The Sun.
London, England, 1856-10-21 00:00:00

TIIE INQUEST.

This afternoon an inquest was opened by Mr. Carter,
the coroner of the district, and a respectable jury, taken
front the most respectable inhabitants of the neighbour-
hood, ati the Board room of the Newington Workhouse.

The room was densely crowded during the afternoon,
and the workhouse was surrounded during the whole of
the time by a dense crowd of persons, whom the fright-
ful nature of the accident had drawn to the spot.
Every accommodation was rendered to the represen-
tatives of the press by Mr. Feist, the governor of the
workhouse, and several of the members of the board of
guardians were present, and were assiduous in their
desire to afford every facility for conducting the inves-
tigation.
Mr. Superintendtmt Lund readily afforded every infor-
mation respecting the unhappy affair.
Mr. Chester, solicitor to the vestry, attended to watch
the proceedings on the part of the parish of St. Mary,
Newington, with a view of ascertaining from the evi•
denee if the Music Hall has been erected in accordance
with the provisions of the Metropolitan Building Act.
Mr. Coppock, r.nd other d'rectors of the gardeng, were
in attendance, and also Mr. Ellis, the secretary.
Before swearing the jury,

The Coroner said that it had been intimated to him
that some gentlemen had been summoned on the jury
who were connected with the Gardens, and he submit-
ted that if it cwere true, it would be better for them to
retire.

Mr. Oliver, a licensed victualler, residing in Pentcn-
street, near the garJeue, and Mr. Piggott, a ,gentletnan
of independent property, stated they were shareholders,
and would, after what had been stated, withdraw.
Mr. Piggott said he resided in the neighbourhood, and
he bad made inquiries relative to the accident. He
had obtained some valuable information.
The Coroner said it would be better for him to attend
as a witness and give evidence.

The two gentlemen then withdrew.
The Jury having been formed principally of members
of the Board of Guardians,
The Coroner said that cne of th'e bodies, into the cause
of whose death they were to inquire, was lying at Dod-
dington-grove. By the act of Parliament it WAR
necessary that all the bodies should be viewed
by the jury on the first sitting, and he suggested that
they should, after viewing the bodies at the dead-house,
proceed to Doddington-grove and view the body of
Grace Skepper. By so doing much timeand trouble would
be saved, otherwise a second inquiry must be held to in-
quire into the cause of her death.
The Jury assented to this course of proceeding, and
it was also arranged that they should view the Music
ball before they returned.

The jury having been sworn, Mr. E. C. Dermer,
churchwarden, foreman,
The Coroner said that he hoped they would enter on
the inquiry, divested of anything they had heard or read
on the subject, and confine their attention to the evi•
dence that would be adducad as to when, how, and by
what means the unfortunate individuals came by their
death. There were many rumours afloat as to the
cause thereof, to which it would be improper
for him to refer, and the object would be to ascertain the
cause of the calamity, and if any person or persons were
legally responsible for it,
The jury then retired to view the bodies in the
dead-house. Their appearance was of the most appalling
description, and an involuntary shudder of horror per-
vaded the jurors on seeing so many persons lying dead
before them. Their faces were discoloured and swollen
to an extraordinary size, and decomposition had set in
in many cases. The following is a list of the names of
the killed :

Grace Skepper, 54 years of age, married woman,
lyiniz dead at Doddington-grove.
Harriet Johnson, 20 years of age, single woman.
Harriett Barlow, 30 years of age, single woman.
Elizabeth Mead, 43 years of age, of Stockwell, mar-
ried woman.
Harriett Matthew, 10 years of age, single woman.
Samuel Herd, 24 years of age, of Alie-street, Ber-
mondsey New-road—all in the dead-house.

UNITY GENERAL ASSURANCE
ASSOCIATION.

