The Sun.
London, England, 1854-04-07 00:00:00

BRITISH PROVIDENT LIFE AND FIRE
ASSURANCE COMPANY.

Yesterday the annual general meeting of the directors
tad policy holders in this society was held at the com-
pany's offices, 4, Chatham-place, Blackfriars.
Among the gentlemen present we observed E. Ward
. Jackson, Esq., the Rev. John Wood, John Britten,
Fag., James C. Brown, Esq., William Burchett, Esq.,
1 licha,rd Field, Esq., W. Fitch, Esq., Joseph Gimson,
Capt. Thomas Malkin, Edward Martin, Esq.,
J( ih n B. Muschamp, Esq., Capt. W. Robertson, Josiah
Stol :es, Esq., H. Brinsley Sheridan, Esq., A. Webber,
Esq. Thomas Wilson, Esq., W. G. Grady, Esq., M.D.,
VT. Harding, Esq., Henry Empson, Esq., and a great
zn7An y other highly influential gentlemen.
T he chair was filled by Capt. Thomas Malkin.
The advertisement announcing the meeting having
!eie read, Mr. Sheridan, the manager of the society,
t! ten read the following report
" The directors have great pleasure in meeting the
sh arettolders and policy-holders of the company at the close
of a year resulting in so much prosperity, and in being en-
abded to lah air interests. y before them a balance sheet so favourable to
t The directors feel that the need hardl
reiraii ad the shareholders of their last meeting, or the many ulties which surrounded and beset the company at
thee time, and which have subsequently seriouslyretarded
their progress—they are gratified at being now in a posi-
tion: to state, that by continued and unceasing exertion,
extel ,me caution, and care, and the very efficient assistance
real erect by the newly elected directors and officers, they
ha vs succeeded in placing the British Provident, upon the
lis t of first-class stable offices of the day. In the Life De.
ps rte nent, during the past year, 643 Proposals have been
ed, 3to the company, year,
risks do the extent of
14:7, 1351. Os. 9d. ; of these 438 have been acce ted, and
th e ,onipany's policies issued for them effectingaPss nieces
Ifo r 79,068/. Bs. 10d, upon whirh the rl income is 2, 71, Si. 9s. Id. ; lu7 the directors deemed yea
it yadvisable to
de cli ne, and
th 93 are now under considera P
tion. The com a-
ri) onwith e company's last report, therefore stands
th as :—Last meeting of the shareholders—Proposals corn-
pl eleed, 37 ; amount, 11,1601 6s. 10d. ; policies issued, 27;
ar ionnt, 7,536/.1125. 10(1.; premiums received, 158/. O. 5d ;
in come, 251/. 14s. sd. Present meeting of the share.-
h( eiders—Proposals completed, 643 ; amount, 147,835/. Os.
9( I. ; policies issued, 438 ; amount, 79,088/. Bs. 10d.
pie minims received, 1,7481. 125.10 d. ; income, 2,748/. 9s. id.;
ig an increase of 411 in the number of policies issued,
71,1 )31/. 16s. in the sum assured, 1,5901. 12s. ss. in the
preielium received, and 2,496/. 14s. Bd. in the income.
Pith reference to the Fire Department, the directors have ;
tc ) report, that considering it was not prudent for a young
o Bice to entail noon itself the heavy responsibility attend-
ii ig fire risks, they have made arrangements with a safe
a ad highly respectable office for the re-insurance of that
p ortion of their business, and that, therefore, the company
s arals under no liability in this branch, whilst, on the
101 xary, the profit derivable therefrom, is s'. per cent.
u ree i the premiums, and per cent. upon the duty.
T he directors have also to congratulate the shareholders
al id themselves upon their not having sustained a single loss
iu the life department, and only two small ones in the fire,
amo mating to the sum of 61/. ss. 4d., which were, however,
retie sured, and, consequently, no charge upon the funds of
the •company. It will be seen, by the balance sheet, that
the • directors have made great efforts, since the last meet-
ing, to diminish the risk which is attendant upon each in-
divic lual shareholder in young companies, by increasing
the proprietary body—the large sum of 47,270/. of the
ca pii 'AI of the company, after deducting cancelled and for-
fe its 1 shares, dow being subscribed for, and by gentlemen
