The Sun.
London, England, 1847-04-01 00:00:00

THE SEJ.N, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, APRIL 1, 1847.

PROVIDENT CLERKS' MUTUAL
BENEFIT ASSOCIATION.

Yesterday evening a public meeting was held at the
Eastern Institution, Commercial-road, for the purpose
of all-online' information and explanation of the advan
tages offered by the society.
The hall of the Institution was filled with a numer-
ous and highly respectable audience.
Soon after seven o'cl,,ek, George Frederick -Yonne:,
Esq., John Abel Smith, Esq., M.P., Dr. Major, Rev. V.
Mumery, Captain Rutherford, Rev. Mr. Hooper, G.
Parker, Esq., Secretary of the College of Preceptors ;
Dr. Maclean, Physician to the Christian Mutual Asso-
ciation ; J. Taylor, Esq. ; Messrs. R. 11. Jones, J. W.
Welch, W. S. Sawtell, W. Maitland, Samuel Jepps, J.
Clarke, W. J. Jordan, W. Honey, J. Lintott, E. Gus-
bell, Richard Kemp, Esq., and Captain Shepherd, ap-
peared upon the platform.
On the motion of Mr. COLEMAN, George Frederick
Young, Esq., was called to the chair.
The CHAIRMAN said—Gentlemen, I have frequently
been called upon by my neighbours and friends to oc-
cupy the position which, by your kindness and confi-
dence, I am called on to fill on this occasion; but I can
with the utmost sincerity assure you that I recollect no
occasion on which I have consented to preside at a
public meeting in which the objects *.o be
ads cated have my most entire and complete concurrence
and approval than the present. It sometimes happens
that, in a meeting convened for public objects, matters
in which great differences of opinnon prevail, are so in-
definitely stated and understood, that it is almost impos-
sible that such a meeting can arrive at any definite con-
clusion.—(Hear, hear.) Sometimes it happens that,
even among persons of the most benevolent inten-
tions, differences arise which prevent that unani-
mous cordiality for which they ought to be dis-
tinguished. In uncerta,king to preside over you
I have given this subject my best consideration,
and I find myself at a loss to conceive any possible ob-
jection why all persons of well-regulated minds and con-
duct should not give, to an institution like this, the most
hearty, and cordial, and sincere, and full support.—
Gentlemen, we know that in the highest and most
praiseworthy objects of beneficence there are many draw-
backs which present themselves, and men of acute intelli-
gence, individuals of excellent intention, unite to pro•
mote the taking that cordial part in public meeting which
I sincerely hope to see, and expect to find, on this occa-
sion. There are not wanting those who, when appealed
to for the purposes of benevolence, even go this I,ngtla,
and say that they consider all assistance rendered by
man to his fellow-men as so many inducements to de-
stroy that spirit of self dependence which is so exceed-
ingly valuable—that solid and sound foundation of all
that is great and good in the human character. Gentle-
men, I do not consider that on this occasion this associa-
tion will be subjected to such drawbacks, because, as
far as my consideration has enabled me to form an esti-
mate of the question, I can conceive no object whatever
that secures a more complete and satisfactory result.,
that is managed with more foresight, or that gives more
effectually to every man a power of depending and fall-
ing back on his own resources. On the whole, Ima
conceive no system more likely to develop the capability
of men, or that more appeals to that spirit of philan-
thropy which every good man desires to see the ruling
motives of our actions.—(Cheers.) We propose, in-
deed, just to do this (and the history of the institution
gives the most unanswerable proofs that we have done
so), to do all we can to help ourselves. I believe that this
is simply the principle which actuates the Provident
Clerks' Association, and we call on those who are placed
in the position to be the recipients of benefits of this
nature, that they reflect on the advantages which it is
calculated to afford to them. We say that we make an
appeal to the public at large, but more especially is it to
one class that we hold out the advantages of this society.
We have a very large number of members from the
clerks of the metropolis, but they, as compared with the
total number who are fitted to be the recipients of the
benefits of the association, are limited indeed. The num
ber of clerks engaged in mercantile and manufacturing
pursuits, in and around London, are variously estimated,
but the lowest estimate is so great as almost to
stagger the belief of those who have not directed their
attention to the subject. I believe that the number of
clerks in this metropolis dues not fall short of 50,000.
(Hear, hear.) I desire not to employ any fulsome adu-
_

