The Sun. — London, England, 1850-05-10 00:00:00

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Tlo' I 9l° , re 0 [ rsicAO" di° in the se in iO 4‘ A.. a , 5 ior •• 2 8 3, • 3 ; ae •• • 2 1 1 ) I •• LET.' eg e f , of flops , r oe p g , 3d th e/. re• 11° .fd ing I ,l °- e fi r o t ows: eyld Dow 5 1 s§ o , ditto, he t yearli°fi sor 23; o• tt lij ..11 itatiOuLiio there P i , be ll he ton e We %ire beellos, 6d to v vstalize d ve to 4it idd 42 , 6 u, if amps h'6cl , „ to sag it at. 6g °tlg 32 6 o°7 ought ? 283 t° 3 t Ig3 wen d f 0 1 for or 4 69'" 6d t° ro te* Jovie r Si t° her r to s ,si sd. ° foie Id 513" ;0 0 v.- 40ir' 4 1 h 0 1 to p g ellerlii o 6 0 n Old 11$ 60 urY , col° god „ot T five 0 403 dr d 3 50 t A 66 4 0 ,00 1, b ~ e r f 600 5 9 ° P. e I steadY ° i w coo s to 1 8 ' , 0 (ipPer ~ et° bl 1 5 001) reaS e d lpo Bl l o no 0 , 3 to in M ° 1 03 been do pe ' $ l. ping, p 5 ,e t 2 6 . 4 f(ir t. the 5 1)0 111 r t On e da seed, p. in3Pr - " ae il,' N " ar u bllc at p a _ w ' oo o •vi • V rem lads+ i 0 a ll Jo be i t A, o en try c o rer , other evid ePee iii° for th° TAE ATTORNEY GENERAL V. KENRICK. thTiva : 4 formatiou was Mal against the etfeAintf , r , tart which i, e too k i u the transact i on as netai:c.4 above, and the jury found a verdict for the same amount. 4UEEN'S BENCH.- (THIS DAY.) (Si tings in Banco, before, Just ce. COLLEIDGE, PAT TESON, anti WicHTmAN.) IN RE BARBER. At the sitt:ng of the Court this morning, Serzeant WILKINS proceeded with his address on behalf of Mr. Barber. He began by addres;-iog himself t.° t he facts connected with Slack's case. That trans tialen took place in October, 18 , 0. He contended that 2_ 1 9 1 , letters written in this r a e were signed by Barber fro m Bureharo, and that Mr. Burcham, . 1. °41 his diary, had been much more concerned in as appeared It than Mr. Barber, inasmuch as Mr. Barber was a g!:otver part o f the time attending the Kingston As ,,4s• He s u b m i tted that Fletcher ha d ta k en mo r e pains p deceive Mr. Barber than any other person, and that D b y deep -laid scheme had succeeded in misleading both and Mr. Burcham. The Learned Sergeant continuedl. at great length to comment on the ; emai ning charges made against his client, whose .titiocence he sought to establish, contending 8 1 ,, he proceeded that the observations addressed to 1:1,(1 Court yesterday by Mr. Bovill involved a gross t ' el o n Sir George Gr e y in the matter of the pardon g rai 'ted to Mr. Barber. The Learned Counsel con cluded by g y that he had undertaken the defence of client from an imperative sense of duty, and his only Ireward would b e the consciousness that he had acted in asdience to th a t d uty . H e as k e d no hi g her reward; h if his efforts should be crowned with success, lire should deem it the most felicitous day in his ;Lik i n tegrity, (Mr. Sergeant Wilkins) had from the Lery c ommencement of his professional life sought by industry, and independence to attain to some ,""ng lik e a high osition in it. If that were not fol lowed b., by the higher rewards which some of the mem . - f l ees of his profession were so solicitous to secure, but it f " himself could only live to see the day in which it could be said that he had been the instrument of extri 7e.tinrgfdrom misery and shame a man who had been un dseveiy punished, he should indeed thank God for his creation. A Mr- Lusa followed on the same aide, and was ad uressin— the Court when our report left. CRIMINAL COURT.—(THIS DAY.) OLD COURY'. Mr. Jusice C.) T ne GLOBE efore INSURANCE- t RESSWELL OFFICE ROBBERY.— Walter! llal ig. late le ssee o f th e Marylebone and Olympic Thea tres, and sub-treasurer of the Globe Insurance office, described as a clerk, and aged 33, was indicted for of s ling an order for the payment of 1,400/ , and a piece e paper upon which such order was written, valued at the PenaY, the property of the proprietors or trustees of Globe Insurance Company. T,he Attorney-General, Mr. Clarkson, Sir John 14 kti eYe and Mr. Bovil, appeared for the prosecution; and ei r r. Cockburn, with whom was Mr. Bodkin and Mr. f a r t °, well, defended the prisoner. o b " 0 ATTORNEY-GENERAL stated the case to the jury, izt e neir e gy e h r et v o l u a nai g tpi that, although the indictment appeared to be a ultimately y d affair, it would turn out that the charge resolve itself into one cf simply steal g the order f o r p a y m ent of 1,4001., or of the piece of pa per upon which the order was written. The facts, ht s u gh few and short, might eventually be set aside by ta , s Learned F r i en d w h o a pp ea red for the prisoner e e l le g some objection to the mode of preferring the Il rgea or on some other technical point, and it was not h,, r a rl i ed l irc t p o robable that in the end the jury would relieved f rom t h e i r f unc tions by the case being t a `Antea higher tribunal, where the abstruse e of law involved in the inquiry would have to be b e dded. Th e pr i soner was t h e son of a gentleman who hsd i_ b een connected with the Globe Insurance-office, nv est from it s ver y comm encement, prior to 1803, and tot w e s due t o t h at gen tle m an to state that there was e C i ng in the c a se that could at all implicate or sully his late eler- The Learned Attorney then proceeded to re thee facts as they were afterwards disclosed in evi lieeee' and finally concluded by telling the jury that be e r , b een given to understand that the defence to be set e r en e ,a Lehalf of the prisoner would be purely of a tech character, character namely, that he was a partner in the Insurance ob e .. Company, and could not, therefore, be te a lett for stealing his own property. It would appear b.. tithe prisoner held two shares in the company ; but tu x ei tne 47th Geo. 111., cap. 30, which was a public Act, aUthorised the establishment of the Globe Insur knee_ cr , eo e ,„ e uiae, it was provided that all the servants of the th •t' ll uY who should be guilty of any malversation in respective situations should be prosecuted at the tln ee of the treasurer, and he apprehended that the prov isions of this Act would be a complete answer to the Rleetion he was now anticipating. li- M t Morris Bothwell, a clerk in the London and Mlainster Bank, was the first witness called. He Mated that on the 26th of last February he received t lte o re as the c oun t er o f the bank a cheque on Glyn and ske? drawn by the Globe Insurance Company,for 1,4004, th e -eu e aas paid in on account of the prisoner. With ie e aegtle he received a note which he believed to be et , l l . l e handwriting of the prisoner, and which was the of In arY note delivered in with all payments on behalf se e e e e ropanies. The note merely stated the nature of le - r e negue, and on whose account it was paid in. ce 7eflobson, another clerk . in the bank, remembered tt lyin g the cheque in question, which he had cashed Gl Yaand Co . 's w ith a number of other cheques ah, etl 'eh the London and Westminster Bank had received ,that house, amounting in the whole to 4,2691. % i r. Steel:a clerk in Glyn's Bank, stated that he tk ued the cheques referred to by the last witness on i ge 26th of July last, amongst which was a cheque for '; 1 °• ..24 d rawn by the Glebe Insurance Company on one e orta Leeir o w n forms. The company had three distinct th e , of cheques for their sole use. One form was for - general account, the other for the annuity account, i an d th e t hi r d f or t h e dividend account. The cheque for e ' 4 e () ,° l . was on one of these forms. a u % Ct eununte—Do you know that as a fact from re t;e,eetion? Witness—No, I only kno w it from the en- I l e a which I find in our books. 0 ,„,' 1 r• Justice CRESSWELL Are the entries in y our " 11 handwriting. Witness—No, my Lord. h• er. Bovn—Was any other cheque for 1,400. paid in !'Y the L on d on an d W es t m i ns t e r Bank on the 26th Fe bruary?,_ Wit ness —N o , I believe not. ark"' COC KBURN —I di s tinctly understand that there ex no entrie s i n y ou r own handwriting. Witness—No, ee p t that I put the items of all the cheques on the ask of one and added up the total. tfir- Sunbur n , an other clerk in Glyn's bank, stated e it he lit on the 26th F e b ruar y he received a cheque from last w i tness for 1,400 / ., d rawn by th e Globe Insur ance Company. He knew it was a cheque, because by the entrie s i n t h e b oo k s w hi c h h e ma de himself it must Feb been paid in during the afternoon of the 26th hie "nary, while the practice of bankers was to pay in a i in th e morn i ng . t r • COEKBERN—Have you any recollection of the fee that you received the cheque. Witness—No. CKI3URN—Then how do you know it. Wit g"-.-BV the entries in the book. 1' 1 ; 11% ( - 1- ocunuaer—Then you only infer such to be the t• Witness—Yes kr, cum:rex—Then I submit, my Lord, this is not • 'encee tile e • and • Justice C RESSWELL—I think it is, Mr. Cockburn, h a q I will show you it by illustrating_ with a question. 