The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1855-08-07 00:00:00

COMPASSES OF IRON SHIPS.

THE following letters, bearing testimony to the great value
of the apparatus invented by Mr. John Gray, of this town,
appeared in the Examiner of Saturday last :
The Priory, Battersea, July 30, 1865.

SIR,-It being a well-known fact that matters interesting to
navigation are better handled, and, as a sequitur, better
understood by the Examiner' than by the press generally, I
• feel no kind of hesitation in asking space for a letter on the
adjustment of the compasses of iron ships, nothing doubting
you will feel it to be a subject worthy of serious consideration,
and worthy of a place in your columns.
Mr. John Gray, Nautical histrument-maker, of Liverpool,
has patented an apparatus for the adjustment of iron ships'
compasses, at sea, or in harbour; and the principle of its
construction is so simple and effective that it has obtained a
very high compliment from the Astronomer-Royal, a copy of
whose letter I enclose. To bring before the world the means
of navigating our iron ships with accuracy, more particularly
after the calamitous occurrences so often associated with the
deviation• of the compasses, is a praiseworthy effort on the
part of Mr. Gray, and one that cannot be too highly applauded.
The apparatus consists of a cradle containing the necessary
complement of magnets moving vertically in a horizontal plane
in the binnacle, or horizontally in a frame on the deck ceiling
house, &c., and connected with which is a rack and pinion
holding a vertical magnet to correct any disturbance arising
from the inclination of the ship.
The code of instructions, which I have examined, is of so
simple a character that it is a matter of surprise that it should
not have been suggested before.
All that appears to be required from the captain, after the
binnacle is placed in its position and the compass adjusted by
the party appointed, is to place the ship's head in two positions,
and the compasses are made perfect, whatever may be the
amount of disturbance.

I have so often witnessed the pains taken by Mr. Gray in
adjusting the Great Britain's and other iron ships' compasses-,
that I am full of belief in the correctness of his last discovery,
—at any rate, as its correctness may be ascertained before
ships proceed to sea, I trust you will agree with me that there
need be no hesitation in recommending it to notice.
Yours, &c., CHRIST. CLA.XTON.

Royal Observatory, Greenwich, June 19, 1855.
have examined your binnacle, which contains arrange
meats for adjusting the magnets, and which contains also-
proper provision for the mounting of the unmagnetised iron,
usually required for complete correction of the compass; and
I hare' to state to you, that it is entirely satisfactory to me.
The principles of its construction are perfectly correct, and
the application of the adjusting power is easy. 'With very
moderate care on the part of the captain, the compass may be
made accurate in any part of the world.
You are at liberty to state this publicly, if you think fit to
do so. I am, &c. G. 8., AIRY.
Mr. John Gray.

THE ROYAL INSURANCE COMPANY
ANNUAL MEETING,

Os Friday, the shareholders in this company held their
annual general meeting, in the board-room of their offices, in
North John-street: Ten years from the establishment of the
company had; at its origin, been fixed by the actuary as the-
earliest period at which an investigation ought to be made.
into the business of the life assurance department, with a
view to declaring a. dividend a and that period of probation
having expired, the meetingon Friday last was looked on by
all concerned as one of unusual importance. Theresult of the
decennial experiment has been most satisfactory,the investiga-
tion proving, as Was clearly demonstrated in the report sub-
mitted by the manager and actuary, Mr. Percy M. Dove, that
the society's business- in that department has been most suc-
cessful, placing both the shareholders-and the policyholders in
a' highly advantageous position. From this branch of the
business alone the proprietors will have an addition to their
dividend of 3; per cent., making,with the ordinary dividend from
general profit and loss- account, in all laai per cent. upon the
original paid up capital ; and the assured will receive a bonus
of £2 per cent. in respect of each participating policy issued
prior to the Ist of January, 1853, for every complete year that
such policy has been in, force. This, as was pointed out at
the aneeting, constitutes an addition of 18 per cent. onthe
amount of every existing- policy. since 18 a, the first year of
the company's existence. A result like this, coupled with the
fact that the investigation and recommendation were both
concluded with a most scrupulous eye to accuracy and to the
future security of the company and the assured, gives ground
for congratulating all parties on the success -of the under
taking: The directors seem specially entitled to the thanka of
the proprietors and the policyholders, and: in a particular
manner are those thanks due to Mr. P. M-Dove, the active
and intelligent manager andaetuary of the company, to whose
prudence and forethought must, in no small degree, be attria
buted the marked success of the company.
