The Sun.
London, England, 1864-09-17 00:00:00

68th Foot—Captains H. W. J. Trent and Thomas
Casement, Lieut, 11. S. R. P. Stuart, Ensign W.
H. F. Palmer; Sergeants Thomas Stafford and
Henry Marechner ; Corporals Lucas Beattie, John
Kearney, and Charles Clayton; Private Peter
Shanahan, James Taylor, John Timms, James
Bramble, Daniel Caffery, Patrick Crawley, John
Derricott, James Hammill, Thomas Malla, John
Marmion, Lawrence Marnon, John Martin,Patrick
M'Gregor, John Purday, Isaac Sargeant, George
Smith, John Smith, Thomas Smith, Abbott Thrift.
and Henry Wade.
The following is the numerical abstract :
Killed. Wounded: Since Dead.
Rank and Rank and Rank and
File. • File. File.
43d Foot 4 13 0
68th Foot 3 20 2

Corps.

Total... 8 33 2
J. MouiT, Deputy-Inspector-General of
Hospitals, P,M.O.

Report of the Registrar of Friendly
Societies in England.

--.r -

Yesterday was issued Mr . Tidd Pratt's report,
dated July 16, of the; present year :
Daring the year 1863 The regletrar has examined
and certified the rules of 1,0b4 friendly societi s,
and also the alterations of the rules of 1,231 so-

ci,ties; mikiog a total of 2,2E35 certificates.
Twenty-three 14 iendiy 4ocieties have depobited their

rules with the registrar under the 18 and 19 Vic.,

c. 63, s. 44. Notices of dissolution have been re-
ceived from 118 friendly societies ; of which num-
ber 47 were advertised in the London Gazette.
During the year 1863 the sum of £1,150 in the
Bank of England has been transferred by the re-
gistrar into the names of trustees appointed by
friendly societies, in the places of others removed,
absent, &c.

The registrar gives in the report the leading
features of the most recent tables of observation as
to the expenses of sickness and mortality in benefit
clubs or friendly societies. " It must be admitted,"
he says, " that amongst the 20,000 societies some
are certainly insolvent; but, as a general rule, this
result may be attributed lo the ignorance of the
managers of the real risks to which they stand

liable until the inadequacy of the funds is forced
upon their nutlet, by the gradually increasing
claims. It does not at all follow that the clubs are
reduced to this condition by fraudulent intention.
On the contrary, it may be gathered from the re-
gistrar's reports since 1855 that there is a very
earnest desire amongst the managers or members to
ascertain their real condition, and to avail them.
selves of such legal privileges as are offered to
them to better their condition. A glance at the
steadily increasing number of the rules and altera•
tions of rules, examined and certified by the regis-
trar, is sufficient to strengthen this conviction. Even
the increasing number of notices of dissolution is
not to be looked upon as an unhcalty state of affairs.
On the contrary, the dissolution of a society is fre-
quently effected with a view of remodelling and
starting afresh under better regulations, and with
rates of premium such as increased knowledge
has shown to be necessary for the risks which

they have to incur. It is to be regretted that so
many continually break up, and that so many more
may have to do so before the whole status of these
societies can be considered sounl and wholesome.
But for many years past the enlightened legislation
on this subject, and the general good sense of the
managers themselves, have been effecting a silent
though perceptible improvement throughout the
country."

Mr Pratt giv es as the principal causes of failure,the
small number of members, inadequate premiums, the

