The Sun.
London, England, 1846-05-08 00:00:00

PROVIDENT CLERKS' MUTUAL .
BE
FUNDNEFIT ASSOCIATION AND BENEVOLENT i
.

which had a great deal of traffic, and mostly to the westward, which
had been altogether neglected by the existing lines of railway.
This finished the evidence for the present scheme.
The Committee arranged on taking the Midlands branch to Elsicar
to-morrow, and then adjourned.

GROUP XL.
LEEDS AND YORE RAILWAY.

The Committee resumed this day. Mr. Stafford O'Brien (chair..
man), Lord Norreys, Mr. Bright, Mr. Sheridan, and Mr. Dugdale
took their seats at twelve o'clock.

Mr. Cope's cross-examination by Mr. TItz.DTARD was continued—
He stated that the North Midland Company were not aware until
the third week of the observations be was making, when they dis-
missed some ofhis men. If a train professed to start at a certain hour,
and arrived at its terminus a quarter of an hour later, Mr.
Cope set this down as a quarter of an hour lost. There was no frost
during these three weeks of observation, as far as his memory served
him.

Mr. ArLDTARD endeavoured to invalidate this witness's statement
with regard to loss of time on the North Midland, by affirming that
the returns given in by the witness did not tally with Bradshaw's
tables of the same date. The Ist of April was taken as an example,
on which day Mr. Cope allowed 9 hours 19 minutes for
seven trains from York to Leeds. The Learned Counsel did
not, however, controvert this fact, but maintained that the time
advertised by the Company for starting meant only the time when
the doors were closed. Witness, however, urged that even that was
no excuse for the Company's not delivering their freight at the time
they advertised. Witness further begged to correct a statement he
made yesterday. He had stated that the traffic on the Wetherby
, line was 50 per cent. greater than on the Tadcaster line. Be now
begged to say that. it was 100 per cent. greater.
Mr, HILDYABD closely questioned the witness as to the amount of
traffic between York and Wetherby, and as to the means of convey-
ance, whether by public carriers, or by private waggons, but witness:
having obtained his information through agents, would not;
give any evidene on the point. The traffic between Wetherby•
and York he estimated at about 3601. • between Wetherby and,
Leeds at about 1,2.501. ; 2,5501. as the whole revenue from traffic:
of goods between York and Leeds ; 5,5251. as the result derivable
from cattle. • 78,604 persons pass between Wetherby, York, and
Thorp-Arch. .

Mr. Sergeant WILKINS having put a question or two that were
answered to his satisfaction,
Mr. Cope stated, in reply to Mr. HARDY, that 88,4641. might very'
fairly be assigned as the total amount of trails between Leeds and
York by way of Wetherby.
Mr, BAINES called Mr. James, superintendent of police in the
Borough of Leeds, who gave evidence corroborative of the alleged
delays en the York and North Midland. He had latterly sent wit-
nesses by coach at assize time to snsure their attendance.
To Mr. HILDYARD —Witness admitted that he was a shareholder in
the Leeds and York Railway. He had known the Court to be delayed
for half-au-hour.

To Mr. BourtsoN—Witness said that an additional train woul4
have obviated these irregularities.
Mr. Bateman, civil engineer to the York and Leeds Railway Com.
pany, was next called by Mr. Baines, but his testimony was solely
of a professional character.
To Mr. HiLnyAir,--WitncSs admitted that by the powers of the
Leeds and York Bill they could not unite with the Leeds and Brad-
ford, with the forth Midland, with the Leeds and Church Fenton,
nor, indeed, with any of the lines in which Mr. Hudson was int
restedlalthough he had originally entertained the idea of suci
junctions.

Mr. HILDTAND now submitted to the Committee that this admii-
sion ought to prove fatal to the Aill before them, inasmuch as it
proved that the line was not laid out in the best way for the public
benefit.

Mr. BAINES urged, on the contrary, that his Learned Friend was
bound to go on with his cross-examination of the witness.
Mr. BILDTARD did not object to this, but distinctly intimated that
he by no means waived the objection be had taken, and added, that
he should, on the termination of his cross-examination, again request
the sense of the Committee on the point he had raised.
Mr. ALEXANDER urged on the Committee the saving of time that
might be effected if they would give their decision on the point raised
by his Learned Friend Mr. Hildyard, as, otherwise, he should enter
updn a lengthened cross-examination of the witness on behalf of MY.
Fountain Wilson, as would also his Learned Friends, Mr. Sergeaut
Wilkins and Mr. Knowles, on behalf of the Companies for whi*n
they were engaged.- . . .
Mr. ILustas submitted that the line was the best of the three before
tile committee, and wished to call Mr. Cubitt to prove this fact.
Mr. HILDYARD, to save the time of the Committee, was ready ito
admit that this was the beet line of the three, but contended that,
even after this admission, the point must still be decided against Mr.
Baines, by the admission of Mr. Bateman, that the line was not;so
good as it might have been.
Mr. Hildyard continued to address the Committee for some tide
o Mho subject, and was followed by
Mr. KNowf.Es, who, as the representative of large landed proprk-
tors, had important interests to protect. The Learned Gentleman
maintained that the interests of private individuals were not to!be
sacrificed to a scheme which was imperfect through a feeling' of
jealousy towards Mr. Hudson.