11 0 7 e You never known an attesting witness say he has re euhection of a tact, but upon looking at his signa 'een the deed he has been enabled to swear to it? te ee t COCKBURN—No, my Lord, I don't remember any tee ease Te e ; es t , ATTORNEY-GENERAL—LOOkiIIg at the book, en th ou say w h et h er or no the cheque was paid to you e 26th of F e b rua ry ? Witness—Yes. th e f !' COCKBURN—Now, have you any recollection of e t a "? Witness—l believe it was paid in. Wantr• COC KBURN —I d on ' s que stion your belief, what I Of th e know is this.—Do you speak from recollection i s it fact of t h e occurrenc e of the 26th of February, or L eek. " inference which you draw from locking at the b eek ; . ? Witness—Yes. I know it from looking at the "•ti eOcKnouN—And you have no personal recollec of it? Witness—No. is"' "OCKBURN—A gain I submit, my Lord, that this tte t i"' evidence. Witnesses are called to speak to facts, e ta aot inf erences; b u t, a t all events, it must be shown scan the witn ess has some recollection of the circum his-ce he speaks to before he can be allowed t o r efresh ue rnory by referring to bookF. ,a -'l% Justice CRESSWELL still ditfered with the Learned ee esei. kr th at : Reynolds, another clerk at Glyn's Bank, stated l edg er was his duty to cheek the pass-book with the t s • He mad e the entries in the ledger himself , and Pe li leer clerk transferred the entries into the pass-b ack. i t e hook then came back to him, and he checked the 1 1 : el a With those in the ledger. On the 26th February e ntered a cheque for 1,400 t in the Globe Insurance eaeea Pane's account, and afterwards the pass-book of the Desil l e lu Y carne into his hands, and now, by the dot op -1400/the item in the ledger, he could stat =rue that the tli ate , • Was entered in the pass-book. The item e -4,0'1 precedi ng th e 1,4001. was 16/. 155., an annuity u nt- Aft er t h e p a s s -b o ok was checked with the h e Tr it was re t urne d to t h e com p an y. The pass-book Th e j a4 now in his hands, with the - ledger before him. the te at of 1,4001. was in the ledger, but it was not iu the rash- boob. The item of 16/. 151. was, however, in t here ass-ho k , and on te line immediately following it aPt ea o red to have be h en an erasure. iteej ciss •exernieed—lt did ll( t always happen that the ms in the l e d ger and the pass -b oo k followed in con iltive order. ink h f r -, same contest took place as to this witness speak rosnit or recollection, and with the same „i in th e former instance. s eean neer ) , p re ei ni the messenger o f th e Gl o be In- Z f etch e 'ffiee, stated th a t it generally fell to his lot to on Passbook of the company from Glen's bank lia, ttg, W edne . sday. He generally delivered it to Mr. leg fo `._ the.prisoner whom he occasionally found wait eo4raerit hi the kall cf the office, and in the ordinary `st eed .°f his duty he had no doubt he must have deli ha It to t h eapy t at gentleman during the month of Fe erop, s '• gr,,, ed l fl e xamined—Th ere was a large office on the f "r• Ile did not always fi n d M r . W a tts waie or h itt kr, e N , „., hlsta "lam; Tite the architect and deput • chair ,_Galene:ththeet;lo be Insurance Company, stated, that ) ' Mr. ^r a oe , s banker, was the treasurer, and he: himself, ce iee "of the trustees. The prisoner was a clerk in the (iir ee r t l s rl a Y e ' he was . apP . oieted by the directors. The a.. teena ge d the business of t h e company at the aereailtn" for that purpose they employed clears and was tis , , , Who acted under their direction. The prisoner ete eeiv i: i tdauntti,eslerk in the account office, and one of his e wi th was to check the payments at the hank ee e chee e, And on Wednesday morning he had to bring the stay.- THE SUN, meet of the balances down to the secretary and witn, ss, in order Oat thee might see that they were correct. The company had in use three clesses of cheques, Which r ere provided by the directors. The ordinary course of business was to retain the cancelled cheques with the pass-book in the pocket, and it was his duty to check them with the book and then do them up for preeerva lion. When the directors wanted to see any of these el , rques they hod to send to the prisoner for them. Towards the end uf 1849 it came to his knowledge that the prisoner was connected with the Olympic Theatre, and he remonstrated with him upon the im propriety of such a proceeding. Early in March a com munication was made to him relative to the cheque, and it was searched for, but it could nut be found. He then thought it his duty to seal up the prisoner's papers, and afterwards he rent for the prisoner and his father. who was the cashier of the t ffice, into his pri vate office, and he stated to them that some irregularity had been practised in the office, and as they were the two most likely to be implicated in the matter, he thought it right to communicate with tlem before any proceedings were taken. The younger Watts asked what he I% ai accused of, to which witness replied that he made no charge, but the prisoner's conscience must tell him what was the matter, adding that considerable sums had been abstracted from the company. The father said he was innocent of anything of the sort, that every farthing which had passed through his hands had been punctually paid into the bank, which was afterwards found to be the case; and then turning to the son, the father said, Can you say the same?" The prisoner declined say ing anything, and witness left them in the room toge ther for ten minutes. On his return he found they were gone; but on going up stairs he met the prisoner, who said, " Tite, you have disgraced me by sealing up my papers, and I call upon you to seal up all the papers in the office." Witness replied, that he could not do that, and Oen the prisoner told witness that he was a proprietor like witness, and should re main in the office no longer. The prisoner then left, and next day the directors received a letter of resigna tion from the prisoner with an intimation that if be should be wanted he would be found at the Olympic Theatre. (The trial was proceeding when our report lift.) .NEW COURT. (Before the RECORDER and Mr. Alderman CARDEN.) Matthias Martinez Debrie, a Mexican, was indicted before a jury of halt Englishmen half foreigners, with stealing a bank note for 501., a bank note for 301., and a quantity of gold dust, the property of Matthew Henry Strutt, the purser of the Royal Mail steam-packet Avon, trading from Mexico to Southampton. From the state ment of the prosecutor, and the evidence adduced on the part of the prosecution, it appeared that the prisoner was a passenger on board the Avon, from Vera Cruz to Southampton ; that during the passage he and the pur ser scraped an acquintance, and repeatedly played at cards together. It appeared that the prosecutor had a bank note for 50/. and another fur 301., together with some gold dust in a desk in his cabin, of which he lost the key shortly berore he arrived in this country. It appeared also that the prisoner had a quantity of dou bloons, some of which he entrusted to the prosecutor for security, but none of which he had in his possession when be arrived in London. The bank-notes were traced into the possession of the prisoner, he having changed the 50/. at Mr. Carter's, a jeweller and silver smith, in Cornhill, in the purchase if a gold watch, a chain, a key, ring, and breast pin, and the 30/. note, at Messrs. Moses and Son, in the pur chase of clothes. The gold dust was also purchased from the prisorer by Messrs. Angerston and Cu., for 17/. 13s. 103. _ _ _ Mr. PARRY appeared for the prosecution, and Mr. BALLINTINE addressed the jury for the prisoner, contending that there was no evidence that the prose cutor ever bad any gold dust, and that the just ir.ferenee was, that the prosecutor had given the prisoner the 501. note and the 301. nute in exchange for the doubloons he had left after paying his passage money. The RECORDER summed up, ar.d The jury, after a consultation of nearly half an hour, found the prisoner Guilty of stealicg the two bank notes. The RECORDER sentenced him to 18 months' imprison ment in Newgate. Byeans on a caverned grave which braves and rends — Death's last despAring strife. THE DEAD comes forth:— The ry,iglit , ,"c , ,it. o'er; the REST 15 110 W; The Sabbath of the new creation made, To which all seasoi!s must converging turn, Till ail become His Sabbath who has bought Our peace by woes we should have endless shared — Once more 'along followers now adoring round, This Being, Man, God, Brother, Father—All Which give assurance that Almighty Love Will bless Eternity for Us as ll,s Created, Lost, Redeemed,—now leaves His earth Slow vanishing. I see no more." And fortified by this, she cheerfully yields herself a sa crifice, for even the possibility of saving her Nimrod. There is an epilogue, in which the angels hold con ference with the beatified spirit of Nabmab, which contains many passages well worth quoting had we room ; but we must confine ourselves to the conclud ing song, in which the angels reconcile themselves still to watch over this world of violence and suffering : CHORUS. " Here would we stay, Content to wait, Though sin and sorrow men enthrall, Till under death's all-covering pall, They pass away, Unseen their fate; Though passions fierce their transient life despoil Of its few peaceful hours, snatched from exhausting toil. " For dawn first steals Frcm darkest night; And sin and sorrow, at their worst, Form but the tomb from whence shall burst The Power that heals Creation's blight: Then Justice, smiling on man's deathless peace, Shall bid bin wound no more, and woe for ever cease." BOW-STREET.