lation in speaking of those men, biltt believe that there

is no class of men, comparing one class with another, so
distinguished for capability and, habits of reflecting, and
fur the importance of the trusts which devolve upon its
members, and, consequently, for the very important
position they occupy in the scale of political power, and
in the commercial and social arrangements of this
country. Now, I have stated that they are distinguished
for habits of reflection, and when one considers
what are the objects of this institution, it seems
marvellous that, notwithstanding the success which has
attended the labour of those who have founded this in-
stitution, the field of its operations should not have
taken a wider range, so as to comprehend a more con•
siderable proportion of those who are fitted to be the
recipients of its benefits. What is the reason of this ?
I believe the fact to be that, notwithstanding the efforts
made to give publicity to its objects, a very large num-
ber of individuals are ignorant of all but the name of the
institution. One of the purposes, therefore, of this
meeting is to render those objects more generally
known, to display the importance of the society, and to
give e very assistance to those who are anxious to ascertain
a hat are the benefits which the association is calculated
to give. It is not to be conceived that, notwithstanding
the intelligence and habits of reft'ction which pervafe
the clerks as a body, they, in common with other classes
of the community, are not uniformly given to habits of
provident care in that degree that we should suppose
these habits of reflection would call into exercise; there-
fore another object in view is to bring forward as pro-
minently as we can the leading features of the institu-
tion. It is an endeavour to bring home to the
consciences end conviction of every individual the
duty which he owes to himself, to his family,
and to society, of which he constitutes so important a
part, not to neglect the means II Inch this society holds
out for the effecting objects of such importance; nor
ought it to be forgotten that the best guarantee for the in-
tegrity of the association is that it owes its origin to men
who are not themselves likely to derive any benefit
from its advantages.—(Cheers.) One of the best feel-
ings of the heart is the desire that is universally ex-
pressed, and too seldom acted on, to leave those whom
we love in some degree of comfort, and how can this be
better done than by appropriating a small portion of that
which all of us possess in a greater or less degree for
making a provision for them which, without such
an agency as this institution, would be utterly
inadequate for the purpose ? But I will not appeal
to your feelings for that assistance which I would rather
claim from your deliberate judgment.—(Cheers.) I
ask you, therefore, to listen this night, and to judge for
yourselves. Listen to that which will be better told by
those who are more fitted than I am for the task. I
think that the enumeration of the advantages which a
connexion with this institution confers will induce many
here not to delay a day or an hour before adding their
names to the list of members, a list which I sin happy
to find has grown so great. By doing that ycat will but
consult your own interests and the interests of those
dependent on you.—(Cheers.) When I lock to this
great philanthropic and practical measure ; when I
see the names of those gentlemen eminent in rank
and station, and wealth and character, as any in
the metropolis; when I see them come forward to
recommend to the clerks of this city to become mem-
bers of this institution, of which they themselves can
never be recipients of its benefits, I have at once the
strongest assurance of the correctness of the judgment
which originated, and the wisdom which has carried out,
the objects of this association. lam thereby assured
that those on whom the management of the concerns of
this institution devolve are men on whom we can rely
with confidence. Then I come, in conclusion, to this fact,
that the board of management consists of persons of name
and character, who are not to be surpassed in
capability of managing what they have taken in hand by
any body of individuals, and we may, therefore, rest
satisfied that they will carry forward the affairs of this
association to the most certain success.—(Cheers.) For
me to reason the question further would be out of place,
and I shall, therefore, call upon my friend, Richard H.
Jones, the Chairman of the Board of Management, who
will develope the objects of the institution which you
are called upon to consider. Perhaps, before he comes
forward, I may be permitted to express my gratification
at the personal honour paid to myself, and my still higher
gratification at witnessing our friend, Mr. Joh nAliel Smith,
among us. lam sorry to announce to you that another
gentlemen, well known to the friends of the association

—I mean Mr. Thomson Ilankey—has addressed a note
which I will read to you. (The chairman then read
Mr. Hankey's letter, which apologised for his non-
attendance on the ground of indisposition. The writer
expressed his sympathy with the ob.ic:cts of the meeting,
and his hope that the success which had attended the
association in past years would be an earnest of still
greater success in the future.) I have taken the chair
here in the hope that I may be an humble instrument
for recommending in this uistrict, with which I have
been so long and so intimr,tely connected, the objects of
the Provident Clerks' Institution, and for making the
knowledge of that society more widely known among
the clerks with wllom this part of the metropolis so
greatly abounds—(Cheers.)
Mr. R. H. J'oxEs said—Gentlemen, the chairman has
so fully stated all that I had to offer to your considera-
tion, that I have little more to do than to ask the secre-
tary to inform you as to the principles on which the
business of the association is conducted. This meeting
was suggested to be called at the annual meeting which
was held in the London Tavern on the 18th of January
last ; and the managers, always anxious to forward the
objects of this society, have come forward to co-operate
with tho,e parties who were instrumental in calling the
meeting. The association, as you will probably now be
aware, was formed six years ago, during which time
it has not all been smooth work with us. We have had
a great deal of anxiety and labour • at the same time the
success which has attended our efforts has been most
satisfactory. We have had to contend with many
opponents, such as pride, jealousy, prejudice, and dis-
trust ; but, notwithstanding all these, we have per-
severed, and you are now reaping the benefit of that
perseverance.—(Cheers.) The association will not
now be retarded in its progress, for has taken a posi-
tion which nothing can destroy. The chairman has told
you that the number of clerks who are members of the
institutions, as compared with the total number of clerks
in the metropolis, is exceedingly small. The fact is so,
yet, compared with other associations of a similar
character, the progress of the Provident Clerks' lustitu •
tion has been very rapid indeed. I can only add that the
managers are ever anxious to adopt means which are
likely to aid in the success of our plan, and they are
ready (as on this evening) to make known the principles
of the association at such meetings as may be held for the
purpose. I would suggest, that after the secretary has
made his statement, any gentleman present shall put
such questions as he sees fit, and we shall answer them
to the best of our ability, We have nothing to aide,

