The Sun.
London, England, 1852-09-01 00:00:00

LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, SEPTEMBER 1.

Hardman's translation of Edward Jermann's " Traveller's Library, comprises the whole of Frederi.ck
Pic-
tures from St. Petersburgh." As another cluster of
Grimm'so Household Stories we have " The Soaring
Lark," and other quaint productions of a eirnilar
charae.er. The new number of The Charm, besides
a profusion of woodcuts, contains a merry description
of " Home for the Holidays." The Picture Pleasure
Book is still more profusely illustrated. The
farmer's Magazine consists, aa usual, of a
mass of papers of great practical interest,
and such as may be consulted with profit
by the agriculturists. In the Sporting Review
we are rejoiced to observe that an old favourite in
the sporting world--Harry Hieover—has commenced
the account ~of his " Life and Adventures." The
serial, which we trust may be sufficiently protracted,
cannot but prove fraught with entertainment. Be-
sides this the " Review" embraces, amono•
things for September, contributions from e' other
Craven,
Horny wink, Foxglove, Castor, and Hawthorne, to-
gether with engravings by Beckwith and Engle-
heart. The Ladies' Compassion would be interesting,
for the present MOD th if its only attraction were the
portrait of Mary llowitt, but, in addition to this
illustration, the monthly magazine of the fair sex is
rendered remarkable by a story from Frances Brown,
by some verses from Mrs. Ably, and by another
chapter on " German Legendary Lore," from the pen
of Mrs. T. K. Hervey. As ever, the Church of
England Magazine is crowded with effusions appro-
priate to this class of periodicals. Perhaps the most re-
markable, as it is certainly the most interesting, paper
in the Eclectic Review, just issued, is the criticism
headed" The Arctic Robinson." Charles Knight's mag-
nificent Imperial Cyclopadia has this month reached,
under the subdivision of " The British Empire," the
description of " Parsonstown." The engraving pre-
fixed to the instalment before us represents, within
the limits of a single plate, most of the noblest
public buildings in London..an illustration singu-
larly- appropriate to the work under notice, which in
every essential respect rises to the dignity of a na-
tional enterprise. Under its new editorship, that of
the accomplished Mrs. S. c, Hall, Sharpe's
London Magazine is already extending and
strengthening its reputation. A. better number of the
insotthe
" eighty-third" according
here issued for the month of September. As to the
d
Art Journal, edited by Mr. S. C. Hall, it continues to
series,t this
s
periodical,tothe old al
maintain what it has long achieved, the fame of lacing
the most distinguished of all the artistic periodicals
published in Christendom. The present number, be-
sides an engraving by Allen, from Jones's " Lady
Godiva" in the Vernon Collection, and another by
Vernon from Shee's "Infant Bacchus," also in the
same eminent gallery—has a third by Mote, repre-
senting Canova's noble statue of " Madame Mere,"
with the grand and simple inscription of " Napoleonis
mater" underneath.

ATHENXUM LIFE ASSURANCE
SOCIETY.

This society held its first annual meeting yester-
day at the office, 30, Sackville-street ; the Rev. J.
Bartlett, of Atcham-park, in the chair.
The report set forth that, although the society was
a new one, branch boards, consisting of directors in-
fluential in their various localities, had been formed at
Manchester, Birmingham, Sheffield, Hull, and the Isle
of Man, and that others are in course of formation.
An arrangement had further been made with an in-
stitution of a kindred nature, entitled the Atbenmum
expenses,s2o invested in
Institute, and by this junction of interests with that
large and powerful class, the members of the literary
and newspaper press, beneficial results to the society
were anticipated. The balance sheet of the society
showed its capital to be 1805151., and the amount re-
ceived for premiums to be 4,4191. The disbursements
were 2,
and the com-
pany's
se-
curities, 8,056/. at the banker's, and about 1,4001. in
capital now nopwrecliomnsiinstreyd of a
the hands of the manager and the society's agents.
During the first nine months policies had been issued
that yielded 4,4191. in premiums. The total number
of policies was 322. Not a single claim had yet come
against the office—a strong proof of the vigilance of
the directors, and of the care of the medical officers.
The expenses of founding the society had been paid
for, and the directors had every confidence in the so-
ciety's success.
The CHAIRMAN expressed his entire satisfaction
with the progress of the society, in which expression
Mr, ALEXANDER RICHMOND, as a director and large
shareholder, said h© fully concurred.
Mr. JAMES ANDREW DIIRHAIII said he looked to
the fact of the society not being encumbered with an
excess of capital, but having a respectable propriety to
look to in case of necessity, as one of the means that
must contribute greatly to its suoocao. Ile believed
the company had been established on the right basis,
end that it would succeed.

