The Sun.
London, England, 1851-01-21 00:00:00

LON DON, TUES DA Y EVE

the first ? The one would not have been n more de-
cisive breach of pacific relations them the other. The
trial has been made and failed ; and it would
be a simple tempting of the popular pa-
tience, to allow the defeated to assume the
garb of victory in our streets. To this end, enforce
the existing law. Put down the brace of young
Familiars of the Inquisition, judging by their dress,
who in their inky cloaks have orders to patrole
the neighbourhood of Charing-cross, to accustom the
public to the small end of the wedge, and are as
manifest a parade as the two mounted sentries at the
Horse Guards. Let there be equality ; nobody else
exhibits their mummeries; why should they?
What is certain is, that the people of England
will get just so much as they vigorously call for. If
they bow before old religious cusinis, they need not
despair of hearing of old political ones next. The
descendant of the Stuarts, the produce of some repe-
tition of the warmitir;-pan miracle, whose family
claims have already been recognized in one direction
by the Papal diplomacy, is within ten days' sail, and
can join the: Spanish cardinal when asked for. Does
anybody believe, that if Rome, France, Austria,
Russia, and Yiples, saw a chance for establishing a
looting in Ireland, he would not be heard of by return
of pest' lie has been always stirring, hoping
ag3inht hope. After the Three Days of Paris, calling
himself an cflicer in his Majesty's service, he wanted
to shoot Dr. Bowring, and I understand was making
friendly irquiries after me, for having printed the
words " the obsolete tyranny of the Stuarts ;" such
is the nuisance to which the pretended right of assas-
sination is gros ing. I gave his printed manifesto,
endeavouring to gain the Chartists by the promise of
the abolition of the national debt, to two of her
Majesty's Ministers last session. Under these cir-
cumstances, I confess to the weakness of a conviction
that he is "a real animal." The latest sketch for a
new Star Chamber in Westminster, would make a
good companion print for the programme of the las
Auto da Fe at Seville.

A yet remaining question is, what is to be done
with the Church. Men will not be content without
Reformation, in a Church which has done so much to
hand them over to the ancient foe. The whole mis-
chief began in the Anglican Church; the persecution of
the protomartyr Gorham, for not holding Papistical
nonsense, was what gave Rome the cue that the time
was come to move. To cut away what in its services
has been proved to minister to superstition, wants
nothing but a man. He of Durham will not die a
simple Bishop, unless he makes haste. Perhaps for him
are reserved the honours of a Latimer or Ridley, with-
out the fiery end.
I am, Sir, yours very sincerely,
AN OLD REFORMER.
London, 21 January, 1851.

TO THE EDITOR OE THE SUN.
Sfit,—The scarcity of boys at the different ports,
as stated in a paragraph in your paper of this day, is
easily accounted for. The boys eligible for entry
must weigh ninety pounds (I think), and be of a given
height and of a certain age. This weight and height
is graduated to the scale of embryo giants. Hence
the scarcity of boys.—l am, Sir, &c.,
January 20, 1851.

A PLYI:IOUTHIAN.

THE HUNGERFORD PIER.
Sir,—l was a witness to-day of the melancholy acci-
dent which Lock place at Hungerferd- bridge, in the
death of a gentleman who missed his footing when in-
cautiously jumping from the boat to the pier. This is a
custom 1 often see practised, but, though it ought to be
atrongly reprobated, yet what I particularly wish to
draw your attention to is the fact that, had there been a
spare rope or anything which could have been thrown to
the unfortunate person, his life might have been saved.
gentleman tried to throw the hawser, but it was too
heavy; a man on the pier tried with a clumsy boat-hook
to reach him, but, in the first instance, be pushed it be-
low the chains, and before he could get it above, as it was
almost too heavy for him to lift, the poor man was out of
his reach. I called to him frequently to throw the
boathook into the water, but ho would not; if
he bad there was still a chance, as the poor fellow kept
for near five minutes above water. No boat was near,
and, the tide running rapidly up, he was carried past the
stone pit r of the Suspension-bridge before he sank._

Had there been a life-buoy, a grating, or a spare light
rope, life, in this instance, might have been saved. Is
There no law, nor any regulation, to compel the owners
of these vessels to have some apparatus of this nature
on board boats in which so many people travel, that, in
eas- of accidents, there might be some chance of saving
life? In this there was nothing at hand—had there
been, this person might have been saved.

Trusting you will take some notice of this neglect,
I remain you obedient servant,

_
_
Jan. 18. C. S.
Y.S. Groat work is made about earel,ssness on rail-
roads—why should not a similar surveillance be kept
over the lives of people travelling by water in penny
boats ?

