Mr. Woolrych peremptorily ordered Cooper to be silent, and said his interests were represented by counsel and solicitor. Mr. Sleigh then entered into the particulars of another case of larceny, fraud, and forgery. The learned counsel called Wm. Henry Perrins, buyer to Henderson and Co., Great Tower-street, who said—lt is my duty to sign delivery notes. Mr. Sleigh handed to the witness a form, partly written and partly printed. It was to the following effect :—" London, 90, Great Tower-street, City, 24th May, 1861. Messrs. Bryant and Hodge—please to deliver to bearer two tierces pieces T. (in a triangle) 19 4 (Statham). Henderson and Constable.-- W. H. Mr. Perrins continued—This is one of the blank "lithographed forms we use. It is a lithographed form. Neither the writing nor the s ign . gsz b s; I " W. H. P." is in my handwriting nor atiuuss my authority. Our firm did buy a parcel of sugars from Bryant and Hodge. Cross-examined by Mr. Ribton—l have seen Drake. He was an invoice clerk. I have put questions to him about this order. It is an unusual thing for me to sign delivery orders. Mr. Peter Partin was again examined. He said —I have had this forged order in my hand before. It was handed to me by Cooper. He said I must have those two tierces of sugar in to-day. I do not know Cooper's handwriting. When our man brought the two tierces of sugar to me I ordered him to convey them to Cooper's, No. 18, Aldgate. Mr. Sleigh then called aloud, " Frederick Henry Drake," and, to the surprise of almost every one in court, the prisoner Drake left the felon's dock, en tered the witness box, and was sworn. He said— I was in the employ of Bryant and Hodge for three years, and left them a few days before I was taken into custody. I have known Cooper since December, 1858. Mr. Sleigh—Look at that forged order. Drake—This order was written by Cooper's brother-in-law at a public-house opposite White chapel Church, in the presence of myself and Cooper. I cannot remember the sign. The land lord's name is Norton. Cooper's brother-in-law was directed by me and Cooper to write that order. .On its being written Cooper put it in his pocket and took it away with him. The blank form was ob tained by me from Henderson and Constable, where I was transacting some business one day. I was present when the two tierces of sugar were delivered to Statham and Partin's cart. Mr. Sleigh—Who wrote the initials " W. H. P." on the forged order ? Drake—The initials are in the handwriting of Cooper. Mr. Ribton—You stole the form from Henderson and Constable ? Drake—l took it. Mr. Ribton—You stole it, sir. Drake—l took it. Mr. Ribton—How many more blank forms did you steal ? Drake—l took no more, sir.--I most likely took that from Henderson and Constable's sale-room. I have no remembrance of taking away others. I was going over some books when I took the form. Mel dola is the name of Cooper's brother-in-law. Mr. Ribton contended there was not a tittle of evidence to confirm the accomplice 'who had com mitted a felony to get the paper. Mr. Woolrych—l must send this case before a jury. The prisoners are committed to Newgate for trial. Mr, Sleigh—The next case against the prisoners is one of a serious nature. Drake obtained an order from the firm of Travers and Co., wholsesale grocers, for 5 cwt. of titlers Clarge sugar loaves), and Cooper added to it 5 cwt. more, and obtained oßryant and Hodge that quantity of refined sugar. Cooper re ceived the sugars, and helped to unload the cart which conveyed them to his shop in Aldgate. Mr. Woolrych asked if it was necessary to mul tiply cases against the prisoners, and upon this a conversation ensued between counsel, Mr. Young and Messrs. Plunkett and Robinson, clerks to Lan ford and Marsden, solicitors for the prosecution. It was agreed upon that no more cases should be gone into. Mr. Sleigh—lt is possible we shall prefer other charges of larceny, and for the jury at the next Old Bailey Sessions, with the particulars of which the prisoners' solicitors shall be supplied. The prisoners were then committed for trial. It was agreed they should be brought up again on Thursday next, to enable Mr. Bowdley, the second clerk, to complete the depositions. THE BARON DE VIDIL. The public are already aware that the application which was made to the Chief Justice at chambers to admit the Baron de Vidil to bail, upon the chat ge of feloniously wounding his son, Alfred John de Vidil, was refused, and the baron, consequently, will have to remain in Newgate until the session of the Central Criminal Court, on the 19th inst. The following additional facts, however, in connexion with this extraordinary affair, and which have been obtained from a source on which the fullest reliance may be placed, will doubtless be read with interest. Although the Baron de Vidil stands committed upon the capital charge of feloniously wounding his son with intent to murder him, it appears that ever since ha has been in custody he has asserted that there is not the slightest foundation for such a