The Sun.
London, England, 1833-11-02 00:00:00

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We perceive, by :a paragraph in the Paris
Papers, that the f engineor, -appointed by the
French Goveinment to prepare the plan of a
railway from Pant to the French coast, hat
reported in favour of a line to Bordeaux, with
branches to Rouen and Orleans. The Minister
of Public Works will, it is expected, recommend
the adoption of this plan to the Chamber of
Deputies, and little doubt is entertained but
that the sum necessary for the execution
of it will be granted without delay.
If anything were wanting to urge the capi-
talists of this country to erect railways, the
example of the French would, we think, suffice ;
for if, in a country like France, the importance
of this improved mode of communication is so
felt and acknowledged, how much more so must
it be apparent to the English, both as regards
their own inclination to travel with speed, and
the interest which they have in the speedy tran-
sit of goods. It is gratifying to know that
although the French may keep pace with, they
will not outrun us in the race of improvement.
A railway between London and Liverpool has
been decided upon, and will, in a few years, be
completed. Another, between London and
Brighton, will probably be completed in the
' course of two or three years ; and another very
important line—the WeAern—will, we are
convinced, be complete within the same period
of time. By an advertisement in the papers,
it appears that the Directors of the Great
Western Railway have resolved, in order that
no time may be lost, and that the merits
of their plan may gradually develop them-
selves, to commence their line at one of the
two extremities, viz., from London to Reading,
with a branch to Windsor, and from Bristol to
Bath. The holders of shares on this partial line
of railway are to have the option of taking an
equal number of new shares upon the future
extension of the subscription list. We do not
entertain the slightest doubt of the success of
this scheme, which will be at once a source of
public benefit and individual profit.

It has always been our anxious endeavour
to impress upon the really industrious working
classes, that no permanent improvement could
he made in their social condition unless they
themselves set their hands to the work. In
spite of the demoralizing effect of the poor laws,
and their forcing the industrious to part with
their earnings for the support of the drunken
and idle, it must be confessed that there is still
a strong spirit of industry and independence
kept alive in the breasts of the body of the
people. Indeed, were it not so, pauperism
would, all over the country, eat up rents and
capital (accumulated labour), as it is actually
counties. One of
doing in several southern

the most gratifying outward symptoms of the
spirit of independence, has been the undi-
minished amount of the Savings Banks deposits,
and the perseverance of the people in joining
Friendly Societies, in spite of the disappoint-
ments, occasioned by bad management, to which
many of them have led. Several Acts of Par-
liament have been passed of late years, to guard
the industrious and provident poor against the
mismanagement of their savings. Not the least
important of these Acts is that passed last
Session to enable depositors in Savings Banks
and others, to purchase Government annuities,
through the medium of Savings Banks. Mr.
PRATT, the barrister appointed to certify the
rules of Savings Banks and Friendly Societies,
has just published this Act, with explanatory
notes, references, and an Appendix, contain-
ing different sections of the several sta-
tutes referred to, and applicable to a soci-
ety formed for the purpose of purchasing
Government annuities. Mr. PRATT'S intro-
ductory remarks state the advantages of the
proposed plan of annuities to the industrious
classes so clearly that we cannot forbear quoting
a portion of them. After noticing the disap-
pointments occasioned by the nonpayment of
superannuation allowances by Friendly Societies
owing to miscalculations, &c., and recommending
them to confine their benefits in parishes where
Government Annuity Societies are established,
to relief in cases of sicknessand death, he says—
"By the provision of the above statute a parochial
society may be formed in any parish, provided the rector,
minister, or vicar, or a resident justice is one of the trus-
tees. No unnecessary expenses are incurred in the
management, which is wholly gratuitous, the trustees and
managers acting as the agents of Government ; the amount
of the annuity to be purchased cannot be less than 41., or
more than 201. per annum, and is secured by Gavernment.
No annuity can he contracted for on the life of a person
under the ace of 15. The money to be paid may be
either in one sum in the first instance, or by weekly,
monthly, quarterly, or yearly payments, as may suit the
convenience of the purchaser. The amount of the money
paid down, or of the yearly instalments, will of course de-
pend upon the age of the party, and the time when he
wishes tl.e annuity to commence. The annuity is pay-
able half-yearly, viz., on the sth of January and sth of
July, or sth of April and 10th of October. But if a
party wish to have the annuity payable quarterly, he may
effect his object by purchasing one half payable in January
and July, and the other in April and October. Provision
is also made for continuing the annual payments or re-
ceiving the annuity at any other society than the one at
which the contract was originally entered into ; and if the
annuitant die after the payment of the annuity has com-
menced, his executors, &r., will he entitled not only to all
the half-yearly arrears due at his decease, but also to
one-fourth part of the expired annuity in addition there-
to, provided the same is claimed within two years after
his dere Ise.

" Independently of the advantages which are thus
afforded to the industrious classes to obtain by small pay-
ments a certain provision in old age, or at any other
stated period, secured by Government, and of which they
cannot be deprived, either on account of miscalculation
it: t.. 4-gt instance, or afterwards by the fraud or mis-
managetnent of those who have the conducting of the affairs
of the noel the tables of contributions have been so
calculated, that if the purchaser of a deferred annuity
die b. fore th. ime arrives at which the annuity is to coo -
mence, the whole of the money he has contributed
will be returned, without any deduction, to his family.
And it it does not exceed 501., it is not necessary that pro-
bate or letters of administration should be taken out. But
if he has left a will, or administration is taken out, no
stamp or legacy duty is payable in respect of the sum so
returnable, if the whole estate, &c., of the member is under
501. ; and again, if a purchaser is incdpable of continuing
the payment of his yearly instalments, he may, at any
time, upon giving three months' notice, receive back the
whole of the money he has paid. No annuity granted
/lo ha uhi.", Gum', itku, ROF yen dm
same, be transferred or assigned, but must continue to be
the property, or be received for the benefit, of the party
by, or for, whom it was purchased ; but in case of the
bankruptcy or insolvency of the purchaser of an annuity,
the same is to be repurchased by the Commissioners at a
valuation according to the tables upon which the annuity
was originally granted, and the money will be paid to the
assignee for the benefit of the creditors.
" A parochial society is not confined to the parish in
which it may be established, but any person, wheresoever
resident, may subscribe thereto, and will, on application
at the office where the business of the society is transacted,
receive every information he or she may require, and be
furnished with the fetus of certificate of birth, &c., which
must be produced before the contract for the annuity can
be entered into.

" On reference to the tables, &c., it will be sees that
the purchaser of au annuity, from a society established
under the statute 3 Will. IV, c. 14, if he live to the age at
which the annuity is to commence, will be entitled to
receive an annuity equivalent to the value of all his pay.
ments with the accumulation of compound interest; if he
is unable to continuo his yearly instalments, he may have
back all the money he has paid ; and if he die before the
commencement of the annuity, his family will receive the
whole of the contributions he may have made previous to
his decease."

The advantages of the arrangements here
described must be obvious, and we recommend
the industrious and provident workman, who
knows the ennobling feeling of independence,
to turn them in his mind, and endeavour to take
advantage of thew. The drunken, the idle, and
the debauched would also do well to weigh the
benefit of making the same attempt ; for they
may depend upon it, that the system under
which their idleness and improvidence has been
nourished at the expense of their more honest
fellow-citizens, will not long be permitted to go
on unchecked. Let them consider that the
price of a glass of gin per day would purchase
them an annuity, which would maintain them in
comfort and independence in their old age.