The Sun.
London, England, 1852-12-30 00:00:00

COMPANY.

[ADVERTISEMENT.]—" Bell's Life in London," of Sun-
day next, January 2, 1853, will contain—Letters "On
the breeding, rearing, and training of greyhounds," by
Stonehenge—" On hunting, sporting, notes from the
provinces, kennels of the country," &c., by Scrutator—
" On the artificial breeding of salmon," by Ephemera.
Gallant fight between Ned Donnelly and Mike Madden,
for 501. a side ; and all the usual accurate sporting and
other information, including the turf, the chase, the field,
chess, angling, aquatics, cricket, pedestrianism, the ring,'
&c. Office, 170, Strand.

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A meeting of the shareholders of this society was held
at the London Tavern yesterday ; Mr. Robert Wil-
coxon in the chair.

The report was read by the secretary, Mr. Jenkin
Jones, submitting the progress of the society for the
year ended the 30th September last. The amount of
new assurances effected during the year was 202,350/. 10s.,
yielding in annual premiums 6,014/. 12s. Bd. The in-
come of the society, as shown by the balance-sheet, was
48,2801. 16s. a year. The claims paid during the year
amounted to 13,1511. ss. 11d., showing, as compared
with the preceding year, an increase of upwards of
6,0001. The gross annual income of the society, in ad-
dition to the assets, was 24,2941. 10s. 7d. As the
amount of the future bonus would probably be influenced
by the extent of the new business introduced, and the
cost at which it was obtained, the directors felt it to be
their duty to draw the attention of the policy holders to
the large number of new assurance offices continually
being formed, amounting to no less than 71, and to the
great competition thereby introduced. The directors,
on their part, were using every means to extend the
operations of the society, and especially in the appoint-
ment of new and efficient agents ; and they strongly
urged upon the policy holders the importance of each of
them using his influence to obtain new assurances.
The CHAIRMAN, in reply to Mr. Waddington, said
that the office was progressing in a very satisfactory
manner. Up to the present period the directors had
submitted to every claim, and they never intended to
dispute any claim of any kind, unless it was actually,
fraudulent. For the protection of the proprietors' pro-
perty they would consider it necessary to do so.
Mr. CUFFLEY said that there had been a local board
appointed at Manchester, and he thought that that
ought to have been stated in the report.
The SECRETARY said that they had a gentleman of
eminence in Manchester who had policies to the extent
of 5,000/. He introduced four other policies for 4,5001.
It was then agreed that the report of the directors be
received and adopted.
Mr. Peake, Mr. Nicholson, and Mr. Baker, the re-
tiring directors, were re-elected.
The accounts were passed, and after a vote of thanks
to the chairman, the business of the meeting concluded.

The directors and friends of the society dined together
in the evening at the London Tavern. There was a ra-
ther numerous assemblage, amongst whom we noticed
Messrs. Lawson, Baker, Cursham, J. R. Cuffley, Nichol-
son, John Mair, Teape, Hodgkinson, Jones, Brockle-
bank, and Jones (secretary). Mr. R. Wilcoxon occu-
pied the chair. After the usual loyal and patriotic
toasts,
The CHAIRMAN gave "Success to the National Mer-
cantile Life Assurance Company." He said that it
afforded himself and his colleagues—and he was sure
also all those present—much satisfaction to find that
that company, which had now been formed 15 years,
had, by industry, perseverance, and vigilenco on the
part of its directors, arrived at its present measure of
success, and become, as it were, firmly established on a
rock. Those who had been present at the annual meet-
ing of the society which had been held that day, had had
an opportunity of knowing the real position of the society,
and- it must have been encouraging to its best friends
to know that, although it had not progressed with
giant strides, it had marched on steadily, and that it was
advancing in prosperity in a manner that must be satis-
factory to all its members. It now occupied a most re-
spectable position in the first rank of insurance offices ;
it had become a mutual assurance office, and it did not
litigate its claims, but endeavoured to steer its course in
every respect in the path of justice. (The toast was
very warmly received.)
Mr. JONES then proposed " The Commercial Travel-
lers of England," and in doing so he paid a high compli-
ment to the general intelligence and good feeling of that
class. 1

Mr. ROBERTS, in returning thanks, bore testimony to
the great increase of provident habits amongst the com-
mercial travellers of late years.
Mr. NICHOLSON then proposed "The health of the
Chairman," to whose exertions, he said, the society prin-
cipally owed the great success which it had attained
amongst institutions of the kind.
The toast was drunk in a most enthusiastic manner,
and the chairman returned thanks in appropriate terms.

Mr. CUFFLEY proposed "The Health of the Directors"
of the Society."
The toast was received with the usual honours, and
was acknowledged by Mr. JOHN MATH.
Mr. LAWSON proposed " The Health of Mr. Jenkin
Jones, the secretary of the society," to whose abilities
as an actuary, and to whose zeal in the service of the
society, he referred in the most eulogistic terms.
Mr. JENKIN JONES, in returning thanks, stated that
during the last year no fewer than seventy-one new life
assurance offices had been established, a number which
was altogether uncalled for. He trusted that all those
engaged in the management of the society would con-
centrate their most energetic efforts upon the introduc-
tion of the greatest amount of business to this society,
at the least possible risk.
The remaining toasts were—" The Agents of the So-
ciety in the Provinces," " The Legal, Medical, and
other Officers of the Society," and " The Visitors."
The company then separated after an exceedingly
pleasant evening.