The Sun.
London, England, 1858-05-20 00:00:00

AUSTRIA,

A letter from Vienna in the Bourse Gazette of
Berlin says :--"The deliberations relative to the
affairs of Italy have been brought to a close. It
is stated that the Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian
has obtained a triumph for his views, and that his
personal power will be increased. Ho will thus be
enabled to decide on many questions without pre-
viously referring to Vienna."
M..Photino9,Chancellor of Moldavia, has just
arrived at Vienna, said to be charged with a mis-
sion from Prince Vogorides relative to the desire of
the latter to be nominated II ospodar of Moldavia ;
and he had been received by Count Baol, Minister
of Foreign Affairs.

The Giornale di Boma of the 12th announces
the arrival of the King and Royal Family of Naples
at Porto d'Anzio, as already stated by telegraph.
It alto mentions the interview between those h•gh
personages and the Pope and the presence of Don
Sebastian, but it differs from the telegram in one
particular, as it does not confirm the assertion
that Queen Christina was present.

METROPJLITAN COUNTIES AND GENE-
RAb LIFE ASSURANCE SOCIETY.

.~.

The annual meeting of the shareholders in this
prosperous undertaking was held on Tuesday after-
n on, at the Company's oflioes, Regent-street—
H. P. Fuller, Esq., iu the chair. -
Mr. CAmaoux, the manager, having read the
notice convening the meeting, then read the follow-
ing rope: t :
" The Directors of this Society have to report to its
members, at the close of the tenth year of its operations, a
continued steady progress of the business, notwithstanding
the unfavoarable cironmstaaces which, during the past
year, have affected all Assurance Societies. They have
issued during the list twelve months 214 policies,
assuring the sum of 80,9101. and producing an annual in-
come of 3,0501. 10 +. 10d. ; which* raises the annual income
of the Society-to 19,57'21. 17s. tl. Twenty proposals have
been declined, amounting to 9,65 Y., and there are now
accepted and waiting completion twenty-two proposals for
the sum of 8,975/. The ratio of the claims from the death
of parties assured to the tot d income of the Society, con-
tinues of a satisfactory character, an .1 proves the soundness
of the principle upon whick its operations have been con-
ducted, namely that of avoiding business of a speculative
character, and assuring only healthy lives carefully selected:
At the same time, as the Society grows older, the amount
of claims paid must nec)ssarily increase, Daring the past
year they have 'ism to 5,119/. 181. 6d. making a total paid
since the commencement of the Society of 29,9721. 18s. Id.,
of which 3,500/. has boon covered by re-assurances. While
your directors are perfectly satisfied of the healthy condi-
tion of the business of the Society, they are fully aware of
the importance of giving every legitimate extension in
their power to your operations, and with this view they
have especially applied themselves, during the last six
months, to increase the number of your effective agents.
Tao measurea which they have adopted for this purpose
have added very considerably to the number of agents
employed by you, and from the influential position of
many of these gentlemen, your directors anticipate a con-
siderable inerease in your business through their exertions..
The diminution in the number of competitors for Life As-
surance business, through the disappearance from the Sell
of many of the societies which commenced their operations
about the same time with y‘nir Society, or soon afterwards,
is an encouraging circumstance to rte for the extension
of your business, and can scarcely fail of being productive
of advantage to you. In connexion with the exertions thus
making to extend more widely the benefits of the Society,
we would advert to the question which has bean raised in
consequence of a recent legal decision, as to the effect of
the death of an assured person within the days of grace
allowed for payment of his premium, but without having
paid it. The directors feel confi lent that they express the
general feeling of the shareholders and other members of
the Society, iu the determination to which they have come,
to treat a policy under such circumstances as still in force,
and pay the sum assured as in the ordinary course, deduct-
ing the amount due for the premium unpaid. They aro
satisfied that the true interests of an Assurance Society are
inseparably boun I up with 1110 confidence of the public,
that no advantage will be taken. of accidental omissions to
the prejudice of the assured ; and in order ti remove all
doubt on this subject from the minds of your policy-hol-
ders, they intend to propose to you to-day to sanction by
formal resolution the course which they have a lopted.
Your directors have filled up the vacancy in the direction
caused by the death of Admiral the Hon. George F.
Hothatn, by appointing Charles Frans, E of the lions, 8
of Lords ant Commons, whose name will be submitted to
you for approval according to the provisions of the Deed
of Settlement. Henry Peter Fuller, E , Edward Van-
sittait Neeale, Kist., and Sir Thomas Newby Reeve, retire
by rotation as directors, but losing eligible for re-election,
offer themselves accordingly. Henry Peach Buckler, Esq
and John Soper Streeter, Eq., the auditors of the Society,
also rotire, but being eligible for re-election offer them-
selves accordingly."