The meeting was numerously attended by gentlemen of
commercial rank and influence; Charles Turner, Esq., chair-
man of the company, presiding. Among the other gentlemen
present were—Samuel Holme„ R. E. Harvey, Ralph Brockle-
bank, T. D.' Hornby, G. H. Horsfall, John Torr. Thos. Bouch,
Richard' Houghton, David lamb,- Joseph Cooper, W. G.
Loete, Robert Wynne, Robert Rockliffe, J. B.' Braneker, G..
E. Taunton, P. R. M'Quie, _Thos. Asldisona.Wm. Newton,
David Cannon, Wm. Smithy. Johnston, IL J. Webster,
Jas. Hohne, Michael Belcher,.R. L. Jones, Wm: Titherington,
Esqrs.
Mr. I'EItCY M. DOVE read the annual report, from which it
appeared. that the life premiums received for the first year's
operations amounted but to about £1,500, and. have advanced
to a sum not far short of £30,000,. to which amount it is ex-
now, therefore, to make progress for the future froui e
starting point of this latter amount, in place-of the trifling
sum which marked the commencement of the period under
notice.. The sum which the directors are enabled to carry off"
from this branch for the use of the proprietors is shown to be
£7,819 15s. 6d. And with respect to the policies entitled to-
participation, the result more than equals the highest ex-
pectation:formed of it; it is believed that the announcement:
of a bonus so large as £2 per cent. on the suna assured,for
every entire year a policy with profits has been in existence;
which the directors recommend to be declared in accordance
with the counsel of the actuary's report, to which they would
refer for details, will lead to a very extensive increase in life.
assurance business for the future. The expeetation expressed
in the very first report of the directors, in. August, 1846, will
now then, it is believed,_ be immediately,and fully verified,
"That the confidence of the public will be secured by the
conviction that every life accepted by the directors will be
admitted among a class of lives so carefully selected, that the
largest amount of bonus to the assured may fairly boaan-
ticipated."—ln the Fire Department, it was observed that
remarkable expansion,which has been observed and commented
on at the annual meetings of the company, has hitherto- had
no cheek. The increase-in the amount of premiums for the
year 1854 is upwards of £16,000, whilst the balance to the
credit of profit and loss for that period is •£28,816155., ex-
ceeding the amount reported for any similar period for the
last few years. The directors, it was.. said, have likewise the
satisfaction of announcing that the American business pre-
sents a very favourable aspect for the last six months, the
balance at present standing to the credit of the account for
that period exceeding the debit balance of the preceding
twelve months. The losses in Great Britain for, the same
time have, however, been very heavy, and have, pressed with
some severity on many of the insurance establishnaents of the
country. Nothwithstanding the occurrence of these adverse
contingencies, the balance to the: credit of profit and loss for
the expired six, months of the present year, may be esti-
mated, after deducting expenses, at Cei32.o 3s. 11d.
After naming the following directors, whoa_ in accordance
with the deed.of settlement, eetire .by rotation, but who, by
the same deed, are eligible, for re-electicu, :—Michael
-Belcher, Esq, • Thomas Bcuch, Esq.; George Henry Hors-
fall, Esq. ; Richard Houghton, Roger: Lyon Jones, Esq. ;
re-elected. The report went on to recommend that a Robertdividend;
of 31cS
m ttnhd, rEe ws
..Ecshq.a,, J.