Mr. ALEXANDER next addressed the Committee, on behalf of Mr.
Fountain Wilson, in a similar strain to that of the Learned Coumel
who had preceded him.
Mr. Sergeunt WILKINS opposed the objection raised by Mr. HiVyard.
and added that if the admission of Mr. Hildyard was accepted, 'all
three of the lines must be thrown overboard, but he was prepared to
prove, in direct contradiction of Mr. Hildyard's admission pro argu-
ment°, that the Leeds and York line was the best of the three. Me
was prepared to prove that it was the worst of the three, and he bad
too many dealings with the emissaries of the Great King to be taken
in by such a rase.

Mr. llamas was sure the Committee would not be influenced' by
the threats of prolonged cress-examination which had been thrown
out by his Learniol Friend (Mr. Alexander), and argued that lhe
, show:A his line was an integral line, and involved such a degre of
public accommodation as to outweigh the objections of his coniprti-
tors or of the landowners, the Committee were bound to allow film
to proceed with his Bill.

Mr. HILDTAILD contended that the point at issue for the decision of
the Committee was whether parties applying for powers to construct
a railway were bound to show that their line was merely a good one
or whether they were hot compelled to prove that it was the nest
that could be constructed. The Learned Gentleman further ,ex-
plained by denying that he had, de facto, admitted the superiority of
the Leeds and York Use over the North Midland.
The Committee- deferred their decision till to-morrow, and E ad-
journed at a quarter past four o'clock.

GROUP MIMI.
EAST AND WEST YORKSHIRE.
The Committee on this Bill met again to-day at twelve o'cloc ,in
Room 33, Mr. W. Miles, chairman.

, , ........
it,
Mr. Grainger, engineer to, the Company, was called and examined
by Mr. /3.4INEs, Q.C. 'The line was easy of construe on,
the cuttings being very light and gradients most favourable. he
estimate for making the line was 20,0001. He was satisfied thae the
line could be constructed for that amount. After some further ,evi-
dence the witness was cross-examined

By Mr. BLlss—Had the line gone further north before coming
towards Knaresbormigh, he did not think they could have avoided
Knaresborough without great inconvenience. Could not tell how
many houses they would pull down at Knaresborough: He had not
taken any account of the value of the property which would be
required ; that was not part of his duty as engineer. By avoiding
Knaresborough the length of the line would be very much increalsed.l
After a lengthened cross-examination of this witness, the CoMmit-
tee adjourhed to twelve o'clock to-morrow.

GROUP XLIV.
The Committe met again in Room 25, New Mouses of Parliareent,
at the usual hour ; Lord Palmerston in the chair, and present the
same Members as on the previous days. They immediately pro-
ceeded to the engineering evidence on the part of the
LIVERPOOL, MANCHESTER, AND NEW-
CASTLE-UPON-TYNE JUNCTION.
Mr. llawkshaw, the engineer to the line, being examined by
Mr. ALATIN, gave the usual engineering evidence. The length of
the line will be 47 miles, and that of the Hawes branch nine miles.
There are no engineering difficulties and the gradients are all favour-
able. There would be a tunnel of 3,850 yards in length. The esti-
mate was 1,300,0001.

.
The witness was cross-examined at great length by Mr. MANtsrr
on the part of Sir W. Lawson.

The cross-examination and re-examination of this witness occupied
the Committee for more than an hour.
Mr. Robert Stephenson was then called, and gave evidence cbrro-
borative of that of Mr. Hawkshaw. He had examined the plans,
&c., and could speak to their correctness. He totally denied the as-
sertion made in one of the allegations of the petition of Sir W. Law-
son, that the plans were incorrect.

The Committee declared the preamble of the Bill proved.

MANCASHIIiE AND NORTH YORKSHIRE.
This Bill, it will be remembered, forms but a part of the same pro-
ject as the Liverpool, Manchester and Newcastle, the two being in
fact but one line. The Committee, therefore, in passing the
preamble of one, also passed that of the other, and it was
determined to apply to Parliameat for leave to unite
the two, • and pass them as one Bill. It must be re-
membered, however, that part of each Bill has been abandoned, the
two having originally been competing lines, but by uniting them and
discarding parts of each, the present apparently perfect project has
been formed.
Having disposed of these Bilis, the Committee proceeded to the
case of the

TORN AND CARLXSILE.
Which, it will be remembered, was agreed to be taken next to the
Liverpool and Manchester, the Rill having been read on the 2lth of
February, being, earlier than any of the other Bills except the Liver.
pool and Manchester.

