The Sun.
London, England, 1862-02-06 00:00:00

could not find words to express when he had to , THIRD EDITION.
meet, on occasions like the present, and congratu-
late them on the great prosperity of their flourish-
ing association. In conclusion, he should be happy
to hear any gentleman who might feel disposed to
address the meeting, or to answer any questions
that might be put to him. He therefore moved that
the report submitted to the meeting be received
and adopted. (Cheers.)
No gentleman having risen, the chairman was
abort to put the resolution to the meeting, when as
,per
Mr. LLOYD said he scarcely liked to let the report
)f 7
pass without making a few observations, He wished nch
to impress on his fellow clerks the advantages held .rue
out to them by the association. How readily they
/ could obtain a loan when temporarily embarrassed; RD
how they might obtain a situation by means of the was
,es i
books of the saciety, or dispose of their policies to
the greatest advantage—all these circumstances s 1)
ought to induce the clerks as a body to give their JVII
R E
deep attention to the benefits of the association.
he
This society had been the first to bring life assurance eecb
to the door of the working man. A short time ago 0„ t
this was not the ease, as all attempts to receive Mai(
premiums weekly or monthly had been thought test
ny
undesirable. This society had thought otherwise,
and its adoption had brought to them Ns orking men, si
as insurers, in the Post-office, the electric telegraph r
companies, and on the railways. (Cheers.) And if
there was no other advantage to be derived from a
policy of life insurance, be thought the feel-
ing that it made its possessor less liable
to become a burden on the poor-rates ought to in-
duce men to come forward and avail themselves of
the advantages placed within their reach, as a
duty to their families. (Cheers.) If a man insured
his life, and through misfortune was unable to keep
up his payments, in this society he did not lose his
saving, for he received a policy for the amount he
had paid in—(cheers)—and amongst the whole of
the life assurance companies of the metropolis was
there one carried out with greater rectitude than
the Provident Clerks'. He had bad the pleasure of
auditing the accounts year after year, and often
felt that he was only working at a useless task, as
in the books he always found the most scrupulous
accuracy.
The CHAIRMAN then put the adoption of the
report to the meeting, when it was carried unani-
Mously.
Mr. REYNOLDS said the resolution he had to pro-
pose required no preface ; it was as follows—" That
the thanks of the meeting be presented to the direc-
tors for their exertions during the past year."
(Cheers.) It had been usual with the resolution
annually to present those gentlemen with 800
pounds; but on the present occasion he should
move that the sum be increased to 1,000. (Hear,
hear.) The increase had been well deserved, and
the state of their income was such that they could
afford to give it. Before he resumed his seat, he
wished to impress upon all present that theirs was
a mutual association. Every one felt the benefit of
an additional policy, and he begged the young
members to think of this, as they were, he consi-
dered, the society's best agents. (Hear.) To those
the society must look, and those who had not
yet availed themselves of the advantages of the
association could best be reached by those young
men who had shown a praiseworthy forethought.
Re, therefore, urged all their young members to
become its advocate amongst their friends and fel-
low clerks.
Mr' PILCHER said he had great pleasure in se-
conding the resolution, the more so as he had tried
to increase the sum presented to the directors on
two former occasions, when it had been declined by
the board themselves,
A MEMBER observed it had been remarked that
Young men were their best agents. With that ob-
servation he agreed, but he also thought they pos-
sessed another good agent which did a vast amount
of good, he meant the beautiful little
almanack that the socitty publish annually,
and if that was presented by the members
to their lady friends,
chance of being married who of course all stood a
—(laughter)—they would
see that on their benevolent fund there were 11
widows of clerks receiving £2O per annum, 37
-widows receiving £l5 per annum, 4 clerks receiv-
ing £3O per annum, being 59 persons receiving
sums in the aggregate which amounted to £1,070
per annum. (Cheers.) He thought every one
should present an alrnanack to their friends. (Hear,
bear.) He knew a person who had insured his life
in another office, the policy for which had unfor-