charge, and the account he gives of the transaction, and which he will attempt to establish if he should be put upon his trial, is this :—On the day the occurrence took place the baron states that he and his son were on the most friendly terms, and they agreed to ride to Claremont to pay a visit to the Comte de Paris, and the other members of the late French Royal family who are residing there, and they afterwards agreed to go to visit the Due d'Aumale at Orleans House on the way the baron asked his son to stop and dine with him at Hamp ton, but he, without assigning any reason, refused to do so, and the baron was very much annoyed at the obstinate manner in which he persisted in his refusal. Nothing particular, however, occurred until they arrived in the lane where the transaction took place, and here, either by accident or design, the young gentleman struck his father somewhat sharply with his riding whip. The consequence was that the baron, under the influence of momentary excitement, struck his son two severe blows on the head with the butt end of his own whip, but he had no idea that he had inflicted any serious injury upon his son. Young De Vidil is of very weak and nervous tem perament, and there appears to be no doubt that when he first applied for a warrant against his father he had not the most remote idea of charging him with committing a felonious assault upon him, and that his object in seeking the protection of the law was that he might not be liable to any further attacks of violence from his father. After the occurrence had taken place the baron states he treated the matter so lightly that he hardly even thought of it, and his journey to Paris was quite unconnected with the affair. It was here that he first became aware that a charge of some kind or other had been made against him in England, and he at once applied to the Procareur-General upon the subject ; by this functionary he was informed that his son had made a charge of a serious charac ter against him to the British authorities, and that although there was no treaty that would justify his extradition, and there was no intention on the part of the French Governmant to give him up, still it was suggested that he had better leave Paris. It seems that pending the proceedings, and while the matter was under consideration by the French Go vernment, the baron, who had been placed under temporary restraint, expressed his determination to go to England to meet the charge, whatever it might be, that was made against him, and he made a personal application to the Procurier du Roi to that effect ; it was upon this requisition that he was brought back to this country, and upon his arrival in London he, for the first time, learnt that he had been accused of a capital crime by his son. As a good many incorrect statements have been made with reference to the property to which the baron's son was entitled, and the interest the Baron de Vidil had in this property, it may be as well to state the exact position of the parties in reference to these matters. It appears that by the marriage settlement executed upon the marriage of Susannah Jackson, the late baroness, with the Baron de Vidil, a sum of £20,000 was vested in trustees, who were to pay the interest upon this sum to the baroness during her life, and after her decease to pay over the interest to her husband, the baron. The marriage settlement went on further to direct that upon the death of the baron the prin cipal sum of £20,000 should be paid over to such issue of the marriage as should attain the age of 21 years, to be equally divided, and in case of there being no such issua the money was then to be paid over to Miss Sarah Jackson, a sister of the deceased lady, or her issue. With regard to a further sum of money in which the Baron de Vidil was supposed to have an interest, it appears that by a will and codicil of Mr. John Jackson, tha father of the late baroness, a sum of £lO,OOO was bequeathed to Alfred John de Vidil, the baron's son, upon his coming of age ; that sum has been paid to him and is now at his absolute dis posal, and the Baron de Vidil would have no inte rest whatever in this money, unless in the event of his son dying without making a will, or bequeath ing it to him by such an instrument. Since the proceedings that took place before the magistrate at Bow-street, the son of the baron, who, it will be remembered, positively refused to give evidence against his father, and who was threatened to be committed to prison in consequence of that refusal, has been staying at the residence of, Mr. Parker, his relative, at Ware, in Hertfordshire, not to give any evidence, a lthough he is and it is said that lie still adheres to his determi nationbound over as a witness for the of proceeding, Ac before the grand proceeding, h e cording to the ordinaryevciodueirevseeee would have to give his compel him ; all they could any evidence they jury; if he should refuse to m g application to i m probable that in the absence would do w would uld