The Sun.
London, England, 1848-12-26 00:00:00

PR P SUN,

look to your untiring exertions, your indefatigable
zeal, to help us onward, and to second the earnest
desire of your directors to make this one of the largest
life assurance societies in this great City—(Loud
cheers)—and thus enable us to be the happy instru-
ments of relieving the father, the mother, the widow,
the orphan child perhaps from sinking into a state of utter
destitution and want. It is in your power to aid us
to a vast extent, and I look to you to do so to the
best of your ability, to forward the aim and object
which I believe we all have in view—the increased
prosperity of this institution.—(Cheers.) I give you
" Prosperity to the National Mercantile Life Assur-
ance Society."
The toast was drunk with the utmost enthusiasm.
Mr. Turner, the vocalist, here favoured the com-
pany with a song, from which we extract the follow-
ing verse introduced with respect to the company :
" Here's success to this worthy company ;
May it ever thrive,,and prosperous be :
And may the lives that they assure
Be happy as long as they endure.
11 nd he that will this toast deny,
`Down among the dead men let him lie.'"
—(Applause and laughter.)
Mr.D.WAnniNGTon, M.P., proposed the next toast.
Not only was the subject on which he presented him-
self before them a difficult one to touch upon, but
when touched, one got rid of it with alacrity—
" Fire." He wished to: give them " Prosperity to the
National Mercantile Fire Association"—a sentiment
which was received with the loudest demonstrations
of applause. He hoped with their aid that it would
go on and prosper, and that a similar gathering
would take place every year to celebrate its progress,
and that of its twin sister, the life department.—
(Cheers.) Such anniversaries did not occur too often
when they took place " but once a par."—
(Hear, hear.) He hoped, however, during
the intervals that ensued that they would
not forget that the success of the department to which
he referred depended much upon the exertions of
the commercial travellers of the country.—(Hear.)
It was an institution of which any man need be
proud ; and he felt, therefore, that the members, in
electing him their chairman, had conferred a great
honour upon him.—(Prolonged cheering.) Really
they seemed so enthusiastic in favour of the institu-
tion that it was unnecessary for him to say anything
to induce them to labour in its behalf. Under such
auspices it was sure to prosper. He wished merely
to tell them when they went forth to night
to do all in their power to promote the prosperity of
the National Mercantile Fire Assurance. He was
sure after the eloquent appeal of the Chairman, that
the life department would receive as heretofore the
benefit of their generous aid. As the one had been
ably advocated and patronised throughout the length
and breadth of the land, he believed that the other
would receive support in the same degree, because it
was founded upon those true commercial principles
which would command the countenance and assist-
ance of all men ; it destroyed the monopoly which the
old offices had so long enjoyed; their monopolising
spirit would be destroyed by moderate premiums, yet
amply sufficient, as proved by facts, to cover the
risks. They had, therefore, a strong argu-
ment to wield in its behalf, and if they advocated it
well, as he knew they would, it could not fail to sue-
ceed.—(Cheers.) Although be was not formerly an
admirer of the principles of free trade, yet he was
strongly in favour of the application of the principle
to fire insurance.—(Cheers.) He consigned this
bantling to their care, in the hope that they would
foster it ; if they did so he was sure they would have
many festive anniversaries of this day to congratulate
it upon having arrived at a prime and happy man-
hood.—(Loud cheers.)
The toast was drunk in a bumper.
Mr. WADDINGTON again rose and said, it was now
about six months ago since he had the honour and
gratification of presiding over a meeting at Wausted.
He there saw the children educated in the Commer-
cial Travellers' School, whose healthy and happy
appearance gave evidence of their bounty and phi-
lanthropy. He witnessed there, with the greatest
delight, the fruits of the unwearied exertions of the
commercial travellers themselves, who out of their
hard earnings had contributed so generously towards
that noble institution; but that gratification was much
enhanced by the fact that he had formerly belonged to
the great body of commercial travellers.—(Cheers.)
The foundation of that school was, in his opinion,
mainly owing to the exertions of Mr. Cuffiey ; but
had it not been taken up by one of our most pros-
perous citizens, one who had himself risen from the
shopboard, and who, in this great city, was second to
none—he alluded to the treasurer, George Moore,
Esq.---(Loud cheers)—it never could have prospered
as it had done. These exertions were ably seconded
by Mr. Nicholson, who was venerated in years as he
was in character. It bad also, he might state,
been supported by every member of the board of the
Societies whose anniversary they had assembled to
celebrate. Perhaps it had not been taken up by the
city of London as it deserved, but the lack of that