:4-des
Turner,
o; oarlio,ofEwshq
0.
of 3s. ancLa bonus of 2s. ed. per share,. both free of income-tax,.
be dedared. The report also alluded teathe- opportunities each
of the shareholders may have in promoting the interests aud
extending the operations of the- company, and by so dein,
adding, security to anci-enliancinfktheNdue of their own,proa
perty, remarking :—" The attamment of such a revenue as
thatad the Royal Insurance Company in its fire department,
in the short period of ten year,s, is, it is believed, without.
example in the hiEdory of insurance companies. Those es-
tablishments which have inany way approached to hin former,
or in the present times, have done so, in a great measure, by
amalgamation with other companies. The Royal:lnsurance
Company, on the contrary', has acquired this revenue by its own
legitimate inatience alone, without any such adventitious aid."
The report of the acts-gory showed also a view of the Com-
pany's affairs, in a similar, degree and manner, satisfactory. It
went minutely into the details of the Company's_ buainess, and
showed that "The life department will be the future source of
a fair profit to,the shareholders, whilst the probability of bene-
fits which it may reasonably hold out to the. assured are equal
to these of any other insurance sociay, whether proprie-
tary ur mutual,in the kingdom. This. able report concluded
with the annexed observations :—" It may fairly be assumed,
then, that no life company will have ever presented its first
statement to the public with fairer grounds for anticipating
that the prudence of its manageraeut and the soundness of its
principles will give an impetus to its future progress. And
c se ht
that shown
ab in
jneti
se
fixedkind,t a
obtained
themselves
h which,
ema
m si
by teyt
hs amount
imu
hnmeo
many
admirable corresponding
tnctoi wet
dsa ituabt josafhnl ntmi ecainnpt yas t
ty
e years, b
f
ju-
diciouso thef
bru e
confidence of society.
The CIIAIRMIN, in moving that the report be adopted and
printed, and circulated amongst the shareholders, embraced
the opportunity of congratulating the meeting, and the share-
holders generally, on the prosperous position which the com-
pany had attained, as manifested in the able and satisfactory
report which had been prepared and just read by the actuary.
He begged particularly to call attention to the fact that, in
estimating the value of this branch of the business, no portion
of the preliminary expenses had been carried over to future
years, to be charged to future savings. ( Hear, hear.) This
was, unfortunately, not common with companies commencing
a life business, yet, perhaps, in some instances it may be fairly
adopted ; but the actuary of this company thought it much the
safer and more proper course that the whole of those prelimi-
nary expenses should be borne by the year in which they were
incurred. ( Hear, hear.) He would ask them also to bear in
mind what is stated by the actuary, that, under his advice, the
directors have determined not to carry anything to the credit
of profit and loss in the annuity branch of the life department.
( Hear' hear.) The actuary has advised them—and they agree
with him in opinion--that the term of years which that branch
has been in existence has not been sufficient to make it desir-
able that they should do so, although the condition of that por-
tion of the business was highly satisfactory.—Gentlemen, con-
tinued he, it is a most satisfactory state of things ; and the
more gratifying that it has been brought about, not by throw-
ing over any portion of the preliminary expenses, to be pro-
vided for in future years, but by estimating, in the safe and
cautious manner which has been described, full value of
the business. (Hear, hear.) The safe business of the Royal
Insurance Company presents itself in a most favourable view
to every one who wishes to insure his life. (Hear, hear.) The
profits which have accrued from this department, up to the
present period, have been such as are
not often witnessed in
the career of new life offices ; while, at the same time, in the
cautious mode in which the calculations are made, the assured
have a guarantee for the prudence with which the' business is
conducted, and for the perfect safety with which they can in-
sure their lives. (Hear, hear.) This, therefore, is a state of
things which will have its weight with all prudent men—and
only prudent men, generally speaking, do insure their lives—

[AuGvsT 7, 1855.

(gef:
and induce them to give their policies to this compag•
hear.) At the same time, he was bound to remind the
. policy holders that, inasmuch as two-thirds of the Pf°e'v,,,
this branch of the business would be divisible among t_.`.`„„i'
was their interest to exert themselves as much as they; Pte:ep;
can to bring policies to the company, and to induce thirfhos
to insure with it. The premiums on fire business fii,t
reduced so low as to leave not a very large margin for
The losses during the last six mouths have been beail,
as Great Britain is concerned, but in America the i 0
pany's business presents more, favourable features 00
hitherto. (Hear, hear.) On the whole, the businesscompany, the directors can state with confidence, is inje
satisfactory state, and presents every prospect of
profitable future. At the same time, it would be we' .e
tion them against indulging extravagant ideas,, beta st
of that kind can only be realised by incurring w,
directors consider unjustifiable risks. (Hear, hear:)3,,,.
risks no proprietor would wish the directors to undert.
