The Sun.
London, England, 1866-03-01 00:00:00

Provident Clerks' Benevolent Fund.

The twenty-fifth annual meeting of the members
of the Provident Clerks' Benevolent Fund was held
last night at the London Tavern, Bishopsgate-
street ; John Abel Smith, Esq., M.P., presided.
The annual report of the directors was read by
Mr. LINFORD, the secretary, as follows :

The Directors of the Provident Clerks' Benevolent Fund
have much pleasure in presenting to the members and
friends of the Fund their loth annual report.
The income of the past year has been as follows :
s (1.
From Subscriptions...
... 1,534 3. 0
~ Donations 81 10
„ Interest on Investments 1,263 17 9

£2,870 11 3
Pursuant to the resolution of t' o annual general meeting
held on the 225 February last, an election of twelve
annuitants took place on the 25th May, when the following
were elected, viz.:

3 Clerks to annuities of £3O each,
7 Widows to „ of .£2O „
2 „
of £l5 „
being 12 annuitants for a total sum of £260 per annum.
Two annuitants have died during the year, and one has
re-married, and the Board now recommend that eight ad-
ditional annuitants be elected, viz., two clerks and six
widows of clerks. A resolution to the effect will be sub-
mitted to the meeting.
The sum cf £176 3s. has been distributed in gratuities
during the past year.
In their last report the board informed the members of
their intention to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the
Fund by a public dinner. From unavoide blo causes they
wore compelled to defer their purpose until the present
year, when Robert Wigram Crawford, Esq., who has been
appointed ono of the trustees in the place of Mr. Prescott,
deceased, has kindly consented to preside. The day fixed
on is the 2d of [day. As on the last occasion, the aid of
every member will be solicited, when the board do not
doubt that, as on that occasion, the most gratifying results
will be obtained.

The claims of this fund on the mercantile community
are so strong that it is with the fullest confidence the board
appeal for the assistance which the constantly increasing
claims on the fund have rendered necessary.
The balance-sheet showed a balance of receipts over
expenditure of .£852 9s. Bd. The capital account showed
a balance to credit of £30,179 15s. 7d.

