The Sun.
London, England, 1858-03-31 00:00:00

WEDNESDAY EVEINIWG, MARCH 31, 108.

THE LATE DISASTROUS FIRE AND LOSS
OF LIFE IN BLOOMSBURY.

[The following appeared in a portion of our impression
of yesterday :

This morning at 11 o'clock Mr. Wakley, coroner for
the Western Division of Middlesex, opened an inquiry
at the Fox Tavern, Duke-street, Bloomsbury, into the
cause of death of the unfortunate individuals who lost
their lives at the late calamitous fire in Gilbert-street,
Mineum-street, on Sunday morning.
Previous to swearing the jury,
The Coroner addressed the gentlemen summoned,
saying he intended sitting to-day until 3 o'clock, and if
they did not conclude the enquiry by that time he should
adjourn it till Thursday morning and sit till 3 o'clock.
If.not then concluded, he should adjourn the enquiry
over for a week or ten days. It may be a very briet
enquiry, or it may be a very protracted one, and he men-
tioned it that no gentleman might be sworn on the jury
and bound over to appear day after day to whom it might
be inconvenient to attend. If any gentleman was likely
to be out of town, or wished, or was likely to be called
away by business engagements on Thursday, or the early
part of next week, he would advise him at once to name
it, in order that he might be excused from further attend-
ance, because it would be awkward for gentlemen to be
bound over to appear and incur heavy penalties for not
attending. .

Mr. Cooper asked if the enquiry extended over a
month or six weeks the jury would be bound over to
attend 1

The Coroner said—Yes. His knowledge of the cir-
cumstances was at present limited, and he could form no
opinion until after he had heard the evidence on oath.
It was an awful calamity, and it was one of the most
horrid sights he had ever reen. No time would be mis-
spent to endeavour to discover the cau4e, and to pre-
vent, if possible, the recurrence of a similar calamity.
Mr. Cooper said he believed the whole of the proposed
jurymen were tradesmen, and it would be exceedingly
inconvenient for them to attend for three months. He
instanced the protracted inquiry in Tottenham-court-
road.

