The Sun.
London, England, 1848-03-15 00:00:00

PROVIDENT LIFE OFFICE.

The Annual General Meeting of the proprietors of
this institution took place at the head office in Regent•
street, on Tuesday, March 7. The attendance was un-

usually large.
The Rev. J. SEERMAN, having been unanimously
called to the chair, proceeded to address the meeting, in
a speech which elicited from his auditors repeated marks
of warm admiration. Ile traced the progress of the
institution from its first establishment, in the year 180%
when the shareholders subscribed a capital of 25,000/*
for the purpose of carrying out the infant scheme, up
to the present moment ; when, having passed through
the various stages of its career to its now vigorous days
of manhood, those parties who had confided their inte•
rests to its care saw themselves possessed of a capital of
no less than 1,231,647/. 14s. Id. Ile remarked, that
the shareholders' portion of the profits being less than
one-twentieth part, :the society might almost be con-
sidered as a mutual society, in which the profits are
wholly divided among the policy-holders, but with this
advantage, that although 25,0001. only had been sub-
-1 scribed, the shareholders guaranteed a capital of
250,0001. The present flourishing condition of the
society renders the probability of any call being made
upon that fund extremely improbable ; still it is an ad-
ditional guarantee for the security of the policy-holders,
and was in the outset the foundation upon which the
society started, and without which it would not have
gained the confidence of the public. During the period
of forty years, said the Reverend Gentleman, we have
paid in claims no less a sum than 1,677,0004, of which
529,2151. was for bonuses or additions to those sums
which by oar policies we agreed to pay to our clients.
He dwelt with much heartfelt gratification upon the re-
flection, that the society had during that time alleviated
the distress of many a widow and orphan, and expressed
his fervent hope, that the benefits to be derived from so
excellent an institution would henceforth become still
more widely known. This he felt especially anxious
should be the case, because they were now met to learn
the result of a sixth septennial investigation of their
affairs, and the accounts laid before the meeting showed
that the advantages which would be obtained by all per-
sons effecting insurances in the office were of no com-
mon description. After providing for all liabilities, a.
surplus profit of 449,6891. Ils. sd. will be left, one-half
of which amount will be divided among those policies
already existing in the office, and the other half,
214,844/. 15s. Bd., will be reserved as an additional se-
curity to the policy-holders, until the next septennial
division in 1855, when, as upon the present occasion, it
will be added to the accruing profits, and form the fund
out of which the bonus then to be declared will be pay-
able. lie drew attention to several instances of the ex-
traordinary additions that would be made to existing
policies on the present division ; in one case the amount
being increased to more than double the sum originally
insured. The Rev. Chairman then took the opportunity
of stating to the meeting, that the directors were most
anxious to carry out every improvement of which the
principles of lite insurance were capable, and that they
had consequently determined, among other important
measures, to adopt a new system of tables, calculated
upon the more accurate data which the extensive expe-
rience of life insurance had recently placed within their
reach ; and, secondly, to give a prospective bonus, the
effect of which will be, that every policy lapsing during
the interval between two septennial divisions, will par-
t ticipate in the profits up to the time when the life shall

fail.
CHARLES WARWICK, Esq., expressed his hearty con-
currence in the proceedings of the day. He had not,
until recently, entered attentively upon the considera-
tion of the affairs of the office, but he was glad to say,
that having done so, he found them in a state of prospe-
rity which far exceeded his expectations. He looked
forward with great confidence to the best results arising
from the united exertions of the directors and share-
holders, and passed a high eulogium upon those gentle-
men who had brought the office to its present highly
satisfactory condition. He ended a very able speech by
calling upon the meeting to join him in the following
cordial vote of thanks to the Managing Director :
" Resolved—That the most cordial thanks of this
meeting be given to J. A. Beaumont, Esq., the Manag-
ing Director, for the very great attention and zeal he has
displayed in the management of the society ; and that
this meeting have great pleasure in acknowledging the
very satisfactory state of its funds to be mainly attri-
butable to his personal and efficient services."
This resolution was unanimously agreed to.
The Hon. ARTHUR KINNAIRD rose to call the atten-
tion of the meeting to the advantage which the society
had that day derived from the presence of the Rev.
Gentleman in the chair ; he had listened to the very
able exposition of the affairs of the office, as all, be felt
confident, had done, with much pleasure ; he had also
witnessed with sincere admiration the truly Christian
feeling, with which the Rev. Gentleman had enlarged
upon the high duties and the extended benefits which
attached to this and similar societies. He knew that
he need say little in moving a vote of thanks to the
Rev. Gentleman for his very kind and efficient labours
on this occasion ; his character was so deservedly re-
spected by all who knew him, and the shareholders
of this society were, moreover, so deeply indebted to
him for his persevering exertions in their behalf. The
Hon. Gentleman concluded by proposing a ♦ote of
thanks to the Chairman, which was carried unani-
mously.