and it will therefore give us great pleasure to satisfy
all inquiries. I cannot conceal my exceeding gratifies
tion, that our treasurer, Mr. John Abel Smith, has come
here this evening, and lam only too happy to make
this public acknowledgment of it. He is not well, but
rather than disappoint us, he has attended. I have no-
thing further to add, and will just call on the secretary to
make his statement.
The Ctrairtatax—Gentlemen, I will call your atten-
tion to Dr. Mullinder, the secretary of the association.
Dr. MULLINDER. said that the history of this country
would furnish a great many important facts and events
which had taken place for its benefit; but he thought
they would agree with him that the year 1840 had pro-
duced one of the most important facts in this
history. It was in that year that the Provi-
dent Clerks' Association was estat'lished, and that
was one of the most important facts with
reference to the social condition of the clerks of
this country which had ever occurred. It was a deed of
partnership executed between the principals of the com-
mercial empire and the clerks, The principals did not
give up any one point, nor did their clerks. They aided
each other mutually, for their interests were combined.
The principals said that they wished to promote the
condition of the clerks, and the clerks wished to help
themselves and to benefit their principals also ; so that
a deed of partnership and mutual assistance was passed.
When, however, the principals came forward, and gave
their 500/, 4001., 300/, 2001, and 100/, saying that they
did not wish to impose any single liability upon the
clerks, it was an assistance and a benefit to one class of
tlir commercial world, and it was sought to be carried
out by assisting individuals. As the poet said,
Can he love all, who loves no part?
He be a nation's friend who is the friend of no man there?
He be a nation's friend who loves no one there?
Can he be strenuous in his country's cause
Who slights her charities?
For whose dear sake that country, if at all,
Must be beloved.
He did not mean charity as it was referred to in
that expression, or in the common acceptation of the
word—he meant it as displaying mutual assistance and
kindness. He did not appeal at all to their beneficence
or their feelings, but to their sense of justice
to themselves and those dependent upon them.
Their treasurer, the Hon. Member for Chichester, who
had stood by the institution since it first commenced,
would tell them, in confirmation of what he (Dr. Mul-
linder) had stated, that there was not one single item of
expenditure in the way of common charity. What had
been received was merely a testimonial of what the prin•
cipals estimated their clerks by. The money
which had been given to the society had never
been given to exercise any undue influence, and
at any election of persons entitled to relief
there was never any person to say to them, " I have
given my money to you, and this is my candidate."
With this statement he would at once go on to state the
progress of the association—one which had been made
between the principals and their clerks, and which would
be eventually of the greatest benefit to the commercial
classes of England. He knew many instances where
principals bad subscribed 5,000/., 10,0001., or 20,0001.,
for the benefit of public associations like the present
one, but they had done it as charity. That was
not, however, the principle which had been followed in
this case, for the clerks had said that they wanted to
assist themselves, and the principals had turned round
and said that they would assist them—not in order to
put them down while they benefited them—but really
with a regard, a sincere regard, for their interest. They
then subscribed money to the amount of 10,800 L, for
the purpose of aiding the clerks iu their system of
mutual assurance—one of the best and most perfect ways
of providing for their families. Those who saw the in-
stitution commenced did not entirely give it their con-
fidence, but in 1841 there were 73 policies effected, Such,
however, had been the amount of increased credit and

confidence manifested, that last year 374 had joined the
institution.—(Hear, hear.) With regard to the policies
effected, he did not look upon it as a mere matter of
amount, but merely as a return of the number of
persons who had been induced to be provident. In the
year 1846 three hundred and seventy-four men, who had
thought, and thought deeply, of the way of providing
for themselves and their families, had joined the in-
stitution. He believed the question to be a national one,
although it was made up of units; for there could not be
any possibility of preserving the national character un-
less they endeavoured to preserve individual character
also. Those men who had formed them had not formed
them for the purpose of making money, but for the pur-
pose of preserving their families, their wives and
children, from the contingencies that might arise. They
all knew that a clerk must be a man of education and
of mind to fulfil the situation which he held, and he
should be able to bring up his family in accordance with

