The Sun. — London, England, 1863-02-05 00:00:00

O`,k 7 DON ASSURANCE CORPORA'rION, for Fire, Life, and Marine Assurances. Inc,rporated by Royal Charter, A D. 1720. (rflices 7, Royal Exchange, and 7. Pall-Mall. Established 1637. P,ITANNIALIFE' ASSURANCE COMPANY (empowered by speCial Act of Parliament, 4 Vict. cap. 9), nod T t I rANNIA MUTUAL LIFE ASSOCIATION (em po were:l by her Majesty's Royal Letters Patent), 1, Princes street, Bank, London. Major- _iencral ALEXANDER, Blackheath -park, Chairman. Every description of Lite Assurance business transacted, with or without Particip AN ation in Profits. DREW FRANCIS, Secretary. I ----- LO'NDON +ma LANCASHIRE FIRE and LIFE INSURANCE COMPANIES. Capital—Fire, £1,40400. Capital— if e, £lOO,OOO. 73 and 74, King William - street, B.C. CHAIRMAN—F.W. Russell, Esq., M.P. Fire—Mr. Alderman Daklit. DEPUTY-CHAIRMEN Life—J. H. Mackenzie, Esq. The Companies are under different Deeds, and separate Capital. Home and Foreign Fire and Life Insurances at Moderate Rates. Foreign residence and travelling allowed under liberal con ditions. Commission allowed to Agents and others. W. P. CLIREHUGH, Lieneral Manager. ESTABLISHED A.D. 1844. G REAT BRITAIN MUTUAL LIFE ASSURANCE SOCIETY. Empowered by Special Act of Parliament, 25 and 26 Vic., cap. 74. WILLIAM HENRY DICKSON, Esq., Chancellor House, Tunbridge Wells, Chairman. THOMAS R. DAVISON, Esq., 2, Royal Exchange-buildinge. _________ _ Depaty-thairman. This Society is established on the tried and approved prin ciple of Mutual Assurance. The funds are accumulated for the exclusive benefit of the members, under their own midede diate superintendence and control. The profits are dimiv annually. 101, Chea lide, E.C. C. L. LAWSON, Secretary. --- ROYAL INSURANCE COMPANY. Head Offices-29, Lombard-street. London, and Royal Insurance _Buildings, Liverp ooi. ccumulated Total Annual Revenue, exceeds £450,000 A Funds in hand, over .£B5O, FIRE DEPARTMENT.OOO. The Receipt of FIRE PRNMIUMS has been as follows :- 1N::5...... £130,060 1859 £228,314 1857 175,949 11161 Placing the Company among the Teri largest Offices in the Kingdom. enormous su m of more than £96,000. Moreover, the latest Parliamentary Returns of Insurance Tax paid to the Inland Revenue Office (ordered to be printed by the House of Commons, Bth July, 1862) exhibits the ROYAL INSURANCE COMPANY, as respects increase of buiness, at the HEAD OF ALL the Insurance Offices. LIFE DEPARTMENT. The rapid progress and position of this Branch will be best shown by the following statement of the New Life Business effected for the Year New Premiums. Year New Premiums. 1855 £5.9 9 18 6 1 1859 £13,086 8 5 1857 10,270 8 6 1861 16,627 18 0 Large Bonuses declared 1855 and 1860—£2 per Cent. per Annum. The greatest Bonus ever continuously declared by any Company. PERCY M. DOVE, Manager and Actuary. JOHN B. JOHNSON, Secretary in London. QTANDARD LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY k. 7 was established in 1625, and during the last 15 years the annual average t , f new assurances has exceeded half a million Sterling„ being the largest business transacted in that period by any life assurance office, From 1846 to 1851 the amount of ass3r auces effected was From 1851 to 1858 the amount of assur ances effected was 2,541,840 6 1 From 1856 to 1861 the amount of assur ances effected was 2,802,958 14 5 Total in 15 years £7,590,260 12 6 Accumulated Fund £2,000,000 0 0 Annual Revenue The D: rectors invite particnlar attPntion to the New Terms and Conditions of th 4 standard Policy. FREE ASSURANCE. The assured under these policies may proceed to and reside in any part of the world without payment of extra premium ; may serve in militia or volunteer corps, in time of peace or war, within the United Kingdom ; and, further, no policy of live years' duration shall be liable to any ground of cnallenge whatever connected with the original documents on which the assurance was granted. Policies of Five Years' duration effected for the whole term of life at a uniform rate of premium may be renewed within 13 months of date of lapsing on payment of a fine, during which period the risk shall be binding on the Company in the event of death, subject to the deduction of premiums unpaid and fines. _Policies of Less than Five Years' duration may be renewed ` yi in 13 months on very favourable terms. 'wren der Values granted liter payment of one annual pre rahon on " with profit" policies, or three annual premiums "without profits. ' Loans granted on such policies on thOse within their value. j 37( order of the Directors. WILL. TIIOS. THOMSON, Manager. If. JONES WILLIAMS, Resident Secretary. London, E 2, ,King William-street. PROVIDENT CLERKS' MUTUAL LIFE ASSURANCE ASSOCIATION. Established 1840. The 22d Annual General Meeting of this Association was held on Wednesday, the 4th February, 1863 The Income for the year 1862 was £50,135 0 0 The Accumulated Fund The Report and Balance-sheet may be had on application to the Agents, or at the Chief Office, 15, Moorgate-street E.O February 5, 1863. WM. THOS. LINFORD, Secretary. VIE EUROPEAN ASSURANCE SOCIETY Issues guarantee policies or bowie at reduced rates of prerninza, on behalf of officials in or under th, Treasury, Cuaton2S, Inland Revenue, General Post-office, Board ot Trade, War-office, Admiralty, the Home, Colonial, and India Offices, Poor Law Board, Office of her Majesty's Works, &0., and other public departments. given to substitute the bonds of this Every . Pacilitv w ill be Scolety in lieu of existing securities. Life Assurance in all its branches at moderate rates, with or without participation in profits. Life Assurance, combined with guarantee, on terms most advantageous to the assured. Immediate Annuities, payable during the whole et l if e, may be purchased on the following scale : Annuities granted at the undermentioned Ages for every £lOO of Purchase Money. Ages I 1 £7 170. 6d. I .£lO 3e. 4d. 1 £14165. 2d. 50 1 6O 70 Annuity List of Shareholders, Prospectuses, and Agency applica tions may be obtained on application to W. CLELA.N Manager and S e cretary, >, Waterloo-place. Pall-mall. FURNITURE AND DECORATION. PRIZE MEDAL, GREAT EXHIBITION OF 1851, GOLD MEDAL OF HONOUR, EXPOSITION UNIVERSELLE, PARIS, 1855. MEDAL FOR GREAT EXCELLENCE OF DESIGN AND WORKMANSHIP. " INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION, 1862. A CKSON a nd GRAHAM resp.c'mity inform 0 the Nobility and Gentry that they have recently made great additions to their former extensive premises, which ren •cr their establishment the largest and most complete of its kind in this or any other country. Tile spacious Show-rooms and Galleries comprise a super ficial area of 27,000 feet. and are filled with an unrivalled sto,lc the prices of which arc all marked in plain figures at th.