of lo eown position and wealth, which they look upon with
much i gratification, inasmuch as it is a means of giving
co nfi,dence to the country in the safety and stability of the
ititution. The directors have to report that, within the
pa it year, they have succeeded in appointing nearly 300
act ;iv° and influential agents in the principal towns and
cit ies of the United Kingdom; and, as they consider this
the principal source of the company's business, they would
ur;,e) upon the shareholders the exercise of their influence,
on t his behalf, with their provincial relatives and friends.
Purr suantto the terms of the deed of settlement, the three fol-
lowing directors retire this year ; but, being eligible, present
then iselves for re-election, viz., William Fitch, Esq.,
.Tosis th Stokes, Esq., and Edward Martin, Esq. And, in
repot ling this, the directors feel that they have only to
draw the attention of the shareholders to the book of direc-
tors' attendance now before them to ensure their re-elec-
tip m' as it is the best proof that can be afforded of the un-
remitting zeal of those gentlemen in their behalf ; but, at
th e same time, it is the directors duty to report that, under
the s provisions of the deed, it is competent for the share-
het Iders to elect, in lieu of any one or more retiring directors
or: unditors, any gentleman duly qualified, and who has given
due notice in accordance with the provisions of such deed.
The :retiring auditors who present themselves for re-election
are Alex. Webber, and Thos.Wilson, Esqs.. The directors
feel that they cannot close their report in a more satisfac-
tory manner than by advising the shareholders they are in
a position to give notice that dividend warrants upon the
paid-up capital, after the rate of 5/. per cent. per annum,
will be issued for the past year on and after the Ist of May
ensuing.
The CHAIRMAN, on rising, said that in the month o
f
May, 1852, they held their first meeting. They were
then in a state of great anxiety and doubt. They were
among the shoals and shallows, but they had heard the
report, and that in itself was the best proof of the
success and position attained by the society. The direc-
tors owed much to the gentlemen that had been added '
to the direction. They were all men of wealth, and it
would
be a source of confidence to the smaller share-
holders, because it would be self-evident to them that
the affairs of the society would be well looked after, espe-
cially as the great shareholders would look after their
own. To Mr. John Sheridan, their talented manager,
they owed a deep debt, and he felt assured the longer he
was with them the more would they appreciate his great
abilities. He would not trespass further on the time of
the meeting, but move that the report and balance sheet
be received and adopted. (Cheers,)
Mr. Wznsza had very great pleasure in seconding
the proposition of their worthy chairman. It would be
useless to detain them with any lengthened remarks on
life assurance, yet lie would remark, en passant, that their
scope was illimitable. It was a source of great gratification
to him to perceive by the report that not one life policy
had fallen in, as also the statement of figures contained in
the balance sheet. To show the necessity of a proper
extension of life assurance, he would mention that the
late Justice Talfourd had effected a policy or assurance
on his life only within the last year for 5,000/. He need
not adduce another fact to make the people generally
estimate properly its value. Very few new offices, and
rarely any of the old ones, could present such a report
as that they had had the pleasure of hearing read that
day by their manager—it augured greatly for their future
success. With such a manager and such a direction
as they possessed, they were sure to Prosper. Of this
he was sure that no money could be better laid out than
that to effect an assurance, and sure he also was that
such an outlay would never bring repentance., (Loud
cheers.) He had very great pleasure in seconding the
motion of the chairman.

