The Sun.
London, England, 1853-10-21 00:00:00

THE MUTUAL LIFE ASSURANCE SOCIETY.

An extraordinary general meeting of this company
was held yesterday at the London Tavern, Mr. James
Whiskin in the chair to elect three directors, in the
room of Messrs Charles Coles, jun., Richard Morris, and
Folliot S. Stokes, two of whom were deceased, and one
had become disqualified in consequence of not having
attended a sufficient number of times.

The CHAIRMAN, in opening the proceedings, expressed
his regret at the loss which the board had sustained, as
the gentlemen in question were highly valued members
of it, and were much respected. Mr. Coles, jun., was
the gentleman who was disqualified in consequence of
non-attendance.
After a short conversation as to the course to be pur-
sued, the Chairman suggested that the gentlemen who
had friends to propose should do so seriatim, and that a
show of hands should take place for each candidate suc-
cessively.
Mr. V. KNIGHT proposed Mr. James Burchall, who
he said was one of the founders of the company, and
till lately a director.

Mr. CLAYTON seconded the nomination.
On a show of hands, it was declared that the number
in favour of Mr. Burchall was 56.

Mr. DELANE proposed Mr. Thomas Dakin, with whom,
he said, he had been associated in business, and whom
he had always found ready to devote with zeal and
energy his best talents and attention to the interests
confided to his care.

Sir J. KEY, in seconding the nomination, expressed
the gratification he felt at finding that so many respect-
able gentlemen were ready to offer themselves as di-
rectors of the company. He (Sir J. Key) had no other
desire than to promote the interests of the company, and
he supported the nomination of the gentleman in ques-
tion because ho knew he was of strict business habits,
and that they might confide in his zeal and integrity.
The number in favour of Mr. Dakin, on the show of
hands, was 60.

Mr. J. G. REYNALL, in proposing Mr. Edward S.
Halswell said that gentleman was one of the founders of
the institution, and had continued in the direction till
1841, when her Majesty's Government appointed him to
an important and onerous mission abroad. He had al-
ways performed his duties satisfactorily, and for the
benefit of the society, and thus had peculiar claims on
the attention of the shareholders.

Mr. W. PRITCHARD, the high bailiff of Southwark,
who seconded the nomination, said that Mr. Halswell
stood on the ground of old services. Gratitude had
been defined as a lively sense of favours to come, but
be trusted that they would support Mr. Halswell on
the good old-fashioned ground of his services for the
past. The number declared for Mr. Halswell was 36.
Mr. C. HILL nominated Mr. Edward Ileseltine, who,
he said, had had long practice in the business of life
assurance, and would, in his opinion, bo a valuable ac-
cession to the board.

Mr. SEARLE seconded the proposal, and, on the show
of hands, the number for Mr. Heseltine was declared to
be 15.

Mr. S. W. RowsELL proposed Mr. Francis Lyons
Price, as a gentleman of business habits and extensive
connexions, who by his experience would be able to
render great service to the company.
Mr. JENKIN JONES seconded the proposal. The num-
ber for this gentleman was declared to be 67. (Cheers.)
Two other gentlemen, Mr. J. W. Deacon and Mr. R.
Ronald, had been announced as candidates, but they
were not proposed.
A poll having been demanded on the part of the two
gentlemen for whom the smallest number of hands had
been held up, and the demand having been signed by
ton shareholders, as the aet of Parliament required
The CHAIRMAN declared that the poll would be opened
that day fortnight, at the same place, at 12 o'clock, and
close at 4.

With this announcement th• proceedings terminated.