- The Bill was opposed by the Yorkshire and Glasgow Union, a'com-
peting line. There was no opposition on the part of the landoi'ners.
Mr. Murphy and Mr. Woohidge appeared for the promoters bf the
Bill; Mr. Talbot, Mr. Sergeant Wranghatn, and Mr. Pullen ftr the
Glasgow Union.

. , . .
i
air. rea,se, a large coal-owner In the district to which the ;York
and Carlisle will give: accommodation, gave' evidence at jgreat
length on the advantages to the collieries that would ensue trolin the
making of this line. 1
The examination, cross-examination, and re-examination of this
witness occupied the Committee the whole day, and at four of clock
they adjourned till to-morrow.

STANDING ORDERS' COMMITTEES;
HOUSE OF LORDS.
Their Lordships met this day at the usual hour ; present, thi Earl
of Shaftesbury (in the chair), the Duke of Richmond. Lords 4.)evon
and Redesdale. The business upon the paper was exceedingly heavy,
but before their Lordships reached the Railway Bills, the Earl of
Shaftesbury had to adjourn the Committee, in order to attend the
Appeal Committee.

LAW INTELLIGENCE,
COURT OF QUEEN'S BENCH, May 7,
The Court gave judgment to-day in two cases of not the least
public interest. The notice paper of the Court has the following an-
nouncement :
" The following cases have been selected from the special paper,
and will be hesrd on Saturday.

" Cooke v. Ml:ter:son, Wilkinson v. Gaston, Day r. Harrington,
Mitchell v. Johnson.

" The Court will, on Saturday, the 9th, and Monday, the 11th of
May, hold sittings, and will proceed In disposing of the business in
the special paper, and new trial paper, and is giving judgment in
cases that may be then pending."

BAIL COURT, May 7.
Mr ANDERSON applied to the Court for a mandamus to compel the
Tithe Commissioners to make public the terms of a certain arbitra-
tion made under the following circumstances. It appeared that the
rector and the parishioners of a certain parish in Cumberland had
had some difference upon the amount of tithe to which they Were li-
able ; and, in consequence, an Assistant-Commissioner was sent
down to arrange the disputed question. After having made the ne-
cessary Inquiry and examined witnesses, he made a report, upon
which the Tithe Commissioners made an avowal ; but the terms of
award not having been made known to the parishioners, they Applied
to the Commissioners to have it made public ; but though they had
made several applications to the same effect, they never received an
answer, and were therefore now compelled to adopt the present
course.

The Learned Judge (Mr. Justice Wightman) was of opinion that
this %as a question which should be argued before the whole court.

WEEKLY STEAM MAILS BE-
TWEEN FRANCE AND AMERICA.
We are cnablea to make an announcement regarding the convey-
ance of mai% by steam between this country and America, which
will -be hailed I,n:it gratification by the whole community. The
Government have entered into a farther contract with the British
and North American Royal Mail Company, the effect of which is to
secure a weekly communication by steam between Liverpool and the
United States of America. A steamer of great power and size will
be dispatched direct from Liverpool to New York every alternate
sailinglattet fsreorravicLeivlsell.l
pSoarfoturrydatoyadujsinagmeitigollot
almovnetyhasgtosf, thaeodyetarrresp. Toolzeotriopfs
tarhee tfoorbte.
wai
un cli
theßoston,alteration
cno4lintitillYuevjottysatgaess attoplirealseinfatx,
Pool as well as from Boston always on Saturdays, instead of a fixed
asthio;
day of the month, as at present. The steamers to New York will
also take their departures always on Saturday. By this arrange-
ment there will be a steamer from Liverpool to America every
Saturday, and from the American aide also every Saturday, the only
difference being that Bost and New York will alternately be the
ports of departure. At present we are not enabled to state the
precise time when these weekly Battings will commence, but no doubt
we may look for the alteration to come into play as soon as the re-
quired number of ships can be got ready to undertake such a vast
service.
This bridging of the Atlantic by steam is one of the wisest and
hest undertakings of the Government The mercantile world will
reap immense advantages front it ; and who can estimate its im-
portance to the multitudes emigrating, and having connexions in the
western world ? In thus taking this invortnnt movement in ocean
steaming, the Government have anticipated the 'ashes of the
merchants of Great Britain and America. Astir was about being
made earnestly to press this matter on the Govenunent ; and it is a
subject et greater congratulation that it is voluntarily done, and that
the duty of carrying out the mighty enterprise has devolved on the
parties who, from the very first, have shown themselves equal to the
Royal Mail Company are a sure guarantee that any extra
necessities of the case. The past doings of the British and North
American
service will be carried oat In the most complete and effective manner.

