The Sun.
London, England, 1849-01-16 00:00:00

TUESDAY EVENING, JANUARY

ber of deaths was to them a subject of great con-
Icern, but, owing to the care which he and his col-
leagues had taken, the lives had been below the
average.—(Cheers.) Persons foll Owing the avocation
of clerks did not live on the average so long
on other classes; for instance, a labourer, aged 20,
had a chance of living 48 years, when a clerk of the
same age had a chance of living but Mt years; but in
taking the average duration of life of persons of that
age in the town and rural districts combined, the
chance of life was 44 years.—[Mr. Smee here alluded
to the local and London averages of life, and men-
tioned certain tables to show the care they took not
to report favourably upon persons, unless in the first
state of health.] He might say that 66 persons
had been declined in the report of the
medical officers during the past
,year. It
might, perhaps, be thought that these lives were
unfairly declined.—(No, no.) And it so happened
that he had examined all the private notes of every,
ease declined since the commencement of the associ-
ation during the past year. He had no hesitation in
saying that the lives were totally unfit for life insu-
rance, or if so, only at so large a premium that this
office could not take them. They never refused any
person who could be accepted with fairness. :When
there was a probability of many dying from cholera
in this year, it was the bounden duty of many more
to assure.

Mr. RATRAY briefly returned thanks. It was most
important, as Mr. &nee had stated, that the lives should
be well chosen, otherwise the general gain to.the mem-
bers would be materially lessened. He assured them
it was his earnest wish to benefit the institution to the
best of his ability.—(Cheers.)
Dr. MULLINDER said the last year, they would
agree, was a very eventful one ; for the Press had had
to chronicle the fall of dynasties, the outbreaks of
revolutions, the rise of Chartism, the establish-
ment of republics, the labours of special constables,
and many other special circumstances ; but not the
least of its labours was the great service it had ren-
dered to that legitimate republic, the:Provident Clerks.
In his opinion, he believed the peace of this country
during the past year had been materially promoted
by the existence and extension of life assurance.—
(Hear.) The Provident Clerks were all Chartists.—
(Laughter.) He would tell them what he meant.
The Chartists contended for several points ; but those
of the Provident Clerks were as numberless as
the quills on the Porcupine's back.—(Renewed
laughter.) From the time of the appear-
ance of the paragraph in the Morning Herald, in 1840,
which led to the formation of the institution, bar-
ricades had been thrown up for the purpose of pro-
tecting the widow and the orphan against those vile
and tyrannical oppressions—poverty and want; and
the press had at all times rendered their special ser-
vice, both in London and the provinces.—(Cheers.)
The Press were the moral regenerators ofthe country,
but they could not render more essential service than
when they aided institutions such as this. The
Doctor concluded by reading the following lines
There's a good time coming, boys,
A go©d time coming,
Little children will be taught
How annuities are bought.
In the good time coming;
And begin in early life
To deposit their few pence,
Until they can their life assure,
Wait a little longer.
" There's a good time coming, boys,
A good time coming,
The people will be provident,
And will assure instead of waste,
In the good time coming.
They will abstain from all that's vain,
And make provision when in health.
The reformation has begun,
Wait a little longer.
" There's a good time coming, boys,
A good time coming,
You must aid it all you can,
Every woman, every Want
The good time coming.
Smallest helps if rightly given,
Make the impulse stronger;
'Twill be strong enough one day,
Wait a little longer.
There's a good tune, &c.
" There's a good time coming,
A good time coming,
We have lived to see the day
When Life Assurance is gaining sway
For the good time coming.
Saving banks are a helping hand,
But Life Assurance is the plan ;
We'll win the battle by its aid,
Wait a little longer.
There's a good time. &c.
" There's a good time coming, boys,
A good time coming,
When men will think how to provide
For those they live with side by aide,
In the good time coming.
Want and drear misery must
Be driven from our native land,
The impulse has been given,
Wait a little longer.
" There's a good time coming, boys,
A good time coming,
When every family shall posses
A certain and sure provision
In the good time coming.
Every child shall have a share,
And every widow free from care,
Wait a little longer.
There's a good time, &c."
He begged to move " That the best thanks of this
meeting be presented to the gentlemen of the Press
for their continued able advocacy and support daring
the past year."

