The Sun.
London, England, 1856-09-24 00:00:00

EVE' i 14, rl SEPrEMI3ER 24 1856

I would observe that in England we need to study man's
works less, and naturo more ; and even where we apply
ourselves to investigate the vast course of human action,
we are in the habit of ascribing too much importance to
an almost mechanical recollection of facts, and too little to
the establishment of those generalizations, which give past
facts almost their sole importance for us. I do not wish
to speak in the language of accusation, or of complaint ; yet
it does seem strange that a man may leave either of the
great universities, after a school and college training which
together have extended over 10 years, an accomplished
classic, an able mathematician, yet wholly unacquainted
with external nature, ignorant of the principle upon which
a common steam-engine is constructed, ignorant even of the
mechanism which he carries about with him in his own
body, and utterly unversed in the first principles of that
law of the land under which he lives. I am, I own it, one
of those who say, " Give us a little more of this kind of
knowledge in the first instance, and let the ornamental
parts of teaching come later, if there are time and inclina-
tion for it." (Hear, hear.) I look in education to the
practical effect which it is likely to produce on life; and,
although I know well that theory is one thing, practice
another, yet I do believe (to take one instance of many)
that if men knew a little more about the air they breathe
and the water they drink there would be a saving of many
lives, now destroyed or shortened by deficient sanitary ar-
rangements. So again, if men understood better the func-
tions of the brain there would be fewer deaths from over-
work, from mental excitement, or even from intemperance.
Generally speaking, I believe that for one person who
breaks a physical law with a fall clear consciousness that he
is breaking it—knowing what he is doing and foreseeing
the consequences—there are 100 who break those laws in
sheer ignorance, and whom a little knowledge would render
cautious. So, again, when I said just now that it seemed
to me unnatural that a man should be held to be fully
educated who knew not the first elements of legal science,
I did not, and do not, suppose that law should be studied
by a layman as it is by a lawyer. But every man, though
it may never happen to him to have to set foot within a
court of justice, has something to do with evidence ; it is
surely of use to every one to know, when an improbable
tale is told him in a matter which concerns his interests,
what are the chances of that tale being true or false; and
in works which treat of evidence those chances are mi-
nutely analysed and the collective results of many men's
experience is brought to bear on the subject. Again,
dealing with another branch of social science, I may ven-
ture to say oven here that if the first rules of political
economy had been a little better understood both by Go-
vernments and communities the worst sufferings which
have prevailed in these manufacturing districts (some of
them self-inflicted, some of them the faults of others) might
have been avoided, or to a great extent diminished. To
sum up in a word, I mean this—that the end of all human
teaching is human action ; that that teaching is most valu-
able which tends to direct and economise action; that such
teaching must concern itself mainly with two things—the
laws which govern inanimate nature and the laws which
govern man ; and that whatever does not add to our know-
ledge on one or other of these subjects is, comparatively
speaking, of little value. And herein, as I think, one
great merit of institutions like these consists, that, being
tied down by no statutes, no founders' wills, no traditions
of immemorial antiquity, they not only supply instruction
to the people, but they supply that kind of instruction
for which a popular demand exists. They follow the na-
tional taste ; they do not in attempting to direct that
taste pervert it. Long may this state of things endure ;
and in education, as in other matters, may the transition
from past to present habits of thought take place, as in
England such transitions mostly do, by no demolition of
that which exists, by no sudden disruption of ancient ties*
but by the greatest and almost imperceptible accommoda-
tion of all intelligent minds to that which all perceive to
be inevitable in the course of events ! (Loud cheers.)
The meeting concluded with addresses from various
other speakers.

HEALTH OF LONDOIV DURING ME
WEEK.

(Prom the Report of the Registrar-General.)

In the week that ended on Saturday the deaths regis-
tered in London were 1,064. The rate of mortality that
now rules is very near the average in the corresponding
weeks of ten years 1846 55, if this average is reduced by
eliminating deaths caused-by cholera in the epidemic
years 1849 and 1854.

