The Sun. — London, England, 1851-01-21 00:00:00

rti° 10Or EV" 7 er" Orti EV ter, 'tea ice? of of 101. fO ll 17 4 d• io o for 1 01 ken one° / OF ill tb. 00 'iv' ail' o'cr, aro the SIT R. TZ. P, 74" P 1 ;f: • A vell.th of Be/pT l/o, P"'forned at the lide!piii Tlizatr3 wi',h great stv,:ce= ,. , wag produced at the Surrey last evening. the plot differs in no imprtiint re-pfct from that of the A ` l t'lPhi piece, which h4s already beta descrihwd , in this journal, it reimiinl for us ()ily to speak of Lhe performance. We will f:tate at once that it i. gene rally excellent, and the anise en scene is costly and tasteful. Amongst the artistes most deserving of 111() gY are Mr. Cheswick, whose vereion of the sand energyform Mo untebank i s sp i r i ted and effective ; Miss Cooper( erly of iiath o Covent-garden), who evinces great hi the character of Madelaine ; 1183 Mandleb:rt, who performs Henri very prettily ; al l d Ur. T. Mead, who personates the villian Rollac t l rth much judgment and melodramatic point. The o r 4 u 1 4 Was received with enthusiastic applause by an a vetfi °Wmg audience, and may fairly - be pronounced decided succeu• ASTLEY'S AMPHITHEATRE. I:The grand spuctacle of Kenilworth and the amusing antomime of 0 1 D onog h ue cont i nue to d raw crow d s 9 11 . 8 Popular place of entertainment every evening. f . is clearly the favourite theatre with the " Home j.rthe-holyday's" class of' scciety, and as they are ust at this present moment the most influential of our social classes, we are not surprised t finding that the irPhitheatre is cratntned to overflowing every ev.end -thg' We congratulate Jr. Batty on having obtained the unanimous support of " Young England," and thung England" on th e exce ll ent tast e which in Is instanc e it has exhibited. SA ` CR ED HARMONIC SOCIETY. !Ikendelssohn's magnificent oratorio Elijah was ,erforraed here last evening by the members of the _o.ite.red Harmonic Society. This is perhaps the most d elaborately constructed of Mendelssnhn's works, an therefore the choice of it fir performance by the Sacred wll_aurn!onic Society exhibits a degree of ambition which bo e rn ld e fl.?*tve been highly laudable had the performance tem --Y proportion to the daring nature of the at potiPtit• We have frequently heard this sublime coin on both in this country and on the Continent, _, n d we could not but be sensible of the lamentable teleerfitelencies of the chorus last evening. There were e other certain] five hundred persons singing, not together, tu t at at th performers we Same time, and all, as Byron once said of of sacred music, " Singing out of tune, but th And hoarse," 0 effect o f °f 500 the contemporaneous performance s cs'es was anything but pleasing, and we felt Pop to Mr. Brownsmith when he occasionally i f ) :,, ure , l in a flood of sound from the organ, drowning ha's the tune the din. The English musical public re ti "f late had frequent opportunities of hearing c, ought to ti n a d Y Pod choral singing; they ,know what it can accomplish ; the performances of the e ras at the German Opera, and of the Berlin . n u t oru s Her Majesty Theatre, has rendered them thei olrant of even mere mediocrity, and the chorus of 1 Sacred Harmonic Society must work much i t r d'ri and rehearse much more frequently, before Al e " c 'coupy the position at which it evidently aims. do r t • Costa also, excellent as he is as a leader of opera, erms not altogether satisfy us as a conductor of sa e music ; _ he last night took the music throughout Whole of the oratorio too fast and too high. COURT CIRCULAR. He r m • WINDSOR, JAN. 20. —9esty walked this morning in the Slopes, Vpanted by their Royal Hignnesses the Duchess h etnou rs and the Duchess d'Aumale. in tit e Royal Family t oo k wa lki ng an d p on y exercise grounds around tre Castle. Royal Highness Prince Albert went out hunt -11:1 this morning,, accomptnied by their Royal High 4,es the D uke de N emeurs and the Duke d ' Autnale, e.uid. attended by Major-Gene .al Wemyss and Lieut.- nnel P. IL Seymour. 'a 141lle:ountess de Neuilly paid her respects to her train and Prince Albert at Windsor Castle this and in the afternoon left the Castle, accom led by their Royal Highnesses the Duke and (1' A Duchess, de Nemours and the Duke and Duchess L o Co lnnel the li on . Si r Ch ar l es G rey w ill h ave th e eve nour ning of . joining the Royal circle at dinner this e 11 „ e e r Majesty's p r i va t e band will attend in the asu after dinner. Cabinet Council was held yesterday afternoon t e „,"risdowne House, Berkeley-square. It was at thmqed by Lord John Russell, the Lord Chancellor, karquis of Lansdowne, Sir George Grey, Vis tunit Palmerston, Earl Grey, the Chancellor of the t e ,nequer, Sir Francis Baring, Sir John Hobhouse, Carlisle, the Right Hon. Henry Labou eh of and the Marquis of Clanricarde. The Council " two hours, A Valpy attended at the Home. office yes- Q` a , to present an address, through Sir George to the Queen, from Bucklebury, Berks. meetin g of the Finance Committee of the Royal -ottnnission for the Exhibition of 18M was held yes ' a 'Y rl Y at the B oar d o f Trade. There were present Granville (chairman), the Right Hon. H. La- Zeherel e, Sir Al exan d e r Spearman, Bart., Mr. Cubitt, ; Reid, an d M r . B ow ring (Secretary). " -r • Anderson, M.P. for Orkney, had an inter how) at th e T reasury, yesterday, w ith the Right 1; 1 • G. - Hayter, and Mr. G. C. Lewis. aft e ord and L a d y J o h n R usse ll l e ft town yesterday of thill_°°o ho lon a visit to the 'Right Hon. the Speaker Rantts.use of Commons, at hia seat, Hickfield - place, Ileathcote, M.P. fur Tiverton, had an inter ,f4veYesterday with Sir George Grey at, the Home- C otisp .: c a h rquis of Lansdowne (Lord President of the auchl) la indisposed with an attack ofgout. (A ce , es were received yesteray at the Col_onia a l n - Li and t:°ro the Lord High Commissioner of the lonian -Thi enroll -A FORCE 03' THE UNIT hi) ST A TES.— ;w oo e'd Militia of the 'United States reaches the number O a f gre at.e " , a tolerably large army. Pennsylvania spitriber of enrolled militia than an ll y other State, O f b e " ae _bows that, as the above number is, a Th e r :.°R arms are not returned by the different States. those capable 44,66 0 'itris from official sources are as follow Verte e ,',."lew Hampshire, 9 7,967 ; Massachusetts,, 101,7 . e9 t , 57,719 -4 „ 2 3,915 ; Rhode Island, 13,658 ; Connecticut, eryle an i„ ; "tow York, 216,452 ; New Jersey, Vireq u i;" 1L3,070 Delaware, 9,229 ; ro lhia:s2 inoTi -t ' 2°2 ; North. Carolinia, 79,448 ; South . . a .na Maryland, 4 ; 8 8 e 64 ; -44 4 ; ;leorgia 57,312 • Alabama, 44,331 ; , % tic ; Mi esissippi, 45,335 - Tennessee 74,202 ; 1 20 Po 88 ' 629 ; Ohio, 176,455 ' ; ludiana, ' 53,918 ; 32 4; Missouri, 61,000 ; Arkansas, 17,137 ; )„ ; . Florida, 1 9 ,122 ; Texas, 10,776 ; Wisconsin, ; District of Columbia, 1,249. - New York Tribune. WAr b def a i e ..7` 4l ELTi• —lVi thin the last fortnight a seriou_s Pri nc ;"° ll has been discovered in the accounts of Mr. ~ 1• it t (rlleselton, one of the assistant overseers of Wakefie d. f ou ' r was elected to the office hy the board of guardians ale ut since, at a salary of .70/. per annum, whichi I s and ty. torsh been raised by perquisites to more than 100 ~ tie s fo ' that time a guarantee society in London became sure asy r him to the extent of SCOI. ; but it has already been am o Tained that his defalcations are considerably beyond that g h ! i t• The plan adopted by the defendant for accomplish taring 18 Pureose appears to have bee principally that of al findaud erasing the figures in the books under his charge; tr 0, skilfully was the work performed that it became u, - hegel,Y difficult to detect it. It also appears, tharin iTOT p 43 , c , i n rie instance he had received money from2certain rate ° f. voi rktrnoircetrrnt. at all was entered in the tooka, sift.' of ether': , oases erroneous entries were made, as, f ;,' e , sum he had collected was et. 13s. 4eL, the figure Peti :,the poun de column was erased, and shillings er at baok 111, 2 1 3Tremained. Thu account kept by him with the Th esi :, lot the union also exhibited large defalcations. de e 'lute having been proved, the prisoner was on Sa.tur th; full) , committed for trial at the next York assizes, Court refusing to accept bail for his appearance. ,tast,ztion, Rout raly ne NAVAL took BENEVOLENT SOCIETY.—A gene ill • meet' of the subscribers and patrons of this charitable place yesterday at the Thatched HMIs e th e n' St St -street. Rear-Admiral Lord Radstock in Isi.!"air- Mr. George Hope Steed, Master in the Royal p e :.w ;:biel elected secretary by a very large majority. It ap lae'.froln the report, th a t toe receipts tor the last quarter, di d- tea balanc e l e f t amoun t e d t o 1.463/., and the expen•• Lure to 5 14/., leaving a balance of 949/. , Elors.—The large importation of hops ; li eu — took pl ace f rom several of t h e cont i nenta l s t a tes last great er b ut more esp ec i a lly f ro m B e lgium, and to a much extent f rom the Un i ted S tates o f America, have not froell continued from any of them during the present season. the early part of the autumn some small parcels arrived „T. Belgium, which were of the previous year's growth, w u later an arrival has taken place from that country which 0; 1. . 