The Express.
London, England, 1853-06-02 00:00:00

PETERBOROUGH.

The committee met again yesterday morning, and
resumed the inquiry.
Elwin Augustus Scboley was called as a witness, but on
coming to the table he said, though he was willing to be
sworn on the New Testament, he did not attach more im-
portance to that book than to any other. He said he was
not a Christian, but was willing to be sworn in the ordinary
way if the committee wished it; but, whether sworn or
not, he would, in giving his evidence, speak the truth and
nothing but the truth.
The committee ordered the room to be cleared, and on the
re-admission of the parties.
The Chairman desired the witness to be recalled, and on
his appearing, he asked him whether he believed in a
Supreme Being, sad a future state. The witness replied,tbat
he believed in a something superior, but what that some-
thing was, he had found no one to tell him. He eventually
' admitted that he believed in a God, and that when he took
God to witness that he would speak the truth, that was a'.
form of oath which would be binding on his conscience.
He was therefore sworn, and he stated that he was a shoe-
maker, and at the time of the last eiection the keeper of a
temperance coffee-house, and a voter for the borough. He
was a supporter of Mr. Whalley's, and there was a com-
mittee room at his house, occupied for three days. His wife
also made some rosettes for the committee. The persons
who came to the committee room at his house
paid for what they had. They were principally non-
electors. His wife received 21. 15s. from Mr. Heady for
making the rosettes, and he had sent in a bill in blank to
Mr. Vergette for the committee room. Should not have
thought of charging mere than 30s. for it, but expected to
be paid the same as his neighbours. Had not received
anything for the use of the room, but bad been told by
Mr. Allen that the bills would be paid after the result of
the petition became known.
Cross-examined by Mr. Cooke—Had promised his vote to
Mr. Whalley previous to receiving the order for the rosettes.
Allen told him that many of the bills which bad been sent
in were extortionate, but that after the petition was over,
such of the bills as were not extortionate, would be paid.
Mrs. Scholey corroborated the evidence of ger husband.
The next witness was John Burrows, an odd sailor-like
lookin; little fellow, who, having prefaced his evidence by
observing "that he was no scholar," proceeded to depose
that he was the lanalord of the Jolly Sailors' public-house
at Peterborough. Voted for Mr. Whalley at the last elec-
tion, and he did so because he had always voted on that
side. What side was it 2—Why the blue, to be sure. Oh,
he didn't know what his politics were—whether he was a
conservative, or a liberal, or anything else. He didn't
know, and he didn't care. He voted for Mr. Whalley be-
causebe was a " blue." There was a bill outside his house
about a committee being there, but he didn't know who
stuck up the bill. Made no charge for a committee room,
and no person used it as be knowed on "—" not an
airthful crittur." [A good deal of amusement wee created
by the quaint manner in which the witness gave his
evidence, and the playful manner in which Mr. James
drew him out.]
The committee adjourned until this day.

BERWICK-ON-TWEED.
FURTHER INQUIRY.

The committee appointed to inquire into certain
allegations
to c es advanced relative to corrupt nego-
brouthatzunder the notice of the house by Mr.
as Mitchell,
nego-
tiations respecting e representation of Berwick-on-Tweed,
met yesterday for the first time.
The following hon. members composed the committee—
Hon. H. Lsscelles, chairman ; Hon. C. W. Howard, Mr.
liaikes Currie, Sir F. Thesiger, Mr. T. A. Mitchell, Mr.
Adderley.
Shortly after the committee met the room was ordered to
, be cleared, and after an interval of about half an hour, the
' public were again admitted.
Mr. Matthew Forster, the unseated member, was the first
own placed in the witness chair, and in reply to questions
Mr. Mitchell, he stated that he had been elected for Ber-
wick at the last general election in July, 1852. The num-
bers polled on that occasion were—Forster, 412; Staple-
ton, 336 ; Benton, 261; Hodgson, 210. There was a peti•
tion subsequently presented against the return of himself
and Mr. Stapleton, by Mr. Hodgson (one of the defeated
candidates. That petition was signed by Mr. Hodgson
only, and not by any of the electors, and Mr. Hodesontli
the power of withdrawing the petition subsequently, if he
thought proper. The petition went on, and I wrote to
m agent to send up some person, and to let me know
what witnesses Mr. Hodgson had summoned. He did
so, and I sent him (tke agent) to Mr. Coppock,
that he might give Mr. Coppock all the inform',
tion he could upon that subject. The only instruc-
tions I gave Mr. Coppock were that he was to manage
the defence before the committee as he thought proper, but
that he was to be sure and call me es a witness, and that
nothing conclusive should be done in the committee till I
was called as a witness. That was the only special instrue.
lion I gave Mr. Coppock, and so particular was I, that I did
not content myself with verbal instructions, but I wrote a
note to Mr. Coppock from the library in the house, remind-
ing him of it, and stating distinctly that the committee should
not dose till I had been heard. On the Saturday (while the
committee were sittit.g), I waited in the library from
eleven till one o'e 1 k, taking the chance of Mr. Cop-
pock sending for me. I then went away to get my
dinner at my office, thinking be (Mr. Coppock) would
send for me if I was wanted, as he knew where m
office was. Oa returning, I found I was unseated. I
felt very strongly disappointed and annoyed that Mr.
Coppock had not called me. My intention was, in in-
structing Mr. Coppock to call me, to lay before the com-
mittee the overtures that had been made to me to compro-
mise the petition, is order to show the committee that the
petition had been got up for the purpose of obtaining
money, and my opinion was that no committee would
unseat a member after such overtures had been made.

