The Express.
London, England, 1853-10-13 00:00:00

COLLEGE OF PRECEPTORS.

The second annual dinner of the West London
board of the 'Royal College of Preceptors and their friends
took place yesterday at the Pier Hotel, Chelsea, when snout
fifty gentlemen sat down to dinner. The Rev. the Dean of
the College (Rev. Dr. Witsos) presided. Due honour
having been done to the usual loyal and constitutional
toasts, the chairman proceeded to give the " The Catholic
Church," explaining that church of England clergymen
generally gave " the church," as if their church were the
only church, wh he maintained that every congregation
of Christians that worshipped accordin? to the Scripture,
had an equal right to the designation. fhe principle which
he wished to encourage in so proposing the toast was that
of civil and religious liberty, without which all their efforts
on behalf of education would be unavailing. (Cheers.)
The next toast was the "Arm and Navy."
The CHAIRMAN, in giving it, alluded to the present im-
minent risk of war, but expressed his sincere belief that our
soldiers and sailors would give a good account of the
Russian bear the moment it pleased our government to re-
quire their services. (This sentiment was most enthusias-
tically cheered.)
Capt. AITCHISON, R.N. returned thanks.
The CHLIIMAN then proceeded to give the toast of the
evening, " The Royal College of Preceptors." Many might
ask who and what were the College of Preceptors ? Ile
would answer that they were a body of men who undertook
to remove that intellectual helplessness to which man was
born, and to enable him to fulfil his role In civilised society.
The benefit they conferred on their fellows was most im-
portant, and it was now beginning to be estimated as it
ought to be. Indeed, some of their friends went so far as
to say that the preceptors were entitled to a professional
status, the same as the bar, the church, or medicine. They
had got their charter, had served their apprenticeship, and
were now ready to fulfil their proper function—that of
elevating, refining ; in one word, of educating their fellow
men. The speaker having glanced at the history of scheol-
masters, from the time of Socrates down to the present day,
concluded by repeating the tout, connecting with it the
name of Mr. White. (Loud cheers.)
Mr. Wutrz, in returning thanks, congratulated the
society on its progress both in England sad the colonies.
There was one thing he was most anxious to impress upon
his h a, and that was the necessity of their examina-
tion. He knew one cue in which a man who had failed as
a linendraper, then became a fishmonger, and at last was
filtered through the Queen's Bench Prison into his present
position of a schoolmaster. (A laugh.) Such cases as this
showed not only the necessity of some institution like the
College of Preceptors, but able the great value of its exa-
mination.
. .

The remaining toasts were then disposed of, and the corn
pang separated.

SERIOUS CHARGE.

At the Birkenhead Police-court, the case of a lady
of respectability, who was chanted with having cut her
child's throat, was brought up on Saturday. Wishing to
avoid doing anything that may be painful to the feelings of
her friends, we abstain from mentioning names. She is a
married lady, of prepossessing appearance, about 24 years
of age. The evidence adduced in support of this very pain-
ful ease was as follows: About half-put six on Friday.morn-
ing she was lying in bed with her husband and her infant,
about five months old, when she got out of bed and imme-
diately returned. Ste they sat up in her bed, and, with
an open razor, deliberately cut the little innocent's throat.
She then proceeded from her bed-room to that of the per-
son in whose house she lodged, rapped at the door, and
upon his coming out she handed him her child, which he
perceived had received a severe cut in the throat. It was
bleeding very much. He thereupon sent for a surgeon,
and upon being asked to desribe how she appeared when
she brought the child to hie, he replied that she appeared
to be like a person who had the horrors, and was com-
pletely out of her senses ; then he afterwards went into her
bed-room, and found her husband there, who had got out
of bed, and, upon speaking to him, he appealed perfectly
bewildered, as if a man beside himself—not knowing what
to do. The surgeon proved that two gashes had been in-
flicted on the infant's throat with sows sharp instrument;
that he had dressed the wounds, and he believed
with proper care that the child would live. And, in
addition, he said, that she had, on a previous occaaac
attempted to take the life of the child by administering
laudanum, which he had extracted, and saved its life
that she had also, on a previous occasion, inflicted 4tiotta
injury upon her own throat. Upon his being asked what
be supposed to be cause, he stated, that be had been the
attendant upon her family for some years, and that God
only knew what trouble she had gone through. She is of
highly respectable connexions, and her husband formerly
belonged to a very respectable firm in Liverpool, but from
his dissipated habits and other faults, he had brought her
to a very low state, so as to induce her friends to believe
that she is not now in a sound state of mind. The cue
was ultimately remanded until Monday, for the attendant),
of the surgeon who had been first called to see the child.
She appeared to feel keenly her situation, and excited the
sympathy of the whole court. Her husband was present
during the investigation, hut appeared somewhat cooler in
the matter.— Liverpool Standard.

SHOEYAKERS' STRIKE IN THE WEST.—A geneml
movement has been made by the shoemakers in Somerset
and Devon for an advance of wages, in consequence, as al-
leged, of the present high rate of provisions. In the latter
county the masters have offered an advance of 121 percent.
upon their former wages, and theso terms 'have been very
generally accepted, though they have been refused by
some. The strike has also extended into Wales, where a
rise of 10 per cent. has in several instances been demanded
and acceded to by the masters.
FEMALE PARISH CLERK.—In the parish register
of TotteriJee appear, the following .—" 1802, Karen 2.
Unried, Elizabeth King, widow, fur forty-mix years clerk of
this parish, in the ninety-first year of her age "—(Burn on
Parish Regkers, 110.) ls thero any similar Pastimes on
record of a woman being 4 parish clerk ?—Y.B.ll.—Mkte
and Queries.