1 Offi cially declared to have b een i m p or ted for the purpose f lmm ediate shipment in transit to ano ther foreign country. urther than these no importation of hops into this country f"PI I ,t,e tak en place for any purpose. Considering the large sup lea of the kind for a time this fact is remarkable. large SLEIGH. —AI ARRIAGE Willa A D Ecf AsEh Sl t 4 7 r . r b it:ge in little more than five has ascertained the i r esent or recent existence of about weeks,our hundred cases of with a deceased wife's sister in and around Birming -1- Mr. Sleigh's register contains the names of ministers, e lt ets vr Y to e n r , magistrates, and members of almost every pro- c IPS WICH NEW GRAMMAR, SJHOOL.—The probabl e ,(,)st of Mr. W oo l nough ' s plan, adopte d b y th e I psw i c h T own Con of for thi s new having been estimated at up aids of 5,0001 . (a sum much beyond what is proposed to be pent in its erection), the former decision has been reserved; and the premium of 251: has been awarded to icon arnes, Whose design is considered to come nearest to the itions of the competition, though the committee have not finally determined to recommend his plan for adoption by the council. —Essex Standard. COUNSELLORAND A COURTYZAN. — When Lucy Cowper Was - once examined in a court of iu;t ice, one of the counsellors asked her if she came there in the character of a modest woman? " tio, sir," re hal she, "I do not; that which h as been the ru me P has beea the making of You—l mean impudence." Cite as PII EPOSES.—The editor of the Springfield who has been to hear Jenny Lind, tells the i 1:01- ru marY, at the .g When Jenny Lind first appeared at the Ladies' ever s yd to other lady Irving, she had no comb in her hair, while re a comb. The next day she said he li, t l ?e dress lik woe American ladi e s, an d wen t to dinner h a comb n her table, not a comb head. On glanci n g up and down the was to be seen." WHAT TS ME . 7, : T BY THE !uJ.iN ' b __., z ,,_, TO THE EIIITOR GE 711 E SVN. FIE,—As the period approaches tie n the agitation consequent on the inovcrnent of tl e puppet of. the French army in Rome, temporarily slacks nee: thr. ugh the circumstance cf everybody hgving done all the present hour I;ermitted, mus:t be token up again wish a view to final action, it is time to fnhll the engage ment to examine into the practical merning of what is called the Queen's Supremacy. And here the fact will be found to be, that this like many other compendious phrases in the people's mouth, though it is easy to find things it does not mean and Cases to which it would be wrongfully applied, yet means something and of much import ance, and will continue to mean it after the cavillers have blown their blast, with whatever preliminary flourishes that operation may he heralded. For example, what might be represented as more silly and unmeaning, than the popular phrase that " an Englishman's house is his castle;" when it is notorious that fur the slightest scrap of a felony, he will be extracted from his castle with a paper corkscrew, and his body preduced • before any in the Commission of the Peace who may have been moved to order it? Or take that other supreme folly, which says that " for every wrong the law provides a remedy ; when everybody knows that there are many wrongs for which the law provides nothing, and that unless it means to claim infallibility, it must in a cer tain average number of cases be the cause of wrong itself. Or the other piece of special childishness, that " the Crown is the fountain of honour ;" when it is pal pable to the meanest student of history, that there have been those whom the Crown has tried to honour and could not, and those who have been honoured precisely because the Crown did its utmost to dis honour them. _ _ _ In all these the fallacy is the feeble one, of pur posely applying the phrase to the wrong thing. When an Englishman's house is called his castle, it means that he is not to be taken out of it except for causes which the consent of the community has de fined as adequate ; a privilege the value of which is best known by its absence. When the law says for every wrong it provides a remedy, the clear and ra• tional intention is to avow, that it provides remedy to the fullest extent compatible with the degree of perfection to which legislators shall have carried it; and when the Crown is called the fountain of honour, all temperate and well-meaning men know the thing announced to be, that the community, acting through its Legislature, has determined that the Crown is the fitting location for the distribution of such ho norary recompenses as the good of the State may demand. No man, except wilfully, has ever blun dered on these points. There was a thing meant, and a thing that was not meant ; and the art of going wrong was in putting one of these for the other. So when our ancestors insisted on what they called the Queen's Supremacy, it did not mean that in England the Queen was Pope, neither did it mean that everybody in England held their religion by the fiat of the Sovereign, and would be bound to make their seed pass through the fire to Moloch if ever a Sovereign should arise with whom that species of devotion was in favour. Anybody stumbling upon those meanings, went far beyond the limits can be assigned 10 involuntary error. Sane people always knew it meant, that what religion should be supported by the application of the public property, was a thing to be settled by the cornmuuify through its legislature, and that the community so acting in times past, fixed en a religion, and made the Sovereign, through his Courts, the guardian and arbiter of all rights and questions thence arising, —or, as weekly rings from the pulpit in the Universities, "in all causes, civil and ecclesiastical, supreme." It no more needs a lawyer's technicalities, to know what is meant by the Queen's being supreme in eccle siastical causes, than in civil. It may be d quite wrong, and civil causes perhaps ought to be settled by the " knowing man" whom another " knowing man" is to fix upon, and ecclesi astical the same. But there can be no doubt of what our forefathers intended and did ; though we have possibly the right to transfer it all to the " knowing man" when we can agree upon him. But one inference, specially important at the pre sent moment, is that the settling of what the religion was to be or continue, was not left to any cor poration, convocation, or council ecclesiastical. The community chose a religion, and then said to certain ecclesiastics, "If you are willing to administer the religion we have chosen, you may enter upon your office, not without consi derable dignities and emoluments annexed." But nobody ever said to them, " Make us a religion," nor " Shape us our religion from time to time into such form as shall be your pleasure, and we will take it at your hands." If any appearance like the last should ever arise, and grow into the serious, the re ply of the community would be, " You have abdi cated. Go forth, and we will take our chance for finding men who will accept our terms and keep to them." The letter of the Bishop of Durham to the Arch. deacon of Lindisfarne, appears to be considered as the manifesto of the Government; and the business of those who supported the wise and statesmanlike letter of the Premier, is to collect matter in aid against the approaching time. The plan of campaign of the opponents and their non-Catholic allies has also been proclaimed by sound of trumpet. They are to stand upon the indifference of the thing, and the disgrace of retracing past steps. If the French general at Rome had sent a division of grenadiers in stead of a cardinal, the indifference of the thing might have been maintained in almost the same terms. " What ! risk the horrors of war and the cessation of domestic and commercial industry, to decide whether Dover or perhaps Wind sor castle, shall be occupied by a set of men in red or a set in blue ; when, bating this, you would hardly know one set from the other, —men who parade at the same hours, dine by the like beat of drum, and between whom, in the common converse of society, you would hardly be able to find a difference. You say their flag is tricolour. Is not your own tricolour too ?if you doubt it, count the colours and see. And so, to decide which of two configurations of bunting shall be hoisted on a certain pole, you will go to war with half the powers of Europe. The French general says it is a revival of the Norman claim ; England is a fief of France, through Normandy, and all liege men are summoned, on pain of hell, to give their alle giance in the right place. How silly to care for that ! Either the people of England believe in the Norman claim or they do not, and how is a flag on 'Windsor castle to alter their belief? Detestable intole rance ! Wrete'ned fanaticism of pseudo-nationality Aud these are the things for which we are to be made to quarrel if we will! !" It is known that this is to be the line, taken .by the counsel for the s moothers -down. And then, the going back ; how contemptible ! The wolf in the Zoological Gardens had borne his faculties so meekly, that the worthy Secretary de termined him to have merged into the canis domesticus, and bit by bit emancipated him accordingly. That there had ever been necessity for a wolf-hunt, or