...pport had been in a great measure compensated by
the Mummy cir N
The fact that the number of children admitted ietorihe
school would be increased by 10 at the next election,
making the entire number 60, evinced the zeal of the
commercial travellers as a body in favour of the
splendid establishment they bad erected. The
National Mercantile Life contributed 1001.
a year, which evinced the interest that com-
pany felt in the welfare of the institution.
He hoped they would take the first opportunity that
presented itself to them, of visiting the school, when
they would have their hearts thrilled, as his was, at
the delightful sight he beheld—and come forward at
the anniversary to-morrow, and say, " Long may
such an institution prosper." He begged to give
them—" Prosperity to the Commercial Travellers'
School," with which he begged to couple the names
of Mr. Cuffiey and of Mr. Moore.—(Loud cheers.)
Mr. CUFYLET, who was very much cheered, re-
turned thanks. Whilst he modestly took credit for
having aided to the best of his ability to institute
the school, he wished those present to understand that
their thanks were equally due to Messrs. Moore,
Carter, Stockdale, Walsh, and Jones, without whom
it never would have existed.—(Cheers.) Their
thanks were especially due to Mr. Moore, who, in
truth, ought to be termed the father of the whole
school. They meant to bore the commercial travel-
lers until every one subscribed, and there was not an
orphan to provide for.—(Hear, hear.) Both the
National Mercantile and the school were equally
deserving of their support. Not only had
the school provided for the children of
commercial travellers, who had toiled far away from
their homes, but it had provided for the children of the
heads of houses, and it had therefore a strong claim
upon them.—(Loud cheers.) He trusted they would
all join them at the anniversary to-morrow, and not
forget in the course of their ensuing labours that it
would not have existed but for the aid the National
Mercantile had afforded it.—(Loud cheers.)
Mr. GEORGE Moose thanked them very cor-
dially for the honour they had conferred upon
him. He assured them he was prepared
to excel all he had done in the future, if his health
was spared, on behalf of the school.—(Cheers.) He
hoped, however, the present meeting would not in-
terfere in the slightest degree, as he was sure it
would not, with the anniversary of the school. He
had his eye upon them all, and if they were not all
present at it he should bold them responsible.—
(Cheers and laughter.) His friend Mr. Giles Red-
mayne had done more than any other man for the
school.—(Hear, hear.) He it was that went
through the City with his partner: soliciting
aid in its behalf.—(Hear, hear, and cheers.)
They had, however, assembled to-night to congratulate
each other on the wonderful success of the National
Mercantile Life Assurance Society.—(Hear, hear.)
The board, of which he was an ,unworthy member,
felt the liveliest interest in the welfare of the school.
He never in his life consented to connect his name
with any undertaking with more pleasure than when
he put down his name as one of the directors of the
National Mercantile Fire Assurance Society. Pre-
vious to the fire in his establishment in
Aldermanbury he and his partner paid
4s. per cent. for the assurance of their
premises; but that rate was subsequently in-
creased to lls.per cent., so that they had to pay 0461.
a year.—(Hear, hear.) Now the rates of this office
were from 2s. 6d. to 95., according to the risk in-
curred. This was a vast modification, and since the
office stood aloof from those which charged monstrous
rates, it deserved the generous support of every com-
mercial house. Such had been his interest and sym-
pathy in the undertaking that he had sent out 6,500
letters on behalf of the society, signed by himself and
the other members of his firm; he had received re-
plies from a great many influential houses,
thanking the directors for the formation of the so-
ciety. They complained of the highitariff and exor-
bitant charges of some of the old offices, and of their
sticking together in order the better to take advan-
tage of the public. The moderation of the charges of
his office must commend it to thousands. If an
office can assure at rates varying from 2s. 6d. to 9s.
for what was formerly charged 4s. and now 11s., the
latter class of offices must be either shocking bad
men of business, and ought not to be trusted with
such affairs, or they are taking a most shameful
advantage of the public. There could not be such a
difference in business as between 2s. 6d. and 11s.—
(Hear.) If this office can assure at trifling charges
compared with other offices, it, as he had said, would
confer a great benefit upon the country at large, and
an ample guarantee of its high character and good
faith was to be found in the high character of the
men who constituted the board of direction.—(Hear,
hear.) He could not give the office all the attention
he could wish, but his sympathies were most warm
towards both departments.—(Hear.)
Mr. W. NICHOLSON proposed health.. of.-the.
Chairman, whose business habits and high character
he warmly eulogised. With respect to the board of