THOMAS BOITCH, Esq. seconded the motion, and 1,00
so said it was a pleasant duty to press upon the attet
the meeting the importance of the valuable doctunell g
had been presented and read by the able actuary 0. 110
pang, and enforced with such clearness of argurneo'
chairman.
The resolution was put and carried unanimousls%
The CHAIILMAN next moved "That this meetingli
of the computations in the life department, made tub
actuary,- and of the bonus recommended in his report
proprietors and assured." fn
SAMVEL Hormr, Esq., seconded the. motion• dt
this, he highly complimented Mr. Dove for-the clear.f!Ail
computations and assurances of success which he fie7fc6
convincing a mourner laid before the company Pyild 610 cr.r.
In conclusion, he said he should not do justice to 01r,
feelings, if he did not bear public testimony to-the of
assiduity, the prudence and good management of fbe:.110,1,,
Mr. Dove, and at the same time to bear willing 05:1,1,5P,,,
the subordinate officers of the establishment, and tots
which is observed throughout it ; and in the sYstetle
arranged and so well regulated, together with, ctot,!
management of the directors 4:;athe general CO
business, he could see an indicaticra of continued P
and success. .1,

Mr. Alderman COOPER expressed his satisfaetia°
favourable change in the-American business.
The resolution having been carried, de'
• The CHAIRMAN moved that the dividend of 35' riee-,'
and a bonus of 2s. 6d. per share for the last year,'" o.`te
I
Mr. Tony seconded the motion, and in doing, `4O„
ether interesting. remarks, said the first considertre9l
directors and the management should be to se' olid
terests of the insured, so that the' holder of a 1400, alf
has paid a'prenrium to secure a property to his"as ft
be made doubly secure. He considered—and
there- was- no proprietor in the room who would ic"rilte
it thought otherwise—that the interests-of the assl.
paramount claim on• the directors--a claim saPer,"a
erg'
that of the shareholders themselves. The motion
unanimously.
The CHAIRMAN then moved the re--election of t:l,:etore.4?'
directors, which was-seconded by Mr. G. V. TAt.".cor
carried; Mr. W. Titherington and Mr. John.Dickin`
re-elected anditors.
es sett
Thanks to the Chairman, and to Me:. Dove, ta"
were then moved-and adopted. t oir
Mr. Doyle, in the course of his remarks; said ths.
portent matter with respect to the assured was thig;estly
• taking the lives-from twentrto fifty years of ag', ty
of reversionary cent.ven by the Royal SociF,deri;•
equalled eighty per on the amount of pro:10.'0011
they had paid. M this were known throng:11010, the
g
it would doubtless. lead to a large amount of besio foe
The Catlinmare—l have still,' another duty to Pe0144
wards Mr. Gray, the sub-manager, and the otile,rties,af
the- institution. They have performed their aacererfit
zealously and efficiently, and have- rendered great ad
the company. He begged to move that the 00'
proprietors be given to them for those services. oar
SAMUEL HOLME, E 5..., seconded the propositiell,"‘
carried_ by acclamation,. and the meeting broke ere
CHESHIRE AND 3VALE,". 44
4110.
Tim Cheshire Militia are, about to be-presented 'coitr:"
stand of colours, the presentation to be made by the DS
of Westminster.
