The Sun.
London, England, 1849-06-01 00:00:00

PROVIDENT CLERKS' BENEVO-

LENT FUND.
The election of four annuitants on the funds of
this valuable institution took place yesterday, at
twelve o'clock, at the London Tavern. Thomson
Hankey, jun., Esq., Deputy-Governor of the Bank of
England , ar d one of the trustees, occupied the chair.
The following directors were present:—Rich and H.
Jones, D.q., Chairman; John White Welch, Esq.,
Deputy. Chairman ; John Clarke, Esq., Richard
Price, Esq., Samuel Notley, Esq., Wm. J. Jordan,
Esq , Wm. S. Sawtell, Esq., Wm. Maitland, Esq ,
Samuel Jepps, E,q, James Lintott, Esq., Alexander
Dawson, Esq., John Dankaerts, Esq., Joseph Hooper,
Esq., H. Tarrant, Esq., &c.
Mr. P. H. BYRNE (the Secretary) having read the
advertisement and the resolution passed at the annual
meeting, authorising the election of four additional
annuitants'
Mr. R. H. JONES (the Chairman of the Board)
proceeded to read the initials and claims of the various
candidates. He said, in accordance with the resolu-
tion which they had heard read, they had assembled
on the present occasion, as stated in the ad-
vertisement, to give effect to that resolution.
There were but four candidates—four widows of
clerks—consequently there would he no contest.
Each case had been particularly inquired into by the
board personally wherever practicable. The initials
and claims of each of the candidates were as follows :
M. A. J. (second application), aged 53.—Her late
husband was an assurer for six years; clerk in a glass
manufactory; died after a long and painful illness;
leavin€, her with five children dependant upon her, one
afflicted with deafness. Testimonials satisfactory.
E. S. (second application), aged 39.—Her late hus-
band was a subscriber to the Benevolent Fund for seven
years; clerk in a merchant's countinghouse; died after
a lingering illness; one child dependant upon her; means
of support very limited and uncertain. Testimonials
satisfactory.
E. C. K., aged 31.—Her late husband was an assurer
for six years; clerk in a country bank; died after a
short illness; has five children dependant upon her.
Has an annuity of 201., which, with the proceeds of a
small shop, constitute her only means of support. Tes-
timonials satisfactory.
M. G., aged 62.—Her late husband was an assurer for
nearly four years; clerk to a builder; died very sud-
denly; has no children dependant upon her. No means
of support.
These were the cases which the directors had to pro-
pose for election, and, according to the rules, they
were all eligible. Before doing so, however, he
wished to make a few observations. He need hardly
tell them that this was the most gratifying
part of the duties which the members had called
upon the directors to discharge.—(Cheers.) Nothing,
he assured them, could exceed the pleasure which the
directors experienced in carrying out this and similar
objects of the association.—(Hear, hear.) In saying
so he wished his words would go abroad, in order
that they might have the effect of inducing many
who really thought lightly of the advantages offered
by the association, to come forward and support it
out of their abundance. He knew that many whose
duty it was to aid it did not do so. He alluded to
those who held high official situations—not only
clerks, but those whose duties were altogether con-
nected with them, and who in a great measure
depended upon their fidelity and exertions—to come
forward, not on their own behalf, since they might
never require aid from the funds of the
institution, but on behalf of those who stood so much
in need of it. He ought, perhaps, to say that Mr.
John Abel-Smith, who had always expressed much
pleasure at being present on these occasions, had
stated that if he could possibly do so, he
would, and had expressed the greatest pleasure
in anticipation of the event for which they had
that day assembled ; but from the nature of
his engagements he feared he should be unable to
attend. There were many pleasing circumstances
which arose out of this election. The directors
could boast, if they could boast at all, that they
had provided for every case which had hitherto
been brought before them. Although two can-
didates were unsuccessful on the last occasion,
he presumed they would be elected on the
present ; and he had no doubt that they should
next year be in a condition to elect additional
annuitants, if necessary. lam happy also to point
out that two out of the four candidates are the widows
of country members, from which I wish to infer that
on this, as on former occasions, the country members
have an equal privilege with town members.--(Cheers.)
Though they had provided for every case in the past,
they must, as a matter of course, anticipate increased
demands upon them as time rolled on. Therefore
it was incumbent upon clerks and all who felt an
interest in the welfare of clerks, to aid the institution
to the best of their ability. He would also mention
that those annuities, though they appeared small,
were most essential to those who were the recipients
of them. He went to one place himself to make