The CHAIM/AN, in moving, ttie reception and
adoption of the report, reminded the elder
members of the society then present, that when he
had the honour of being first called upon Li 11;1 the
chair, some years since, he info med the mem-
bers that he had the greatest confidence in
the undertaking, and was ce:tain it would
ultimately do well, because the directors had
started wieh tbe de'ermjgation Oat whether they
acquired business sl )wly or quickly they would do
.it in a manner that should lay the founda,
deh of an Lusurance-office of a permanent
and nourishing characte-. L ist year he informed
the share :cars that he_ considered the society
must go on nut only pregrwsively, but in an ,n-
-creased. ratio ; but neieher ho nor any one then
present c3uld by possibility have anticipated The
cloud of troubles that subsequently enshrouded
they and commercial matters, both in this coun-
try and generally throughout the . civilised
world. He was, however, proud to be able
to infirm the shareh Aden and these who were
insured in the Wile—, that the society had
paesed through that., Clout of troubles with
a continued' course, of prosperity, tho' not in that
ratio he had anticipated, and which in all probabili y
wou!cl have been the ease had it not been for the
peri el of depression to which he had referred.
_Choy ha 1, he was happy. to sly, passed through
the crises safely and wet, and they might now look
forward with confidence to future prosperity.
(Hear, hear.) -Without ex iggaral.on, but speaking
in the plainest way possible, ho could safely state
that their prospects were essentially good, and they
had learned one thing which they would constantly
terry out--the recess ty of being more and mere
c ireful of had lives. (Hear, hear.) The directors
of the Metropolitan Counties and General Tele
Insurance Society had always been extremely jea-
lous of bad lives, and thA course .of conduct heel
been increased this 'year. Ploy intended en •
all occasions to refuse. bad lives whatever
mightbe the temptetioa held oat to them •:-,o takt
them--(ho ,r, hen ).—ani he could not bel.eve that
any one connected with the society would th'n%
the directors hid c 'me to a wrong co elusion ie
that respect. (Hear.) Measures hid been taken dur
ing the past year for inere tsiug the staff of .k;ents
in tile country, and there was no do lb.-, that at t c
next annual meeting ie wool!! be foun I they had
made au advanced st towards greater prosperity.
Still it should be bone in mind that notwith
standing the increased number of agent,, tho-'
connected with the society should not remain
idle or, supine, but on the conerary
.continue t
ir!e every exertion with their friends to induce them
to insure in this office. The dice :tors would con-
tinue to use their utunz.t exeitiens among
their friends, and the shareholders might
calfident)r d the same, 13,c.iuse the soci,e.y
was thoroughly and firra!y est tblish,d, and those
who now j eined them would benefit by the bonus to
be declared in about two years' time, which there
was every reason to believe would be a very good

one. (Hen., hear.) This was not positively
what was cllled a mutual office, but it might be
made so in the sense of every member mutually as-
sisting each other in advancing its prosperity and
advantages.