PIS
WILLIAM .EDGE, a groom, in the employ of ,fetes
Barton, residing at Caldy, wee, whilst bathing la al
on Tuesdaa, carried out of his depth and drowned•
of gp,
THE ceremony of laying the foundation stonoof.%`el•
church, to be-called the Church of St. Matthew the P
at Edgeley, Stockport, was performed on WednesdsC'
pt
Tatton Egerton, Esq., M.P. I,te-es'Y
THE parishioners of Christ Church, Chester, 1104 $
:the Rev. John G: Briscoe, with a purse of gra 49..;iies °,01)1
panied with an address, expressing the good. ea
',people among. whom he has ministered, on learns
a curacy of Marylebone parish church, London, ,a, eit
• nesuk
THE Holyhead regatta took place on WedtooU s VT)
',several Liverpool yachts, including. the Zillah:llre, pri,oe,
tthe sports of the day. The winners of the " the 11°4tiP
ands.
;*a.aces, the Holyhead Cup, the Stanley Cue, Surprise,
New were the Glance, thea;he,hip Her
Gipsey. The prises were delivered bosr
..of Liverpool.
lIALL, CIIESTEt,
FATAL ACCIDENT. AT THE ROW-
Tuesday afternoon, just as the men,
--aant d a ladder
',dinner, John Richards, a joiner, eg.,
'flow on some itt)
tools, and fell from the top to the
srere
height of about forty feet. He sustained very og
ana ey,
atnaahe head arai arms as well i 1
J,,•••••• yrn et:Ueda few •o
eics 14'
SERIOUS ACOIDENT.—OH Tuesday Joseph W°he,,,..A. „Ati
bourer employed at the new gravineedock Birkeka'
arresting the progress or a wagon Jek. 11116a:ewe iat'ca'.
tained a very serious injury. The break snapped befell et
he ran for another, with which, when:returniuge,,eo
lay across the line, when the vehicle. passed over la :
his body, and diverged from the line. feat
t
bad returned to Wor4
CHESTER Amex 'HOLYHEAD Relaway..---Tee
week ended July 29th, 1855, was- as follows 10;0
parcels, &c., 3,173 18s. 7d.; steam-boats, £442
£1,825 Bs. Od.; total, including Carnarvon
2s. 6d. Corresponding week last year :—Passengli,";
&c., .£3,192 Oa. 10d. ; steam-boats,,. X 540 75,e.aeaei
£1,653 2s. 4de; _total, including Carnarvou
10s: sd. Decrease, £243 7s. 11d. I'
ntee
WALLASEY. LOCAL BOARD.—The. monthly to
held on Thursday. A vote of thanks was .Pas,lf.
Ewart, M.P.. for Liverpool, for his efficient so'
parish of. Wallasey. The Works and .Health Co
00#
ported they. had fairly divided the pariah into l'aactjj
coloured on the plan, for the purpose .of. a slw". f°7P;
rate, namely. Egremont, Seacombea.New
and Wall=e,y,.and that they had accepted teno,o,
removal of night soil and the Sew.erage of the elLstr,
other miseellaneous businesss of minor interest Iv' 1
acted.
104/101
NEW B,ET,GIITON SEA-SIDE INSTITUTION,
object thaaaffording of the advantages of sea-la spa
temporary residence by the sea-side, to poor WiPd °`o
health,.ha.e.been established for six.years.. SeveW t?.
patrons andertook to raise a bazaar for the sable
-.
cles, the-.proceeds of which were. to. be devote
. support.. '.Their efforts have met: with a. warm 3"--01)
sponso, and the bazaar opened.on:Tnesday.