The CHAIRMAN then put the resolution, that the re-
port and balance sheet be received and, adopted, and de-
clared the motion carried unanimously.
Mr. OBRE'said it had fallen to him to move the re-
election of the retiring directors, lie performed his
duty with great satisfaction, and as ground for that
satisfaction he need only refer to the report just read.
Mr. EMPSON begged leave to second, to motion of Mr.
Obre.

The CHAIRMAN then put the resolution to the meet-
ing, and declared it carried nem dig.
Mr. JACKSON then rose to move the re-election of
the auditors, and in doing so, entered at length into th e
benefits of life assurance, the success that had attended
the transactions of the society, compared to others, and
also to the gratifying fact, that they had not had a
single claim for the past year. lie th,)ught the auditors
were deserving of their highest thanks, for the manner
in which they had gone over the multifarious accounts
of the society. (Loud cheers.)
Mr. BARNETT said it was a source of pleasure to him
to second the resolution that bad been moved by the
previous speaker. He thought they were exceedingly
fortunate to possess so talented a manager as Mr.
Sheridan. He was young, but he was sound-headed
and stout-hearted. (Loud cheers.) The speaker then
made a very pleasing allusion to the name of the society,
and resumed his seat.

The CHAIRMAN having put the motion from the chair,
declare it carried, as in the preceding case, unanimously.
Mr. WILSON, on behalf of his brother auditors, re-
turned thanks. He had intended that one of his col-
leagues should have spoken to the resolution, but so
great was the pleasure he felt that he could not resist
rising to return them thanks for the honour conferred.
Mr. J. GIMSON then moved that Mr. J. Britten, jun.,
be added to the list of auditors. (Cheers.)
Mr. MIISCHAMP begged leave to second the nomination.
The CHAIRMAN put the resolution to the meeting, and
declared it carried.
Mr. J. BRITTEN briefly returned thanks.
Mr. H. B. SHERIDAN said he had very great gratifi-
cation in complying with the request that he would move
a vote of thanks to the directors. The highest eompli-
rnent he could pay them he was sure was richly deserved.
Mr. T. WILSON seconded the proposition.
The resolution was then put by the C HAIRBIAN, and
having been carried amidst loud cheers,
Mr. BRITTEN rose, and on the part of his honourable
colleagues, begged sincerely to thank the assembly for
the honour they had conferred on the directors. It was
their constant aim and greatest endeavour, at all times,
to further the interests of their flourishing and prosper-
ous society, (Cheers.)
Mr. FITCH said the motion he had to submit to the
meeting, was one he was sure would be cordially received,
it was that the Est thanks of this meeting be given to
John Sheridan,sq., their manager, and the other offi-
cers. (Cheers.) Their funds were in the highest state
of prosperity, and everything was highly satisfactory.
The resolution was seconded by Mr. STOKES, and on
being put to the meeting, it was passed amidst the loudest
applause.
Mr. SHERIDAN said he felt deeply the honour that had
been conferred on himself and his colleagues. It was
their highest ambition that their society should stand
forth among the most successful and flourishing life as-
surance offices. (Cheers.) He could assure them that
no exertion on his part should be wanting to attain that
result. He begged once more to thank them for the
honour they had conferred. (Cheers.)
Mr. STOKES moved a vote of thanks to the medical
officers, Messrs. Grady and Harding, for the care taken
by them in the selection of lives for their policies. The
gratifying fact, that no claim had arisen during the
past year fully proved that they exercised the greatest
care in the selection of parties to effect assurances.
Mr. MARTIN seconded the vote of thanks to the medi
cal officers.

The CHAIRMAN, having put it to the meeting, declared
carried.

Mr. GRADY returned thanks for the honour done to
the medical officers.

Mr. ROBERTS said they must not forget their agents,
he therefore begged a vote of thanks to them.
The motion having been seconded by Mr. SEIVEB, was
put from the chair and carried unanimously.
Mr, i3llo7fli tilt% /119Yed a reefolution coave:iPi, the

..~..••••••
thanks of the meeting to the audi tors, and also that 10
guineas be presented to each cf them. (Cheers.)
Mr. BURCRETT had much pleasure in seconding the
r roposition of Mr. Brown.
The resolution was put to the meeting and carried
unanimously.
Mr. H. B. SHERIDAN said he iad a resolution to pro-
pose, and as it had rather a novel addition he would read
it : it was " That the best thanks of this meeting be
given to the chairman, and that he be chairman for the
/P
year ensuing.

The motion having been seconded, Mr. SHERIDAN put
it to the meeting, and declared it carried enthusiastically.
The CHAIRMAN then briefly, but effectively, returned
thanks, and the proceedings terminated.

TETE EARL OF ELGIN AND KINCARDINE,
K.T., GOVERNOR-GENERAL OF CANADA.