The CHAIRMAN said he rose to discharge a
pleasing duty—namely, to move that the report be
adopted ; and he heartily congratulated the
institution that at present it stood so favour-
ably, and was in a position so gratify-
ing and so encouraging. He did not see so
many persons attending the meeting as he could
wish, as it showed that they did not take so great
an interest in the success of the institution as he
did ; however, he hoped that some daylight would
break upon them, because it was " Never too late
to mend." (Applause.) Nevertheless, he hoped
that the members and friends this year would give
a long, strong, and hearty pull at the oar, and en-
deavour to give effect to the celebration of the
proposed anniversary of the institution by a public
dinner. (Hear, hear.) It was known by ex-
perience that such dinners tended to increase the
means of public institutions ; for those who were
invited to and partook of a good dinner upon a
public occasion would net, probably, forget the
want of means of those who wanted a dinner.
(Applause.) He thanked God that the comfort and
wellbeing of one class of the community not favoured
by favourable circumstances was constantly being
more and more studied and considered through
the good feeling of another class ; and he was sure
that on the forthcoming occasion the public would
take an interest in the welfare of the Provident
Clerks' Benevolent Society, and would not be wanting
either in its duties or obligations. He could only in
conclusion say that it was a great satisfaction to
him to see the fund in such a flourishing condition,
and he hoped it would go on increasing in prosperity,
and become as large a means of benefiting the class
for which it was intended as he himself could
desire. (Cheers.)
The motion of the chairman was then put to the
meeting and carried unanimously.
Mr. R. H. JONES said he wished particularly to
say a word or two on that their 25th anniversary,
because he did not think it was right to allow such
an event to pass without telling the members
what had been done during that period. (Hear,
hear.) Since the establishment of the fund they
had paid to annuitants no less a sum than
£l3,92o—(hear, hear)—and the progressive increase
would be observable from the following figures,
dividing the periods into five years. The first five
years, it was £56 ss. ; the second, £773 15s. ; the
third, £2,596 ss. ; the fourth, £4,471 4s. ; and the
fifth, £6,025 Bs., making a total of £13,922.
(Cheers.) By this it would be seen there had been
a gradual and satisfactory increase throughout the
entire period. They 112. d elected 117 annuitants,
79 of whom were now on their list, and with the
eight they purposed electing very shortly they
would bring their list up to 87. They had given
away in gratuities a sum of £3,000, and no one but
those who have an opportunity of seeing the reci-
pients can entertain any idea of the amount of good
which had been effected. They were precluded by
their rules from giving more than £lO in one sum,
and none had received the help of the fund but those
properly qualified. They had granted £40,120 in
loans to members, and the loss from such a proceed-
ing had only been £6OO, or about 1} per cent. on
the sum advanced. Those members who had loans
were carefully impressed with the necessity of being
punctual in their repayments, because it was '
most unpleasant to have to enforce their
rules against those who had partaken of the
benefits of the fund. The guinea subscribing mem-
bers were not so numerous as they ought to be, but
the numbers of the assuring members amounted to
3,975 ; however, it was consolatory to know that
they were quite independent of the guinea donations,
and all he could say was that those who could afford
to give a guinea to the fund, and did not do so,
were not animated by a proper feeling. (Hear,
hear.) Altogether they had given away the sum
of £16,800 in doing good, and ifthat:was not enough
to animate them he did not know what could. He
hoped that every member would join heartily in pro-
moting the success of their forthcoming anniversary
dinner, and that noble as the sum derived from
the last one was, amounting to no less a sum
than £2,600, of which £1,500 was due to the mem-
bers themselves, it would be exceeded by the exer-
tions of the members in the present year. (Hear,
hear.) There was, however, one subject of deep re-
gret to him, as well as he was sure it would be to
the whole of the members generally, and that was
the absence of their esteemed and valued deputy-
chairman, Mr. Welch. For nearly 25 years he had
never failed to attend their meeting, and per-
forming that which was a source of inexpressible
pleasure to him, namely, moving the resolution
for the election of annuitants. (Hear, hear.) His
absence, as was well known, was caused by a pain-
ful illness, and the duty, therefore, bad devolved
upon him (Mr. Jones). With a fervent hope that
their kind, good friend would soon be restored to
health, he would conclude by moving, as a resolu-
tion, that on the 31st of May next eight additional
annuitants, namely, two clerks and six widows of
clerks, be elected on the fund. (Cheers.)
Mr. PRICE seconded the motion, and, at the same
time, expressed his deep regret at the absence of Mr.
Welch, to whom he knew it was both a pride and
pleasure to propose the resolution increasing the
number of their annuitants. He (Mr. Price) and the
chairman were two of the original promoters of the
fund, and it was not generally known that the
Benevolent Fund, at the commencement of their
labours, was looked upon as the basis of their Life
Assurance Society ; yet the Life branch had taken
the lead, and it showei to him that, however persons
were disposed to take care of themselves, they did
not think much about taking care of others. The
fund was not supported as it deserved to be by those
clerks who received large salaries. (Hear, hear.)
There were many clerks in good situations who did
not grudge to spend £5 at a dinner at Richmond,
or over whitebait at Greenwich, but would not give
a guinea as a subscription to such a commendable in-
stitution as the Provident Clerks' Fund. He ear-
nestly urged the members to persuade their friends
to aid a cause that would prevent the board from
sending away widows with weeping eyes, or poor
blind and disabled men without annuities. (Cheers.)
The resolution was carried unanimously.

Mr. JEPPS moved a vote of thanks to their Trea-
surer, Mr. J. A. Smith, M.P., and to the trustees,
Baron L. de Rothschild, M.P., and Messrs. Thomas
Baring, M.P., R. W. Crawford, M.P., and Thom-
son llankey, M.P. He feelingly remarked upon
the loss the society had sustained by the death of
Mr. Prescott, a late trustee. lie also spoke of the

advantage of baying such a man as Mr. Crawford
to fill the vacancy.
The CHAIRMAN said before putting this resolution
he should like to add a few words. He well re-
membered their congratulating themselves last year
on having had their trustees spared to them for so
long a period as 25 years. Since then they bad to
deplore the loss of one whom he had long numbered
among his most intimate and esteemed personal
friends, the late Mr. Prescott. While, however, de-
ploring this loss, he could but express his gratifi-
cation at the fact of Mr. Crawford having been
selected to fill the vacancy. He knew of no fitter
man, and he felt sure that all would rejoice in
having that gentleman's name associated with them.
In character and position Mr. Crawford stood
so
high that he feat what an advantage his name must
be to the fund, and he hoped to have the pleasure
of attending the dinner on the 2d of May, at which
Mr. Crawford was to preside. The chairman also
spoke in feeling terms of the absence of the deputy-
chairman Mr. Welch.

