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

LES MERVEILLES GYMNASTIQUES.

Under this title, two French youths, named Henri and
Pfau, aged nine and eleven years, have for three hundred
consecutive nights been electrifying the audiences of the
Cirque Napoleon, Paris, with some astonishing feats on the
" flying trapeze ;" and the management of the Oxford
Music•hall announces their first appearance in this country
at the above hall, on Monday, the 17th inst. The French
press speaks in the most eulogistic terms of their perform-
ances—a double somersault from the trapeze, constituting
an item in the evolutions. It is wisely intended that this
performance shall in no way interfere with the operatic
selections or the rest of the musical entertainment, and
it will, therefore, not take place before 11 o'clock each
evening. The purely musical amateur and the lovers of the
more exciting entertainment will find their tastes consulted
by this entertainment.
Pending the arrival of these young people, we may add
a word about the general performances at the Oxford. There
cannot be a second opinion as to the great merits of the
operatic selections. Their execution, by principals and
chorus, is unexceptionable, both in the rendering of the
solos and in the general sustainment of the spirit and in-
tention of the composition. The continuous habit of sing-
ing together, of course, contributes to this very satisfactory
result. Miss Russell remains the queen of song here,
and on the night we last heard a selection, Signor Tivoli
made himself conspicuous by the refined taste and expres-
sion of his singing in the " Traviata" selection. The band,
under the direction of Mr. Jolly, gives the necessary frame-
work to the selections, and the whole of the musical
arrangements add fresh lustre to Mr. Jonghmans, the con-
ductor. Mr. Viotti Collins (a clever member of a clever
family) plays some captivating solos on the violin each
evening, in which he exhibits a complete mastery over the
mechanical difficulties of the most difficult of instruments.
The weight of the comic business seems at this moment to
fall principally on Mr. W. Randall and Mr. Sam Collins.
The former, in an imitation of Robson, in the " Porter's
Knot," develops powers as an actor, which could not fail
to earn him a first .rate position as a comedian. His sud-
den transitions from the grave to the ludicrous—his fan-
tastic blending of the most incongruous emotions, are
worthy the original, and mark Mr. Randall for increased
and deserved popularity. Mr. Sam Collins, the Irish
" gentleman in potatoe skins," is overflowing with that
humour which can only be imported from the Emerald Isle,
and to which John Bull is a willing captive. Mr. M. P.
Foster has also added a new set of " Life Sketches" to his
living portfolio, and represents some characters "at the
play" with wonderful point and accuracy. The admirers
of Mrs. German Reed—and where are they not ?—will find
some of that lady's famous little character songs agreeably
paraphrased by Miss Harriet Coveney.

THE GREAT NORTHERN RAILWAY.--The directors
of this company, yesterday, determined to recommend to the
proprietors at the general meeting on the 22nd instant, to
declare a dividend for the half-year to the 31st December
last, at the rate of £7 15s. per cent per annum on the
original stock of the company, giving for the half.year
£3 17s. 6d. per cent. to the original stock; £3 per cent, to
the "B" stock, and £4 15s. per cent, to the "A" stock.
These rates will make the dividend for the whole year 1861,
as follows, viz.:—£s 15s. per cent. on the original stock,
£6 per cent. on the "B " stock, and £5 10s. per cent. on
the "A" stock.

PARAFFIN CANDLES.—The white candles made
of this extraordinary material leave all other substances far
behind, and the analysis of Dr. Lotheby claims fur it ad-
vantages ever sperm, stearine, and even wax, of the
weightiest consideration to the consumer. Coloured candles
are likewise made of paraffin, of the most lovely tints,
and these burn just as well as the white, the brilliant tran-
sparency oi the paraffin causing only an infinitesimal quan-
tity of the colouring matter to bo employed. The lemon,
the pale pink, the puce, and the mauve coloured candle,
appear to us to be singularly adapted to the illumination of
drawing rooms and boudoirs. It may be of interest to re-
mark that the mauve is obtained by the use of " Perkins'
Purple," which itself is indebted for its existence to the Ben-
gole, derived from the same materials as the solid paraffin
which here, after purification, meets again in the material,
body.—The Messrs. Fields, of Lambeth, are the patentees,

PROVIDENT CLERKN' 21IUTUAL LIFE
ASSURANCE ASSOCIATION.