Mr. Mitchell—Then the committee are to understand
distinctly that Mr. Coppock acted contrary to your instruc-
tions ?

Mr. Fonter—Most decidedly. I believe he acted to the
best of his judgment, and with the best intentions. From all
I have known of Mr. Coppock, I believe him to be a highly
honourable man as any in the profession, and, therefore, I
do not blame him in the least.
Mr. Mitchell—Did you sanction , any compromise at the

Wt moment.

....... _.......—...
Mr. Forster—Certainly not. I did not know of it. I
bad lot seen Mr. Copped" from the day I wu unseated till
the day after I presented my petition, because when I called
upon him then, I confess I was very angry, and expresaed
myself to him in very strong and indignant terms, and I did
not see him again till the day after I presented it. I then
learned for the first time that there had been a negotiation
in the committee tot a compromise. lam not acquainted
with any other circumstance that is material.
In reply to questions by Sir F. Thesiger, Mr. Fonter
gave a variety of details respecting the circumstances of the
election.

CLARE (COUNTY).
The witnesses examined yesterday gave evidence
similar to that given on Tuesday, us to the intimidation of
the priests towards the voters.

SLIGO (BOROUGH).
In this case, likewise, several witnesses were eza•
mined to profs intimidation on the part of the priests.

EQUITABLE FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY.

Yesterday the annual general meeting of this
company took place at the London Tavern, bashopsgute-
street, Mr. A. C. Bauct.av in the chair. The following
gentlemen were also present : Mr. James Finlay, Mr. P.
Bainbrigge, Mr. It. E. Proekter, Mr. Daniel Noble, Mr.
Henry Eve, Mr. G. Bartley, Mr. C. A. Harries, Mr. Jas.
Lees, Mr. lrvinFe, Mr. W. Tucker Mr. M. Young, Mr.
J. Tullarton, Mr. .R. Stair, general agent for the British
North American Colonies.
The following statement of accounts and report from the
directors was then read :