The Coroner said even in that case the jury would be
bound to attend. He took it there were no gentlemen
summoned on the jury connected in any way with the
proprietor of the premises.
The jury were then sworn, Mr. Adams, churchwarden
of St. Giles's, being selected as foreman.
The Rev. Horace Roberts, and several of the pa-
rishioners were present during the enquiry.
Mr. Sampson Low and Mr. Inspector Badderley at-
tended to watch the proceedings on behalf of the Royal
Society for the Protection of Life from Fire.
The jury then proceeded to inspect the premises, and
also to view the bodice of the unfortunate sufferers,
fourteen in number, which were lying in the dead house
of St. Giles's Workhouse. Their appearance has already
been minutely described. The young man Smith, who
jumped out of the window, is lying at University College
Hospital.
The names and ages of the 14 persons on whom the
inquiry was held were—Richard Smith, 40 ; Harriett,
his wife, 41 ; Alfred, 15 ; Harriett, 13 ; Harvey, 11 ;
Walter, 9 ; Thomas, 7; Maria, 5 ; and Jesse, 2 years of
age, children of the first two named ; Jas. Hedger, 53 ;
Eliza, his wife ; William, 20 ; and John, 13 years of age,
children of Hedger and his wife.
On the return of the jury, the Foreman and others re-
marked they had never witnessed such a horrible sight,
and said to the Coroner, " Did you ever in your expe•
rience witness such a horrible sight !"
The Coroner—l certainly never did.
A Juryman—Covent-garden Theatre was burnt down
without a single life being lost, and here a miserable
hovel takes fire and all these lives are lost.
The Coroner—l really cannot understand it.
The first witness called was
Alfred Chilman, No. 6, Graham-street, Walworth•
road, porter, who deposed he was brother to the de-
ceased Mrs. Smith. He identified her body and that of
her husband and children, now lying at St. Giles's Work-
house. His brotheriin-law was a porter. He was a poor
labouring man, and he and his family were in great
distress. He never know him or his sister attempt or
threaten to commit suicide. At time; he regretted to
say, be was given to drink. He was not aware
if any of the children were in burial clubs.
The last time he saw his sister alive was at
his house at Walworth ; she then complained that
the house was unfit for them to live in, and that as soon
as she could get apartments she should leave; she was
then looking out for apartments in Pied Bull-yard ; he
knew nothing of the fire except from general report. He
bad been to the house where they occupied two rooms,
a front room and a back room on the second floor. The
rooms adjoined and opened into one another. There
was no back window to the house, and the family had
to come from the back-room to the front-room before
they could get to the lending. There was a skylight ;
but he did not know if I.here was a means of egress from
it. There were four rooms on each floor. He did not
know who else lived in the house. eenere was no venti-
lation or light for the back-rooms but that borrowed
from the staircase.
By a Juryman—His sister's reason for wishing to leave
was the dilapidated state of the house, the rain came in
from the skylight and made the room so damp that it
was unfit for the children to sleep in. His brother-in-law
had not been in constant work for some time. His
sister had complained of a carpenter's shop under the
dwelling which she considered dangerous and that she
would leave. Her reason for not leaving was that she
could get no one to take her in. The shop was opened
about Christmas last. There was an outlet from the
back-ground floor before it was turned into a carpenter's
shop. The deceased Smith and hie family had resided
in the house about six years.
Elks Sarson, 10, Richards-place, Haggerstone, wife of
a labourer, deposed—l am the daughter of William and
Eliza Hedger and sister to the children. I identify three
of the bodies. My brother John is so much disfigured
that I cannot identify him. My father was a journey-
man biscuit baker and confectioner ; he lodged on the
second floor and occupied two rooms. I am not aware
if my father and mother had attempted suicide ; they
were not in distress. I last saw them in the house
last Sunday week ; they had lived in the house nearly
three years.
Tne Coroner—Do you knew where the fire broke out ?
Hain (the beadle)--Yee, sir, in the carpenter's shop.
The Coroner—And where then ?
Hain—l have a witnese who knows all about it.
Witness continued—They had a front and back room.
By the Jury—l don't know anything that compelled
them to live there ; they only owed a fortnight's rent.
She never heard them make any complaint about the
house ; but her father frequently said that if a fire took
place they would all be burnt to death. They had never
experienced any fears as to the stability of the house.
James George Fleming, No. 11 Fire Brigade, deposed
—I belong to the Chendoseitreet Fire Engine Station ;
I was at the fire, and got there fourth, arriving at
about half-past 3 o'clock After the fire was over I
assisted in getting out the whole of the bodies. Tao
young man was found near the front wall, and near the
window at tee east of the building on the second floor.
The floor hal fallen, and the front wall before the bodies
were found. From the position of the body I cannot
say where it must have been. When I arrived there
I saw the front would fall, and I gave an alarm. It
then immediately fell, roof and all, and we had a narrow
escape. The walls, floor, roof, and all fell in a second.
After cooling the ruine, and whilst the ruins were siill
burning, I went by direction of my foreman into the
ruins, where I found a young man near the front wall of
the east end ; his father was underneath him.
We then cleared away the ruins further, when
we found eight children, males and females.
Then we found Mr. and Mrs. Smith—they
were all one on top of each other, as it were.
By a Juryman—The Smiths were in the back part.
Some of the children had fallen with their heads down-
wards, and I had to pull them up by the legs. I took
out 14. The first we found about 10 minutes past 4.
They were all dead. The pressure was enough to kill
any one. They had only their night clothes on, which
were much burnt. One body had his trousers partly on,
and he meat have been in the act of pulling them on
when the house fell. He was least burnt of all. I heard
no cries nor saw any person at the windows when I
came up with my engine.
By a Juryman—The house was in flames from the
bottom to the top when I arrived. The alarm of fire
was given at the station by a stranger. I saw the
bressemer giving way in the centre, which drew the ends
from the wall. I saw it bend and the wall gave way.
I gave an alarm.
By the Coroner—We are supposed to be called by
the police, who we give a trifle for doing so.
Mr. Goff, of the brigade, said he was called by
policeman on Blsekfriars-bridge before the last witness
was called ; the policeman on the bridge was attracted
by the light.
By a Juryman—l have:seen hundreds of houses on
fire and seen them fall. I never saw a house fall so
quickly as this. Since the fire I find the timber had
not much hold. If the front bresserner bad not given
way I think the front wall would not have given.
Police-constable 34 E, Daniel Brown Sullivan, I gave
the first alarm of fire by springing my rattle at a quarter
past cr 20 minutes past 2 o'clock on Sunday morning
the 28th.
The Coroner—Are yon sure of that ? Because the
Chandos street men did not get there with the engine
till half-past 3 o'clock.
A Juryroan—l saw it at half-past 2 o-clock.
The Coroner—Yes, but the Chandoe-street man was in
the immediate neighbourliwn d.
A Juryman—Yes, and thus was there before him.
The Coroner—lt seems there is no organised system
for calling the eneines.
Witness—When at the corner of Montague and Rus-
sell-streets, I heard a cry and ran towards the house ;
just as I turned the corner I saw the fire rushing out of
the window on the basement. The door, I believe, was
feetened, but the fire was so strong I could not epproach
the door. I locked Up to the front of the house, where
I saw a man at the serrond floor f oat window on the
west side over tto shop, above where the flames were
gushing out. He cried out, and I to'd him to hold hard
where he was. At this Inc went flames rushed out, and