have be no to m power ake a to n o the Court, by the prosecutor, and on his or to explain and it is not at . all n of any informatio refusal to give such evidence, alleged under what circumstances thecrime was commit in an ordinary cass, this would un doubtedly they would feel themselves justified in ignuring ° food that . no further attempt will be the course *Lac would be taken. undbdeer procure the liberation of the baron on bail, the na b o il 1 , It is and be will consequently remain in Newgate until his case shall hake been disposed of in due course of law, either by the grand jury ignoring the bill, or his being tried by a jury. He does not appear so much affected by his confinement as would be imagined, and during the last few days he has been visited by several persons of distinction, who seem to take the greatest interest in him, and to bo strongly impressed with the conviction that he is entirely innocent of the crime of which he is ac cused. RAIL WAY INTELLIGENCE. SOUTH DEVON. A special general meeting of this company was held on Tuesday at Plymouth, Mr. T. Woolicombe in the chair. The CHAIRMAN explained that the object of the meeting was to authorise the directors to affix the common seal of the company to a lease of the Corn wall Railway to the associated companies for 1,000 years. The line would be worked under the tree•. tion of a joint committee, of which four would be appointed by the Cornwall Company, two by the Great Western, three by the Bristol and Exeter, and three by the South Devon Company. Th e chairman or vice-chairman was to be annually se lected from the Cornwall section of the committee, but the chairman was not to have a casting vete' Five members of the committee were to form a quorum, and the differences, if any, were to be settled by arbitration. The solicitor having read the heads of she lease, a formal resolution approving it, and authorising the directors to affix the common seal of the com pany to the lease, subject to such modifications as might be agreed upon, was unanimously adopted; and the proceedings terminated. GRAND TRUNK OF CANADA. The traffic receipts on this line for the week end" ing the 13th July amounted for local passengers to 18,641 dols, for foreign passengers to 4,380 dols., for emigrants to 4,365 dols., for mails, &c., to 3,263 dols., for local freight and live stock to 16,28 . 1 dols., for timber and lumber to 3,820 dole., for firewood to 1,598 dols., and for foreign freight and live stock to 4,998 dols.—total, 57,345 against 55,393 dols. for the corresponding week of 1860, showing an increase of 1,953 dols. The total traffic receipts from the Ist to the 13th of July amounted to 113,291 dols., and for the corresponding period of 1860 to 107,147 doffs., showing an increase of 6,143 dols. NORTHERN OF CANADA. The total traffic receipts on this company's line, 94 miles in length, from the Ist of January to the 6th of July, amounted to £43,187, and for the corre sponding period of 1860 to £34,132, showing en increase of £9,055. NEW YORK AND ERIE. The traffic returns on this company's line, 494 miles in length including branches, amounted for th© month of June to £85,951, and for the same month of 1860 to £80,312, showing an increase of £5,639. GREAT WESTERN AND WEST MIDLAND• The laying down of the narrow gauge on the Great Western line between Paddington and Read ing it is expected will be completed in the course of a few weeks. This will complete the narrow gauge communication from the West Midland linen to London. At present all the goods traffic and a portion of the passenger traffic of the West 1‘11( 1- land to London passes over the London and North Western line. The Worcester and Hereford section of the West Midland, it is expected, will be opened about the Ist of September. COUNTRY MARKETS. LEICESTER—AuG. 3. A fait supply of wheat to. day. Trade firm, and late price fully supported. White wheat, from 65s to 70s per qr. —red, 55s to 60s per 36 stone; a very middling supply ° f barley, grinding, 29s to 31e; malting, 36s to 40s per qr . ' oats, 28s to 34s per 24 stone. Beans were inactive—old) 48s to as ; new, 36s to 46s per 38 stone. YORK— AUG. 3. At this market to-day wheat was in small supply, wit h a dull sale, farmers asking higher rates. Grinding barley met a moderate sale, but late rates supported. Oats we re in steady demand at last week's prices. Beans quiet. Wheat, red 48s to 54s 1 vats.... 2Bs to 30 3 White do .51s to 60s i Beans 48: to 58s Barley .30s to 31s f Peas q to -- --41 Malt, 70s to 72s per qr. ; rye, 36s per qr ; flour, 41s to 45s per sack. NORWICH—AuG. 3. The attendance of factors and farmers to-day was good, and wheat was in fair supply. Trade slow, at is under the prices of the preceding week. Malting barley nearly ne' minal ; grinding in short supply. Little doing in oats, beans, or peas. Flour a shade easier. White wheat. 