PROVIDENT CLERKS' MUTUAL
LIFE ASSURANCE ASSOCIATION.

The tenth annual general meeting of the members
of the Life Assurance department of the Provident
Clerks' Association was held yesterday evening, at
the London Tavern, Bishopsgate-street ; Mr. R. H.
Jones, chairman of the board of manage-
ment, in the chair. The meeting was very fully at-
tended, and amongst those who wore present we ob-
served tho following gentlemen :—R. H. Jones, E,q.,
J. W. Welch, Esq., deputy-chairman ; Mr. Clark,
Mr. Jordan, Mr. Dankearts, Mr. Dawson, Mr.
Sawtell, Mr. Lintott, Mr. Mosley, Mr. Maitland,
Mr. Jepps, Mr. Price, managers; George Thomas,
Esq., Wm. Ratray, E q , Richard Bell, Dq., H. B.
Re3nolds, Esq , P. Richardson, Esq., Mr. Honey,
Mr. Coleman, and Mr. Gosbell.
The advertisement convening the meeting having
been read by Mr. P. 11. Byrne, the secretary, the
annual report and statement of accounts were sub-
mitted to the tuembers.
The details in the report denoted the continued
prosperity of this association.
The number of policies issued during the past year
cases 391 for 77,1501., and 11 for annuities.
Twenty-eight proposals have been declined.
Thirty-nine proposals have been accepted, and wait
completion.
The Act of Parliernert passed on the 15th August,
1850, does not at all interfere with the privileges of
members whose assurances were effected previously
to that period.
The right of nomination cannot, however, be exere
cised by persona assuring after that date.
The Act, nevertheless, provides that assurances may
be made in favour of the widow or widower, child or
children, of a deceased member, exempt from probate
or legacy duty.
It also enlarges the powers of investing the funds
of the association, and allows the advance of money
to members on the security of their policies of as-
surance.
The annual premiums payable on policies now in
existence, together with the dividends on invested ca-
pital, amount to 13,7461., being an increase of up-
wards of 1,8001. on the income of the previous year.
During the past year 10,000 Three-and-a- Quarter
Stock was purchased, making the amount of stock to
31st December, 1850, 30,0001. Three-and -a-Quarter
per Cents.
The amount of claims arising from thirteen deaths,
during the year 1850, is 2,5991.
As it will be necessary to make some alteration in
the rules in consequence of the late Act of Parlia-
ment, a special meeting will be duly convened as early
as possible.
In conclusion, the board of management assure the
members that they will continue to exert their best
energies for the prosperity of the association, and they,
earnestly call upon them for their zealous co-opera-
tion in this most desirable object.
The CHAIRMAN said—ln rising to move the adop-
tion of the report, and the confirmation of the accounts
which have just been read, I wish to say a few wordy
in connexion with the society ; and, in the first place,
I wish to express, as I usually do on all such occa-
sions as these, the sincere gratification which I feel at
finding so many old faces around, who have attended
our anniversaries for the last ten years.--(Hear, hear.)
It is most encouraging to the managers to see so large
a number of members present ' • and I am sure all of
them participate with me in the feeling which I am
faintly endeavouring to express.--(Hear, hear.) Now,
as regards the report which has just been read to you,
although on the last occasion when we met you here
we had an extraordinary year of business to introduce
to your notice, in this year we have not been quite so
successful ; but when I enumerate the various causes
which we assign for the falling off, I am sure you
will at once see that there is no reason
to despair.—(Hear, hear.) On the contrary, I shall
show you that the present year has commenced most
prosperously.—(Hear, hear.) At the end of 1848
we had done business to the extent of 417 policies
for 84,3501. Last year, up to the end of 1849, the
extent was 550 for 115,045/.—(Hear, hear.) But
that was an extraordinary year, owing to the preva-
lence of the cholera; and also you will remember
we all came in that year for a participation in an
extra division of profits, which therefore gave us
expectinggood
st reason for large amount of business; but
the only fair way of looking at the result of our work-
ing is to take the two past years together.—(Hear,
hear.) Well, then, adding those two together, and
striking the average, gives us 467 polices for 95,5971.
in each year, consequently the two past years exhibit
an increase over that of 1848 of between 84 and
95 policies, so that we have no reason in
my opinion to feel any hesitation about the continued
prosperity of the association.—(Cheers.) Then, in
order to carry out my views, I should mention that
we have during the present month completed twenty-
three policies for 4,2501., while we have in hand
thirty-four for 6,4001., so that altogether during the
present month fitty-seven proposals have come in, and
therefore I am very sanguine as to our progress and
success in the present year.—(Cheers.) But as re-
gards the past year there are various causes to be as-