-(THIS DAY.). A tall powerfal Irishwoman was this morning Placed at the bar be fore Mr. Jardine, charged with assaulting Mr. Charles Edward Stacey, the ballet-dancer at her Ma jesty's Theatre, and generally compagnon de ballet with Mademoiselle Feraris. From the prosecutor's statement it appeared that he bad last evening left her Abjesty's Theatre in company with some friet.ds to go to the Italian Opera, and there to wait till the ballet was over, as they had some busi nes with the ballet-dancers of that theatre. Instead of waiting in the anti-room, they went into Knight's pub lic-house, a place generally used by the profession. Whilst standing at the bar the prisoner, without any provocation, ran up to him and delivered a frightful blow on his mouth, which split his lip and made it bleed for some time. The police being called in, she was given into custody. It was ♦ery fortunate she had not struck him in the eye so as to blacken it, as he would have been thrown out of employment for a week or two. The prisoner, who said nothing, was committed for a month. LITERATURE. NIMROD ; a Poem. By R. W. Jameson. Pickering.. This is a poem on a truly heroic subject, the pro gress of ambition in the mind of the mighty hunter before the Lord, the founder of the first empire, the process by which the devil (for be also is here in propria persona) transmutes the philanthropist into the tyrant, through means of the bad element of un interrupted success. The conception is therefore grand. The execution, to be commensurate, might tax the genius of Milton himself ; and yet we must do the author justice in saying that, if he must not be classed in so high a category, he bas vindicated a claim to the high name of poet. The poem com mences with a spirited description of the deluge, as described by an angel who enjoyed the privilege of a bird's-eye view. "'Twos I who rode The Comet on its wild terrific way, Hissing along earth's orbit after it. I felt the shudder of the stricken world, I saw the waters heaving from their bed, Vexing the heated air with stifling steam, Which hid the dire uproar at work below; Till the winds, swift assembling, issued forth, And rushing o'er the ocean's rising rage, Grasped his erected mane, and, whirling up, Dashed it on earth in whelming cataracts, That ploughed the continents in ghastly seams, And burst the stony bonds of the under deep; Then for a moment, the far darting scream Of universal dying smote mine ear. But as I heard—the gathering, shattering roar Of two vast oceans meeting in mid earth, The Antarctic to the Artie, rushing o'er the hills, The world's wild knell, the flood's victorious shout To the far Moon resounded hoarse and strong; Till even her seas began to heave and swell With ominous ambition." There is then the episode of an antediluvian maiden dying in presence of her angel lover, and the subse quent voluntary exile of both from heaven rather than separate. For this, though perhaps the finest passage in the poem, we regret we have no room. Nimrod is then brought on the scene with his parents and his betrothed Nahmah. He is now a true hero, engaged merely in the useful warfare with the brute pests of the infant world. Meanwhile Raphael the archangel, with his chorus of contented, and therefore happy, spirits; Satan, represented as the personation of all daring, all-defying self-reliance; and Abaddona, a half angel, half-fiend, who presumes to think for himself, and therefore is on the sure road to perdition, make a compact and try their antagonistic powers on the conduct and fates of Nimrod and Nahmah. We have no room for their discussions, but the following " Oie to Light' will give a favourable impression of the poetry which the reader will find there:— CTIORIIS. When, hovering o'er the formless void concealed Asleep in darknt ss, God rebuktd the night, Creation sudden to itself rEvealed Smiled on its Maker, and the smile was Light. ABDIEL. Light first the awful Voice obeyed, The Word by which all things were made, And Night and Silence fled dismayed, When Light sprang into Space. Then Life thrill'd through dull matter's frame, As Light swept by in quickening flame; The torpid mass a Woild became And wheeled into its place. CHORUS. Light's beams are darting every where, Each orb with radiance clothing fair, Till all the same Effulgence share, To all a common tie: From its rich fount for ever flowing, From sphere to sphere for ever glowing, In each new visit joy bestowing; While gloom and shadows fly. ABDIEL. And, as Light reaches matter dead, Lite, motion, order 'gin to spread; A new world owns its living Head, Whose messenger is Light. For Life with Light He ever blends, To outer Space both ever sends, And thus his mighty sway extends With realms refit from the night. CHORUS. Untiring Light through Space afar, Flashes from infant star to :tar; Its happy toils all endless are, For Space no limit knows. Far darting through th© boundless deep, Night rousing from her dreamless sleep, Creation widening in its sweep, Light ever onward goes. With Nimrod the Devil of course succeeds, he goes on from crime to crime until by the subjugation of the horse, which is described with great force and animation, he founds his bloody throne in Baal, and through the deices of crafty priests he believes himself the son of Baal, and sacrifices his be loved Nahmah to what they tell him is the demand of his divine sire. Nahenah through meekness and love triumphs over all temptations, is favoured with a vision of the crucified and risen Redeemer. The latter thus described : The joyous coming Sun VULCAN AND VENUS. 'From Aletheia ; or, the Doom of Mythology, a new Poem just published by the Messrs. Longman and Co.) Wnite though the goddess, black the god of fire, Black with the reeking of his dusky forge, While Vesta bids her tongues of light aspire. Dark Mulciber his furnace mouth doth gorge With the loud blasts his windy bellows blow, Snorting the cinders to a rosy glow. Before his anvil stands the brawny lord, His forehead encircl'd with labour's grimy tan; His deep breath heaving to his work abhorr'd, His body crippled by its earthward ban; On smoking thunderbolt with batter'd flank His ponderous hammer whirls with leaden clank. Down from his shaggy chest, in glistering drops, The warm sweat fills, as trom the fainting noon Of sultry autumn days, o'er bristling crops, The cloudless skies rain forth their scanty boon, So from the fruitful season of his prime Ooze the rare showers that nurture deeds sublime. The Subterranean thus, with gnarled thews . . Melts, mid the dismal discord of his home, Where, hurling blocks that stubborn metals brnize, Toil the huge Cyclop and the pigmy Gnome — There Vulcan thrills, amid the tumult dire, Whene'er to him the victim loves expire. Yet sweeter thrilled the pulse of his rude life When from the creaming of the ruby tide That lav'd the shores of Cyprus with a strife Of shells and blossoms, scattered side by side, Born from the foam, his naked spouse, between The opening valves shone forth of pearls the Queen. And wafted stately to the floral strand By cool ambrosial breathings from the lips Of the gay z.phyrs, o'er the glittering sand Of purple Cytherea, on the tips Of the fresh billows, like a flower afloat, Glode the strange glory in its fragile boat. Then downward pressed the seasons to the beach Of all things beautiful, to her the feir Young goddess of all beauty, fondly each, And lavishly, their treasures proffered there, The summer citron, and the harvest rice, The vernal crocus and prismatic ice. A gorgeous carpet for her path lay strewn, The jonquil, and the pansy, and the musk ; And luscious banquets from the trees were blown, Figs from the bough, and almonds from the husk, The pleasures numberless, and Graces three, Around her frolick'd in rude ecslisy. And still she stands, as stood her marble shade, In Paphos, or as 3 et the magic mould Smiles from the pedestal—a shrinking maid Dazzling the daring pilgrims who behold That miracle of art, whose timorous arms Veil, ytt reveal, inebriating charms. 