Few families in the peerage of this country can claim
a more illustrious descent than that of the name which
immediately recalls all the historical associations con-
nected with Bannockburn and brave Douglas, " Wallace
wight and Bruce the bold." The distinguished nobleman
who has governed Canada with such ability and success
for the met seven or eight years, is lineally descended
from the Royal Bruces who confer such lustre on the
chivalric era of Scottish history ; nor is his family with-
out honourable mention in a later period of his country's
annals. We find that Edward Bruce, of Blairhall, was
one of the commissioners appointed to witness the nup-
tials of the unfortunate Mary Stuart with the Dauphin
of France, afterwards Francis 1., in 1558 ; and that his
second son, Edward, of Kinloss, was accredited by
James VI. to the court of Queen Elizabeth, to congra-
tulate her Majesty upon the tirpely frustration of the
designs of the rash and misguided Earl of Essex against
her royal person and authority. On his return from this
mission, he was created Baron Bruce, of Kinloss, in the
county of Elgin, as the reward of his services in further-
ing the views of James upon the English crown ; and
when those services brought forth their fruit, he was
nominated of the Privy Council, and appointed Master
of the Rolls for life. Thomas, the third baron, was
created Earl of Elgin in 1683 ; and in 1747 the earldom
devolved to the Earl of Kincardine, descended from the
third son of the above-mentioned rdward Bruce, of
Blairhall. The two titles, thus united, descended to his
second son, who was the tether of the present earl, and
the nobleman so well known by his connection with the
Elgin marbles.
This accomplished nobleman filled several important
diplomatic appointments, and, while ambassador extra-
ordinary in Turkey, formed the design of collecting and
transporting to England the invaluable remains of Gre-
cian art (chiefly consisting of decorations from the Par.
thenon) now in the Brirish Musem, and known as the
Elgin marbles. It was his original intention to have
merely taken casts of these ; but, observing how rapid
was their demolition by the Mussulman soldiery, who
repaired their rude-built houses and fortresses with frag-
ments beyond all price as beyond all praise, while the
English travelling spoliators brought home fingers and
toes as relics of their acquisitive barbarism, miscalled
taste, his lordship applied to the Porte for permission to
possess them. This was with considerable difficulty ob-
tained ; for though the Ottoman Government disdained
the sculptured treasures themselves, they had all the
oriental's suspicion of the motives of strangers who
wished to transport them to such a distance as England,
and at an expense necessarily so immense. At last
about 80 cases were removed, and arrived in this coun-
try in 1812, where they met with a reception contrasting
most strangely with the regard they have since attained
in the estimation of every one. A prodigious outcry
was raised about the imputed profanity and Vandalism
of their removal by those who did not reflect that it
was the only means of preserving them. Byron, then
in the noon of his popularity, lent the support of his
satiric genius to those who regarded Lord Elgin
as a modern Alaric ; and in the " English Bards,"
the second Canto of " Childs Harold,' and more
especially in " The Curse of Minerva," lavished
every epithet of vituperation on the despoiler of the
monuments of Greek genius, the present premier, the
Earl of Aberdeen, coming in for a large share of the
noble bard's censoriousness, which, of course, was echoed
and exaggerated by hundreds who had not a particle of
the poet's philo-Attic indignation to justify the clamour,
and still less of his ability to render its manifestation en.
durable to gods, men, or the columns of a newspaper.
From this, and other causes of a like kind, and at-
tempts, somewhat too successful, made to under-rate
them y certain pseudo-savans who laid down the law
on such matters at the time, the Elgin marbles were
comparatively neglected by all but a discerning few,
who, from the first moment, appreciated what must be
their ultimate influence on the taste of a nation fortu-
nate enough to possess them. It was not until 1816,
that, a committee having been appointed to consider their
merits, and pronouncing favourably, Parliament voted
35,000/. for their purchase, which large sum, neverthe-
less, left Lord Elgin a loser to a considerable amount,
after all the mortification their neglect had caused him.
He lived long enough, however (1841), to witness the
full and enthusiastic recognition of the value of the boon
he had conferred upon his country and upon civilisation
in general ; for it is impossible to exaggerate the effect
the immortal acquisitions that bear his name have had
upon the intellect of the age. The memory of the con-
tentions connected with the marbles has been lately re-
called by the appearance of the " Autobiography of
Hayden," whose highest boast to his last hour, was that
he was among the first, as he ever continued among the
most zealous, panegyrists of those unparalleled produc-
tions, maintaining that the noble lord who brought them
here was infinitely the greatest benefactor that art had
ever known in England since the Restoration.
The present earl was born in Park-lane in 1811, and
educated at Christchurch College, Oxford, where he at-
tained the first class in classics in 1832, and subsequently
became a fellow of Merton College. In 1841 he mar-
ried Elizabeth Mary, only child of L. C. Bruce, Esq.,