the station in life which he hirn;elf held. Let that
clerk, however, be suddenly taken away from his family,
and what was the consequence? They would take
an inferior dwelling, they would be brought in
contact with those with whom they had never
associated before, and they would eventually become
domesticated with them, and a prey to the seducer, as he
had too often seen. Ile would, however, drop this un-
pleasant subject, and go on to consider what were the
effects and benefits of the institution. Ile presumed that
the audience which he addressed were dependent on
their personal exertions. What then would be the
consequence of their illness, misfortune, or death? It
would be the ruin of those who relied on them for their
support. And why should they attempt to deprive those
who were nenr and dear to them of something like a
respectable competence by delaying at once to join such
an institution as the present one ? They might say
that it was all very well, but they were not married, and
had no ono dependent upon them. lie would refer to a
ease which would show the beneficial result which
might eventually accrue to them. Some two or
three months ago, an individual residing in Liver-
pool, who had a young and rising family, was
asked to join the institution. The answer was,
that he was very busy just at that time,
but that in May next. he should have more leisure. He
happened, however, to have a friend near him who per-
suaded him to join at once. The man did so, and
soon afterwards, in consequence of the immigration of the
poor Irish, he caught a fever, which was prevalent among
them, and died of it. lle had only paid 51. or 61., but
something near to the sum of 2001. was forthcoming for
the benefit of his widow. " Time presses—the present
is to be prized—we may think ourselves well, but the
morrow may find us a corpse." Let them not, there-
fore, delay, nor think of deterring, that which involved
the prosperity, the interest, the comfort, and the welfare
of their families. There was a certain point connected
with the association to which he was bound to allude.
The meeting would, perhaps, allow him to trespass for a
few moments longer upon their time. It was not merely a
life assurance, butit was a life assurance of a very beneficial
quality. There was nothing to be deducted from the profits
for directors or the shareholders, all the benefits
arising from it went to the increase of the institution,
except what the members might vote to the managers.
lie would candidly state that he wished as much as
possible to promote general and mutual assurance, .
when-
ever and whereever it could be done, as a benefit society. 1,
The system had one beneficial result, which was
peculiar one—there was no necessity for the formality
of making a will, or the expense of proving one ; it was
simply tilling up the nomination paper, and that was
enough. That prevented all expense, trouble, and an-
noyance afterwards. Another peculiarity which was
connected with the institution was, that the Legislature
had in this instance said to a man—if you insure your
life in the Provident Clerks' Institution you will not be
compelled to pay legacy duty, as has hitherto been done
in these cases. The policy could not be taken away or
removed by distress, for no bankruptcy or insolvent
court could by any possibility claim that policy. The
opening of the benefit department had created a
confidence between the principals and their clerks.
lle then came to the benevolent department, which,
with all due deference to those present, was a misnomer;
for there was no benevolence in it at all—it was a bene-
ficial department. The principals of the mercantile houses
had said at once, that what we give is to assist your own
endeavours, we claim no right to interfere in the manage-
ment. They might talk of charity—it was wrong, for they
did not know charity. They admitted that the clerks were
the body upon whom they themselves depended for a
due execution of their duties. They could do, and had
otuhresy el
meantve s , an t d o
dwoe
that—didw llhe help
theyyou
th
It m
done more than an act of charity, for they had said to
eclerks—youaskedhelp ho w y
mean to publish the names of those whom they assisted,
as if it were a common charity ? He would answer that
they did not, and had not done so ; for not one single
case had ever come before the board of management of
the Provident Clerks' Association which had been desig-
nated as an act of charity. The institution had
always met in a fair way the demands or calls
of those who were members of it. It might
be interesting to ask, whether all these regulations
were carried out. Last Christmas twelvemonths he had
a very painful and yet a very pleasing duty to perform.
An individual, aged 89, was brought before him on
Christmas-eve. Not being a member, of course the
institution could not take his case into consideration;
but to show what were the feelings of the board of
managers, they at once subscribed a sum out of their
own pockets to make the poor old man comfortable upon
the Christmas-day. lle had another case similar to
that. The case of a gentleman, well known in the city
of London as connected with the press, was brought,
or rather a party connected with him, was brought be-
fore the board. lie was not described as a clerk, and
therefore he could not be relieved from the funds of
the institution, but the board had subscribed 10s.
each from their own pockets for his relief. Ile
wished to call the particular attention of the meeting to
a fact which spoke much for the moral character of the
clerks who had joined the association. The institution
had the power of granting loans of 251. These loans were
granted upon certain conditions, and he was happy to
tell the meeting that out of all the money granted
and which amounted to 1,8171., they had only had one
single individual with whom they had had any trouble.
During the time of the railway mania there were im-
mense numbers of applications for loans, but they
thought that the applicants were going rather too fast,
and the applications were not granted. Out of the whole
number of loans, which amounted to 94, they had not
lost 251. With respect to the situation-book, it had been
the instrument of obtaining situations for a great many
gentlemen whose names he could tell them if such a
course did not lead to their identification. The situation-
book was open to all. The applicant had only to go to
the office, and if he could not go, he had only to write
a letter stating what he wanted, his age, capabilities,
and expectations, and it was at once attended to. With
regard to the medical advice department, he had the
pleasure of saying that, during the seven years which
the institution had been established, only 56 clerks had
sought advice. In May next they were about to elect
two persons to the benefits of the institution, and he
challenged any person to say that these individuals were
receiving charity. Who were the parties ? They were
the relatives of wen Who had died suddenly. One party,