- most moderate rate for ready money. The extensive. Manufactory adjoining, with Machinery work, d by Steam Pow er, is fitted with ail means and appli ances to ensure superiority and econo nise cost. Each of the undermentioned Departments will be found as complete as if it formed a separate lousiness, Decorations of Paper Hangings, PainUvs and Interior alt kinds. Experienced Wor ' kmen sent to all parts of the king,ftm. Carpets of Superior Manufacture of every description. Cabinet Furniture, Chairs, Sofas, Ottomans, &c. Silk and Silk and Wool Damasks, Aubusson and Venetian Tapestries, Chintzes, Utrecht Velvets. Arras , Reps, Merino Damasks, Cloths, &c., &C. Bedsteads of Iron, Brass, and various Woods, and sup erior Bedding and Mattresses of all kinds. (Four Snow-rooms, each 120 feet long, are devoted to this department.) Plate Glass, Carvin and Gilding. Gallery of Bronzes l'Art (sole depot for the productions of enne and Co, Paris) F. Barbedi Mocks, Candelabra, Vases, and Ornamental Porcelain. The Public are thus enabled to select ad their Paper Hangings or Decorations, Carpets, Curtains, Furni ture all in har mony with each other at one est ablishment. 83, 34, 35, 37, and 38, Oxford-street. Perry 7 a-place, Preston-place, and Newman-yard, adjoining. AS WEETHEART for Is.—RDINIEL'S NEW VALENTINES, the " Sweetheart," delightfully scented, and the "Floral Valentine," made from natural flowers perfumed, the prettiest novelties yet produced, price is. each ; or either free bypost for 14 stamps. sold by all the trade.— RIMMEL, Perfumer to Her Majesty, 96, Strand, 24, Cornhill, and Crystal Palace. rJiEA, DIRECT AT MERCHANT'S PRICES. A- MOORE BROTHERS' Mixed ASSAM, very choi ce , 4s. per lb.—quality considered, the cheapest Tea sold. MOO RE BROTHERS' Choice SOUCHONG, s uit able for superior purposes, full rich Souchong Savour. id. per lb. deduction on 201 b. Bags and 451 b. Chests. Prospectus free. MOORE BROTHERS, 35, London -bridge, City, E.C. NATIONAL CHORAL SOCIRTY.—Exeter Hall was fully attended last night to hear an admirable per formance of Haydn's masterpiece, the " Creation," by the National Choral Society, under the conduct of Mr. G . W. Martin. The eminent position attained by this society in choral execution was fully sustained on this occasion. Mr. Sims Reeves, too,who is a "tower of strength" to any enter prise, join e d h is powerful aid to the perfecting of the ora torio. The organ under the manipulation of Mr. G. Board man, lends a substance, steadiness, and ensemble to the vocal leading, whi c h is of great service to the general effect of these excellent performances. Every seafaring man is fully alive to the diffi culties and dangers attending the lowering of boats under some of the circurnstrulae, mentioned, besides many others by the tackles in common use ; that boats are liable ship to be swamped, or stove against the 's sides, with per haps half their crews thrown into the water. Thee men must be picked up before another boat, which may have been successfully lowered, can go to the assistance of him who has fallen overboard, and whose struggles are probably at an end before it can reach the spot where he was last seen, and no vestige of him left owing to the delay. M a t ters with' these tackles are better managed on board men-of-w ar , partly on account of be in g stron g -handed, partl y tha t neither ccnfusion nor contra dictor y orders ever interfered with the duty, partly that the right moment was always in first-rate t the ate chosen to drop the boat into the water tackles, and finally that all was theand unhook hands e f n fitted with the seamen. This system, however, is now . . changed, the boats of every ship in her Majesty's service be patent disengaging hooks, so that the l y ng can be lo wered without fear or risk whenever the sea is rot too heavy for them to live in. The merit of this invention bel ongs to the late Captain Ky naaton, a brade and excellent officer, and withal much given to scientific pursuits. The effects of a wound received at the bombardment of Sebastopol cut short a most promising career, but not before his inver 'ion had been tested successfully in every possible way. It would be well if the same order regarding his hooks as that issued tar her Majesty's ships should extend to all mail steamers and hired transports; with the former it should be a clause in the contract with the Government; with the latter the remedy is apparent, not to take them up unless their boats are so fitted.— United Service ilfacazins. NvS. LINDSAY, M.P.—The Rising Genera • tion—Our Prize Essays—Mrs. Grundy's Gossiping, ire., in PUN this week. One Penny. Of all Newsmen. ROYAL ENGLISH OPERA, COVENT GARDEN. Under the Management of Miss Louisa Pyne and Mr. W. Harrison, Sole Lessees. THIS EVENING Wallace's new Opera of LOVE'S TRIUMPH: Miss Louisa Fyne, and Mdme. Lauraßaster ; Messrs. George Perren, W. H. Weiss, IL Corri, A. Cooke, and W. Harrison. Conductor—Mr. A. Mellon. After which, the Grand Comic Caritlmas Pantomime, en iitled HARLEQUIN BEAUTY AND_,THE BEAST. Doors open at half-past 6-410MMOICe at 7. THEATRE -R 0 Y Art Edm DRURYLANE.-- Lessee and Manager, . und Falconer. THIS EVENING, the Comic , Drama of THE NEXT` OF KIN. Alter which, the Grand Pantomime of LITTLE GO DDY TWO SHOES. Commence at 7. T HEAT RE-RO/ AI, HAY MARKET. Lessee, Mr. J. B. I3uckstone. THIS EVENING, at Seven o'clock, will be performed OUR AMERICN COUSIN Asa Trenchard, Mr. Buck stone Lord Dundreary A , Mr.. Sothern. After which, a new and original Extravaganza, entitled ItASSELAS, PRINCE OF ABYSSINIA ; or, The Happy Valley. Rasselas, Miss Louise Seeley. Concluding with OUR MARY ANNE. THEATRE -ROYAL LYCEUM OPEN, under the Sole Management of Mr. FECHTER. THIS EVENING, Feb. 6, to commence with an Original Sketch, entitled A SUDDEN ATTACK. Messrs. Shore, Garden, H. Widdicomb, Miss Henrade, and Mrs. Lee. After which, at a Quarter to Eight, a New Romantic Drama, in Three Acts, and PrSlogue, entitled THE DUKE'S MOTTO, by Paul Feval and John Brougham. The principal character will be sustained by Mr. Fechter, sunported by Messrs. G. Vining, J. Brougham, H. Widdi com, W. M'lntyre, F. Charles, Garden, Raymond, H. Butler, Dawson; Misses Carlotta Leclercq, Kate Terry, E. Lavenue, and Elsworthy. Mr. Phelps and Mr. W. Montgomery are engaged, and will shortly appear. Doors open at half-past Six, performance to commence at Seven. Private Boxes, £2 12s. 6d., and £2 2s. Places registered. Stalls, 6s. 6d. ; Dress Circle, 55. fkl. ; Upper Circle, 4s. 6d. Prices at doors—Stalls, 6s. ; Dress Circle, ss. ; Upper Circle, 4s. ; Pit, 2s. ; Gallery, is. No half-price. Box office open daily from 11 till 5. The public are entreated to take notice that no charge is made to the occupants of boxes, box places, or stalls, either for playbills or for the safe keep ing of hats and cloaks : and that the attendants in all parts of the house are forbidden to receive anygratuities whatever Stage-Manager, Mr. G. Vining. Acting-Manager, Mit EC Barnett. OYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE. Lessee and Manager, Mr Linda , . THIS EVENING, LAW v. LOVE : Miss M. Oliver. Followed by ONE GOOD TURN DESERVES AN OTHER. Mr. R. Roxby and Miss Amy Sedgwick. After which, the New Grand CHRISTMAS PANTOMIME, RIQUIET WITH THE TUFT ; or, Harlequin and Mother Shipton." Mr. G. Belmore, Mr. C. Seyton, Misses Gray and Hudspeth, Mr. Milano, Mr. R. Power, Miss A. Collinson, and Mr. Half ord. N' THEATRE-ROYAL, ADELPHI.