The statement of account., from the commeneement in
August, 18.50, to the 25th of December, 1852, showed that
the receipts, inelu..ing subscribed capital of 191,5001.,
amounted to 239.018/. 7s. 2d.; and the expenditure, toge-
ther with capital not called up, to 153,2001.
" The directors have great p!easure in meeting the share-
holders at this general meeting as they are very desirous of
placing before them a full statement of all the affairs of the
company, being confident that the proprietors will feel that
they have every reason to be well satisfied with its present
condition, and its future prospects. The Equitable issued
its first policy on the Bth August, 1850, and up to the end
of last year the policies issued had reached the extraordi-
nary number of 9,652, showing an amount of business
which is believed to be without parallel in the experience
of any similar institution. The Equitable, although
in all respects perfectly distinct from the National
Loan Fund Life Assurance Society, was brought
out under the powerful auspices of that company;
and immediately upon. coming into existence found itself
in possession of first-rate agencies' not only in Great Bri-
tain and Ireland, but also the British North American
Provinces, the United State's, and also of agencies in France
and Belgium. The expenditure in the establishment of the
business was very great, but this your present dirt ctors
have no desire to dwell upro, as they have the more
pleasing task to perform of placing before you features of
subsequent prosperity more acceptable to their own
feelings and your.. The directors are sorry to be
obliged to refer to the unworthy efforts that have
been made by rivals to injure this company both at home
and abroad—in the first instance, by making a most un-
fair use of the balance sheet up to the end of Mil, and
then by exaggerating the amount of our loss at Mon-
treal by the July fires, and using this at the very time the
company was paying every farthing of its losses, as a weapon
by which to injure and, if possible, to destroy it. llow-
ever, as is almost invariably the Case these efforts to injure
us have only recoiled upon those who have been un-
generous enough to make them. In referring to these
attacks the directors feel it to be only due to the general
agent, the agents, and local directors in the British North
American provinces, together with the agents generally, to
record their high admiration of the faithful way in which
they have done their duty in the noble stand they have
made for the interests of the company, and to con-
gratulate them upon their triumph and success.
The directors are also desirous of expressing to
the shareholders their perfect satisfaction with the
manner in which the business of the company is conducted
in these distant agencies, and their confidence that every
precaution is used to secure a safe and profitable business
by the most careful personal attention on the pert of tho
local directors in examining and deciding upon the quality
of risks, the amount of rates, and generally to every part of
the business. Your directors in the midst of all the anxiety
inseparable from the charge of your interests, and the in-
terests of the insured, have felt quite sustained by the as-
surance, that so long as you remained firmly united as one
corporate body, and they continued to possess your confi-
dence, there could be no fear whatever of the ultimeto
success of the company. Since the month of July, 1852,
there has been a complete re-organisation of the board of
directors, Archibald Campbell Barclay, Esq., Chas. Bennett
Esq., Frederick Morris, Esq., Edmond Sheppard Symes,
Esq., M.D., Thomas West, 'Esq. and Francis Valentine
Woodhouse, Esq., being duly qualified,
have since the lest
annual general meeting been severally elected directors by
resolutions of special courts,according to the provisions of the
deed of settlement, in the room of 1. L. Murray, Esq , W.
Richardson, Eeq., M. C. Maher, Esq., E. S. Symes, Esq.,
M.D., A. Vigne, Esq., and Stephen Mills, Esq. • and
Archibald Campbell Barclay, Esq., has been duly elected
chairman of tho board of directors and of the company.
There has also been a complete re-organisation of the gene-
ral staff of the company, with the principal details of
which you are already familiar, from the circulars and other
documents that have been from time to time pot into your
bands. There has been also a complete reorganisation of
the agencies, and generally of the whole business of the
company. The agencies at Paris and Belgium, being found
too burdensome to be continued, have been brought to a
dote, and the agency at Edinburgh has been reorganimd
and placed upon a more economical and efficient footing.
The secretary has been employed in introducing
a better system into his department, especially with re-
ference to the home agencies, and has prepared a book of
Instructions for the guidance of the agents, with
tables of rates of premium; while the accountant has
brought up the books in his department, and succeeded
in disentangling the neglected accounts of the com-
pany, so as to bring them to a perfect balance, and to
present to the directors a clear and full and detailed
view of the business of the company at all its
agencies. Besides the important result of restoring a
healthful tone to the whole business of the company,
there has been a very large reduction made in its current
expenditure by the work of reorganisation, and the changes
above alluded to. It has been the anxious desire of the di-
rectors to keep the proprietors fully informed with respect
to all they have been doing, and to claim from them that
hearty co operation which a corporate body has a right to
expect from all its various members. The directors arc ea-,
pecially anxious to press upon the attention of the
shareholders, that it is their duty as well as
their interest to strive to advance the general
prosperity of the company by every means in their power.
The 10,000 shares issued up to the end of the last financial
year, distributed as they are amongst a most respectable and
wealthy proprietary, proved sufficient for all the purposes of
the suctety, but the magnitude of the business already
attained, and which is still so rapidly extending, snakes it de-
sirable to increase the amount of capital in hand. Your
directors have therefore determined to issue 10,000 addi-
tional shares, at par; they have already received applica-
tions for a considerable number, and have every reasun to
believe that the whole will be awarded within a very short
period. The present shareholders will, of course, base the
preference, and it is not intended to make:any further issue
except at such premium as may hereafter be detcrminedupon.
It is only necessary to state further, that during the four
months terminating on the 30th of April, the number of
policies issued has been 1,615, making a total of 11,197.
The premiums received during those four months have
reached the large amount of 9,86,51., while the claims paid
have only. amounted to 2,4601. The directors have pleasure
in declaring a dividend for the half-year at the rate of
five per cent. per annum, which will be payable to Fibers-
holders on and after the Ist of August next.—Anettn.
. _
CAMPBELL BARCLAY, Chairman..

After some discussion, in which a variety of questions
were put to the directors with respect to the candoiou and
management of the company and answered sathlactorily,
the report was unanimously adopted. A dividend of five
per cent. was then declared, as recommended in the report,
and the retiring directors and auditors were re-elected.
Thanks were then tendered to the chairman and board of
directors and to the general agent of the company at Mon-
treal, and the meeting separated.