there was great cracking of glass. I stooped down to
avoid the broken glass when a young man jumped out
and knocked me down. The young man was not killed
at the time, but he was seriously injured. The man
Eastwood, his wife, and three children got out of the
window by means of a ladder which the police put up to
the window. A stranger went up the ladder and brought
down one cf the children ; at that time a fire-escape had
❑ot arrived. Five persons were got out safely. No
engine had arrived at that time. I can't recollect when
the first engine arrived. Policeman 56 E first came to
my assistance. We sprang our rattles almost together
and I sent him for the fire-escape, but not to the engine
station. _ _

Tne Coroner—Are the fire escape and the engine-
station connected ?

Mr. Gaff (fire brigade)—No, they are not.
Witness continned—Tne only persons we saw were
those we took out and the young man who jumped out,
he came from the second floor window. I did not
see the other window touched. I saw no other living
person but those I have named at any of the windows.
When the last person was taken from the window, the
flames and smoke were so great from the basement that
I could not see the second window. It was about
five minutes after the last person was saved that the fire
escape came. It was there before either of the engines. ,
I cannot say which fire-engine arrived first. The front
door was burning at the time.
By a Juryman—The fire when I first saw it was
burning the Museum-street end of the building. I
knocked at the door and sprung my rattle. One pert of
the door was burning at the time. The whole of the
lower part of the premises was on fire when I saw it,
but more towards Museum-street than the other. lam
sure the door was burning when I first saw the fire. I
can't say if the shutters were up in front of the shop.
The flames were rushing out i❑ a body at the time.
By the Corone3—l was at the fire about two minutes
before the young man jumped out. During that time I
sprang my rattle, sent for the escape, and went back to
the young man to desire him not to jump out, the
glass and flames rushed out against me, and at the same
moment the young man jumped out, fell on me, knocked
me down, and stunned me. My instructions with
reference to giving information to the fire engine sta-
tions and escapes are to go to all the nearest stations
and give an alarm. When the c-cape arrived it could
not be used. It was higher than the windows, and the
flames from below prevented its use. It was put against
the adjoining house, and the fire-escape man went to the
roof.

By the Foreman—lt was about ten or twelve minute
after I discovered the fire that the fire-escape Caine.

By a Juryman--1 know nothing of a boy giving in.

ormation to the station near the church.