in April last, had dressed himself to dine with his em-
ployer—for employers were not above dining with their
clerks, or clerks not above serving their employers. He
got into an omnibus at the Elephant and Castle, and be-
tore he reached St. George's Church he was dead. lie
left four children, and a wife in the family-way. The
other case was that of a man who left his family as
usual, and went into the City to attend to his duties,
and while walking along fell down dead. The institu-
tion did not propose to give them very high advantages,
but they were sterling ones. He only asked them to do
that which common sense dictated. Would they dare
to refuse to endeavour to do the best for themselves and
their families, by joining the Provident Clerks' Associa-
tion—an institution so likely to benefit them, and those
whom they might afterwards leave behind them ?
The CHAIRMAN then said, that if any gentleman had
any question to ask, or any observations to make, they
should be most happy to hear him, and to give him every
information in their power.
No person making any observation,
Mr. FREDERICK YOUNG, jun., then proposed the first
resolution. lie said that he had entered that ball that
evening under the impression that he was to be a
listener rather than a speaker. He felt deeply inte-
rested in the welfare of that honourable class for vvh .so
benefit they were assembled that evening, and he felt
that an institution like the present one ought to meet
the support of every clerk in this great metropolis. He
sincerely wished success to the labours of those gentle-
men who had undertaken the management of the insti-
tution, and hoped that they would meet with the sun--
port they deserved. He woukl no longer trespass upon
their time, but should propose the first resolutio❑ :
`• Resolved,—That from the statements just made of
the principles and operations of the Provident Clerks'
Association it appears to this meeting that the associa-
tion is eminently entitled to public support, and is cal-
culated to effect great and permanent good for all who
become members of its body ; and this meeting feels
called upon to suggest to every clerk in this locality the
propriety of at once connecting himself with the society
by either of the modes pointed out in the rules."
Mr. FREAKE said, that as a member of this association,
he begged to second the resolution.
Mr. JOHN ABEL SMITH, who rose amidst loud cheers,
said that he confessed that he had, in coming forward
on that occasion, yielded to the solicitations and wish of
those near him, that, as holding an official capacity in
the institution, he should state his opinion of it. He
had but a few words to say, and if he were expected to
signify his personal approbation of that society, or his
knowledge of its value, he had long since done so, and
his exertions in furtherance of its success had long since
been made. He believed that this institution was founded
upon principles which in England, sooner or later, must
succeed. He believed that it was an institution which,
as long as independence was valuable in its effects upon
the human character, as long as providence was
respected, so long would it be supported by
gradually increasing numbers. When it was first
established, those who had not the same reliance in the
success of the prirciple as was now generally entertained
had held aloof, but now that the institution was more
generally known, it had made considerable progress. It
had exceeded the most sanguine expectations of all those
who had watched its progress, because it was founded
upon an object and a principle ♦aluable in itself, and
likely to be of benefit to those concerned in it. He con-
fessed, that whether from vanity or from any other
motive, he thought he could add a few words in still fuller
explanation of the plans and principles of the institution.
There were two classes of persons for whom the establish-
ment was intended, namely, those who were able, by saving
from their income, to make a provision for their widows
and children, and those who might be exposed to
poverty and distress by the misfortunes of their princi-
pals. The secretary had said, and truly said, that
charity, in the ordinary acceptation of the term, was not
one of the influencing motives in the foundation of the
institution ; but they were no less anxiously desirous to
make a fund which would provide against unforeseen
distress in the cases of persons employed as clerks in
the metropolis. There was no man who employed many
clerks who did not know how the best and most valued
E of them sunk under over-exertion, and how difficult it
was in all cases to make the sympathy of their em-
ployers arise.—(Hear, hear.) The object was to found
an institution which was not liable to that which he
admitted was an imputation, namely, that of being a
charity. The plan was, to make, out of the insurances
of the clerks themselves, a fund to which the distressed
might apply for relief. The object proposed to be
attained by voting to the benevolent fund a certain pro-
portion of the profits of the insurances effected by the clerks
themselves, was to give to the cleric a fund to which
he could conscientiously resort, without having it upon
his mind that he had received charitable assistance.
Such an institution was calculated to be most beneficial
in its effects, and needed no great praise as an induce-
ment for the clerks in the metropolis to join it.
Dr. MULLINDER said that during the current year,
up to the end of February, 1847, there were eighty poli-
cies effected to the amount of 16,0001., and up to
this day, 31st March, 1847, there had been 124. The sum
total of the policies effected was 185,070 t, and the aver-
age income of the establishment was 5,6114, or rather
more.—(Cheers.)