In the last three weeks the total numbers returned have
been 1,000, 1,087, and 1,064 ; and the decrease which
they exhibit nearly agrees with the decrease of deaths
from diarrhoea, returned in the same periods, which were
124, 116, and 95. Besides these 95 deaths of last week,
there were 3 cases of cholera amongst infants, and 11 of
dysentery amongst persons of various ages. Typhus and
common fever were fatal in 45 cases ; scarlatina in 89.
Neither of these complaints produces more than its ordi-
nary proportion of mortality ; they appear indeed to be
rather less fatal tha❑ usual ; but the greatest number of
deaths from both of them occurred in the eastern divisici
of London. A man, aged 42 years, died in Basinghall-
street of scarlatina maligna after an illness of 5 days.
Only 4 deaths occurred from small pox, all amongst
children ; and 23 from measles, 2 from ague, 1 from
scurvy. One person died of intemperance, one o' priva-
tion, 10 children from want of breast-milk. A. house
painter, aged 46 years, died from "lead poisoning."
Four nonagenarians appear in the registration of the
week : the widowsof a captain, who died at the age o!
91 years ; two gentlemen, aged respectively 91 and 94 ;
and a widow, who died in Wandsworth at the age of 95
T.ars.
Of the total number of deaths returned in the week,
570 occurred under 20 years of age, 134 in the period
20 40 years, 147 and 40 60, 151 at 60.80, and 31 at a
still more advanced age. 533 were deaths of males, 531
of females.

Last week the births of 763 boys and 741 girls, in all
1,509 children, were registered in London. In the ten
corresponding weeks of the years 1846-55 the average
number was 1,418.
At the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, the mean
height of the barometer in the week was 29.905 in. The
moan daily reading was above 30 in. on the first three
days. The highest reading in the week was 30.10 in.
on Monday. The mean temperature of the week was
53.7 degs., which is 2.4 degs. below the average of the
same week in 38 years (as determined by Mr. Glaisher).
The mean daily temperature was below the average so
much as 6 (legs. and 8 degs. on Friday and Saturday.
The highest temperature in the week occurred on Mon-
day, and was 70 degs. ; the lowest was 40 degs., and
occurred on Saturday. The mean dew-point tempera-
ture was 43 9 dege., and the difference between this and
the mean air temperature was 9.8 dege. The wind blew
generally from the north-west. There was rain to the
amount of 0.25 in., the most of which fell on Thursday.

MORTALITY IN THE METROPOLIS.

NUMBER OF DEATHS FROM ALL CAUSES REGISTERE

IN THE WEEK ENDING SATURDAY, SEPT. 20.

Zymotic Diseases
Diseases of Uncertain Seat
Tubercular Diseases
Diseases of the Brain, Nerves and Senses
Diseases of the Heart and Blood-vessels 36
Diseases of the Lungs and other Organs of
Respiration
Diseases of the Stomach, Liver, and other Organs
of Digestion
Diseases of the Kidneys, &c.
Childbirth, Diseases of the Uterus, &c.
Diseases of the Joints, Bones, and Muscles
Diseases of the Shin, &c. 1
Malformations 2
Premature Birth and Debility 33
Atrophy
Old Age
udden 1
Violence, Privation, Cold, and Intemperance 4B
Causes not specified

. 283
• 43
▪ 185

DEATHS FROM ALL CAITSES
Population Deaths in corro- Deaths
Enumerated. sponding week in the
1851. of 1855. Week.
West Districts
North Districts 490,396
Central Districts 393,256
East Districts 485,522
South Districts 616,635 .. 240 , 326

Totals
Males ....................................... 532
Females ................................... 531
BIRTHS IN THE WEEK.
Males ....................................... 768
Females .................................... 741

Total .................... ...... .......... 1,509

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Aug. 7,1854.—My daughter Virginie had long been consump-
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snd 150, Oxford-street.

