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

the institution; she might have been altogetberun4le
to o)tain her own livelihood. Therefore I think it
should he said, in answer to thwe who state that in-
stitutions of this kind disc.mrage provident habi7s,
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 lie 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 cases constantly occurred
where relief could not have been afforded by any pos-
sibility by the excellent provisions of a life assurance
office.—(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 adj,urned meeting of thi., company was held yes-
terday at the London Tavern, for the purpose of a fur-
ther adjournment, in order to allow the committee
6utEciput time to make their report. Mr. Meek, in the
absence et the directors, was called to the chair.
Mr. RONEY, the secretary, rt ad the advertisement con-
vening the meeting, which stated that no other business
than the adjournment would be submitted.
The CHAIRMAN t xplained 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.
Mr. ELLIs moved a resolution to the effect that, as

the committee appointed for the purpose of recom-
mending eight new directors for the management of the
company were not prepared with their report, this
meeting do adjourn to the 15th of June, for the purpose
of receiving such report.
Mr. Box said, he understood that the committee were
to recommend 12 fit and proper pertzons to the proprie-
tors, instead of 8, and that the proprietors at the meeting
were to sell ct 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 ceramittee had only the power to select
and recommend 8 gentlemen to the adjourned meeting,
at which the proprietors were not only at libetty 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.
tie for one :voul•l propose other gentlemen if those se-
lected by the committee did not possess the qualifications
which he thought essential fur the efficient management
of the undertaking.
Mr. LowE wisht d 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 pots 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 vitcaec!es at the board. These
would be filh dup 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, having
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 foi in 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 suggestien, and they would endeavour
to avail them elves of it. The great evil was, that
shareholders had hitherto been too neglig,ent of their
interests, and placed too much confidence in those who
abused it. lie 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 tor the direction will be
published one week hetore the adjourned meeting is held.