The Sun.
London, England, 1864-03-18 00:00:00

COLONIAL.

effect.

years.

TEA..—At the public sales full rates have been obtained
for fine qualities of cougons and greens; about 16,500 pack-
ages were offered, of which 8,000 were sold.
St:Go.u. —Business has continued quiet, and prices have
not varied to any important event. In the refined maritet
quotations have exhioi Led little or no change of importance.
COFFEE.—The dealings in colonial have been to an ave•
rage extent, and both native and plantation Ceylon realised
former prices.
RICE.—A fair inquiry for East India, but the high rates
demanded by holders has in some measure disturbed ope-
rations.

FlLUlT.—Currants have been in fair demand, and for
raisins, figs, and other descriptions there has been a fair
inquiry at late prices.
TALLOW.—The market has been dull. PILO. on the
spot is quoted 42s 42s 11; April to June, 42s 3d; and last
three months, 41s 9d per cwt.

Liverpool Cotton Market —This Day.

~.

Market very strong. Sales about 10,000 bales
or more. Friday and Saturday next, Easter
holidays.

The Pit Inundation at Chesterfield.

CHESTERFIELD, Thursday.

At four o'clock this morning the water had been
so much reduced that a number of men were able to
enter the workings. They succeeded in rescuing
eight of the men. At noon they proceeded farther
into the pit and rescued the remaining four. Beyond
a little weakness from want of food the men and
boys appear to have suffered little from their inch.-
ceration. One of the boys made his appearance at
the top of the pit this afternoon, and looked on as
though nothing had occurred.

THE ROYAL BABY is stated to have borne the
badness of the christening remarkably well ; but
the natural curiosity of the populace to set eyes upon a
child who has been so much talked about, and whose name
and personal qualities have supplied the theme for so much
conversation, was doomed to disappointment, On the
morning of the ceremony the little Prince was quietly
smuggled from Marlborough House to Buckingham Palace,
and by the same conveyance—whatever that may have been
—was taken back again, greatly to the disgust of a very
large concourse which had assembled in St. James's Park
to behold him on his way. Those who hewn had the goo c)
fortune seo Prince Albert Victor Christian Edward of
Wale!, report of him that he is a charming baby, though a
triaejaeliiti4g

BRITON LIFE ASSURANCE SOCIETY.

ANNUAL MEETING.
The ordinary annual meeting of the policy and share-
holders in this society was held yesterday, at the society's

house, 429, Strand. Francis Webb, Itlq in the absence of
Dr. Barlow, the chairman of the board, presided.
The Secretary read the following report of the directors
for the past year :
The directors of the Briton Medical and General Life
Association have the pleasure again to tneet the proprietors
and members, and to submit to them a report of the trans•
actions of the association for the past 3 ear.

The proposals f' new assurances have been 3,147 in
nurnbm., for assuring £716,425; of these 181 for assuring

£50,320 have been declined.

442 for assuring X 116,050 have not been carried into

279 for assuring £10,550 were in various stages of pro-
gre33 at the cencltv•ion of the year.
The remainder haw been completed, and 2,323 policies

issued assuring V 67,453, and producing a Lew inconie of

£18,372 2s.

Six annuities have been granted, for which the associa-

ion has received the sum of £1,123 164.
The following table exhibits the gratifying progress of

the ass:ciation for the pest six years :
No. of Amount No. of Amount New
Year. proposals. pro osed. poli3ies. assured, premiums.
1858 1,976 £,05,815 ,312 .E,,62,81, £3,323 14 8
1859 2,370 420,.:65 1,751 314,210 9,751 16 7
13,10 2,405 466 783 1,805 31",161 10,,,z3 12 6
DM 2,5 2 482,950 1,839 349,9 ,0 10,084 11 3
1862 2,810 653,233 2,0 :3 450, 10 15, 75 13 6
1863 3,147 746,425 2,328 567,133 18,372 2 0
From the above returns it will be seen the Lffice has
maintained a continuous rate of progress, each year's re-
sults showing a marked improvement over those of the pre-
ceding one. The increase in the new premiums of the year
1.63 over those of 1862 exceeds 20 per cent, and to look still

further back in the history of the Association, the new
businez:As of the last year is more than double that of 18:58,
and nearly six times that of 1856.
'1 he receipts fur the past year from all sources have been
£113,681 12s 9d. Atter the payment of claims, surrenders,
annuities,re-assurances, dividends, and all other out-goings,
there remains the satisfactory balance in favour of the
association on the year's transactions of £15,100 ]s 6d,
which has been duly carried to the reserve fund.
The assets of the association now amount to £216,312

73 lid.
The accounts from which these statements are deduced
have been carefully audited by the app •fated auditors, who
have reported to the directors as follows :

TO THE DIRECTORS OF THE BRITON MEDICAL AND

GENERA.L LIFE ASSOCIATION.