that wolves had crunched the bones of small children or grown men, was a disagreeable reminiscence not to b e again resorted to,—a piece of the old world's history, which the universal march of intellect had outgrown. But no a,noner was the last "bar removed, than the flashing, etaOf , the liberated 'prisoner revealed what•was passing in ros soul, He waa the wolf, unchanged, unchangeable. Before the House of Hanover or Stuart,' Plantagenet or Tudor, Harold or William, Alfred or Boadicea, Woltdom was, and is and is to be. Wolf was the original lord, and all that has been altered since, was reb,llion in polities and heresy in religion. Wolf was rolling in, " like a compact solid globe," to resume his ancient heritage, end ell that is wolfish in Europe was sending to congratulate him on his progress. If under suck circumstances the worthy Secretary was implored not to think of o base a thing as a return to durance, it is not difficult to surmise hew little the fear of inconsistency would hold his hand. There is not the slightest exaggeration in this pa rallel. ID:ere may be individuals who honestly regret what has been dune in their name or by their leaders. But acts must be judged of in the gross. The eyes of everything barbarian in politics or in religion, are upon England to see how she will behave iu such a posture of affairs. As in the parallel stated, the only course is quietly to go back. We have done wrong, and must undo it; we know is now, though we did not before. Not to any unnecessary extent in the way of severity, but to so much as shall secure what our forefathers handed over to us safe, and which we by an overweening confidence have let down and endan gered. We have to a certain extent been made ridi eu'ous, as all men are who trust and are deceived. But there may be strength in us for all that ; it does not follow that we are incompetent to recover what has been lost. Our forefathers left us safe, and the brief, politic, and effective course, is to take post again super vial antifjuas, with the exception of the penalties which were exaggerated and contradictory to the spirit of the times. The Acts of 5 and 13 Eliz. are this N at hich moment a c byolllelius toinexist ence, except the penalties, v com promise among parties, have been taken away and the rest left standing. The gun is without a lock ; all that is wanted then is, that the lock he put on again. - What the honour of the country requires, is the courage to reinstate these statutes in vigour by the addition Bill, dition of moderate penalties. What is called a Short might do it in fewer words than it takes to talk about it. One thing must &so be kept sight of. As the in sult has been open and intended to attract the atten tion of Europe, there rouat be no rag left to flutter which shall be construed into success. When the Pope referred to the commencement of the good la orli under the second James, why did he omit to notice the services attempted by Guido Fawkes under THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDA the first ? The one would not have been a more de o,eva , ead ea al F aeieleMll " ' La? has been Ina& and failed ; and it .aveuld be a simple tempting of the popular pa tience, to allow the defeated to assume the gfil bof victory in our streets. To this end, enforce the exis!ing law. Put down the brace of young Familiars of the Inquisition, judging by their dress, who in their inky clocks have orders to pateule the neighbourhood of Charing-cross, to accustom the public to the small end of the wedge., and are as manifest a parade as the two mounted sentries at the Horse Guards. Let there be equality ; nobody else exhibits their mummeries ; why should they? What is certain is, that the people or England will get just so much as they vigorously call for. If they bow before old religious claims, they need not despair of hearing of old political ones next. The descendant of the Stuarts, the produce cf some repe tition of the warming -pan miracle, whose family claims have already been recognized in one direction by the Papal diplomacy, is within ten days' sail, and can join the Spanish cardinal when asked for. Does anybody believe, that if Rome, France, Austria, Russia, and Naples, saw a chance for establishing a footing in Ireland, he would not be heard of by return of post? He has been always stirring, hoping against hope. After the Three Days of Paris, calling himself an officer in his Majesty's service, he wanted to shoot Dr. Bowring, and I understand was making friendly inquiries after me, for having printed the words " the obsolete tyranny of the Stuarts ;" such is the nuisance to which the pretended right of assas sination is growing. I gave his printed manifesto, endeavouring to gain the Chartists by the promise of the abolition of the national debt, to two of her Majesty's Ministers last session. Under these cir cumstances, I confess to the weakness of a conviction that he is " a real animal." The latest sketch for a new Star Chamber in Westminster, would make a good companion print for the programme of the last Auto da Fe at Seville. A yet remaining question is, what is to be done with the Church. Men will not be content without Reformation, in a Church which has done so much to hand them over to the ancient foe. The whole mis chief began in the Anglican Church; the persecution of the protomartyr Gorham, for not holding Papistical nonsense, was what gave Rome the cue that the time was come to move. To cut away what in its services has been proved to minister to superstition, wants nothing but a man. He of Durham will not die a simple Bishop, unless he makes haste. Perhaps for him are reserved the honours of a Latimer or Ridley, with out the fiery end. I am, Sir, yours very sincerely, AN OLD REFORMER. London, 21 January, 1851. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. Sin,—The scarcity of boys at the different ports, as stated in a paragraph in your paper of this day, is easily accounted for. The boys eligible for entry must weigh ninety pounds (I think), and be of a given height and of a certain age. This weight and height is graduated to the scale of embryo giants. Hence the scarcity of boys.—l am, Sir, &c., A PLYM OUTHIAN. January 20, 1851. THE HUNGERFORD PIER. Sir,—l was a witness to-day of the melancholy acci dent which ten.l place at flungerford- bridge, in the death of a gentleman who missed his footing when in cautiously jumping from the boat to the pier. This is a custom 1 cflen see practised, but, though it ought to be strongly reprobated, yet shat >I particularly wish to (lmw your at'ention to is the fact that, had there been a spare rope or anything which coulkiiave been thiewn to the unfortunate person, his life might have been saved. A gentleman tried to throw the hav;ser, but it was too heavy; a man on the pier tried with.a clumsy beat-hook to reach him, but, in the first instance, he pushed it be low the chains, and before he could get it above, as it was almost too heavy for him to lift, the poor man was out of his reach. I called to him frequently to throw the boathook into the Water, but ho would not; if he bad there was still a chance, as the poor fellow kept tor near five minutes above water. No boat was near, and, the tide running rapidly up, he was carried past the stone pier of the Suspension-bridge before he sank. Had there been a life-buoy, a grating, or a spare light rope, life, in this instance, might have been saved. Is there no law, nor any regulation, to compel the owners of these vessels to have some apparatus of this nature on board boats in which so many people travel, that, in caism of accidents, there might be some chance of saving life? In this there was nothing at hand—had there been, this person might have been saved. Trusting you will take some notice of this neglect, I remain you obedient servant, Jan. 18. C. S. P.S. Great work is made about carelessness on rail roads—why should not a. similar surveillance be kept over she lives of people travelling by water in penny boats ? EXHIBITION OF 1851. Some misapprehension having arisen both in the Bri tish and foreign newspapers, tending to lead exhibitors to suppose that the period for opening the Exhibition would be postponed, the Executive Committee deem it right to announce that the Exhibition will open on the Ist of May. It is possible that the following statement on extension of time for receiving certain classes of goods may have led to the misapprehension. This statement, however, refers only to articles likely to be injured by exposure to light, moisture of the atmosphere, &c. By order of the Executive Committee, M. DIOBY WYATT, Secretary. Exhibition Building, Hyde-park, Jan. 20. " Numerous suggestions have been made to the Exe cutive Committee pointing out that it would be a serious detriment to certain classes of goods if they were to be exposed to light, moisture of the atmosphere, &c., at an arlier period than is absolutely necessary, arid request ing permission to deposit such particular goods in the buildittg at a later period than the 28th of February. " The Executive Committee do not feel they would be justified in submitting to her Majesty's Commis sioners the advibibility of altering their decision as to the time of receiving the goods; but they are prepared to undertake the responsibility on themselves of consi dering a limited extension of time according to circum stances. Those exhibitors who shall have caused the ,pace allotted to them in the building to be completely fitted up with the necessary shelves, cases, &c., before hursday, the 20th of February, so that nothing remains to be done but simply to bring in the goods and deposit them in their proper places and receptacles, will the; eby ccquire a title to have requests for extension of time examined. Exhibitors who have obtained a certificate from an appointed officer that their spaces and stalls are quite completed by the 20th of February will then be r( quired to give some satisfactory guarantee to the Exe• eutive Committee that they are prepared to bring in their goods at the order of the Executive Committee, -.ltd such requests for extension of time will then be duly considered and dealt with on their merits." LIBERALITY OF LORD BEAUMONT.