UNITY FIRB I.NSURANCB ,4SSOCIATION.

Clio following appeared in our late edition or last night.j

Ye-terday afternoon an extralr linary general meetiim
of the proprietors of the Unity Fire Insurance Association
was held at the London Tavern, Bishopsgate-street, by
adjournment from the offices in Cannon-street, for the
wpointment of Mr. J. Bradshaw, of Nottingham, Mr.
R. Clitherow, of Horncastle, Mr. H. Hawks, of Bir-
mingham, Rev. Edw. Johnstone, of Hampton, Mr. W.
Salmon, of Bury St. Edmunds, Mr. J. Smitherman, of
Benges, Mr. T. Vaughan, of Stoke Newington, a com-
mittee for the purpose of calling in a professional ac-
countant to inquire and examine into the past and pre-
sent expenditure and management of the association,
and other matters connected with it specifically set forth
in the notice ; Dr. Lloyd in the chair.
The notice convening the meeting having been read,
The CHAIRMAN stated that the meeting was ca'led in
consequence of a correspondence that had taken place
between Mr. Bradshaw, chairman of the Nottingham
local board, and the directors relative to the expenditure
imd management of the association.
At the Chairman's request a lengthened correspond-
ence was read, the particulars of which will he found in
Vlr. Bradshaw's address below. In the course of that
correspondence the direct irs concurred in the appoint-
ment of a committee, but differed from the mode of its
operation as suggested by Mr. Bradshaw. The di-
rectors, at a board meeting, had passed a reso-
lution stating their willingness to resign unless they
possessed the confidence of the shareholders.
The CHAIRMAN, in addressing the meeting, said the
directors were desirous of having a close investigation
into the affairs of the association, because they declined
to act as Such without possessing the fullest confidence
of the shareholders ; and on receiving the recommenda-
tion from Mr. Bradshaw for a committee of investiga-
tion the directors sent down to him and asked him to
name such a committee, but he declined to do so, and
the directors had in consequence called this meeting,
because they courted the strictest investigation into the
affairs of the association. He (the chairman) declined
to take the responsibility of the legality or illegality
of the meeting, and threw it entirely on the company's
solicitor. He (the chairman) considered the association
was now on its trial before the bar of public opinion, but
he had no misgivings as to the result of the proposed
inquiry, and he called on the shareholders to support the
chairman, and appoint the committee. He called on the
solicitor to state the object for which the meeting was
called, because Mr. Bradshaw's resolution evidently
was drawn up by a solicitor.
Mr. TAYLOE, the solicitor, said the resolution, by the
terms of the association's bye laws, must be passed or
rejected in its entirety.

A SHAREHOLDER—Cannot I substitute one name for
another on the committee I

Mr. TAYLOE—No. You cannot vary the substance
of the resolution.

After some discussion on the proceedings,
Mr. BRADSHAW, the chairman of the Nottingham
Local Board, said an impression from the first had pre-
vailed amongst the Nottingham Board that the expenses
of the association were too much, and condemned the
payment of 10/. to the agents and managers of the asso-
ciation for the original disposal of the shares. The Not-
tingham people were also much displeased at so much
money being spent in bringing directors and shareholder;
to Birminghamto lay the foundation•stone of the society's
offices, and many of them left the association in conse-
quence. Oa the part of the Nottingham Board, he took
exception to the inadequate amount of business done in
London, in comparison with the central expenditure,
and generally as to the expenditure, and the want of
prompt and undivided attention of the management at
the central office so early as 1854 ; and he read resolu-
tions passed by the Nottingham Board in reference to
it, and referred to the correspondence that ensued in
conseqnence, and to an interview that took place be-
tween Dr. Lloyd and another director, a deputation to
the Nottingham Bo2rd, when the deputation pledged
themselves to use greater economy for the future. He
next alluded to the directors neglecting to publish their
accounts the following year, but they sent to the Not•
tingham Board a statement of the accounts• for their
perusal, who were so much astonished at the expenditPre

