The Sun.
London, England, 1853-01-19 00:00:00

LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, JANUARY 19, 1853.

LEWIS HILL RANGE (AUSTRALIAN)
GOLD and COPPER MINING COMPANY, en commanaite
lath Feb., 1852, Capital 80,0001., in Shares of il. each. without
farther liability. Offices of the London Agency, 17, Cornhill.
The Cannel of Supervision have received further advices from
the Turon, fully confirming the previous report of their Engineer
(which can be had at the office), and mentioning, in proof of the
extreme auriferous richness of the district (the Tam), that other
Companies had removed their labourers and machinery to that place.
The Council have also to announce that they are preparing to send
out a further expe.iition, well supplied with powerful inaettnerY and
every necessary ior extending the operations of the Company.

ALLSOPP'S PALE OR BITTER ALE.
THE unanimous opinion of the most eminent
scientific and medical men of the day, of Baron Lichlg,
Messrs. Graham, Hofmann, Muspratt, Watson, Budi, Marshall, Hall,
Travers, Fergusson, Rowe. Vlrian, Heygate, Leman, Arao' el, Evans,
Formby, Petrie, Macrorie, Vose, Tultiell, Hunter, Davies, Jones.
Senior, Maclaren, Macaulay. Gray, Teevan, Hill, Hay ward, II int-
son, Pepper, Inman, Sir Charles Clarke, the Sanat )ry Commissioner
of " The Lancet," &c. &c. &c. (many of them after careful analyses,
and all of them after long experience,) having been pronounced in
favour of the healthful and invigorating qualities, as welt as the
highly dietetic properties of their Pale and Bitter Ales, Messrs.
A Ilsop and ions do not feel themselves called upon to go into any
further vindication of their justly popular beverage, from the asper-
sions of malicious and interested parties; but content themselves by
ann ninciny, that they have commenced supplies from the Brewing of
this Season.
ALLSOPP'S PALE OR BITTER ALE may be obtained in Casks
of 18 Gallons and upwards, from the Brewery, Button-on-Trent ;
and from the undermentioned Branch Establishments :
LONDON, at 61, KING WILLIAM-STREET, CITE.;
LIVERPOOL, at COGS-STREET;
MANCHESTER, at DUCIE-PLACE;
DUDLEY, at BURNT-TREE;
GLASGOW, at 115, St. VINCENT-STREET ;
DIJIII.III, at ULSTER CHAMBERS, DAME-STREET;
BIRMINGHAM, at MARKET HALL;
at either of which places a list of respectable parties who supply the
in Beer Bottles (and also in Casks at the same prices as from the
Brewery), may at any time be seen.

PROVIDENT CLERICS' ASSURANCE AND
BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION.

The twelfth annual general meeting of the assurance
department of this association was held' on Monday
evening at the London Tavern, Mr. R. n. Jones, the
chairman of the board, presiding. Owing to the large
attendance, it was found necessary to adjourn the meet-
ing from one of the small rooms of the tavern to the
large ball-room.

Mr. P. H. BYRNE, the secretary, read the following
report of the directors :

" The board of management, in submitting to the mem-
bers the twelfth annual report of the association, have
much satisfaction in calling their attention to the following
details, which show its increasing prosperity :
" The number of policies issued during the past year is
429, for 81,950/. ; 7 annuities, 1491. 16s. Bd., which is an
increase of 41 policies, for 9,075/., on the business of 1851 ;
28 proposals, for 8,4501., have been declined ; 51 proposals
for 12,5501., have been deferred, withdrawn, or require
further explanation—making the total number of proposals
to the association 518, for 102,9501.

" The annual premiums payable on the policies in exist-
ence, together with the dividends and interest on the in-
Vested capital, amount to 17,150/.
" The amount of claims arising from 15 deaths during
the year is 3,225/., which is less both in number and
amount than duiing the previous year, notwithstanding
the large increase of members.
" This rate of mortality, which is considerably under the
usual average, shows the great care and skill of the medical
officers of the association.
. . _

" After payment of the clainis from deaths, a further
sum of 10,0671. 10s• has been laid out in augmentation of
the invested capital of the association, viz., 3,117/. 10s. in
the purchase of 3,0001. 31 per Cent. Stock ; 6,6001. ad-
vanced on mortgage ; and 350/. lent to members on the se-
curity of their policies of assurance—making the total
amount standing in the names of the trustees, 47,0701.,
viz., 35,5001. 31 per Cent. Stock, and 11,5701. on mortgage
and other securities.