MEETING.— (THIS DAY.)
The annual meeting of the shareholders in the Unity
Assurance Association was held this day at the London
Tavern. There was rather a thin attendance of share-
holders present. Mr. Baylis was not present, and h •
non-appearance was explained in the following circularui
which he had issued this morning to the shareholders :
" Ladies and Gentlemen,—Most anxious and careful re-
flection on the present position of the Unity General As-
surance Association, and the state of affairs existing be-
tween myself and the present board of directors, has led
me to think that nothing but harm could arise from
presence at the annual meeting this day. I have therefore
resolved on this ground that I had better not attend.
" I could not be present without coming into direct and
sei ions collision with the directors, the result of which would
prove of no benefit to the institution, but must give rise to
infinite confusion and protracted proceedings. As the share-
holders are fully aware of the causes that led to my resig-
nation, further reference to them is unnecessary. I will
therefore proceed at once to explain to you the results of
my return to the board morn, and also to indicate the
course of procedure that appears to me to be desirable for
thet
ibleneflt of the association.
that m circular of ther 10th inst. I announced to you
airiir
arrangement had been made between the directors
and myself. Which enabled me to return to my official
duties. I expressed my wish to render any assistance I
could
,to the
a tots. samcryisefiolof
association. It was for this purpose only,
,at
identify of personal feeling, that I consented . )
constituted, for .e
ti the board of directors, as at present
annual meeting. 1
much
period, namely, till the
to acquaint you that ro
regret to find myself compelled
of no service whateverY
tretnru to the board room has been
have not acted in good faith
otbe institution. The directors
co-operated with me. towards me; they have not
"Personally speaking, I will briefly place before you two
facts, involving the proceedings
.the directors, by which
I show that they have not keptofal
" Firstly, I complain that the ltewctitohrsin, oe.n Thursday
last, the llith instant, at the usual board meeting, whilst
I had left the room during the discussion of a matter per-
sonal to myself, gave secret instructions for a printed
circular to be issued, signed by Mr. Collins,
wherein they
published a statement of the terms on whicha absent
returned
of
ft from the
to my duties. They did this while I wa
board-room. They did not even acquaint me
with
had done. I therefore consider that in adopting sucha
hat
they
course of action, whilst professing to act in concert
me in the management of the institution, or, indeed,
=Waking any communication to the shareholders without
in
'my concurrence or knowledge, they violated an acknow
lodged principle as established between a board of direc-
tors and a manager. I also feel I have a right to complain