--LOTd Beau moat has at his sole expense built a school in the village of Carlton, near Selby, to accommodate 120 children. They are taught history, ciphering, writing, and geography for Id. per week each, including books and stationery. His Lord 4iip also rents another room for an infants' school, contain ing 60 children, taught upon the came terms. The whole expanses of these schools are defray ed by his Lordship. On Monday week the Noole Lord gave all the children a tea drinking at Carlton Hall. Although Lord Beaumont is a Roman Catholic, his schools are open to children of all deno minations, who are at full liberty to attend their own places of worship and schools on Sundays. By far the greater number or children in his Lordships, schools are Protestants, who attend the village church and Sunday-school, in which Lady Beaumont takes a lively interest. PARAGR.ABLI you THE TIMES.—OBB cold yiinter, when the ground was covered with snow thai.,the little birds could not get anYtbilig' to eat, the little daughter of a miserly; rich man gathered tip all Abe crumbs - she could find, and was going to carry then. out and scatter them in the snow. ller father saw her, and aeked her what she was going to do. She told him; and he said what good will that do. The crumbs will not be enough to feed one in a hundred of the birds. I know it, dear father, said she, but I shall be glad to save even one in a hundred of them, if I cannot save them all. The father thought a moment, he knew that many poor persons were suffering in his village, and he had refused to help any because be could not help them all. His conscience struck him, and he told his little daught , r to break a loaf of bread into crumbs for the birds, while be went to scatter a purse of money amongst the poor villagers.— Christian Witness. rine dividend declared at the meeting of the Union Bank of Australia, held yesterday, was at the rate of 6 per cent. per annum on the entire paid-up capital, together with a bonus of 103. per share on the 32,600 paid-up shares, and a like proportion of bonus on the 21. 10s. paid-up on the 8,000 shares of the third series. The report and accounts laid before the shareholders were regarded as satisfactory, and were unanimously adopted after a few explanations. Strong testimony was borne to the value of the services of the inspector, lair. Fletcher, and the other officers of the bank. With regard - to the reserve fund, it was intimated that the directors were bound to make the one-tenth addi tion until its maximum amount of 200,000/. should be reached. No intention, it was explained, existed at present of making a call, and such a demand would only take place in the event of business being extended. The policy of the hoard was against having a number of branches, but it might occur that the interests of the bank would at some time demand an alteration. In that event further calls would require to be made. The complimentary votes were then passed, and the meeting separated. 'PROPOSED TRIBUNAL OF COMMERCE.—Yesterday a deputation from the merchants, bankers, traders, and others, of the city of London,. waited upon the Lord Mayor, up n the subject of . establishing a Tribunal of Commerce 4, Great Winchester-street ; Mr. The deputation consisted of the following gentlemen :—Mr. J. M. Frazer, 34, Mark-lane; Mr. Francis Lyne, 12, Mark- P re r h a - p s e t r reet ; Mr. James Coxhead, 32, loyal aniel M'Farlane, , s2, Gracechurch-street ; rxnoecoh;ka,l:3lgrse., Exchange; i o n r r e. g hl e i), Mr. W. Aston, Crown-court; Mr. Francis, Angel-court ; :Ir. 11. IL Lycester, Berkshire; who presented to his Lord ship a memorial in fav our of the project, signed by upwards of a thousand persons. Mr. Lyne represented to his Lord ship the vast importance and a dvantages of such an esta blishment, and stated that England was almost the only country in which a tribuna l of commerce did not exist, and expressed a hope that his L ordshi p would consent to take the chair at a meeting propose d to be held upon the subj ect . The Lord Mavor assured the deputation that lie would give the matter his best consideration. GLASGOW CHAMBER OF COMMERCI,:.—We learn that at a meeting of the Chamber of Commerce, held on Tuesday lasi, it was agreed to send memorials to the Trea sury in favour of the repeal of the duty on soap, and large reduction in the duty on tea.—Aorth British Ma i l, • PROVIDENT CLERK ottit Al:pathS' MUTUAL lath - E attathldit h:CE eezta The teeth anunel geneeal rnecting of the reomhers of the Life Assurance department of the Provident Clerks' Association was held yesterday evening, at the Lordan Tavern, atilopsgetetstreet ; Mr. It. li. I Jones, chairman of the hoard of manage- Intent, in the chair. The meeting was very fully at tended, and am ongst those who vo:re present oh served the following gentlemen :—R. H. Jones, Efaa J. W. Welch, Esq., deputy-chairman ; Mr. Clark, Mr. Jordan, Mr. Dankearts, Mr. Dawson, Mr. Sawtell, Mr. Lintott, Mr. Mosley, Mr. Meitlaad, Mr. Jepps, Mr. Price, managers ; George Thomas, Esq., Wm. Ratray, Esq , Richard Bell, Etei., H. B. Reynolds, Etq , P. Richardson, Esq., Mr. Honey, Mr. Coleman, and Mr. Gosbell. The advertisement convening the meeting having been read by Mr. P. H. Byrne, the secretary, the annual report and statement of accounts were sub mitted to the members. The details in the report denoted the continued prosperity of this association. The number of policies issued during the past year was 391 for 77,1501., and 11 for annuities. Twenty-eight proposals have been declined. Thirty-nine proposals have been accepted, and wait completion. The Act of Parliament passed on the 15th August, 1850, does not at all interfere with the privileges of members whose assurances were effected previously to that period. The right of nomination cannot, however, be ester cised by persons assuring after that date. The Act, nevertheless, provides that assurances may be made in favour of the widow or widower, child or children, of a deceased member, exempt from probate or legacy duty. It also enlarges the powers of investing the funds of the association, and allows the advance of money to members on the security of their policies of as surance. The annual premiums payable on policies now in existence, together with the dividends on invested ca pital, amount to 13,7461., being an increase of up wards of 1,8001. on the income of the previous year. During the .past year 10,000 Three-and-a- Quarter Stock was purchased, making the amount of stock to 31st December, 1850, 30,0001. Three-and .a- Quarter per Cents. The amount of claims arising from thirteen deaths, during the year 1850, is 2,5991. As it will be necessary to make some alteration in the rules in consequence of the late Act of Parlia ment, a special meeting will be duly convened as early as possible. In conclusion, the board of management assure the members that they will continue to exert their best energies for the prosperity of the association, and they earnestly call upon them for their zealous co-opera tion in this most desirable object. The CHAIRMAN said—ln rising to move the adop tion of the report, and the confirmation of the accounts which have just been read, I wish to say a few words in connexion with the society; and, in the first place, I wish to express, as I usually do on all such occa sions as these, the sincere gratification which I feel at finding so many old faces around, who have attended our anniversaries for the last ten years.—(Hear, hear.) It is most encouraging to the managers to see so large a number of members present ; and I am sure all of them participate with me in the feeling which I am faintly endeavouring to expreas.—(Hear, hear.) Now, as regards the report which has just been read to you, although on the last occasion :when We met you here we had an extraordinary year of business to introduce to your notice, in this year we have not been quite so successful ; but when I enumerate the various causes which we assign for the failing off, I ran sure you will at once see that there is no reason to despair.—(Hear, hear.) On the contrary, 1 shall show you that the present year has commenced most prosperously.—(Hear, hear.) At the end of 1843 we had done business to the extent of 417 policies for 84,350/. Last year, up to the end of 1849, the extent was 550 for 115,045/.