-- Sole Proprietor and Manager, Mr. B. Webster. THIS EVENING, THE LI I TLE TEE SURE. Mr. Brat/4ton, Mr. R. Phillips, and Miss Marie Wilton. After which, A TICKET OF LEAVE : Messrs. J. L.Toole, P Bedford. and Mrs. Billington. To be followed by "GEORGE DE BARNWELL : or, Harlequin Folly in the Realms of Fancy." Miss Woolgar, Miss K. Kelly, Miss Seaman ; Messrs. J. L. Toole, P. Bed ford, s4ephenson, C. J. Smith. Harlequin, Mr. John Lauri ; Columbine, Miss Caroline Adams ; Clown, Mr. W. Hildyard ; 'antaloon, Mr. J. Paulo. The celebrated Arthur and I: ertrand. Commence at 7. The Weather.—Sun Office, Feb. 5, 1863. THERMOMETER. Highest since Noon yesterday Lowest during the night This day at Noon 46 Barometer-30.21. Wind—N.W., fresh:; with fine weather. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. THIS DAY.—Morning, 3h. 14m.—Afternoon, 3h. 32m. ro-moßßow.-Morning, 3h. 45m.—Afternoon, 311. 59m. - ~,, "t" i k tS: 4 C(o)lleale4 t r , rt LONDON, THURSD#tY, FEB. 5, 1863. The Imperial Parliament of these realms, having been formally opened this afternoon by Royal Commission, the Speech from the Throne, as but just now read from the foot of the Throne by the Lord Chancellor, can be already turned to in an other part of our impression, and there examined at leisure by those who list. From the nineteen paragraphs of this State document, it will be seen that our anticipations in regard to it have been realised in every particular. It announces nostart ling programme for the session. It hints at no great projected innovations. Its chief interest lies,in truth, in the references therein made, as usual, but this time with a peculiar significance, to the amicable charac ter of our relations with all the other Powers of the earth, not alone in Europe, but alike in all quarters of the globe. Coupled with this pre eminently satisfactory reminder, comes also the opportune recognition by the Sovereign, through the medium of her MAJESTY'S Commis sioners, the singularly opportune recognition by her MAJESTY of the tranquility at this epoch pre vailing throughout all parts of her vast dominion. Grateful indeed is that consideration to every loyal subject of the Crown at this moment—now, when, simultaneously, in the old world and in the new, the most conspicuous and powerful states, whether repubiican or despotic, are passing through an ordeal of apparent disruption. The giant democracy of North America more widely than ever it would seem rent asunder irreconcilably—North and South still contending with each other in deadly conflict. In an exactly opposite direction, both geographi cally and politically, the giant autocracy of Russia, moreover, is known to be engaged, at this very same juncture, with another of those periodical evidences of the hatred in which it is held by the various minor nations around it, who, at different intervals have been brought under its rule, either by diplo matic fraud or by sheer force of arms—the military despotism of the CzAR being now vigorously occu pied, in point of fact, in the suppression of another vast Polish Insurrection. In proof of which, Cossacks and Uhlans, regiment after regiment, and bearing with them a whole battery of artillery, have, it would seem, accoreing to to-day's telegrams, been despatched in hot haste to the insurgent districts by express orders flashed with laconic precision from the Imperial Cabinet at St. Peters burg. Not only, however, is civil war raging within the dominions of the Republic of North America, and of the military despotism of Russia, but elsewhere in all parts of the earth not embraced within the compass of the British Empire, there are, if not open revolt and bloodshed, overt or latent sources of profound disquietude. Turkey is still struggling with her financial embarrassments—con strained while so engaged to keep the unsheathed sword yet firmly within her grasp, with an eye perpetually turning askance to one part or another of her northern frontiers. Prussia ap pears to be unavoidably committed to a fierce com bat—the fatal issue of which must come sooner or later—between the SOVEREIGN and the Parliament. Germany and Scandinavia have still lying between them, as it were, upon the very:verge of their inevi table struggle in the end, that long recognised pro vocative to war in the North, that constant plea of contention, more especially between the Councils of Berlin and Copenhagen—the Schleswig-Holstein difficulty. Turning southwards, there is Italy, still, as an independent State, untranquilised, because unconsolidated. And this mainly because of an analogous difficulty that perpetually appears to preclude the nation from the possibility of anything like a secure and satisfactory settlement. The latest phase in regard to which diplomatic difficulty is seemingly —to put the matter, plain. terms—that France, Turin, the Papacy itself, have, for an interval at least, determined, at this latest mention of the Roman Question, to evade it, t o ignore it, in Parliamentar y phrase, to pass to the Order of the Day. And that Order of the Day, in reference to the Italian People and the Roman Peninsula, may, for the time being, be expressed quite obviously in one word—postponement. r Anxiety, war, rebellion visible elsewhere—peace, prosperity, profound tranquility are known to prevail throughout the length and breadth of our own dominions. Not only is it thus with regard to , the actual situation of the British Empire inter nally, but, externally, that Empire is at peace with the whole world—holds amicable relations even with those powers whether democratic or auto cratic that might have been supposed to have had a tendency at heart to resent our non-interference in their behalf under the pressure of an emergency. No wonder can it be then, that what Mr. KINGLAKE is fond of calling (if he loves one word n2ore than another—as he certainly loves this be yond any other monosyllable in the language)—a stress is for once laid upon the eld stereotyped phrases in reference to our friendly relations with foreign powers, and the tranquility prevailing throughout our own empire—phrases possessing, we repeat, at this particular juncture, so very peculiar and exceptional a significance. Although but comparatively fe wlegislative improve ments can be hinted at in reference to the modification of the marriage law in Ireland and Scotland, to the revision of the criminal code so far as relates to th e treatment of the more incorrigible class of criminals, and to the advancement yet further this session of some progressive and graduated efforts at law re form—the chief interest attaching to the Speech from the Throne but just now delivered by Royal Commis sion will be found to relate to matters peculiarly affecting the domestic relations of the country, the actual or probable situation of things within the bounds of the United Kingdom. The loyal sympathy of her people—awakened so sorrowfully last year upon the opening of Parliament, by Her MAJESTY'S reference then in the Royal Speech of 1862, to her recent and most bitter bereavement, will as infallibly be called forth joyously this year by Her MAJESTY'S allusion, in the very first para graph of the Speech from the Throne of 1863,:t0 the strongly contrasting theme of the approaching ma r riage of his Royal Highness the Herr Apparent. Never yet has the QUEEN appealed in vain, whether in joy or in grief, to the sympathy