signed for the falling off in our business. I have
referred to some, but I moat particularly alluded to
the inter'erence on the pert of Government.—(Hear,
hear.) The Friendly Societies' Bill was in progress a
considerable time, and during that time I think no
less thin four or five amended Bills were
proposed before Parliament curie to a decision upon
the one that has appeared.—(Hear, hear.) Trat
Bill, however, having passed, it involves upon us
an alteration of certain rules, which it was impossible
for us to accomplish on this occasion, and therefore,
as the report states, the matter will be considered as
soon after this meeting as practicable.—(Hear.) On
the occasion of the Bill passing we had every assist-
ance from our friends. The report has already
alluded to this part of the subject, and has paid a com-
pliment to Mr. J. A. Smith, which I think a most de-
served one for his kindness to us on that occasion.—
(Hear, hear.) I must add to that compliment this
fact, that through his instrumentality I obtained
an interview with the Chancellor of the
Exchequer, and was examined before a Com-
mittee of the House of Commons, and my friend
the Deputy-Chairman, devoted his attention, day
after day, to our interests during the progress
of the Bill, and (assisted by other members of
the. Board) watched the amendments for us with
great assiduity, and, no doubt, with much incon-
venience to himself.—(Hear, hear.) But we have
accomplished all that we anticipated, and so far we
have been amply rewarded for our exertions.—
(Cheers.) If you experience any disappointment at
the report showing a little falling off in the business
of the past year, it must be extremely satisfactory to
you to see a decrease in the number of deaths, a de-
crease in the expenses, and an increase in the
amount of stock that has been added to our accumu-
lating fund.—(Hear.) At least a third of the whole
amount, or, in other words, 10,000/., has been added
to our stock ; and when I bear that in mind I really
can see no cause but for congratulation in the ope
rations of the past year.— (Cheers.) If anything
occurs to me, gentlemen, during the present proceed-
ing to induce me to make any further observations,
I shall take the opportunity of doing so, but in the
meantime I would rather reserve anything I might
have to say further now, until we have hadan expression
of the feelings and opinions of those gentlemen who
are present in the body of the meeting.—(Hear,
hear.) I have only to add that I shall be happy to
answer any question that may be put to me, and, in
conclusion, I beg leave to move that the report and
balance-sheet now read be received, adopted, printed,
and circulated at the discretion of the board.—
(Hear, hear.) I may just say, gentlemen, that as we
are at all times most anxious to give the fullest infor-
mation of all our proceedings, we have rather antici-
pated this resolution by printing the balance-sheet,
so that you might have it in your possession here,
this evening.—(Hear, hear.)
The motion was put from the chair and carried
unanimously.
Dlr. BELL had a motion to propose conveying a
compliment which he thought was exceedingly well
merited. Having been appointed an auditor at the
last meeting, he could bear testimony to the efficiency
of the management, and he had, therefore, the more
pleasure in proposing to the meeting a vote of thanks
to the managers for the able manner in which they
had attended to the interest of the association during
the last year. He could assure the meeting that the
performance of those duties had been a source of ex-
treme gratification and pleasure to him and his
brother auditors, for it made them acquainted with
the clear, simple, and admirable manner with
which the accounts of the association were kept.
—(Loud cheers.) Never before had such
simple and explicit accounts come under his
notice. They were highly satisfactory, exceedingly
clear, and beautifully plain, and as that was a con-
vincing proof of the skill and ability which the ma-
nagers brought to the service of the association, he
had much pleasure in proposing a vote of thanks to
them, and that 5001. be awarded to them for their
labours during the past year.—(Cheers.)
Mr. COI; MAN, another auditor, confirmed all that
his colleague had said respecting the accounts. None
but gentlemen who lied the control of large mercan-
tile establishments could understand and duly
appreciate the simplicity with which the
business of this association was carried on;
tvi,:eartel
clear
fl
(o,
ar affordeda I
ihimand
in
exertions;
feaaructditoi citiines
but, nevertheless, on going through the accounts
r
of the past year,
to witness the care and ability with which they
were kept ; they
had, therefore, much pleasure in seconding tie.
duringluti
ththankingep,,styethre,_inaeciehgce,,m,
year.—(Cheers)
for.
The resolution basin" Lee, divided into two
1 art ,an‘'‘'d'vsthra'uttonflldhicsarbreieoLtllile'rn4dniirl:llacltuposrrisoY,b.
approbation
iro the
of kindt h e
The CHAIRMAN reiurned thanks, on his 'own be-
halfand unanimous vote of the meeting. It was very
cheering to receive the cordial