of the directors for having published, without my sanction,
the terms of my arrangement. They had no right to do
this. But if they published anything respecting them,
they ought to have published all the correspondence be-
tween themselves and myself that led to the teems. This
they did not do, but confined themselves to such parts only
as they conceived to be profitable to themselves with the
shareholders.
"Secondly,
I complain of the directors, for their con-
duct towards me respecting the annual report. On Thurs-
day week last, the day on which I returned to the board
room, the directors passed a resolution, requesting me to
prepare the annual report, as usual. lat once devoted
myself to it, and worked for two nights. Proof copies
were placed before the directors on Thursday last, and I
read the document. My report did not suit the directors,
and in consequence it was referred to a committee, com-
posed of Dr. Lloyd and Mr. Jackson. These gentlemen,
without any consultation with me, have cut up my report
according to their own notions. On Saturday last the
directors held another board meeting, for the purpose of
settling the report of Dr. Lloyd and Mr. Jackson They
did this in my absence—it being intimated to be by Mr.
Jackson that I had better not be present while the direc-
tors were settling their report. Therefore the report to be
presented to you on Tuesday is the prcduction of Dr.
Lloyd and Mr. Jackson. This is the first and only in-
stance where the directors have made a report to the share-
holders regardless of my advice.
"The allusion to future economy is merely the adoption
of a tone which the directors deem profitable to their pre-
sent necessities. If they really mean economy, why den%
they show it by their own acts. They have professed a
readiness to make personal sacrifices. Where have they
made a single sacrifice ? Let them give an example.
They now wish to make the shareholders Uelieve that they
want to be economical in the management. They think
such a profession made by them, under present circum-
stances, will secure popularity for them, and be injurious
to me. Let the shareholders once for all bear in mind,
that the directors have throughout been parties to every
proceeding involved in the management of the Institution,
whether respecting expenditure or any thing else. They
have themselves been well paid for doing very little towards
extending the business of the institution, therefore, when
they seek to court favour with the shareholders, by sud-
denly professing a quality they never possessed, it is my
duty to warn those parties interested in the association,
not to be led away by such empty expressions.
" I ask the shareholders to consider facto instead of pro-
fessions. Is it by helping themselves to 3601. for attend.
ance fees during the past three months, the directors prove
their desire for economy ? Is it by holding numerous com-
mittee and board meetings, at each of which large expen-
diture for director's fees is incurred, altogether indepen-
dent of the loss of time on the part of the staff in being
called upon to render useless returns? Is it by spending
nearly 1501. in the production of the literatim et verbatim
true and attested report of the meeting of the 11th Sept.,
which by the way is not a true or fair report ? Is it by
paying a compliment to your auditors, in handing over to
public accountants, and a largo staff of their clerks, the
private affairs of the association, including the bonds and
securities of customers who have transacted business solely
on the faith of secrecy, the expenses attending which will
be enormous? Is it by distributing such rubbish as con-
tained in the Herts Guardian, thousands of which were
paid for by the funds of the institution ? Is it by these
and other proceedings on their parts, that the directors
exhibit their desire for economy ? Are these the personal
sacrifices they are prepared to make ? I leave it to the
shareholders to form their own opinion.
" The sacrifices I have made consist of my having re-
signed a position I had been toiling for, and paid from my
own pocket a large sum for expenses incurred in the de-
fence of a principle of the institution.
" The directors have thought fit to embody in their re-
port a statement of the terms upon which I returned to
my official duties temporarily; and they leave the share-
holders to decide whether they approve of them or nut.
This is adopting an improper course of action. An annual
meeting of shareholders is not the place for discussing the
terms of engagement with a manager. The power is
vested in the directors by the deed o settlement, and I
should decline to enter upon the consideration of the ques-
tion in the way proposed by the directors. I must not be
misunderstood on this point. I think, under all circum-
stances, a full account of the negotiations which led to my
temporary return should have been placed before the
shareholders; but to canvas the `terms' of remuneration
at an annual meeting is altogether improper and unneces-
saty.
The directors, in their report, allude to the late com-
promise. The circumstances involved in this case are pro-
citely the same as when the shareholders, by their vote of
the 11th of September, practically censured the directors,
by ordering payment of the 1,250/.
The interests involved in the Unity General are of a
most important character, and I feel that the time has
now arrived when it is absolutely necessary for the share-
holders to adopt such measures as are calculated to place
the control of its affairs in other hands. So far as I am
concerned, the anxieties of my position are such, that I
feel my health affected in endeavouring to discharge them.
I have toiled hard for the Unity Associations, and used
all my energies with a view to furthering their interests.
They are three great undertakings, in which important
principles are involved, and my anxious wish is to see
them triumphantly successful. If the shareholders desire
it, I am ready, therefore, to render any assistance I can,
for a temporary period only, altogether independent of
any terms or financial consideration, or I am ready at
once to retire. _ _ _ _

" Possibly I might be useful in reorganising the ma-
nagement of the institution. I believe this step to be ne-
cessary and easy. A modification of the present Board c,f
Directors would he an advantage. Four of the present
number might retire. For the strengthening of the board
the shareholders might request some of their own body to
co-operate with the remaining directors in restoring the
office to propar working order. And here I might state,
that before I ventured to the board room, 1 had communi-
cated with some of the principal shareholders on the sub-
ject of forming a provisional committee, and the following
gentlemen, all of whom are shareholders, kindly consented
to act as committee men : _ _

