The Sun.
London, England, 1866-03-23 00:00:00

THE: -SUN- LONDON, AIARCA--23,-- 1866.

The Nottingham Election Committee.
(THIS DAY.)

The members of this committee, appointed to inquire
into the merits of the petition against the return of Sir R.
Clifton, Mr. E. Ellice (chairman), resumed sitting this
morning.

Mr. Temple, Q.C., and Mr. Mundell appeared in support
of the petition, and Mr. Rodmer, Q.C., Mr. Price, Q.C.,
and Mr. Pope Hennessy for Sir R. Clifton.
The examination of Mr. Liniker, which commenced yes-
terday, was resumed. Mr. Acland, the agent of Sir R.
Clifton, paid him and other clerks of Sir R. Clifton's com-
mittee, and canvassers were employed. He saw Mr. Acland
make entries of payments in the committee room. He saw
Aclaud speak to Kennedy some time before the nomination
day, but did not hear him desire him to go to the Assembly
Rooms. He did not give a different version of this latter
matter on a former occasion.

Mr. Rodwall contended that the last question of his
learned fi iend tended to place the witness in the light of
an adverse witness, and some argument ensued on this
point.
The Chairman decided that the learned counsel (Mr.
Mundell), was not justified in the course he was pursuing
by cross-examining his own witness with a view toshake his
credibility.
The Witness said he had never stated that paid can-
vassers were employed either by Sir R•. Clifton or Mr.
Acland. Mr. Acland made entries of payment
to the amount of £5O or £7O, but he had never
said that he did so every week. He said that
ho believed Kennedy received money for the payment
of the canvassers, but he did not say he knew that to be
the fact. In the statement he had previously made, and
which was read over to him, he did state that Mr. Acland
did make entries in the cash-book to the amount of £5O
or £6O, and on recollection that statement was correct,
notwithstanding what he had just sworn. He
said that he heard Acland desire Kennedy to
go to Martin's Assembly Rooms, but it was
the week after, and not before the elections.
Many come to the committee room for money, but they
were not always sent to the Assembly Rooms to be paid.
On the following day a person named Francis Nightingale,
a voter, came to the committee room and asked to see Sir
Robert Clifton, and on being told that he was absent, he
asked for Mr. Acland, whom he saw, and a conversation
took place between them, but he could not tell its
purport. He heard Nightingale ask to be appointed
a poll clerk, which Mr. Acland said he should be.
He was appointed poll clerk, but did not do
any duty. He heard Nightingale say that he
would not vote unless he were paid. He saw Night-
ingale receive a sovereign in the committee room from a
Mr. Ashwell. He remembered the day after being at the
South-parade committee room, and Sir R. Clifton being
there with a number of voters. He heard some conversa-
tion pass between them respecting the voting, and saw Sir
R. Clifton and some of the voters go behind a screen in the
room. He could not say what occurred between them.
Amongst some of those who were present at the South-
parade committee room was a person named William
Blackwood Johnson. (On reference to the voters' list, it
appeared that this party's name was not on the register.
He did not know any of the others who were prosoent en
the occasion to which he had alluded.)
In cross-examination the witness said that he had been
engaged by Mr. Aeland, and gave his services at the com-
mittee room for five weeks, but received no remuneration.
The screen to which he had referred was a glass partition,
and the South Parade committee room had originally been
a grocer's shop. The Maypole publichouse was also used
as a committee room, and numbers attended there during
the election. Sir R. Clifton was always followed by a crowd
of persons, voters and others. After the election he saw a
voter named Whitby at the Leather Bottle, and he asked
him if he wanted to see Mr. Richard on the subject of the
election. He asked witness if he couid give information
about the election, and that in all probability evidence
would be required in respect to the election. He said he
would require to be remunerated if he was compelled to
attend before a committee. He came voluntarily and re-
ceived 30s. from Mr. Smith, but received no other money
in addition except some money for his expenses. He was
obliged, however, to lay out his own money, but he looked
forward to be repaid by some person.
The committee shortly afterwards adjourned.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.—This Day.

MARLBOROUGH-S TREET.

CASUALS CHARGED WITH DESTROYING THEIR CLOTHING.
—Mary Ann Weatherly, 21, Ann Rouse, 18, and Ann
Kennett, 14, all described as servants, were charged before
Mr. Knox with wilfully destroying their own clothing
while casual inmates of St. James's Workhouse.

