The Sun.
London, England, 1864-03-09 00:00:00

The Professional Assurance Society.

WILLIAM WHITE
3G, Cartnca-mtreet, S.E,, Bth March, 1864.

Equalisation of the Sugar Duties,

A public meeting of merchants and dealers interested in
he sugar trade took place yesterday at the London Tavern,
Mr R. W, Crawford, M.P., in the chair, to promote a more
equitable adjustment of the import duties on sugar, with
the view of facilitating the introduction of the finer qualities
of that article. Sir .1. Duke, M.P., Mr J. Clay, M.P., Mr
Lindsay, M.P., Mr Gregson, M.P., Mr Potter, M.P,, Mr
Black, M.P., Mr Lloyd, M.P., and Messrs Latham, H.
Nelson, S. Travers, J. Travers, T. Buxton, Binney, Baines,
Fairrie, Gaddesden, Fryer, and other gentlemen connected
with the grocery and sugar refining trades, were present.
The CHAIRMAN, in opening the proceedings, said he ac-
cepted the responsibility implied by the occupation of the
chair not without some reluctance and hesitation, but at the
same time without any mistrust or misgiving as to the truth
of the principles which it was the object of the meeting to
lay down, or as to the fairness of the measures which they
intended to pursue for the purpose of procuring, if they
could, a reconsideration of the existing settlement of the
sugar duties. Seeing some persons present, who, 24 hours
ago at least, were not in favour of that object, he thought
it right to say that the meeting was convened specially to
obtain an equalisation of duties, and only those who were in
favour of the propose 1 change had been invited to attend.
The meeting being in favour of the equalisation of the sugar
duties—(oh, oh, and laughter)—he supposed it would not
object to a delaration that the present system was opposed
to free trade, or that it restricted the supply of the sugars
which were fit for use and stimulated the supply of those
dirty sugars which were fit only for the refiners and out of
which they made their profit. (Interruption.) As to the
refiners, they had made so much money in the last 10 years
that they could scarcely want any more for s. century.
(Laughter.) He oust treat the question as a consumers'
question; but at the same time he did not believe refiners
would be permanently injured.
Mr. GREGSON, M.P., then moved the following resolu-
tion :—" That a law which iml ores differential duties upon
varying qualities of sugar is opposed to the principles of
free trade, and has been proved by experience to be preju-
dicial to the interests of the consumer by prohibiting prac •
tically the importation of the finer qualities of sugar fit for
immediate use, and stimulating the supply of the inferior
descriptions until they have passed through the hands of the
British refiner."
Mr. S. TRAVERS, in seconding it, said he aploared there
as the representative of the grocers of Englanl—a state-
ment which was met with fociferous cries of " No, no," and
laughter. He went into detail to show that tte proposed
change would benefit all interests concerned.
After some interruption,
Mr. FAIRRIE proceeded to dilate upon the unfairness of
reviving a question which after full inquiry had been settled
by a committee of the House of Commons, where both sides
were heard; and concluded by moving an amendment—
" That it appears to this meeting that the maintenance of
the scale of classified duties on sugar with such alterations
as were recommended by the select committee of the House
of Commons of 1862, is necessary to do justice between all
the parties concerned in the production, importation, and
refining of sugar, and that an equalisation of the duties
must limit the general supply of sugar for the British mar-
ket, raise prices to the consumer, and injure the revenue."
(Cheers,)
The CHAIR3IAN repeated that the meeting was called for
a specific purpose, and amid much interruption and cries of
"Unfair—hole and corner meeting," refused to put the
amendment, suggesting that the gentleman who had proposed
it and his friends had better retire into another room.
Considerable interruption here took place, several persons
loudly complaining of the chairman's unfairness, or " auda-
city" as it was described by one gentleman, in refusing to
hear both sides, and a formal motion was proposed that Mr
Crawford leave the chair.

The CHAIRMAN would simply meet that proposition by
declining to leave the chair. (" Oh, oh," and cheers.)
Mr. LINDSAY, M,P., remarked that the meeting was dis-
tinctly called of persons favourable to the equalisation, and
that there were so many who were opposed to that view pre-
sent only showed that Mr. Travers and his friends had no',

as they might have done, packed the meeting., as was not
unusual in such cases, so as to ensure a majority in support
of their own opinions. Ile was satisfied that before long
the refiners themselves would find it to their interests to

stand up for the equalisation of the sugar duties as strongly
as the shipping interests now stood up in favour of free
trade in shipping.

