The Sun.
London, England, 1846-05-14 00:00:00

birb Walbt-tion

NEWIVIARKET RACES.
(THIS DAY-BY EXPRESS.)

BY THE EASTERN COUNTIES
ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH. •

Match, 50 sovs. T.Y.C.
Mr;treville's Killie Krankie
Mr. Shelley's Hawkesbnry
Handicap of 20 sovs. each, 5 ft, &c. T.Y.C.
Mr. Lowther's Lyons
Sir J. Hawley's Fugitive
Lord Exeter's Sister to Pergularia.

A dead heat for second.
Match, 100. T. Y. C.
Mr. W. S. Stanley's Paultons
Sir J. Hawley's Bishop of Romford's cob ' 2
Sweepstakes of 10 sovs. each, and 50 added. T.Y C.
Mr. Newton's Reminiscence
Lord G. Bentinck's Blackeock
Colonel Peel's Isis
Sweepstakes of 10 soya. each. T.Y.C.
Lord Albemarle's Nell Cook
Mr. Watson's Libation 2

Mn. BNivio 's
of Mr. Benton,
attentive sue BENEFIT.--NVe observe that the benefit
artlateadsub-treasurer of Drury-lane, and the civil and
Mr.
itentairt of the Free List office, takes place to-
morrow. .
own merits, which are well known and
justly appreciated, woulds at any time secure him a good benefit,
and with such a bill of fare provided for to-morrow, in-
fgulaistalitietar iaßßeangligictrs:es, and the far-famed ballet d'a'c'ion,
he
f d'teurre, The Crusaders the
with Wieland as Chimpanze, we think wo may venture to
bpelemuat,,owliitt:
e,
prophecy that he will have a bumper, Ile well deserves it.
KENSINGTON.--TRIBUTE OF RESPECT.—The nobility,
gentry, and other inhaltilants of the parish of Kensington, have pre,
tented Mr. Chesterton a handsome service of plate on his retirement
from the office of churchwarden, which he had filled for the last six-
and-twenty yeare. The following is the inscription on.the salver
" presented to Charles Chesterton, Esq., May 5, 1846, on his retire•
meat from the office of churchwarden of the parish of St. Mary Ab-
Botts, KellgillgtOli, as a memorial of the high esteem and respect in
which he is held by his friends ,and as an acknowledgment of the valu-
able services rendered by him to the parish during the long period of
twenty-six years, in which he has discharged, with diligence, dis-
cretion, and fidelity, the arduous duties he had to perform."

QUEEN ELIZABETH AND THE DRAMA.--A hitherto
nukuown and highly curious document was laid before the Shakspere
Society at its last meeting, and it forms an important illustration
of our early stage history very shortly before our great dramatist is
supposed to have come to London. It is stated by several authori-
ties, that Queen Elizabeth formed a separate company of royal
players, in 1583, putting Richard Tarlton and Robert Wilson at the
head of it. Wo now learn, for the first time, in what way she pro-
ceeded in order to secure the best actors to be found in any part of
the kingdom. She issued a most arbitrary commission under the
Great Seal, to 'filmy, her Master of the Revels, authorising him to
take up, for the Queen's disport and amusements, any of the actors
belonging to the different noblemen or companies In London, or in
other parts of the kingdom. If they resisted his power, and refused
to quit their present employment, lie was to commit them to prison,
" without bail or mainprise," until they obeyed. The most singular
clause in this document is still to be noticed, for Tilney was not only
to exercise this authority over actors, but authors ; and every dra-
matist he chose to summon was to appear before him with their
plays, or to read and recite them to him, that he might select such
as ho pleased for performance before the Queen. if they refused,
thought uogi 111 ty fiat , non o
remarkableb stantei lal
uusytrAmeito
asP arrelgi aanridesti t.
the Tdhr
ai smcao,
they might be committed for any period the Master of the Revels
n
•.e display of arbitrary power by the Crown 111 nibmutissasionrei!
garde ti
1582 i which is
the date It boar

There are now to be elected three Directors, in lieu of John
Griffith Frith, Esq., Hunter Gordon, Esq., and John Rawson,
Esq., whose period of office has expired, but who are eligible
to be re-elected, and offer themselves accordingly ; and also
two Auditors, in place of Professor Wheatstone, F.R.S., and
Professor Graves, AIL, F.R.S., whose period of office has
expired, but who in like manner offer themselves for re-
election.