A GENTLEMAN below the platform wished to know
the amount of annual subscription, and whether the
effecting of the insurance made, or constituted to the
party insuring, a claim on the benevolent fund?

Mr. J. A. 63trni said that the annual subscription
was 11. Is., and the insurance did constitute a claim, the
party being a clerk.
Mr. OSMOND LEWIS said, that he had observed the
progress of the institution from the first, and he had no
doubt that in a few years its business would be increased
immensely.—((sheers.) It was somewhat similar in
character to another institution, brought into existence
in the year 1825,in the northern portion of the kingdom;
he alluded to the Widows' Fund Institution. For three
or four years they had struggled on almost hopelessly,
and it became at one time a question whether it should
be given up. The principles of life assurance were im-
perfectly understood at the time, but that company had
now an annual business of 280,000/.—(llear, hear.)
This institution was of a similar character, and he an-
ticipated for it, in some twenty years mote, a similar suc-
cess.—(Cheers.) He with great pleasure supported the
resolution.

The CHAIRMAN said, that as the gentleman who had
last spoken had seen the formation of the association, it
I must be matter of congratulation to him to observe its
increasing prosperity, and he (the chairman) trusted
that he might live to witness its lull maturity.—(Cheers.)
They already numbered above a thousand members,
and it was a singular fact, that in one of the largest and
most flourishing of the institutions of the metropolis—
one which excited attention by the magnitude of its
transactions—he meant the Equitable—that institution
only numbered between six and seven thousand mem-
bers; and he did not see why, with such an immense
number of clerks in the metropolis, this association
should not also, in a few years, number its six or seven
thousand members.—(Cheers.)
Mr. J. A. Smrru said that he was not going to make
another speech, but he rose to propose a resolution
which was not incumbent upon them, and which was not
merely a matter of form. He proposed that a vote of
thanks be given to G. F. Young, Esq., for his assist.
ance and support upon the present occasion. His per-
sonal influence in the neihbourhood would greatly as-
sist the views and objects of the institution, and he had
no doubt that it would be used effectually. Their thanks
should be expressed to him, as he had so kindly sacri-
ficed an evening to their interests and to the interests of
an institution of the country at large.
Mr. COLEMAN seconded the resolution, which was put
and carried non. con.
Mr. G. F. Yotnic assured the meeting that all that lay
in his power he would do to forward the interests of the
institution, and he hoped that he should be cordially
joined by them. If there were any gentlemen present
who were disposed to come forward and join the institu-
tion, they could do so at the close of the proceedings.
He thanked them most sincerely for the honour they had
done him, and he hoped to hear and see in future that
the institution would be properly supported by those
whose interest it was to keep it up and carry it out to
the extent it deserved.
The meeting then separated.