Charles Densham, superintendent of the casual ward of
St. James's Workhouse, said that at half-past six yester-
day evening the prisoners applied for admission, and Wea-
therly and Rouse were admitted, but not Kennett, on ac-
count of the disgusting language she made use of—lan-
guage not fit to be repeated. Subsequently, however, she
was brought to the workhouse by the police, and then ad-
mitted, when she again made use of similar language.
That morning he found they had destroyed all their clothes
In answer to Mr. Knox, he said he saw the prisoners at
the workhouse before.

The prisoners said their clothes were so bad they could
wear them no more.

Mr. Knox committed them for 14 days each:

WESTMINSTER.

A CASE FOR SEVERE PUNISHMENT.—Emma White,
Laura Davis, and Ann Robson, the latter of whom has been
at this court for highway robbery with violence, were
charged with feloniously stealing three gowns and other
articles, value £5, the property of Susan Hurry.
Miss Aghes Forrester said she lived at Stonehouse Re-
fuge for Fallen Females, at Commereial-road, Pimlico, and
the prisoners were inmates. White came from the Mag-
dalene Hospital, the others without recommendation. At
6 o'clock in the morning, a few days since, the three pri-
soners left the refuge by a window, taking with them the
refuge dress and other articles not belonging to them.
Davis had the keys of the parlour for cleaning, and it was
found locked in the inside on the morning of the robbery,
and the window open ; three table-cloths, a shawl, night-
dress, &c., were the other articles stolen.

Davis said voluntarily, "We had not sufficient food, so
we ran away. We had bread and water three days."
Miss Forrester, in reply, said a lock was broken off a
door, and it could not be found out who did it, so all the
girls in the house had dry bread for dinner of a day till the
culprit should confess.

Elijah Long, 380 K, said ho was on duty in Shadwell,
and saw Davis and White, the latter drunk. He took them
from information received. He took Robson afterwards at
a brothel in Angel-gardens, Shadwell. They had all the
Reformatory dress on. Davis said she took the table-cloths
and pawned them, and then destroyed the tickets. She
also confessed to pawning the night dress. Witness went
by Robson's direction to a leaving-shop in Shadwell, and
found the shawl there left by Robson.
They were all committed for trial.

MARKETS,---This Day.

MARK-LANE.

Fresh up to our market, to-day, the arrivals of home-
grown wheat were moderate. The trade for most qualities
ruled heavy, at Monday's decline in the quotations. The
condition of the produce IT'as tolerably good.
The market was fai►ly supplied with foreign wheat
The trade, generally speaking, ruled inactive, but without
leading to any quotable change in prices from Monday.
Floating cargoed of grain were in but moderate request,
at late rates.

Barley was In but moderate supply, and the trade ruled
firm, at very full prices.

The moat trade was firm, at full quotations.
The supply of oats on sale was moderate. The trade
ruled quiet, at late rates.

Roans and peas were in short supply, and the trade
pled firm, at full currencies.

There was a fair demand for flour at Monday's rates.

SIIIP ARRIVALS THIS WEEK.
Wheat. Barley. Malt. Oats. Flour.
English and Scotch 2070 580 2150
_3O 2460

Foreign 5440 4260 —11,310 2550 sks.
bis.

British Equitable Assurance Company.

The annual general meeting was held yesterday,
at the offices of the company, 47 and 48, King Wil-
liam-street, London-bridge, E.C., William Gover,
Esq., the chairman of the company, presiding. The
managing director read the following report :
The company has been favoured during the past year
with a continuance of that prosperity which has marked its
progress in former years. The broad principle on which
the company is founded, that of " mutual assurance with-
out mutual liability," has met with public recognition. The
interest and convenience of the policyholders have been
consulted to the utmost in the business arrangements of the
company, and it is satisfactory that a considerable exten-
sion of the company's business has taken place through
the exertions of tho policyholders. The plan of allowing
profits to be applied so as to make policies payable in the
lifetime of policyholders, which was adopted at the last
annual meeting, has been much approved.
To meet the wishes of those whose lives are not quite
equal to first-class lives, and yet cannot afford to pay more
than first-class premiums, the directors will issue policies,
subject to' an equivalent deduction from the amount in-
sured, such deduction being gradually diminished by the
profits as they accrue ; and when those profits have ex-
tinguished it, the assured will have the advantage of the
policy being thenceforward treated as a first-class policy. •
In the year just closed, policy-holders for 2,073 addi-
tional policies have been admitted into the company, their
united assurances amounting to £353,700, and the new
annual premiums thereon to £10,899. •

There ate now holders of 9,306 policies in the company,
the sum of whose assurances in force with the company is
£1,569,791.

