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

the institution; she might have been altogetherunable
to obtain her own livelihood. Therefore I think it
should be said, in answer to those who state that in-
stitutions of this kind discourage provident habits,
because they do not enable a person who subscribes
a guinea a year to calculate with absolute certainty
that he shall receive the benefit in some shape or
other, that he has the consolation of knowing that it is
applied to the relief of those of his own class, perhaps
those with whom he has been in the habit of
meeting in daily intercourse, and that, if by any of
those accidents which attend all human affairs, he
should himself be reduced to poverty, he will obtain
aid from the funds which he had assisted to create.
To entertain such a view was a mistaken notion of
their own interests, because cam s constantly occurred
where relief could not have been afforded by any pos-
sibility by the excellent provisions of a life assurance
offico.—(Cheers.) I trust, therefore, that this feeling
will give place to one of a more generous and cha-
ritable nature, and that the association will con-
tinue to be supported by all who have the means
of assisting it. I beg to return my sincere thanks
for the honour you have conferred upon me, and I
assure you I shall be too happy if at any time I can
be of any service to the institution.—(Loud cheers.)
The meeting then separated.

EASTERN COUNTIES RAILWAY.
The adjourned meeting of this company was held yes-
terday at the London Tavern, fur the purpose of a fur-
ther adjournment, in order to allow the committee
sufficient time to make their report. Mr. Meek, in the
absence of the directors, was called to the chair.
Mr. RONEY, the secretary, read the advertisement con-
vening the meeting, which stated that no other business
than the adjournment would be submitted.
The CHAIRMAN explained that the committee of in-
quiry had found it to be a more difficult matter than
they contemplated to select thirty gentlemen from the
list of proprietors according to the classification agreed
to at the last meeting, and it was only two days ago
that they had succeeded in completing the number.
mtheendcinogmemigi thteteneawppdoiirneteetdorefofror
Ththee pmuernpeogseemoe
Mr. ELLis moved a resolution to the effect that, as
fntroefcotmhe-
company were not prepared with their report, this
oaid,he
Mr.c e
Box
report.
nxgs such
meeting do adjourn to the 15th of June, for the purpose
of re
understood that the committee were
to recommend 12 fit and proper persons to the proprie-
tors, instead of 8, and that the proprietors at the meeting
were to select the eight new directors from that number.
The CHAIRMAN said that Mr. Box must have misun-
derstood the resolution passed at the last meeting. 38
proprietors were to form the committee for selecting the
new directors, 25 to be a quorum, no selection to be made
by a smaller number, although 12 members were to be
deemed sufficient for the ordinary arrangements of the
committee. The committee had only the power to select
and recommend 8 gentlemen to the adjourned meeting,
at which the proprietors were not only at liberty to ap-
prove of them or not, just as they thought proper, but
they had also the power of proposing and electing other
gentlemen instead of those selected by the committee.
He for one would propose other gentlemen if those se-
lected by the committee did not possess the qualifications
which he thought essential for the efficient management
of the undertaking.
Mr. LOWE wished the new directors were elected. He
wanted to know who managed their affairs at present.
Mr. Enus said the directors had the management.
The CHAIRMAN, in reply to a question, stated that
the shareholders had no legal power to elect the eight
new directors. That pot er rested with the present di-
rectors, who had promised to elect the new directors in
their places when required to do so. He then described
the only mode by which they could elect them
,legally.
There were at present five vacancies at the board. These
would be filled up by five new directors. The number of
directors would then be 18, and it was proposed to reduce
that number to 12. The present board consisted of seven
Eastern Counties and six Northern and Eastern direc-
tors ; two of the latter would retire, together with all of
the former -directors of the Eastern Counties, leaving
four Northern and Eastern, and five new directors of the
Eastern Counties at the board, who would then fill up
the vacancy by electing the other three new directors,
making 12 to form the board.
Mr. HELPS suggested that a clause might be intro-
duced into the Norfolk Amalgamation Bill, now before
Parliament, giving power to the shareholders to elect
new directors, and fill up all future vacancies in the

board.
The CHAIRMAN said, they all felt much obliged to
Mr. Help for his suggestion, and they would endeavour
to avail themselves of it. The great evil was, that
shareholders had hitherto been too negligent of their
interests, and placed too much confidence in those who
abused it. He then moved the resolution for adjourn-
ment, which was carried.
The names of the eight gentlemen who are to be re-
commended by the committee for the direction will be
published one week before the adjourned meeting is held.