A public dinner took place at the London Tavern on Wed-
nesday, to celebrate the second election of annuitants in
connexion with this institution, and in aid of its benevolent
fund. The election took place in the morning, J. A. Smith
Esq., M.P., in the chair, when two individuals were elected'
annuitants ; the one an aged clerk, 65 years, to a pension of
251. ;the other, the widow of a clerk, to a pension of 15/. ; in
neither case had they contributed more than four guineas to the
association. The an of Dalhousie, President of the Board
of Trade, took the chair; was supported on his right by
Lord John Russell, and on his left by J. Wood, Esq., chair-
man of the Excise. Upwards of 200 sat down to dinner.
Amongst those present we observed J. A. Smith, Esq,
M.P.; W. G. Prescott, Esq.; J. Mackillop, Esq. ; C. Kerr,
Esq.; M. Boyd, Esq. • J. W. Gilbert, Esq. ; Thomson
Hankey, jun., Esq ; H. Davidson, Esq. ; W. Thornton, Esq. ;
J. Cook, Esq. ; J. Fletcher, Esq. s• G. W. Roberts, Esq. ; W.
Davidson, Esq. ; C. Cave, EBll. ; G. Pollard, Esq. ; J. Dent,
Esq. ; W. Fraser, Esq ; the Rev. F. Dollman, M.A., chaplain ;
R. H. Jones, Esq. ; T Price, Esq.; Thos. Alers Hankey,
Esq. • S. Anderson, Esq.; J. Anderson, Esq. &c.
The following gentlemen sent letters, apologising for their
inability to attend from various causes :—Sir J. Hall, the
Governor and Deputy-Governor of the Bank of England, the
Rev. J. Vane, M.A., Sir J. Easthope, Bart., M.P., Alderman
Lucas, H D. Blyth, Esq., J. Deacon, Esq., J. Labouchere,
Esq., Sir G. P. Glyn, Bart., Sir C. Price, Bart., Alderman
Thompson, M.P., Raikes Currie, Esq., M.P., Sir J. Lubbock,
Bart., Sir G. Larpent, Bart., T. Baring, Esq , M.P., (in con-
sequence of an accident), A. W. Roberts, Esq., C. G.
Thornton, Esq., G. F. Young, Esq., G. G. Barton, Esq.,
J. Alexander Hankey, Esq., Samuel Jones Loyd, Esq.
" Benedictus" having been sung,
The CHAntsiAN, who was received with the most rapturous
applause, rose and said, there was one toast which, on every
occasion, and in every company which could meet within
the three kingdoms, commended itself without introduction
and without comment to those who were invited to drink it;
and he should think from that he would pay but a poor com-
pliment to that assembly if he seemed to suppose that it
needed either hint or word from him to call forth from
them loud cheers in drinking the health of "The Queen."
The toast was drunk with great enthusiasm, and was fol-
lowed by " God Save the Queen."
The CHAIRMAN then proposed, in succession, the Queen
Dowager, and Prince Albert, and the rest of the Royal
Family, which were evally well received. He then gave
the " Army and Navy, and in doing so trusted that they
would drink the toast in an overflowing bumper.—(Cheers.)
Under any ordinary circumstances the toast would have
been passed over as a matter of course, but with the Gazettes
of the last few weeks fresh in their memory—with the sound
of the Tower guns still in their ears, when, in fact, they re-
collected that the mails of the last few weeks had brought
tidings of victory after victory—he thought he should not
be doing his duty to that assembly, or satisfy the expecta-
tion which, occupying the position which he did in the
councils of her Majesty, they had a right to form of him, if
he did not give them an opportunity of " doing honour where
honour was due"—of paying a tribute of respect to the
British army and navy.—(Cheers.) They had nothing there
to do with the causes of the war and its consequences, but he
did think it was a matter of high congratulation and of just
pride to them to know that after so many years of profound
and prolonged peace, the experienceof the last few
years, above all, the experience of the last few
months, had fully proved to them that the soldiers and
officers of the British army were at that moment as fully
endowed with those soldier-like qualities which distinguished
their predecessors an'd led them to fame. It was quite
needless that he should pause for a moment to say that the
army with which they had to deal was no ordinary foe, but
one of undoubted valour, and reared in the strictest school of
discipline, by ,European officers, and well skilled in all the
science of European power ; and in the face of that they
had an army only partially trained in the arts of war, not of
experience, like those who were in the service at the close of
the yearlBl4; but they proved in India that the edge of their
sword was not less sharp, and their hands not' less capable of
wielding it, and that they were es capable of enduring hard-
ships as those who had preceded them.—(Cheers.) Heaven
forbid that for many long years they
.should be again en-
gaged in war, but if occasion should arise for their services
