The Sun.
London, England, 1841-02-10 00:00:00

had a right to the enjoyment of ail civil privileges, with-
out the slightest notice being paid to the religious princi-
ples he entertaincd.

Mr. A. WHITE thought it beneath the d:gnity of this
great country, to keep such laws on the Statute-book, as
those which prevented- individuals of any denomination
from occupying their civil status in society. He would give
his most hearty support to the Bill of the Hon. Member.
Mr. DIVETT having briefly replied, leave was then
given to bring in the Bill.
_ _

WINDOW DUTY.
Captain PECHEL L moved for areturn of the window
duty charged on hospitals in England in 1840 ; distin-
guishing the class of officers and servants charged
therewith, and number of windows charged to each re-
spectively ; return of the duty on windows assessed for
the twelve towns in England, which contribute the largest
amount.

The return was ordered to be made.
COPYRIGHT DESIGNS BILL
ENIMERSON TENENT brought up the
Copyright Designs Bill. It was read a first time, and
ordered to be read a second time on the Ist of March.
The House then adjourned at Eleven o'Clock, until
Thursday.

LICENSED VICTUALLERS' AND
GENERAL FIRE AND LIFE ASSURANCE
COMPANY.

(From the Morning Adertiser.)
On Saturday last, the first meeting of the above Corn-
pAny, empowered by Act of Parliament, was held at the
London Tavern, Bishopsg ate- street. The Chair was
taken at twelve o'clock precisely by Charles Bleaden,
Esq , the Chairman of the Directors, supported by the
Vice-Chairman, T. Powell, Esq., the Directors, and
Auditors of the Company.
After a few brief observations, the Secretary read the
Report of the progress of the Institution during the last
five years, which being infieitely more favourable tha❑
there was any reason to anticipate, elicited from an im-
mense body of Shareholders, who crowded the room, re-
peated thunders of applause.
Upon the motion of Mr. lime, one of the Auditors, who
vouched not only for the accuracy of the accounts, but for
the strict economy which had been observed by the Direc-
tors in the management of the Institution, the Report was
unanimously received and adopted.
The re-election of the Directors and a new election of
Committeemen was next proceeded with, when Mr. Vous-
ley, jun., Mr. H. Lancaster, Mr. Shenton, and Mr. Gib-
son, were added to the latter body, by a show of hands.
Mr. CHILL? then moved, that all the original shares,
amounting to 30,000, having been disposed of, and there
being a strong demand upon ti.e part of the Lie:nsed Vic-
tuallers, to become proprietors as well as insurers in the
Company, it was expedient on the part of the Company
to authorise the Directors to make a fresh issue of shares,
as autherised by the deed of settlement, as circumstances
might direct, the said new shares not to be issued at a less
price than 10s., or 50 per cent. premium. Mr. Child, in
the course of a lengthened speech, gave the most fJrcible
and convincing reasons in favour of his motion, and was
heard throughout with the utmost attention.

Mr. ANDERSON seconded the motion, and pressed upon
the attention of the meeting the following facts:-
1. That the present capital of the Company was insuf-
ficient for complying with the numerous calls for safe
loans of money which were made upon it, varying from
7i to 10 per cent. profit.
2. That if the capital of the Company were augmented
from 150,0001. to 300,0001., which it might be by the ju-
dicious issue of the remaining shares, public confidence in
its stability would be proportionately enlarged, to the great
benefit of the Shareholders, and the satisfaction 'of the
public at large.
3. That the increased business of the Office could be
met by the existing establishment, or, at all events, by a
slight addition to it, while the profits would necessarily be
greatly augmented.
4. That if the issue of shares was mainly confined to
Licensed Victuallers, there was every reason to believe,
from the extended influence of that body, that while the
numbor of fire and life policies would be greatly aug-
mented, the shares, instead of being deteriorated, would
improve in value.
Mr. COHENS and some other gentlemen contended
against this view of the question, and argued that any ex-
tension of the shares would depreciate their value.
The motion, however, was ultimately carried ; the feel-
ing of the meeting being distinctly that the Directors were,
by their past conduct, amply entitled to the confidence of
the Shareholders, and that the issue of the remaining shares
might be safely left to their discretion.
The next subject which occupied the attention of the
meetir.g was the policy of extending its operations to marine
insurances ; but several Shareholders having expressed
their desire to be made better acquainted with the subject,
it was moved by Mr. Vousley, sea, and unanimously car-
ried, that the Directors be requested to call a special meet-
ing of the Proprietors within three months, and to lay before
it a detailed report of the risks and advantages likely to be
encountered or derived from this new branch of business.
The request was cheerfully acceded to by the Chairman
and Directors, and there can be no doubt that ihis profit-
able branch of insurance will, as in the case of other in-
surance offices, be added to other profitable sources for the
investment of the capital and lucerne of the Company.
Yates of thanks were then unanimously agreed to, to
the Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Directors, Committee, the
Actuary, Secretary, Auditors, Surveyors, and other officers
of the establishment, after which it broke up amidst the
applause of not fewer than 300 Proprietors.
A more respectable meeting was never held within the
walls of the City of London—the greatest unanimity in
zeal for the prosperity of the establishment prevailed from
the beginning to the end ; and the " Licensed Victuallers'
and General Fire and Life Assurance Company" may now
be set down as one of the most influential and stable of the
present day.