that on the 12th December, 1855, the Nottingham
Board passed a resolution, and forwarded it to the Direc-

tors, to the effect that they saw with dismay and regret
an expenditure of 29,0001. for 23,0001. worth of busi-
ness, and called for the appointment of an independent

commissioner to investigate the affairs of the associa-
tion. They also condemned the mode of producing the
accounts by the directors at so long a period after they
were made up. He regretted the directors had gone to
the expense of convening this meeting, because it could
have been otherwise by the deed. In 1854 the associa-
tion did business to the amount of 13 millions, and in
1855 to 19 millions, which was satisfactory, so far as it
went; but he was at a loss to know how it was that
when the association did but four millions of business
the ss. shares were at is and 2s 61 premium at Notting-
ham, they had now fallen to 2s discount, except it was
that the expenditure was beyond the society's means,
and that public confidenc3 was wavering. He justified
the conduct of himself and friends at Nottingham for the
course they had taken with reference to this meeting,
and expressed surprise at the conduct of the board in not
calling this meeting without a requisition, and their incon-
sistency in requesting their names to be added to therequisi-
tion calling on the directors to convene a meeting for the
appointment of a committee of inquiry. Seven-eighths of
the capital had been raised, and seven-eighths of the busi
ness done had been in the provinces, and with provin-
cials, and as at least seven-eighths of the dissatisfaction
existed in the country he had thought it right to take
the majority of the committee from the provinces, and
to get rid of the insinuation that a London committee
had been appointed to exonerate the London board.
He concluded by moving the appointment of the follow-
ing gentlemen as a committee of inquiry, viz :
Job Bradshaw, of Nottingham, gentleman, Richard
Clitherow, of ITorneastle, in the county of Lincoln, gen-
tleman, Henry Hawkes, of Birmingham, in the county
of Warwick, EQq., the Rev. Ed ward Johnston, of
Fla-Upton, in the county of Middlesex, clerk, William
Salmon, of Bury Ssint Edmunds, in the county of Suf-
folk, Fsq.' John Smitherman, of Benges, in the c minty
of Hertford, eentleman, and Thomas Vaughan, of Stoke
Newington, in the c innty of Middlesex, Esq.
The Rev. Mr. HIND seconded the resolution, though he
disapproved of the persons named from their being un-
knovvn to most of the shareholders. He wished the
resolution had been drawn by a non professional man,
because then they would not be in such a fix as now,
and compelled to take it or not. He thought with two
evils it was better to take the least, and with that feel-
ing he seconded the resolution. If it had been compe-
tent for him to have done so he should have moved an
amendment to it.
Mr. T. Vaughan (d rector) said he had no knowledge
of his name being on the committee until the resolution
was sent t the directors.
Mr. LANCASTER (Southampton) condemned the con
duct of Mr. Bradshaw in sending circulars all over the
country in reference to the association, which bad bad
the effect of depreciating it in the opinion of the public.
He was anxious for the appointment of a committee of
inquiry, and came to the meeting prepared to support
such a committee as they might select, but not a self-
nominated or constituted one, such as they were told
they must appoint or reject. He entered into a full
statement of the business done at Southam?ton, and the
expenses thereon, which amounted to 15a per cent.,
whilst that of Nottingham amounted to 29i, and
be asked Mr. Bradshaw why he did not com-
mence reform and retrenchment in management at
home instead of beginning with the London board. In
Birmingham the expenses amounted to 2,5281.