Mr. KING had much pleasure in seconding the
motion, and also in cordially seconding what
had fallen from the chairman a 3 to the extreme
caution the directors had on all occasions manifested.
in the management of the affairs of the company—
.(hear, hear)—which was fully borne out by the
results of 10 years' working. (Hear, hear.) Tire
claims during this year had been exceedingly mo-
derate, being only a little over 5,0001., which was a
cenvincingproof of the caution displayed by the direc-
tors in selecting heallhy lives for insurance. It was
impossible for them last year to have foretold the
commercial crisis that had undoubtedly affected
every insurance institution—in many cases decreas-
ing the business 30, 40, and 50 per cent—that when
he found that notwithstanding that crisis this
society had done such a respectable amount of busi-
ness within the year, he ha 1 cause to congratulate
the shareholders, and hold out hopes that in more
prosperous times the amsunt would be doubled
and trebled. Ho was happy to find the directors had
the courage to spend a little money in the appoint-
ment of new agents in different parts of the country,
because whether doing a great or a small business
the house expenses were comparatively the same,
and he congratulated himself to find that those
expenses were now distributed over 20,0001. worth
of business, instead of 5,0001. or 10,0001., when he
first joined the society. Were they to increase
their business to 50,0001. or 100,0001. the increase
of expenses would be but trifling in comparison
with the magnitude of such increase of business.
He was convinced the company was so respectable
and substantial that it only require i to be made
known to become one of the first of its kind in
the metropolis.
The report was then unanimously agreed to.
The CHAIRMAN called the attention of the meet-
ing to a resolution about to be submitted to them
for confirmation, relating to the non-repudiation
of policies in the event of the premium not being
paid within thirty days of grace. In point of fact,
the resolution was unnecessary, because not ,one of
the present directors would have attempted to
have repudiated a policy under such circumstan-
ces ; but in order to satisfy the public, the direc-
tors had thought it right to propose the following
resolution for the consideration of the meeting :

" Resolver], that where an assured life shall die within
the 30 days cf grace allowed for the payment of the re-
newal premium on a policy without the eai•l premium
having been paid, the policy shall remain in f3rce, and
the amount of such premium in arrear be deducted from
the sum assured."

Mr. VANSITTA.RT NEA.LE seconded the resolution.
The effect of it, as stated, wasto give an assurance to
the public in order to prevent calumny or doubts
being cast on the intentions of the directors, as was
too often the cass with regard to young and enter-
prising officers. It was therefore thought desirable
to ask them by a formal resolution to sanction the
course of policy which the directors' had hitherto
adopted. (Hear, hoar.)
The resolution was carried unanimously.
The CHAIRMAN said the society had greatly to
regret the loss by death of the services of Admiral
Honourable G. F. Isfahan], one of the di-
rectors. His loss they ail greatly deplored,
but, as far as pcssible, it had been com-
pensated by the election by the directors of a
gentleman to fill his place, who would in every
respect be a benefit both to the board and the
shareholders. That
,gentleman was Mr. Frere of
the House of Lords and Commons, and he (the
Chairman) asked the meeting to confirm that ap-
pointment. ,
Mr. G. CHAPMAN Eeconded the motion, which was
carried unanimously.
. _

Mr. G. CHAPMAN' said the next business was to
e'.ect three directors in the room of those retiring;
and as those gentlemen were eligible for re-election,
he galled upon the meeting to mark their sense of
the manner in which they had hitherto discharged
their onerous duties, by unanimously re-electing
them. Theso directors had carried the society safely
through ten. years, and as they were all satisfied
with the • manner in which they had done it, he
thought they could not do bat•er than re-elect
them. • The affairs of the society wore admirably
conducted, but yet, at,thi risk of being considered
a grumbler, he mud; make a remark on eno point,
mid that was the only point upon which he thought
it possible for any one to raise a question.
The CHAIRMA.N—Thu directors invite explana-
tion. • They are much pleased to see sliareholders
feel an interest in the pr,ogress of the society.
Mr. G. CHAYMAN—What he objected to was the
large amount of money said to be in the hands of
agents.

-The CHAIRMAN explained. The amount Men-
tioned in the hauls of the agents did not repre-
sent that amount of actual money in their hands.
The accounts Were made up monthly, when the
receipts for the premiums wera forwarded to the
different agents, they being immediately charged
with them ; but it might be, and no doubt fre-
-quently was, the case, that the whole of the money
had not bean collected by them when the accounts
for the year were made up. There was no other
way of charging it but as money in their hands.
Mr. G. CHAPMAN considered the explanation per-
fectly satisfactory. He had much pleasure in
proposing the re-election of the following gentle-
men :—Henry Peter Ful'er, Esq., Edward Vausit-
tart NealP, Eiq., and Sir Thomas Newby Reeve.
Mr. J. OLIVER seconded the motion, and the
retiring directors were unanimously re-elected.
Mr. ICING considered the balance in the agent's
hands a very moderate sum for the amount of
business the office was doing. He had seen the
balance-sheets of two insurance societies doing a
small basinev, where the amount in the agents'
hands was 2,5001. in one case, and 5,0001. in ano-
ther ; and he knew of a large company where the
balance amounted to 12,000!. , He mentioned these
circumstances to show that their agents held only
s moderate amount in their hands. It was impossible
for them to transact their business without allow-
ing some to be in tiJe hands of agents. He moved
the re-election of the auditors, and the usual remu-
neration of 20 guineas for their services for the
past year.
Mr. °HAI:WAN seconded the resolution. He had
-every confidence in the a,uditors.