'Round her lithe waist th' elastic girdle spans Rising and falling as her passions swell, Token of man's futurity, which fans The life that vacillates 'twixt heaven and hell, Type of eternity, whose round doth roll— The zone of joy, the cestus of the soul. Down from the slacken'd stress of her small hand Flutter the damask petals of the rose, With greenest myrtles twined, a vermeil band To bind the pallor of her brow's repose; While to her loving palm yet clings the prize Pluck'd in proud Ida's orchard parasitise. The prize awarded in the lists of love, A red-gold apple, ripened to the core By sunny looks, that, coming from above, Lived in the thoughts of Paris evermore, Visions prefiguring with carnal joy His dream of bliss, the nightmare of old Troy. Close to her dimpled feet the ringdoves press, Her feet like ivory flushed'd with shadowed pink; Full in the splendour of her loveliness Bask the twin swans that from her goblet drink; And sparrows, dear as that which Lesbia mourned, Whose lowly tomb Catullus' lays adorned. Flit in gyrations of congenial glee, O'er the blithe Queen of laughter, from whose smile, Rays forth the happiness that fitfully, With jocund mines dejected hours beguile; So to the Paphian dame flock Cyprian girls, With haggard cheeks and gay disorder'd curls. So with half sad and half exultant air, Pandemus twangs his silken-bridle bow, Driving his poison'd shafts now here now there; Piercing the bosoms of the high, the low, The greybeard peasant, and the child-like prince, Who, thrilling, sigh, and—sighing—thrilling wince. Love tempering thus, like acids in the plum, The gladness and the grief that beauty wears, When youth, with sudden rapture stricken dumb, Fier fleshly form with fancied shapes compares— Though high o'er Venus Cupid reigns above, Beauty's the mother of celestial love!" CRICKET. ELEVEN OF ENGLAND v. TWENTY-TWO OF SCOTLAND. This match was continued on Wednesday, at Edinburgh. The following is the score:— ENGLAND—FIRST INNINGS Wisden, c Sopp, b Usberwood •... ......... •.••• 5 Clarke, c Sopp, b Lawrence .......... . ............. ............ 2 A. Mynn, Esq., b Lawrance ••.. Parr, c Doherty, b Lawrence Box, b Usherwood ... .. 3 Martingell, b Usherwood N. Felix, Esq., b Anderson ••• ...... .••• •• Adams, run out Guy, c Hutchins, b Usher woo dl Ch ' atterton not out I:1 ... 16 1 78 6 1 •. Hillyer, st Sopp, b Anderson ... ... Byes, 7 ; wide, 9 ; no ball, 0 ... ... 16 Total . .134 SCOTLAND- FIRST INNINGS W. Horeburgh, Esq, c Flynn, b Wisden ... 0 Whigham, Esq.. run out Mr. Atkinson, b Wisden Wright, c Hillyer, b Wisden . Capt. Hutchinson, b Wisden Lieut. Dickins, c Felix, b Clarke ... ..... .. Lawrence, c Mynn, b Wisden... T. Crcft, Esq, b Wisden Anderson, b Clark 11. J. Wylie,Esq., b Wisden .. ....... .... . ... 0 W. Moncrieff, Esq., run out ...... .... 17 Sopp, b Wisden A. Imrie, Esq., b Mynu W. McLeish, Esq., 1 b w, b Mynn R. Walker, Esq., b Martingell J. Dewar, Esq., c Wisden, b Mynn . 2 Mr. Thomson, c Felix, b Clarke Usherwood, c lliliyer, b Myun . ...... ....... .. 0 Major Doherty, b Mynn Sir J. Carnegie, Bart., not out T. Mackenzie, Esq., run out • W. Home, Esq, run out B 0,1 b 1, w 3, n b 0 . ... Total ENGLAND.-SECOND INNING Wisden, b Wylie ......... ....... .... Clarke, not out .... . l3 A. Mynn. Esq., b Usherwood ... .. „. ... ...... 11 Parr, b Usherwood Box, b Usherwood . Martingell, b Wylie ... 0 N. Felix, Esq., b Wylie Adams, b Lawrence ...... Guy, b Lawrence . Chatterton, c Moncreiff, b Wright.... . .. 19 Hillier, c Wright, b Usherwood ' Byes, 12; Ib, 1; w, 14; n b, 1 0 Total ...... SCOTLAND- SECOND INNIN GI W. Ilorsburgh, Eq., not out Wright, run out _ Lieut. Dickins, b Clarke i .. ... 0 Lawrence, b Clarke T. Croft, Esq., b \Vivien _ W. Moncrief, Esq., c Mynn, b Wisden .. •« ... 3 Sopp, b Wisden A. lmrie, Esq., not out... Sir J. Carnegie, Bart., c Parr, b Clarke..... Byes, 0 ; 1 b, 0 ; w, 0 ; n b, 0 Total .... EXTENSIVE FIRE AT THE W 7 (NDHAM CLUB- HousE. —This morning, shortly after I b ree o'clock, great alarm prevailed in St. James's-square, i a consequence of an outbreak of fire at that extensive establishment, the Wyndham Club-house. The house v 'ti's filled with smoke proceeding from the " Strangers' Roc ;" it was deemed uece,sary to send for the Brigade a) td West of England engines and firemen, who speedily atter ded. When the fire men entered the premises the flames w ;re spreading rapidly, but the engines were put into opera' ;ion, and through the assistance rendered by the police and lon lestics, the fire was extinguished, but not until much v ala ible furniture had been destroyed, and damage done to the building. The fire was occasioned by th e f ou l s t a te c f the e kitchen chimney, which is in close communication with , t h at of the Army and Navy Club-house adjoining. LONDO N, FRIDAY EVENING, MAY 10, lB5O. NATIONAL LOAN FUND LIFE ASSURANCE SOCIETY. The annual general meeting of the proprietors cif the National Loan Fund Life Assurance Society was held on Wednesday, at the London Tavern ; T. Lamie Murray, KAI., Chairman of the Board of Directors, in the chair. Amongst the proprietors present we observed E. S. Symee, J. Thompson, John Elliotson, M.D., Augustus Vigne, Clement Tabor, Captain Maher, M. Young, J. Herapath, Richard Symes, James Irvine, W. R. Jameson, Henry M. Billington, George W. Bartley, Thomas West, Samuel Walker, Charles Bennett, Esqs., and others. The advertisement convening the meeting having been read by Mr. WooIlion:sr, the actuary, The CHAIRMAN said—Gentlemen, the first business to be disposed of is the reading of the report which the directors have prepared for the proprietors on this occasion. They have embodied in this report all the accounts which will be published, namely, an account of profit and loss, together with an account of the assets of the company. I will new call upon Mr, Woolhouse to read the report. THE TENTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE DIRECTORS OF THE NATIONAL LOAN FUND LIFE ASSUR ANCE SOCIETY TO THE PROPRIETORS. " The directors have much satisfaction in meeting the proprietors on the occasion of the tenth annual meeting of the society. "On no former occasion since the institution of the society has its business presented so remarkable a pro gress, or the confidence of the public been so decidedly expressed. " Although the society may be considered as of recent institution, as compared to many others of so much older date, yet the advance it has made in the last few years eatitles it to the second or third rank in respect to the rapid increase of its business and the prospects and ad vantages it holds out to assurers who embark in it the future foi tunes of their families. " Since the last meeting the cholera has passed over the surface of this and many other countries, sending many to a premature grave. "In common with many similar institutions this society has suffered by this aw fel visitation, but not to such an extent as in any way to disturb the calculations upon which life assurance is based. " The casualties, however, occasioned by this distem per having occurred for the most part towards the close of our financial year, they will only in part appear in the accounts of the present one, the mortality in which is extremely light, exhibiting an amount of but 9,536/. in claims paid, instead of 21,875/. expected, and showing a balance of decrement within the year of 12,336/. in favour of the society. "The claims paid by the society since its origin to the lit of December, 1849, amount to 1 01,1391., the expect ancy being 121,5111., which leaves a balance in its favour on the whole period 20,3721. "Upon former occasions the proprietors present have been content with the reading of the accounts. These have not been hitherto published. The directors, how ever, deem it advisable, in order to justify the confidence of the assurers, to embody in the present report, intended for publication, the auditor's account of profit and loss of the year, and the assets of the society, which are as follows: PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT, IST DECEMBER, 1849. Dr. To Claims paid .. Claims extinguished by Pur chase . Bonus in cash paid to Policy holders £11,974 18 0 Annuities Paid ..... ......... 3,713 13 2 Interest paid to Shareholders 2,031 17 7 17,720 8 9 Commission Medical Fees .................. 1,037 9 5 5,085 9 9 London Charges ......... ..... 3,528 1 8 Branch Charges .............. . 3,750 5 8 7,278 7 4 L Tr a a w ye E ll x in p g en E se x s penses ......... 3 7 4 1 3 6 1 6 9 30 1,060 5 8 Advertisements ............... 1,910 19 Printing Stationery ll9 11 Exchange l7 18 2,543 9 8 £33,688 0 9 Balance Profit and Lois £112,863 2 11 By Assurance Fund (New Pre miums) Ditto (Renewals) Extra Premiums . 146 14 1 ------ 57,559 15 6 Immediate Annuity Fuad 876 3 6 Deferred Annuity Fund 1,350 0 7 Endowment Fund ... ... Interest, Scc. ........ ....... .. Profit and Loss 2,236 2 7 3,993 2 6 49,769 2 4 £112,863 2 11 ASSETS, IsT DECEMBER, 1549. Investments— Houses in London and Dublin for Premiums, Furniture at ' Head Offices, and Branch Furniture ........ £2,380 16 11 Loans and Mortgages ...... 27,091 12 10 Loans on Policies and Small Loans ........ .... . Consols, Stocks, and Bonds 15,807 9 2 Reversions 52115 4 Agents' Balances Policy Stamps Shares repurchased Conversion of Shares.— ........ Expenses of establishing gociety 6,595 8 5 Cash 118,695 10 1 "The directors are sensible that the stability and pro sperity of an office depend in a great measure upon the annual increase in the number of insurers and the amount of new premiums, as it must be evident, where such an inerease cannot be obtained the expenses must eat into the income of the old business. " To attain this end has been the constant effort of the directors, and they are happy to report that this has been reached to a greater extent in the present than in any former year, the number of policies issued being 1,033, and the new premiums carried to account 18,2681. Os. 9d. As compared to 1846, the increase in policies over that year is 496; over 1847, 401; and over 1848, 502. " The Transatlantic business of the society, under the careful and efficient management of our superintend ing board in New York, combined with the energy of our general agent, continues, both in its extent and free dom from all excess in mortality over expectancy, to give general satisfaction. •' The directors seeing the extent of our business in the British North American colonies have deemed it advisable to constitute another centre of superintend ence under a local board and general agent at Montreal. 4. The agencies of the society have been considerably extended since last year, both in this country and abroad. .6 The directors have been much engaged with the formation of an agency in France, where hitherto life assuran ce appears so compar a ti ve ly littl e k nown . Th e .prospectsccordoifng to this theagency are promising. stipulation s in the deed of settlement the actuary has made the annual valuations of the busi ness of the society. The result of this investigation, a ft er leaving a balance of assets equal to 66 per cent. of e h tier e ur 95' which, with th e reserve i n t h e valuat i on. a ss. 6d. for f u t ure pro fi ts t o t h e policy holderstl n ot included in the present division, and enabler directors to di vide among those entitled to the pre sent distributi on a cask bon us of 15 per cent. and a re versionary bonus varying from 20 to 56 percent. on the premtum • s, and to the proprietors a bonus of 4 per cent. for the p ast y ear in ad dition to the regular in terest of 5 per cent. already received by them, and which will be paid With the half- y earl y dividend in July next. " The following table prepared by the actuary ex- hibits examples of the amount of the nine last bonuses to which the holders of policies of upwards of four years' ' have become entitled, with the option of tanding . or by re ceiving the same in cas h, . addition to their policies, or in permanent reduction of annual premiums: E YANPLES OF BONUSES ALREADY DECLARED AND OPTIONS. . I (Bonus in Perm*. bum the addition Bonus vent Re-' Assured ia ducti km E E Pre- I take s ito Sum „,__ s _ . ea of may Bor mium. out. in !Assured. ‘-' l4l n- , Annual row on (1' ' 1 --- ____, - ---- ___ Premium. Policy. -- 1 e. d 4 g• d. £ s. d. r 1837 292 6 9 1 , 39 16 91 22 13 1 642 15 6 3833 !267 11 4 126 17 2 19 19 7.593 6 1 1839 1241 16 6 113 17 7 17 8 S 543 17 9 -4' .4 Annul 'Policy' 193 12 6 6 93 16 g 14 0 10 494 8 10 60 1 4 0007 4 4 8 8 d 4 . .{ 9 5 10 13 8 1 1 445 0 0 8 7 $ . I 1842 102 1 6 , 16 411 8 3 395 11 1 1843 115 1 0 10 ,6 1 0 10 8 1 10 3 46 2 3 { 1844 77 19 5 1845 23815 10 2 11 294 13 4 66 l5 0 44 10 0 4 10 1 247 4 1 1840841 1,9 12 " Th 1 is the el Esq., al expires, themsel ilgignieblEsq., who se per i o d of ' off i ce to be re-el ec t e d , an d o ff er e business to be transactgd il the pr esen t me eting lection of two direc tors in lieu of John Raman, ~n butd Augustus a re N e " Ives accordingly so for the election of an auditor in place of Pro- Wheatstone, F.R.S., whose period of office ex but who is eligible to be re-elected, and diets P accordingly. " By order of the Court of Directors, ii T. LANIE MURRAY, Chair/ISM " All L'essor ' pires, 1 himsel: . " May 8, 1850." The CHAIRMAN said th e next bu s i ness, gentle men, is to read the items in the audit or ' s report, b u t as they have been embodiedin the di rectors ' repor t, it will, perhaps, only be necessary to read the au ditor's certificate. The next busmen will be to read the actuary's valuation of the business of the l i r in e: v , e b e f ore that society upon which the profits are declared. it be adopted The actuary's valuation was then read. p 0 rltlh to e C t hnemvaorat vote—before I put this re and printed for circulation, if any gentleman wishes to ask any question, I s h a ll be most happy to hear him—(Hear, hear) —either now or . after I hive made the observations which I shall feel it my duty to address to you on the subject.—Glear.) —(,gentlemen, - eor e e nt Mr. Fox would take a dvan tage of this o ff er t o pu t a question on the subject of their Transatlantic lousiness. He wished to inquire in what situation the society would be placed in the event of our going to logger heads with America —in the event o f a war taking place between this country an d Ame rica ? The CHAIRMAN—I apprehend, sir, the society would be placed in no difficulty whatever. We should still continue to receive our premiums. Mr. Fox—Of course you have made arrangements for that ? The CIIAIRMAN—We should continue to receive, I imagine, our remittances from America as on former occasions, for if the parties insured did not pay their premiums, of course the liability cf the society would be at an end. (Hear, hear.) Now, gentlemen, this is the first occasion upon which the directors have thought it advisable, though not in conformity with a parti cular resolution passed at the first meeting of the society, to publish their accounts; but it being now the fashion for shareholders and those interested in societies like this to see what is really at the bottom of them, the directors, after taking that resolu tion into the fullest consideration, hare thought it right not to ask the meeting to delay the publication of the accounts till next year, but to publish them on this occasion. —(hear, hear.) Although we may have disobeyed that resolution passed at the first meeting, I think this meeting will, nevertheless, give us a vote of thanks for what we have done.—(Hear.) We have fairly and honestly published the whole transactions of the year, as they will go forth to the public, as they will be placed in the hands of all the proprietors, and as they will be printed for general distribution.—(Hear, hear.) The public will thus see how far this society is deserving of the credit it has taken to itself in the report. — (Hear.) I believe I may say the progress of this society within the last twelve months, indeed, within the last four years, has been such as will entitle it to rank second, if not first, with others, as far as its progress is concerned.—(Hear, hear.) We have received in one year of new business, of new custom, of new confidence on the part of the public, the large amount of 18,000/.—(Cheers.) No less than 18,2691. has been the increase of the year, re sulting from 1,033 policies, an amount of business which I believe only one other office in England, in Great Britain, has ever done anything like it.—(Hear.) The income of the society is now somewhere between 60,0001. and 70,0001.—it is upwards of 60,0001. We have made a new valuation of our business, and I will endea- your to show you, gentlemen, what effect that increase of business has had upon it.—(Hear.) Well, then, the present liability of the society on all its policies is 1,781,580/. That is a large amount, and it affords some idea of what will be the fortunes of the after gene- rations of those who are now interested in it. —(Hear, hear.) Last year, I took the liberty of stating to you some averages relating to insurances, amongst which was the average age at which insurers entered institutions like this. The average age of entry is about forty ; last year the average age of all our insurers was forty-six, showing an advance from forty to forty-six; but the effect of the new business upon the present year has been to bring the averages back from 46 to 44-45, instead of in creasing the ages to 47, as the then insurers are all one year older. In the present year, then, the ave rage age of our insurers is but 45, making an advance, if I may use the expression, backwards — (A laugb)—and the average age cf our insurers younger.—(Hear, hear.) The object of pointing this out to you is to show you the immense difference that this makes in our valuation.—(Hear, hear.) In older offices the average age is perhaps 56 to 60, consequently, it requires a larger amount of assets in hand to meet decrements. In the old offices the ages have advanced one year, while ours have got younger. The result is, that in our calculations every previous insurer is benefited by the large amount of new business, the expectation of life being greater. In our valuation we have not included the sum set apart for future profits. We have reserved a sum of 82,0001. for this purpose, over and above the profits which are at present divided. As regards the out- goings of the society on the year, if we look at the question of deaths, we shall see that notwith standing the cholera they have been extremely light. —(Hear.) The amount for the purchase of claims, claims paid, bonuses to policy-holders, claims extin uished, in fact all claims upon the society, is about 11,9741.