—(l - lear, hear.) But that was an extraordinary year, owing to the preva lence of the cholera; and also you will rernearber we all came in that year for a participation in an extra division of profits, which therefore gave us good reason for expecting a huge amount of business ; but the only fair way of looking at the result of our work inghear.) Well, then, adding those two toget he r , a nd is to take the two past years together.—(Hear, striking the average, gives us 467 polices for 95,5971. in each year, consequently the two past years exhibit an increase over that of 1848 of between 84 and 9.5 policies, so that we have no reason in my opinion to feel any hesitation about the continued prosperity of the association.—(Cheers.) Then, in order to carry out my views, I should mention that we have during the present month completed twenty three policies for 4,2501., while we have in hand thirty-four for 6,4001., so that altogether during the present month fifty-seven proposals have come in, and therefore I am very sanguine as to our progress and success in the present year.—(Cheers.) But as re gards the past year there are various causes to be as signed for the falling off in our business. I have referred to some, but I most particularly alluded to the interference on the part of Government.—(Hear, hear.) The Friendly Societies' Bill was in progress a considerable time, and during that time I think no less than four or five amended Bills were proposed before Parliament came to a decision upon the one that has appeared.—(Hear, hear.) That Bill, however, having passed, it involves upon us an alteration of certain rules, which it was impossible for us to accomplish on this occasion, and therefore, as the report states, the matter will be considered as soon after this meeting as practicable.—(Hear.) On the occasion of the Bill p ass i ng we h a d every assist ance from our friends. Th e re p or t has already alluded to this part of the subject, and has paid a com pliment to Mr. J. A. Smith, which I think a most de served one for his kindness to us on that occasion.— (Hear, hear.) I must add to that compliment this fact, that through his instrumentality I obtained an interview with the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and was examined before a Com mittee of the House of Commons, and my friend the Deputy-Chairman, devoted his attention, day after day, to our interests during the progress of the Bill, and (assisted by other members of the Board) watched the amendments for us with great assiduity, and, no doubt, with much incon venience to himself.—(Hear, hear.) But we have accomplished all that we anticipated, and so far we have been amply rewarded for our exertions,— (Cheers.) If you experience any disappointment at the report showing a little falling off in the business of the past year, it must be extremely satisfactory to you to see a decrease in the number of deaths, a de crease in the expenses, and an increase in the amount of stock that has been added to our accumu lating fund.—(Hear.) At least a third of the whole amount, or, in other words, 10,0001., has been added to our stock; and when I bear that in mind I really can see no cause but for congratulation in the ope rations of the past year.—(Cheers.) If anything occurs to me, gentlemen, during the present proceed ing to induce me to make any further observations, I ,hall bike the opportunity of doing so, but in the meantime I would rather reserve anything I might have to say furthertnow, until we have had an expression of the feelings and opinions of those gentlemen who are present in the body of the meeting.—(Bear, hear.) I have only to add that I shall be happy to .- answer any question that may be,put. to me,. and, in conclusion, clitisiesb'lt begleave to mote ' ; ' that t h e report and b ' now read be reeeivede adopted, printed, and circulated at the diseretiOnt of the board,_, (Hear, hear.) I may juet say, gentlemen, that as we, are at all times most anxious to give the fullest infer oration of all our proceedings, we have rather antici pate(' this resolution by printing - the balance-sheet, so that you might have it in your possession here, this evening. — (Hear, hear.) The. mo tion was put from the chair and carried unanimously. Mr. BELL had a motion to propose conveying a compliment which he thought was exceedingly well merited. Having been appointed an auditor at the l a st meeting, he could bear testimony to the efficiency had, ther e f o r e , th e more management, pronp)oesit:iitgatbod lee the a meeting vote of thanks t onag ers for the able m anner i n w hi c h t h ey oft pleasure olh) e be had attended to the interest of the association during the last year. He could assure the meeting that the performance of th ose duties had been a source of ex for it made th em acqua i nte d w i t h simple, and admir a bl e manner w i t h accounts ()r:; of the assoc i at i on were k ept . ex treme gratification and pleasur e t o hi m an d hi s tw h h r he o c h hc e i r etah a r t e : d I t —(Loud cheers.) Nev er before had such clear, simple and explicit ac counts come under his notice. that was a con vincing proof of the skill and ability which the ma nagers brought to the service of the association, he Thbeey we re highly sati s f actory, exceed i ng l y and autifully plain, and as had much pleasure in proposing a vote of thanks to them, arid that 500/. be awarded to them for their labours during the past y e a r . -- (Cheers.) Mr. COLEMAN, another auditor, confirmed all that his colleague had said respecting the accounts. None but gentlemen w h o bad the control of large mercan tile establishments could understand and duly appreciate the simplicity ,with which the business of this association was carried on ; but, nevertheless, on going through the accounts of the past year, it had affordtd him great satisfaction to witness the care and ability with which they were kept ; they were clear and intelligible, and he bad, therefore, much p leas ure in seconding the reso the management f or th e i r exert i ons The resolution having been divided into two parts, was put and carried unanimously. I d u u t r io ia b lg , t t i re n p k a i s b t g year. — (Cheers.) The CHAIRMAN returred thanks, on his own be half and that of his brother directors, for the kind and unanimous vote of the meeting. It was very cheering to receive the cordial .approbation of the EVENI NG, JANUARY 21, 1851. members, and he must confess that, without it, lei I,ltitite in t‘ti cf the a:;sociation.--(e'rn.er.) Mr. LOYD wishedi to ask, for the information of the meeting, what was about the average age of ay.tu-era woo had taken out policies during the l x,ist, ? I.ii of in puttipg the qi:-tiolt t+ , if pos,ible, how f.:,r :young or ja:iit.r cl. t'.;s had availed them,eiv. s of a genera' increa , c of salary by assuring livts in this office. Toe CIIAIRMAN said he had not the sligllteit obj.2e tion to furnish the information; but rvY: having re ceived any notice that the question would be put, he was unable to give an answer with any de .tree of curacy. However he might state, that as far as hia recollection went, the average age was between 30 or 32.—(Hear.) Mr. BELL said it now became his duty to submit to the meeting the last part of his motion, and he did this certainly with less satisfaction than he had in proposing the first portion, because it could hardly be gratifying to any one to offer such a small sum of money for division among so large a number of gen tlemen.—(ffear, hear.) Last year the directors had refused an increased vote, therefore he would not on the present occasion go beyond the amount then proposed; but he hoped, as the business increased, they would be enabled to award them a larger and more liberal remuneration.—(Hear, hear.) He concluded by proposing that the sum of 500/. should be awarded to the directors for their services during the past year. Mr. COLEMAN cordially seconded the motion, which was carried by acclamation. The CHAIRMAN returned thanks, observing that if the vote had not been unanimous they would have received it with much less pleasure than they then felt at the cordial reception it had met with. The CHAIRMAN said he had now' to propose the re. election of the tour gentlemen who had retired from the direction by rotation. Having already come to a vote thanking, in effect, the managers for their past services, he assumed they were perfectly satisfied with them.—(Hear.) He could only add his testimony, bumble as it was, to the efficiency of their services, and say that he should be extremely sorry to part with any of them.—(Hear.) He concluded by pro posing the re-election of the following gentlemen for the ensuing year :—Messrs. John Dankearts, Wm. Maitland, Wm. Jeremiah Jordan, and Wm. Stanhope Sawtell. Each gentleman was separately re-elected by a show of hands. Mr. DANKEARTS said, though he was the youngest member of the board he had taken the liberty, in the absence of any other member rising, to return thanks, on his own part, and on the part of his brother col leagues, for this additional fresh mark of favour which the meeting had conferred upon them, and to say that it should be their duty for the future, as it had been for the past, to consult the interests of the mem bers in every possible way.