tunately become a claim. It was true the widow
and five children got the £lOO, but if the insurance
had been effected in this the widow might have had
the prospect of the £l5 per annum. (Hear, hear.
ie was sure that if a young clerk
presented the
little bcok to any young lady who was about to
commence houskeeping she, above all persons, would
see
the necessity for her future partner joining the
Provident Clerks. (Laughter and cheers.) He
thought the directors were well entitled to the in-
creased_ sum proposed to be presented them.
eTh.e
n SECRETARY then put the resolution to the
etig
nts when it was carried with only two
dissentie.
.The CHAIR.DMAN, in returning thanks, said he felt
highly gratified at the congratulatory expressions
that had been uttered ; he thanked them most sin-
cerely for their kindness.
Mr. J. W. WELCH, the deputy chairman, said,
althougn labouring under severe illness, he should
tot like the present meeting to pass off without
expressing the gratification which was felt
by every gentleman on his side of the table
---where we had attained our majority
with a
strong, hearty, and sound constitution. (Cheers.)
It only required the same means that had been
used to increase the success of this institution,
'Which was one, he did not hesitate to say, which
'Possessed a hoard of directors who had its good
'entirely at heart, and also a determination to ex-
tend its usefulness in every way. There was
another very important point that must not be
overlooked, for however good directors might be,
Without
they had the aid of an efficient and ener-
tgetic secretary and staff, their efforts were very
inseh confined. He had great pleasure in bearing
the testimony to the zeal, ability, and energy of
present secretary (Mr. Linford), and the staff
se
Etviciated with him. They were all gentlemen de
Oted to the interests of the office, and each and all had
at heart the prosperity of the institution. Heibegged
to thank them for the confidence reposed in the di-
rectors, and trusted that he might be spared some
the years longer, to p.rticipate in the pleasures of
Lae annual meeting. (Cheers.)
The CHAIRMAN then put the resolution for the
reelection of the retiring directors, Messrs. Daw-
Bot n, 'Topes, and Lintott, which was carried unani-
/oasty.
Mr. JEPPS, on the part of his brother directors,
returned thanks. He said for one and twenty years
the retiring directors had always been re-elected
unanimously, and such he thought was a mark of
confidence which could not be surpassed. He felt
satisfied their institution was one which was not
surpassed by any other in the world. During the
time they had been in existence many in-
stitutions bed gone to the wall, but theirs remained
is tact. (Cheers.)
The retiring auditors, Messrs. Lloyd, Woolley,
and Took were re-elected.
Mr. WOOLLEY returned thanks.
A vote of thanks was proposed and unanimously
given to the secretary.
Mr. LINFORD, in returning thanks, said it was a
source of much pleasure, and even of some pride, to
him to see that daring the eight years he had held
the office of Secretary, the progress of the associa-
tion had been such as to gain the approval of the
Board as well as the members (Cheers.) He
reviewed briefly the difference between their posi-
tion eight years since and now. In that period the
income had increased from £17,000 to £50,000,
which he had every hope would be the figure of their
next belittle() sheet, and the assets from 1:67,000 to
£170,000, and he believed they would soon be
Dearly £200,000. He thanked the proposer
and seconder of the motion, and his kind
friend, the deputy chairman, for his handsome
allusion to his services, and he was sure Mr.
Welch would not have said so much unless he had
felt he was fairly entitled to it. (Cheers.) The
,members could have no idea of the great difficulties
11° and the board had had to contend with in bring.
ofg the blessing of life Assurance within Vie reach
the poor man, but they had succeeded, by
i dint
°J sheer hard work, and being always first p the
?:14- He believed the staff were well deserving of;
the thanks of the members, and could say, from his
°Wn knowledge of those gentlemen, that they
eNvere always ready and willing to do their best in
trverY Way for the interests of the association,
%--4aed eheers.)
Ito Mr. LLOYD said he hoped the meeting would
°W him the pleasure of passing a vote of thanks
the chairman.
c 41'• lt.EYaroLns seconded the vote, which was
arried unanimously.
aThe CHAIRMAN thanked the meeting heartily for
vgood wishes towards him, and trusted he would
e the pleasure, when he met them next year,
upon the increasing prosperity.
The proceedings then terminated.