—(Hear, hear.) As regards expenses, of the London office, it would perhaps be a source of satisfaction to the meeting to hear what these ex penses consisted ef.—(Hear, hear.) The London charges, then, amount to 3,5281. ; that includes the entire expenses incurred in the London house for direc tors, chairman, secretary's department, and, in fact, every department relating to the London office, includ ing charges for stamps and various other things.— (Cheers.) I think the meeting will consider those expenses not very extravagant, particularly when I mention that out of that sum there have been paid the court of directors, myself as chairman, and the pre sent office of secretary, whose duties are attached to my department, the day committee, and medical attendance for the examination of proposals, amounting in the whole, between the Ist of Dec., 1848, and the Ist of Dec., 1849, a period of twelve months, to only I,B44l.—(Cheers.) There are other charges here which I should mention to you; there is, for instance, 1,910/. charged for advertisements. That is a large sum, but it has not been expended for the advertisements of the last year, since some advertise ment accounts which have been sent in during the year for former periods come into this item, and, therefore, in this item a reduction of nearly 1,5001. may be effected.—(Hear, hear.) The law expenses have been high this year, besides which there are the general and some travelling expenses which will not be continued. On these items there will be a saving of 1,000/.—(Hear.) The American expenses amount to 3,7501., that is, fur American and other agencies, and as regards this item I confess to you freely that I do not see my way clear to any great reduction.—(Hear.) Perhaps, however, there may be a reduction of something like 7001. or 800/., but even that I cannot promise with any degree of certainty.—(Hear.) The meeting would perhaps be rather curious as to what had been the annual expenses for the whole of the thirteen years during which the society had been established.--(Hear, hear.) Ex' elusive, then, of what relates to preliminary expenses, and exclusive of commission and medical fees, the whole expense of the society has been about 6,0001. a year from the very commencement, includ ing advertisements and every kind of expenses of establishing the American agencies, which, as I mentioned at our last meeting, has been very costly.—(Cheers.) Now, as regards the preliminary expenses, there is in the assets now put before you the sum of 6,595/. Bs. 5d., they were originally 21,000/., and this year the amount written off will be about a half of the former sum—(Hear, hear)—while next year it will be entirely extinguished—(Hear, hear) — at least, in saying that I of course assume that we shall do as much business next year as we are doing now, and if that turns out to be so, that item will be en tirely written of, or, at all events, the trifle remaining will be very inconsiderable.—(Hear, hear.) Now, gentlemen, another subject upon which I wish also to be quite candid with you is the subject of investments. You are doubtless aware that since this society has been established we have made investments in various things, and I am free to confess that we have not been entirely immaculate, nor has our judgment been so perfect as might otherwise have been had we exercised a little more caution.— (Hear, hear.) However, we have examined our assets as they now stand, and upon which our calculations are based, and we firmly believe, and I say so in the presence of other gentlemen who are directors, that the loss upon these assets will not amount to more than 1,0001.—(Loud cheers.) I am really very sorry to say that the society met with an unfortunate investment with regard to some French property. That was not entered upon as a speculation, but it being at that time intended to form a branch in France, and to be kept as a se curity to the French people to insure in our society. The entire sum which we hold on that French security is about 10,0001. ; we have written off about 7,5001., so that it has not turned out so ruinous as was at first appre hended. Though I am disposed to say peccavi with respect to this transaction, I may mention that the sum which we have written off, from time to time, is about 13,2591. in 13 years, which makes about a thousand a year lost by investments. These losses were made at the first start of this society, but we have been prudent ever since. That is the real state of the case. I do not wish invidiously.to name other societies, but there are other companies that had suffered from equally unfortunate invest ments. I know of one which has lost 30,0001. from the failure of a bank, and another is likely to sustain a loss of 20,0001. from a bank whose affairs were in a very bad state. The loss sustained again re centlys sum tate between I an not t a s men tioning these matters as private scandal ; I merely amounted to a a society of this kind, and especially at an early stage of its progress, when we wanted experience, to avoid publicly7o,oool. provinci al k an n d o w clo n 2nl . ol:oaon l g. t l. was impossible in losses, and we confess them to you, and confess them at a time when the society is so well able to sustain it.—(Hear, hear.) I believe that is all I have to say on that subject. As regards the American business, though there is great rivalry among those institutions on the other side of the Atlantic, our affairs are in a satisfactory state, and we are not doing any dangerous business. It had been said that the circumstance of rivalry there would render our success problematical, but I think the contrary, for that rivalry tends to draw public attention to the advantag- s of life assurance on the other side of the Atlantic, which would not be sufficiently aw akened if only one society carried on its operations there. After nearly six years' operations there our annual income is upwards of 30,0001., indeed it approaches 40,0001. Mr. Woolhouse has always encouraged me with the assurance that American life was equal to English life ; I don't say in the swampy districts of the Union, but generally. In the same way we have gone to France ; we have spent some money in doing it, but we have got one hundred policies within the vear in France, and the agency is promising. f may add that Mr. Frederick Starr, till' brother of our general agent in the New York, has been appointed to preside over an establishment. which we have recently formed at :Montreal, and th e improvement in our business there is very great in deed.—(Hear, hear.) We have got a board of di rectors at :I‘.:c..w York which will rank in point of respectability and talent with the first merchants in London, considering their relative position.—(Hear, hear.) It is extremely well conducted, and their expenses do not amount to 300/. a year ' in doing a business of 30,0001. Mr. Fox, a great ship owner in America, who had been of great advantage to us in the establishment of our institution there, I regret to say, has died, and I gratefully pay a passing tribute to his memory for the great services he rendered us. I mentioned hst year that we had promoted a fire-insurance company in connexion with the society. Since then great progress has been made. The necessary number of shares are taken to obtain a complete registration, and enable the office to go into operation in June next. We have formed it on such a plan as to make a kind of sister institu tion. The expenses will be in a great measure di vided amongst each, but no other partnership will exist. We have obtained for this office very powerful support, and we expect to realise a good income from the very commencement.—(Hear.) The resolution was then put, acd carried unani mously. The CIIAIRMAN then moved that Mr. John Rawson and Mr. Augustus Vigne, whose period of office as directors had expired, but who were eligible to be re-elected, offered themselves accordingly to be re-elected. Carried unanimously. The CHAIRMAN also moved that Professor Wheat stone, F.R.S., whose period of office as auditor ex pired, and who was eligible to be re-elected, be re- elected accordingly. A PROPRIETOR asked what was the qualification for an auditor ? The CHAIRMAN replied that a holder of ten shares was eligible. The valuations were made by Mr. Woolhouse, their actuary, whose name was a sufficient guarantee to the world.—(Hear, hear.) Professor Wheatstone merely audited the accounts, balances, and assets, and when the balances were properly struck, the assets were carried up to the actuary, to calculate the profits to be divided.—(Hear, hear.) The motion for the re-election of the auditors was then agreed to. Mr. JAMESON, of Edinburgh, in rising to move a vote of thanks and confidence in the Chairman and directors, did not think he would be justified in trespassing long upon the attention of the meeting, after the satisfactory exposition of their affairs they had just beard from the chair; but perhaps the meet ing would indulge him for a few moments while he expressed his own gratification at the extraordinary progress which this society had made.