they might rely with the most unswerving confidence upon
them.
The toast was warmly received.
Duet—" The Army and Navy."
• The CHAIRMAN again rose and said—Gentlemen, I have
now the honour to propose a toast to you which na-
turally and necessarily must be one of the most im-
portant interest to those whom I have now the honour
of seeing before me. Gentlemen, I am about to pro-
pose to you to drink " Prosperity to the Provident Clerks
Association."—(Cheers.) It is a matter of extreme gratifi-
cation to me that in standing here to propose that toast I
am not standing as the advocateof a falling scheme, or am I
asking of you to drink the toast in tke hope of prosperity to
that which might have hitherto been a falling undertaking.
Gentlemen, I am not in either of these positions; on the
contrary, we can say that prosperity has hitherto attended
this institution, and that, its prosperity with every passing
year increases in great and rapid proportion.—(Cheers.) I
will not trouble you by stating any facts in detail, but will
confine myself to mentioning only the several points
which the worthy and learned secretary has been so
kind ea to furnish me with. It is stated in these
papers that although the year 1845 was the most
prosperous since the formation of the Society, 'the
period from the 31st' of January to the 31st of March in this
year has not only been equally prosperous, but doubly so.—
(Loud cheers.) In 1845 the number of members who were
added was 211, the number who joined the benevolent fund
was 133, making the total number of members who joined in
1845, 344 ; but the quarter just ended, viz., from the
Ist of January to the 31st of March, there were 107
new assurances, and 40 new members to the benovolent
fund ; that is, the total number of members
this quarter was 147. If the proportion should con-
tinue, during the present year, to the same extent as it com-
menced in the past quarter, then there will be upwards of
600 members.—(Cheers.) Gentlemen, I am sure it will be
entirely unnecessary for me in a company such as this, com-
posed, I apprehend in a great degree of the members of the
society, and at all events fully versrd in matters of business,
it must, I say, be utterly unnecessary for me to pause for a
moment to mention anything with respect to this portion of
the business Every man in his experience, every man in
this room knows, that in all the many evils which one
suffers in life, "all the ills that flesh is heir to," that great
anxiety is felt by every man, however high his position in
life at times, and must have been felt, as to the fate of those,
in the future, who are both near and dear to him—as to their
fate when he is disabled or when he is gone; and if that,
Gentlemen, is felt by those moving in a more independent
sphere, how much more, allow me to say, must it be felt by
the class of society whose claims I am advocating, whose
means, though comparatively limited, may never-
theless afford them an opportunity of providing
against the future, in however limited an amount.
And I am sure, although they will not perhaps say so, if I
were to appeal to the experience of many of those I see' here,
as t ( the truth of what ,I have stated, that there are many
thousands who, before this Society was constituted, of which
they are now members, had nothing to look forward to—
they would answer in the affirmative; and that this Society
has been the means of relieving much of the anxiety to
which I have referred, by preventing persons from suffering
all the pangs of adversity. But, when these feelings are felt
by persons in comparative prosperity, they must be ten
thousand times more when entertained by those in adversity.
This, then, shows the necessity of persons joining' the
Society who might say, " My circumstances may be worse
than they are now, and if anything should happen, what on
earth would become of those who depend upon me'?"—.
(Cheers.) Gentlemen, in that question as put there is to be
found an answer. That answer is to be found in this Associa-
tion, of which you are members, and whose anniversary you
are met to' celebrate. He may do that which it is in the
power of man to do, to anticipate and control the future, by
means of mutual assurance. It will not, perhaps, raise the
curtain which shows the events of that future, but it goes a
great way to provide for that future. And it has this re-
commendation, that there are none whose means are so small
but that may obtain advantage from it—no man is so poor,
no clerk so humble, but may Join, in order to provide for the
wants of the future by contributing towards its funds, which
will be fostered and cherished and paid to the
uttermost farthing.—(Cheers.) Such associations are of the
