The Sun.
London, England, 1851-05-22 00:00:00

NEWSVENDERS' SOCIETY.

The twelfth annual general meeting of the News
venders' Society was held last night, at the Belle
Sauvage Hotel, Ludgate-hill. The chair was taken
by Mr. L. Wild.
The CLIAIBMAN read a letter from Mr. Harmer,
stating that he was prevented by an accident from
attending to take the chair, and enclosing a subscrip-
tion of 101.

The SECRETARY read the report, from which it
appeared that the capital of the society now amounts
to 1,2501. Bank Stock. It contained an appeal to the
members generally to use their exertions to extend
the sphere of the society's usefulness, by procuring
contributions to its funds, and announced that the
annual dinner had been postponed till autumn. The
report also directed attention to the statistical account,
to be read by the Treasurer, as a matter for serious
reflection. The committee pointed strongly to the
sum expended for temporary relief, distributed, with
two exceptions, to non-subscribers. They stated that
they had received many other applications from in-
eligible parties, and begged to remind the members
of the body that, with extraordinary exceptions, the
funds of the society ought to be retained for the
benefit of the bona fide subscribers, unencumbered
by disbursements to parties who have not had the
provident feeling to consider for themselves till the
hour of need overtakes them, and who only do so
then by seeking a remedy for their incautious ne-
glect from the accumulated pittances of the careful
and prudent.
The TREASURER read the statement of accounts
for the year, from which it appeared that the receipts,
including 571. 10s. 10d. balance on last year's ac-
count, amount to 1221. 83. 4d., and the outlay, in-
cluding 481. 4s. paid for Three per Cent. Consols,
amounts to 981. ls. 101, leaving a balance in band of
241. 6s. 6d.
Mr. T. G. Gillum( moved the adoption of the re-
port, and that it be printed and circulated amongst
the friends of the institution. In doing so he called
attention to the great services rendered to the public
by the newsvenders. He likewise referred to the ad-
vantages conferred by the society on persons engaged
in the trade, and to the encouragement which was
thereby offered to them.
Mr. GR4vAT seconded the resolution, which was
put and carried.
Votes of thanks were passed to the treasurer, com
mittee, secretary, president (Mr. Harmer), and to the
proprietors of the journals that have advocated the
claims of the society.
Elizabeth Bidmade was elected a pensioner of the
society, and it was agreed that she should receive 10/.
per annum.
A vote of thanks was passed to the Chairman, and
the meeting separated.

THE NEW LAW FOR THE PROTECTION OF AP-
PRENTICES AND SERVANTS.—Yesterday the important Act
of Parliament, which received the Royal Assent on Tuesday,
for the better protection of persons under the care and con-
trol of others as apprentices or servants, and to enable the
guardians and overseers of the poor to institute and conduct
prosecution, in certain cases, was printed. This Act, which
resulted from a late painful case, contains nine clauses, and is
now in force. It is provided that persons—masters or mis-
tresses—refusing or neglecting to supply necessary food to
apprentices or servants, or unlawfully assaulting them, aro
guilty of a misdemeanour, and liable to three years' impri-
sonment, with or without hard labour. The costs of such
prosecutions are to be allowed. A register is to be kept of
young persons under sixteen years hired or taken as servants
from any workhouse, with particulars as prescribed in a
schedule annexed to the Act. Young persons who are hired
from workhouses, or bound out as pauper apprentices, are to
be visited twice at least in every year, and the officer is to
report to the guardians " in writing whether he has found
reason to believe that such young person is not supplied with
necessary food, or is subjected to cruel or illegal treatment in
any respect." Where the residence is more than five:miles
the parties are to be visited by the officer of the union or
paridi in which they reside. The Act authorises and re-
quires parish officers to prosecute in certain cases where in-
jury has been inflicted on a poor person under sixteen years
of age. Justices are to bind over parish officers to prose-
cute, and the costs of such prosecutions are to be allowed.
The Act extends to England and Wales.

THE ADVERTISING VAN NUISANCE.--Yesterday
Mr. Bedford held an inquest in the board-room of St. Mar-
tin's Workhouse, on view of the body of Richard'Sicholson,
aged sixty-three, who for above twenty years had a print
stall adjoining St. Martin's Church. Samuel Newman, car-
man, 14, Stockwell-terrace, said that about two o'clock in
the afternoon of the 2d inst. he was in a taxed ca t, drawn
by one horse, which was proceeding down St. Martin's-lane,
when near St. Martin's Church he passed a huge advertising
van, at the sight of which the animal shied, and began to
plunge and leap. He pulled the animal in, but while lloing
so the shafts broke at the step iron, and he was thrown out
unt'er the horse's hind legs. The animal went off at a
furious and knocked the, deceased down, who was
standing with his stall, which extended several feet along
the street. He was picked up and carried to King's ColW:,,e
Hospital. Mr. C. Lewes, visiting surgeon at the hospital,
said deceased, after being at law days at tho institution, left
of his own accord. IN' itaess attended him at his lodgings.
Ile died on Sunday last. Deceased had two ribs broken,
which had penetrated the lungs, and produced effusion on
the pleura, which caused death. Verdict—" Accidental
death, caused by an advertising van."
[ADVERTISEMENT.] —Bell' s Life in London, Sunday
May 25.—Great Exhibition on Epsom Downs—the Derby
and Oaks - and other sources of competition. Final award's
by the judge, with remarks by Pegasus. Average sale of
Bell's Lift in London, 30,0000. Bell's Life is regularly pub-
lished by Mr. Clement, jun., 170, Strand, at 4 o'clock on
Saturday mornings, in time for the Saturday early morning
mails and railways.
COST OF LITERATURE.—A century ago the amount
expended in books, periodicals, and newspapers, did not ex-
ceed 100,000/. a year, whereas the sum now so expended
annually is calculated at 2,100,000/.