The Sun.
London, England, 1834-08-02 00:00:00

INSOLVENT DEBTORS' COURT. AUG. 1.

William Aldridge, formerly part proprietor of the " Hert-
ford Club House," No. 105, Piccadilly, whose case was be-
fore the Court on a former occasion, came up again. He was
on the present occasion not opposed, but was supported by
Messrs. COOXE and WoonaoFFE.

The insolvent, it appeared, had taken, in conjunction with
his brother and a person named John Chanon, the Hertford
Club House, and had expended a large sum of money in the
fitting up. The speculation failed, and a deed of assignment
was made for the benefit of the creditors who had trusted
Chanon, and they had been paid a divibnd. The insolvent
had executed to Chanon a deed of indemnity, and that person
was ordered to attend, and the insolvent to give a specific ac-
count of a sum of money he hadreceived.
To-day Chanon attended and was examined. _

The aIIIEF COMMISSIONER inquired of the insolvent the
reason he had not paid his own personal debts out of the 5001.
which, it appeared, he possessed last January ?
The insolvent said he had paid law expenses.
Mr. COOKE remarked that the debts were not large.
The CHIEF COMMISSIONER—That makes it the worse. The
Learned Commissioner advised the insolvent to lead a more
creditable life, for if he did not, and came to the Court again
within five years, he would not be discharged without the con-
sent of his creditors.—Discharged accordingly.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.

BO W-STREET.

Thomas Goodwin, John Ward, andßenjamin Swaby, alias
Bryan M' Sweeney, were yesterday brought before Sir F. Rog
for final examination, on the charge of having stolen a Post-
office letter, containing 6,0001. In notes aEd bills, which
had been transmitted from the banking-house of Messrs. He-
seltine and Co., of Rotherham, to that of Messrs. Snow and
Co., London.

Mr. Peacock, the Post-office, Solicitor, attended on behalf_
of that department, and Messrs. Mangle and Flower, from the
office of Messrs. Harmer and Co., also appeared for the IRA-
soners, together with Mr. Wooler.
The evience previously taken having been read over,
Mr. Peacock pressed for the committal of the prisoners,
to which the Magistrate acceded, and they were committed
accordingly.
An application was subsequently made to admit them to
bail, which was not allowed, and the prisoners were removed
from the bar in custody.

The prisoner Swaby was also committed for trial on a second
charge, of having in his possession a .213/. note, which had been
stolen from a letter transmitted by post from Manchester to a
Mr. Cornish, of New Turnstile, Holborn.

TREMENDOUS. AND FATAL THUNDER

STORM.

MANCHESTER, THURSDAY EVENlNG.—Yesterday afternoon,
at about one o'clock, the town and neighbourhood were visited
by one of the most appalling storms of thunder, lightning,
hail, and rain, ever recollected in these climes. It lasted about
two hours, though its violence subsided in a much shorter
space of time. The effects have unhappily been in three in-
stances fatal to human life ; several persons have suffered
much injury, and the swollen waters have inundated mills,
and involved cattle, bridges, and other species of property
liable to such ravage, in one sweeping destruction, while the
hail-stones, which were of singularly unusual dimensions,
many having been picked up which measured an inch and a
half in diameter, dashed with irresistible violence against win-
dows, skylights, hot-houses, &c. ; and the damage inflicted in
exposed situations by these formidable missiles is incalculably
great. The face of the country in many districts, to an extent
of many miles round Manchester, was entirely changed ; the
low lands assumed the appearance of vast lakes, and tree,
herb, plant, and flower—all that could not resist the accumu-
lated force of countless millions of such extraordinary hailstones,
were crushed, and the " glad husband field, the garden, and
the sheltered nursery," were alike speedily reduced to deso-
lation. But the awful part of this melancholy narrative re-
mains to be told. Two silk weavers, the one named Joseph
Nelson, and the other Samuel Grudewell, residing in New-
ton-road, about three miles from this town, were struck down-
by the mysterious agency of the electric fluid, and reduced
in a moment from a state of vigorous life to that of the
ghastly corpse. They were at work at the time—one was
weaving, and the other was employed in doing something to
his loom. Two other workmen in the same house received
serious injury. The legs of one were miserably scorched—
the other underwent a dreadful shock. The other sufferer
whose case has come to our knowledge was the wife of a gard-
ener, residing in Rooden-lane, Prestwich ; she was sitting in
her humble cottage, when the destroying flash descended, and
she fell down dead upon the floor. It is much to be feared
that the mischief resulting from this fearful visitation is but
faintly shadowed forth in the above brief notice. Every hour,
for some days to come, will no doubt furnish additional in-
stances of ravages ; and, we regret to add, perhaps of human
suffering and loss of life. At about half-past eleven o'clock
this morning, several heavy peals of thunder burst over the
town, and the lightning was again vivid and frequent, accom-
panied with a smart shower of rain ; but as the day advanced
the weather partially cleared, and the sun breke forth, though
not in "unbounded majesty."

PROVIDENT LIFE OFFlCE.—Yesterday the Mem-
bers of this eminent Insurance Office held their fourth Septen-
nial Meeting, at their house in Regent-street. A voluminous
valuation of the liabilities and assets of the institution was laid
before them, which gave unmixed satisfaction. It resulted
that the profits for the last seven yews had exceeded all former
precedent, yielding, after allowing for all liabilities, and making
a large reserve in addition, a dividend of 40 per cent. I But
of these profits seventeen parts in eighteen went to the persons
insured, the original subscribers only taking an
eighteenth part
for their advance and guarantee of a quarter of a million
Capital. Much surprise was expressed by several persons
present at the unexpected amount of surplus, considering the
great reduction which had taken place in the interest of
money, the numerous offices which had lately been projected,
and the no less numerous list of offices which had given up
T
after sustaining great losses. This distinguished success was
however accounted for from the forbearance of former meet.
ings in reserving half the profits to accumulate, the care which
was exercised in the admission of lives, and the large extent
of their transactions. The beneficial terms for the public on
which insurances are effected by the Provident very readily
accounts for this extent. Other Insurance Companies have
followed the principles of the Provident in giving up a half or a
larger proportion of their profits to the insured, but none have
approached the benefit of giving to the insured seventeen parts
in eighteen of the profits. It was stated by the Managing;
Director as most probable that at the next Septennial Divi-
dend the Insured will divide all but a twentieth part. That a
decided preference should be given to the Provident, under these
circumstances, is less surprising than that any persons enter.
ing into the serious and lasting engagement of insuring their
lives, should fix themselves in offices of questionable stability
or conduct, or which are less beneficial in principle.