The Press.
London, England, 1856-03-29 00:00:00

298

• THE SERIOUS CONDITION OF THE U:

BUSINESS was brought under the notice of the
underwriters at Lloyd's on Wednesday, at the annual
meeting, by Mr. Watts, who pointed out at some
length the uncertainty at present existing regarding
the underwriters' liability, the increased risk for
which they were now responsible from the dangerous
class of vessels built, the reckless sacrifice of safety
to speed, and the difficulty of manning ships with
good seamen, all of which combined to press heavily
on the underwriters' profits and capital, so as to
make the business one of almost certain loss and
ultimate ruin. The cause of all this he believed to
be the want of unity among underwriters. There
were no rules for keeping buiness within legitimate
channels, and the shameless system of imposition
practised on underwriters by shippers and manufac
turers by claims for pretended sea damage, called
for some immediate check. He proposed a board of
investigation, the decision of which should be bind-
ing, either for the claim to be paid or resisted out of
a common fund. He also proposed that a register of
chum,, the names of parties, and the nature of the
claims, be kept for the use of the members. He was
satisfied that these securities must be afforded to the
underwriter, in order to put a stop to scandals which,
every year, were becoming more prevalent. Mr.
Wills thought that the proposition for a board of
examination for claims was beset with insuperable
difficulties, and could not be advantageously carried
out. The other proposition, for a register of claims,
might be of use to members, and was worth further
consideration. It was arranged that the discussion
should be revived by another motion for next Wed-
nesday.

SEVERAL Exrettsn-E FIRES have occurted this
week. On Wednesday night one broke out at
Messrs. Harrison's, in Tottenham-court road, and
nearly destroyed the whole stock in trade, be-
sides injuring several of the neighbouring houses.
On Thursday morning another broke out in Mar-
garet-street, and a second in Stamford-street, each
inflicting considerable loss and injury. Another
occurred at Wapping on Monday morning, by
which a large tavern was completely destroyed
and four neighbouring houses more or less
severely injured. Although nearly the whole fire
brigade of London was on the spot, together with the
two powerful river floating engines, and commanding
an unlimited supply of water, not the slightest im-
pression could be made upon the flames.
Two PRISONERS ESCAPED last week from the
Model Prison, Pentonville, by singular good fortune
and dexterity. Once in the yard they scaled the
lofty walls of the prison by means of a ladder made
of wax-end,,, and ascended and descended the dif-
ferent walls six times before they fairly got out.
Nothing has since been heard of them.

A SPECIAL MEETING OF MIDDLESEX MAGISTRATES
was held on Thursday, at Clerkenwell, to consider
the proposed enlargment of Hanwell and Colney
Hatch lunatic asylums. After some discussion the
proposal was agreed to with respect to Hanwell
asylum, provided the expense did not exceed the
estimate of 67,300!. The consideration of the
Colney Hatch report was deferred till county day.
A SCREW STEAMSHIP, the Vesta, caught fire in the
river on Sunday last, and burnt furiously for three
hours before the flames could be got under. Upwards
of a hundred bales of hemp were destroyed, and the
rest of the cargo much damaged. The fire is reported
to have arisen from the carelessness of an engineer,
in lighting a lamp, letting a spark fall upon a bale of
hemp.

THE FOUNDATION-STONE of a new Independent
Chapel was laid by Sir John Key, Bart., in the Cam-
berwell-road, on Tuesday. The chapel is intended
to hold upwards of seven hundred.
THE CITY OBSERVATORY, erected in Cornhill, has
been completed. The observatory is in direct com-
munication with Greenwich Observatory, the Go-
vernment ball at Deal, and those of the Electric
Telegraph Company's offices in the Strand and at
Liverpool, and is discharged every day at one o'clock
by electric current from Greenwich direct; giving the
instantaneous mean time issued at that observatory.
THE SPITAL SERMON was preached on Easter
Monday by the Rev. Dr. Jackson, Bishop of Lincoln,
who took his text from S:. Luke, xvi. 12. From the
returns published, the number of children at present
maintained in the City hospitals appears to be, 1,215
in Christ's Hospital, 4,434 in St. Bartholomew's,
2,802 in St. Thomas's, and 322 in Betblem. The
number of patients admitted during the year 1855 to
St. Bartholomew's amounted to 81,122. The Blue-
coat boys attended at the Mansion-house on Tuesday,
and received their annual glass of wine, two buns,
and a new sixpence from the Lord Mayor.
THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL'S RETURNS for the week
show a mortality one tenth higher than the week
preceding, bet still below the average. The deaths
amounted in all to 1,213, against 1,727 births. Among
the deaths of the last two weeks are mentioned
cases of two women reaching the ages of 103 and
104 years respectively. The illness and death of the
one 103 years old was caused by her bearing of the

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