2s. 11d., for the receipt of 3,2131. 3s. Bd. of premiums.
With these facts he was astonished that any man should
select a committee comprising members taken from local
boards, to praise, in effect, each other's management.
The business at Norwich amounted to 5,3131. 6s. 10d.,
and the expenditure 1,1891. 4e. 6d., or 22} per oent.
At Hertford the receipts were 1,9821. ls. 7d., and the
expenditure 4281. 2s. 10d. ; and at Leeds the receipts
were 3,0641. Ns. 2d., and the expenditure 8981. 2s,
These receipts showed that the local boards were valu-
able, and that with the right man in the right place this
would be the best institution in England. The gentle.
men named on the committee could not, and ought not,
to sit on their own accounts.
Mr. MECHI—In addition to the expenditure you have
named is the usual 121 per cent. commission paid ?
Mr. LANCASTER—Yes. He objected to the powers
to be vested in the committee, and if it had been com-
petent for him to do so he should have moved an amend-
ment. One of the clauses of the resolution empowered
the committee to draw on the institution for any amount
they pleased for the expenses of this investigation, and
he called on the meeting to reject the resolution.
Mr. HAIVIIES (of Birmingham) defended the business
done at Birmingham. He said that an invidious com-
parison had been made with regard to the expenditure
and business done there, and that the expenditure now
did notamount to more than 6001. on 1,800/..receipts. The
buildings erected at Birmingham returned 7? per cent.
After what had been said of the committee investigating
their own accounts he should vote against the resolution,
not wishing to be placed in such a painful position.t
Mr. GODDARD addressed the meeting at great length,
in the course of which he entered into the details of the
management. He urged on the meeting to support the
resolution, a committee of inquiry being essentially
necessary. He asked Mr. Baylis if he had not foreseen
what had now happened, and if a finance committee was
not appointed in December last, and that he had acted
in contravention of the principles laid down in their re-
port to the directors for the future management of the
association ? He wished also to be informed what special
services Mr. Baylis performed for the 1,0001 paid him I
Mr. MECHI defended the conduct of the directors,
which, he said, had been straightforward and honest.
Mr. SALMON said that the number of pamphlets that
had been published in reference to this association had
been a great injury to it, as also had been the irrita•
bility of Mr. Baylis, their managing director. The
appointment of a committee of inquiry was necessary
before they changed their directors, and if the com-
mittee were appointed, he as one of that committee

should insist on an accountant being called in, to tho-
rou:zlily investigate the affairs of the association.
Mt. llyttig said he had hoped the meeting would
have agrcea to the resolution wi-.hout oppo ition. It
WWI a popdar mode of damaging a man to rake.up all
his little defects of management and produce them before
a meeting of that kind ; bat he assured the meeting
he courted inve,ti2ation into his conduct, and he was
determined to have it. Ia the mean time they ought
to su,perid their judgment. The directors had always
courted inquiry. His income from this institu-
tion was 5001. pet annum, and was reduced
to that amount at his own reqUest. He denied having
received a check for 1,0001. as referred to. After advert-
to many of the statements put forth against the in-
stitution, he said there were just reasons fol. much that had
been said, but that was not a place to enter into them.
Let them apppoint a committee, and if he did not satis-
factorily explain his conduct be would withdraw in-
stantly from the management. (Hear, hear.) Any in-
firmity of temper was no fault of his, and whatever it
was he strived to do his best for the institution, and if he
had failed he should be happy to see his place filled
with a better and abler person. As it appeared impos-
sible to carry the resolution proposed, he suggested that
the meeting should separate with the reliance that the
London Board, having in their board room the power
to appoint a committee, would do so, and that the corn
mittee should comprise the following gentlemen ;--Mr.
J. Bradshaw, of Nottingham ; Mr. R. Citherow, of
Horncastle ; Mr. H. Hawkes, of Birmingham ; Mr. S.
Stnitherman, of Hertford ; Mr. Salmon, Bury St.
E linunds ; Mr. J. Mechi, of London ; Dr. Lancaster, of
Southampton ; and Mr. Parker, of Northampton..
Dr. LANCASTER objected to his being one of the com-
mittee. _ _