Lan--shire Militia Artillery was _in attendance., o,:t,
waeacontinned on Wednesday and Thursday.. andte
EXTE.A.ORDINARY OCCURRENCD.—At HA:001. i°le9a
ham, at 5.5 p.m. on Monday, several dark. inas.a.„,
served drifting with a gentle southerly wind at awi". rere4sl4,
height ,as the clouds with which the sky was 'wet 3V4i
obscured at the time. Daring_the ensuing few rat.ere
;rap smaller patches were seen at a.somewhat
and many of them fell on Mr. Hope's farm, at Pa-0011A
proved to be hay, the character: of the.herbage $-00411;4
:be-the produce of wet meadows. It was quite elrYn'a 0.,"
adhering together, as if lifted from the ground,,,"ati°lls
a.staek. As the quantlby floating at a great ele:apce,ii•,
have been large, we notice this, curious circuit:l'o,A
hope that some information may be obtained cove
el* VIP
THE CROPS IN NOlag; Waease•-• The grail' led
northern division of Wales preseett generally aaull'ileVi
and promising aspect;: and, though the harvest 7,00
one, there is every hope that it will prove an amt attcae
The barley is in many districts thin and light, ba0,00..,, roe
oats are described ae. being soand and heavy, the ad (bete tip
larly being full-eared, Potatoes are also sound :4_,o.eaostle
disease, except in, some- districts of Carnarvonsill,,o ;$0,,,e;
blight has appeared, and the yield is good. A ti at
of hay has been: secured in excellent condition, •apeS aocet:
is heavy and thick. This harvest will prove all3.oceelali
In the hill districts it is yet too early to coVi'tique.P
Turnips in some districts have not turned 0100'
having been much infested with the fly, whieb ellt'
siderable damage. Altogether the country ie. tat,
never presented a better or more cheering asPee astollilar
' ej
COIL:LEEN RIOT NEAR RHITABON.—,4I • eareaue $
about 500 colliers assembled at the hone of Aq'igli 0") r
manager of the colliery department of the l3o.ols,Torait
parry's works at the Cefn, near Rhuaboa, and" 111se 110;ad.,
broke. the windows and also forced in the 110 aa(f•lelra
Hynde was absent at the time. The furnitllo,A. 'fit7
jured, and many valuable articles were destroY7,9ot)reel.eg
ley,. a magistrate of the county, hastened to tha to lej 010,6
time the rioters were engaged ha endeavodri,..,Palavit,„ol
the house, and persuaded them to retire- of L" tl'eege
meet him at his house next morning, but n°llit'ad
There has been a turnout of the colliers atta recent ,tts`
fish Iron Company's works on aeco,:jovumenntetiolifilasttlie.
je
ii 34; 010
of their wages ; and this circumstance led L° ley
rn
Mr. Hynde's house, PS°9lO),
Area).
CHILD MURDER AT GREAT NESTON• 11--dporid
investigation took place at the Rising Sulli_intiaele:t;
bridge Workhouse,. respecting a case of inu7abst 710,. if ,
occurred in that neighbourhood. It appear lira of vicaait?'4,
ried woman named Catherine Looney, 3 13:0iloaa' e:eVe
Man, but who has lived some time at Bil-k are_d ,Det
iotnhndeTutedesidaceasyusowfpeMieckiro:naWitihdilasotonislh,Foerfihdaari Thornton
to et as /
dead body was discovered in a privy in he
medical gentleman was sent for, and the result a 1 a'„ee
surgeon, of Tranmere, proved that the
c got]. ees cer"
alive, and that it had died from suffoe,a
_aaiast the
4,
" Wilful xnurder:
left no doubt tjiat the suspicion was well fohaillr
turned a verdict of
sizes.
Looney, the mother, and she was c .
At the: 1111 he st
CONVICT/ON FOR 11.1uanea.--
with t r"
Tuesday, Margaret Davies was charged ;1, 0,
.4
of her illegitimate child, by drownieff Ii
AbOuor'hiel'ilt
gollen, on the 10th of March last. Sheeorkogstg t/304111ef
iy
previously been confined in Corvven sere sta
ner's warrant for trial at the Chester assaes. 351:1000,,
she left under the plea of going into
..j.rZtilf
should leave her infant at the house of
r(5, arre"reePlazt.;
wife had promised to take charge of '11%41,11)0y
erithcitie.; theleY
,vbere h sopere,
plbvrrheoevtnhi
oesusrh'
esl
ysl:toaautnesded,
htsahhdaetbliee-tase
aqn
bduuedrsiiteeiddo
by the s e
wor,. parr
also gave a detailed account of its faneara! ,roja
•
deposed to seeing the prisoner on her Y
with
hn
neare
ned a vends,
tely taken therefrom. The jury return ins 10 oie
with a strong recommendation to merue3,r,
I form• hpp
sentence of death upon her in the tts_leivea it
thechild canal,a l eand andt
to
theell , tbootdlyi e
alone, a good-looking young woman,
indifference, oivrtibsoenceirl ibcf eOO f