" The balance-sheet for the past year has been duly
audited and approved by the trustees.
" The actuary of the association and Mr. Griffith Davis
are engaged in a valuation of the assets and liabilities of
the company, with a view to a distribution of the profits.
All persons assured on or before the 31st December, 1849,
on a participating scale, are entitled to share in the divi-
sion of profits. Notice ill bo given by•the board to those
interested when the actuary's report is received, which
may be expected in April next.
A deputation from the board of management attended a
public meeting at Birmingham on the 14th April last,
which was supported by the members and friends of the
association, and by some of the leading firms of that im-
portant town, and a fair increase of business has resulted
therefrom.
" During the past year the attention of Parliament has
again been directed to the present position of the laws re-
gulating friendly societies, and it was referred to a select
committee of the House of Commons to examine into and
report on the subject. Your board have devoted much
time and attention to a question which must necessarily be
of great importance to this association amongst many
others. Your chairman was examined as a witness before
the select committee. No action of the legislature has yet
taken place, but the committee has 'presented a report, and
as it had been alleged that the operations of this and four
other associations similarly enrolled had been contrary to
law, your board are happy to be able to sta:s that the
committee has reported that it does not appear to your
committee thitt these five societies have been acting con.
trary to law.
As your board have always acted under the best legal
advice ; they never entertained the least doubt of the per-
fect legality of the operations of the association but it is
satisfactory to have their belief thus confirmed by the
report of the select committee.
It is gratifying also to your board to add the following
further paragraph from the report of the select committee
of the House of Commons, viz.:--

" These five societies have beyond question conduced in
a very material degree to extent downwards in the scale of
society a knowledge of the principles of mutual assurance,
and a disposition to embrace the advantage of it.' And the
said report further states,—' To make a provision for a
wife or family out of the savings of a salary or small income-
is an object which ought unquestionably to be fostered and
encouraged. This would be checked and damped if an ad-
vantage hitherto offered should now be withheld,
" The undermentioned managers go out of office by rota-
tion, and being eligible offer themselves for re-election,
viz. :—Mr. John Clarke, Mr. Alexander Dawson, Mr.
James Lintott, Mr. John White Welch.
" The following gentlemen, duly qualified, have been pro-
posed as auditors for the year 1853, viz.:—Mr. Edward
Coleman, Mr. Sancton W0041,11r. Charles Woolley.
" In conclusion, the board of management assure the
members that they will continue to use their best endea-
vours to advance the prosperity of tho association, and they
earnestly call upon every member for his zealous co-opera-
tion, which will not only materially benefit the society,
but promote the individual interest of every assurer.
ISigned) " RD. HY. JONES,
" Chairman."

