The Sun.
London, England, 1863-03-28 00:00:00

THE SEIZURE OP THE PETERHOFF.

The owners of the Peterhoff, Messrs. Bennett
and Wake, write as follows with reference to the
seizure of their ship :

" The news, per City of New York, from America,
brings us intelligence of the illegal seizure of the
British steam-snip Peterhoff by the Federal man-
of- war Vanderbilt, under orders from Admiral
Wilkes, of Trent notoriety.
" The steamship Peterhoff was recently loaded
and cleared by us from this port, for Matamoras,
and we are at present quite at a loss to account for
this most unjustifiable act, the ship having left
London with perfectly regular British and Mexican
consular clearances, and a cargo of assorted goods,
consisting of blankets, wearing apparel, &c., having
no arms or munitions of war on board. , The vessel
had been overhauled by the Alabama previous to
her arrival at St. Thomas's, and had sailed from
that port, from whence the Vanderbilt was sent in
pursuit of her.
" We have further to state that her Majesty's
mails were on board, and we have no doubt it will
be discovered that they have been treated with the"
same contempt as the ship and cargo.
" We consider this seizure only to be accounted
for by the known indifference of Admiral Wilkes
to the restrictions of international law.
" We have organised a regular line of steamers to
the Mexican ports, and at present have one par-
tially loaded with a valuable cargo of general mer-
chandise. It now becomes a matter of peat im-
portance to both owners and shippers to know
whether our trade with Mexico is to be thus arbi-
trarily arrested by Admiral Wilkes or any other
Federal commander."

Reliance Mutual Life Assurance Society.
...

ANNUAL MEETING (THIS DAY).
The ordinary annual meeting of directors and policy
holders was held this day at the offices, 71, Bing William-
street, Mansion-house. 11. T. Prinsep, Esq., in the chair.
The directors' annual report was as follows :
" The directors have the pleasure of laying before the
members the accounts of 1862, duly audited, together with a
verified statement of assets, and a summary of the actuary's
calculations, showing the net liability of the society.
They have to report that, in the past year, 387 life policies
were issued, assuring £161,125, and producing in annual
premiums £5,444 12s ; two annuities were also granted, the
consideration money for which was £1,493 15s. The re-
newal premiums received were £29,601 Ils. Bd. ; the inte-
rest on investments amounted to £5,761 12s. ed. ; and a
profit was realised upon the sale of stock, which, with
another small asset, yielded £686 19s. Bd. The total
income of the year was £42,988 lls. Id. The claims
by death were in respect of 31 lives, and the sums
assured, with bonus additions, amounted to £14,715.
There are 3,277 life policies now in force, assuring upwards
of one million sterling. By the annexed estimates it is found
that, after allowing for the full present value of the society's
liabilities, deducting only the net or risk premium in respect
thereof, a balance of £120,101 14s. has to be provi led for,
wl:ureas the assets, alter setting apart a sufficient sum to
meet outstanding claims, amount to £136,734 19s. 9d. In
respect of the recent allocation of bonus there has been an
increase of the liability of the society by at:tuitions to the
SUMS assured, and the general fund has been aimiuished by
cash payments and allowances; yet it will be seen by the•
above statement that a satisfactory amount of surplus funds
can be pointed to, irrespective of any encroachment on that
portion o t premium expectations,which is rightly reserved for
future contingencies. The directors consider that both as
regards the business of the year and the finanoial state-
ment, there is reason for congratulation, and they look for-
ward with confidence to the increased prosperity of the So-
ciety, in securing which they hope to be aided by the exer-
tions of the members."

The following is Mr. E. 0. Smith, the actuary's report :
—" Gentlemen,—After a careful examination of the regi-
sters of the society, with special reference to recent bonus
allocations, I have the pleasure to lay 'before you
detailed valuations of the policies in force ••-on the
31st of December last, shewing the following results, viz.:—
General Assurance- 2,757 policies, assuring £1,056,346;
net liability, £107,267 16s. Industrial Assurance-520
policies, assuring £8,320; net liability, £675 16s. Annuities,.
immediate and contingent-85 policies, assuring £3,669
net liability, £17,852 145.; total net liability, £125,796 6s.
Deducting from this amount £5,694 125., the value of re-
assurance with other offi Es in respect of 75 policiee for
£71,250, the balance of net liability, to be 00-
vided for out of the Society's funds, is £120,101
14s. The value of the surplus premiums now, as
heretofore, wholly excluded from our calculations of net
liability, but which will be brought to account ae realised,
is computed at £99,862 10a. This prospective fund affords
a reliable guarantee for the security of the sums assured,
and the continuation of liberal bonuses. Tho claims dur-
ing the past year agree very closely with the estimate sub-
mitted to you at the last general meeting, based upon the
experience of offices and the special tables of .the society. A
committee of the Institute of Actuaries is now engaged in
an endeavour to collect from the various Life Associations the
actual mortality to the present time among assured lives
throughout the United Kingdom. The result, if they suc-
ceed in their endeavours, will furnish a valuable test of
tables now in use, and a safe guide for future operations.
The average ages of lives assured with the society vary
but slightly from previous returns, giving 40 as the mean
age, the yearly accession of new members counterbalancing
very nearly the advance upon existing assurances. Permit
we, in conclusion, to express my lively satisfaction at the
progress and prospects of the society, and to subscribe my-
self, with much respect."

The CHAIRMAN, in moving the adopth n of the report,
congratulated the meeting en the present prosperous con-
dition of the society. The new Lusiness for the last year
had been in excess of the past 12 months, and the report
entered so fully into the formal position of the society that
he need not detain them at any length of time. The amount
Of funds belonging to the society was so large that even in the
unfortunate event of a pestilence or en enormous mortality,
the assured need have no doubt about the payment of the
amount of their policies.

The motion having been seconded, was agreed to.
The directors retiring by rotation had been re-elected.
The business terminated with a cordial vote of thanks to
the chairman and officers of the society for their exortitu
dazing the past year,

THE ROAD MURDER.—Some weeks since a state-
men was very generally circulated that another
judicial investigation of the murder at Road, in June, 1860,
was about to be made. We are informed by a correspondent,
who possesses special means of knowing, that the statement
had some foundation in fact. The u.ovement originated in
a report that c,rtain members of Mr. Rout's former house-
hold had at length revealed the secret connected with that
memorable crime. This result reached an officer who had
previously made an active investigation of the case, nd he
at once determined to test the truth of the statement, and, if
possible, to proceed with the clue which might then be
afforded. The result of these inquiries was that the officer
thought himself possessed of sufficient information to com-
mence another investieation ; but, when the proposition was
submitted to the authorities, it was decided that the grounds
on which it were based were insufficient to warrant any
effort,re-
tnheowpedroposed q
ienithueiryrpublicly or privately, and consequentlYr
was abandoned.—Bath. Chronicle.
CTI/STAL PALACE.—ONE SHILLING DAY, Friday,
March 27.—Adrait sions on payment, 804; ditto by season
tickets, 810 ; total visitors, 1,614.
THE BILL OF MR. SOMES.—We understand that
the seeond reading of this bill is to be postponed from the
15th of April till the 27th of May.