By the Coroner—l think most (-1 the delay in the
arrival of the eee tpe arose heal the beams of timber
across the street, to support the building, impeding its
progress.
By a Juryman—l think the cries proceeded from the
man who jumped out of the window. Ido not know
if the occupants of the adjoining houses were screaming.
John Curle, 8, Bury-street, Bloomsbury, painter and
glazier—l was at the fire on Sunday morning about
20 minu es or half-past two o'clock. I was
first alarmed by the ery of murder and the sound of a
policeman's 'rattle, which occurred simultaneously. I
had just returned home, and had passed the end of Gil-
bert-street about five mlnutes pas: 2. I immediately went
to the firs, where I found two policemen, one of whom
was springing his rattle, and the other was close against
the door. I don't think the door was on fire, but the
flames were coming through the shop window. It was
not great at first, though it was rather a large flame that
came out of so small a shop ; the door and window ap-
peared to join. I can't say if the door was broken open,
but I think not. I heard several calls or screechep.
Tuere can be no doubt they came from the ,Ec )nd floor
window. I saw an arm put out of the window, and
pulled back again. It was not the man who jumped
out. The band and arm were put out of the window
nearest Bury-street ; the party appeared to be in their
shirt or night dress.
Rev. R. Long, curate of Bloomsbury, said he had
often visited the house, and could state it was impossible
fur any one to get out of the windows, because boards
were placed across them.

