The Sun.
London, England, 1841-02-22 00:00:00

tion, in an aggravated form, I had previously laboured
under for a lengthened period. About. four years back I
was compelled to decline business from these complicated
evils, not however without having submitted to the most
harassing trials of such remedial measures as are at
present known to the healing art for relief, but in vain.
My savings, amounting to the sum of 6001., I, at an
unlucky hour, deposited with the West Middlesex Asso-
ciation, who held an office here, for the purchase of an an-
nuity during my wife's life and my own, first making
known to them the state of my present health. This
annually being our principal support, and unable, from
the continuance of disease, to take any further exer-
tions for our maintenance, I leave you, my Lord
Mayor, to judge what our present feelings are. Pre-
viously to handing over this, my all, and for which I
received the Company's bond on a 61. stamp, registered
in the Court of Chancery, I consulted some friends
conversant in commercial affairs, whose sanction I
then obtained for so doing. I further took advice as
to the future solvency of the Company. My friends
observed that their prospectus and advertisements
gave reference to several Acts of Parliament extend
ing over a period of upwards of forty years, which
should be looked upon as a sufficient guarantee. It is
here needless to observe that these references to the
said several Acts were all fraudulent fabrications, in-
tended the more fully to deceive, as appeared by the
recent exposures ; their continuance in business not
having exceeded a period of four years. From these fear-
ful and notorious facts, it is not, on my part going too far
to express a sanguine hope that Government will immedi-
ately pass an Act to protect the aged, helpless, and infirm,
who are confessedly that section of the public most entitled,
under such trying circumstances as the present, to sym-
pathy and commiseration—against the plundering de-
signs of such men as composed the " West Middlesex"
Company, and that Government will further, by the
agency of an envoy throughout Europe and America,
make every exertion to have these men detected and
held amenable to justice. Up to this your Lordship's
exertions, Sir Peter Laurie's, and the other benevolent
gentlemen who have felt so lively an interest in the cause
of suffering innocence, is above all praise. We fondly
hope these exertions will ultimately bring to light any
concealed property of the Company's, and in devising
such other means as will rescue the helpless annuitants
from ultimate ruin.

" I remain, my Lord, your Lordship's very obedient
servant, " M. L. LARKIN, Apothecary, &c."
Sir P. LAURIE observed that he had, while in the
Chair, received the following communication :

" Brentford, Feb. 19, 1841.

" Sir,—ln the capacity of agent in the town to an old
established fire-office, I received with a prospectus the
enclosed tempting offer from the worthy Secretary of
the Independent and West Middlesex Insurance Com-
pany. The bait did not take with me, but lam sorry
to find that in some other quarter it proved too power-
ful to be resisted.

" Your obedient servant, S.

" To Sir Peter Laurie."
"Independent and West Middlesex Fire and Life As-
surance Company.
" Sir,—l am directed to inform you that the Inde-
pendent and West Middlesex Fire and Life Insurance
Company will make the following allowances. For all
transfers of fire insurances, .50 per cent. on the first
year's premium. On life insurances 20 per cent. on
the first year's premium, and five per cent. on annuities
or the gross payments.
"SI am your obedient servant,

" Oct. 1, 1836. WILLIAM HOLE, Secretary.
" 27, Baker-street, Portman-square,"
Just as Sir P. LAURIE had concluded the reading
of the last letter, be received another from a poor fel-
low at Edinburgh, which stated as follows
" Our case is probably one of the worst amongst the
many sufferers. I gave up business in the druggist line
on account of increase of years and infirmities, pur-
chased an annnity of 301. during my wife's and my own
lifetime, from the Company, two years ago, and, by
frugality, we made a scanty livelihood of it with 201.
more that we drew of rent from a house in Coldstream.
Since losing the above 301., all we have to look to is
the 201., so that you may form some opinion of our de-
plorable condition from this simple statement of facts."
Sir P. LAURIE added, that he should have further
disclosures to make in the course of the week.