of her happy and grateful people. Never have her words of appeal in this way fallen more potently on the popular ear. And this, probably, because they come to us, these touching words in to• day's Speech from the Throne, so to speak, accentuated at once by the joy and the grief of the Sovereign ! Grief, still as poig nant as ever in her MAJESTY'S heart in the cherished remembrance there of the princely husband, for ever lost to her affections in this world ! Joy in the happy future now immediately opening up before the eldest of his sons, the heir to her MAJESTY'S Crown and Empire ! If pitying reference has still to be made to the protracted sufferings of the manufacturing operatives of Lancashire in the gracious Speech from the Throne, by the vicarious delivery of which the session of Parliament has this day been inau gurated, there is a solace, coupled at the same time with that pathetic remembrance, namely, that reference made to the noble spirit of resignation and of loyal endurance of their sufferings mani fested throughout their terrible ordeal by the afflicted population. Consolatory, also, is it to bear in recollection the extraordinary, but really indisputable fact that in spite of this sudden interruption of so large a branch of our manufactures, in spite of the simultaneous closing against . our trade of the ports of one of the largest and most important of the nations who are habitually our customers—our resources are never theless abundant of their kind that, notwith standing the vast extent of our annual expendi ture, a considerable surplus actual,y now remains on hand to be dealt with by our Chancellor of the Ex chequer. A surplus—not, as hitherto, for several years past an unmistakeable and sometimes a really embarassing deficit ! A surplus, moreover, suffi ciently considerable, as it would appear to hold before us the happy prospect of an immediate and notable remission of taxation—probably twopence in the pound sterling dropped from the detested Income Tax, and possibly coupled with this the dropping also of the war taxes upon tea and sugar. Brighter days open, in fact, before the Roy al Family and for the Nation with this day's opening of the British legislature. But—before the Ministry ? Well, that is quite another matter altogether ! And, in regard to that matter we shall have to remain in doubt for yet a little while longer : namely, as we intimated yesterday, until after his Royal High ness's marriage. As Parliament re-assembles this evening, the range of debate will take a wider scope than the Address ; embracing not only topics of domestic interest at home, but many of national concern abroad. Of these the American war will engross much, nor will attention be confined to the two belligerent parties—North and South; but will ex tend to Mexico and the doings of our neighbours in that disjointed quarter. Nor shall we be sur prised to learn, before long, that matters become more complex than many lookers-on expected. The French may find that it is much easier and far safer to plan than execute. Am bition may find it difficult to reconcile theory with practice among the Mexicans—a peo ple of unsteady habits, and more apt to suspect the kind intentions of unwelcome visitors than to place confidence in professions of friendship, and the sooner they lake French leave the better. NAPOLEON, with all his affectation of frankness, has just volunteered too much. His policy to set Mexican against Mexican, and so spare his own men, may please his soldiers, where they will have to be more careful of their health than solicitous about obtaining laurels. The EMPEROR seems to have overlooked one consequence, that the Mexicans will be forewarned by the knowledge vouchsafed iu his instructions to General FOREY. And they will not fail to profit by the lesson so magnani mously promulgated for their especial edification. We wonder if the publication of that letter was acci dental or a piece of spontaneous good nature ? But whatever the motive we suspect that the con sequence will yet sorely plague the impolitic scribe. Nor is it the Mexicans alone that are favoured with gratuitous information. President LINCOLN, too, is honoured with an imperial hint, not much to the liking of one who has set his heart on Empire far and vide,—not for himself, dear modest man, — but for his darling Union. What will he now think of NAPOLEONIC mediation when he learns the kind intention of his benefactor to curb his further pro gress in the march of territorial aggrandisement P Poor England, so well-abused, despised, and threat ened—has never dared to question the grandeur still expanding—and promising to expand to the very bounds of creation, for what Eugland has said to the contrary—not she from deferential cour tesy, no doubt, but here—his own beloved Imperial ally and arbiter steps forward, and puts his foot down saying " Thus far east thou gone, but no farther, Mr. LINCOLN! Mexico is mine—and Texas too, for a cotton plantation —whether the South like it or not." Poor Mr. LINCOLN ! why did you quarrel with Mr. DAVIS P—what will he say to it, think you ? Had you not quarrelled like the Kilkenny eats, till there is little left of you, would the mighty Gallic Cock have crowed so defiantly ? Would he have acted thus, had you remained bro- THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 5, 1863. thers still ? Would he have dared the wrath of your, united power ? Not he; but now that both your combs are cut as his own had been before, he struts forward and lectures you in your own divided house of representative weakness. In your day of greatness you taught him how to swagger, and now see how cunningly he copies you in the hour of your distress. Will you make it up and avenge yoar quarrel—not on your cousin England, but on your warlike pacificator, and tender him your " me diation" if he will cut and run ? Mexico will join you heartily; and the world may be yet your own if you be content to part when that affair is over. We half suspect that the Emperor (to be) of the West will yet find that he had better have remained where he is, and cultivated his " Latin" cucumbers, with all their prestige, in a more congenial clime— their native East.. We are not given to prophecy, but if NAPOLEON% i►l advised publication of his good intentions to wards not only Mexico but to North American am bition, and to the South in regard to Texas, do not complicate his web of wiles to his own confusion, we shall be more surprised than he will be pleased. Ambition has cooled hotter temper before now, and left— " Proud Gallia's legions whelmed in I•nows of fate ;" and a kindred Emperor, regardless of the lessons of the Past, may mourn the fate that lured him on for gold. Mr. LINCOLN and his " forecasts"—men about as reckless as himself—have " notified" the North that in sixty days the South would be crushed, and the Rebellion at an end. But when the time had run, the bill was extended to ninety days, and when that term had also expired there was nothing for it but to renew the promise, with the usual days of grace, and no mistake this time, for the "military measure," according to Mr, SEWARD'S " calcula tion," would make it all right. Thus they went