" Dr. Davis, of Hertford ; J. A. Durham, Esq., Lon-
don ; Dr. Hearne, Southampton ; H. Buchan, Esq., South-
ampton ; W. Gould, -Esq.' London • G. E. Beckers, Esq.,
London; T. Bsylay, Egq.,NottinglLna T. RI...Ea.:Ad, 13..1.,
' Exeter, &c.
"I have no doubt but that these gentlemen would be
praparod to act in conjunction with some of the present
directorg. They hold a large amount of capital, and lam
suie they would without 6eLy be e.naLled to take soine
steps c•dculate'l to benefit the association, and restore con-
fidence in it. I can only say that I shall be most happy
to use my best energies in co-operating with them tempo-
rarily, but I must frankly state that it is impossible for
me to attempt to act with the board as at present consti-
tuted. .

I have, very hastily, endeavourei to place before you
some circumstamieA involved in the present position of
matters. I have done this from a sense of duty, and I
now leave it to the shareholders to take such a course as
they believe to be for the interests of the institution.—l
have the honour to remain, ladies and gentlemen, your
obedient servant, "THOMAS H. BAYLIS."

The report, which was read by Mr. COLLINS, the
secretary pre rem., stated
"From the 30th day of June, 1855 (up to which
day the last balance-sheet, as presented to the last
annual general mceting, was made) to the 30th
day of June, 1855, the number of policies issued
is 1,219, assuring 401,0911., and producing in
new annual premium 4 13,091/. lls. 34. Every policy
having, previously to acceptance, received the utciost
attention and consideration, all the assurances on the
hooks of the association are of the best description.
The directors have mach pleasure in calling attention
to the very satisfactory character of the business, the
life losses amounting only to 5,6521. 103•) and the pre-
mium to 30,0751."

" Circumstances having occurred which led to the
re-
signation of the late managing director, the directors
called together the shareholders to explain the reasons
which induced them unanimously to accept his resiona-
lien. These were fully stated to the shareholders at
extraordinary general meeting, held on the 11th day of
September last, a verbatim report of which has been sent
to each share and policy holder. At that meeting a ma•
jority determined that the late managing director should
be appointed manager, pro tent. The directors, bowing to
that decision, and to the suggestion and requisitions of
certain shareholders, and at the request of the late ma-
naging director, offered to him terms which they consi-
dered liberal and fair as between this Association and
himself, which were accepted by him. Those terms are
the following :
Extract from Board's Minutes of the Unity General
Association, of October 31, 1856 :
" Resolved,—That it is absolutely necessary fur the pro-
per conduct of this association, Ist. That in the event of
of Mr. Baylis returning to it, he should be appointed
manager, without a vote at the board. 2d. That he
should be required to discharge the duties of manager
fully end effectually, and confine his attention solely
1 to the business of the Fire, Life, and Bank Associations.
1 3d. That he should in future never incur, on behalf of the
association, any large expenditure, without the direct sane-
t.'nri of the board. 4th. That he should be required to
giv; an undertaking to the board that he will not, directly
or im..4iractly, mix himself up with or promote any new
cotnpanisss or schemes, but sedulously address himself to
the reorga.-dsation and further development of this asso-
ciation. stu: That his salary be GOO/. per annum, with a
commission at .the rate of 3 per cent. on new annual pre-
miums, less 7i p'lr cent., paid as commission to agents.
That this board, I.:‘ thus tendering to Mr. T. H. Baylis
the terms which it co,Asiders fair and liberal, as between
him and the association, requests him to give them his
earnest and attentive consideration, and it trusts that, for
the interests of this associa.`ion, he will, as promised in his
letter, be prepared to sacrifiCe all personal feelings for the
benefit of the institution, and assist this board in vigor-
0114y carrying out its operations.
. (Signed) " THOMAS VaUGH.I.N, Chairman."