Several gentleman in tke refining interest here rose to
speak, but

The CHAIRMAN stated that he was obliged to go to the
House of Commons to take part in an important discussion
there affecting the interests of the citizens of London.
Mr. Crawford and several other gentlemen then left the
room, and Mr. Dunstable was voted to the chair.
Mr, FRYER. seconded Mr, Fairrie's amendment, and at
great length entered into the whole question, pointing out
that to equalise the duties would be to throw the whole

refining trade into the hands of the foreign refiner, and to
enhance the price to the consumer.

Some discussion ensued between Mr, Travers and some of
he refiners present as to the details of the manufacture of

sugar, in reference to the percentage of treacle and of waste,
and ultimately the amendment, put as a substantive resolu
tion, was carried unanimously, and a vote of thanks to Mr.
Dunatablo for presiding concluded the meeting.

The Passion week performance of the Messiah"
will be given at Exeter Hall, on Monday, the 21st, by the
National Choral Society, under the direction of Mr. G. W.
Martin. The principal vocalists will be Madame Lemmens-
Sherrington, Miss Palmer, Mr. Sims Reeves, and Mr.
Lewis Thomas. Band and chorus, 700 performers.
THAMES fUNNELCOMPANY.—The annuli general
meeting of proprietors in this undertaking was held
yesterday at Radley's Hotel, Bridge-street, Blackfriars ;
Mr. Wollaston in the chair. Mr. Mason, the secretary, read
the financial statement for the past year, which showed the
total receipts to be £5,719 17a 10d, and the total payments
£5,658 18s Id, leaving a balance of £660 I9s 93. On the
motion of the Chairman the accounts were adopted, The
Chairman then said the proprietors were all aware of the
proceedings taken at the lato special meeting, when the
unanimous assent of the proprietors was given to the bill
authorising the directors to dispose of the tunnel to the
East London Railway Company,
The bill would receive
the support of the Government, and there was no doubt of
its passing through Parliamor. Messrs. Austin and
Vaughan, the retiring directors, were re-elected, and Messrs.
Whitmore and Warrington as auditors. In reply to a ques-
tion the Chairman said there was some slight opposition to
the bill, but nothing that could affect its ultimate adoption.
EXMAORDINARY HIGH TIDE IN THE 'I'IIAMES.
—Yesterday afternoon the tide in the River
Thames rose to a great height, causing consider-
able alarm and confusion on the river shores and
wharves. At half-past two o'clock, the time of flood, the
water was about three feet above its average height, and
the tido had inundated the Temple Gardens, the gardens
attached to the houses
at Whitehall, and the adjacent
neighbourhood, The Water poured into the cellars of the
houses abutting on the river bank with great rapidity, and
a largo amount of damage was done in the low-lying dis-
tricts on the north aide of the river. As usual in
these Cases of high spring tides, the Lambeth district suf •
fared to a greater extent than any other, owing to its ex-
posed position. Great difficulty was experienced by the
steamboat passengers in landing and embarking at the vari-
ous piers above London-bridge,
consequent on the dis-
arrangement of the dummies and landing-stages owing to
the rapidity and strength of the tide. For at least two
hours the works on the Thames embankment between
Westminster and Blackfriars bridges were at a complete
standstill, being entirely submerged. The tide of yester- I
day was the highest that has been known for many years.

SHIELDS, Sunday Night.—Admiral Fitzroy's
storm warning has bzen up in our hal. hour all day,and
the weather has been, and is,
extremely inclement. The
wind is E.S.E., and the sea is very rough. Ab )ut half-a-
dozen light ships have arrived,and a Spanish vessel from the
north has sought shelter hero. On Friday two large and
valvablo ships sailed from the Tyne, and another large vessel
put to sea yesterday. They have had a tempestuous day,
and are l'kely to encounter a stormy night It has rained
heavily all day,

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
Sfit,—As manager of the Professional Assurance Society
during the last six months of its existence, I trust you will
allow me an opportunity of correcting the statements made
by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in the House of Com-
mons, last night, so far as the transfer of the assursnee
business of that society is concerned. The facts are these :
A petition was presented to the Master of the Rolls to wind
up the affairs of the Professional Assurance Society, and an
order having been made for thatpurpose, the official manager,
Mr. Harding, with the approval of the Master of the Rolls, en-
tered into an agreement with the European Assurance Society
to pay over to that society the actuarial difference in value of
each policy, consequent upon the increased age of the assured.
The official manager, however, having no funds in hand
applicable to the immediate payment of this difference, the
European Society, with the approval of the Master of the
Rolls, agreed that it should remain as a debt upon each
policy until the official manager should recover the amount
from the estate of the Professional Assurance Society;
and I have reason to believe that by this arrangement the
policy holders or their representatives will not lose one
shilling.—l remain, you: obedient servant,