Witness continued—Mr. Eastwood was at the window

when I put the ladder up, about three or four minutes
after I got there. I saw the Land and arm before I saw
Mr.Eaetwood at the window. I did not sea it afterwards.
I went up the ladder and brorglit down a little girl
about nine or ten years of age. Mr. East coed then
went back into the room. After that I brought down
Mrs. Eastwood and an infant in her arms. Mr. East-
wood went back a second time, and got a little boy out,
and then came down the ladder himself. Mr. Eastwood
went in and brought them as calm and as cod as if he
wee following his ordinary employ ; but when he came
down he was overcome—he fell into my atone and said,
" 06, my dear boy, I have not a rag left." Neither fire-
escape nor engine had then arrived. It was a quarter
of an hour or so after Mr. Eastwood was got out that the
fire-escape or engine came. Had the ladder been long
enough I could and should have gone to the second
floor window ; but when the fire-escape arrived, it
was impossible for them to render the inmates any aid—
all chance was gone. The fire-escapenaan was willing to go
up, but I put my hand upon his shoulder, and said, "You
can't live up there," and he then put the escape against
the adjoining house and went on the roof. When the
escape arrived, the flames were rushing out of the sky-
light. The poor man who jumped out was first laid on
the opp site side of the street.
' By a Juryman—When I took out the child the flames
were issuing from the shop window, but not from the
door. I did not see the door opened. When the police
came we were all driven back for the firemen to work,
and I can't say what was done then. No flame at first
issnsd frcrvi the fircat nr oponnri ft rnr window_ When T
mounted the ladder and looked in at the window there
was no fire in the first floor. Mr. Eastwood was burnt
coming down the ladder. After the policemen drove
me back I stood on the buildings opp ,site, and saw the
walls at first fad course by course. If the fire-escape
had arrived earlier, or I had had a longer ladder, more
lives could have been saved. The ladder was so hot
that I could not hole the sides in my hand as I went up
and down. A policeman knocked at the door violently,
and pulled the bell.
John Eastwood, one of the occupiers of the house,
whose life was providentially saved by the last witness,
deposed—l am now living at 42, Mueeura-street. I am
a carpenter by trade. I occupied a front and back
room on the first floor, under those occupied by the
Hedgers. I was first awoke by my wife. She said,
"John, there's a row; what is that crackling noise?" I
got up and said, "Dear me, the pace is full of smoke."
I slept in the back room with my wife and one child,
and the other two children in the front room. I jumped
out of bed, opened the door between the two rooms,
awl saw the reflection of a fire in Gdhert-street.
I then went to the front window and looked
through it, and saw the flames curling up over
the front of the adjoining window, which was
immediately over the carpenter's shop. There was
flame at the landing,and rushing up the staircase. I shut
the front room door and locked it, to prevent my wife in
a moment of excitement attempting to escape that way.
It was impossible to escape bY the stairs at that time.
I then rushed to the front window, opened it, got out-
side on to the shallow bale my, and called for as eetance.
I heard the policeman's rattle immediately after soy wife
awoke me. I called for assistance, and pointed to a
ladder at the new buildings opposite. I kept my wife
back from the window till the ladder was brought there.
I then handed my eldest daughter to the last witness.
We all fortunately got out without injury. At the time
of my escape the room was nearly full of smoke, and was
accumulating. When I got my last child out I could
scarcely see, but by stooping down I was able to look as
it were uneer it. The flttmes were just coming through
the front window as I got my little boy out. I lived at
20, Gilbert-street about three months. No one slept on
the ground floor. There was no basement. The rooms
adjoining mine on the first floor were unoccupied. I
can't say when a person with a candle was last in the
carpenter's shop. I saw no light there on Saturday
night when I went to bed about eleree o'clock.
By the Coroner—Have you formed any opinion as to
the cause of the fire I
Witness-1 can't imagine.
The Coroner—You cannot conjecture?
Witness—l have not the slightest idea. I saw nothing
to excite my suspicion.
By the Jury-1 smelt nothing burning on Saturday
evening. No one was at work there when I went home
on Saturday. I have known the occupier of the shop to
be at work there so late as 7 o'clock, but I never knew
him to be there with any one smoking. I don't
know what time the shop closed on Saturday night.
The carpenter's shop was kept locked in the absence of
the occupier. If any one had been there to work on
Saturday night after I returned home I might have
heard it. I had no means of communicatince with the
peewees rbeve. My the.ughts were directed t) saving
my own family. We had made our escape by the ladder
before the fire-escape had arrived.
The Coroner—You have formed an opinion whence
the fire began
Witness—l am certain it was in the carpenter's shop,
but when I can't say. The fleemes were ruching
up the stairs and out of the shop windows at the
same time.
By a Juryman—l don't think the fire could have
originated in the dust bin ; there was too much water
used there. I firmly believe it was in tee carpenter's
shop. If it had originated in the dust bin it would have
been under my bedr ,orn.
By the Coroner—l heard no movement or screaming
overhead.
The Coroner proposed to examine Mrs. Eastwood,
but the witness said she was in such an excited state
that he thought it would be dangerous for her to be
called.
Thomas Stubbs, occupier of the carpenter's shop, was
next called. He said, I reside at 3, Little Russell-
street, and am a carpenter by trade. I rented the house
20, Gilbert-street, and undeilst it in tenements. Three
pertions of it were occupied when the fire occurred.
one was at work on Saturday, and the last time I was
there was between half-past 9 or 10 o'clock on Saturday
half-pastmorni ng ;i3 no lightouo e
o'clock
andw as
left useadbtohuetoh. a l
pbeganwork about l
o, k
. I
was called away by Mr. Taylor to the C or aledin-
road, and did not return again for the day. I have
kept no combustibles there. There was an accu-
mulation of shavings there at the time of the fire.
The shutters were down except one. Some glass
without a shutter behind it was broken near some
shavings. Auy one might have thrown a light amongst
them. He had many times omitted to shat up the shop.
He was not insured, and he knew of no one who had
threatened to do him an injury. There was an opening
in the staircase through which a light might be thrown
on the shavinge. He e ,e1:1 only accuurot lue fire free.)
an accident arising from the inmates going up and down
the staircase with a lighted candle. Mrs. Hedger was not
a sober woman, and there were rumours she was out as

late as one o'clock that morning. I have reason to
believe that one of Smith's sons waq out equally late.
Policeman 56 E (William Soar) was at the lire on
Sunday morning. I saw Smi.h the deceased o❑ Satur-
day night about a quarter or 20 minutes to 12 o'clock
go into his house. Ho bad been drinking, but he was
not drunk.

The Coroner—Not helplessly drunk ?
Witness—No.

By a Juryman—He could walk up stairs.

Witness---Yee.

