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

ATHENEUM LIFE Ai-SI:RANCE

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.
aSrheeffiineld,
The report set forth that, although the society was
a new one, branch boards, consisting of directors in-
fluential in their various localities, bad been formed at
03,
fl Manchester, s
andter,Birmingham,at Hull, and the Isle
course of formation.
An arrangement had further been made with an in-
stitution of a kindred nature, entitled the Athenaeum
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
others
were anticipated. The balance sheet of the society
showed its capital to be 18,5151., and the amount re-
ceived for premiums to be 4,4191. The disbursements
were 2,5851. in preliminary expenses, and the com-
pany's capital now consisted of 5,0201. invested in se-
curities, 8,05 G/. at the banker's, and atout 1,4001. in
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. lie 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 bad been paid
for, and the directors had every confidetce 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 he fully concurred.
Mr. JAMES ANDREW DURHAM said he looked to
the fact of the society not being encuintered with an
excess of capital, but having a respectabb propriety to
look to in case of necessity, as one of tie means that
must contribute greatly to its success. He believed
the company had been established on the right basis,
and that it would succeed.

On the motion of Mr. HARRIS, a dividend of 5 per
cent. upon the subscribed capital, clear of income-
tax, was carried unanimously, after an expression of
opinion that the rate of per-tentage 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. CRIBB, 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 Mr. EDWARD
BROOKS, as a member of the society, and one who
was not desirous that the Athenaeum Society should
take up the cudgels for the younger life offices.
Mr. MITCHELL said that, seeing Mr. Towline's
name connected with the society,
he had every
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 o f
men of genius who had died suddenly and left their
families almost wholly unprovided for. He (Mr.
Tomline) was secretary 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." He (Mr. Tomline) had said that it
could only be done by means of a self-supporting in-
stitution like the present. Any mere eleemosynary
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 bad simi-
larly tendered their good offices.
Mr. SUTTON and other gentlemen having expressed
their favourable opinions of the progress of the society,
and all the customary resolutions having been unani-
mously adopted, the meeting terminated with a vote
of thanks to the Reverend Chairman.

THE LAST PASSAGE OF THE RHINE.
A few weeks ago the Prince President of the Ft each
Republic superintended a military passage of the Rhino
that created some sensation in Germany; but a passage
of the same river was recently attempted by an English-
man, which, though of a less brilliant,
was, perhaps, of
a far more daring character. The occurrence very na-
turally caused considerable excitement in the neighbour-
hood of Bonn, the scene of the incident; and for several
days it formed the principal topic of conversation in
most of the hotels and cafes of the town. It would seem
that the
the Middle Temple, stopped on his way up the Rhine to
Englishman in question, who is a member of
explore the wonders of the Seven Mountains, and,
having pitched his tent in Bonn, he took advantage
°` a fine afternoon and a Cologne steamer to visit
Konigswinter, and ascend the castled crag of Drachen-
fels. Charmed by the beauties of the surrounding
country, he loitered upon the spot until evening sot
in, when, as ill-luck would have it, a terrific thunder-
storm overtook him, and he lost his way in the moun-
tains. After rambling among the vines far some hours
he was attracted by a light to the deerkeeper'e hut on
the summit of Aulberg, where he obtained from the in-
mates sufficient directions to enable him to descend the
mountain and reach the village opposite Bonn in safety.
tlere he made au effort to wake up the ferrymen, but,
failing in that, he determined to be his own pilot across
the river, us he had been in the mountains. It will be
remembered by Rhenish travellers that the river here. as
well us at many
m other points, is furnished with a " fly.
ing-bridge," co posed of seven or eight boats, the first
of which is anchored in the centre of the stream, while
the others are connected with it at intervals by a chain
cable that terminates in a sort of landing- stage, similar
to those used on the Thames. The stage is floated
from side to side by the current of the river;that
was
thaEugloisfnulthae stage,n, erroneously
all he had to do to get across es to loosen
andthe
moorings
undid the fastenings. Too late, however, he disco-
vered that he could not work the rudders, and instead,
of the stage flaating over as he had anticipated, directly
jumped on board and
supposing
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 boats 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 drubbing to
the cause of all their trouble, and then locked him u
The next morning he was taken before the police 11.
-
thorities of Bonn, wee told him that he had nut only
endangered his life by his proceedings, but had rendered'
himself liable to a severe ipeaishment. Ho has, how-
ever, acted in ignorance of the law, and the offence
would, therefore, be overlooked on his making good
tue damage to the bridge. Of course the Englishman,
having nu other alternative, at once consented to this
compromise of the offence he had committed against the
Yruesian law ; and, having; handed over between 301.
and 401. to the proprietors of the bridge, ho was allowed
to resume his tour up the Rhine,