Tile motion was unanimously agreed to.
The CHAIRMAN congratula ed the society on
having secured the valuable services of two gen-
tlemen as auditors who would not deviate
from the strictest examination of the .ac-
counts. The directors were happy in having such
gentlemen appointed, because they desired that the
accounts shou'd be unreservoJly audited.
Mr. STREETER, one of the auditors, acknow-
ledgtd the compliment. He hoped the auditors
would be found to dischirge their duty as satisfac-
tory the -text ten years as they had done cluing
the past.
Mr. CHAPMAN proposed a vote of thanks to the
directors, generally, for the great care they had
taken in conducting the affairs of the cimpany.
He hal loam connected with it sin.c3 its formation,
and, could speak with confidence t) their abilities
and desire to promote the interests of the society.
Under-their direction it had prospered, and he had
no doubt it would continuo t) prosper.
• Mr. HAY se.3onded the resolution, which was
carried unanimously.
• The CHAIRMAN, in return, thanked the meeting
for their renewd,expressien of good-will toward,*
the dite:ctors. hal studie r the interests of
the shareholders and policy-hollers, and had
looked upon those interests as one, and that course
they should continue to adopt. Every year's
experience gave them an insight into lives they
should and should not insure, which they inrend.ed
to act upon. They wouli endeavour to enlarge the
sphere of their operations cautiously arid safely ;
in proof of which they had not appointed egents in
those parts of the kingdom with which it was
not considere 1 desirable to be connected. The
shareholders might rest satisfied the; every director
would use his interest to promote the .prosperity
of the society, and give the shareholders and
policy-holders satisfaction. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. W. FULLER proposed a vote of thanks to
the manager and officers connected with the so-
ciety. The manner in which they discharged their
respective duties refleeted Vie highest credit on
them, and tended not only to raise the society in
the ostinir&on cf th public, but to increase its
usefulness.
_ _

Mr. STREETER had gr,•at plea:inn) in second-
ing the motion, and spoke of the satisfact
manner in which the accounts were kept.
The resolution was ca,-ried unanimously.
Mr. CAmaoux returnel his sincere thanks and
those of his brother cfficer3 to the nveting for the
very kind manner in which the resolution had b3en
proposed and received by the meeting. The last
time he had the .honour of aldresiing them he
expresel a hope that they should have made
m .re rapid pro4ress titan they had dme during
the pa,,t year; but it, was to the circumstances that
had arisen in c :n uection with the commercial world
that it hal not b2e.irealiied. He, however, frus!ed
they might this y,qtr be more successful. He felt
certain ifthey had ten times the amount of busi-
rpss to transact, it would be readily and cheerfully
done by the officers in connection with the society.
A vote of thanks* to the -chairman teaninated
the proceedings.

It is n) means unlikely that the secceim of the Mon-
tenegrins, who are said to be about 15,000 strong, will
inducj the C3ristiai:e in the Ilerz.govina and Bosnia to
rise en mane against the Turks.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.—Obis Day.)

THAMES.

STEALING A SHIP'S LIGUTNING CONDI:MTGE.—John
Mahoney, an Irish labourer, of No. 9, Harris's-court,
Brook-street, Rateliff, was brought before Mr. Selfe,
charged with dealing 1 lb. and 14 ounces of copper wire,
part of the lightning conductor of the ship Harriet, lying
in the West India Dock.

Cnarles Douglas, a dock constable, said he stopped
the prisoner as he was leaving the dock at the principal
gateway yetrerday morning, and found 1 lb. 14 ounces
of new copper wire. Tne prisoner said he picked it up,
and that was all the information he could get from him.
Mr. Williant Langley said he represented the owners
of the ship Harriet. Tie wire produced was part of
the lightning conductor of the ship. The whole of the
conductor was gone, and it was worth 301.
Mr. Selfe—Thcre is no evidence whatever that he took
the remainder of the wire.