greatest value in this country, whose yearly increase in
wealth rivals and surpasses that of princes. It would not
be well for me to enlarge on this subject, inasmuch as thi
address ought not to be permitted to degenerate into a lec-
ture or sermon ; but I must be permitted to advert to one
point. And permit me to say that that which I take the
liberty of recommending to you and to others of our humbler
brethren, is not that which Ido not practise myself 1 do
,ffeoerl
believe
valueew ith aoaft
awhatach
ca"asntyP rsbteeemda ochnl
eosiblii co' urxltduhTanunoAtlLAss estimatei practise.RANf
y the advantages which I
am enabled to confer upon my children, who may perhaps be
poor enough at any time ; but without such a society as this
your children would not, with any certainty, be provided
for at all. —(Loud cheers.) You have heard it, perhaps,
said, that although this Society may put it in the power of
any man, however poor, to pay something towards its funds
for his own behalf in the time of need, still the pittance upon
which many are called upon to subsist is so poor that
they cannot afford to spare any portion of it, as
it is swallowed up in his present expenses, and
therefore he. trusts to the mercy of Providence
for the future. Gentlemen, I am the last man who would
say to you, or to others, not to trust in Providence; I would
not say that it is not right to trust to the mercies of that
Providence; but, gentlemen, whenever that is addressed to
you in public, I would advise you to make this rejoinder,
that no man has a right to trust to that Providence, which is
the attribute of heaven, until he has used his utmost exer-
tions to avail himself of the advantages which Providence
now extends to him, and whose decrees it is the duty of
evaehryallmnaont
dueptoain neyaortahfrtoom drinkingsubmit to.—„(perhaesepresrly Gtoenthtleemproen!
I
vident Clerks' Association ;" but before I sit down permit me
to offer one word of supplication in its behalf. If there are
any here who have not followed the admirable example set
us by many whose names appear upon this hat, for many of
the most eminent of this great city have subscribed to pro-
vide the
Benevolent fund, or are seeking to attain the means
of relief to themselves and others in the time of need, then I
swtaonuely....(Hear, hear.) If any gentlemen have not followed
would earnestly entreat you to induce them to become mem-
bers of this Association. And I wish to impress this upon you,
that when you aid those who wish to aid themselves you are
benefiting
t hYe°cuomhr:rtsteleikwehwo have likewise;
se;andt
the youm
management
es
mu seen
tt haaft
thistli
Institution will be discharged with integrity and with con-
e
duties of
this praiseworthy example, permit me, with every respect,
to suggest how good a work they will promote if they en-
deavour to induce others to become members of this Society.
You cannot be wrong in inducing, as far as it is in your
Power, men to be provident for those that belong to them—
provident for the future—you cannot be in the wrong in ad-
vocating the claims of a Society which has for its object to
succour the poor, to aid the widow, and to rescue the father-
less. The Noble Earl resumed his seat amidst loud cheers.
Tnosisoy HANKEY, jun., Esq., said he had received per-
mission of the Chairman to propose a toast, but before he did
so, he wished to explain that the Governor of the Bank of
England was unavoidably absent on account of urgent busi-
ness, and that lie had desired him to express his extreme re-
gret for the circumstance, and deputed him to be his re-
presentative. The toast he was about to propose was,
the health of the Chairman, who had so nobly come
forward to aid 'them.—(Loud cheers.) They had met on no
ordinary occasion. The Institution was known almost to
every One present, and they knew how deep an interest
every merchant in the City took in its rise and progress, and
it was, in his opinion, calculated to promote the best interests
of those who were in daily and constant communication with
them. But, independently of the circumstance of their meet-
ing to celebrate an anniversary of the Institution, let him
remind them under whose peculiar patronage they were as-
sembled. They had received that day a mark of the decided
sanction of would not ray a nobleman connected with
the commerce of the City—but of a nobleman tilling the
highest office which any man could do in this great
country, as he presided over the great mercantile and com-
mercial interests of this great City.—(Hear, bear, and
cheers.) He would not enter into his private virtues
but he did think he should ill discharge his duty,
if he were not to call atteotion to his public character,
and to say that w
1 'tas gm% t de grin-lolls public cha-