Mr. Peter Rolt, where the clerk of those stupendous
works, Mr. IL Woods, produced the plans, and explained
the nature of the undertaking and progress since the last
visit of their Lordships.
At the steam basin the board were joined by Rear •
Admiral Sir Charles Napier, K.C.8., and Captain Hen •
derson, C. 8., of the Sidon steam- frigate, whose arrival
and performances we notice lower down.
From the steam basin their Lordships' progress was
checked by rain and snow, which fell heavily for some
time. After the storm they got down as far as the dock
in which the Fairy was lying, and inspected her bottom ;
after this the party went to the Commander-in-Chief's
to luncheon. At three o'clock their Lordship's resumed
their inspection of the dockyard, commencing with the
St. Vincent, 120, flag ship, in the basin, and witnessed
Lord Kielmansegg's new plan for setting up lower rig-
ging, to do away with the necessity of having dead eyes
and lanyards for the same purpose. This mode is much
better adapted for shrouds near the ports, as it leaves
the port clear of everything for firing. The plan
was fully explained to the Board by Captain Milne
and Mr. Biddlecombe, Master of the St. Vincent,
and wss declared to answer perfectly. From the St.
Vincent the brigs in the adjacent dock, the Champion,
18, and Serpent, 16, the former to be sheathed with Mr.
Muntz's new patent metal, were inspected ; thence their
Lordships proceeded to view the Undine, in the basin,
which vessel is ordered to take them out to the Sidon, at
Spithead, in the morning ; thence round by the Leander,
50, building ; under the stern of the Royal Yacht, which
will be undocked to-morrow. They then viewed the
Ajax, steam guard-ship, in dock ; and thence, about
four o'clock, we understood they would embark at the
King's-stairs and go on board the Excellent, to witness
gun drill, &e., and return to dine with Rear-Admiral
Superintendent Hyde Parker, sleeping at the George
Hotel. The Admiralty flag was hoisted at the dock-
yard-gate during the time their Lordships were making
their inspection.
The Princess Royal, 90, is to be altered; but her de-
signer, Sir W. Symonds, Surveyor of the Navy, is to
have the direction of her alterations himself.

The Fairy was undocked this afternoon ; and this
evening the Undine was taken out of the basin, in order
to bp, got ready for their Lordships' reception to morrow

The Sidon steam-frigate, Captain Henderson, C. 8.,
returned from her Channel cruise this morning. She is
officially reported to have answered remarkably well.
She went as far as Falmouth, and, under sails, with top-
sails, topgallant-sails, foresail, and fore and aft sails,
made 10} knots per hour, the inclination not exceeding
five degrees, and under steam Ilf knots; she was very
stiff and perfectly dry. She made 17 evolutions under
the latter speed, which was the maximum attained, and
drew aft 17 feet 2 inches; forward 16 feet 10 inches ;
had 630 tons of coals on board, and all her shells,
powder, and such like stores, and water and pro-
visions for three mouths, stowed away, for the full com-
plement intended for her, viz., 320, officers and men.
She put in for a short time to Plymouth Sound yester-
day, and Admiral Sir John West, 1i,C.8., Commander-
in-Chief at that port, and afterwards Rear-Admiral Sir
Joh❑ Louis, Bart., Superintendent of the Dockyard,
went on board and inspected every part of her, with
which, both internally and externally, those gallant and
experienced officers expressed themselves highly grati-
fied. To-morrow morning the Lords of the Admiralty,
augmented by Vice-Admiral Sir Charles Adam, K.C.8.,
who joins his colleagues this evening, will go on board
the Sidon, to inspect and judge for themselves.
The Cygnet brigantine, Commander Montritior, is
now (half-past five P.m.) working up to Spithead from
the coast of Africa station.

The Edinburgh, 56, block-ship, was taken out of the
basin to-day, and the Retribution steam-frigate, and the
[lncline dispatch-vessel, were taken in.
The Echo steam-tug has gone round to Woolwich, to
repair numerous defects.
Major-General Lord Frederick Fitzclarence, the
newly-appointed Lieutenant •Governor and Commander-
in-chief of the south-west district, accompanied by Lady
Augusta and daughter, will arrive here to-morrow about
three o'clock, and sojourn at the George Hotel until the
Government house is re-embellished and ready for his
Lordship's reception. His Aide-de-Camp, Brevet Major
Harvey, arrived to-day, to make the necessary prepara-
tions for his Lordship's reception.
Wooi.wicu, Marten 31.—The following information
will be useful to persons desirous of entering her
Majesty's naval service :
" The examination of-naval cadets, master attendants,
and other candidates for entry into her Majesty's ser-
vice, will in future take place on Mondays and Fridays,
and all candidates for such examination, as well as
those who may wish to be examined as to their qualifi-
cations for higher rank in the service, are to present
themselves for that purpose on board the William and
Mary yacht, at Woolwich Dockyard, on the days abo ve-
mentioned, between the hours of ten and twelve o'clock
in the forenoon, when the necessary orders for their
examination will be issued on the receipt of the usual
applications from the several candidates.
" By command of the Commodore."
_ _ _

The Salamander steam-sloop, from South America,
and last from Portsmouth, arrived at Woolwich to-day,
and will be paid off here.
The Terrible steam-frigate, under the command of
Captain Ilall, is under orders to leave Woolwich for
Portsmouth and Ireland with provisions.