Mr. el-EPPS heartily seconded the resolution.
The CHAIRMAN then put the resolution to the
meeting, and declared it to be carried unanimously.
The CHAIRMAN then stated that the business of
that meeting had concluded, unless any gentleman
bad any further observations to make.
Mr. IsEms( said that he had some further observa-
tions to make in the discharge of what he considered
an imperative duty, and that was to move a
vote of thanks to the Chairman, and Deputy
Chairman of the association.—(Cheers.) He
considered that it would be impossible to assign a
more grateful occupation, or impose a more pleasing
duty on any man than that which he had been called
upon to discharge.—(Cheers.) He was very glad
that it had devolved upon him to move instead of
seconding this resolution, because it gave him the
opportunity, as he was no longer a servant of the in-
stitution, of saying that of his late colleagues
which he could not have said had he been a member
of the board of directors.—(Cheers.) When he was
one of the directors of the institution he had witnessed
with the greatest satisfaction the assiduity and atten-
tion that had been paid to the interests of the members
of this valuable institution, both by the chairman and
the deputy-chairman.—(Cheers) Ile most cordially
concurred with the observations that had been
made by Mr. Price in seconding the nomi-
nation of the chairman, when he stated that
he had sacrificed the enjoyments of his
home and family, no small sacrifice he was cer-
tain, for the purpose of attending to the interests of
the institution.—(Cheersi.) lie was astonished at the
assiduity displayed both by the Chairman and
Deputy-Chairman, and he was satisfied that had the
institution paid them for their exertions their duties
could not be more effectively performed.—(Cheers.)
Their energies and efforts, and their visits to the
country, had spread a knowledge of the benefits of
the society throughout the provinces that
was astonishing and hardly to be credited—
(Cheers) a knowledge that he felt assured
the exertions of the chairman and deputy-chairman
would extend to every part of her Majesty's domi-
nions.—(Cheers.) Mr. Iselin, after bearing testi-
mony to the undeviating zeal of all the servants of
the institution, and their untiring desire to promote
its interests in every respect, concluded by proposing
a vote of thanks to the chairman and deputy-chair-
men, amid much cheering.
Mr. COLEMAN seconded the motion. He cordially
concurred in all that had been said by M. Iselin.
They had before them a report of the most pleasing
character, for they found, notwithstanding all the
difficulties of the times, a larger number of policies
effected, and a greater amount of insurances placed
on the book of the institution, than on any pre-
vious year.—(Great cheering.) He was most happy
to see the prosperous condition of the institution, and
he felt certain, with its present valuable and intelli-
gent officers, it would continue in its onward and
benevolesit course.—(Cheering.)
Mr. Ismast then put the motion, and declared it to
be carried unanimously amid much cheering.
The CHAIRMAN, in returning thanks, said that he
was afraid the meeting would be tired of seeing
him rise so often to return thanks, for he had been
doing nothing during the whole evening but return-
ing them.—(Laughter.) It was to him the greatest
satisfaction to see that his exertions met with the
approbation of the members of the institution. Ile
could assure them that those exertions were sincere
and honest—(Cheers)—and that they had satisfied
those with whom they were associated was the best
guarantee for their acting rightly in future.—
(Cheers.) The approval of the meeting of h is
conduct, and of those with whom he acted,
was an additional gratification to him. In conclusion,
it might not be inopportune in him to state that they
had completed in this year ten policies for 2,8001.
and one deferred annuity.—(Cheers.)
The meeting was then dissolved, and another was
held for the purpose of taking into consideration the
alteration of the 32d rule, which provided that no
person should participate in the profits unless he had
been a subscriber for five years.
The CHAIRMAN, in opening the business of this
meeting, said that it would he recollected that, at
their lust meeting suggestions had been made for the
alteration of the 32d rule, and that upon that occa.
sion it was stated that the Board would give the sug-

gestion their best attention. That attention they
had bestowed upon it ; they had conferred
with their consulting actuary, and they had come to
the resolution to alter the rule, so that those who bad
been assured for three years should participate in the
profits, instead of its being necessary for them to have
been assured for five years.—(Cheers.) Any further
it was not considered desirable that they should go at
present. If any gentleman wished to put questions to
Mr. Ratray, he would answer them. Ile bad now to
propose the following resolution—" That the words in
rule 32, As have been assured five years,' be altered
to As have been assured three years.' "
Mr. PATEMAN seconded the resolution.

Mr. GOSBELL was glad the alteration had been pro-
posed, but he could not see why they should not
adopt the course that had been pursued by the Na-
tional Provident Institution. He did not see why
those who had assured for one year should not have
the benefit of the profits.—(Cheers.) It was not
his intention to move any amendment on the reso-
lution.