SUN OFFICE, Seven o'clock,

NIPERIAL PA Et LAMENT

HOUSE OF LORDS—THIS DAY.
Parliament was this day opened by Royal Commission.
The Royal Speech, a copy of which will be found in
another part of The bun, was read by the Lord Chancellor.
At the conclusion of the reading of the Speech, the
house adjourn. till 5 o'clock.

The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the woolsaek.
There was a large attendance of strangers this evening.
The ladies in the galleries were attired in deep mourning.

VESTRY BILL.
This bill was read a first time, on the motion of Eari
GRANVILLE.
HER MAJESTY'S SPEECH—THE ADDRESS.
The LORD CHANCELLOR having read her Majesty's
Speech on the opening of Parliament,
Lord DUFFERIN, who wore the Windsor uniform,
rose to move that an humble address be pi esented to her
Majesty in answer to her most gracious Speech which had
just been read. He said, on rising to perform this duty,
he felt that no person had ever bad to move an address under
more painful and trying circumstances. For the first time
since the commencement of her Majesty's most auspicious
reign they met under great affliction, because a great and
mournful event had occurred, which opened up a vista of
unexampled calamity. He felt that this was not the proper
place, nor he the proper person to pass, a panegyric upon
the character of his late Royal Highness the Prince
Consort, more especially as the whole nation had
given most solemn expression to its feelings under the
affliction. Monarch., statesmen, and patriots, had passed
from amongst them, but one had latterly quitted the scene
who had endeared himself to the whole nation. Coming
amongst us a stranger and an alien, he had by his conduct
earned for himself the general esteem of the nation, and
the death of so eminent a personage tamed England into
general mourning and p-ief. He was ever found fore-
most amongst those who, by their talent and ability, ad-
vanced the glory of this country. It was not for what he had
done,but for what he was, that Prince Albert would be remem -
bered. Politically speakirig, the Prince Consort was ignored
by the constitution, yet we all know how well the Queen's
first subject had fulfilled his duty. (Hear, hear.) Until
the present generation had passed away, it would be
impossible for the people of this great and powerful
country to estimats the obligations they were under
o that good, wise, and accomplished Prince. Well had he
fulfilled the expectations that were raised of him by the
people of this country, when, 20 years ago, they confided to
his keeping the happiness of the Queen of this land. He
would not touch upon the grief such an affliction had
occasioned to her Majesty, but this he knew—that
the Queen of this land was now a stricken woman in a
desolate home. Since the time they had last met two other
celebrated men had passed from amongst them, one amem-
ber of this branch of the Legislature, and the other a mem-
ber of the House of Commons and colleague of the
late distinguished statesman, Sir R. Peel. The noble lord
whose death they all regret ed was always the steady and
true friend of the British soldier. If anything could have
deepened the gloom that had overspread this country it
would have been to become involved in war with a
nation speaking our own language, but by the most.prompt
exertions of Government this calamity has been spared us.
The utmost miscalculation had been put upon our acts by
the Northern States of America. Instead of being
jealous of her prosperity we have always looked
upon it as the most satisfactory security for our
success. The good :feeling that had existed between this
countryland America for years had lately stood in jeopardy
through the acts of a blundering captain seeking for per-
sonal notoriety. Within eight and forty hours
after it had been known that Messrs. Mason and Sliddell had
been taken from on board an English steam vessel coming
from a neutral port, a feeling arose in this country which
left no doubt as to the course the Government would pur
sue. That step had been taken, and had been suceessful.
]LEFT SPEAKING.]

HOUSE OF COMMONS.--(This EVENING.)
The house resumed at a quarter to 4 o'clock.
NEW MEMBERS.
The following members took the oaths and their seats :
—Mr. C. Turner, as third member for South Lancashire
Mr. Laird for Birkenhead ; Mr. Cox, for Finsbury; Col.
Fane, for Oxfordshire ; Mr Potter, for Carlisle; Mr Sealey,
for Lincoln ; Sir H. Bruce, for Coleraine ; Mr. Morrison,
for Plymouth ; Sir R. Clifton, for Nottingham ; Sir P.
Burrell, for New Shoreham ;. and Mr, Vernon, for East
Worcester.

SESSIONAL ORDERS.
The SPEAKER submitted the usual Sessional Orders
to the house, which were agreed to.

NEW WRIT.

On the motion of Mr. BRAND,
The SPEAKER issued his warrant for the election of a
member for the City of Lincoln, in the room of Mr.
Heneage, who had accepted the stewardship of the Chiltern
Hundreds.

LOR `) PALMERSTON.
Lord Palmerston entered the house about 20 minutes
past 4 o'clock, and was received with loud cheers from the
Ministerial benches.
THE TRENT AFFAIR AND MEXICO.
The SPEAKER laid on the table the correspondence which
had taken place in reference to these subjects.
HIGHWAYS.
Sir G. GREY gave notice that on an early day he would
move for leave to bring in a bill for the amendment of the
Highways.

THE REVISED CODE.
Mr. LOWE gave notice that he would move for the
production of the report of the Council of Education on the
subject of the Revised Code.

lELAND.
Sir R. PEEL gave notice that he would move for leave
o bring in a different bill relating to Ireland.

PAROCHIAL ASSESSMENTS,

Mr. CLIVE gave notice that he would move for leave to
bring in a bill on this subject.
THE POOR-LAW COMMITTEE.

Mr. VILLIERS gave notice that he would move for
leave to bring in a bill for the reappointment of this com-
mittee.