MAGAZINE DAY.
BLACKWOOD.
Our venerable Eusebius opens with a caustic
though unusually dispassionate criticism upon Mr.
Carlyle's " Cromwell.' 'I he reviewer acknowledges
to a certain admiration for the genius of this bold and
eloquent writer. He remembers him of the thrilling
majesty of the " Sartor Resartus," and of the
graphic and passionate " History of the French Re-
volution," and almost relents from the expression of
the indignation excited in his bosom by this mar-
vellous work upon the man Oliver. He expresses his
indignation nevertheless, and very bluntly too. First
of all he revolts from the religious laudation which
Mr. Carlyle has lavished upon the sectarianism of the
Lord Protector. He impeaches Mr. Carlyle as a
rank Roundhead, and accuses him of out-puritaning
the Puritans. Upon the whole, Blackwood is here
not very much at fault; for ethical madmen are
! scarcely the right sort of people to hold up to
popular reverence—they are scarcely the class
which it is judicious to eulogize when their
extravagances are among the most worthless
lumber in the repositoryof dead fanaticism—they are
not exactly the body of whom we should speak as of
" the last glimpse of the Godhead, vanishing from
this England." Yet —with submission to our ear-
nest, anti-Puritan Ebony—we would observe, that
some such panegyrics as those contained in Mr. Car-
lyle's work upon the religionists of the Cromwellian
age, were requisite to enforce upon the minds of the
supercilious and contemning many a wholesome
repect for the spiritual ardour which kindled the
hearts of Cromwell and his brethren of the conven-
ticle. Granted that that spiritual ardour vented
itself in their case in a most fantastic and exaggerated
form granted that their God-worship almost
amounted to buffoonery—still there was a sincerity
at bottom which commands our reverence, and ren-
ders ridicule indecent, and vituperation base. Even
the reviewer in Blackwood confesses that there was
this sincerity ; he sws, and says truly, that the
" Machiavellian explanation" or hypothesis of Oliver's
character "is henceforth entirely dismissed." " If,"
says he, " there is any one who still believes that
Cromwell was a thorough hypocrite, that his religion
was a systematic feint to cover his ambitious designs,
the perusal of these volumes"—(rneaning Carlyle's)
—" will entirely undeceive him." Cromwell, then,
the foremost man among the Puritans—the very type
and essence of Puritanism in his proper person—is
avowed to have been sincere and truthful in his creed
at bottom. Therefore, as respect for the sincere
belief of another (however odd and eccentric may be
the manifestations of that belief) is the core and spirit
of Religious Toleration, it is certain that respect for
the sincerity of the belief of the Puritans is essential
before we can form any just estimate of their charac-
ter, and especially of the character of their chieftain.
Now Cromwell was not one jot more contemned than
Puritanism was ridiculed. It was the bounden duty,
then, of Mr. Carlyle in reclaiming Cromwell from
abhorrence to reclaim Puritanism from ridicule ;
it was a part of his work as a biographer ;
unless he had effected the latter, he could
not by possibility have effectually accomplished
the former. Ile became consequently the ex-
culpator, not the apologist, of Puritanism ; and
to obtain his end in the readiest manner that could
well be contrived, to startle the million from scorn to
respect, he became at once the panegyrist of Puri-
tanism. That is the plea upon which we hold Mr.
Carlyle as excused in his otherwise incomprehensible
and inexcusable eulogiums upon the Roundheads.
But it is the style of Thomas Carlyle in his interpo-
lated commentaries that principally excites the wrath
of Blackwood. The introduction especially is de-
scribed as containing " such an amount of extrava-
gant assertion, uttered in such fantastic jargon as can
nowhere be paralleled." Now be it observed, that a
very few sentences before this botched and blundering
condemnation, this same Blackwood speaks of this
same work as frequently containing specimens
of Mr. Carlyle's happier manner, " where concen-
tration of style, a spirit of humour and re-
flection, and a power of vivid portraiture have
not degenerated into mere quaintness, into a species
of slang, into Carlylisms, into vague generalities
about infinitudes and eternities." It is because Mr.
Carlyle has a genius that spurns all the lacing and
boddice-work of a prim grammatical construction, it
is because he clothes his thoughts in a robust and
masculine diction, and has no affection for pottering
incessantly among the quincunxes of syntax, or for
thumbing a schoolboy's dilectus, that he is now-a-
I days jeered as a sort of monstrosity in the world of
letters. Upon the same system of prudery Martin
has been derided as a violator of all the rules of Art.
But what abysses of the sublime have not the pencil
and the imagination of Martin opened to us ; and what
worlds and universes of thought have not the pen and
the genius of Carlyle revealed! The most exquisite
torso is still nothing more than a decapitated trunk, leg-
less and armless—but, viewed rightly, it conveys to the
mind a vivid conception of the beautiful. The
Theseus of the Elgin collection in the British Mu-
seum, is, to the best of our recollection, noseless ;
and yet, looked at clearly and justly, and not through
the smoked spectacles of hypercriticism, it impresses