Mr. WELcu said that it must be remembered that
the profits of this institution were small, compared
with those of the National Provident Institution.
When they amounted to them, the suggestion would
receive the full consideration of the Board ; and little
doubt existed in his mind but it would be adopted,
but at present he did not think it advisable to go
farther.

Mr. RATRAY thought it would be advisable not
to do more than was now proposed, for a few
years, considering that it would be bad policy to
divide to the utmost amount of profits. He hoped
that they would be enabled to do what Mr. Gosbell
recommended in the course of a few years.—(Cheers.)
Mr. COLEMAN agreed with the course proposed by
the Board of Management. He had no doubt that
many parties would now take policies that would not
do so before.—(Cheers.) As an instance that such
would be the case, he might mention a personal
friend of his, who he knew would now take out a
policy.—(Cheers.)
Tne CHAIRMAN then put the resolution, and de-
clared it to be carried, one hand only being, held up
against it._ _

Mr. J. I. SCOTT said, the resolution having been
carried with but one dissentient voice, he wished to
suggest to the directors, and their able consulting
actuaries, that it would be well to consider, before
the next meeting, the expediency of allowing all
policyholders, whether assured only one year or
more, to participate in the profits in proportion to
the length of membership and the premiums they
had paid. By doing so he was persuaded they would
,obtain a number of assurers who now held back
because several years might pass before they would
participate in the profits which they had helped to
amass.—(Hear, hear.)
Mr. RATRAY explained that it would not be politic
in the early years of a society like this to adopt Mr.
Scott's proposition, because the number of policy-
holders being small, and the sums assured equally so,
unlike offices of longer standing and greater funds,
but a trifle could come to the share of each. As the
numbers, however, increased in the future, and like-
wise the revenue and profits, he was not inclined to
say that the proposition might not be advisedly
adopted. At present it was not. The future would
alone show the practicability of carrying it out with
advantage to all.—(Hear, hear.)
Mr. SCOTT said he merely threw out the sug-
gestion for adoption in the future. The resolution
passed to-night was a step in the right direction.
The meeting then broke up.

COURT CIRCULAR.
WINDSOR, MONDAY.
The Queen walked this morning in the Slopes, ac-
companied by the Prince of Wales and the Princess
Royal.

Prince Albert went out shooting this morning, at-
tended by the Earl of Morley, Colonel the llon. A.
N. Hood, Colonel the Hon. C. B. Phipps, and Captain
the Hon. A. Gordon.

The Queen held a Privy Council at half-past two
o'clock this afternoon. It was attended by his Royal
Highness Prince Albert, the Marquis of Lansdowne,
Lord President; the Earl of Minto, Lord Privy
Seal ; Lord John Russell, First Lord of the Trea-
sury ; Sir George Grey, Secretary of State for the
Home Department ; Earl Grey, Secretary of State
for the Colonies ; Lord Campbell, Chancellor of the
Duchy of Lancaster; the Marquis of Clanricarde,
Postmaster-General; the Right Hon. H. Laboucbere,
President of the Board of Trade ; the Earl Fortescue,
Lord Steward; and the Marquis of Breadalbane,
Lord Chamberlain.

The Right Hon. Sir Francis Thornhill Baring,
Bart., had the honour of being presented to her Ma-
jesty, and kissed hands on being appointed First Lord
Commissioner of the Admiralty. The Right Hon.
Baronet took his seat at the Council Board.

The holding of a Court of Sessions at Glasgow
passed the Council. The Hon. William Bathurst was
the Clerk of the Council in Waiting. Her Majesty
gave audiences to the Marquis of Lansdowne and
Lord John Russell.
Most of the Ministers and officers of State travelled
from town to attend the Council by a special train, on
the Great Western Railway, leaving the Paddington
terminus soon after one o'clock, and arriving at the
Castle at two o'clock.

A dejeune was served in the Castle to the Noble-
men and Gentlemen assisting at the Council.
After the Privy Council Lord John Russell, the
Marquis of Lansdowne, the Earl of pinto, Sir George
Grey, Earl Grey, Sir Francis Baring, Lord Campbell,
the Marquis of Clanricarde, the Marquis of Breadal-
bane, and the lion. William Bathurst, left the Castle
for the Slough station, and returned to town by a
special train.
The Earl Fortescue and the Right Honourable
11. Labouchere also took their departure after the
Council.