After some further discussion relative to the non-
publishing of the balance sheet at the last meeting,
Mr. J. RICHARDSON said there must be a change of
the directors and the management, because it was from
a want of commercial confidence in them that so little
business was done in London.
The CHAIRMAN, before putting the resolution, said
that the Board of Directors had no objection to Mr.
Bradshaw's 'committee, and that if the resolution was
negatived the shareholders were alone to blame.
Tne resolution was then put and negatived by a large
majority.
A vote of thanks was accorded to the Chairman, after
which the shareholders nominated several gentlemen as
a committee for the Directors to appoint to investigate
the affairs of the Institution.
The meeting did not terminate till half-past 4 o'clock.

NARROW ESCAPE OF TWO MEMBERS
OF TI Ifl LITIIRPOOL TOWN COUNOIL.

On Monday week, an accident of an alarming nature
took place ion the sands, .at Morecambe bay. It
appears that Mr. Alderman Richard Cardwell Gardner
is atlpresent entertaining a party of friends at his summer
residence at Preesail, near Fleetwood. On the day in
question an excursion to Cockerham was resolved upon,
and three vehicles were provided. There are two ways
of reaching Cockerham—one round by the highway' and
the other direct across the sands, at a distance of four
miles. Two of the carriages took the highway, but Mr.
Gardner, who is well acquainted with the locality, pre-
ferred the road across the sands. He drove a horse and
whitechapel, and with him the lady of Mt. Alderman
Bennett, two of his own children (a boy and girl, six
and eight years old), a youth of about the same age, and
Mr. Oliver Holden (a member of the Liverpool town
council)—six in all. The road across the sands, when
the.tide is out, is distinctly marked by posts, and even
when the tideiis akfull, on ordinary occasions, the water
is not more than two feet deep. On each side of the
road, however, there are in several places pits of water
six or seven feet deep. When the tide is out these
pits can of course be seen and avoided ; bat when the
water covers the sands there are no means of detecting
the exact whereabouts of these dangerous pitfalls. The
tide on Monday week was one of the highest of the year
a fact which had probably been overlooked by the
excursionists, and before the party had got half way
across the sands the water was up to the horse's belly.
At a turn of the road Mr. Gardner in mistake pulled
the wrong rein, and the horse was immediately immeried
in one of the pits dragging the vehicle after him. For-
tunately the whitechapel, when floating on the tide,
turned gradually over, but the whole party were cap-
sized into the water. The vehicle took a slanting direc-
tion, and appeared to rest on the shelving side of the
gully into which the party had been thrown. The chit-
dren were enabled to climb up to the top of the white
chapel, and, by the assistance of Mr. Holden, Mrs.
Bennett, who had been several times overhead, was
placed in a position where she could stand up to the
middle in the water. The perilous position of the party
was observed from the other side of the sands, and with
the assistance of one man Mr. Gardner was enabled to
cut the traces and so relieve the poor horse, who had
been floating for some time up to his neck in the water.
In his efforts to extricate himself, the horse had kicked
&b'. Gardner with one of his feet and knocked him over-
head in the water, the blow bruising his back, but not
seriously injuring him. After all the party had regained
their feet they took hold of each other's hand, and started
to wade across the sands. As they proceeded they en-
countered some deep holes, and every now and. then
one of the party had a plunge overhead. After consider-
able difficulty they succeeded, however, in reaching the
solid land in safety, and having been carefully attended
to at the hospitable mansion of their entertainer, they
soon recovered from the effects of their thorough
drenching and the fright occasioned by the perils they
encountered in their endeavour to cross the dangerous
sands in Morecambe Bay. The escape of the whole of
the party must be looked upon as almost miraculous,
and great credit is due to Mr. Gardner and Mr. Holden
for the coolness which they displayed and the assistance
they rendered to their unfortunate companions.—Liver-
pool Mercury.

From the London Gazette of Last Night.