racter that they owed his presence on that occasion; besides,
in his official capacity, he presided over, and led, and sup-
ported every commercial interest in the Upper House of Par-
liament.—(llear, hear.) How deep and responsible such a
position was must be known and appreciated by men who
were as intimately connected with the trade and commerce
of this City as those he was addressing. He believed now
the Society had taken root that it would flourish, and that it
would never be uprooted.—(Cheers.) How could it be, when
it was so supported, and when they remembered that the
President of the Board of Trade had come down to the City
to give his sanction and to express his approbation of the
Institution, and to identify himself with them—a large class
of the commercial community of London ?—(Hear, hear.)
It was impossible it could fail to be prosperous, and if it
should prosper they should look back upon that day with
pleasure, and upon the conduct of the Noble Lord with gra-
titude—(Cheers)—because he had allotted one day from the
official duties to which he was so heartily devoted in order
that he might afford himself some little relief from business
by assisting the Institution. He concluded by proposing
"Health and Prosperity to the Noble Chairman," which was
received with the most enthusiastic applause.
The CHAIRMAN briefly returned thanks. He assured them
lie felt himself quite unable adequately to express the ac-
knowledgments which he thought he ought to offer for the
kind manner in which they had received the toast and drank
it. He assured them that he spoke with perfect sincerity
when he said that Mr. Hankey, in expressing himself as he
had done, had praised him far, very far, above his deserts.—
(Cries of " No, no.") He felt a just pride in the honour they
had conferred upon him at his time of day, and after so short
an apprenticeship in the office which he had the honour to
hold. In holding that office, however, he laid no greater
claim than this to their regard—a strong desire, which he
sincerely believed was felt in common by every public man
in this city, of whatever politics, and consisting in an in-
creasing desire to promote the great interests of this great
commercial city in that way which they thought best, and
at the same time to exert himself unceasingly to promote
that object—to give every part of his time and every faculty
of his mind to discharge the duties of the office which he
filled, which he thought were inadequately and unsatisfac-
torily performed; but they would allow him also to say that
he laid no more claim, nor did he desire any praise for being
present on that occusion, as he derived the greatest pleasure
from it. Without the zealous services of clerks in public
offices, the heads of those offices, whatever might be their
talents, would find themselves in a difficult position at every
step they took. lie had discharged the duties of the chair
wish great pleasure, and if he could feel that he had added
one little to their benefit, or one member to the society who
might enjoy the blessings it was calculated to bestow, he
should be fully satisfied.—(Cheers.)
Glee—" Maying."
The CHAIRMAN again rode and said he had the honour to
propose to them to drink the healths of four gentlemen to
whom that company and the City of London were under great
obligations—he meant the Members for the City of London.
—(Loud cheers.) He said the City of London was under
great obligations to those gentlemen, and as a Member of the
House of Lords he must be permitted to say that it was by
no means a great joke to be a Member of the House of Com-
mons at the present moment.—(Laughter.) They had great
and responsible duties entrusted to them to discharge, and
he asked them to couple with that toast the name of Lord
John Russell.—(Loud cheers.) There was one peculiar ad-
vantage of such meetings, that they gave to men who en•
tertained different opinions on public politics an opportunity
of meeting together in public without the fear of clashing
opinions, or the possibility of a debate.—(Laughter and
cheers.) Although he had differed during his political life
from the Noble Lord, they would, he was sure, be perfectly
confident that on an occasion such as that not one word
should be introduced which would show such difference of
opinion.—(Cheers.) He trusted, however, that they would
not entertain so unfair an opinion of him as to consider that,
although opposed to the Noble Lord and those who thought
with him, he (Lord Dalhousie) was unwilling to do justice
to his qualifications—(Cheers)—and although he and his
colleagues dissented from the opinions of the Noble Lord in
many respects, he and they were ready to do all credit to
his undoubted abilities, unspotted character, and undoubted
courage.—(Loud cheers.) There were none more ready
than his political opponents to acknowledge and to admire
them.—(Cheers.) He concluded by proposing the health of
" Lord John Russell and the Members of the City of Lon-
don," which was drank with great applause.
Lord Jonx RUSSELL then rose, and was received with the
most enthusiastic cheering. After it bad subsided, he said—
My Lords and Gentlemen, I rise to return thanks on behalf
of my colleagues, Members for the City of London, as well,
as myself, for the great honour you have done us. 'No
doubt, as the Noble Lord has told you, the duties of the
Members of the City of London are serious and respon-
sible; I have but a partnership in those duties. There are
parts of those duties which are performed by my col-
leagues; but it will be sufficient for me to say that
I am not altogether an inactive and ikefficient Member.—
(Loud cheers.) I feel deeply the honour that has been done
personally to myself, and which consists of a character not
separate, but combined with that of the other Members of
the City of London. I feel deeply the honour which has been
done me by the speech made to you by the Noble Lord who
fills the chair—the Noble Lord placed at the head of a great
and responsible office, and who discharges the duties of that
office with eminent ability—(Cheers)—and who, by his kind-
ness and courtesy, has made those duties which are often
themselves irksome in comparison to ethers, at once useful
and agreeable.—(Cheers.) I feel it a great honour to have
been thus distinguished by that Noble Lord, and I feel like-
wise the honour which you have done me in the manner in
which you have received the toast proposed to you. I trust
by a strict performance of that which I consider my duty to
the public—by never forgetting that I have to represent a
great and important portion of this empire, and by duly
weighing the consequences of every vote I have to give—I
may, in some manner deserve that confidence.—(Cheers.)
The Noble Lord told you, truly, that he and I do not alto-
gether agree in opinion. lam happy to think this diffe-
rence is not, perhaps, very wide—that in general principles
we are not far distant—but of this I am sure, that I should
give credit to him, as I trust lie and you will give credit to
me, that arriving at the best conclusion that our under-
standings can arrive at, we did that which we feel for the
benefit of the country, and not from personal or private, or from
a feeling of party interest. The country will do us the justice