—(Cheers.) Mr. WELCH rose to move the following resolution, which he thought would be received with very great pleasure : " That the thanks of this meeting be presented to Messrs. Lawfords, the honorary solicitors; to William Ratray, Esq., the consulting actuary; to Dr. Jones, physician; end John Gay and Alfred Smee, Esqs., sur gpons of the association; to the Provincial Medicol Raerce3, the Agents, and Local Committees, for their efficient services during the past year." They would, perhaps, allow - Min to state that during the progress of the amended Friendly Secities' Bill in Parliament the managers had occasion frequently to consult Messrs. Lawfords, the honorary solicitors, and those gentlemen, with their accustomed desire to. promote the interests of the association, had given them every possible assistance and advice with respect to the course they should pursue.— (Hear.) To their able friend on his left, Mr. Itatray, they were also very much indebted; he ware, always ready to give them the best of advice con nected with the management and affairs of the a3so cia!ion.—(Hear.) Or their physicians and surgeons he need say very little, because the report spoke for itself on the subject, but he might mention that during the past year the number of dekths had been ccriparatively few. He hoped they might in the cours, of the present year give those gentlemen much greater employment, and that the business of the associa tion would increase. What had transpired this month gave fair prospects that • it would con siderably augment, that they would be most actively employed; and he took that opportunity of reminding them that they were partners in the same concern, and that it was to the interest of every individual member to follow up the good and suc cessful working of the association by bringing to it as much business as he possibly can.—(Cheers.) It was not sufficient that a gentleman should join them by simply assuring his life.. He should recollect that, being - a mutual association, the profits are equally divided, and that it is therefore to the interest of every gentleman who becomes a member to induce his friends and acquaintances to become members also.— (Hear.) By so doing be will increase the benefits likely to be derived hereafter by his widow and chil dren whenever it pleases God to take him away ; and will have the satisfaction not only of increasing the value of his policy in a pecuniary point of view, but also the satisfaction of inducing his friends to make that provision for those dependent upon them which it is incumbent every thoughtful man should make while in the enjoyment of good health.—(Hear.) There fore he earnestly impressed upon members this im portant duty at the commencement of the new and important year of 1851, which he hoped would not only figure very largely and conspicuously in the history of this country, but also figure largely in the history of this association ; and he trusted, moreover, that when they:met again this time twelve months, the directors would have the satisfaction of placing before them an exhibition which would be extremely gratifying to all connected with and interested in the association.—(Loud cheers.) And he would again call upon them all to get their friends to assure their lives, without delay, and not allow them to waver and hesitate ere they made up their minds on the subject. There was a very wide field open for their exertions, because, looking at the number of lives assured, compared with the population of this country, the number of assurers was extremely limited. They would have the satisfaction of going forth and saying, they belonged to an association which had done already a vast amount of good, and enjoy also that pleasure and satisfaction which all must feel in having made that provision for a wife and family, which he held it to be the duty of every man to make.—(Cheers.) To some of the agents in the country the association was very much indebted, but he looked forward with a great deal of hope to increased exertions on the part of many of them. This morning it was very gratifying to find laid on the table of the board as many as seven pro posals from the country agents, thus showing that they were alive to the interests of the association. — (Hear.) There was one gentleman he could not re (rain from alluding to by way of example as to what might be done in the country—he, meant Mr. Lowne, their agent at Norwich. He had followed the advice given to him by the agent of a very old assurance-office in London. He did not remember the name of that gentleman, but he attended their meeting at Norwich, and spoke very strongly in favour of life assurance, saying he appeared there to advocate the principles of life assu t ranee, to induce every man to make provision ter his ' family, and adding that he did not feel the slightest jealousy, but, on the contrary, would urge hie, young friend (Mr. Lowne) To the same exertions which he haditsid , Liitnself. • He said, when he commenced his dgency in ~, N orwich he had very little business the first s ' half-year,. bat .'that at the time, of our.,mett- ing he • took many thousands of .; pounds-, froni dire oily. Now he felt that !Mr: Lowne had followed the , advice of that gentleman; for .ht had circulated a knowledge of the benefits of the iiStO• elation not only among clerks and tradesmen, but the public generally.—(Rear.) He felt satisfied that their agents generally would see that it was to their in terest to promote the objects of the association with energy and activity. He concluded by moving the above resolution. Mr. PRICE seconded the resolution, and bore testi mony to all which bad been said by Mr. Welch with reference to the officers. The ChAIRMAN said before he put the resolution he begged to add a few words to what had fallen from the Deputy-Chairman with respect to the kindness of the Messrs. Lawfords in connexion with the passing of the recent Act of Parliament, whose aid had been called in by the board of managers during the pro gress of the Bill. Those gentlemen refused to accept any remuneration for their services. —(Hear, hear.) The board, feeling they ought not to impose such constant duties upon them, proposed to those gentlemen that some person should be appointed as acting solicitor in conjunction with them. They readily and cheerfully acquiesced in that proposition, and at the same time stated their wish to continue their services gratuitously, so far as they were required.—(Applause.) And be • (the Chairman) had the satisfaction of stating 'to the meeting that through the in strumentality and cordial co-operation and ac quiescence of Messrs. Lawfords, a gentleman was named, who was now before the meeting, Mr. Philetes Richardson, as acting solicitor of this associatioo, and to that gentleman many thanks were due for his kindness and attention since his appointment, which hail been cf the most arduous kind, and ver y neces sary for the guidance of the board of managers. The resolution was then put and carriedunani mously. very lon list to an- Mr. g RATRAY said this medical friends were not was, that ewer for ; he believed thewirasa present, and all he could sa y en to their behalf gave them examine the mor e the more lives that' and better they wou ld be pleased, and the more poli cies they gave bins (Mr. hatray) to value a t t h e next division of profits the better he should be pleased.— The remarks which had f a ll en f rom (Laughter.) the Deputy-Chairman would be read with interest I,y in the cvuntry, w,.1 the vii , et woul ts . w - ,.t it wc..itld urge tileat :0 I.;. , c.ewed ex; r tions of the as:,ociation.—(Applause.) The CHAIRMAN then proceeded to the election of the audit.q.!; for the onsui:2g year. The followiiig gent'.-'risen werr, th. eandidat.::;:—Mr. Richard 8-1, Mr. Edward Ck)letnan, i\rr. Jianei Rieharil J 4 lO 1, Mr. Sancton Wood and Mr. CtlarLs Wcoriey. Mr. BELL intimated his wi6ll to wi!hdraw from the of,S , JO of auditor, rid said that he had mow. mended Mr. Charles Woolley to fill the office in hiA stead, a gentleman who had both the will and ..the ability to render important servici:s to the association. Ith.'SSIS. Edward Coleman, J. IL Lloyd, S Wood, and C. Woolley, having been severally proposed and seconded, _ _ The CHAIRMAN proceeded to take a show of hands for each, the result of which was that there appeared —for Mr. E. Coleman, 54 ; Mr. J. R. Lloyd, 47 ; Mr. Sancton Wood, 47, and Mr. C. Woolley, 70. • A second show of hands was taken for Messrs. Lloyd and Wood, when the numbers appeared this time to he—for Tdr. Lloyd 50, and for Mr. Wocd 40. The CUAIRMAN then declared that Messrs. Wool ley, Coleman, and Lloyd had been duly elected auditors for the ensuing year, and a resolution wa. afterwards passed fixing their remuneration at 15/. 15s. Mr. LLOYD briefly retdrned thanks, promising to do his best in the service of the association, and urg ing► upon the members the necessity for persuading their young fellow-clerks to take advantage of its principles. Mr. COLEMAN also thanked the meeting for re electing him, and said he would do his best to deserve their Confidence. Mr. MAITLAND moved a vote of thanks to the press for the liberality with which it had given pub licity to the merits and proceedings of the association. To show the great benefit which the association de rived from the advocacy of the press, he mentioned that an attempt had recently been made in Liverpool to establish a similar institution to this, only confin ing its operations to that locality. The attempt, however, had not succeeded, and the management of this association having offered to adopt the business of the local society upon the same terms that they accepted it, the Liverpool papers were now using their best endeavours to induce them to accede to the proposal.