The Express.
London, England, 1862-12-22 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, riM4019441 EVENING, DECEMBER 22; MU.

MR CONFEDERATE CRUMB ALABAMA.

The Liverpool Juurneil of Comm:ree save :—" We
have been informed that her Majesty's goveiJmeat
have issued orders to their various agents, at the various
ports of the Western Isl►nds, that if the Confederate
steamer Alabama, or ' 2.90,' should enter any of theme
porta, she is at 0003 to be ordered off, ►nd not allowed to
take in coal or provloions. The order fr-ther states that
if the Alabama should call at Faysl, or other port, they
are to inform Captain Semmes that if, after th's notice, he
should destroy any merchandise which may be consigned to
British merchants in neutral vessels, her M►jesty's govern.
meat all at once take steps to captr-e rod destroy the
steamer under his command."

NATIONAL PROVIDENT INSTITUTION.

(THIS DAT).

The annual meeting of the members of this in-
stitution was held at noon, at the London Tavern ; Mr.
S. A. LUCAS in the chai., "to receive and consider the
general statement of the funds and effects, and the report
of the state and prospects of the institution, and for the
transaction of other matters specified in the 22nd rule of the
rules and regulations of the institution."
The CHAIRMAN, in moving the adoption of the report,
said he had no doubt that the present report had been
looked forward to with more than usual interest, inasmuch
as it was the last of the quinquennial period. The four
previous years had been so favourable that it must have
led to meet favourable expectations of the result of the
quinquennial investigation, and the present was even
of a morel favourable character, the transactions
of the past year having been considerably in
excess in regard to the number of policies
issued, and the amount received from new premiums of any
one of the previous four years, wb"e at the same time the
mortality had been moat sat,sfactory. Al the merit of the
yeai's trains 'Cons, they bad added 153,00 f. to the pre-
, existing capital, making the amount of the capital at the
present moment clone upon two and • quarter millions.
Since the repor.. was issued the directors had b3en furnished
with the repot. of the actus,,v, who had been unable from
Maw to prepare it before. the a-artery's repot t, which had
been rennved on Fi:day last, was of the most gratifying
character and surpassed all expectation. In substance it
stated that during the five years they had accumulated a sur-
plus of upwards of 530,000 f., which in due time would be
appropriated amongst the members. (Cheers.) That ex-
ceeded the sum accumulated in the previous five years, when
it was 345,030/., the excess being 185,0031. On the other
hand they must bear in mind that there was a large
increase in the number of policies and the consequent
liabilities of the society. There were now more than
17,000 policies in existence, whereas at the end of
the Inn quinquennial period the number wan 2,00) less.
Still there was so large a margin left as to justify them in
anticipating, to say the least, as favourable • divi-
sion of profit es they had ever had. Last Mon-
day they moved into the new offices in Crane-
churchatreet, and commenced business therein, and the
extent of the premises and the completeness of the ar-
rangements induced the board to believe that all the re-
quirements of the company would be met in that building
for many generations to come. After paying • compliment
to Mr. Kerr, the architect, he congratulated the share-
holders on the extraordinary somase and high position they
held in public favour, and the brightness of their future

preepecia.
The resolution, having been seconded, was put and
retried.

In reply to questions as to the coat of the new building,
The Cei Alastair said the accounts were not yet in, but
when all was paid, and the second floor of the new bolding
was let, which it could be without interfering with the al-
commoiation require d for the business of the company,
they would stand at not more than from 1,0001. to 1,203 f. a
year.
After a somewhat personal and hregular discussion, in
reference principally to a previous election for the direc-
torate, in which Mr. Aston, who raised the queetion? bad
been defeated, and the mesons for dropping the hil intro-
duced last sessioo relating to proxy voting, in respect to
which Mr. Thwaites (chairmen of the Metropolitan Board)
and others disputed the tight of the directors to go to parlia-
ment without the previously obtained consent of the mem-
bers,
Mr. BARBER moved a resolution to the effect that the
directon should not promote any bill in ruliament e.tbout
laying the bill before a meeting duly convened, and taking
the opinion of the members thereon.

This was *wooded by Mr. BOWIILNG, and gave rise to
another discussion, in the course of which the solicitor of
the company stated that the resolution was irregular and
foreign to the bushier of the meeting, while a
number of the members insisted upon ite being
put, arguing against proxy voting under any cir-
cumstances, and contending that its effect upon the Na-
tional Provident would be to throw the whole government
of the society into the hands of the country agents, and
deprive the London policyholders of their privileges.
Mr. Barber's resolution was ultimately carried, and the
proceedings terminated.