HOPE MUTUAL LIFE ASSURANCE AND

HONESTY GUARANTEE SOCIETY.

Yesterday the first annual general meeting of
tharehohltr% in tkis society WAS held at the Wheel in
Princes-street; Mr. M. M. VASE in the chair.

The report stated that—" Upon a g I review of re-
sults, the board have to c ingmtulute the members upon
the gratifying success which has justified astir orligua4
conviction, avowed in their prospectus, that the gm'
and increasing interest within latter years cherished in
favour of life and honesty 'reroute° assurance, demand/4
the formation of this institution as a direct means of sup.
plying the growing wants of the public.'
" The steady progress of the society during the last few
months, after the disadvantages naturally attending the
formation of every new project were aunnoure.ed, has been
most satisfactory; and the growing confidence of the public
is decided evidince that it■ principles and mum,. molt have
taken a deep and pervading hold general
" In the period embraced by the uccoants now submitted,
818 proposal. have been received for the assurance of
180 ,0701. 6. 61.
. . .

"The number of policies issued since the complete regis-
tration of the society (23rd April, 1852), op to the resent
day has been 753, and the total sum assure.: thereby
122,3131. L. 3,1. Total premiums thereon 5,331 i. Is. 7d.
Annual income thereby 4,223!. lid. 7d. The average age
of the assured for the whole period of life is 35 1-12
years. The average amount insured ort each life is
2351. 13.. 90.
" The life losses recurring on two ca.cs in the same period
amount to 2001., which, with four others io.t y. t ripe (or
settlement, make the number et casualties t —ate amount
fewer in number than the calculated' expeeton y '—a re-
sult which tends to eshibit the care exercised by the dirc-
tors and medical advisers in the sr lectiou '
it appeared from the account• that the rectirs of the
society from its formation on the 3rd of December, 1851,
to the 31st of August, 1853, were 15,4331: and the expendi-
ture amounted to 7,3001.

The CHAIIMAN, in' moving the adoption of the report
and balance sheet, said that the society wee formed under
air Robert f'eel's Registration Act of 1844, in order to meet
the growing wants of the public iu respect to life assurance.
The gradual increase of mutual life assurance socicties since
that period had greatly assisted them in thu formation Of
this society, which combined the principle of a guarantee
with that of ► life association—an important Lecture in its
structure. They did not guarantee the fidelity of any one
unless he effected a policy ou his life. This M. 1% a point
' which was calculated to bring them under the notice of the
public. The company was not properly named till
December 1851, and the prospectus stated that
they were to have a guarantee fund of 100,0001.
Thicy would see by tho balance sheet that 9,212 shares sut
of 10,000 had been allotted ; and he was happy to say that
there were numerous applications fer the rem►ining un-
appropriated ►hares. The expenA incurreiS to attain
their income of 1,228/. was 7,00 o:. b.eause in establ:shing
a society like this, and bringing it to such a point of (1111:-
rent care and energy, however great, were not enough
alone—preliminary expenses had el•o to be incurred. But
looking at it a. any other concern vas :.eked at, he thought
they must be of opinion that money was well laid out.
Ile was happy to tell them that they had already 1,100 agen-
cies in England and Ireland, the colonies and the continent,
and that their medical stall amounted to 1,037. They had not
spent 10,0001., but they steered that middle c urse which
they deemed to be best for the interest of the .hare holden.
But the appointment of the committee seemcil to have this
good effect, that it seemed to awaken the attention of par-
liament and of government to the importance of insurance,
and no Ids than four acts of parli.,m.ut had be-en passed in
the last session, having a more or less beneficial effect on
insurance computed. The •51:h section of the new Income
Tax Act would stimulate insurance, and the relaxation of
the duty on the policy stamp, the average of which would,
he thought, be about ls. 3d., would make them great
gainers. The government, in the spirit at the French
proverb, which said, usde lei a le ciel Caldera, came for-
ward to assist those who were disposed to be provident, and
a knowledge of what they had dune with this intent could
not be too widely disseminated. (flear, hear.) It seemed
to him that the new companies were based on a principle
more consonant with the wants of the public than the old
ones, and that seemed to be the view of the government
also. Let them have but fair play and they must succeed,
for the principle of life assurance was striking root far and
wide. The great bulk of society had no other means of
providing for their wives and children than this, and when
they knew that money arising front a policy of insurance
would be free from legacy duty, they would be highly cul-
pable if they did not take steps to insure something like
competence to those they left behind them. (Hear, hear.)
The chairman concluded by moving the report.
Mr. \Vitae seconded the motion, which passed.
On the motion of Mr. Wirer!, seconded by Mr. Routs,
the retiring directors and auditors were re-elected; 382/.
being voted to the directors, and 5/. ss. to each of the
auditors for the efficiency with which they discharged their
duties

RICE Ilorxixe in returning thanks on behalf of the
auditors, observed that the duties of the auditors were ex-
tremely light, owing to the excellent order in which the
accounts had been kept. There were vouchers t•ir ever
penny expended, and they were so arranged that they could
be got at at once. In fact he never saw books kept in
such an orderly manner in his life. (Hear.)
Votes of thanks were then passed on Mr. Ellie, the
manager, on the other officers of the company, fur the zeal
and industry displayed by them, atter which the meeting
separated.