MARRIAGE WITH A DECEASED WIFE'S SISTER,
Mr. M. MILNES gave notice of a motion for the intro-
duction of a bill to render legal marriages of affinity.
THE QUEEN'S SPEECH.
The SPEAKER read the Queen's Speech, and that por-
tion which related to a measure for facilitating the transfer
of land was received with general applause.
Mr. W. H. PO ItTMAN, who was dressed in the uni-
form of an officer of Yeomanry, then rose to move that an
address be presented to her Majesty, in reply to the Speech
from the Throne. He alluded in very appropriate terms
to the loss which her most gracious Majesty and the coun-
try had sustained in the death of the Prince Consort. When
that illustrious individual was first introduced to
the people of this country, the most sanguine
predictions were entertained as to the advantages
that would result from his union with her Majesty, and
these predictions had been fully verified. From his posi-
tion his Royal Highness was excluded from interference in
politics ,but he dirt* ed. the exertions:ef his cultivated intel-
lect to all that could promote moral, social, and intellectual
progress generally, and the physical condition
of the humbler classes. He next adverted to
the dispute with America, and attributed the
pacific solution of the differences between the two coun-
tries to the promptitude exhibited by the Government. He
believed that to be the feeling of a large majority of the
people of this country. That difference had been attended
with two important results in developing the loyalty
of the people of Canada--(hear, hear)—to the con-
stitution under which they lived, and satisfied them
that the Government of this country was not indifferent to
the defence of Canada, one of the moat important of the
English colonies. He alluded also to the friendly tone of
the Emperor of the French, to which he consi-
dered this country was to some degree indebted
for the solution of the difference with America.
He congratulated the house on the success of the scheme
for the augmentation of our Naval Reserve, which placed
at the disposal of the nation a reliable and efficient force to
maintain her rights. He expressed a hope that an improve-
ment would take place in our future relations with China.
The measure for facilitating the sale and transfer of land
would be a great boon, not only to the possessors, but the
cultivators of land. (Hear, hear.) Having referred briefly
to other points in the royal speech, he called on the house
to agree to a special paragraph in the address expressing
the deepest condolence on the loss she had recently sus-
tained. Her Majesty had so deeply identified herself in
the domestic interests of the country that the community
s) inpathised with her, not merely as a Queen, but
as a mother and a widow. (Hear, hear.) In agree-
ing to that paragraph they would not be discharging
merely a conventional duty, but giving expression
to the general feeling which rested on the affections of an
attached and loyal people. The hon. member concludedby
reading the address, which was an embodiment of the
sentiments he had expressed.
Mr. WESTERN WOOD, in seconding the address, re-
echoed the observations of the preceding speaker rela-
tive to her Majesty's loss in very feeling and effective
terms. He felt deeply indebted to the Government for the
manner in which they had actel in reference to the dispute
with America, which had such an important influence on
the monetary interests of this country. He congratulated the
house on the stability of the public funds,which he contrasted
with the state of Government Securities in other countries.
He again referred to the course pursued in regard to the
United States, and repeated his praise for the promptitude,
efficiency, and conciliatory spirit exhibited by Government.
He next alluded to the Naval Reserve and the Volunteers,
and argued that with such defences the country might
rest satisfied iof safety and security being assured. He
went through some other points of the royal speech, and
said that in regard to estimates a liberal provision fre-
quently proved in the end a wise economy. In speaking
of the distress existing in the country, he reminded the
house that it had not allowed to the extent which it, had
done on previous occassions and that up to the present time
local assistance had been found sufficient to meet the emer-
gency which had arisen. He praised the working classes
for the patience they had shown under their sufferings,
which he ascribed to the more general diffusion of know-
ledge. He contended that the distress did not arise from a
deficiency of supply of the raw material, but from over
production, what had been the means of overstocking all
the markets of the world. The hon. member concluded by
repeating the paragraph in the Royal Address, which
prayed for the wise guidance of the deliberations of Parlia-
ment.

The SPEAKER then moved the Address.
Mr. DISRAELI, on the motion that the address be
agreed to, said that the allusion to the state of our foreign
relations was satisfactory to the house and to the country.
The course of events in North America fully justified the
approval of the policy of neutrality which he had
en on a previous occasion. The sentiments
which accompanied the reparation to this country was as
ample as that reparation itself. (Hear, hear.) With
reference to the differences in America, he said that
it was most important to consider the course they
should take in reference to the Confederate
States. He thought the house was entitled to
the production of all the papers in the possession
of the Government in reference to the blockade of the
Southern ports. (Hear, hear.) It was more important
to consider, in regard to our relations with the
Southern States whether England should be the
first country to strike at the independence which
these States claimed for themselves. He next called
the attention of the house to the paragraph in the Royal
qu
Speechconsideration relating to Mexico, which, h
ofe
the contended, also re-
house. With
respect to ;.19x•ocCO) he couteacled that it Wee far awe