on, still promising but always reckoning, we guess, without their host. If they could not command success, their perseverance certainly deserved it, for expedition followed expedition, and " strategy" more than once saved the army from annihilation. And still they rushed on, reckless of repulse—by land, by water, they renewed the charge—all with uniform result. Mr. LINCOLN, in his one idea of the Union— nothing but the Union—come what will, strongly reminds us of DAVIS, the celebrated sporting better —who had bat one idea also, and that was to win ; having calculated the doctrine of chances, he reduced his game to a certainty by taking the odds he found his " book" to pay. DAVIS went round the betting ring (at Epsom) calling out " Who'll bet ? Who'll bet ?" "Bet on what ?" " Why on anything !" The winner—for choice, says DAVlS—and so says Mr. LINCOLN, he will bat on Freedom or Slavery, so either wins—even if it end in a tie—so it ties the Union yet closer. But the "DAVIS" on the other side of the "Post"—has made up his bet ting-book also, after a fashion of his own, and that is, to win the sturdy game of lade pendence, against LINCOLN'S game of Empire—and the " betting" runs strongly in his favour. " The South" for choice is now the " call"—and the race promises in spite of many "ups and downs" in the courser—to come off all right for the " nigger" in the long ran. Mr. LINCOLN has opened the ball professedly for Union, but in reality for Empire—power and profit—power to whip all creation, and profit to revel in the sweets of slave labour. The Yankee, as a matter of morality, denounces slavery to tickle the taste of OBADIAII—but cherishes it care fully to snit the market of Manchester, Thus hypo crisy and credulity run hand in hand, taking the world into their confidence, while they are cheating the Devii in the dark. "Down with Slavery I—but up with prices!"—is the cry of thy: Union, be it Republic to-day or Democratic to• morrow. Abolition, or extermination, so it con duce to the Union, is Mr. LINCOLN'S doctrine; and therefore he makes emancipation a military, not a moral measure. Here's Christianity exemplified by the PRESIDENT of a religious people, for the Yankees profess themselves as religious as may be—surpassing all other people in godliness as they do in domineering independence. With them—bounce is principle—as assertion is pro f, in their dealings with the almighty dollar. But let us be just, while we cannot but lament their un scrupulous audacity of character. We admire their many good q ualities —their bold spirit—and un tameable resolution to go ahead, be it in the right or not; but while they assume more merit than is due, they ought not to engross all virtue to them selves, leaving so little to those who lived before them, and have no wish to die forgotton in the Old World, while they flourish so wondrously in the New. Live and let live is our maxim, and may vet become theirs when they can afford to be charitable. We may envy their " opportunity," ggle f or em pire, under the mask of U n ity, an d s w tr h u ile we regret th eir bad use of it — the bloody power for themselves, at the sacrifice of independ ence for their fellow-men and brothers. The slave must yet become free, but, like a child as he grows to manhood, by degrees and culture, so that he may serve his master while he benefits himself. Freedom is man's inheritance, and, as a volunteer is worth two pressed men, so a liberated slave will in time be doubly valuable to his master. Thus, if JEFFERSON DAVIS were to p ro claim a real emancipation, to commence gra d ua ll y a f ter th e termination of the war, he would find his reward in the gratitude of the slave, while it would be a present stimulus and a future boon to the master. Let us hope the South will adopt this policy, and so enlist the sympathy of mankind in their cause, while it will hasten the recognition of their inde pendence—so dearly fought for and so bravely Ron. The Greeks Resident in London. TO THE EDITOR OF THE BUN. Sir,—l have the honour of forwarding you a trans lation of the unanimous address which the Greek residents in London are about to send to the Na tional Assembly of Greece, and I shall feel obliged by your inserting it in your columns.—l am, sir, yours, &c,, M. E. MAVROGORDATO. 5, CJpthall-eourt, sth Feb., 1863. ~ To the niost Honourable the National Assembly of Greece. " We, the undersigned members of the Greek community in London, prompted by our solicitude for the welfare of our beloved country, have resolved to communicate to your august body, with the utmost diffidence and respect, our views and wishes as regards the election of a Prince to the vacant throne of Greece. " We understand that his Serene Highness the Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha is willing to become our King. We regard this circurtrstance with feelings of intense satisfac tion, inasmuch as we derive from it the hope that Greece will obtain a ruler favourably known to Europe for his con summate ability and ripe experience, and for his fidelity to the cause of Constitutional Government. Possessing,as he does, many of the qualities of heart and mind for the sake of which the people of England honour and love the memory of his lamented brother, the late Prince-Consort, we feel assured that his accession to the throne will confer on Greece the same benefits as those she fondly anticipated in k proclaiming Prince Alfred her King. " Worthy representatives of the nation I ma y the Almighty ho has s o o f ten rescued Hellas from d ang er, and relieved her in distre ss , now inspire your counse ls and direct your steps, that y ou may be led to rest your c hoice on a Prince who, we believe, h as there visite ualifications for t he task of making our fath er l an d h appy , pros perous, and free." ( q ~•~: OPENING OF PARLIAMENT THIS DAY. - - - HOUSE OF LORDS. Parliament was opened by Royal Commission to day. There is a marvellous difference in the scene which the House of Lords presents when her Ma jesty meets her Legislature with all the accessories of rank and wealth and power; then nobles of long lineage, some of whose titles have been preserved through successive changes of Nor man, Plantagenet, Tudor, and Stuart dynas ties, are assembled ; the benches of the house are occupied by the fairest of women, who, with their many-coloured dresses and jewels, dimmed by the lustrous beauty of the wearers, give grace, beauty, and animation to the scene; the re presentatives of foreign Courts, dazzling in their bright uniforms and glowing orders, then attend ; and the Commons crowd the bar, and form part of the grand assemblage of Lords and Commons that pay fitting reverence to the Queen of England. If any one would desire to see a perfect con trast to all this, we would recommend them to the scene of the opening of Parliament by commission. In place of the splendid array of beauty, we have a score or two of ladies in morning dress who occupy the seats on the benches of the Opposition. There are the three Clerks of the House, in long black gowns and wigs, seated at the table, and a very thin attendance on the Minis terial side of the House. The Lord Chancellor and the other Peers named in the