The large and steady growth of the company's business
will be seen by the following table : •

Years. No. Amount.
Reported in 1856 1,370 ... £212,135
1857 970 ... 163,134
1858 856 ... 131,791
1859 802 137,227
1860 972 ... 168,205
1861 1,152 ... 188,631
1862 1,091 ... 177,075
1863 ... 1,267 . 200,357
1864 1,583 ... 252,115
1865 ...f: 1,650 ... 270,726
1866 2,073 ... 354,700

11 ... 13,786 2,255,109
The representatives of deceased policyholders have re-
ceived during the year sums assured and bonuses amount-
ing to £12,521 9s. 9d. under 66 policies.' This amount is
much less than that provided for by the tabular rate of
mortality, and • proves the careful selection of lives made
by the company, and it is of good augury in respect
of future divisions of profits.
In many cases the bereaved families of deceased policy-
holders so, succoured have afforded striking evidence of the
value of the just, wise, and, often only possible, provision
of life assurance. .

By the sum laid by during the year the accumulated
fund is now increased to £lOO,OOO. This does not include
any sum as preliminary expenses. Nearly the whole of this
amount is invested in mortgage securities at good interest.
The accumulated fund is equal in amount to about N per
cent. on all premiums received on the whole of the com-
pany's policies in force, a proportion considerably more
than sufficient for the company's engagements as shown
by the whole of the highest life assurance authorities. •
The Managing Director, in addressing the meet-
ing, said the growth of the company's business had
been greater during the past year than in any pre-
ceding year. The new business of 1863 was 25 per
cent. greater than that of any prior year. That of
of 1864 was considerably larger than that of 1863,
and the new business of 1865 again shows a very
great increase of more than 25 per cent. over that
of 1864. The business of 1865 exceeded that of
1864, as follows :—ln 1864 we had 1650 new poli-
cies for £270,736, giving a new annual premium of
£9,020. In 1865 we had £2,073 new policies
for £353,700, giving an increased annual premium
of £10,899 ; the excess being 423 policies for
£82,964, the additional annual premium being £1879.
We have in force at the present time 9,306 policies,
assuring £1,569,791, and no foreign lives are in-
cluded in this very satisfactory amount of business.
The mortality of the year has been much below the.
provision made for current mortality by the com-
pany's tables. The mortality experienced by the
company has been below that provided for by the
company's tables from the commencement to the
present time without the exception of a single year.
The rate of interest realised upon the mortgages
granted by the company has been very satisfactory.
The 'security deeds have been carefully examined
by the auditors. The balances in agents' hands are
small, and the loss from bad debts from the com-
mencement of the company has been very low.
The CHAIRMAN moved the adoption of the report
and balance sheet.

The VICE-CHAIRMAN seconded the same, saying
it was the best report ever presented by the society.
Dr. STEPHENSON followed, paying a high
eulogium to the manner in which the business of
the company had been conducted during his con-
nection with it. He stated that he had examined,
in a town with a population of 40,000, over 1,000
lives for assurance in this company.

The report and balance-sheet were then adopted.
A vote of thanks to the chairman was proposed
by Mr. Warmington and seconded by Dr. Under-
hill, who rejoiced that the chairman had been per-
mitted to see the exertions put forth so exceedingly
successful. The company had arrived at a stage
of progress which he thought placed its security
beyond all possible question, and he had no
doubt of its complete and final success. He did
not see that anything had been stated in the report
or acconnts that contained any element of weak-
ness. He held in the highest respect the gentlemen
who conducted its affairs, and he did not think
there could be a finer body of managers, or a more
wise and able president than the chairman.
The vote of thanks was carried unanimously.

