The Sun.
London, England, 1851-09-04 00:00:00

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RAILWAY PASSENGERS ASSU-
RANCE COMPANY.
The fourth half-yearly meeting of the shareholders
of this company took place yesterday at the offices, 3,
Old Broad-street. The chair was taken by the
Chairman of the company, John Dean Paul, Esq.
The SECRETARY (Mr. A. Beattie) then read the
report, from which it appears that the receipts for the
half-year amount to 3,155/. 15e. 9d., and exhibit a
growing progress when compared with those of any
previous six months since the formation of the
company. The tickets of the company may now be
obtained at the principal stations on fifty railways,
and the number of agents at stations and in towns
amounted to 874 on the 30th June last. 2,0681.85. 63. has
been paid.as compensation during the last six months,
and the entire number of claims adjusted from the
period of the commencement of the company up to
this date is two fatal cases, and ninety-nine cases of
personal injury. The gross receipts for the weeks
since 30th June, as compared with the corresponding
weeks of last year, show an extraordinary increase,
which is most strikingly evinced in the issue of sin-
gle journey tickets. Thus, for the week ending
August 17th last the gross receipts were 131/. 7s. 7d.
against 74/. ss. 10d., whilst the issue of single jour-
ney tickets amounted to 761. 153. Id. against 211. Os.
10d. IVith one leading company, the Lancashire and
Yorkshire, the company has just concluded an ar-
rangement for the insurance of 1,355 of their men,
and there are other companies now in communication
with the directors on the same subject. The terms
on which these insurances have been effected are as
follow :-
Class 1. Engine drivers... 265. 6d. per ann., to insure 60/.
1, 2. Guards, stokers,
breaksmen, 193. 63. „
a 3. Porters,policemen,
gatekeepers, &c. 59. 3d. „ „ 401.
In case of fatal accident, with a weekly allowance in
each case for personal injury.
The business has been so much extended during the
past six months as to render it necessary to make a
call of ss. per share on the proprietors-the reasons
for this call have been stated in the circular an-
nouncing it, and the directors have oniy to say that
they do not anticipate any necessity for a further call
being made hereafter. In the statement of the
half-year's accounts it was mentioned that the
whole amount, viz., 2,068/. Bs. 6d. paid as com-
pensation during the last half-year had been charged
to revenue, and that of this sum 1,425/. was on ac-
count of accidents to the Post-office and railway ser-
vices, which hazardous description of business had
been undertaken before the experience of the com-
pany had enabled the directors to frame calcula-
tions of a more correct nature than the imperfect
statistical data of the reports of the Board of Trade
had suggested ; and as such risks (at the rates pre-
viously charged) terminate with the current policies,
this degree of loss cannot occur again. The direc-
tors therefore leave it to the proprietors to say
whether the sum of 1,4251. should be charged to the
preliminary expenses in the capital account, and
scattered like those expenses over a period of years,
instead of being charged en the revenue of the last six
months alone. If this is done, the charges for work-
ing expenses and compensation for the last six months
Ail be 2,438/. 7s. 11., leaving a balance over the
gross receipts of 7171. Bs. 7d. They are not, how-
ever, prepared to recommend the division of the
balance of 717/. Bs. 7d. that would thus remain to the
credit of revenue account on the 30th June; for the
unadjusted claims, and the propriety of having a re-
serve to meet possible claims in the approaching winter
mouths, induces them to believe that the proprietors
will not desire the division of any portion of this
balance till the working of the company has been more
developed.
The CHAIRMAN then offered a few observations on
the present circumstances of the company. He dwelt
on the large amount of claims for compensation al-
ready made and adjusted, and which prove how
widely this novel application of the principles of life
assurance is already appreciated by the public. In
the infancy of the scheme the directors had to pro-
ceed on very imperfect and deceptive data, but they
are now enabled, from the lessons of practical expe-
rience, to attain a precision in their calculations,
which will enable them to extend the sphere of their
operations with security and profit. Their pro-
spects are in a highly satisfactory state of progres-
sion, as manifested by the great and steady
increase of business which appears on the face of the
report presented. Although this company was
originally started as a commercial speculation, still it
must be highly gratifying to the feelings of its
members to reflect on the vast benefits which con-
tinually arise from the compensation afforded by it to
those persons of slender means who are so unfortu-
nate as to meet-with accidents on railways.-(Hear,
hear.) After commenting on the different para-
graphs of the report, the chairman concluded by mov-
ing its adoption.
Mr. FRITH seconded the motion. He said the only
.feature connected with it to be regretted was the re-
fusal of three great railways-the London and South-
Western, the London, Brighton, and South Coast, and
the South-Eastern, to allow insurance tickets
to be issued on their lines, whilst all the other
principal railways of England, Scotland, and
Ireland have readily facilitated the objects of the
company. The other statements contained in the
report he regarded as highly satisfactory.
Mr. LEE STEVENS said he did not intend moving
any amendment to the motion, but he could not con-
cede the merit of administrative talent to the board,
with the exception of the chairman himself, who was
worthy of all confidence and praise. He regretted to
find the chairman supported to-day by but two di-
rectors out of nine, and the number of shareholders
present scarcely exceeding that of the representatives
of the press who were in attendance.
The CHAIRMAN said he must call the Hon. Pro-
prietor to order for indulging in irrelevant remarks.
Domestic affliction and personal illness accounted for
the absence of several of the hoard.
Mr. STEVENS again attempted to enlarge on these
topics, but a general expression of impatience caused
him to shift his ground to the consideration of other
alleged grievances. He launched into the expression
of innumerable regrets, which merely seemed to in-
duce a belief among the other shareholders present that
he was, for some unknown object, speaking against
time. He persevered for some minutes amid continual
interruption, but finally sat down without making any
substantive motion.
The report was then unanimously adopted.
Mr. CAnY moved that the sum of 1,425/. should he
charged to the preliminary expenses as recommended
in the report, which being seconded by Mr. Stone,
passed without a dissentient voice.
Cordial and unanimous thanks were then severally
voted to the directors, the Chairman, and the Secre-
tary, and duly acknowledged. The proceedings then
terminated.