t,,ainecl,.
To
ntl
which Mr. BAYLIS returned the following reply:—
" Ge
3d
inst , Gentlemen,—l beg to acknowledge your letter of the
anaindahtaollsaayt that
rlesaticinceeptrotyhpelateoormosttthhereeibnocaordn.-
Ofd, course the whole transaction will be submitted to the
shareholders at the general meeting, for their opinion and
aPProval.—l remain, gentlemen, your obedt. servant,
After a few (Signed) " THOMAS H. BAYLIS "
from the CHAIRMAN, .
soNre,
raZekOffthe direct ors, then rase to move
Baylis h
Mr. JACK
ad ;hand cal?ed attention to the
the adoption of the report
fact that Mr.
proper to absent him-
sweiltfhtion-dthaye firaosmt
fate
and had issued a circular
nanlieneuttugehdtistract the attention of
the shareholders from thelsiZ
had met. He had to inforia:ttwhiths. shareholders that
matter for which they
ndirptrt, and also
from what had taken place
days he begged to s.o.y, on- his oorif n the last few
on the part of the whole board
aszasioneu
reportw
a'ftctors, that if
Mr. Baylis was elected manag sr this
could not sit another day at the Loi;rd, He attributed
they
attributed
the absence of Mr. Baylis to the fact teat it was
by the directors refusing to ages
which he (Ur. Baylis) bad drawn np, and
they, as directors, did not fell they would be *lcch
titled in adopting. The directors, of cc, urse, would
be responsible for the report to be presented, and he felt
it was only right that the shareholders should know that
the report that was submitted to them to-ay, was that
of the directors, perfectly independent of Mr. Baylis.
The speaker then proceeded at great length to comment
on the circular issued by Mr. Baylis, which he
characterized as unfair, and in many respects
untrue.
Among other remarks, the speaker said the ,manager
air Baylis) bad taken advantage of his position to have
clauses placed cn the back of a loan policy in
which he was interested, which was] irregular and

at variance with the objects of the association.
(This remark was received with marks of disapproba-
tion.) In conclusion, Mr. Jackson declared that, in the
event of Mr. Baylis being returned manager, nothing
on earth would induce them to sit at the board with
him, and he thought that, as Mr. Baylis had withdrawn
from all interference in the management of the Unity
Bank, he ought also to withdraw from the Unity Life
Association. He begged to move the adoption of the
report that had been read by the Secretary.
Previous to the motion being adopted, Mr. PULLEN,
the accountant, read a long statement of the financial
position of the society, the result of an official inquiry
which had taken place with respect to the funds of the
association.

At the conclusion of the reading of the document,
The CHAIRMAN having put the adoption of the report
o the meeting,
Mr. HOPWOOD, one of the auditors, drew attention to
several items in the balance sheet. He thought that a
greater loss than ought to have occurred had taken
place or certain policies, especially from diseased lunge,
which, he thought, was so easily distinguishable. The
law charges of 962/., he thought, was excessive, as they
had had no law snits. He hoped that a greal deal of
pruning in the expenses of the company would take
place, and objected to such charges as 2501. for gas for
illumination, and paying Bs. per hundred for quills,
which could be obtained at any shop in London for
3s. 6d.

Mr. VAIICHAN, a director, said he felt it his •duty to
explain how the charge of 2501. for gas was incurred.
It was thought proper to illuminate their offices on the
occasion of the celebration of peace, and Mr. Baylis
arranged the whole affair. The directors were never
consulted—(Cries of " Then they should have been.")
—and although so large a sum had been paid for an
illumination that was only partially lighted. The iron
pork, which cost the company 2051., was now rusting in
the cellars of Unity-buildings. The directors were never
consulted en the expenditure, and were therefore not
accountable for it.

Dr. LLOYD differed with Mr. Hopwood as to the large
sum paid as claims for deaths occasioned by consump-
tion. He begged to inform him that, taking the whole
of the deaths of the United Kingdom, those by diseased
lungs would be found to be the most numerous. Though
14 was easy to discover actual diseased Jungs, it was
impossible to discover whether the seeds of the disease
existed.