Gentlemen,—We bave care:ully investigated the ac-
counts, books, and vauchers, from which the balance sheet
is made, and beg to report the same correct.
We have also inspected the various securities comprised

in the assets of the association. It is gratifying that, not-
withstanding the magnitude of the transactions, we are
able to repeat our teSquiony as to the care and accuracy
with which the various books are kept.—We are, gentlemen,
your obedient Servants,

HENRY ALCOCK, WILLIAM BROOKS j Auditore
JOHN BROWN, C. It. ROWLAND,

Daring the year Mr. Arthur Scratchley, M.A., the con-
sulting actuary of the association, has made a vaina ion of
its assets and liabilities with a view to the declaration of a
bonus. Mr. Scratctiley's investigation has been of the most
complete and searching character. From his report the
directors are I:teased to find that after providing for every
known liability up to the termination of the year 18G2, and
setting aside an ample reserve for all future contingencies,
there remains an available balance of profit of £20,607141 2d.
This sum the directors will at once proceed to distribute
amongst the policyho►ders and shareholders in accordance
with the terms of the deed of settlement of the association,
viz., four-fifths to the policy holders and one-fifth to the
shareholders.

The amount to be awarded each member will be commu.

nicated with all possible despatch, and those who avail
themselves of the special method of bonus appropriation in-
troduced by the association, if thy have not yet partici-
pated in a profit distribution, will have a specific time
named for the payment of their policies during lifetime.
Those members who participated in the last divition of
profits will have another and au earlier period named for
the payment of their policies, as will be fully explained in
the bonus circu!ar.

The bonus now declared will be equal to a reversionary
bonus of 40 per cant. on the premiums paid in the last three

The proprietors share of the bonus now allotted mill be
be carried to the credit and in augmentation of the capital
to id, and will be equ II to about '25 per cent. on the amount
paid up. The directors recommend that a dividend at the
rate of 6 per cent, per annum on the increased capital be
declared, which will be equivalent to £G ss. per cent, on
the amount of the original capital of the association.
Three of the directors of the association, v:z., Dr. Samuel
Richards, Mr. William Hamilton, and Mr. William Man-
ton, in accordance with the deed of settlement, retire by
rotation, but, being eligible, off_ir themselves for re-
election.

In concluding their report the directors feel justified in
repressing their conviction that the shareholders and mem-
bers will unite with them in the feelin2s of satisfaction with
which they regard the present position of the association.
The directors, however, strongly urge upon them that th. y
should also unite in still further strengthening and improv-
ing that position. The excellent features and increasing
popularity of the association as shown by its now policies,
Its large income and resources as seen from the accounts,
its secure and sound position as testified by the consulting
actuary's report, are all grounds on which its friends may
fairly recommend it to th,3 novice of intending assurers, and
thedirectors earnestly solicit the co-operation of all interest ea

in the continued success of the association, in the promut,
gation of its special ebi3cts, and the advancement of those
principles of prudence and equity for the development of
which the association was established.

The CHAIRMAN said, after the very satisfactory report
that had just been read to them, he felt he need not
occupy the time of the meeting but a very short
time. It must be highly gratifying and encourag-
ing to find they were still in the ascending scale
of new business, and next year ho felt certain he should
have the same pleasurable result to communicate to them.
After all deductions of every description from the receipte,
they were enabled to carry over to the reserve fund
£45,000. (Rear, hear) It was looked upon as
an indisputable proof of soundness in my office
if they carried over a third of its receipts, but
they of the Briton did more than this. (Hear, hear.)
The auditors had minutely examined the whole of their
securities, &0., and it was highly satisfactory to know that
Marl' were perfectly satisfied as to the firm and solid
position of their affairs. (Hear, hear.) They had ail
heard of the Government Annuities Bill, and he
would only just allude to it by saying. that he thought
I‘, was for the pupose of doing more than was really repre-
sented. He thought it was getting in the thin end of the
wedge to enable thi Givernment to take up life assurance
for larger sums than £10), With respect to the assurance
of the working classes he felt certain that nu office would,
or did, more to promote so desirable an object as the Briton
(Rear, hear.) He had much pleasure in moving the formal
resolution for the adoption of the report.
Dr. TYLER SMITH Seconded the motion, and congratu- '
lated the mewing on the position of the office, which, he
said, must be a source of pleasure to every one present.
The CHAIRMAN then put the resolution, when it was
carried unanimously.
Dr. LANCASTER moved the re-election of the retiring
directors. They had served the society well, and that be
telt there would be no objection to his proposition. (Hear.)
With respect to the Government Annuities Bill he did not
look upon it with any alarm, because he knew that a volun-
tary association of talented working men would beat the
Government hollow. (Hear, hear and laughter.) Look at
her shipbuilding—(hear, hear.)—in proof of what he said.
They built at an enormous expense, and after all
they were not what they ought to be, (Hear, hear,)
He felt the Chancellor's bill would prove a great boon to
the working classes, and ho hoped it would receive the
assent of Parliament.
The motion was seconded by Mr. JOHN KING, and
carried unanimously.
Dr. RICHARDS, ou the part of his re-elected colleagues,
returned thanks.
Resolutions re-electing the auditors were also carried, as
was also one for the payment of the dividend mentioned in