—(Hear, hear.) He was exceedingly [glad to find that they had such a great Transatlantic con nexion, and he really did think they must borrow from the vocabulary of the Anglo-Saxon in America the only phrase sufficient to explain the progress and success of the society. The phrase he proposed to borrow would be sufficiently comprehended and un derstood by the meeting, he had no doubt. The words "go ahead "—(A laugh)—were the most ap plicable to the society, for certainly it appeared from the statement of their excellent Chairma❑ that they had been "going ahead" pretty considerably —(Hear.) They had now only arrived at their tenth yearly meet ing,and yet they were now counting profits by decimals, while if they went on progressing as they were now doing he was sure the amount of business next year would exceed all their fondest expectations.—(Hear, near.) The commencement of a business like the cul tivation cf waste land always involved the expendi ture of a large amount cf capital in the first instance, and it was rarely that any retur❑ was obtained until after the lapse of some ten years. In the case of this society, however, that rule had not held good, for not only had they got rid of the preliminary expenditure which had been occasioned by breaking ground in Eng land, Ireland, and Scotland, but they had succeeded in establishing agencies with their brothers across the Atlantic, and their friends, if he might so call them, on the other side of the Channel, and yet had already found profits accumulate.—(Cheers.) The period had indeed arrived when they were realising the profit of their enterprise, and it certainly was a source of great satisfaction to him, as he had no doubt it was to the meeting, to think that their ex penses and losses had been so trifling compared with the benefits the society afforded to the public, which in the past year had been enormous and astonishing. —(Hear, hear.) A question had been put as to the effect of a war on the French and American investments. The only mischief that war could do would be the possibility of its giving rise to revolutions or insurrections that might take off the heads of some of their policy-holders.—(Laughter.) That would be a serious thing for them, but, nevertheless, it was some consolation to know that the rather awkward practice of cutting off heads was not so prevalent in France now as, unfortunately, it was formerly. The CHAIRMAN—We should not be liable even in that event. _ _ Mr. JAMESON rather thought they would. The CHAIRMAN—No, no. - Mr. JAmEsort was very much mistaken indeed, then, if they would not, for death by the hand of the executioner no more vitiated a policy in their society than did suicide, when it turned out on inquiry that suicide was only another name for a diseased mind. Mr. GODDARD —That was settled at the last meet ing, I think. The CHAIRMAN—Yes. Mr. JAuEsori continued—lf neither the French nor the Americans would injure them in that way they had no power to injure them in any other way. — (Cries of " Hear, hear.") But the progress that was making both in France and in America in life assurance was particularly gratifying in a general point of view, since it would serve to cement nations together.—(Hear, hear.) No nation ever went to war without heartily regretting it after the war was over ; and it was no little gratification to him to think that the progress of the principles established by this society would have the effect of preventing a recurrence of some of those most stupid blunders which men have committed and called by the name of war—(llear.) For these reasons he was entitled to congratulate the directors, the public, the world at large, upon the great progress which the society bad made, and to call upon the shareholders—who although they had all the power, certainly were not the most deeply interested in the society—to return thanks for the exertions which had secured this astonishing success.—(Hear.) The people most interested in the society were those who looked to it as a provi sion for those dear to them when they were removed from the scene of their earthly struggles.—(Hear, hear.) When they talked of that class they spoke of thousands, when they talked about their capital they spoke of a million rapidly rising into two, and he called upon the meeting in their behalf to thank the directors for their able services, who, trusting for reward to the high con , cientious feeling of serving the institution almost gratis, were pursuing what he could not help stigmatising as a Quixotic course of parsimony as far as regarded themselves.—(lar, hear.) He trusted, however, that nothing t which them might be said by the few that were against would induce the directors to impair their own efficiency by any fanciful principles of parsimony. ,ess Efficiency was the true essential in the progress of so cieties like this, and he therefore warned the and d irectors pound against being betrayed into the p_ ) l e t i w y as bad to witness foolish system.—(Hear, hea e r ns . ent, still worse ineffi extravagance in any ciency, and while they economised in their income they should not allow that economy to degene rate into parsimo n y , or it would be at the expense of impairing the advancement ©f this great national institution.—(Cheers.) Other societies had bor rowed —he would not say stolen—from them the principles upon which this society was founded, and though they had thus trenched upon their mo nopoly, he, for one, did not repent it. The prin ciples could not become too universal, and encou ragement ought to be given to them wherever they were found, as it would be the means of raising life assurance to the position of a science. Indeed, he believed it had already taken that rank, and it was still destined to confer a great and lasting benefit upon society wherever society existed.—(Hear, hear.) He had now to move that the thanks of the meeting be presented to their very efficient board of directors, and to their able Chairman, who had, as was prophesied last year, been handling both whip and reins with a strong hand, so as to make his agents move steadily and vigorously in harness, and who had told the meeting, very properly, no doubt, that all the circumstances and situation of their society ought to be made unreservedly known to the public. They had no secrets to keep back from the world. — (Hear, hear.) The whole state and condition of the society would pass through the o rdinary channels of information to the world, and whentih e public saw how candid the society was with there, how few were its losses, how satisfactory profits, and how gratifying its result', nt-h_Etweeiplrecutl)._lic could not fail to repose in it the utmost co (Hear, hear.) The public, he was convinced, would a , sist and support it in every possibiteyi were entitled ann er, and by this time next year, he trusted, as they to trust, the directors would be enabled toi the announce a still further increase and improvei uent pro gress of its affairs.—(Chee rs.) Mr. GODDARD was anxious to second the resoluti on which had been so ably an d eloquently proposed by the gentleman who had just sat down, more especially as, at the last meetii, littleer he asked some with questions,the and was thought t o be .inclined to cavil statements of the dirc,etor:, though he could assure b o th the m eeting and the board that all he had in view was the continued well-being of the society : — (Hear, hear) He was amply rewarded for the line conduct he had laid down f o r himself in finding that he had been instrumental in eliciting the satisfactory report which they had received. Men of his profession hail a habit, and it was by no means a bad habit, of looking to the bottom of things. They invariable probed a wound to the bottom, be cause when they got there and ascertained its depth it was the sooner healed. Wherever that course was not pursued, N , dherever there was a grating over, if he ought use the expression, wherever there was mys tery, confusion, or concea l men t, susp i c i on was cer tain to be excited.—(Cries of " Hear, hear.") That was his view and notion of things, while the same rules that he applied to himself as an individual, were equally applicable to a society like this.— (Hear, hear.) This society addressed itself to the masses, as wall as to the higher classes ; and they might depend up on it, th at system which satisf i ed the multitude would prove to be the most successful, the most profitable in the end.—(Hear, hear.) So the people of Brighton had found that the flocking of the middle classes to that delightful watering place was far more beneficial to them than was the support of the aristocracy, as it was twenty years ago.