—(Cheers.) The resolution having been duly seconded, was put to the vote and carried unanimously, which closed the principal business of the meeting. Mr. THOMAS said he wished to make a few remarks with reference to the special meeting that was about to be called. He understood that, in conformity with the Friendly Societies' Act the rules would have to be altered at that special meeting, and he should, therefore, be glad to know if it had occurred to the board to make some alteration in the rules that related to the division of profits. He alluded more particularly to that rule which compelled every policy holder to give up thirty-three per cent. of his share of the profits to the benefit department. Now, so long as that rule lasted, the general public were not likely to bring their business to them. They could go else where and have their interest served better, because in other societies so large a deduction as 33 per cent. was seldom or never made. He would, therefore, suggest that, in order to induce the general public to insure with this association, they should so altar the rules at the forth coming special meeting as to reduce that proportion to five or ten per cent.—(Cheers.) At present it wr.s quite clear that this 33 per cent. was all profit to the benevolent fund, which vva% by no moans an equit able arrangement now. He thought it might have been, when it was proposed to restrict the benefit of the association to clerks only, but they had since thrown open their doors to the whole public, and if they wished to share the public business with other offices they must cease to continue a rule which re quired the policy-holder to give up 33 per cent. or his profits, when he could go to other institu- Lions who only deducted five per cent.—(Cheers.) Another point of grew; importance which tie wished to mention was tha: - , of making all the policies of the company indisputable. Ife thought the directors should take every possible care in the first instance before they accepted a life, but afterwards that the policies should be like a Bank of England note, payable on demand, without any question being put or doubt raised. Clerks, as a body, could only afford to take up policies for small amounts, and deny dis pute was raised after their decease it would not be worth while going to law for the purpose of recovering the amount; and, even were the representatives of clerks so disposed, they could no.; afford the expense of litigation, and they had no wealthy friends or connexions to apply to for assistance; therefore, for several reasona, it was desirable that the policies of clerks should be guarded by indisputability.—(Hear.) These were the two points on which he desired information from the Chairman. The CHAIRMAN replied that he would have to be very cautious in giving an answer, as these were very important points to decide; but he would just say, that as regards the first, he met the four trus tees on Friday last, and would have to meet them again, when the whole matter would be gone into, and their advice and assistance take - it with respect to the proposed alterations. As regards the other point, that would necessarily be brought before them on the alteration of the rules. The policies issued were really indisputable, though the word was not employed. There was not the slightest disposition on the part of any of the managers to dis pute policies ; on the contrary, they desired that every possible latitude should be allowed, so as to avoid non payment. However, on these two subjects he could give no further answer on the present occasion than that they had been and were still under the attention of the board.—(Hear.) After some further discussion of an unimportant nature, Mr. BELL said he believed the fact of a third of the profits going to the benevolent department was a great bar and hindrance to members recruiting for new assurers, because persons said they could go to offices which divided the whole of the profits among the members. However, he believed they had laid the foundation of an institution which, if carried on in the spirit it had been, and with the alterations sug gested, would not be exceeded by any similar one in London.—(Hear, hear.) Mr. REYNOLDS said ne was a member of the assu rance and benevolent department, and he thought much might be said on both sides as regards the di vision of profits; but the best course, before any alteration was proposed, would be to call a general meeting on the subject, and allow members ample time to reflect as to the propriety of the suggestion. He entirely agreed with Mr. Thomas as to the neces sity of making the policies indisputable. Mr. Thomas, having said a word or two in ex planation of his former statement, begged to move a vote of thanks to the Chairman. He had had the pleasure of knowing Mr. Jones ever since the origin of the association, and that gentleman had always given his very best and most conscientious services to promote the interests of the society ; and on this oc casion, as on every other in which he had occupied the chair, he had shown himself unbiassed and im partial in every respect.--(Cheers.) The 'vote was carried with acciam - ation. The CHAIRMAN said he received the compliment they bad just paid him with no small gratification, and the more so as it had been accorded to him with that perfect unanimity which alwaya prevailed at their meetings.--'(Cheers.) The chairman concluded by adverting to the portrait of Mr. John Abel Smith, g.P., the treasurer of the benevolent fund, 'placed in the boardi-room of the society, and invited the in spection of it there by such of the members as bad not :seen it, before it was sent to the engraver's, which it would be in a few days, with a view to mul tiplying copies of it for distribution among such of the members as' should choose to avail themselves of it. The meeting, which was throughout characterise by the greatest unanimity and good feeling, then eparated. THE LAW OF PATENTS. The !batwing official orders have just been issuod:— " The Attorney-General, with the consent and con currence of the Solicitor-General, hereby gives that from and after the 15th day of January, 1854ep0. " 1. Every outline, description, and tirtlwir,g, must be Gited with the Attorney and Solicitor-Goners!, / nova' signed and dated by the person applying 1" t ' la ' t?..nr ' or his agent. e p n o r s o e l m t o e . enrolment po o f si t t h s e "2. Every person who shall haiin• evo d ef e p s i::: ti:dano outline, utlindee_, invention, shall b® at description, or drawing of specification, liberty a t any s, u time ce previouslycancel anntportionor b t i h l i o s th p e ur a or drawing of his invention, de scription, or drawing;-and fresh outline, part.description, or shall have entered a omitting the cancelled w o caveat granting of any patent, and shall, upon the against the Induce . i hie opposition, the Attorney or Soli. 11;31igHenuvee.rrayl n P o er t s t c o n ma h ke any report upon the applica tionshall deposit with the Attorney or Solicitor-General an outline, description, or drawing of C it t for his invention in respect of which he opposes the grant ingthe patent, of the said patent, such outline, description, or drawing to be approved by the Attorney or Solicitor- General. ,4 4. After the specification shall bavo been enrolled, any person shall be at liberty, on the production of a certificate of the enrolment, or after two du) a' notice, and payment of is., to inspect the outline, description, or drawing so deposited with the Attorney or Solicitor- General, as aforesaid, of the invention in respect of which the specification shall have been so enrolled, as aforesaid, and any person shall be at liberty to obtain an office copy of such outline description from the office of t►:e Attorney or Solicitor-General, on p a yment of th accustomed charges. (Signed) '• Jonx ROMU,LY." THE TEA TRADE, JAN. 20.—Last week's tea deli veries in London were large, being 561,9251 b. REPEAL OF THE WINDOIT-TAX- .z. ' ' A public mceting or inhahits of the par:-11 of S:. Maryiebene w3i held in the court a tne work houAe, New-nwti, ye , ,;ordav; Mr. Nieholay in tha chAlr. About 00 or GOO per,ons Isere prr , ent. (leitg:;!t , s nttet,.l , Al frk.;:n On. V0,..z) wore bread on which wtie hitt!, " No surrender:".U.:cL,nlit:onal rtikui." Op, the hustings 0t...*.e,1 L• td D. Las'Aington, M.l'., M r . M.P. Sir De I.a‘3, Evan, Mr. C. &c. Aiowatt, A letter was read from the secretary of Lord Juba Russell, intimating that be was desired by his Lord ship to acknowledge the receipt of the letter convey ing the invitation to attend, and to state that it was not M.P., M r . 