The Coroner—Do you recollect if he was smoking 7

Witness—l did not sea him smoking.
By a Juryman—Do you know if he was in the habit
of smoking I
Witness—l don't.
By a Juryman—Did he tell you what public house he
came from ? .

Witness—No. He went into the house alone, but I
can't say if he opened the door himself. I did not go for
the fire-escape.
Mr. S. Low (Secretary of the Fire-escape)--The
former policeman sairl he sent this man for the fire-

escape.
Curie—This man asßisted me to get out the inmates.
The Croner—l intend to go on with that past of the
case at our next meeting.
Mr. S. Logo-This is a matter of great public im-
portance. The fire escape might have been brought
within 5 minutes.

Inspector Pettier?, E division, said there were two
policemen in the room who fetched the fire engine and
the escape.
Witness said it was a usual circumstance for the shut-

tern to be down. At 2 o'clock he passed the house, and
there was not the least appearance of the fire. After.
wards, when he came up, the flames were rushing out.
The Coroner said they had now peen three hours in
examining the cause of the fire, and they were no nearer
now in ascertaining that fact than they were when they
commenced. It was a very extraordinary case, and it.
appeared to him to be surrounded by a great deal of
mystery of an exceedingly disagreeable character. He
wished to state that one of the objects of the adjourn-
ment was to have one or two of the bodies opened,
which he thought absolutely necessary, because it was a
remarkable case that elev,n persons should have been
smothered—if that be the fact—in one room whilst other
persons immediately below them escaped. There was
something remarkable, he thought, also about the he'd
and arms only being seen for an instant. No noise was
heard from that part of the premises, save from one
individual, who, it was believed, was so injured that he
was unable to speak afterwards ; and under tho,e cir-
cumstances, he thought it his duty to have two or more
of the bodies opened.
Strangers were ordered to withdraw, that the coroner
might confer privately with the jury and the authorities.
The public inquiry was accordingly adimrned till
Thursday next.

THE PROTECTOR ENDOWMENT LOAN
AND AN.NIT,TY COMPAjy.

ANNUAL MEETING-(THIS DAY.)

The annual general meeting of the shareholders was
held this day at the offices of the company, 34, King-
street, Cheapside, this afternoon.
The chair was filled by Alfred Smee, Esq., (surgeon
of the Bank of England), chairman of the Board of
Directors.

The routine business having been transacted,
The CHAIRMAN called upon Mr. Beadnell, the
manager, to read the report, which was as follows :