of Roseisle, Stirlingshire ; and in the course of the same
year was elected to represent Southampton in Parlia-
ment. He very soon gave evidence of a degree of ability
which won for him the confidence of the then existing
cabinet. In November of the same year his father died,
upon which he succeeded to the family honours ; and in
March, 1842, he was appointed to the governorship of
Jamaica, which he held for four years, conducting the
affairs of the island during a period of unusual difficulty
with equal satisfaction to the planters and to the Go-
vernment at home. In August, 1846, he resigned the
government of Jamaica, and in the following month
was appointed Governor-General of Canada, with a
salary of 7,0001. per annum. The manner in which he
set himself to administer the affairs of the• colony
speedily acquired for him the esteem and confidence of
all classes of Canadians. Since then Canada has rapidly
recovered from the effects of party antagonism, and
steadily progressed towards the high degree of pros-
perity which she at present enjoys. The zeal and ability
which Lord Elgin has displayed in promoting every
measure calculated to benefit the people cannot be too
highly commended, while his moderation and impar-
tiality have won for him the respect and admiration of
all parties, whether in the colony, the mother country,
or the neighbouring republic of the United States.
In the company assembled on Thursday night, en un-
precedented aggregate of diverse colonial opinion, or at
least what once was such, found in Lord Elgin a com-
mon focus of unison. Every gradation of sentiment on
such subjects was fully represented, from the practice
of high-handed executive, symbolised in Sir F. B. Head,
to the theory of responsibility to the commonalty, em-
bodied in the patriarchal father of the House of Cdm-
mons the member for Montrose. Probably in this
blending of extremes the juste milieu principle never
received so remarkable a tribute, and, it is needless to
add, that it has seldom been so deserved. The two
parties into which the colony, like the mother country
at the same period. was divided, rendered Lord Elgin's
commencement in Canada a position of much difficulty ;
but he addressed himself with so much firmness, pru-
dence, and consistency to the redress of real grievances
and the resolute discountenance of unreal ones, that
confidence speedily supervened upon mutual distrust
and provocation. The colonists of all classes, like the
assemblage at Thursday's dinner, recognising in the man
a knowledge of what was right and a determination to
Ipursue it, invested him with a moral support which en-
-1 Wed him to effect a large amount of good considering
the condition of the province preceding, and for some
while after his accession to office. Not that his rule
was unaccompanied by any disturbing, or even alarming
incidents. On the contrary, there were many such,
calculated in the highest degree to test the promptitude
and sagacity of a statesman ; and Lord Elgin's fertility
of resource was found equal to every emergency. For
instance, it has occurred to few viceroys to be publicly
assaulted in their capital by the party expressing
extreme loyalty, their Parliament expelled by a
mob, and the Senate House set on fire. Such,
however it will be recollected, was the case at Montreal
about this time five years. Happily, not only is the
recurrence of such scenes an impossibility at the present
day • but the feelings in which these excesses arose, and
which were resented with corresponding acrimony on the
other side, have passed away ; and making moderate
allowance for the diversity of opinion that must always
exist where there is freedom of discussion and a free
press to give it unrestricted publicity, there cannot be ,
a more united, as there is certainly not a more loyal,
community than that which owns allegiance to Queen ;
Victoria in her provinces of Canada, and of North
America generally. The degree in which this result is
attributable to the Earl of Elgin it would not be easy to
exaggerate ; but significant proof of its extent will be
found in the circumstance, that though the noble lordu
bad already been governor-general longer thanany
late
one
of his predecessors, with a single exception (the
1 of India),
*
Lord Dalhousie, father of the Governor-Gene
the Canadians rejoice in his return far more
be
iathan in
the appointment
whohe ,
is
sll couldesp
eeyso
nomi-
nated.
Novelty, o f any individual
charming
herm
ing er everywhere,
in a colony ; and in a peculiar degree as affecting the
personnel of the administrative machinefor it implies,
if not exactly variety of system, at least ,
change of face,
and the consequent piquant ceremonial, fetes, and for-
malities, which suoh change occasions. The Canadians
are as partial to these stimulants as any people in the
world ; but they are quite willing to forego such plea-
sure for the sake of retaining their present governor as
long as he can make it agreeable to remain amongst
them, which, for their sake at least, it is to be hoped,
he will long continue to do, though doubtless ho is
destined, in the course of events, for still higher duties.

The General Commanding-in• Chief, Viscount Har
dinge, gave a sumptuous banquet last evening, in Great
Stanhope-street, to General Lord Raglan, Commander.
in-Chief of the expeditionary army to the East.
The Marquis and Marchioness of Londonderry, who
have arrived in town from Ireland, and have been stay-
ing at the St. George's Hotel, take pormasloll of their
mansion, ChethAm-plpace, uort month.