to consider us faithful servants.—(Loud cheers.) Gentlemen.
lam happy to have the opportunity of attending to-day on
the occasion of the anniversary of a Society which is so
useful to the City, and so excellent an example. I will not
detain you a moment in speaking of the benefits of this So-
ciety, because the Noble Lord in his speech has eloquently
and fully stated these advantages in a manner which leaves
nothing to fill up.—(Hear, hear.) But I may, perhaps,
be permitted to mention that there are collateral
advantages attendant upon societies of this kind.
In the first place, with regard to the individual, every insti-
tution which induces a man to carry his thoughts beyond
the day, to look somewhat beyond the business, and when
the business is done, which carries him to consider what
will be the results of his labours on the comforts of
himself and those connected with him, and will in-
duce him, for each of these reasons, to provide to the
best of his ability for himself and them in the season
of need—l say it tends to give sobriety to his thoughts,
regularity to his conduct, and elevation to his moral and re-
ligious sentiments.—(Cheers.) Then let me add further, if
it does this for the individual, societies of this kind do much
socially for the State. They combine together the different
members of society, and bring the merchant nearer to those
he employs than is the habitual result of the business of the
day. They tend to bind together men in the
different states of life, not formally, having, sympathy
with one another, to wish the individual welfare, by
acting disinterestedly for the benefit of all,—( Cheers.) But
it is this, gentlemen, it is this separate combination, it is the
fitness of every stone in the arch to its particular place, that
gives the solidity and strengh to the whole arch on which
British society rests. In other countries there have been
clever and distinguished men, brilliant warriors, eminent
and gifted poets, and all-wise and able legislators; but of
countries where all orders are combined, where the soldier
and the officer, the crown and the subject, the
lord and the clerk are combined together in
their various relations, I know of no country to
be compared to that to which I have the happiness to be-
long.—(Applause.) And when I say this, I am not depart-
ing from the subject of this night, because this great whole
is made up of several particles, and every society which
brings men together in such relations of charity and fellow-
ship tends to the welfare and to the promotion of this har-
mony to which I have referred. Gentlemen, you will allow
ine again to thank you for the response which you have
given to my health, and I trust you will allow me to give as
a toast, " The City of London, and Prosperty to its Commerce."
—(Great cheering.) I trust that that commerce may, from
day to day, and from year to year, flourish more and more, and that the British empire may set an increase to all na-
tions in the world, and will tend to the example of freedom,
peace, and prosperity.—(The Noble Lord resumed his seat
amidst enthusiastic cheering, which lasted several minutes.)
The toast having been warmly responded to,
W. G. PitEscorr, Esq., rose to return thanks for the
toast, as his name had been connected with it. It was the
intention of the committee to have entrusted the task to
Mr. Baring, who was more intimately connected with the
commerce of the City of London than he was, but that gen-
tleman, much to his regret, and to the regret of them all,
had been prevented from attending by a slight accident. If
this had not occurred to him he would certainly have been
present, for they all knew that from the commencement of
that Association down to that period he had given both his
time and money for its benefit.—(Cheers.) In his absence,
therefore, he had been called upon to say a few words, and
they should be few, because he could add little to the able,
appropriate, and feeling speeches which they had heard that
night. The Noble Lord who had proposed that toast truly
said that they might look for prosperity, and he did not doubt
it, because as long as British enterprise and British industry
was connected with the City of London it could not fail to con-
tinue to advance in prosperity. Yet there were times when
success gave place to depression, and consequently to want of
employment, but that connected with this Association would
not materially suffer during those periods, as it extended
its hand to them in the season of difficulty and danger.
Was not this, then, a great inducement to them all to join
it, and to give it their hearty support, since this uncertainty
of commerce was added to the uncertainty of health.—
(Hear.) He had watched the progress of the institution
from its commencement until its arrival at that point.
Although they bad many principles laid down for
its government, they found they had but little to do
when clerks themselves gave it their support; it was, in fact,
a self-supporting institution, and, besides, it made them, as
individuals, and as a class, less dependent on those who gave
them employment, and induced their employers, when they
saw the utility of the institution, to give it their earnest
sympathy and support also. He wished to say that the con-
duct of clerks had been watched, and, as they had been found
deserving, they wished to aid them in forming a fund for
those who were in reduced circumstances, and in order to
prevent them from having recourse to eleemosynary aid,
which would give them that feeling of self-respect which was
felt by those who knew that they were able to support
them-
selves
from a fund which they had created. He concluded
by expressing a hope that they would do all in their power
to make the institution wore generally known by inducing
those with whom they were acquainted to become members.
Mr. R. 11. Jones then read the list of subscriptions, which

_
amonnted to nearly 700/.
The announcement of the majority of them, especially the
larger sums, were received with great applause.
J. WooD, Esq., congratulated those present on the pros-
perity of the Institution, and considered that those who had

been entrusted with its management deserved their utmost
thanks. They consisted of thirteen individuals, who were

employed by:some of the first houses in the City, to whom

all honour 'should be given, because, in addiiion to the
duties which they had to discharge to their employers, they
devoted the few hours which they could spare from those

duties to ,the Association, for the Benefit of those who were
not, perhaps, in as good a condition as themselves. When
the Institution was about to be formed they applied to the

Board of Excise to support them, but they 17eftis0,
his
every
noterycl exceed oot a ar,
erkwaacolmpelled by Act
to a
t of Parliament,
w.ots.h
metnt,oifsaa.laar
did lyi
per cent. to be deducted for the purpose of creating a fund
for their future wants, or in case they were disabled by ill-
ness or age, and from the salaries of those who receive more
than 1001. five per cent. At the age of sixty-five the clerks
in that office were allowed a superannuation—not "pensions,"
a word which was much abused when applied to those in the
public service, because in the Atiss of t.b.ese clerks theypuly re-
,