directors, he would only wake this statement—that
they all possessed the most true habits of business he
had ever met with. Instead of entering at their meet-
ings into the politics of the day, the chairman's hammer
went down, they set to business, transacted it, and
went away.—(Hear, hear.) His zeal in both life and
fire departments was unequalled, and, his experience
of the world and geiieral urbanity enabled him to
confer upon each the most essential service.— (Hear,
hear.) He knew of none who could promote the
prosperity of these institutions more than the great
body of commercial travellers to whom he had the
honour to belong for 40 years.—(Hear, hear.)
The toast was warmly responded to.
The CHAIRMAN briefly returned thanks. He had
been connected with the life department since its
formation, and he assured them that its progress had
far surpassed his expectations. He appealed to them
to co-operate with the board, in order that the inter-
ests of both proprietors and policy-holders might be
promoted to a still greater extent than heretofore.
Mr. ROBERTS proposed the health of the deputy-
chairman (Mr. Waddington) and the directors of the
life department—a body of gentlemen who were
richly entitled to their confidence and gratitude. He
wished to couple with that toast that of the health of
the Chairman, the Deputy- Chairman, and Directors
of the Fire department.—(Cheers.)
Mr. WADDINGTON briefly responded. His first
appearance in that tavern was in connexion with the
National Mercantile Life Assurance Society. The
chairman on that occasion put him forward as a
suckling; and he thought that, therefore, they might
take him as a child of their own.—(Hear, hear, and
laughter.) He hoped they would second the exer-
tions the directors might put forward with willing
hands and hearts.
The CHAIRMAN wished to propose the health of
their very meritorious Actuary and Secretary, Mr.
Jenkin Jones.—(Loud cheers.) He did not wish to
pronounce any panygeric upon his merits, but this he
wished honestly and faithfully to declare, that the
directors found him a most useful, most efficient, and
a most valuable secretary.—(Cheers.) He' had now
been connected with the office for very many years,
and hi possessed the unbounded confidence of the
board of directors.—(Hear.) As a utan of business,
as an accountant, as a mathematician, and as a
secretary be was unequalled.,-=(Cheers.)
Mr. JENEIN donee said, they would readily under-
stand that the success of the National Mercantile was
most deeply interesting to him. Whether the advan-
tages which it professed to afford were realised or
not was to him, they would as readily understand, a
question of all and everything.—(Hear.) That those
advantages had been realised and participated in to
the extent they had was to him a source of unmingled
satisfaction. Quite apart altogether from selfish con-
siderations, he did feel a deep and paramount interest
in the association.—(Hear.) Some allusion had been
made to the vicissitudes which the office, like other
establishments, had undergone since its commence-
ment, but for having been able to surmount all the
difficulties and dangers which they bad had to en-
counter the directors and himself were much indebted
to the kind exertions of many in that room. He
must confess that some were averse to the
holding of the annual dinner, of which he was the
main instigator, for he had ever urged upon the
directory the celebration of the anniversary of the
establishment of the office. Some thought that the
holding of the dinner at this period of the year would
prove inimical to the anniversary of the school. Now
he entertained an entirely different opinion ; it would
serve it. Of this, however, they might rest
assured, that since the school had grown out
of the National Mercantile, the directors
would not only do nothing which might
seem likely to prove inimical to it, but would
oppose everything that might partake of such a cha-
racter.—(Hear, hear.) The Chairman had alluded to
the embarrassments of the last three years. Now he
had much pleasure in stating that, notwithstanding
the difficulties of the times and the general suffering
that bad fallen to the lot of public bodies as well as to
private individuals, the National Mercantile bad
been enabled not only to keep its ground, but to
prosper and progress to an extraordinary degree.—
(Hear.) He found that during the years 1843,
1844, and 184.5 the effected assurances amounted to
283,2491. 95.,. which yielded an average premium of
94,4161. 9s. They would recollect that in those
years people had no occasion to complain of the
state of the money-market, for the people had so
much money they did not know what to do with it, so
they threw it away.—(Laughter.) But the years
1846, 1847, and 1848 were years in which money
was scarce, when people found great difficulty in
meeting calls ; nevertheless, the amount assured in
those years was 500,4251., or an average annual sum
of 166,8081., being an averaaja increase of 73,0001. a
year. During the first three years he had mentioned
be found they had paid to the executors of deceased
members 12,2721., or an average sum of 4,0901 18s. ld.
In a society which had existed so snany years, and which
held policies to so large an. amount, they must be
aware that they must have to Meet-590 or Intvr
^l"*^v • ,hot tileV hilflic been particularly fortu-
nate, since, instead or hey Been Called upon to pay
the greatest amount they bad estimated they bad paid
the lowest—(Hear, hear)—for whereas, in the first
three years they bad got 4,0901.185. ld. as the average
for each year, in the second three years they had paid
but 2,7811. 19s. 4d., being an average decrease instead
of an increase of 1,310/.—(Hear.) The total
amount paid for claims since the commencement
of the society is only 23,5861. At the same time
their assets had been inceased 80 per cent. It was
unnecessary for him to dilate upon the utility and
necessity of life assurance. The first thing a man
should do was to assure his life, and thereby benefit
his family. They might depend upon it if life as-
surance was more practised, there would be much
less distress in the land. The neglect of making
a future provision, which could be done at so small
an outlay, caused the most bitter distress, and often
produced crime—for the punishment of which they
would have to pay less if men were more provident
with respect to those that belong to them.—(Cheers.)
With regard to the Fire•office, he would only
observe that it was under a distinct board, and the
liabilities were separate from the Life, and that he
felt confident of its success if it were supported with
the same spirit as the Life. He thanked them most
cordially for the kind manner in which his health had
been proposed and responded to.
Several toasts followed, that of Mr. Redmayne, Mr.
Nicholson, Mr. M'Culloch, and the auditors, and the
company did not separate until a late hour. Mr.
Higgs was the toastmaster.