inquiries, and found the individual, who had
been in much better circumstances whilst
her husband was living, occupying in a room for
which she paid 3s. Bd. a month, and having nothing
to depend upon but her needle —(Cheers.) And in
more or less degrees the same poverty prevailed
among all those who were recipients of their bounty,
but with the details of which he would not trouble
them. It would be well, he thought, to show what it
would have cost those individuals to secure those an-
nuities in accordance with the ordinary modes. Pro-
viding permanent annuities for the fourteen annuitants
required the possession of a capital of 3,040/.
Indeed, they cost the institution this sum.
He merely mentioned tbis to show what
large figures the value of the annuities amounted
to, what a large sum had to be held back, in order
that those annuities might be reglarly paid. He
wished also to mention that the directors had con-
templated a dinner, in order to celebrate the election
of these annuitants, as they had stated in the last re-
port; but it had been deemed expedient not to have
one on the present occasion, on taking the opinions
of those by whom they always wished to be guided.
For the present, therefore, they had deferred their
intention. Although they had had a little annoyance
at the commencement of the present year, which
undoubtedly had affected, their business they were
now proceeding most satisfactorily.—(Cheers.) They
had issued 39 policies during the present month, for
7,3501., making an issue during the present year of
177 policies for 33,150/. ; 31 loans to members,
amounting to 5641., had been granted, making a total
of 284 leans for 5,7421.; and 7 annuities to distressed
members, amounting to 501.—(Cheers)---and he was
happy to say that the institution was progressing;
but he hoped that the earnest support of those to whom
he had alluded would enable the directors, when they
next met the members, to announce that it had pro-
gressed in a far greater degree than heretofore.—
(Cheers.)
The CHAIRMAN said, before I put the first case
for your consideration and adoption, I will just
take the liberty of offering one or two remarks. In
the first place, I beg to assure you that it was from
no indisposition to attend that I was not here exactly
at twelve o'clock.—(Hear, hear.) Indeed, I was not
aware until this morning that my presence here could
be of any use. I then told your chairman that I was
obliged to attend the " Weekly Account Committee"
of the Bank of England, and that until the whole of
the business was. transacted I could not leave. I
came here the momcnt the business was over—(Hear,
hear)—and in coming here I am too happy to find
that I can be of the slightest service ; indeed, I did
not think I should, as I believed Mr. John Abel
Smith would have been here, and I am sure nothing
but important business elsewhere has prevented him
from occupying the chair on the present occasion.
With respect to the particular business which we have
met to transact, I may simply observe, that our only
object is to carry out the benevolent intentions and
recommendations of the public meeting as to the
selection of additional annuitants, following, as that
meeting did, the recommendation of your executive—
of those gentlemen who have so long and so ably su-
perintended the working of your concerns.—(Cheers.)
Therefore I do not think it necessary to enter at any
length into all the benefits offered by this institution,
nor into the great service in what you are about to do
to-day must confer upon those deserving
persons who without your aid would per-
haps suffer the greatest privations. To say
that I can be otherwise than gratified at this,
taking, as I do, an interest in this institution,
in common with the merchants of the city of London
—that I am otherwise than highly gratified at presid-
ing over a meeting about to give to these de-
serving persons this really substantial relief—
to a class of individuals, let it be borne in mind,
who have such strong claims on the assistance
and concern of the commercial community—
would be to say that I had forgotten my duty as
chairman, and be denying those feelings of attach-
ment to the instution which I so warmly entertain.—
(L ord cheers.) It is one of the most gratifying
things in carrying out the objects of this institution
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and at the same time the most acceptable relief to
those in deep distress.—(Cheers.) The Hon. Gen-
tleman concluded by moving that the applicants for
annuities above referred to be elected.
The motion was carried unanimously, and by ac-
clamation.
Mr. J. W. WELcH (the Deputy-Chairman) said, be-
fore the meeting separated, he should like to draw the
attention of those present to the position of the associa-
tion, which he should premise was extremely grati-
fying on the present occasion ; but though this
was happily the case, they must not for-
get to look forward to the future. Since
the commencement of the year the benefit
department bad been progressing very satisfactorily,