'Will cox , M . P . , Mr. r. E in his Lordship s power to do so . Letters were also readfr% , ornartSiri.pß.: Mr. Lemae, the Lord M a y o r o f York, and others, stating their inability to attend the meeting, but their concurrence in its objects. Sir B. Hall intimated that he should vote, as he had always vt ted, for the repeal of Ole window-tax, and if it were intended to impose a tax on houses, he should be ready to give his vote against such a proposition. The CHAIRMAN, in explaining the object of the meeting, stated that the committee had also received a very powerful but lengthy letter from Mr. Hume, M.P., declaring that he would do everything in his place in Parliament to promote the repeal of the tax. Mr. FRESTH moved the first resolution : " That, the window•tax being wrong in principle, un natural in character, partial, oppressive, and unfelr in its operation, and most repugnant to the feelings of the community, and alike destructive of the morals and the health of the people, this meeting pledges itself to use every means to obtain the immediate, total, and uncon ditional repeal of this odious tax, and not to accept any commutation or modification hereof in any manner whatsoever." The repeal of the window-tax he conceived to be a foregone conclusion. The latter part of the resolu tion referred to the contingency of a house-tax being substituted, the great journal, which always waited on public opinion, having thrown out a feeler on that point. But, repeal of the window-tax, and nothing but repeal, was what ought to be insisted on.— (Hear, hear.) Tracing the history of the window tax, he described it as having been assented to simply because it was a war tax, the object being to fortify our coasts ; and he concluded by pointing out the evils which attended it in a sanitary point of view, as well as the disproportion of the assessments made on diffe rent classes. Mr. MITCHELL Oxford-street, seconded the reso lution, and described the window-tax as life-shorten ing and antagonistic to cleanliness, decency, and morality. It was partial in its operation ; for the assessment, which, to the majority, was 25 per cent., was but 5 to the owners of the " stately houses" of England. It was hard that the artisan should forego his evening glass of " cold without"—(Laughter) — that he might pay a tax on light. There would be an attempt in Parliament to divert attention from the window-tax by long debates on what was called " Papal aggression.' They might be prepared to hear the drum ecclesiastic; but the opponents of this tax ought not to allow their voices to be drowned amidst the efforts of the Church miiitant.—(Cheers.) Lord D. STUART, M.P., was received with loud cheers. He had but few words to address to the meeting, but they were firm, earnest, and hearty; for he was with them in this movement as heartily as it was paesible to be. He did not need to give any aesurences. His votes were before the constituency, and they knew that their Members had always, when an opportunity presented itself; rai:seti it voices against this impost. Neither was it ne ceseary to go into any argument to prove that the tax ought to be repealed, for it had been condemned year after sear. They might anticipate support among members of the Government. There was a man these name was known to them as associated with llohhouse'e Act, which gave them local government ; and others could be mentioned %Nile, like him, had raised their voices against this tax. Unless the Go vanthent saw that the feeling of the people was uni versal on the subject, they might be inclined to retain a tax which brought so much money into their coffers. Ile should in Parliament oppose the tax in every pos sible way ; and he would answer for his colleague (Sir B. Hall), who stated that he had been in Par liament for 20 years, and on every occasion that it oc curred had voted against the continuance of the win dow-tax. It was to be anticipated, however, that the Chancellor of the Exchequer would come forward at once, finding the feeling of the people so universal, and declare his intention to repeal the tax.—(Cheers.) Sir DE L. EVANS, M.P., avowed himself not less zealous in the case than Sir B. Hall, like whom he had opposed the tax for twenty years in Parliament. The tax was already doomed, he had no doubt, from the intimations in public journals, some of which were connected with the Government. But the ad vocates of repeal must not put their trust in public journals or Ministers. The announcement that the tax would be repealed was coupled with another, but ominous announcement, that a moderate small house tax was to be imposed. ("No house-tax.") That would be keeping the word of promise to the ear. He did not mean to say that a house-tax, or almost any other tax, would not be preferable to a window-tax ; but the question was whether the removal of the window-tax with the proposed substitute would not amount only to a modification of the window-tax ? Of all commutations, that which involved a house .tax ought to be most determinedly resisted. He had a high opinion of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, but should oppose the re-imposition of the house-tax as he had its continuance 17 years ago. There were other modes in which the sum to be supplied on the removal of the window-tax might be obtained. Might there not be a reduction of expenditure ?—(Hear, hear.) The house-tax was a convenient one for Government, inasmuch as it might be increased at any time. If the small end of the wedge were got in it would be easy to add 2 per cent. this year and 2 per cent. the next. He had seen a letter in the Times of that morning, declaring the agitation for the repeal of the window-tax a mean and paltry agitation. The duties on tea, soap, and other articles ought to be modified or repealed, but the people might be diverted from their purpose by tubs thrown to the whale, and the vigour and unity of their efforts so destroyed. Mr. WILLIAMS, M.P. for Lambeth, also protested againEt the substitution of another tax, perhaps not so objectionable in itself, but which ought to be opposed, on the ground that it was not required. He con trasted the estimates of Sir R. Peel in 1835 with the exoenditure of the present period. The naval and military forces consisted of 80,000 men more than in 1835. The charges under the head of civil services amounted to 1,850,0001. more than in 1835. The charges on the consolidated fund were 630,0001. less in 1835 than last year. Mr. SODEN moved the adoption of a petition to the House of Commons, in the terms of the resolution. Mr. WinTmonE seconded the motion, and adverted to the sanitary view of the question. The Board of Health bad stated that consumption, and stunted growth particularly, were produced by want of air, and the mortality from consumption was one-eighth of the whole m'rtality. He referred to the exp::ri enc.,e of medical men, v,ho could not but feel in many ca:as that their exertions were thrown awev because they could not give the light of he,wen and pure air to their pLi,!.ie.nts. The tax was Only worth the pur poi,e for which it Was erva:i d---to promote w ar, de ruction, end slaughter, and to be lirocluctive of pes tileece, disease, and death.—(Cheers.) To supp ly she 10,3 of revenue coils, quent on toe repeal .it the window-tax, he should euggeat the total removal of the I African t qua'lron, and the reduction of the salaries of high dices. After some remarks by Mr. GREEN, of Islington, explanatory of the grounds on which the Members for Finsbury had been absent from the lest division in the House of Commons o n the window-tax, English Constitu ti.ln that Do su Mr. JOSEPH moved— te by Parliament until griev ances are redre ssed, this meeting, conside r i ng t h e win dow That, as s P e d , " o e t i e P a l e o f tha window-tax do use their i n r ot repealed endeavours t o the m , tax to b e a n intolerable h grievance, r es p ec tf u lly re questst„,, t he supplies." Mr. GDIdSIN second e d th e reso l ut i on. Mr.LUSIUNGTO m p N 9 •• I stated that he had voted em be thatrs for casethis borough last year fur the abolition of the tax. A motion simi lar to that now had proposed been agreed to in St. Anne's, 'Westminster ; Sir De Lacy Evans and him self were then instructed to declared that further f.- nancial measures could not be considered until a vote for a repeal of the window-tax should have been passed. These instructions they cheerfully engaged to fulfil. After a few remarks from Mr. Micara, on the an nouncement of the Ministerial intentions respecting the tax, Mr. H. C. WILSON moved a resolutioie— " That, in the event of a commutation or modification of the window-tax, the meeting request the committee to continue their sitting, and determine what ulterior proceedings might be necessary to o btain the removal of the tax." He called attention to the limitation of the con stituencies occasioned by the existence of the window tax. To require payment of parochial rates as a con dition of the franchise was less objectionable ; but a house. tax would produce the same mischievous effects as the vvindow• tax. Mr. Hortoes seconded the resolution, and suggested that the l oss arising from flap repeal of the window tax might be supplied by a tax on the transfer of real property. Mr. Dwrsu moved, that Lord D. Stuart should be requested to present the petition, and Sir B. Hall to su pport it ; which motion was seconded by Mr. GREEN, and carried ^ unanimously, .s the other reso lutions had been. After a vote of thanks to the Chairman, the meet ing separated. •