The Sun.
London, England, 1867-03-29 00:00:00

LAMBETH.

DARING ROBBEltY.—Samuel Mitchell and Henry Hill,
two desperate-looking lads, were pliced at the bar of this
court charged with committing a robbery at the pro-
mises of Mrs. Peacock, a draper carrying on busi-
ness, at 22, Crab-tree Shot-road, Peckham. The pri-
soners, it appeared entered the shop of tho prosecutor,
and forced the till during her temporary absence and took
the money from it.
The prisoners wore committed for trial..

VISIT OF THE QUEEN TO Tl' METROPOLIS.—
Yesterday her Majesty, with their Royal Highnesses
Princess Louise, Princess Beatrice, and Prince Leopold,
attended by the suite, left 'Windsor at 11.20 by special
train on the Great Western Railway. Tho train was Ruder
the charge of Mr. Tyrrell, superintendent of the line, and
Messrs. Higgins and Fraser. On reaching Paddington
her Majesty was received by Mr. Frederick Saunders, the
secretary to the Great Western Railway, and conducted to
an open carriage, which, escorted by a detachment of the
14th Hussars, under Lieutenant Laing, immediately left
the station for Buckingham Palace. After holding a
Court and visiting the Prince and Princess of Wales, as
well as their Majesties the King and Queen of Denmark,
the Queen returned to Windsor by special train about six
o'clock in the evening.

The Prince of Wales, attended by Colonel
Kingscote, rode out on horseback yesterday.
Their Highnesses the Prince and Princess Duleep
Singh have arrived at Claridge's Hotel from Roehampton
House.

The Earl and Countess of liopetoun have arrived
at Long's Hotel.

Mrs. Alcock, mother of Major Henry Alcock,
Deputy-Lieutenant of Wilton, county of Wexford, was
burnt to death at Wilton Castle on Sunday evening. She
was alone in the servants' hall when her clothes took fire,
and she was dead before help came. The gentlemen of the
NVexford hunt were to have dined there next day.

SERIOUS RKPLOSION.—un Wednesday night a
serious explosion took place in the premises of Mr. Laid-
law, Chinese firework maker, High-street, Stepney, by
which six unfortunate persons were seriously burned,
viz., Jane Webster, aged 47 ; Samuel Webster, aged 19 ;
Charles Wilson, jun., aged 8 ; Charles Wilson, aged 35 ;
Matilda Wilson, aged 31; and Matilda Pain, age not
known. They were all removed to the hospital, and up to
last evening none were actually dead.
THE SOUTH STAFFORDSHIRE IRON TRADE.—BIR-
MINGHAM, March 28.—The preliminary meeting of the
iromnasters of this district was held at the Hen and
Chickens in this town this afternoon, Lieut.-Col. Barrows
in the chair. Thera was a tolerably full attendance, and
after a brief discussion a resolution was unanimously
passed to adhere to the old scale of prices for all descriptions
of insnufactured iron—that is, £7 10s. for bars, and other
kinds in proportion. No other resolution was open to the
meeting, but it was doubtful whether more than half a
dozen of thoso procat tuo ablo to obtain tb.o trado prico,

The income of the association has increased to
£226,151 Os. ld. The directors regret that, in com-
mon with other assurance institutions, this association
has suffered by ' the unusually high rate of mortality
which has prevailed during the past year. The deaths
have been 335 in number, and 396 policies, amounting to
£141,364 3s. 11d., have thereby become claims upon tho
fuLds of the association. The balance of the year's in-
come, after deducting all out-goings, amounts to
£65,434 14s. 10d. The assets have increased to
£530,280 19s. ld. The various books, accounts, vouchers,
and securities of the association have been duly audited by
the four appointed auditors, whose report is as follows :
To the Board of Directors of the Briton Medical and
General Life Association.

Gentlemen,—We have again the gratifying duty of in-
forming you that in continuing the system of quarterly
investigations into the affairs of the Association, we have
found the several books and accounts, from which the
balance-sheet is prepared, in a correct and satisfactory
condition. The whole of the securities comprised in the
assets have been carefully examined, and are in perfect
order. We are, gentlemen, your very obedient servants,
HENRY ALCOCK,
WILLIAM Bnooxs, Auditors.
JOHN BROWN,
C. R. ROWLAND. j

