The Sun.
London, England, 1864-04-08 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

Sir,—l will thank you to state That the London
and South-Western Railway Company have con-
sented to place a special train of ten carriages at the
disposal of General Garibaldi, for the conveyance of
himself and suite from Southampton to Nine Luis
Station, on Monday next. And having already
received many applications for tickets to the com-
pany's shed at Nine Elms, which they have had
much pleasure of placing at the disposal of the
Reception Committee, I take this opportunity of
asking you to state that ro tickets for admission to
this shed will be issued by us, as the company have
placed it at the entire disposal of the Reception
Committee.—I am, sir, your obedient servant,
FREDERICK CLARKE, Secretary.
London and South-Western Railway, April 7,

INTERVIEW BETWEEN GENERAL GARIBALDI AND
SIGNOR MAZZINI.—We yesterday received the
followiag telegram from a friend at Cowes :—" General
Garibaldi, following the frank instincts of his own noble
nature, has rightly interpreted that English hospitality is
not accorded him at the price of the denial of his personal
friends, and yesterday he had a long interview with Signor
Mazzini, who came at the General's own request, as became
the dignity and frankness of Garibaldi's character. The two
friends met at Brocke-house. Menotti Garibaldi went out
to meet his father's friend. Guezzoni and Basso also accom-
panied him to Brooke-house."
GARIBALDI'S VISIT TO MANCHESTER.—The fol-
lowing letter has been received at ALinchester
from General Garibaldi :—" Brooke, Isle of Wight, April 5,
1864. Sir,—l am directed by General Garibaldi to inform
you that it will give him ranch pleasure to visit Manchester.
The date he cannot at present fix.—l have the honour to
be, your most obedient servant, J. H. Chambers, lieutenant-
colonel.—Francis Taylor, Esq., &c."
BANQUET TO GENERAL GARIBALDI AT THE
REFORM CLUB.—The members of he Reform Club
intend to pay a tribute of respect to General Garibaldi by
inviting him to a banquet at their club-house in Pall-mall
during the short stay the Italian patriot intends to make
in London. The suggestion was made by some of the mem-
bers on Wednesday evening, and Mr. Ayrton, M.P., Mr.
Potter, M.P., and upwards of 40 members of Parliament
and gentlemen connected wi 'n the club, have already sub-
sce.bed their names, The precise day is left for the general
to appoint, in order that it may not interfere with any other
arrangement.

The Balance-sheets of Insurance Companies

The above is the title of a pamphlet just published
by Foss, of Pope's Head-alley, Corn hill, giving
very ample and interesting statistics of all the in-
surance companies registered under the Joint Stock
Companies' Act. It is deduced from the accounts
lodged at the Registrar's office, and printed by
order of the House of Commons in the Juno of
last year. As the figures of the various companies
have been given in without any fired method,
they are necessarily:very difficult to analyse and corn
pare with each other, and the present publication is
consequently a timely and valuable elucidation of
them. Several comprehensive tables are here
shown in such a manner that the relative import-

once and prosperity of each company can be duly
gauged, and the public will be able readily to draw
conclusions which they would not otherwise be in a
position to do without several weeks' investigation
of the complicated details of the " Blue Book." In
Addition to these tables, there is also a full criticism
on the manner in which each company has presented
its figures, and the special features displayed in each.
Having regard to the strictures pronounced re•
cently by the Chencellor of the Exchequer on the
bankrupt condition of several insurance institutions,
we cannot but regret that the present publication was
not ready in time for that exposure. Certainly Mr.
Gladstone might have amended his instances and
examples with profit by the light of the revelations
heremade ; and when we are reminded that many
of the companies who transact a considerable busi-
ness systematically abstain from rendering any
account to the public, it does seem as though the
insuring community rEquired some sort of legisla-
tive safeguard. The author mentions specially the
Alliance, Atlas, County, Globe, Guardian, Imperial,
London, Phoenix, Royal Exchange, Sun, Leeds and
Yorkshire, Liverpool and London, Monarch, Union,
West of England, Northern, Scottish Union, Albert,
Church of England, Eagle, National, Mercantile,
star, Standard, United Kingdom, Temperance, &c.,
as large companies which do not deposit with the
the Registrar regular and complete statements of
their affairs, while even among those companies
wh'ch do figure in the Registrar's book we find
that the Colonial, British Equitable, British Pru
dential, Law, Sovereign, Lancashire, and others,
avoid any real declaration of their position.
With these instances of concealment in the fore.
ground, we have searched carefully to find what com-
pany has signalised itself by the greatest frankness
and perspicuity in this respect, and it seems that
this honourable distinction belongs to the Royal
Insurance Company, of which the author remarks,
" This company, although transacting such a very
much larger business than the others referred to in
the blue book, yet contrives to render all its accounts
in a complete and satisfactory manner." He adds,
" Indeed its statements, by showing how thoroughly
the act can be complied with, justify a strong cen-
sure on the slipshod methods adopted by some com-
panies." We think the public will endorse fully
this opinion; and we recommend a careful perusal
and consideration of this desideratum--a " Blue
Book made easy,"

TIIETOWNLEY CASE.—At the Derby shire sessions
on fuesday the visiting justices presented a report
in which they refer to a subject connected with the affair
of Townley. They state that " the conduct of the surgeon
of the gaol in reference to that prisoner's case was so much
impugned, and excited such general aninaadverslon, that
the visiting justices thought it paces nary to discuss the
question as to whether he ought not to be dismissed from
his office, but as they were unable to arrive at a unanimous
decision, they determined to make no recommendation on
the point, but to leave it to the Court to decide." Colonel
Wilmot moved a resolution to the effect that Mr. Gisborne,
the surgeon of the gaol, be relieved from his duties. A dis-
cussion, mainly on a point of four, followed, and it was
ultimately resolved that the question be referred back to
the visiting justices, and that they be requested to make a
recommendation upon the subject at the next quarter ses-
sions, It was stated that seven of the visiting justices were
for a dismissal and three for the retention of Mr, Gisborne's
services,—Nancltester Courier,