BURNING OF A LEITH VESSEL.—The barque Douglas,
Captain Mellon, which sailed from Leith to Quebec,
with goods and passengers, was totally destroyed by fire
on the 11th ult. It seems that on that day the captain
discovered that the coals were on fire. An attempt was
made to extinguish the fire by water, but it was fruit-
less, and in this state the captain rounded the ship for
Newfoundland. About midnight, a few things belong-
ing to the crew and passengers were got on deck ; the
boats were made ready for putting out ; and at six in
the morning of the 12th the land was made. At noon
the boats were got out. The captain hailed a small
schooner under the land, which went into Burgeo, and
sent out a pilot, who ran the ship into harbour. By
ten o'clock the ship was entirely deserted by the crew
and passengers, who were landed without mishap, and
in half an hour's time she burst into flames. She was
burnt to the water's edge before morning, having- been-
entirely consumed in 30 hours from the time of the dis-
covery of the fire. It was a very fortunate' circumstance
that the land was made so soon, for there were only two
boats to take to, the skiff being stove while being got
out, owing to a heavy lurch of the ship. The passen-
gers have been forwarded to Quebec in safety.
AMUSICAL SHAVING MACHlNE.—Machinery has cer-
tainly reached an extraordinary degree of perfection
when it can perform the operation of shaving, and at
the same time charm the ear with some soothing musical
air ! The Durham, Advertiser says that Mr. William
Johnson, of North Shields, joiner, has invented a
shaving machine. This machine is of singular construc-
tion, and contains every qualification necessary for the
process. In appearance it is not unlike an old-fashioned
arm-chair. But the most unique feature in the whole
affair is the arrangement of the razor blades, which are
fixed longitudinally on cylinders, from three to six
inches in length, four on each cylinder, at an angle of
sixty degrees, with fine camel-hair brushes between ;
for you are lathered and shaved at one and the same
time, the lather being slipped from the interior of the cy-
linders, which are holow. The machine is put in mo-
tion by the weight of the patient, the seat gradually
giving way beneath, and sinking with him till he reach
the ground, when the operation is completed. The seat,
rising immediately it is released from his weight, is
ready to commence again without preparation. A um-
sical-box, of Mr. Johnson's construction, and capable of
performing a great variety of airs, is appended to the
machine, and can be7atta,ched or detached according to
the pleasure of the individual undergoing the operation,
so that you may be shaved to any tune you please ! Ex-
periments it is said have been tried, and found satisfi tc-
tory. We shall next expect to hear of an improved
machine for completing the whole operation of dressing,
viz., shaving, washing, brushing the hair, and putting
on the clothes.
THE CASE OF MISS CUNNINGHAME. —Letters from
Grandnrgabc
positivelyea grace,
ae
ps, aus thkeLe refusedus acdad, s oht givennoe
hMondayeaadvaebnete
Florence of the 15th say that when it was notified to
anthatMe i es
aas
act
theete ilosnhf nethe
nmre emrrnpi rnforgs prisono last,l(t,
e:ednr
a month without even being lb rought to trial, and her
advocate had told her that no verdict could he ob-
tained against her, as she had not transgressed th e
law, and therefore she would not go out until site
had seen him. In the evening it was announced to
her very civilly that go she must. She still refused,
and then she was told that if she did not go freel y
she would be carried out by force, upon which she
replied, " Give me that in writing, and I will go. "
They did so, and accordingly out she went. Report
says the tracts for the distribution of which she wa s
imprisoned x
were not of a character to implicate lif
in any attempts to proselytize, or even bring th .e
Roman Catholic religion into contempt ; and, moreovelr,
that an ecclesiastical council had examined them at Lucca
and could find no evidence in them against her. Ihe ar
also that her advocate told her she could make no resist-
ance to the Royal will, and must accept her release ; but
that he was sorry for it, as he felt that he had a good
case. It is difficult now to arrive at the whole trut
which will most likely be made public when Parliament
meets.
COSTUME.—Dr. Nott speaks in his " Notes on the
Odes of Hafiz," of the ref might, or that kind of hoist er
which the Persian ladies fix to the under garment, and
which was to produce a certain roundness, which they
thought becoming." Thus, it appears, that " busselsr'
are of Persian origin. The worthy editor will kindly
consider this a note artistical.—Correspondent of TRc
Builder.