The motion was carried unanimously.
Mr. DmvsoN proposed a vote of thanks to the
auditors, whose services, he said, were gratuitous,
but who looked carefully and closely into the ae:
counts submitted to them, and who well deserved
the thanks of the members.
Mr. MINTON seconded the resolution, which was
carried unanimously.
A cordial vote of thanks was also awarded to the
medical officers for their valuable services, on the
motion of Mr. FRY, who spoke of the advantage
the members derived from the constant kind assist'
ante of the physician and surgeon of the fund.
Mr. COLEMAN seconded the motion, which was
carried unanimously.
A cordial vote of thanks was awarded to the
auditors and medical officers.
On the motion of the Chairman, a vote of thanks
was accorded to the board of directors and Mr.
Linford, the secretary ; and the interesting proceed-
ings terminated by thanks to the chairman for his
kindness in presiding.

Court 4.-14,4 mitrat

HER MAJESTY•

WINDSOR CASTLE, Wednesday.
The Queen walked and drove this morning, ac-
companied by Princess Helena.

From " The Owl."

We understand that Earl Russell, especially in
the event of his carrying the Reform Bill with which
his name will be for a second time historically iden-
tified, intends before long to retire from office.
A change in the Cabinet will shortly be caused
by the retirement of Sir George Grey from the
Home-office.
A conference of the plenipotentiaries of the
, Powers signataries of the Treaty of 1858 will be
held in Paris, and not in Constantinople. It hap-
pens that only a few days ago a conference of these
Ambassadors and Ministers was being held there on
subjects relating to the Principalities. The object
of the conference will be to come to some common
understanding as to the measures to be sanctioned,
or adopted, with a view to the best interests both
of the Principalities and of the Ottoman empire.
Lord Clarence Paget, who has long wished to be
afloat again, will leave England as soon as the navy
estimates are passed, to assume the command 0f
,
the Mediterranean fleet. We believe that he 18411
be succeeded at the Admiralty by the Hon. T. G•
Baring, now Under Secretary of State for the Iloilo
Department.
We have satisfaction in announcing that it is in-
tended to retain an admiral as second in coalman'
of the Mediterranean squadron.
We believe it is probable that Lord John
having been returned for Ripon, will succeed Ad-
miral Drummond at the Admiralty.
We understand that Lieut.-General the Hon. C.
Grey will succeed Sir Charles Phipps as Keeper nf
the Privy Purse. Colonel Ponsonby, at Preeen'4.
extra equerry, will be appointed equerry.
Our information from Berlin represents the situa-
tion as most ominous, offering the strong contrast
of a Sovereign absurdly exhilarated at the annihila-
tion of the Constitution, and of a patriotic partY
gloomy but determined. Count Bismarck continues
in the highest favour with the King, and there seems
a certainty that, within a few weeks, Austria will hie,
at war with Prussia or have abandoned to her all
rights and powers over the conquered Duchies.
We anticipate the latter course, as, without France,
and with her eastern frontiers menaced by disturb
ances, Austria will not dare to move.
It is expected that a favourable answer will shortly
be received from the French Government to the
despatch addressed to them on the subject of the
Fisheries Convention. The proposed new regula-
tions are based on the report of the commission.
Mr. H. Lack and Mr. Harris, of the Board of
Trade and Foreign-office respectively, have been
appointed Secretaries to the Commissioners for car-
rying out the provisions of Article 4 of the Commer.
cial Treaty with Austria:
received
We understand that Major Thompson has
orders to proceed to Jamaica to take command
the 6th (Col. Hobbs's) Regiment, and to bring ,t
home.
The French Government, after a long investiga-
u
tion, have adopted a system of communication ba
means of electricity between railway Passeng,ers
guards which is at once economical and effective ,
ar
and the Minister of Public Works has by a circa'
letter ordered its adoption on all the French railways
within a year from this time.
The amount of the purchase-money to be Paid..
for Gloucester House, which is to be pulled down
in the course of the Park-lane improvements)_
£60,000. Of this £20,000 is to be paid to the Pnr:,
of Cambridge for the unexpired lease of 14 Ye
lath
and £40,000 to the trustees of the will of the aw
Sir Richard Sutton for the freehold.