Royal Commission having taken their seat on a bench in front of the Throne, the Usher was commanded to summon the Commons to the bar of their Lordships' Hoase. la a few minutes the Speaker and the principal members made their appearance. Her Majesty's C mmission was read in their presence, at the termination of which Tt e LORD CHANCELLOR read HER MAJESTY'S SPEECH. MY LORDS AND GENTLEMEN, Her Majesty commands us to inform you that since you were last assembled she has declared her consent to a marriage between His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales and Her Royal Highness the Princess Alexandra, daughter of Prince Christian of Denmark ; and her Majesty has concluded thereupon a treaty with the King of Denmark, which will be laid before you. The constant proofs which her Majesty has received of your attachment to her person and family persuade her that you will participate in her sentiments on an event so interesting to her Majesty, and which, with the blessing of God, will, she trusts, prove so conducive to the happiness of her family and to the welfare of her people. Her Majesty doubts not that you will enable her to make provision for such an establishment as you may think suitable to the rank and dignity of the Heir Apparent to the Crown of these realms. A revolution having taken place in Greece, by which the Throne of that Kingdom has be come vacant, the Greek nation have ex pressed the strongest desire that her Majesty's son Prince Alfred should accept the Greek Crown. This unsolicited and spontaneous manifestation of good-will towards her Majesty and her Family, and of a due appreciation of the bene fits conferred by the principles and practice of the British Constitution, could not fail to be highly gratifying, and has been deep►y felt by her Majesty. But the diplomatic engagements of her Majesty's Crown, together with other weighty considerations, have prevented her Majesty from yielding to this general wish of the Grtek nation. Her Majesty trusts, however, that the same principles of choice which led the Greek nation to direct their thoughts, in the first instance, to wards His Royal Highness Prince Alfred, may guide them to the selection of a Sovereign under whose sway the Kingdom of Greece may enjoy the blessings of internal prosperity and of peaceful relations with other States; and if in such a state of things the Republic of the Seven Islands should declare a deliberate wish to be united to the Kingdom of Greece, her Majesty would be prepared to take such steps as may be necessary for a revision of the Treaty of November, 1815, by which that Republic was reconstituted and was placed under the pro tection of the British Crown. Her Majesty's relations with foreign Powers continue to be friendly and sa'isfactory. Her Majesty has abstained from taking any step with a view to induce a cessation of the conflict between the contending parties in the North Ame rican States; because it has not yet seemed to Her Majesty that any such overtures could be attended with a probability of success. Her Majesty has viewed with the deepest concern the desolating warfare which still rages in those regions ; and she has wit nessed with heartfelt grief the severe dis tress and suffering which that war has inflicted upon a large class of her Majesty's subjects, but which have been borne by them with noble forti tude and with exemplary resignation. It is some consolation to her Majesty to be led to hope that this suffering and this distress are rather dimi nishing than increasing; and that some revival of employment is beginning to take place in the manu facturing districts. It has been most gratifying to her Majesty to witness the abundant generosity with which ail classes of her subjects in all parts of her Em pire have contributed to relieve the wants of their suffering fellow-countrymen ; and the I►he rality with which her Majesty's colonial subjects have on this occasion given their aid has proved that, although their dwelling-places are far away, their hearts are still warm with unabated affection for the land of their fathers. The Relief Committees have superintended with constant and laborious attention the distribution of ths funds entrusted to their charge. Her Majesty commands us to—inform you that she has concluded with the King of the Belgians a treaty of commerce and navigation, and a conven tion respecting joint-stock companies• Tnat treaty and that convention will be laid before you. Her Majesty has likewise given directions that there shah be laid before you papers relating :o the affairs of Italy, of Greece, and of Denmark, and that papers shall also be laid before you relating to occurrences which have lately taken place in Japan. GENTLEMEN OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS, Her ma j esty has directed th a t t h e EILIIII,Lt's for the ensuing year shall be laid +Wore you. They have been prepared with a due regard to economy, and will provide for such reductions of expenditure as have appeared to b 3 consistent with the proper efficiency of the public service. MY LORDS AND GENTLEMEN, We are commanded by her Majesty to inform you that notwithstanding the continuance of the civil war in North America, the genera]. commerce of the country during the past year has not sensibly diminished. The Treaty of Commerce which her Majesty concluded with the Emperor of tilt: French has already been productive of results highly advan tageous to both ►he nations to which it applies ; and the general state of the Revenue, notwithstanding many unfavourable circumstances, has not been un satisfactory. Her Majesty trusts that these results inay be taken as proofs that the productive resources of the country are unimpaired. It has been gratifying to her Maj,sty to ob serve the spirit of order which happily prevails throughout her dominions, and which is so essential an element in the well-being and pro sperity of nations. Various measures of public usefulness and im provement will be submitted for your considera tion; and her Majesty fervently prays that in all your deliberations the blessing of Almighty God may guide your counsels to the promotion of the welfare and happiness of her people. LATEST INTELLIGENCE THE GREEK THRONE. GOTHA, FEB. 4. The Coburger Zeitung of to-day gives an officia; confirmation to the news that the Duke of Saxe. Coburg has definitely declined to become a candi date for the throne of Greece, and announces that his Highness will himself make public a full v.ccouni of the negotiations which preceded this refusal. ATHENS, FEB. 4. The Nati:mal Assembly has unanimously passed resolutions decreeing the Throne to have been for feited by Otho, his Queen, and dynasty, and to have become vacant. The National Assembly also declared Prince Alfred to have been elected King of the Greeks by 230,000 FRANCE. PARIS, FEB. 4. Thd debate on the Address in reply to the Em peror's Speech commenced to-day in the Corps Legislatif. M. Plichon, Who opened the debate, principally spoke upon home affairs, and zensured the Govern ment system in regard to the public press, and the interterence of the Administration in electoral matters. M. Kolb-Bernard delivered a speech upon foreign questions, in