The Sun.
London, England, 1869-08-21 00:00:00

THE ALBERT LIFE ASSURANCE

COMPANY.

An application has been made to the Chief Clerk, at
rice-Chancellor James's Chambers, on behalf of the
liquidators, for leave to pay certain premiums on re-
insurances effected with other companies by the Albert
Company. The question arose whether the surrender
value of the policies was greater oz em than the premiums
proposed to be paid, and affidavits and lists of premiums
and the surrender value of the policies were produced,
which showed that, with very few exceptions, the sur-
render value was greater than the amount of premium.
It was urged that, pending the period of the reconstruc-
tion of the company, it was most desirable, in. the com-
pany's interest, not to allow any of the policies to lapse
through non-payment of the premiums. The total amount
proposed to be paid was £1,034. The Chief Clerk gave
leave to pay the premiums falling due this mouth. It
was then stated that, the Court having authorised the
receipt of all renewal premiums, which were to be
put aside until the reconstruction, and to be returned
in full if no arrangement is mane, the questicn
of the agents' commissions arose. The agents, through
whom a large number of premiums are paid, usually da-
duct their small commission before remitting the amount,
and it was proposed by the official liquidator that this
charge for commission should be defrayed out of the
general fund. The Chief Clerk, having said that the
company would be bound to return the premiums in full
if an arrangement were not made, suggested that the
agents should make no charge ; but it was urged that the
agents must be paid for their trouble, or they would not
work ; and ultimately leave was given as desired.

THE BOILER EXPLOSION ON THE
THAMES.

Mr. Richards, deputy-coroner, resumed an inquiry on
Wednesday, at the Court House, Wellclose•square, Tower-
hill, touching the deaths of George Charles Evans, the
master, and Joseph Williams, the stoker of the steamtug
Edward, the boiler of which exploded on the morning
of the 11th instant. Evidence having been given
as to the finding of Evans's body, Mrs. Sarah
Evans, the widow of the deceased captain, deposed
to the presentiment felt by her husband that some-
thing would happen to him on that day. Her husband was
not in pecuniary difficulties at the time of his death, and
he had never directly or indirectly threatened to commit
suicide. The remarks of her husband as to the pre-
sentiment did not appear strange to her. In reply
to Mr. Lewis, the witness said her husband and she occa-
sionally " bad a few words." More than once he
said, " I'll sleep on board the steanatug." Mr. Lewis
asked the witness whether what her husband said was
said in consequence of the way in which they lived
together. Mrs. Evans, who cried bitterly, said that was her
business, and that Mr. Lewis had no right to enter into
her domestic affairs. Mr. Merriman asked the witness
whether her husband gave her any reason for the presenti-
ment he felt on the day before and the day of his death.
Mrs. Evans replied that her husband did not state
the reason, but said the boat was " dickey."
Thomas Dickson, a Custom-house lighterman, deposed
that on the morning of the explosion he was in
a boat within eight or nine feet of the steamtug Edward.
He saw the deceased then standing on the deck of the
tug, lying across the wheel with his arms crossed. Captain
Evans was at the time looking anxiously towards the
shore. The witness wished the captain "Good Morning,"
but he did not hear his reply. Captain Evans looked at
witness for a moment, and again turned his head towards
the shore. The witness then heard a hissing noise—he felt
himself a corpse, and thought his wife and children were
leaning over him. He had fallen into the water, and was
picked up insensible. John Graham, boiler-maker,
adhered to his previous statement that the boiler had
been tested up to a pressure of 1241 b. to the square inch.
He added that he was sorry to have to state that there
was no fixed rule as to what amount of pressure a boiler
should be worked to which bad been tested to a particular
figure. The inquiry was then adjourned.