" The directors feel much satisfaction at meeting you on
the present occasion, for the purpose of laying before you
their annual statement of income and expenditure, and
their report of the company's operations during the year
which ended on the 31st of December last, and also for the
transaction of such other business as is required under the
constitution of the company. As it is also provided by our
deed that a statement of the assets and liabilities of the
company at the close of its fifth year shall be laid before
the shareholders the manager has prepared the same by
order of the board ; and we shall have the pleasure of sub-
mitting this statement also to you at the present meeting,
feeling confidence that both statements—the one of the
year's transactions, and the other showing the present state
of affairs—will be highly satisfactory to all interested in
the advance and well-being of the company. Messrs. Lloyd
and Smee are the two directors who retire in the usual
course of rotation on the present occasion, and both these
gentlemen are re-eligible, and are recommended to you by
the board tobe re-elected to the seats which they now vacate.
The auditors, Messrs. Ladbury, Thornthwaite, and Han-
cock, who retire from office, according to pi escribed rule, are
also all re-eligible and all willing to serve the company
again as during the past year. It is with sincere regret
that we have to announce the decease of Mr. B. L. Sowell,
late one of the company's auditors, whose business habits
and integrity qualified him so well to fill the post which
has become vacant by his lamented death. As our deed of
settlement has fixed the number of auditors at four,
it will be necessary for you at our present meeting to
supply the vacancy which has occurred. It will be seen from
the figures hereinafter set forth that the operations of the
company show a result satisfactory and encouraging.
The loan transactions have been large, somewhat more
than 30,700/. having been advanced during the past year.
This amount might have been even larger had not the di-
rectors considered it incumbent upon them rather to con-
tract this department of business than to urge it during a
period when so much caution was required, the demand for
money being much increased and the discrimination re-
quired in making advances being increased in the same
ratio. Much thought and attention have b-en bestowed on
this braneh of business with the view of rendering it a
great and real source of benefit and good to those who have
occasion to seek its aid; and the company, having had now
a large experience in its working, have, from time to time,
made various improvements in its details. Advances are
promptly ma le upon satisfaction as to security, and each
transaction conducted throughout its whole course of re-
payment in an indulgent and lioeral spirit. The deposit,
department, which shows an amount of more than '21,700/.
deposited--a great increase on the emount recorded for the
previous year—speaks for itself. Any one present has but
to call to mind the remarkable value which money has
borne in the market during the year to give this fact its
due weight. It was deemed prudent during the year to
accumulate a balance in hand to be prepared for deposit
withdrawals, and our leaning operations, as before ob-
serded, were contracted with this view. The with trawals
were, however, scarcely sensibly increased, and the pre-
caution was therefore needless, but the result shows, in a
most remarkable and satisfactory manner the confidence
of the public. This department is becoming more and
more what it is our desire to see it become--not merely a
temporary convenience for a fair rate of interest for money
lying otherwise idle, but a means of locating monies which
are the subject of trusts, and of sums to be made
payable years hence to carry out special pur-
poses of provision, whether by will or otherwise.
The other departments of business, annuities, endow-
ments, and all the various forms devised for family pro-
vision, and dependent on the contingencies of lawmen life,
are also progressing favourably; and there can be no doubt
that the ratio of advance in these branches will be hither
and higher as the company goes on increasing in year,.
The return of a more natural condition of the money mar-
ket may also be reasonably expected to produce a favour-
able result. The statement of income and expenditure
for the year ending December 3 tst, 1857, duly certified by
the qualified officers of the company, is as follows :

" INCOM,E.—To balances, DA., 1856, viz. —Clash, 1,1271
61. 61.; petty cash, 461. 163. 9.1. ; agents, 1,779/. 3s.
interest from borrowers. 6021. 15s. 61 ; capital. stock
5671. ; deposits, 21,7571. is. 61. ; loan (repayments)
26,7791. 103. 61. ; premiums and life risk, 6,55/. 193. 81.
premiums on annuities, 2,201/. Bs. ; interest, 1,9901. 13s,
2d. ; loan guarantee Lind, 2331. ss. 31.—total, 63,'239/
19s. 111.

EXPENDIPORE. -By preliminary expenses (carried to
suspense account, pursuant to deed of settlement), includ-
ing travelling expenses, printing. stationery, dro., incurred
iu extending the company's agencies, 1,604/. 4s 10.; claims
accruing during the last five years, 1,522/. 2s. ; office ex-
poses, rent, rates, taxes, coals, gas, &e., 4181. ls. 10. ;
printing, stationery, and postage, 15 1 15s. 14 ; salaries
and wages, including directors' and auditors' fees, 1,8281.
7s. 61. ; advertising and commission, (.09/. 4s. Bd. ; bond
and receipt stamps, 591. 6s. 44. ; medical and surveyor's
fees, 79/. 15s. ; law charges, 74/. 18s. 14. ; re-assurances,
BSOI. ss. 61. ; annuitants, 1,7691. 153.1114. •, dividends and
interest,:2,lo6/. 168. 80. ; surrender,, 1,073/. 10s. 5,1. ; lean
charges, 3/. 15s. 41. ; advances on various securities,
30,701/. 14g. 7d. ; deposits and investments repaid,
16,618/. ss. 11d. ; cash, balance at bankers, 2,822/. 17s.
90. ; petty cash, balance in hand, 70/. 6s. 10. ; agents'
balance, 721/. 10s. 11d. ; interest from borrowers, 8201.
175.-total, 63,939/.19a. 11d.