The CHAIRMAN
with very great pleasure and
upon this interesting occasion, thrilltk:,-
of the society, particularly so, becattise wo continue
in a progressive state of improvement. (Hear.) It is not
always our good fortune to present such a report as we
could wish, but I may say, judging from the applause
which followed the reading of the present one, that all are
agreed as to the satisfactory condition in which it proves
the society to be, having reference, especially, to the
many drawbacks of the past year, as alluded to by the
directors in that report. (Hear.) You will remember
that at the last meeting, the managers were strongly
urged to increase their expenditure in the way of adver-
tisements, in obtaining new premises, and, as regarded
the emoluments to the permanent establishment. Two
of those recommendations had been attended to, namely,
an augmentation of the permanent establishment, and
an increase in the expenditure for advertisements. As
to obtaining new premises, we have not been inactive,
and though not yet successful, we are now in treaty for
a house, but, of course, whether we get it or not, de-
pends on the terms offered by the parties, The report
makes allusion to the proceedings in Parliament during
the past year. It will'be recollected that we were com-
pelled to alter our rules, in accordanc,e, with the provi-
sions of a new Act of Parliament ; but scarcely had we
got those amended rules into operation, before another
attempt was made to take away the privileges which
were conceded to us. Your managers did their utmost
to frustrate the attempt of those 83 assurance offices of
long standing in the metropolis, who petitioned Parlia-
ment to abridge the privileges of the five unfortunate
young offices, of which we were one. (Hear.) Their
petition created a great stir in Parliament ; but we
were alive to their proceedings, and we used all
the means in our power, in order to place
the question before the Legislature in its true
light. In that we were most successful, for I believe
we ttlir
tthesneleccatmceomto-
lieve
altered the opinions of these gentle-
lwminigeiehtntwteeeawrsaehcponimaohiipnnadltleyetdelhiniytherto been entirely opposed to us.
(Hear.) The report presented to the House of Com-
mons by that committee will fully justify all I have men-
tioned. I consider the report extremely favourable to
us ; it is very interesting to all who are members of
such a society as ours ; it is to be obtained for the small
ratutdhe willevi wdeenlicereopfaythpe Rev. Mr. Hodg-
son,erusal. You will
sind in
ttihhse.erBCedlpeorgy Mutual, and of Mr. Lucas, the chair-
man of the National Provident, and Mr. Marsh, the Secre-
tary; and I think you will agree with me that until they
gave their testimony, the committee had scarcely an
idea of the great good which the five assurance offices
have conferred upon the country. (Cheers.) I did not
observe in looking through the report, that any one of
the 83 old offices alleged that their business had been
injured or diminished by the others ; they seem to say
rather that they have been going on increasing with us,
and, therefore, I cannot believe we have done them that
injury which they represented in their petition. The
report says, and this is to some extent the pith and mar-
row of the whole :
" Although it appears that those societies possess and
exercise privileges and exemptions for which they
can
allege specific statutes, passed for the encouragement and.
protection of friendly societies, it appears to your
com-
mittee, that as they have manifestly outgrown the parti-
cular class of objects which were in the contemplation of
Parliament when those statutes were passed, and have be-
come, in fact, life assurance offices,
they ought to be
placed upon an equal footing, in -respect of such exemp-
tions, with other assurance companies ; either by being
deprived of those privileges, or by extending them to all
alike.
" There are grave considerations which should make
Parliament hesitate before it proceeds to adopt the former
alternative.
" To make provision for a wife or family out of the sav-
ings of a salary, or wages, or small income, is an object
which ought unquestionably to be fostered and encouraged.
This would be checked and damped if an advantage
hitherto offered should now be withheld.
" But it is said, confine these exemptions to societies
which do not issue policies above 1001. or 2001. If this
were done, so far as these five societies complained of are
concerned, they would indeed lose the privilege which they
hold under the specific authority of acts of Parliament ;
but they would still continue their transactions, and would
be in the anomalous position of being constituted under
Friendly Societies Acts, but destitute of all the benefits
conferred by such acts.
" It ought also to be borne in mind, that the security-
and good management of a society depend in no small de-
gree upon the amount of their transactions, and of their
revenue ; and it is desirable, therefore, to induce the poorer
class to insure in societies in which the richer also insure ;
and these five societies have beyond question conduced in
a very material degree to extend downwards in the scale of
society a knowledge of the principle of mutual assurance,
and a disposition to embrace the advantage of it.
" The other alternative your committee incline to recom-
mend to the attention of Parliament, namely, to allow the
privilege
of exemption from stamps, and from probate
and legacy duty, to the policies of all life assurance
offices, as well as friendly societies, to the amount of
5001."

I..;zlure you ft is
hatJ—maot You

It had always been said that we were acting illegally,
but now that question is completely set at rest by the
report. (Hear.) The statute under which we were
acting was clear and explicit, and there never could have
been any real doubt that we had adopted the proper