54s to 58s I Red wheat 48s to 52s Malting barley....4ss to 47s I Chevalier barley 4ls to 44s Distilling do ......31s to 34s I Oats.. 26s to 30s Flour, 38s Od to —s Od per sack from the miller. NORTIIAMPTON- R. At this corn-market the supply of wheat was barley an average one. Trade active—prices ranging 56s to 60s for old, and 40s to 58s for new. A small trade in barley--:' malting 37s to 40s, grinding 33s to 35s per qr. Oats in moderate show, and prices as before—quoted at 20s to 360 per 24 stone. Beans, old, 34s to 555; peas, 44s to 455. Rye, 37s to 425; malt, 708 to 74s ; flour, 42s to —s pe t sack. CAMBRIDGE—Auo. 3. A limited supply of wheat, with a firm trade; prices were rather high—white, from 54s to 588'; red, 400:to 500. Barley in small supply, malting —s to to 325. Oats varies from 20s to 30s. Beans were a sl o sale, from 40s to 44s per qr. —s, grinding 283vf THE MAIL S. MAILS DUE. Australia, Ceylon, anti Mauritius (via South ampton).. .. .. Aug. 1 8 . (via Marseilles) Aug. 12 • .. Aug. `1• Do. Brazil and Cape Verds Buenos Ayres, Monte Video, &c. • . • • Cuba and Mexico .. Aug. 1 2 . Canada, &c. (via L'derry) • • .. .. Aug. i• Cape of Good Hope, &c. Sept. 1. China, Penang, and Singapore (via S'ampton) Aug. 2. Do (via Marseilles) Aug. 12. Gibraltar (via Southampton) .. A u g. 2. India (Calcutta), Ceylon, &c. (via Southampton) Aug. Do. (via Marseilles) Aug. lm• India (Bombay), (via Southampton) .. .. Aug. 10. Do. (via Marseilles) .• Aug. 11. Lisbon A u g. Malta, Egypt, and Aden (via Southampton) Aug. 2 . Do. t(via Marseilles) 4 A u g. Vigo, and Oporto .. .. Aug. 11. United States, California, &o. Aug. 7. Western Coast of Atrica Madeira, Teneriffe A ug . 10. West Indies and Pacific,'Carthagena. Cuba, &c. Aug. 13. STEALING BANK OF ENGLAND NOTES.—At the Salford Police Court on Thursday, Robt. Lawton and David Hourdle, were charged with stealing three £5 Ban k O ' ,l England notes. The prisoners went into the parlour of the Lamb Vaults, Salford, on Wednesday evening, and chang ed two of the notes. Their conduct excited the suspicion of de tectives Henry Hargreaves and Hollingrake, and just Ss,‘, 8 third man joined the other two at the door of the vaults, illy detectives walked up and took two of them into custody, the third managing to escape. Ten pounds in money wet " found upon one of the men, and a £5 note upon the other, On Thursday morning, before the men were brought in to the police-court, a police hand-bill reached the office deseri b ; ing the loss of the three notes at Oldham, and offering reward for the recovery of them. The prisoners were ordered to be handed over to the police authorities at Oldham. [ADVERTISEMENT.] —Holloway's Ointment and Pills.-- Disease prevented or Cured.—Scorbutic humours so oiler! appear during childhood that it behoves every mot her and nurse to know how to eradicate them without danger T.. delay. In whatever way these constitutional taints dyl play themselves they may be surely met and successfully treated by using Holloway's noble remedies according to the instructions folded round each packet. Their eroPiVorsneatse attended by no risk ; by their means tbis formidab rasa before may be arrested and extirpated in its early ?g it reached the vital organs. When once be be attained poison is overcome the soundest health beScorbutic antidotes and preserved by occasionally using and paying proper attention to diet and ventilation. t" _ IRT HS. ANSTrcE.—On the 2d inst., at Madeley-wood, Shropshire , Mrs. John Anstice, of a son. DALE —On the 28th ult., at Lee, Kent, the wife of Jarue 9 Murray Dale, Esq., of a s on. OwErt.—On the I s t inst., at 2, Winchester-road, Mrs. W' G. Owen, of a son. RADLEY.—on the 3d Inst., at 29, Wobur n - square, Mr s. V ' Radley, of a son. MARRIAGES. MAcDoNALD—FRABER.—On the 3d inst., at the Scott ish ' N a tional Church, Crown Court, Drury-lane ~ina MO" Donald, only surviving dau g ht er o f t h e l ate Thos. Mac donald, Esq., Fortwilliam, Inverness-shire, S co tland, to Captain George Fras er , 42d R oyal Highlanders. ORLEBAR—BOUGHTON.---On the 30th ult., at Skipton! near Much Wenl oc k, Ri chard Orlebar, Esq., eldest s o of Richard Orlebar, Esq., of Hinwick House, Bedfor.% shire, to Frederi ca St . J o h n, youngest d aug hter of " 4 Sir W. E. Rouse Boughton, Bart. BAILEY.—OR the Ist D ins ll t , A a T t H H ill S ingdon-end, - Uxb ridge ' John Bailey, aged 85, GRO VER.—On th e 30th u lt at New Peckham, J ohn ThoB' Grover, Esq., of Bedford-row, solicitor, aged 56. lIILL.—On the Ist inst., at Worthing. Charles Hill, Escl 4 of Woolaston House, Northamptonshire, aged 50• LADD.—On the Ist inst , Juliana, widow of Mr. B. . 1 ` ON L s a L d o cl l , v l . atc, of H.11.', Customs, aged 53. ! the 30th ult., at Woodbridge House, neS Giiaziord, the Hon. Edward.Mainwaring M. E. On aged aged a. ROBERTS.—On the 27th ult., at Marlows, Hemel lienir stead, Herts, Wm. Roberts, Esq., aged 61. LONDON : Printed and Published by MURDO YOUNG , A : No. 112, Strand, Printer, at TUE SuN Office, No. 112,Stral.: in the Precinct of the Savoy, In the Co atlty of Auaulgic" AL:multi, moult 5, 1461. ~~ B InT tiff iner it 7 SI PRI TNT OthE 1 111! 'Aro ---__ 11 1 , t,t Ce Ne