THE LONDON SOCIETY FOR THE
PROTECTION OF YOUNG FEMALES.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
Sin,—ln your paper of Saturday last a report is
given of the sentence pronounced by Mr. Sergeant
Adams, at the Middlesex sessions, upon a man named
Murray, who had previously pleaded guilty to an
indictment charging him with being the keeper of
three houses of ill-fame, in different parts of London.
But slight allusion is made to the prosecutors in this
case. It should be known, however, in justice to the
prosecutors, that Murray, who was the keeper of
nearly 50 improper houses in town and country, and
who kept his carriage and servants at Northfleet, was
indicted by the committee of the London Society for the
Protection of Young Females, who have thus suc-
ceeded, at an enormous expense and trouble, in sup-
pressing the practices and closing the houses of this
base brothel keeper, whose illness, there is in reason
to believe, is in a great measure pretended.
I may just add that every effort was made by
Murray's friends to compromise the prosecution.
The committee, however, had but one duty to per-
form, and they were determined (as they ever have
been and mean ever to be) to put a stop to the infa-
mous career of the man Murray and his wife, which
they have so successfully accomplished.
I am, Sir, your obedient sorvant,
J. B. TALBOT, Secretary.
17, Ironmonger-lane, Gresham-street, Dec. 25, 1841

DEATH OF THOMAS WENTWORTH, BEAUMONT,
ESQ.—The melancholy; intelligence reached this town
yesterday of the untimely death in Hampshire, on
Wednesday last, of Thomas Wentworth Beaumont, Esq.,
of Bretton Hall, Yorkshire, and Bywell Hall, Northum-
berland. Mr. Beaumont, by means of his vast posses-
sions in land and minerals, took his rank amongst the
most wealthy commoners of England, and was, in all
respects, a man of mark and consideration. He repre-
sented this county in Parliament for several years, and
was engaged in more than one electioneering contest,
the character and circumstances of which will not be
readily forgotten by the present generation. The
lamented deceased was a man of high spirit and intelli-
gence, of great frankness of manners, and of a munifi-
cence and generosity of disposition which always won
the respect and admiration of opponents as well as
friends. Mr. Beaumont is succeeced in his estates
by his son, Mr. Blackett Beaumont, who is nearly of or,
and, we believe, an undergraduate of St. John's College,
Cambridge.—Newcastle Journal.
SAM SLICK'S NEW WORK.—" THE OLD JUDGE;
on, LIFE IN A COLONY."—The pictures that have
hitherto been given of colonial life have often been com-
plained of as not being sufficiently trustworthy, but this
cannot be said of the new work just published under the
title of "The Old Judge," written by the most success-
ful delineator of trans-Atlantic character—the author of
" Sam Slick, the Clockmaker "—for it is the result of
fifty years' residence among a people whose pecularities
are so vividly pourtrayed. To the English reader the
writer's personal sketches cannot fail to afford abundant
entertainment. They lay open, as it were, a new world
to his observation, and therefore there can be very little
doubt that the "Old Judge" will become as general a
favourite as his popular predecessor " The Clockmaker."
A PIG IN A POCK.--A large cod was lately cut up
' in the market of the White Fishing Company here, when,
strange to relate, a young pig was found in his stomach.
k sucking pig is considered a very dainty dish, *but this°
is the first time we have heard of one being served up
for a monster of the deep.—.Montrose Standard.

9

TUESDAY EVENING,

The THEATRES (THIS EVENING).

Christmas! the most busy time in the, whole year
for the manager of a theatre, has again arrived, and
again have the many places of public amusement put
forth bills of unusual attraction.