course. I maintain that the five unfortunate companies
have- done much for the benefit of the other offices-,
because the exertions by the latter to make known the
advantages of life assurance were nothing like equal to
the exertions used on our part for the same purpose ;
therefore, we have been doing good to them as well
as ourselves, and it comes with very ill grace from such
a number of old-established offices to combine together
with the intention of depriving us of business, because,
but for this committee, we should certainly have been
limited to transactions of 1001. (Hear.) Now, I appre-
hend the Legislature will take an entirely different
course, and to my mind a very satisfactory one. At all
events, something must be done to avoid continued
interruptions to such a society as ours, by repeated
alterations of the rules—a process which is not only irk-
some but expensive. (Cheers.) The Chairman con-
cluded by moving that the report and balance-sheet be
adopted, and circulated at the discretion of the directors.
In answer to a question as to granting guarantee
policies, and the gross amount of policies,
The CHAIRMAN stated that the former subject had been
under consideration, but he could not say that at pre-
sent the society was in a condition to undertake them ;
with respect to the gross amount of policies it was about
550,0001.
The question having been put, the resolution was car-
ried
unanimously.
Mr. COLEMAN moved a vote of thanks to the board of
management for their continued attention to the duties
of their office. After the very able report, little was
required to enforce such a motion. It was quite neces-
sary that the members in London should bear testimony
at these meetings to the manner in which the business of
the office was conducted, in order that members in the
country who could not attend might know whether or
not the directors were entitled to a renewal of their con-
fidence. On a recent occasion he had an opportunity of
testing the accounts, and it was then his pleasing duty
to signify their accuracy, and to approve of the
clear, intelligent, and straightforward way in which
everything was carried on in the office. If the directors
were entitled to thanks for one thing more than another,
it was for having brought their exertions to bear on the
select committee of the House of Commons. He knew
something of the working of the Friendly Societies' Act,
and he considered that the committee had done good
service by enunciating a principle which would benefit
the large mass of the population, and must sooner or
later be put into practice. He was delighted to find
that the five unfortunate, or rather fortunate, offices had
been the means of bringing the Legislature to acknow-
ledge that life assurance was beginning to descend to
classes of society out of whose reach it had hitherto
been placed. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. HOOPER, in seconding the motion, said he repre-
sented one of the oldest of the unfortunate five offices,
and he should rejoice if the decision of Parliament were
to extend the privileges of life assurance in the way pro-
posed. The directors were well entitled to the thanks of
the meeting, because that the difficulties they had to
contend against increased rather than diminished during
the past year ; their operations had been connected with
a larger amount of business than in any former year.
(Hear, hear.)
The resolution was put by Mr. COLEMAN, and carried
by acclamation.
The CHAIRMAN acknowledged the compliment in
courteous terms.
On the motion of Mr. DURHAM, seconded by Mr.
RICHARDSON, the sum of 5001. was voted to the board
of management for their services for the past year.
The CHAIRMAN, in returning thanks, observed that
though on principle he thought it right such a sum should
be awarded to the directors, it was never an object of
consideration with them at the commencement of the
society. (Hear, hear.)
Messrs. J. Clark, A. Dawson, J. Lintott, and J. W.
Welch, the retiring directors, were unanimously re-
elected.

Mr. WELCH returned thanks on his own behalf, and
on that of his colleagues, for the honour of being re-
elected to a seat at the board, and assured the members
that no exertion should be wanting on their part to pro-
mote the interest and welfare of the institution. He had
no doubt that what had passed last year in the House of
Commons would be beneficial to life assurance gene-
rally, and, such being the case, this office would certainly
participate in the advantages that would be conferred.
Their usefulness had been acknowledged in a very en-
couraging and flattering manner by the select committee,
and it was a matter of regret that the 83 offices men-
tioned in the report, backed by the influence of a power-
ful direction, and supported by the ability and talent of
their actuaries and secretaries, should have taken such
proceedings as they did during the last year. What the
five new offices now possessed, the others had an oppor-
tunity of getting, had they been disposed to avail them-
selves of it, for the same privileges were alike open to both.
The old offices thought the business of the five new was
not worth havinr

coming proapproua
people to the Inv

ing a provision
airy to arouse from

them, and to get up apposition w -
the Provident Clerks. (Cheers.) They did not seek for
similar privileges to those enjoyed by their opponents,'
but made an attempt—and, he regretted to say, an un-
fair attempt—to stop the business of such associations
as the present, which were enrolled under the Friendly
Societies' Act, because they commenced their proceed-
ings before the select committee, by stating they wore
armed with the opinions of counsel of the first standing in
th© country that they had been acting illegally. Well,
what was the answer ? Those who passed the law under
which they were thus arraigned declared that instead of
acting illegally they had done what was strictly legal,
and, moreover, that they had been productive of much
good. (Loud cheers.) Would the 3,000 persons, who
were the test of the Provident Clerks, have insured their
lives had it not been for such an office, and for the exer-

tions of the managers in making known the principles
of life assurance among the clerks of the country ?
(Hear, hear.) It was satisfactory to find that so soon
as the agitation caused by a combination between power-
ful offices ceased, the business of this association had
been increasing ; and whether the agitation were revived
or not the society was now established on such a firm
basis, viz., the integrity of their proceedings, as acknow-
ledged by a committee of the House of Commons, that
nothing could well shake it, and they might therefore
rely that with increased exertions they would obtain an
increased amount of business. They should bear in
mind, however, that this was a mutual association ; and
all were partners, but without any liability ; and that the
more business was brought to the office the greater
benefit they would all derive. (Cheers.)
Messrs. Coleman, S. Wood, and C. Woolley, were re-
elected auditors.