On the motion of Mr. Hams, a dividend of 5 per
cent. upon the subscribed capital, clear of income-
tax, was carried unanimously, after an expression of
opinio❑ that the rate of per- centage had been agreed
upon with a view to permanency, and that if one
year only had been taken into consideration, the
dividend might have been at the rate of 25 per cent.
per annum.
Mr. Ciunn, in proposing a vote of thanks to the
auditors, took occasion to animadvert upon the conduct
of the press in commenting upon the position of life
assurance companies.

His remarks were deprecated by Ur. EDWARD
BROOKS, as a member of the society, and one who
was not desirous that the Athenmum Society should
take up the cudgels for the younger life offices.
Mr. Mrrcuann said that seeing
he seeing Mr. Tomline's
name connected with s
,the
confidence in its management. It was his firm per-
suasion that the society Would confer a great benefit
upon literary men, and that the Athenaeum Institute
would prove to it a valuable appendage.
Mr. TOMLINE adverted to three recent instances of
men of genius who had died suddenly and left their
families almost wholly unprovided for. 11a (Mr.
Towline) was secretary had; every
to the Shaksperian Society,
and as such, meeting in conversation with the Lord-
Justice Knight Bruce, that learned authority had
remarked to him—" How is it that we find men of
literature and genius, Who can write essays that are
the admiration of their country, thus making no pro-
vision for their families ? If
you can point out to me
a way in which it could be done, it should have my
best support." lie ‘ (xf
—r. Towline) had said that it
could only be done by means of a self-supporting in-
stitution like the present. A eleemosynary
An mere .
institution would wholly fail. It was his duty to
state that Mr. Disraeli, although so much occupied in
affairs of State, had taken so warm an interest in the
prosperity of their institute that he had called twice
personally to express his interest in its progress, and
his desire to render it any good offices in his power.
Sir G. Staunton and the Marquis of Bristol had simi-
larly tendered their good offices. pressed
Mr, SUTTON and other gentlemen having el. t
their favourable opinions of the progress of the society-
,
and all the customary resolutions having
been una
mously adopted, the meeting terminated with a vote
of thanks to the Reverend Chairman.

THE LAST PASSAGE OF THE BRINE.
A few weeks ago the
Republic f the Rhine
lc superintended a military passage o
that created some sensation in Germany; but a Passage
of the same river was recently attempted by fin English-
man, which, though of a less brilliant, was, perhaps, of
days it formed the principal at far more daring character. The occurrence very na-
_urally caused considerable excitement in the neighbour-
Prince President of the French
our-
hood of Bonn, the scene of the incident; and for several
country, t_ most of the hotels and cafes of the town. It would seem
hat the Englishman in question, who is a member of
the Middle Temple, stopped on his waY up the Rhine to
2iplere the wonders of the Seven Mountains, and,
having pitched his Land is
Bonn, he took advantage
steamer to visit
of a fine afternoon and a Cologne
I,"nigswinter, and ascend the castled crag of Drachen-
leis, ncipal topic of conversation in
Charmed by the beauties of the surrounding
the summit of Aulberg, where
in, when, as ill-luck would have it, a terrific thunder-
storm overtook him, and he lost his way in the moun-
tains. he loitered upon the spot until evening sot
After rambling among the vines far some hours
he was attracted by a light to the deerkeeper'a hut on
fly-
ing-bridge," enable him to descend the
in-
mates sufficient directions to
the river, as he had been in he obtained from the
mountain and reach the village opposite Bonn in safety.
the mountains. It will be
eight boats,
stream, t lae
whilefirs t
Here he made an effort to wake up the ferrymen, but,
failing in that, he determined to be his own pilot across
of which is anchored inis furnished with a " fly-
remembered by Rhenish travellers that the river here, as
well as at many other points,
current of the river;
the others are connected with it at intervals by a chain
from side to side by the
cable that terminates in a sort of landing-stage, similar
to those used on the Thames. The stage is floated
and the Englishman, erroneously supposing that
all he had to do to get across was to loosen
the Jumped on
moorings of the stage, j board and
undid the fastenings. Too late, however, he disco-
vered that he could not work the rudders, and instead,
ef
thes ecveennt centre eo
of the stage floating over as he had anticipated, directly
it got into the stream it went round like a shuttlecock,
until at length the chain.cable snapped, and he was car-
ried rapidly down the river in the direction of Cologne.
The ferrymen being now alarmed by the
noise, took to
their beaits and gave chase; but before they overtook it
the stage had floated many miles away, and in the rage
of the moment they administered a sound drubbinc, to
the cause of all their trouble, and then locked him up.
The next morning he was taken before the police au-
thorities of Bonn, who told him that he had not only
endangered his life by his proceedings, but had rendered.
himself liable to a severe Ipui,ishment. He has, how-
ever, acted in ignorance of the law, and the offence
would, therefore, be overlooked on his making good
the damege to the bridge. Of course the Englishman,
having no other alternative, at once consented to this
compromise of the offence he had committed against the
Prussian law ; and, having handed over between 30/.
and 40/, to the proprietors of the bridge, he was 11
u Qiired
to resume his tour up the Rhine.