The Sun.
London, England, 1849-02-23 00:00:00

sons why the board should not abruptly bring about that
reduction. In two or three items of the general expt;n-
diture they bad reduced it 2001. or 3001. during the past
year.—(Hear.) - They must not go on too rapidly with
that reduction in the present infant state of the associa-
tion, but their desire was to use economy, combined
with prudence. He thanked them for that additional
mark of their approval, on his own behalf and of the gen-
tlemen around him.—(Cheers.)
A MEMBER begged to ask whether it was the inten-
tion of the board of management to acknowledge, by
any remuneration, the services of Mr. Mullinder, their
late secretary ?
The CHAIRMAN did not rise for the purpose of inter-
rupting the member, but only for the purpose of in-
timating to him that this meeting had nothing whatever
to do with that subject.
The MEMBER thought it right to observe that he
supported the committee at the late meeting, but be still
thought the present meeting ought to have an oppor-
tunity of knowing what the directors intended to do with
reference to Ur; Mullinder's past services. He thought
the directors ought to express an opinion whether they
intended to give him any remuneration.
. Mr. Jorius said this was not a meeting at which such
a subject could be brought forward. They would re-
member that on the occasion when such a subject could
have been entertained, he (Mr. Joues) gave a hint to
the meeting to do so if they thought proper.—(Hear,
hear.) The report showed that on &at occasion it
was in the power of that meeting, and that it was
the only meeting that could entertain that question.
As regarded Mr. Mullinder's being paid up to the time
when he left the society, the managers had taken the
advice of their solicitor, and they could only act in ac-
cordance with that advice; and when that requisition came
out insinuating misappropriation of funds, it became the
more important to have recourse to the advice of those
who were able to guide them on such a subject.—
(Cheers.) It must be a benefit meeting only at which
the subject could be entertained.
Mr. RICHARD PRICE said, in rising to propose the
last resolution of the meeting, which was that its best
thanks be given to their excellent chairman, he did so
with unmingled pleasure. He felt that it would be
highly imprudent in him to offer anything like
a tribute of praise to the chairman, for every man in
the association must esteem and love him, for they were
greatly indebted to him for the great advances which the
association had made—(Cheers)—and for his kindness
on all occasions, in promoting the interests of it. His
kindness that evening in taking the chair was only a small
part of the ohligation that the association owed him.
Whatever the honourable chairman did, he did promptly,
efficiently, and well; and he (Mr. Price) thought there
was not a man in the room who did not agree with
him in -thanking Mr. Smith for his services. Ile
(Mr. Price) hoped ha would live long to fill
the office which he then held with so much credit to him-
self and advantage to the society.

.Alr. WORCESTER wished to know whether it was the
intention of the board of management to print the
balance-sheet.

The CHAIRMAN intimated that the readiest way of
answering the question was to put it to the meeting at
once. The juestion was left open in this way, that; if
no gentleman moved any such suggestion, it was to be
interred that nobody wished the balance-sheet to be
printed.
Mr. COLEMAN thought that the regulation was corn-
p?etely settled, that the report should be printed under
the direction of the board of management, and when
the whole .question was in their hands, it was to be
hoped they would adopt a course which would best pro-
mote the interest of the association.

Mr. WORCESTER would take the liberty of proposing
that the balance-sheet should be printed.
Mr. COWAN' would second that proposition.
A MEMBER objected to the proposition on the
ground that the printing of the balance- sheet would cost
between 301. and 40/.--(0h, oh!)
A MEMBER adverted to the incident relating to a
dinner at Liverpool, as showing the importance of having
the balance-sheet printed.
Mr: J. J. Isems felt almost certain that Mr. Jones
would at once assen's to the propriety of printing the
balance•sheet. it appeared that the annual report was
already printed for distribution, and the balance-sheet
might be printed and circulated with it—(bear).
it would probably be the best course to intimate pub-
licly that the renort might be had by any one calling at
the office, including the balance-sheet.
The discussion wits ended by Mr. JONES, the chair-
mart of the board, suiting that the balance-sheet would
be printed. The balance-sheet ought to be embodied in
the report, and printed with it, in order that clerks gene-
rally might see the necessity of doing more to back up
that noble league which had been taken up by the great
commercial and banking-houses of the metropolis.—
(Loud cheers.) He felt that much good would arise
from publishing the balance-sheet with the report,
and having expressed that feeling he would si►t down
confidently awaiting a communication from the chair-
man which would render unnecessary anything like a
division at that harmonious meeting.—(Hear, hear.)
The CUAIRMAN said he would answer the observations
of the gentleman by requesting Mr. Worcester to
withdraw his motion for this reason, that he was
instructed by Mr. Jones to express the perfect readi-
ness of the board to print the report.—(Cheers.) It
was best always on any subject to ascertain the general
eiing of the meeting, and on the present occasion he
thought, and Mr. Jones agreed with him, that sufficient
feeling had been evinced to justify the board in going to
the expense of printing the accounts.—(Cheers.) He
would, therefore, ask that gentleman not to press his
motion.