ignorance of the members of the extent to which
the surplus of premiums ought to be accumulated in
early years to meet the requirements of advanced
age, the difficulty of distinguishing at ages above
60 between superannuation and true sickness, the
very deplorable practice of holding the monthly
or other periodical meetings in public-houses and
under the influence of the publican, injudicious
and speculative investments, and the combine.
tion of the different risks in a common fund. " If,"
says Mr Pratt, " the effect of Government competi-
tion, under the late act passed for granting annui-
ties or payments at death, is to make all doubtful
societies look into their affairs, to amend all that
may be going wrong, and to see that to all their
other advantages they can add a security which, by
good management, scientific skill, and strict honour,
may, as in the case of many of our existing institu-
tions, be little short of what Government can offer,
then no harm, but a vast amount of good will result
from the Government proposition. But it would be
sad indeed if, instead of improving and setting on
firm foundation the present friendly societies, it
simply destroyed them in detail. The great anti-
quity of these funds for self-help is a pool that thcy
meet the Ep.rit of this people in every age. The
changes that have of late years followed a more en-
lightened legislation evidence their desire to keep
pace with the intelligence of the country. The meet-
ing of the members, when held in some room of tl•.eir
own and away from the influence of the pnblic•house,
encourage that spirit of self-reliance and of partici-
pation in public business, and in the management
of his own affairs, which the working luau has a
right to in common with the highest classes in the
land. And, finally, the good feelinge which in the

_ .
madapollamsr, and yarns were rather dearer; but, 74b and
Bilb shirtings were at 3d to Gd decline per piece. Ye eterday
some offers were made, but at still lower prices. This day
(Friday) business is quite as flat in shipping yarns as on
Tuesday, and still lower prices would have to be taken to
effect business. The total decline to-day from the highes t
rates is estimated to be equal on the average to 4d and Gil
per lb on yarns made from Surat cotton, and Gd to 8d per lb
on yarns made from long stapled cotton. About sales, buyers
say it is not so much a question of price as that buyers have
made np their minds not to operate. Certainly, great as the
decline is, there is no disposition to operate. In home trade
yarns the market is equally fiat. There is no business, and
prices continue to decline. The decline since Tuesday has
been quite ld to 2d per lb. In cloth the decline
in value has been about in the same proportion, and there
has been no improvement since Tuesday, but still there has
been more inquiry on the part of buyers, who, it is thought
arc feeling their way as to what can be done. In soma cases
buyers have been making offers, and though these offers
have been at very low prices, the fact seems to have been
accepted by the trade as a good indication. In some cases
business has been effected, but it has been small in amount ;
and as the decline going on from day to day in cotton still
further decreases the value of manufactured goods in stock
the operations taking place aro at very low rates. It is only
at low rates that buyers can be at all induced to operate,
and even then their purchases are limited to small quanti-
ties. It is difficult to get at the actual decline where opera-
tions have not taken place, but 71b shirtings that were 188
Gd some weeks ago, can now be bought for 16s, and 811 b
shirtings, which have been at 225, may be bought at 19s.
Some people speak of even lower rates ; but these are quo-
tations which would be taken and in some instances Lave
been taken. The present inactivity is said to proceed partly
from the dearness of money and partly from a disposition on
the part of buyers to bide their time for the lowest point.
CARDIFF, 15th—The iron trade maintains the firmness
evinced last week, and orders are coming in pretty freely.
So many furnaces being blown out in Staffirdshire tends to
strengthen the market, and the prospect of peace in America
is looked forward to hopefully, and once concluded there
will be a vast increase in the iron exports to that c untry.
The seareily of water has completely passed away, and the
works are, as a rule, on full time. In steam c)al business
continues brisk, and exports arc above the average. Mar.
chants aro well supplied with orders, and, in fact, they Lavo
quite as much as they can do to meet the requirements of
buyers. The scarcity of coasters materially checks the house
coal trade, and the collieries are not, in consequence, as
regularly employed as might be wished. Coke remains
without change. The shipbuilding trade is brisk, and there
is no lack of employment at the yards.
NOTTINGHAM, 16th—There was a moderate attendance
at this Exchange to-day, but the business doing was very
small, the high rate cf discount at the Bank of England
checking speculation in any kind of goods. Silks, yarns,
and plain nets underwent no material change.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE—Sept. 16,

MANSION -HOUSE.

Charles Brown, a lad about 15 years of age, was brought
up on remand, in custody of Police constable Underwood,
before the Lord Mayor, charged with being concerned with
James Harding, a lad about his own age, in forging and
uttering a cheque for £350.