At Drury.lane, Franconi's troup commence a
second season.

The Haymarket puts forth a burlesque entitled
Camaralzam,an and Badoura ; or the Peri who loved
the Prince, in which Mr. and Mrs. Keeley appear.
The Lyceum enters the lists with one of those
splendid fairy extravaganzas for which this theatre is
so famed, entitled The King of the Peacocks, the
principal characters by Miss K. Fitzwilliam, Miss
Howard, Miss J. Coleman, Miss Marshall, Madame
Vestris, Messrs. Harley, Hall, J. Reeve, and Selby.
At the St. James's Theatre, the Dumbolton Serena-
ders and Robert Houdin will perform on the alternate
nights during the holidays.
The Adelphi rests its claim to support upon Mr. C.
Dickens's Christmas work, The Haunted Man; or the
Ghost's Bargain. ..
At the Princess's, a pantomime entitled Bluff King
Hal; or Harlequin and the Charmed Arrow, Flex-
more appearing as Clown.
The Olympic production is entitled William the
Conqueror; or Harlequin King Harold and the Sack of
the Saxons, in which the American pantornimists
make their first bow to brother John Bull. Clown,
Mr. Barnes; Pantaloon, Herr Cole; Harlequin, Mr.
Chapino ; Columbine, Madlle. Valdee.
The pantomime at Sadler's Wells is entitled liar-
/N-11in and the World turned Upside Down. Harle-
quin, Mr. C. Fenton ; Clown, Mr. C. Stilt ; Panta-
loon, Mr. J. Johnson; and Sprite, Mr. H. Stilt;
Columbine, Miss E. Horne.
At the MarYlebone, a pantomime, entitled One
o' Clock ; or Harlequin Hardykanute, the Knight and
the Wooden Demon. Clown, Mr. Jefferini ; Panta-
loon, Mr. Morris Harlequin, Mr. Moreland ; Sprite,
Mr. Bowen ; Cdumbine, Miss Sarah Healy.
At Astley's Amphitheatre a new equestrian Christ-
mas pantomime, entitled Bold Robin Hood; or the
Pretty White Horse and Enchanted Princess of Sher-
wood Forest, in which the celebrated. Arabs will ap-
pear. Harlequin, Mr. Harvey ; Columbine, Mrs.
Harvey; Clown, Mr. Roches; Pantaloon, Mr.
Priorson.

At the Surrey we are to have a pantomime, enti-
tled Harlequin Lord Loved ; or tha Lady Nancy Bell,
in which Mr. T. Matthews will appear as clown.
At the Victoria the pantomime is entitled The Land
of Light; or Harlequin Gas. Clown, Mr. Bucke.
At the Strand, " Soirees Mysterieuses," Magic, De-
monoly, and Witchcraft, by Professor J. H. Ander-
son (the Great Wizard of the North).
At the Standard, The Model Pantomime of 1548 ;
or Harlequin King Copperzose. Clown, Mr. T. Barry,
Harlequin, Mr. Cormack.
At the City of London, the pantomime is entitled
Love, War and Peace ;or Harlequin Chat. Clown,
Mr. Huline.

Besides the above there are concerts, lectures,
and other amusements for the holiday makers whose
name is legion.

THEATRE ROYAL DRURY-LANE.
CIRQUE NATIONAL DE PARIS.
This evening will commence the second season of
this highly celebrated troop, whose fame was so
completely established last season. The company
will open with great eclat and afford endless amuse-
ment for the holiday people of our vast metropolis.
We must not forget to state that M. Dejean, the able
and respected proprietor of this establishment, fought
with his regiment against the insurgents at Paris on
the memorable days of June last, and received three
wounds, and it was not until he was totally disabled,
after receiving his third wound, that this brave soldier
left his post during that severe contest for the desti-
nies of his country. He received two musket balls
in his thigh and one in the groin; but, we are happy
to say, that he is now re-established in his health.
M. Dejean ranks high in the estimation of his coun-
trymen, and we feel assured that he will be equally
respected in England, if for nothing else than his
endeavours to afford us amusement, and for his enter-
prise in crossing our Channel with so numerous and
highly respectable an establishment as the Cirque de
Pari,s. In addition to all the distinguished favourites
of last season, the proprietor has fresh claims upon
public patronage, for he has engaged numerous novel
artistes. The equestrian department is under the
superintendence of M. Adolphe Franconi, whose
family have been for so many years distinguished for
their skill. The band is under the able conductor-
ship of M. Hamet, whose skill and taste merits our
best acknowledgments. Morning performances will
also take place during the holidays.