Mr. WORCESTER said he would withdraw the motion
pith very great pleasure. His original impression was
that the balance-sheet would be printed, but as other
infmhers laboured under a different impression, he was
only desirous that the truth should be arrived at on the
subject.
The motion was then withdrawn.

Mr. Jeeps said, as the discussion with respect to the
accounts had terminated satisfactorily, he again rose to
second the resolution, tensering the best thanks of the
meeting to John Abel Smith, Rig., who had kindly
token the chair on that occasion. He did so with pecu-
liar pleasure and satisfaction, as it afforded him an op-
portunity of publicly stating, from the position which he
had had the honour to occupy for many years in
the establishment of their chairman, that he had at all
times taken the deepest interest in the welfare of the
association.—(Hear.) Day after day he had had occa-
sion to communicate with him upon the subject of the
association, and, he had always found him ready to
enter into the details which it was necessary for him to
Vac° before him. He had now nothing more to do
than to propose the resolution, which he did
with the greatest pleasure, and he was sure that it
would meet with the best acceptation of the meeting.
The resolution was carried with great applause.
The CHAIRMAN then rose to return thanks. He said—
Gentlemen, I need not say I am sure that I feel ex-
tremely thankful to you for the cordial sincerity
and the feelings of kindness with which you have
on this, as on all former occasions, treated me.
I have so often had occasion to trouble you with speeches
that I thought it this evening better and more respectful
to reserve the few observations which I had to make
until the close of the proceedings, and to sum up all in
a very short speech, which I promise you it shall
be. I congratulate you and myself, and I congra-
tulate my friends on the right upon the satisfaction
which one and all will and must 'feel at the
results of this evening. I will say now what I have
often expressed before, that I have always felt a pride
and satisfaction in having helped to establish this Insti-
tution.—(Cheers.) But it I have ever felt any pleasure
in contemplating the fact, I do so this evening with ten-
fold power, and for these two reasons—first of all,
because during the unfortunate year of 1847
the eminent usefulness Of this institution has
been called into practical use.—(Oheers.) It has been
called,,: to help those who want help, and it has been
liund ready and able to perform the task allotted to it.
The, second reason is this, that we have at last been
able to prove to you by a distribution of the first divi-
sion of profits of the insurance department, the real and
permanent basis of this part,. of the establishment.
I believe that on formeirdeocztobs,
when I have tried to
explain to you the w
other charitable institutions, distinction between this and
, have rerhaps failed to
explain to you fully say meaning.
those who did not understand It was difficult to
tie
nsnubjtehcet to
explain the working of the profits
surance department, but .as you now upon
b in
result that there is a profit, and that yyou re-
ceive a shard of it, you will more fully and completely
understand yourselves, and more completely be able to
explain to others, that by insuring your.lives in this de-
partment—by doing that which, it you are able to do it,
I maintain you are called upon in duty to your-
selves, and in duty to your families not to
neglect (Cheers) you are not only protecting.
yourselves, but you are protecting those who are asso-
ciated with you in one common pursuit from those un-
avoidable results of illness or accident to which all
of us are exposed.—(Cheers.) I believe that you
have peculiarly a right to congratulate yourselves upon
the state of this institution, inasmuch as in times of
distrest its benefits have been proved, and in the results
of the success of the insurance department, the future and
permanent extension of that branch of this institution is.
1 confidently believe, secure.—(Cheers.) I need not, I
am sure, ndd, one word to what has been said as to the
duty; which you all owe to those who have worked to place
this establishment in its present state of prosperity.
You ought to render them every assistance in order that
its usefulness may be extended still further. There can
be no doubt whatever that the Benevolent Fund is
smaller than it was expected to be,and,l may add,smaller
than it ought to be, in reference to the exertions of those
who have tried to forward it.—(Cheers.) I do not,
ho vever,. feel discouraged on that account. I
do
not feel the less certain that when the benefits of the
institution are more extensively known, it will be,
sooner or later, the means—and I pray and trust that I
may not ba di,appointed—of protecting many deserving
cleats from those casuelties, either in their own position
t
or in that of
employers, which it has been our
greatest desired:la
andc. object to meet.—(Cheers.) I um
irtain the,
of Baron Rothschild will
not be lost sight of by declaration
eoTatirgers of this institution.
I am still, more persuaded
of the insurance departmefonitlotwht:h-
because in the success
havee
s the means at
tirjr disposal ta obey and
grgeeesdt othri!
lessonwhich
have been thrown opt, and ill shoell we
of their past exertions if we are no: certain th'atth
are as anxious as we are to increase the number of
tthouita. is as
fast as prudence and justice will allow
It is impossible that with the •
—(Ch era.) present
business of the insurance, department, the Leiden
flew laid upon this portion m the institution can
long continue, and I know• that one of the heppiest
and most triumphant days of the board of management
will be when they relieve the Benevolent Dep dement
from any share, however small, in the expenses of the
institution. Gentlemen, I will not sit down without al-
luding for a moment ‘.to the expressioir of a gentleman
whose name I • have not the honour to know, with re