The Sun.
London, England, 1851-09-03 00:00:00

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RAILWAY PASSENGERS ASSU-
RANCE COMPANY.—(TIIIS DAY.)
The fourth half-yearly meeting of the shareholders
of this company took place this day at the offices, 3,
Old Broad.street. The chair was taken by the
Chairman of the company, John Daan Paul, Esq.
The SECRETARY (Mr. A. Beattie) then read the
r eport, from which it appears that the receipts for the
half.year amount to 3,155/. 15s. 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. 2,0681.8,5. 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 1311. 7s. 7d.
against 741. ss. 103., whilst the issue of single jour-
ney tickets amounted to 761. 15s. Id. against 211. Os.
10d. With 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 insurarces have been effected are as
follows :

Class 1. Engine drivers... 265. 6d. per ann., to insure 601.
„ 2. Guards, stoker:,
breaksmen, &c. 19s. 6d. „
„ 3. Porters,policemen,
gatekeepers, &c. ss. 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 53. per share on the proprietors—the reasons
for this call have been stated in the circular an-
nouncing it, and the directors have only 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., 2,0681. Bs. 6d. paid as com-
pensation during the last half-year had been charged
to revenue, and that of this sum 1,4251. 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 1,426/. should be charged to the
preliminary expenses in the capital account, and
scattered like those expenses over a period of years,
inatead of being charged on 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
will be 2,4381. 7s. 21., leaving a balance over the
gross receipts of 717/. Bs. 7d. They are not, how-
ever, prepared to recommend the division of the
balance of 7171. 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
months, 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 are 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
oniginally started as a commercial speculation, still it
must be highly watifying 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
Iceland 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 tie 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 board.

vol.
~

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 grievatices. 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 ugainst
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. CARY moved that the sum of 1,425/. should be
charged to the preliminary expenses as recommended
in the report, which being seconded by Mr. Stone,
pas6ed.withcut a dissentient voice.

Cordial and unanimous tiaariiisvire then severally
voted to the directors, the Chairman, and the Snre-
tary, and duly acknowledged. The proceedings then
terminated.

THE PRINCE DE JOINVILLE, LOUIS NA-
POLEON BONAPARTE, AND THE PRESI-
DENCY OF THE FRENCEI REPUBLIC.

(From the Jourual des DEbals.)
By the side of the journal, 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 made 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 to, 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
nktrs, to set aside one of the serious chances which
fo tune may offer us. There would be too much
!else virtue in responding by the inflexibility of a
principle to
the cry of necessity, to oppose the pre-
tended dignity of a name to the safety of a people.
In face of a national wish sincerely expressed—in face
of a great public peril, clear as the light of day, the
Prince de Joinville would not have any choice to
make ; he would not hesitate, we are convinced.
But all that is 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 sail 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 on 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
to others the honour of saving the vessel, he would
blow it up! And it is to the Prince de Joinville,
and in such language, that these calumnies are ad-
dressed! To that son of King Louis Philippe, who
in all difficult cr 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 (he
writer, devoted to the defence of the Elysea who
have so, ittle memory and so little justice! The
Prince de Joinville had in 1848, at the moment

THE SUN,

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. Who would venture to say that appear-
ing all of a sudden in the midst of the fleet at Tou-
lon, escorted by some battalions brought back from
Algeria, the young conqueror of Mogador and St. Jean
d Ulloa would not have found there numerous parti-
sans ? Was it courage which was wanting to him ?
Was it popularity ? Was it good right ? Why then
did he proceed with stoical resignation to a land of
exile ? Because his patriotism silenced the dictates
of his youth and of his courage ; because in the
frightful disorder into which the insurrection of Pa-
ris had thrown France, when the minister of the Go-
vernment then existing, such as it was, wrote to him
praying for his abstention, in the name of public
safety, he would not consent to be a cause of disorder,
'added to so many others. They who in other times
attacked twice in full peace, in the name of I
know not what imperial legitimacy, the existing
Government (we admit that they honourably re-
pented of such conduct afterwards), were they more
patriotic than the Prince de Joinville ? That is a
question which we take the liberty of addressing to
the Constitutionnel. But let us suppose, a fact
which is far from being proved to us, let us suppose
that the candidateship of the Prince de Joinville was
openly avowed by him, and frankly supported by a
considerable faction of the party of order. In what,
,
we ask, is that candidateship more calculated to
trouble the State' than that of any other which.
may be avowed, that of General Changarnier, or of
Gen. Cavaignac, or that of M. Carnot ? Either there
must be only one candidateship permitted (that which
the Constitution interdicts, or it must be admitted that
a person may be a candidate to the place of President,
in competition with that privileged candidateship,
without being an anarchist, a factious man, and a cri-
minal citizen. And what if we were to say that the
candidateship which troubles the State, which divides
the party of order, which holds suspended over
the country the formidable problem of the un-
known, was precisely that which the journal
to which we reply, supports, in contempt
of the constitutional law ? We do not say so,
through respect for universal suffrage, which on some
given day, we admit, may have the advantage over
the Constitution itself; but whilst waiting for that
day, is it not true that the Constitution ought to be
observed ? It was framed against us, but is it we
who give the example of disobeying it ? And they
who cry up a candidateship which the law of the
country declares to be unconstitutional, who have flung
into the midst of our embarrassments and our perils
that terrible difficulty, who every day call the national
sovereignty to this double trial, once more we ask, are
they acting well thus to come and lavish abuse on the
august exiles who wait, without asking anything,
and without violating any law, until the will of the
country shall have been pronounced ? Our repug-
nance to treat such questions before the hour of ne-
cessity is well known, and consequently it is with
great regret that we have entered on this matter; but
we will not recoil from the task which lies before us.
We wish for the Prince de Joinville a totally different
destiny than that which the zeal of his friends, or the
previsions, more or less enlightened, of his partizans,
prepare for him. We wish it to him, not for his
honour of prince, since we believe that a great
prblic necessity may, on any given day, counsel for
him a sacrifice which would not cost his dignity
anything, but we wish it to him for his happiness.
But should the Prince de Joinville be induced by
the sentiment of a great duty to descend seriously,
into the lists in which, before long, will be con-
tested the destinies of France, there is one thing of
which we are sure—that the Prince de Joinville
would not accept a political candidateship in order to
divide the party of order, but to unite and rally it ;
not to trouble the State, but to restore to it security,
and repose; not to blow up the vessel, but to extin-
guish the fire. It is only in this way that a son of
King Louis Philippe could remain faithful to the
patriotic reminiscences and liberal traditions of his
family."