Mr. Cangley—l believe he has taken it away piece-
meal. There were 50 yards of it, and the ship is now
without a lightning conductor.
Mr. SElfe—How came the prisoner on board the
Harriet ?

Mr. CangToy—He way employed on board as a
labourers at one guinea per week.

Mr. Seife—HOw much is owing to him.
Mr. Cangley—Only three days wage p.
Mr. Selfe said the prisoner had committed a very mis-
chievous and dishonest act, and fined him 20s. for the
unlawful possession of the copper wire found upon him,
and in default of payment 14 days imprisonment.
Mr. Cangley asked if he was bound to pay the three
day's Rages awing to the prisorer ? •
Mr. Selfe—No, you are not, he has committed an act
of dishonesty.

MARKET NEWB.—(This Day.)

lIETROPOLITAN CATTLE MARKET.

Although the supply of beasts in to-day's market wag
very moderate, the demand for all breeds ruled very lase'
tive, at Monday's quotations. There was a fair show of
sheep, and the mutton trade was rather heavy, except for
the primest old Downs, at unaltered currencies. We had
a dull sale for lambs, the supply of which was by no means
extensive, at a decline of 4d per 81b3. From the Isle of
Wight 320 head came fresh to hand. Thera was an im-
proved sale for calves, at very full prices: Pigs and milch
cows were dull, but not cheaper.

Per Blbs to sink the offals.

s. d. a. d. I a. d. 8.
Interior Beasts.... 3 oto 3 2 Prime Sonthdown 4 4 4 6
Secend qiutlity....3 4 3 6,Le.rge crse. calves 4 0 , 4 6
Prime large oxen 3 8 4 O'Prime small do 4 8 5 0
Prime Scots, doe. 4 2 4 4 Large hogs
Inferior Shoop ...3 2 3 6 Small porkers 4 2 4 4
3econd quality ...3 8 4 o,3xzekling ealves 19 0 23 0
Prieto erse.-wlled.4 0 4 21Quarter old pigs 10 0 22 0
Lamb, 5s 8d to es Bd.

TOTAL SUPPLY.

Beasts 912
Sheep and lambs
Calves ,.... 380
Pigs 3lO

FOREIGN SUPPLY
Beasts 6O
Sheep and lambs .. 2OO
Calves 250
Pigs

MEAT MARKETS.

NEWGATE AND LEADENHALL.—The demand for 00011
kind of meat ruled inactive' as follows : —Beef, from 3a Od,
to 4s 03 ; Mutton, 3s 2d to 4s 4d ; Lamb, 5a Od, to 00
6d ; Veal, 3s 8d to 4s 83 ; Pork, as 2d to 4s 2d per
81ba by the carcase.

SOUTHALL, May 19.—The supplies of stock hero to-dap
were only moderate, and the trade generally ruled inactive,
as follows:—Beef, from 3s 4 I to 43 4d ; Mutton, 3s 4d to
4s 61; Lamb, 6s Od to Gs 8d ; Veal, 3s 81 to 4s 103;
Pork, 3s 4d to 4s 01 per 81bs, to sink the offal.
• ROXFORD, May 19.—We had a steady trade here to'
day, at fall prices :—Beef, from 3s 4d to 4s 4d ; Mat'
ton, -3; 4d to 4s Gd; Lamb, 6s 01 to 6s 8d; Veal,
4s 01 to 6s 01; Pcrk, 3s 81 to 4s 4d per Slbs ; Store
Pigs, —s to ; Milch Cows, 141 —s to 171 —s ; Lean
Cows, —1 to —i; Suckling Calves, 17a to 213 each.

HAY MARKETS

SMITEIFIELD.—Meadow hay, 21 108 to 41 0.1; clover,
31 10a to 51 Os ; and straw, 1/ 4s to 11 Ss per loao.
A dall trade.

CIISIBERLIND. —Meadow hay, 21 103 to 41 2s ; clover,
3/ 103 to 51 Os ; and straw, 11 6s to 11 93 per load.
A full average supply, and a heavy demand.
WHITECKAPEL.—Meadow, hay, 2/_ 10s to 41 Os; clover,
31. 103 to Os ; and straw, 1/ 4s to 11 8a Tor loaf•
Both hay and straw sold slowly, at our quotations.