A vote of thanks was then passed to Mr. Jones for
his conduct in the chair.

The CHAIRMAN expressed his grateful thanks for the
compliment so unanimously paid to him. It was true
he took a deep interest in the society, and that interest
increased as it year by year rose into greater importance.
As might be supposed, when the society originated,
various doubts possessed their minds ; but, nothing
daunted, they determMed to persevere, and while, in the
first year of their existence, their income was only 4701.,
it had now reached 18,0001. (Cheers.) That was the
result of their perseverance, their honest intentions, and
their singleness of purpose ; and he yet hoped to see the
day when the importance and usefulness of the Provi-
dent Clerks' Association would be stillfurtherrecognised.
(Cheers.)
Mr. LLOYD inquired whether the majority of the po-
licies issued during the year were taken out by clerks,
and whether any clerks who had emigrated had taken
out policies in the office ?
Mr. BYRNE, the secretary, said a great many clerks
who had emigrated had continued their policies, but not
above three or four of that body had come to effect as-
surances on their lives. The greater part of those
already assured, who had emigrated, had gone to Austra-
lia ; they continued their policies, and paid the extra
premium.
The proceedings of this meeting terminated by a vote
of 15 guineas to the auditors.

THE BENEVOLENT DEPARTMENT.
The twelfth annual meeting of the Benevolent Depart-
ment was subsequently held. Mr. Thomson Hankey,
jun., the governor of the Bank of England, occupied the
chair.

The report was as follows :
" The board of manaenient, in presenting the twelfth
annual report to the donors, subscribers, and members of
the Benevolent Fund, congratulate them on the continued
prosperity of this department of the association, and refer
to the following details of the transactions of the past year.
Received from 38 new subscribers..... 2117 1 6
-- „ 381 old „ . . ... 432 12 0
1 life „ ..... 10 10 0

9 t ~

Donations

£560 3 6
81 12 6

£641 16 0
SUBSCRIPTIONS PROM INSURERS.
1,635 at ss. Od. £4OB 15 0
2 at 10s. 6d. 1 1 0
17 at 10s. Od. 810 0
2 at 20s. Od. 2 0 0 420 6 0

,062 2 0
" Gratuities amounting to 871. 15s. have been presented
to ten members, and the orphan children of a deceased
member.

" Loans to the extent of 1,7741. have been granted to
eighty-nine members, being a decrease of 1061. from the
amount lent in 1851.
" On the 27th May last, in accordance with a resolution
of the last annual general meeting, six widows were
elected to annuities of 151. each, making, with those
already on the funds, five clerks and twenty-two widows
of clerks, at an annual charge of 4551.
"At that meeting, and the one subsequently held for
the election of annuitants, reference was made to the cases
of three widows, unsuccessful candidates, at a former elec-
tion, and disqualified from becoming candidates in future
by the alteration of the rules, after which a resolution was
passed—
" That compensation be given them at the discretion
of the board, provided it could be legally done.'
" These three widows having applied to become candi-
dates at the last election, your board, acting upon the re-
solution of the meeting, had great pleasure in ranting to each of them a sum equal to the amount of
an annuity ;
and while they haVe no power to pledge themselves or

Luougut, Lilt: IJUSIIIM3S U 1 411t1 HMV: 111,1 W Wi43
situations through the insti
rig,- but- when- they found they were be-
..,-
roxip and enNeiiig tliontion 'of the 0nu.,4742,;Le444.4,u0the
Iportanco ofirisurintii ''' 1. • - ' • , - • .„11121,3notlier,
en. Ives , !
on s, and subsectuen
for their families, they thought itneces-
a-year, another for 1001., an
From the apathy which had existed arnonm
Those were important f
et up an opposition to such societies as
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