London, 28th March, 1867.
The directors recommend that a dividend at the rate of
£8 per cent. per annum (free of income-tax) on the paid-up
capital be declared. Three of the directors, viz., Dr.
Samuel Richards, Captain Hamilton, and Dr. Sieveking
retire from tke Board in accordance with the provisions of
the Deed of Settlement, but, being eligible, offer them-
selves for re-election. The auditors retire in like manner
and also offer themselves for re-election. It is with sincere
pain and regret the directors here draw attention to the
heavy loss the Board and the Association at large have
sustained by the death of their much respected and deeply
lamented chairman, Dr. Barlow, whose long and valuable
services will be well and gratefully remembered by the
shareholders and members. The directors have also the
painful duty to report the deaths of Sir Charles Hast-
ings, M.D., D.C.L., Mr. John Drewett, and Mr. George
Bevington, trustees of the association, and likewise
of Dr. Babington, F.R.S., one of the consulting
physicians. All these gentlemen were old and active
supporters of the association. The directors have elected
Mr. Francis Webb, chairman, and Dr. Tyler Smith, deputy
chairman ; but as the numerical strength of the board
was originally fixed at ten, and was only increased to
eleven on account of the Britannia amalgamation, the
directors do not propose at present to fill up the vacancy
in the direction. The directors have the pleasure to
report the election of Sir John E. Dupuis, 1C.C.8., and
Sir William Fergusson, Bart., F.R.S., as trustees, and
they feel convinced that these elections will be
most satisfactory to the shareholders and members.
The directors have elected, as consulting physician, Dr.
George Burrows, I'.R.S., President of the Medical Coun-
cil, whose name will no doubt be regarded by. the share,
holders and members as a valuable addition to the already
important. medical staff of the association. During the
year the directors have completed arrangements for the
purchase of the business of the Indisputable Life As-
surance Company of Scotland, and the directors of that
company Lava_ hecoule a b. auch board of this associa-
tion. The advantages of this arrangement have already
been manifested iu the large and valuable business trans-
acted in Scotland since the branch has been established in
its present form. In their desire still further to popularise
the principles of life assurance, the directors have deter-
mined to grant policies which shall be immediately and
perfectly indisputable, and free from all restrictions in re-
gard to foreign travel, residence, or occupation. These
valuable documents will not, however, be issued
indiscriminately, but under certain conditions,
which, although sufficiently protective to the
office, will be most advantageous to tho assured
In concluding their report, the directors desire to acknow-
ledge, with pleasure and gratification, the large measure o
support they have continued to receive from the medica
profession and the public in general; but the directors
again urge upon all connected with the association, now
numbering many thousands of persons, to lose no oppor-
tunity cf bringing under the notice of their friends the
claims of the association to their confidence and support,
in order to assist the directors in maintaining the rate of
progress, improving the high position, and increasing the
public uselfulness, which it is the privilege of the directors
to claim on its behalf.

The CHAIRMAN said their gratification this year
was somewhat alloyed by the loss by death of the
eminent gentleman who had, during life, filled the
position of their chairman. He was a gentleman
who had endeavoured himself to help everybody,
and one whose greatest pleasure was to exert his
abilities for the benefit of his fellow-man. (flear,
hear.) They had also to regret the loss of three
other energetic supporters of the association, but
it was some consolation that the gentlemen found
to fill the vacancies were persons of the highest
ability and talent. (Hear, hear.) The last year
had been a very trying one for life offices, but it
was a matter of extreme gratification that the
Briton, with its very large and extended business, had
notsuffered more than was to be expected. Although
the past year had been more than usually marked
by death, they would remember that at their last
annual meeting 42 per cent. of profit was carried
over, a circumstance which could not be looked
upon as an annual certainty. (Hear, hear.)
He thought the meeting would agree with
him that their progress had been in every
way satisfactory, and that it was a matter
of general satisfaction that the directors had been
enabled to produce so good a report. (Hear, hear.)
Their new business had increased very largely
over that of the preceding year, and, what
was highly important, it was of an increasing
quality as well as uantity. (Hear, hear.)
These investments were all of a highly
satisfactory nature, and in their loan depart-
ment, although extensive, they had not made a bad
debt worth mentioning. (Hear, hear.) The audi-
tors—men of high honour and integrity—had closely
scrutinised their financial affairs, and had given a re-
port which must be highly satisfactory to every person.
The determination of the directors to issue whole
world policies by the payment of one small amount
at the commencement he felt would prove highly
advantageous to the public and remunerative to the
society. They had passed a year of unexampled
commercial difficulty comparatively harmless, and
congratulating the meeting on that circumstance,
and urging it to increased activity for the future,
he begged to move the usual formal resolution, that
the report be received and adopted.
Dr. TYLER SMITH seconded the motion. He also
congratulated the meeting on the future prospects
of the society, which, he felt certain, would soon
become one of the greatest offices in existence, based
as it was on the soundest principles.
The motion was put to the meeting, and carried
unanimously.
The Rev. W. ROBERTSON, of the Greyfriars,
Edinburgh, moved the re-election of the retiring
directors. He had great pleasure in being selected to
move such a resolution, because the more he knew
of them the more his respect for them increased.

Mr. J. PROPERT seconded the resolution. The
greatest compliment that he could pay their direc-
tors was to personally express the pleasure he felt
at never seeing the name of the Briton Life Office
mixed up in law. (Hear, hear.)
The resolution was carried unanimously.

Votes of thanks were awarded to the medical
officers, the agents, and the officials, after which
the proceedings terminated.

TIIE SEVERE WEATHER of late has caused great
mortality among the lambs,