— (Hear.) He had been often asked what was the annual income of their society, and in what property th e i r f un d s were invested ; but not being able to answer those questions, the parties who interrogated him jumped to the conclusion that there was something wrong about the society. After the lucid and interesting statement he had heard from the Chairman, and the satisfactory state of the report, he should be able to supply posi tive information to persons who might question hint with respect to the state and prospects of the society. He would only ask, in conclusion, if it was possible to make the policies indisputable from a given time, so that when a man possessed a policy he had as good a security as if it rested on a freehold? The resolution was then put by Mr. JAMESON, and carried nem. eon. The CHAIRMAN, in returning thanks, said he and his brother directors had often felt the proud satis faction to receive a vote of thanks at the close of their annual meetings. He felt satisfied and proud that the meeting had been content with the statement that had been put before them ; and now that their stewardship had been exposed, he felt a great degree of satisfaction that it met with not a single dissentient voice. He had a very deep pe cuniary stake in the society, and a very deep moral stake in it also. Another of the directors had up wards of 5,0001. in it—(Hear, hear)—and their immediate friends and relations had a stake in it to a considerable extent, and therefore the directors were proprietors who were deeply interested in the success of the society. As regarded the indis putableness of the policies, it was a proper ques tion, but like everything else that had a risk attached to it, the proposition was liable to objection ; all he could say was that from his experience he had nut been favourable to it. They had very nearly been cheated in Canada to the extent of 5,0001. by the death of a man's wife who was insured, and who actually died within a day of the time when the payment became due ; but owing to the astute ness of the Hon. Mr. Starr, the general agent in the United States, this intended fraud was detected, and this society and several other London institutions saved the sum of 15,0001. He might mention en passant that these distinguished services had not met any reward from those companies who had been saved by his exertions. Of course it was the determination cf the husband that she should die.—(Hear, hear.) Another case happened at Bristol in the case of a policy for 3,000/., where a man poisoned his wife and then poisoned him self during the investigation. Those were not tavoumble data on which policies could be made in disputable. He meant, however, to turn his attention to the subject shortly, with the view of seeing how far it might be done in some particular cases. Ile returned them his cordial thanks. He hoped their exertions next year would be equal to the past. They had already received 309 proposals within this cur rent year, which was about as much business as many other offices did in a whole year. The meeting then separated. HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE. Madame Sontag appeared last evening as Elvira in I Puritani for the first time, and has at once set all rivalry at defiance. She has made the character her own ; in Elvira, at least there is no living artiste who can approach her. Her very youthful appearance is much in her favour ; she looks a " vergen vezzosa," and her quiet and lady-like manners are quite in keeping with the character. In the mad scene she was beautifully true to nature, and her quiet pathos contrasted most favourably with the exaggerated violence which her predecessors in this part have usually exhibited. She was in admirable voice, and rendered the music exquisitely. She was encored in the " Son vergen vezzosa," and in the beautiful " Vien di letto " in the second act, which we have never before heard rendered so exquisitely. Bail carde was the Arturo, and his Arturo is by farthebest thing that he has yet done, and will add immensely to his reputation. The "Ah ti a cars " was a per fect gem, and was enthusiastically encored. With Lablache as Giorgio, and Coletti as Ricciardo, it will be apparent that the representation of last evening was as near perfection as possible. Les Graces followed, and the furore which it creates is increased on each occasion by its repetition. Fer raris was, as usual, encored in her pas. The house was crowded in every part. HAYAIARKET THEATRE. The announcement of a new five-act Comedy from the pen of Douglas Jerrold, drew a crowd around the doors of this theatre last evening long before the hour fixed for their opening, and within a very few minutes after they were opened the house was crammed to suffocation in every part ; in fact, it was a perfect crush in boxes, pit, and galleries—a proof, if any such were needed, that the love of the legitimate drama is still strong, and that a good play, well acted, will always draw a good audience. The name of the new comedy is The Catspaw, and for brilliancy of dialogue, for biting sarcasm, for wit and repartee, aye, and for richness of humour, too, the Catspaw is equal, perhaps in some respects superior, to any thing that our author has yet written. It is quite worthy to take its place with Bubbles of the Day and Time Works Wonders, and will be found with those masterpieces among the few dramatic writings of the present age " which the world will not willingly let die." Thus runs the plot —Mr. Snowball (Mr. Keeley), a middle-aged well to-do bachelor, residing in comfort and splendour, at the West End of the town. He is of nervous and most excitable temperament, and fancies himself so ill that it is necessary he should have a permanent and resident physician in constant attendance on him, and he consequently engages Dr. Petgoose (Mr. James Wallack) in that capacity, and of Dr. Petgoose Snowball is the complete catspaw, being , befooled and bephysicked at the will and plea sure of the Doctor. From a rich uncle Snow ball has great expectations ; the uncle dies, and leaves his property to a Mrs. Peachdown (miss R e ynolds), Snowball determines to corn tnence an amicable suit in Chancery against this lady. Snowball's servant-girl Rosemary (Mrs. Keeley), has been for some time engaged to Apple face (Buckstone), a drummer in the 101st Regiment. She buys his discharge, and having dressed him in a suit of black introduces him into her master's house, and when he is discovered, to prevent his recognition and consequent ejectment, she intro luces him as the lawyer engaged to conduct the Chancery suit, he thus becomes introduced to the niece of Snowball, and is on the point of being married to her, when he is discovered by his old lover Rosemry, and brought back to his duty, but not until he also has used Snowball as a catspaw. During this time Snowball is the victim of another impostor, Mr. Coolcard, alias Busby Knox, 11.1. A., alias heva lier Podovy, a begging- letter impostor, admirably made up and excellently acted by Mr. Webster, who victimizes Snowball under each of his separate it dis guises. Snowball, dreading lest the Chasneteorymasru should be decided against him, determines eta him ry . Mrs. Peachdown, but by loses ( both and at last the unfortunate Catsp self into aduelwith herlover,Capt.Burgone Mr. low e) ng is lawsuit and his lady, but, en revanhcisi d of Dr. Petgoose, who anno unc es ll ta ° hets i eye h xo l l bs 9 fp er ce i r v st rj og n eh he n t s: ea e t s n a pwo t yl :n s b i b o go la n olel l i g ftl et c e ) tew f t ,er, s r i ait r m: smho i e e: s e t d e ‘ y r %: j' a t- 11 . a l ck made a great part friende t o e f l y t h o e ff f e a r m i offering family to l h l • rich piece of genuin dr e eirnv e: e r r was rich in the extreme . sthe I impudence. , of Dr. Petgoos h e e , very perfection of postor, chdown of , Mrs. Reynoldso and the Rosemary of Mrs. w l a i s ee g le e y n t i a je s her r as hearty as p o .a ions of similar parts have s i wa ys been. Beckstone, as the mock lawyer, was i t hautei'helAci o r n r ; a e r , s h e. e at , very comical. The dialogue was, as we have said, sparkling with wit, wisdom, and sarcasm. There are apothegms in this comedy which will become house hold words, and there are quaint sayings to convulse one with laughter. At the conclusion all the artistes were called on, and then there were loud calls for Mr. Jerrold, who bowed his thanks from a private box; but the audience were not content with this, and insisted on bringing him on the stage. We are informed, on very good authority, that the report of the Health of Towns Commission will be issued next week. It is said that they recommend the supply of water for London to be brought from the Malvern Hills, in Worcestershire. We should liks to know what would be the size of the culvert.— The Architect. THE GREAT EXHIBITION.--ST. PETERSBURGIT, APRIL 28.—His Majesty the Emperor has commanded that two Councillors shall be appointed, the one at St. Peters burgh, the other at Odessa, to examine the specimens of agricultural product which are to be sent from Russia to the Great Exhibition in London in 1851. —St. Petersburg ) Gazette.