which he drew attention to the dif ference between the policy of England and that of France. M. Kolb-Bernard eulogized the policy of France in Cnina, Cochin-China, and Japan. He then touched upon the Eastern question, and said that England was too powerful at Constantinople, and endeavoured to maintain the atutus quo in Turkey from purely selfish motives. He said that England alone sympathized with the Druses after the massacres of the Lebanon, and continued : " England wishes to make the onerous gift of the lonian Islands to Greece in order to insure to herself dominion over the Hellenic Peninsula. England remains the ally of the Sultan ; she places herself as the shield of Turkey, and thus strengthens her position. England has occupied Perim and covets Lemnos and the Dardanelles." M. Kolb-Bernard also said that he hoped Austria would unite with France to bring to a solution the Eastern question. " Russia," he said,— " Wishes to conquer Constantinople, and at the same time odiously oppresses Poland. She has also just inaugurated man-hunting under the title of a conscription. (Applause from several benches.) Russia proclaims a liberal policy in the East, aspires to the Protectorate of the Christians in the East, endeavours to hasten the work of dismember- ment of Turkey, and has become an ally of Pied mont for this purpose. The policy of France in the Kist is conservative. She must protect the in terests of the Christians, and place herself between the different ambitious parties which covet the pro vinces of the Empire which is falling to pieces." In reference to Italy, M. Kolb-Bernard said that the policy of France in Italy was to protect Catho licism. He maintained that Italy did not wish for unity, and believed it impossible to reconcile the maintenance of the temporal power with the pre tensions of the domination of Piedmont. In con clusion, M. Kolb-Bernard expressed a hope that France would return to her historical and tradi tional policy. L' Opinion Nationale learns that M. Guyard Delataine has presented to-day to the Chamber of Deputies an a wendment relative to Poland, and applauds the step thus taken as an initiative reflect ing honour alike on the deputy and on France whose name he speaks. It observes that the Prus sian Cibinet has only confirmed its anticipations by issuing a proclamation against the insurgents, since nothing else could be f xpected from a government which makes Divine Right its ideal. It says that King William has despatched one of his aides-de camp and a superior officer to Warsaw charged with a mission relative to the affairs of Poland. He is at the same time concentrating Lis forces on the Polish frontier, and the Prussian railways are encumbered, it is said, with soldiers directed towards Posnanie. It has been thought that Austria was less hostile to the insurrection ; but the Court of Vienna could not isolate itself from Prussia and Russia, and it is announced that the chef de police has published a manifesto, threatening the penalties of the law against . recruiting agents for the Poles. It is rumoured that the Russian Government was en dettiouring to • provoke an insurrection in Gallicia, in order to force Austria to co-operate with her in repressing the national outbreak, The movement is constantly 'Spreading. The insurgents are already tolerably organised, and commanded by old officers General Vysocki is said to have taken the direction of the movement. General Czaykows, who has left Turkey in haste, where he had joined the army, is at the head of the bands which have penetrated Volhynia. A war of words is raging between the different organs of the French press on the subject of Poland, some observations of Le Constitutionnel having ex cited the anger of L' Union, supported by Le Siecle and Le Pays, who accuse Le Constitutionnel of Russian sympathies. Le Constitutionnel indig nantly declares that it is on account of its love for Poland that it beholds these outbreaks with affliction, and asks which are the truest friends of Poland, those who encourage her to hopeless attempts or those who strive to convince her that such efforts only retard the era of peace and re generation which, according to Le Constitutionnel, has already commenced. Le Steele gives a list of the princip,il contribu tions to toe t awl tor tie distres,ed cotton operatives, and announces that the subscriptions received at its own office for the purpose realised yesterday the amount of 155,0001 r. In the same journal we find an interesting article from the pen of M. Ferdinand de Listedme, recommending the erection of a grand central museum of the Industrial Arts, similar in design to our Sourn Kensington Museum. The Minister ot Public — lnstruetiou has trans mitted to the Miniser of the Interior the Nu ra of 200 tr. as a new r-üb,eription from' the Imperial Lye, urn ot Rouen to favour of the Orphe/imat of the Prince Imperial. . The Archbishop of Canterbury and the Misses Longley have arrived at Lambeth Palace from Addington Park. Her Highness the Princess Marie de Philippesco and Sir Stephen Bartlett Lakeman have left the Bruns wick Hotel, Jermyn-street, for the Isle of Wight. the Duke and Duchess of ALirlbJrough and family have arrived in St. James's -square from Blenheim Palace, Oxon- The Duchess of Beaufort comes to town to-day from Badminton. • Court •kt=f4 ... _ E MAJESTY. OSBORNE, Feb. 4. The Queen drove out yesterday, accompanied by Prince and Princess Louis of Hesse and Princess Helena, and attended by Lieut.-Colonel Du Plat. Sir Andrew Bachanan remained at Osborne yes terday after the Council, and returned to London to-day. The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council sat yesterday. An appeal from Madras, " Ramasaurmy Jyen and others v. Veneata Achari and others," part heard, was resumed and concluded. The lords present were—the Lords Justices Knight Bruce and Turner, Sir J. Coleridge, Sir L. Peel, and Sir J. Colvile. Despatches were received yesterday at the Colo nial Office from the Governors of Canada and Malta. The Marriage of the Prince of Wales. The marriage of his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales with Princess Alexandra of Denmark will take place upon Tuesday, March 10. By her Majesty's command the ceremony will be per formed in St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, in which chapel the Prince of Wales was christen ed, and by which arrangement the Queen will be enabled to be present in private, which could not, under existing circumstances, have been the case at the Chapel Royal in London. Upon the 7th of March the Princess Alexandra will arrive in England, and upon her arrival at the Bricklayers' Arms station will drive, accompanied by the Prince of Wales and the members of her family who come to England with her, and attended by her suite, through the City and West-end of London to the Paddington terminus, on her way to Windsor. The arrangements will be much the same as on the occa sion when the Princess Royal left England after her mar riage. Drawing-Room and Levee. The Queen has commanded that a Levee shall be held at St. James's Palace on Wednesday, the 25th of February, by his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, on