ANNUAL MEETING.

The 21st annual meeting of the members of this
Association took place last evening at the London
Tavern. R. H. Jones, Esq., chairman of the board
of directors, presided.

The SECRETARY (Mr, Linford) having read the
advertisement convening the meeting, proceeded to
read the directors' annual report as follows :
In presenting to the members their 21st annual report, the
board have to renew their congratulations on the marked
prosperity which attends the progress of tho association.
The new assurances effected during the last 12 months corn -
prise 797 policies for £175,470, in addition to which, 82
policies for £17,650 have been declined or deferred, or are
now awaiting completion, making a total of 879 proposals
for £193,120 received during the year. The new annual
income arising from the completed assurances is £6,008 15s
6d, being the largest amount obtained in any one year
since the commencement of the association. The total in-
come for 1861 is £45,657 5s 4d, and after payment of all
claims and expenses the amount added to the fund of the
association is £23,686. The assets of the association wholly
invested in Government and real securities, amounted on
the 31st Dec. to £169,686 lls 10d. The claims by death
continue moderate ; 63 policies, assuring with bonuses the
sum of £14,463 14s 6d, have fallen in during the past year;
of this sum, however, £3,000 was covered by re-assurances,
making the actual amount to be written off £11,463 14s 6d.
The total sum thus paid since the commencement of the
association to the representatives of deceased members is
£98,613 15s 2d. The amount of good effected by payment
of this sum will be readily appreciated by those who know
how frequently a life policy is the only possible form of pro-
vision for a widow and family. The board feel that in tho
face of such figures as they are able to lay before the mem-
bers, comment is scarcely needed. The following return,
however, of the three septennial periods now accomplished
by the institution will be interesting, as affording conclu-
sive evidence of its progress :
Seven years No. of Amount Annual Accumulated
ending Policies. Assured. Income. Fund.
Dec. 31, 1847.. 1,369 £240,269 £6,551 £11,643
)9 1854 .. 3,218 630,495 21,567 63,557
1561..5,008 905,109 45,657 169,686
The total assurances in force on the 31st December last
were 6,975 policies for £1,342,350. The following directors,
in accordance with rule 10, retire by rotation, but being
eligible, offer themselves for re-election :—Mr. Alexander
Dawson, Mr. Samuel Jepps, and Mr. James Lintott. The
following gentlemen, duly qualified, have been proposed
as auditors for the ensuing year :—Mr. James Richard
Lloyd, Mr. Francis Frederick Toole, and Mr. Charles
Woolley.

The CHAIRMAN said such was the report for the
past year, and he felt certain that there was no one
amongst them that evening but would agree with
him that it was a matter of mutual congratulation.
The document being so satisfactory he had but 6
little to say ; but still he thought it was expected
that he should say something, and he would begirt:
by saying that he felt great gratification in meeting
the members of this association on this interesting
occasion, namely, the completion of their 21st year.
(Hear, hear.) The success of the past year had not
been attained without considerable exertions on the
part of the directors. They had attended no Jess
than twenty meetings in all parts of the country,
all of which had been attended with the most satis-
factory results. (Cheers.) As soon as the directors
of the association found means of access to any par-
ticular place or class they instantly availed them-
selves of the opportunity by taking advantage of
the circumstance, indeed, they wore compelled to
do so, in order to meet the competition which now
existed for life assurance. (Hear, hear.) On one.
occasion he recollected they experienced the greatest
difficulty in getting a meeting arranged, and after
some of the difficulties had been surmounted, the
directors had to travel eighty miles to attend
it. They undertook the journey, expecting to
meet about 20 persons, but on arriving at their
destination they were most happily disappointed
in their expectation, for on the opening of their
proceedings they had at least 250 persons present.
(Cheers.) The speeches were listened to with the

greatest attention, a number of their forms were

filled up at the termination of the proceedings,
and about 50 proposals emanated from that meet-
ing. (Cheers.) He mentioned this circumstance
only to show that the competition to which he had
previously Preferred required the greatest exer-
tions on the part of the directors to meet it. With.