Her Majesty and Prince Albert dined this evening
with her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent at her
residence, Frogmore House. Her Majesty and his
Royal Highness were attended by the Duchess of
Norfolk, the Maids of Honour in Waiting, the Earl
of Morley, Colonel the Hon. A. N. Hood, Colonel
the Hon. C. B. Phipps, Captain the Hon. A. Gordon,
and Major• General Bowles.

Dispatches were received yesterday at the Colonial
Office from the Governors of the Gold Coast and the
Gambia.

A FRIEND OF BURNS.
(From the Derbyshire Courier.)
In our obituary of last week, the name of Mr. John
Auld, of Calow, was included. IV° little thought at the
time it was sent for insertion, although it had a very
Scotch sound, that, is recording the death of John Auld,
the respect, d engraver of Calow, we were paying the last
tribute of respect to the grand-nephew of the renowned
Daddy Auld,--to the " laddie Jock," and the " chield
Auld," who, for more than two years, was daily in the
house of Burns, at Ellisland, went to school with his
children, and alternately joined them in their frolics, or
assisted Mrs. Burns (no longer "Bonnie Jean") in the
kitchen, or in " the yard."
The subject of this notice was born near Dumfries,
about the year 130-61, therefore, at least, 10 years
younger than was stated last week. Burns was a fre-
quent visitor at the house of John Auld's uncle. Some-
thing about the boy attracted his notice—be became a
great favourite with the poet, and, as already mentioned,
was a frequent inmate of Burns' house, as well as a com-
panion of his sons. When or why Mr. Auld removed
to Derbyshire is not known, but ho is remembered first as
a spirit-merchant in Chesterfield. He was well known
to be a most ingenious mechanic; and no one was sur
prised when he left the spirit trade to become saddler;
and afterwards, and entirely of late years, followed the
occupation of an engraver—the only artist in that line,
we believe, of whom Chesterfield could ever boast. Se-
veral years since he removed to the neighbouring village
of Calow, whither his work and his excellent character
followed him.

Absence from his native country, neither weakened
his attachment to " Scotland, his auld respectit mither,"
nor diminished the affection he bore to the Poet, and the
enjoyment he derived from his works. To read or to
sing them, and to lead the chorus in every " guffaw"
which followed " Cuttie Sark" or " John Barleycorn,"
was the delight of his youth, and the relaxation of his
later years. None understood better where the " pauky"
wit of Burns lay, and none could give it greater effect in
song or in tale. It is believed he had not seen Burns
after he left Scotland, but he went there at the time of
his death, and was present at his funeral. Since then he
visited Scotland at least once, and on that occasion drank
tea with his old half mistress—Mrs. Burns, the widow of
the poet, at Dumfries. At that tea-drinking, to which
he often referred, Mrs. Burns presented him with the
poet's wafer box (called a speal box in Scotland—angliee
a chip box) on which memorial, however humble and
trail, he set great value. Ile left it at his death to a
countryman, who ho knew would preserve it with equal
respect, Mr. Robert M'Burnie, of Chesterfield.
Mr. Auld was of a very respectable family, and well
connected. Two of his cousins, by the mother's side,
are understood to occupy very excellent situations in the
Universities of Edinburgh and Glasgow. Honest John
Auld !—one of the few and fast fleeting remnants of
jolly days, when " a wee drap in the ee" was the way
to get " o'er a' the ills o' life victorious !" If the bio-
graphy of that period and its literature have left us
" many warnings," they have left us many pithy sayings,
which may well induce us to "be to their faults a little
blind." The errors of poor Burns which were so severely
visited on himself, would have been atoned for to the
generation that " gave him a stone when he asked them
for bread"—had he written no other lines than those,
which he himself so much neglected, and which are
summed up in the few words which give the pith 0f so
many proverbs, that
" Cautious, prudent Self-control,
Is Wisdom's Root !"

THE CHIEF POOlt-LAW COMMISSIONEE.—At the
sitting of the Bail Court, yesterday morning, Mr. Baines,
Q C., took the usual oaths, on his appointment to the
•)t!..: of Ci,.i(•t Commissioner of the Poor law.
JUNE LP.SUEGENTS.—It appears that about
1,000 of the insurgents of June have been set at liberty.
There still remain in confinement 2,600, of whom 1,700
are, it is said, to be transported to Africa.