the report.
A congratulatory vote of thanks was also accorded to,
and gracefully acknowledged by, A. Scra,cley, Esq., the
eminent actuary, for the c Are he had bestowed upon the
valuation he had just made'of the affairs of the society.
The CHAIRMAN moved, and Professor PARTRIDGE
seconded, to vote of thanks to Mr. Mcesent, their actuary
and secretary.
Mr. MESSENT, in retnrning thanks, said he felt exceed-
ingly gratified at the manner in which the vote had been
awarded him. It was but justice that he should state that
he was greatly indebted to the exertions of his staff. All
were animated with but one desire, viz., the prosperity of
the office. (Rear, hear.)
The proceedings then terminated.

THE FUTURE EMPEROR and EMPRESS of MEXICO
aro said to have won all he,rts during their stay in
Paris, by the interest they displayed in visiting all the
objects worthy of note in the capital, and by their simple
and unaffected manners. They were on more than one
occasion to be seen, walking arm in arm, and making pur-
chases, as private individuals, at one or two of the best
shops of the town, and the last act of tke Princess was to
pay a visit to DiBderi, photographer, of the Bonkvard des
Italiens, to whom she sat for Ir,r portrait. Two steam•
frigates of the French navy, the Tti6tnise and the Impera•
trice Eugenie, are to folan an escort of honour to the
Austrian frigate Nuvara, which is to convey the illustrious
couple from Trieste to their new domirtions in Mexico.
THE IMPERIAL eItINCE, N4poleon W. that. " is
to ho' (let us hope many years hence I) has just attained
his eighth year, and it is said will shortly- have—tn addition
to professors and tutors of all kinds—aides•de-camp,
evertit,s, orderly fifteen, secretaries, and librarians,

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ii,

lIER MAJESTY.

WINDSOR CASTLE, March 17.

The Queen, accompanied by her Royal Highness
Princess Helena, walked and drove in the grounds

this morning.
Her 11,,1ya1 Highness Princess Beatrice took a
carriage drive.
The Right Hon. C. P. Villiers had an audience
of the Queen.

ITONEY MARKET

AND
COMMtitCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

CITY, TWELVE O'CLOCK,

Symptoms of increasing easiness are perceptible
this morning in discount circles. The supply of
commercial paper on offer is far below the capital
at the command of bankers and brokers, and the
latter are, therefore, evincing greater disposition to
negotiate business fully 1- per cent. under the mini-
mum of the Bank of England. The best meteor',
tile paper of three months' date is now actively
sought after, on terms ranging from 51 to 5i per
cent.

A. further sum of £444,000, in bar gold, was
taken into the Bank yesterd y.
The Bank of Eo,gland return, computed to Wed•
nesclay, shows an increase in the stack of bullion,
but the accumulation is not so large as was antici-
pated. There is also an addition to the other secu-
rities. Subjoined is our usual analysis:—
Active Circulation .. £19,849,780
Decrease .. 177.360
Bullion .. 13,946 913
Increase .. 62.554
Rest 3,866.484
Increase .. • • •• ••
74,948
Public Deposits • • • 8, 570,711
Decrease .. • • 292,653
Other Deposits.. .. .. 13,105,800
Increase .. 670,825
Seven Day and other Bills .. 48',332
Decrease 53,353
Government Securities • • • • 11,174,584
No alter
Other Securities 20,657,580
Increase .. • • • • 159,853
Notes Unemployed .. 8,013,960
Increase 275,790

The directors of the City Offices Company have
notified that the subscription list will be closed for
London on the 21st ins►,, and for th© country o❑
the 22d inst.

The dispute which arose between the Credit
Mobilier (Limited) and the Credit Mobilier Cam•
Parry of L'indon, with reference to the title of the
Erst-named company, has been settled, and all legal
proceedings terminated.