Votes of thanks were also presented to the
board of directors, managing director, solicitor,
medical officers, and agents of the company, after
which the meeting terminated.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT

HOUSE OF LORDS.-LAST EVENING.

RECKLESS DRIVING IN THE METROPOLIS.

The Marquis of WESTMEATH inquired of her Ma-
jesty's Government whether it was their intention to intro-
duce any measure to give greater security to foot passen-
gers in the streets of the metropolis against the reckless
driving of carts and vehicles therein. He said that since
he had introduced his bill on this subject in 1858 a large
number of accidents, attended with loss of life and injuries,
had taken place in the metropolis. The subject was
brought before the Home Secretary, who treated it in a
manner that was not to be tolerated (Cries of " order.")
Earl GRANVILLE censured the improper and unparlia-
mentary language in which the noble marquis had accused
the Home Secretary of being the cause of the many acci-
dents which had recently occurred.
The Marquis of WESTMEATH said he had not charged
Sir George Grey with being the cause of the accidents, but
he had condemned him for the indisposition he had die-
played to apply a remedy.
Earl GRANVILLE thought that the introduction of a
force of mounted police would add to the evil rather than
diminish it. The question altogether was one of very
great difficulty, but a committee bad been appointed to con-
sider the subject, and he trusted they would be able to sug-
gest a mean's for remedying the evil complained of.
In reply to the Earl of CADOGAN.

Earl GRANVILLE said the public monument to the
Duke of Wellington, in St. Paul's Cathedral, ought to have
been executed years ago. The fault, however, entirely
rested with Mr. Stevens, the architect; but the Govern-
ment were assured that it would be in a fit state to be in-
spected in August next.
Lord CHELMSFORD laid on the table a bill for the
regulation of attorneys and solicitors in Ireland, and it was
read a first time.

In reply to the Earl of LICHFIELD,
Earl GRANVILLE said he believed it was true that a
cargo of cattle in a state of disease had been brought into
the metropolis, and that there was danger of the plague
being spread in consequence. An Order in Council would
be issued prohibiting the importation of all cattle from
Holland.
Their lordships then adjourned. -

HOUSE OF COMMONS-LAST EVENING.
THE FENIANS.

The O'DONOGHUE asked the Attorney-General for
Ireland whether he did not think it would have a good
effect upon the state of Ireland, and whether he saw any
objection to release from custody those persons arrested
under the suspension of the Habeas Corpus Act who could
procure bail? Whether it was true, as reported in the
papers, that the Catholic Cathedral at Armagh was searched,
and even the vaults entered ; if so, whether it was done by
direction or approval of the Government ; if it was not done
by the direction or with the approval of the Government,
whether he did not think the matter ought to be made the
subject of inquiry, with a view to giving redress to the
Catholics, and of preventing the recurrence of such an act.
And also whether he would state if the Land Bill which
the Government is gOing to introduce differs in principle
from the bill introduced by Mr. Cardwell ; and, if so, what
was the difference.

The ATTORNEY-GENERAL for IRELAND said the
utmost consideration were givento the case of all persons de-
tained in custody, and unless it was shown that they had
not been actually engaged in the conspiracy, he thought
it would have a very bad effect to admit such persons to
bail and thus enable them to go at large. With respect to
the persons coming from America it would be a matter of
considerable satisfaction if they on being admitted to bail
would quit Ireland for America. With respect to the
entry of the Cathedral of Armagh he had no know-
ledge of such a proceeding, but he would make inquiry
and inform the hon. gentleman immediately he received
the intelligence. With respect to the 'land question, it
would be unfair to anticipate the statement that would be
made when the bill was introduced.
THE LOSS OF THE LONDON.

Mr. GRANT asked the President of the Board of Trade
if he considered the late inquiry into the loss of the London
steamer a satisfactory one ; and if so, to state what, in his
opinion, were the causes alleged in the report of the Court
of Inquiry as having occasioned the said wreck, by which
so large a sacrifice of life took place ?
Mr. GIBSON said the inquiry was conducted in a satis-
factory manner, yet he did not say that mode of carrying
on the examination could not be improved. With respect
to the loss of the vessel, the report stated that whether the
ship was lost through the sea getting into the engine-room,
through the hatchway or other part of the ship, there was
no evidence to show.