After a few other questions had been put,
The CHAIRMAN put the resolution for the adoption of
the report to the meeting, when it was carried unani•
mously.
On the motion that the retiring directors be re-
elected,

Mr. HIND said the best way to secure the future pro-
sperity of the undertaking was to cut down the expenses,
and with this view begged to move a resolution to the
effect that the board of directors be reduced to seven,
whereby a saving of 5001. would be effected, and that
the resolution, if adopted, be acted upon forthwith.
The resolution having been seconded, it was put and
carried unanimously. The retiring directors were there-
fore not re-elected.

Mr. JACKSON (director) proposed a resolution to the
effect that Mr. T. H. Baylis be no longer an officer of
the association.

The motion having been seconded,
Mr. HIND thought that Mr. Baylis ought to have been
present. He maintained that directors who permitted
such pranks to be acted were more culpable than Mr.
Baylis. They had petted and fondled over Mr. Baylis,
and now that they had found that they had spoiled the
child they were anxious to gat rid of him. They had
allowed Mr. Baylis to mesmerise the board for six years,
but now they had put on their wide-awakes. (Hear,
hear, and laughter.) He thought Mr. Baylis ought to
have been present to-day to meet boldly any resolution
that might be proposed.

. .
Mr. IioaDEN said, that all along he had been the ad-
vocate of Mr. Baylis, but the conviction was now forced
upon him, that as long as that gentleman continued
manager of the association, it must sink—nothing could
save it.

Ths resolution of Mr. Jackson, that Mr. Baylis be no
longer an officer of the as.ocia.tion, was then put to the
meeting, and carried unanimously.
The auditors were then re-elected.
Mr. JACKSON then declared it was the intention of the
board to advertise for a gectieman to fill the vacant
office of manager—hi fact, to throw the office open to
the best qualified person. It was not the intention of
the board to have a general manager to take the busi-
ness out of the hand♦ of the directors, but to have a
manager to look after the affairs of the institution.

A committee of shareholders was then appointed to
assist the direction in considering the means by which
the expenses of the association might be reduced.
The proceedings terminated with a vote of thanks to
the chairman.

WARWICK RACES. --(This Day.)

- - `C. - -

(BY ELECTRIC TELEM4PII.)
GREAT WARWICK HANDICAP.
Lady natal]
Prince of Orange,
Homily
Seven ran. Won by a bead. Same between second

and third.
CASTLE PAIIK HANDICAP.
Gamma di Vcrgy
Littl. rtos._
Companion 3
Twelve ran. Won by a head. Two lengths between
second and third.
WELTER CUP.

Pod;e
L.)rd Alfred

• Five ran.
SWEEPSTAKES OF 5 SOVS.
Lidy Barbara
•
.A.marylis

Four ran.
501. HANDICAP PLATE—No race.

LATEST BETTING.
CAMBRIDGESHIRE.
20 to I apt Coup de Main (taking freely)

No other change.

LONDON GAZETTE—(This Evening.)

FOREIGN-OFFICE, OCT. 20.

The Queen has been pleased to approve of Don Miguel
Castaneda as Consul-General in London for her Majesty
the Queen of Spain.

WIIITEFIA.LL, OCT. 20.
Tha Queen has been pleased to present the Rev. Rode-
rick Nicolson to the church and parish of Uig, in the pres-
bytery of Lewis and county of Ross, vacant by the death
of the Rev. David Watson, late minister thereof.
BOARD OF TRADE, WHITEHALL, OCT. 20.

The Right Honourable the Lords of the Committee of
Privy Council for Trade and Plantations have received,
through the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, a copy
of a Despatch from her Majesty's Ambassador at Paris, en-
closing a copy of a French Imperial Decree, prolonging
until the 17th October, 18:57, the regulations contained
in Article 2 of the Decree of the 17th October, 1855, with
reference to the nationalisation of foreign ships. A trans-
lation of the decree of the 17th October, 1855, appeared in
the London Gazette of the Gth November of that year.