behalf of her Majesty. All presentations will be considered as being made to her Majesty. The usual regulations will be observed. The Queen has commanded that a drawing room shall be held on Saturday, February 28, at St. James's Palace, by her Royal Highness the Crown Princess of Prussia, Prin cess Royal of Great Britain and Ireland, on behalf of her Majesty. All presentations will be considered as being made to her Majesty. Th e usual regulations will be observed. We are authorised to state that the Queen, having gra ciously taken into consideration the interests of trade, does not require any Ladies to appear in mourning at the Draw ing -room announced on the 28th inst., excepting the Ladies of the Corps Diplomatique, the wives of the Cabinet Minis ters, and the Ladies of her Majesty's Household. Parliamentary Entertainments. Viscount Palmerston gave a full-dress banquet, last evening, at Cambridge House, Piccadilly, to the Right Hon. the Speaker, the mover of the Address, the Hon. F. H. NV. G. Calthorpe, and the seconder Mr. Thos. Bazley. Covers were laid for 30, and the Premier's guests included the Right Hon. Viscount Castlerosse, Lord Bury, Lord Proby, Lord Clarence Paget, the Right Hon. Sir R. Peel, the Right Hon. Sir Charles Wood, the Right Hon. Edward Cardwell, the Right Honourable Mr. Brand, Mr. Layard, the Right Hon. T. M. Gibson, the Right Hon. William F. Cowper, the Right Hon. Robert Lowe, Mr. Gilpin, Mr. Bruce, the Attorney-General, the Solicitor- General, Mr. Headlam, Mr. George Baring, Col. Kingscote, Mr. Knatchbull Hugessen, Mr. Barrington, and the Hon. Evelyn Ashley. The Right Hon, Sir George Grey was prevented by a domestic bereavement from joining the oircle,and the Chan callor of the Exchequer, by the illness of a near relative,was also absent. After dinner Viscount Palmerston read, as customary, she Queen's Speech to be delivered to-day by commission. Earl Granville, Lord President, gave a full dress dinner as Ministerial leader of the House of Lords last evening, at his residence in Bruton-street, to a party of 30 peers. The company consisted of his Royal Highness the Duke of Cam bridge, the Earl of Dudley, the mover, and the Earl of Granard, the seconder of the Address in the Upper House ; the 'Dukes or nomerset and Newcastle, Marquises of Bris tol and Ailesbury, Earls of St. Germans, Russell, Cow P er, Caithness, Fitzwilliam, Albemarle, De Grey, Strafford, an d Cork, Vi , counts Sydney, Eversley, and Torrington; Lords Monteagle, Stanley of Alderley, Harris, Camoys, Crary worth, Foley, De Tabley, Methuen, Llanover, Taunton,and Cremorne. The Earl of Derby had a dinner party last evening, as customary o‘i the eve of the meeting of Parliament, at his house in St. James's-square. There were present the Duke of Richmond, the Duke of Marlborough, the Duke of hut land, the Duke of Montrose, the Duke of Manchester, the Duke of Buckingham, the Marquis of Salisbury, the Mar qms of Bath, the m arquis of Abercorn, the Earl of Shrews bury, the Earl of Sandwich, the Earl of Carnarvon, the Earl of Hardwicke, the Earl of Cardigan, the Earl of Lone dale, the Earl of Malmesbury, Earl "Vane, the Earl of Lucan, the Earl of Wilton, Earl Powis, the Earl of Strad broke, the Earl of Beauchamp, Lord Colchester, Lord Redesdale, Lord Chelmsford, and Lord liinghdown. The Queen's Speech was submitted to the ciunpany; for, as many of our readers may be aware, the Royal Speech is always forwarded to the leader of the Opp ,sition in both Houses of the Legislature. The Right Hon. B. Disraeli entertained ye,terday at dinner, at his residence, Grosvenor-gate, a party of mem bers of the House of Commons. There were present—Lord John Manners, Lord Galway, Lord Stanley, Lord Lovable, Lord Robert Cecil, the Hon. Henry Wyndham, General Peel, the Right Hon. Spencer Walpole, the Right Hon. Sir John Pakington, the Right Hon. Sir John Trollop°, Sir Stafford Northcote, Sir Matthew White Ridley, Sir Lawrence Palk, Sir William Codrington, Mr. Low ther, Mr. Ormsby Gore, and Col. Taylor. SMALL BEGINNINGS. A short time since a very amusing and instruc tive article under the above heading appeared in one of the periodicals of the day. It traced from the first work of the tiny coralline insect the coral branch, the reef, the island; from the minute shell it showed the rise of the chalky cliffs of our isle, and from many other examples showed " what great events from little causes spring." • Our columns of to -day contain the report of an association whose past history and present condi tion entitle it to rank under this heading. Just twenty-three years ago it occurred to a small knot of gentleman, chief clerks in some of the 4 , great city houses," that while every trade had its " guild," every handicraft its " union," and every profession save their own had its fand or common link of bretherhood, the clerks, a body numbering some hundred thousand educated men whose sole capital was their brains, and their intelligence, had no institution of any kind identified with their body or devoted to their interests. To cure this and to do it most effectually, two kindred institutions were at once formed, a Mutual Life Assu,rance Association and a Benevolent Fund, Shirting without a penny to any " promoter," and without a fraction for " preliminary expenses," with. per fectly separate and independent incomefi and capitals, but under one management, the two institutions have put sued a career marked with ste dy but constant and undeviating success, while the Lite Office, whose doors are of cou rse open to general assurers, and whose me et i ng we have this day reported, has gradually bee ured sucti an amount of p.trundge from Inc P u b lic at large a s to place it among the best offices of we day. 1.6 has for many years afforded US sincere pleasure to record its progress, but tew of those wuo w a tched its unpreteuoing commencement would have foretol d that the Provident Clerks' Lite Office. of 1862 w ould e a ; r s l o y i ih 7 i , y eo l t u ) v t a s s . s e u u re t r u s o , d c o o t o I t2 r 0 18 0 1 , 11 0 g 00, tta a l n o c 1 0; h ave exhibited bona fid e i ncome of more tb i t o lis t i l t( ,oof0 m 01j, every CISSS of society, from Vie Ito) at F a mily to th e , aui ktug - elass of the Post•-offiee, an d otpe` .. great Oep.rtments and public esta)dastiments. lh I( has none this speaks volume s for the energy both of the management and the e xecutiv e s while the ta ct th at one of the soundest °ll .. most cautious actuar i es of t e day has certi fi ed to; divisable su rp l us of £30,000, as the result of the past five ye a r s wor ki ng shows that good, and °fa simply grea t b usiness has been their object/ a n that in s ee ki ng to extetd the sphilre of their opera tions, they have at the same timo been e nabled confine them to a sa f e an d legitinotate area. In t .. it days o f mere pu ff ery and advenCitiaus splend ou r is pleasant t o fi n d th a t an o ffi ce w hi c h does not o pro fess to achieve impossibiliti es , or to do !nor! , t he ir give all its members th e full an d l a ir value Uf money, is so highly appreciated., not only by the the body by whom it w a s or i g i na lly :iornied, but P great miss Of society at large.