Mr Muliens appeared to prosecute, and Mr Stoddart ap.
peered for the prisoner.
The lad Harding was tried and convicted in Juno last for
forging and uttering the cheque in question, and was sen-
tenced to five years' penal servitude, Harding was in the
...rvice or a gentleman nau.,..a -maw), - -
City, as a clerk, and on the 6th Juno last he gave a commis-
sionaire a cheque for £350 purporting to be signed by his
employer, and told him to go and get it cashed, and to take
the money to Mr Harding, giving his father's address, some-
where in the Whitechapel-road. Tho forgery, however, was
detected, and upon examination Mr Watts missed five other
cheques from his cheque-book. From what Harding has
since divulged Brown was apprehended in Whitechapel by
detective officer Bull and the officer Underwood, and Harding
was brought up by writ of habeas as a witness against him ;
and he stated on oath that Brown induced him to take the
cheques, and that they were to practice imitating Mr Watts's
signature together at a place called the Effingham Saloon, in
Whitechapel, and at an ice-shop close by that place, and
that the prisoner Brown himself filled up the cheque for
£350, for which ho had been convicted. He likewise added
that they filled up between them a cheque for £lOO, before
the one for i5O was presented, but that was not paA, as
it was signed Watts and Oust, Mr Watts's account being
kept in his own name only. The evidence of Harding was
somewhat borne out by the evidence of another lad, from
whose evidence it would appear that the prisoner Brown
had likewise been endeavouring to induce him to forge his
master's signature ; but he declined to do so, or to have any
further connection with him, and subsequently acquainted
Brown's employer, who discharged him. In the course of
the evidence it appeared that Brown and Harding had formed
some rather wild plans, provided they were to get the money,
Brown proposing to dress himself as a young lady, after
which they were to cross the sea together.
The prisoner, who was smirking and smiling during the
whole of the proceeding, was committed for trial.

THE FRENCH OPERA.—At the Opera M.
Mermet's " Roland ;t Roncevaux" is now in general re-
hearsal, and will probably be brought out next week. A.
new soprano, Mlle. Sannier, made her dkbu last week in
" La Favourite", but met with a cold reception, as is too
often the case in that house, where little or no sympathy
is usually accorded to a debutante. Mlle. Sannier is agree-
able and engaging in person, but her voice is deficient in
power and flexibility.
To FLOAT AND TO SWIM.—To float, is to be sus-
tained on the surface of a fluid by the force of specifier
gravity. A solid object, dropped into a liquid, displaces
a quantity of that liquid exactly equal to its own
weight—no more. If the size of the object be greater
than the size of an equal weight of the liquid, it is clear
that it cannot entirely enter into ,that liquid—it can-
not sink, that is—it floats on the surface. The object is
lighter than the liquid ; its specific gravity is less. 'J'hu.,
lead floats on mercury, iron on melted lead, the majority of
woods on water, and cork on spirits of wine. To float is
scarcely an action—inanitnato objets float. A buoy fleas.
A corpse floats. To swim is to move at will on or in u fluid.
Swimming is aided by, but is not entirely dependent on,
specific gravity. Many fishes which have no bladderi are
heavier then the water they swim in. They may aim, 'et be
sail to fly in. o' ter, To swiv.r, thereeeler is eel I nand
eff,rt of an I-dui:11(1 orgatii,m. A deal duck li !its; a I've
'leek ewinee— I)o:cue's" All lie Ictir 1?,,?5)e,1,"
AbvtiltltseatENT].—Holleway's Ointment and Pills.—
Diseases of the most formidable aril chronic characters Lave
been cured by Holloway's remedies. Ulcerations which
e 1,
muscles,l.e nt oin
had proved themselves incurable by any other means, have
healed kindly under the purifying and regenerating influ-
ntlndtglaLPurlaairm
joints, contracted f this ex cswellingserj si pel acsistbl
most safely and effectively treated by Holloway's ointment
and pills, which can do no harm under any circumstances.
Neither of these medicaments have anything deleterious in
their composition, but are essentially purifying and strengths
ening in their nature. The combined power of these noble
remedies enables them successfully to cope with most de-
scriptions of injuries, and to cure, or at least relieve, moat
varieties of disease