respect to the balance sheet it was a great plea—
sure to see that the renewals of premiums had

been paid up so well during the past year. (Hear,
hear.) It was also gratifying that they reached.
the large amount of £6,000 for new premiums
during the past year. The previous year had
been one of great success, but they exceeded it by
£5OO in the year just terminated. The invest-
ments which were of a very secure character,
brought in an interest of 41 per cent., which was
a good return on the money of the association.
Ihe claims on them were moderate, and it was
satisfactory that they could now take large amounts
and reassure them. It was also a matter of con-
gratulation that they were now in a position to
take assurances for large amounts, and in cases
where that was done, the plan was not to keep all
to themselves, but to re-assure some portion of it
with other societies of good and sound standing.
(Cheers.) The general charges for the year scarcely
exceeded those of the last year, and that was owing
to the additional business that had been secured.
(Hear.) There was one item, the donation given to
the poor during the great distress which prevailed
last winter, and the directors gave the sum feeling
satisfied it would meet with the hearty approval of
all the members of the association. (Hear, hear.)
There was the loss of £5O by the failure of an
agent; but taking into account the enormous
amount received by the society, he did not think
the loss of so small a sum was a matter of very
great regret. The directors had had a guarantee
on the agent, the amount of N$ hich had been re-
ceived, and when it came to the knowledge of the
board that the agent in question had received money
which he ought not to have done, the directors
wrote for the money, and the result was the failure
3f the party concerned. There was also a little
addition to the salary account. (Hear, hear.) The
house in Moorgate-street had happily been got rid
of—(hear, hear)—and, in accordance with the
wishes of the members, the directors had altogether
ceased to charge anything to the benevolent fund.
(Cheers.) To induce the great body of the mew-
hers to take part with the directors in the great
success of the society, they had sent each
member a New Year's gift. (Laughter.) They
had sent out no less than 7,000 circulars to

their members, each of which was occupied.
by a form of proposal which it was wished swat
member would get filled up, and return to the
directors previous to the present meeting. tHear,
hear, and laughter.) Some had not done so much
as was asked—(laughter)—but enough had been
done to compensate for the labour—(cheers)—.of
sending out the circulars, as no less than 80
proposals, insuring a sum of £15,000 had been
returned. (Cheers.) That certainly was an en-
couragement to the members, and he felt he
should have most severely to reprove those mem-
bers, in the event of the experiment being re-
peated, who did not make a satisfactory return
after his present caution. (Laughter, and hear,
hear.) The members ought not in fairness leave
all exertion to the direetors, and if one of them
found a difficulty in obtaining an other new assurer
they would have some noti on of the extreme
amount of exertion required by the directors to
lay before them such a satisfactory state of affairs
as they had done that evening. The present year
had begun most prosrerously, as they had up to
the present time completed 174 policies for £41,150.
(Hear, hear.) He felt extreme gratification in
meeting them, to show such a good result, and it
was most certainly n o trifling circumstance to
have provided so large a sum as that of which they
were possessed to meet the wants of their fellow
creatures. He looked upon such a fact not as a ques-
tion of pounds, shillings and pence, but as a means of
extending their sphere of usefulness. (Hear, hear.)
It was a great satisfaction to find that the public
reposed the greatest confidence in their association,
and this he felt was entirely owing to their
straightforward and honest conduct, as publicity
was given to everything that was done ; and that
circumstance was, no doubt, the inducement that
led other societies of long standing and respecta-
bility to come forward and offer to us some of their
business in exchange for that :of ours. (Cheers.)
When we began we had no great names amongst
us ; we had nothing but honest anti pure motives
to do good, and it was a satisfaction which he