„ 501.

THE PRINCE DE JOINVILLE, LOUIS NA-
POLEON BONAPARTE, AND THE PRESI-
DENCY OF THE FRENCH REPUBLIC.
(From the Journal des Debats.)
- By the side of the journals busied with what is
called the candidateship of the Prince de Joinville,
to connect with it hopes of more or less Prompt re-
alisation, there are others which speak of it for the
purpose of joining calumnies to the Prince's name;
it is to these only that we desire to reply. Of the
candidateship of the Prince de Joinville we shall not
say anything. We comprehend all the noise which
is nude round that respected name. We are aware
of the passions, the pretensions, the good or bad, the
patriotic or personal inspirations which have con-
ceived the idea of that candidateship. We are aware
of the proceedings which have been resorted to
formerly and recently for that purpose. We know
also that no decision has been come toe and we are
glad to perceive in that adroit temporisation some
traces of the wisdom which governed France for
eighteen years. That candidateship is, perhaps, in
this age of the unexpected, amongst the decrees
which Providence may issue to save our country.
It may be, at some given moment, in the midst of
great embarrassment and danger, the sole chance of
safety that will remain to us. Yes, that is possible.
There would be too much pride, after so many humi-
liations lavished on us by destiny for the last four
years, to set aside one of the serious chances which
fortune may offer us. There would be too much
false virtue in responding by the inflexibility of a
principle to the cry of necessity, to oppose the pre-
t.rended dignity of a name to the safety of a people.
face of a national wish sincerely expressed—in face
of a great public peril, clear as the light of day, the
Prince
Joinville would not have any choice to
make; he would not hesitate, we are convinced.
But all that ip the future, is the unknown. Let us
speak of the present. The future, the problema-
tical future, is the candidateship of the Prince de
Joinville; the present is the calumny which is flung
on his name. It is said that this hope of some poli-
tical men, received by the Prince, we can affirm, with
the discreet moderation which his position calls
for, is in reality oa his part a means of division in
the party of order, and a premeditated attempt to
trouble the State.' It is said that rather than leave
ca(nei23 Joinville,
are a
to others the honour of saving the vessel, he would
blow it up ! And it is to the Prince m
calumnies
1
and in such language, that
dressed! To that son of King Louis Philippe, who
in all difficult or dangerous positions always bore so
high the flag of France 1 To him, who bringing
back from St. Helena the mortal remains of Napo-
leon, menaced to blow himself up rather than be-
tray, with the precious deposit entrusted to him,
the honour of the French name! And it is the
writers, devoted to the defenoe of the Elysee who
have so little memory and so little justice! The
Prince de Joinville had in 1848, at the moment
when the news of the catastrophe which overturned
• the throne of his father, reached him in Africa, an
unexampled opportunity of troubling the State.
He could have returned •to France, and attempted a ;
civil war. Wilt) would venture to •isay that, appear..

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