The directors recommend that the dividen on shareholders'
stock be for the current year, as heretofore voted, at the
rate of N. per cent. per annum. In conclusion, the direc-
tors have to state that their unceasing endeavours have been
directed to the extension of business in every way ; and
more particularly to the establishment of efficient agencies
in parts of the country which afford the best prospect of
safe and profitable business, and they have the pleasure to
report that names have been added to their list of agents,
from which satisfactory results may be fairly anticipated.
Looking back on the transactions of the past year, stand-
ing by themselves alone, and without any reference to the
specied circumstances of the times, the directors feel that
the prospects of the cornrauy are in every way gratifying.
The circumstances, however, of the year have been of so
extraordinary a character as to force themselves on the
notice of everybody, and so important is their bearing that
no commercial transactions whatever can be duly COM-
mented upon without reference to them. We would hers
merely wish to call attention to the fact, that during one
of the most remarkable monetary derangements in the
memory of those now living, and one so widely disastrous
iu its results to the commercial world, the operations of
this company have maintained ao arm and steady a course."
Toe CHAIRMAN, in moving the adoption of the report,
'congratulated the meeting on the success that had at-
tended the operations of the society. Although the cont.
pany had been ie existence but about four yearn and a half
the result of its operations was favourable in the extreme.
It would be superfluous to occupy space in this meeting,
either to show that it was the duty of every man to pro-
vide for his family after his death, or that life aesurai3e,
in one or other cf its forms, afforded a most effectisn
and available means of accomplishing the object. It
would be sufficient to state that this company (tee
security of which was guaranteed by an ample capital,
and by the character and standing of its Eubscribers)
proposed as its haling features :--let. To secure t
widows artd others, for whom such provision may be
desirable, a fixed annual income, to c anmence exactly
when the occasion for it arises. 2J. To furnish peon-
maly accommodation to the public by way of
Lan, in connection with different forms of assur-
ance, and on veriuue systems cf re-payment. It
is a source of extreme gratification that the public
generally have largely availed themselves of the benefits
offered by this company. The annuity and endowment
branch had been very successful ; and the loaning de-
partment, which had been equally so, filled up a void
that was much required. The society had no connexion
with acc:,rnmodation bills. (flear, hoar.) Its object was
to lend money to respectable persons, the repayment of
which might he spre9d over one, two, or three yesrs.
Another groat rc vantege was, that its.the event s,f tise
death of the party borrowing, tue debt was canceled,
and the surviving part of the family were thus imme-
(lately freed from the burthtn, (Hear, hear.) Withost

delaying the meeting further, he begged to move that
the report, together with the balance-abeet, which had
been read, be received and adopted. (Cheers.)
Mr. DAVIS felt great pleasure in seconding the motion.
The resolution was put from the chair and carried
unanimously.

The retiring directors, viz., David Lloyd, Esq., and
Alfred Smee, Esq., having been re elected,
Mr. ilArtursoN moved that the dividend on share.
holders' stock for the current year, be as heretofore, at
the rata of 5 per cent. per annum.
The motion having been seconded by Mr. LIDBURY,
was carried unanimously.
The CHAIRMAN said he had great pleasure in moving
the next resolution. It was—" That one-tenth of the
surplus shown by the statement of assets and liabilities
be divided among the shareholders rateably according
to the number of shares held by each ; arid be paid with
the next half-yearly dividend."

The resolution having been seconded by Mr. SOLLT,
wag carried unanimously.

Mr. DAVIS said, before the meeting separated he had
a resolution to move which he thought would give satis-
faction to every shareholder present. It was that the
best thanks of the shareholders be given to John Bead-
nell, Eq., for the talent, energy, and perseverance he
had empl4led in his capacity of manager of the society.
The resolution having been seconded, it was carried
unanimuusly.
Mr. DIADNELL said it was a great pleasure to him to
receive so flattering an acknowledgment of his services.
All he could say was, that his best energies would
always be exercised for the prosperity and welfare of the
society (Cheers.)
A vote of thanks to the chairman having been passed
the proceedings terminated.