METROPOLITAN DESTITUTION.
In reply to two communications addressed to Mr.
Lumley, the proprietor of the Italian Opera House, from
Mr. Cochrane, the chairman of the Poor Man's Guardian
Society, asking the former gentleman to set apart a
night for the pecuniary support of the Leicester square
soup kitchen, the following letter has been received
" March 13, 1948.

" Sir,—ln answer to your application on behalf of a
charity, I have the honour of repeating what I observed
at our late interview, namely, that a night on behalf
of the poor of the metropolis has been long contem-
plated. I have only to add at present, that it will
immediately take place under the highest patronage.
I had only awaited this decision to answer your first ap-
plication.—l remain, sir, your obedient servant,
" C. Cochrane, Esq." " B. LUMLEY.

UNIVERSITY INTELLIGENCE.
OxwoßD, MERCY 14.-A meeting of the graduates in
the Faculty of Theology will be holden in the Convoca-
tion House on Thursday next, the 16th inst., at ten
o'clock, when the name of the Rev. R. Michell, 8.D., of
Lincoln College, who has been nominated by the Vice.
Chancellor to the office of Examiner under the provi-
sions of the new statute " De Disciplins, Theologica,"
will be submitted to the approbation of the Faculty.
B. 2. SYMONS, Vice-Chancellor.

Wadham College.
In the Convocation to be holden on Thursday next.
the 16th inst., at ten o'clock, it will be proposed to grant
out of the University Chest an annuity of 251. to William
Baxter, is consideration of hi• faithful services as head
gardener of the Botanical Gardens for 35 Chancellor.
Delegates' P. SYMONS, Vice-Chancellor.
Delegates' Room.

MORTALITY in the METROPOLIS.
NUMBER, OF DEATHS FROM ALL CAUSES REGISTERED IN
THE WEEK ENDING SATURDAY, MARC!' 11, 1848.
- . _ _ _

Population
Enumerated,
1841.
West Districts... 300,711
North Districts.. 375,971
Central Districts 373,653
East Districts ... 392,444
south Districts .. 501,190

Totals... ..... 1,948,426
Males •.• •••

-. 1,107

... 525
... 545

les ...

Epidemic, Endemic, and Contagious Diseases ... 261
Diseases of Uncertain Seat ... ••• ... 46
Turbercular Diseases... 193
Diseases of the Brain, Nerves, and Senses... 12$
Diseases of the Heart and Blood-vessels 30
Diseases of the Lungs, and other Organs of
Respiration ... ..• 19111
Diseases of the Stomach, Liver, and other Organs
of Digestion... ... 67
Diseases of the Kidneys, &c.
Childbirth, Diseases of the Uterus, &c. ... 7
Diseases of the Joints, Bones, and Muscles ... 4
Diseases of the Skin, &c. ••• 2
Malformations... .•• ••• 3
Premature Birth ..• .••
Atrophy ..• ••• •••
Old Age
Sudden ... ••• ...............14
Violence, Privation, Odd, or Intemperance ... 15
Causes not specified ... •••
..• 3
DEATHS FROM ALL CA.IISEB ~„

1,070

Average weekly Deaths
Deaths, 1843.7. in the
Five Winters. Week.
. 161 ... 149
. 209 ... 193
. 203 ... 172
. 235 ... 252
. 299 ... 304