Approved by the Court of Directors,
T. LAMIE MURRAY, Chairman.
The report and the audited accounts having been read,
'rho CIIAIR3IAN rose and said—Before I move the
adoption of the report, if any gentleman would wish to
ask us any questions on the subject of the society, we
.hall be happy to answer him.

After waiting for a short time, in order to give' any
gentleman an opportunity of putting questions to the
directors, of which, however, no one present seemed
disposed to avail himself,
The CHAIRMAN continued—No gentleman seems dis-
posed to put any question. I suppose I may take that
as an indication of perfect satisfaction, and a willingness
to adopt the report of the directors. The past year
has been decidedly a prosperous one, and had we been
more disposed we might have taken more credit
and drawn obvious conclusions from the success we have
met with. But this is quite unnecessary, as the public
will not be slow in forming a correct judgment, and there-
fore we have contented ourselves with setting forth the
facts as they exist. It will be seen, on a reference to
the former report, that the reserve fund had reached
24,0001. In the present year, after deducting the
bonus of last year, it has attained the sum
of 37,0001. and upwards. It is from this fund,
which has been constantly accumulating since the
first valuation of the Society's business, that the bonus
to the policy-holders and shareholders are derived; and,
although one-fifth of it becomes' divisible every year,
yet, as its augmentation is greater than its reduction,
the annual division becomes greater and greater in each
year. A glance at the successive divisions to the policy-

holders will at once prove the justice of these ob-
servations. The Society commenced its operations in
the year 1837, and up to the last valuation, in Decem-
ber last, about eight entire years, the bonus payable
on a policy of 1,000/., dated in 1837, will be this
year 217/. 15s. added to the policy, should it
become a claim before the next annual valuation ;

1001. Os. lid. in cash, should the assurer prefer to re-
ceive it in money, or a reduction in his annual premium
of 161. Os. 4d. A policy of 1,0004 taken out only
five years ago, in 1841, will be by the present
division entitled to a bonus of 1111. 6s. Bd.
The Society has received greater support in the past
than in any previous year. Those who aro engaged in
the business of life assurance know that the past
year has not been a favourable one, by reason
of those causes to which we have alluded

in our report. I attribute this increase in our
business to the excellent principles on which we
are founded, which Kerns to afford a greater
protection to the assured under the frowns
of fortune. If the past year has been pros-
perous, the present one is promising, the application
for policies being even greater since December loot than
in the corresponding period of last year.—(dear,
hear.) I might go further—the, subject of life
assurance is a wide one—l might easily be led into a
long discourse. Ido not think that the intelligent meet-
ing lam addressing will require this from me. You
will find your interests set forth in the proper place, and
Ido not think you will be disposed to complain. I may,
I think, without hesitation, promiseyou the continuation
adoption I will,
therefore, conclude by
ort.—(Cheers.)
of an equal, if not greater bonus on your shares in
m eachmoving
nsv
rgu c. t chse ar e
SCOTT,
odi ;Tog,
pnf the rep
J, seconded the motion, which was
carried. unanimously.
A resolution was then put arid carried, to re-elect the
auditors and directors.

WM. STUDLEY—Gentleman, there is one thing which
we ought to do in justice to the directors and
to the Chairman, as well as to ourselves, and that is,
to move a vote of thanks to them for their efficient
highly gratified at the report which has just been
l
services. lam sure there is no 'gentleman but must
I am particulaaly so, having a
large interest in the concern.
A l'aopnicTon said he vvould take the honour to him-
self of seconding a motion so well deserved.
adoptedfee ; as for myself,
The motion was carried unanimously. 1
The CHAlRDlA.N—Gentlemen, on the part of the di-
rectors as well as of myself, I beg to return
you our most sincere thanks. We certainly
had a very serious as well as anxious labour
in examining upwards of seven hundred poli-
cies, which have been taken out within the last year.
Gentlemen were aware of all the necessary inquiries
which were consequent upon such an examination, but
if their labours were considerable, the progress and suc-
cess of the Society, and the approbation of the proprietors
were their reward. I beg again, gentlemen, to return
you our sincere thanks.
The meeting then separated.

The Duke of Northumberland has consented to be.
come one of thirty subscribers to pay of the budding debt of the City
of Westminster Mechanics Institution. The subscription, which was
set on foot by Mr. Ilindley, M.P., and is headed by Prince Albert, al-
ready includes twenty-one noblemen and gentlemen as subscribers.
Westminster-bridge is in as dangerous a State as ever.
Mr. Batty says, the most difficult feat his horses have to accomplish
is crossing the mountainous paving that runs over the Thames, from
his circus to the Houses of Parliament. me Alps, he declares, are
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