The Sun.
London, England, 1864-03-26 00:00:00

puted question of the morality of theatres, Mr.
BROOKS quoted a vigorous passage from a clerical
writer in support of it, as teaching the broad truths
of virtue and vice in the most impressive manner,
wakening a universal sympathy in the hearts of I
old and young, rich and poor, wise and foolish. 01
course, to attain great and good ends, to teach
striking morals, it is a necessary condition that the
play must be not only good but true to nature, the
actors not only able but lifelike. Poor imitations
from the French, stilted adaptations of other foreign
pieces, cold, commonplace representatidns of extra•
vagant romance, will not make the touch of nature
that makes the whole world kin, but such dramatic
blunders no more interfere with the morality of the
stage than the worthless publications everyday
issued from the press demoralise the invention of
printing. Foremost in every goof work of the kind
we may expect the name of Mr. BUCESTONE, who
has himself known what it is to be poor and friend-
less, but who has leag since worked his way
valiantly up the Hill Difficulty, and is now as
author, actor, and manager, wearing his triple
laurels. Palmane qui meruit ferat is not always
the motto in the dramatic profession more than in
any other, but in this case happily fame and suc-
cess have smiled on genuine merit, and now the
soldier of fortune, who has risen to the rank of
general in the regular army, is always ready to
come to the rescue, not only of the exhausted victor
but of the disabled soldier who has fallen in the
fray. The practical results of the general Theatrical
Fund were briefly summed up by Mr. BUCKSTONE.
Daring the past year they have paid to annuitants
the sum of £9OO in amounts varying from £3O to
£9O per annum, and about £5O have been given or
returned to members claiming such payments.
There are now 21 annuitants, of whom 15 are ladies
and five gentlemen. More candidates aro on the
list, so that, notwithstanding a fair amount of in-
vested capital, there is plenty of room for help
both from the regular subscribers and from the
general public. That such help will be forthcoming
freely and promptly, we can hardly doubt, consider-
ing how much the profession have dose and are
doing for themselves ; considering, too, that we are
in a manner bound to provide for the relief or the
solace of age and infirmity in those who have spent
their best days in contributing to our amusement.
Else we may be troubled during cur evening's re-
creation with an uneasy suspicion that, like the
gay, fashionable company in " Belphegor," we are
giving cur sympathy to the fictitious characters
before us, while the life of some minor actor on the
stage, if faithfully represented, might, in its pathetic
hopelessness, in its mournful reality, throw the
finest efforts of dramatic art into the shade.

The Protector Endowment, Loan, and
Annuity Company,

The ordinary general meeting of the shareholders
of this company was held on Thursday afternoon,
at the offices, 34, King-street, Cheapside. Alfred
Smee, Esq„ presided.
The routine business having been transacted, a
very successful annual report was read by the
managing director (J. Beadnell, Fl.), which en-
tered in detail into the operations of the society for
the year just closed.
The CHAIRMAN said he had great pleasure in
moving the adoption of the highly favourable re-
port just now read. Although the document car-
ried with it its own recommendations, he felt it
necessary to make a few remarks for the benefit of
those unacquainted with the operations of the
Protector. The society, on the one hand, received
money on deposit at interest, and loaned
it out at a cheap rate, on the other ; but on terms
more advantageous than those of bankers and more
favourable than finance companies. Loans obtained
from a banker must be paid on the day the amount
became due, whilst in the Protector the repayment
of the loans was spread over one, two, three, four, and
and, in some cases, five years, and then made in half-
yearly or quarterly instalments. The great value of a
loan, on such terms to many, was strikingly appa-
rent, because it could either be devoted to the com-
mencement of business, the education of a son, or
used to meet a temporary embarrassment. The
society, as a matter of course, had to secure
itself as much as possible against any loss, and,
therefore, life assurance was adopted to provide
against the contingency of life, and substantial
ferences were required, in order to ensure the re-
payments, where the sums advanced were for short
periods of time. Many parents had been enabled,
through the instrumentality of the society, to place
their child in a good position, and many had also
secured their just rights, which they would have
had to abandon, had it not been for the faci-
lities the directors offered to those in need
of temporary assistance. The losses during
the past year had been extremely small,
(hear, hear)—and the exertions that had been made
during the same period to extend their business had
been crowned with the utmost success. They had
formed agencies is different parts of the country,
and already the beneficial effects of such an arrange-
ment were clearly apparent. Their success, in his
opinion, was to be mainly attributable to the busi-
ness-way in which their operations were conducted.
A person had only to throw down his guinea on their
counter with his proposal, and immediately the re-
ferences were inquired into, and if found satisfactory
the money was at once advanced. A proposition
would be laid before the meeting, which was calcu-
lated largely to extend their business, and therefore
he had no doubt it would meet with the hearty ap-
proval of the shareholders. The arrangement would
place a large amount of capital at their command,
and all that was necessary was to use it with the
same prudence that had hitherto marked their
operations, to make it highly remunerative to the
shareholders.

Mr HARRISON seconded the resolution for the
adoption of the report, remarking that the success
of their operations in the
year just closed must be
gratifying to every person present.
were,
unanimouslyrle:
The report was adopted unanimously.
secTohnederdetbiryin:ird.i\.
Alfredrvectßcersv,an,
Smee, Esq., and E.
Solly, Esq.,ere, on the motion of
N re-elected.
Tyler
seconded by Mr. 'W. Bevan, unanimously rc-elccted
The election of Mr. Joseph Williams to a seat at
the board by the directors was next confirmed.
The retiring auditors having bean re-elected,
Mr. GEORGE TYLER moved a resolution to the
effect that the dividend on the share-stock be the
same as last year, viz,, 5 per cent.
This resolution was also carried unanimously.
The meeting was then made special for the con-
sideration of certain arrangements then pending
between the Protector and one of the largest life
insurance companies in London. The proposals met
with the hearty approval of the meeting, and, after
a cordial vote of thanks had been awarded to the
directors and the manager, the proceedings termi-
nated.

The annual change of quarters of the Household Brigade
of Cavalry will take place on the first Wednesday in the
ensuing month as follows : —lst Life Guarde, from Albany-
street Barracks to Hyde Park Barracks; 2d Life Guards,
from Hyde Park Barracks to Windsor; and the Royal
Horse Guards, from Windsor to Albany-street Barracks,
A Board of officers, composed of Col. Guy, C. 13., Lieut,
Col. Freeling, R.E., and Dr. Frazer, Deputy Inspxtor-
General of Hospitals, has assembled at the officers' mesa.
room of the new cavalry barracks at Colchester, to examine
and report to the War-office as to the fitness of buildings
for occupation. Colonel Lays, 9th Depot Battalion, has
assumed the command of the troops stationed at Harwich
and Languard Fort. Staff-Surg, Mure has been appointed
to succeed Dr. Frazer as principal medical officer at Col-
chester camp.

TUE BATTLE OF GETT7SEITIIG.—At Gettysburg
25,000 muskets were taken. Of these, 24,000 were found
to be loaded, 12,000 containing two loads, and 8,000 from
three to mu loads each. In many instances half a &ma
"Jails were driven in no a single charge of poWder. In sou
cases the former possessor had reversed the usual order,
placing the ball at the bottom of the barrel and the powder
on top,-oamerican raper.