The Sun.
London, England, 1861-05-10 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING; MAY 10, 1861.

LONDON, FRIDAY, MAY 10, 1881.

Aristocratical institutions are, indeed, on their
trial now in the United States ; or, rather, they
have been tried and failed. The sole cause of the
present crisis threatening such painful results to a
noble country, is, aristocratic pride, and aristocratic
determination to retain ascendancy. Virginia, the
Carolinas, and the leading Southern States, started
with an aristocratic basis. They were the country
of the Cavaliers, of the Church and King party, of
" the Chivalry," as distinguished from the New
England States, the descendants of the Republican
Puritans. All the traditions of the South are aris-
tocratic—those of the North, popular ; and hence
followed the grand result, that the Northern States,
rapidly east off an institution so radically inconsis-
tent with the genius of Republicanism as slavery,
and reaped a splendid rewari in the enriching
achievements of free labour, and in becoming the
natural resort of emigrants from Europe who,
having generally only their labour to depend on,
naturally went where industrial employments were
held in honour and enjoyed free scope.
The Southern States, not being republican by
their traditions and temperament, as naturally clung
to slavery. If all white men must be on a legal
'equality, it was no slight compensation that the
white men should be an aristocracy, and an aristo-
cracy of the first water, too. A large part of them
could boast aristocratic associations in looking back
to the mother country, and it was quite in keeping
that they should reign by right divine, and
therefore reign most absolutely, over a large popu-
lation who were completely at their disposal. It is
certain that this aristocratical feeling of the South
is one of the principal causes of the secession and
the war. The South, though very different in
polish of manners from what it was soon after the
revolution, still retains all the pride of a noble class
looking down with supreme contempt on the North
as a country of workers, tradesmen, and manufac-
turers; and its deep interest in negro slavery is by
no means that of profit merely. As was the case
with our planters before the abolition of negro
slavery, the pleasure of absolute supremacy, so dear
to those who have once enjoyed it, is the strongest
reason for their mad preference for slave institutions.
All fact and argument proves that they would be
gainers by free labour, but they would lose their
aristocratical supremacy over half the population.
This sentiment also it was which gave such deter-
mination to their resolution not to submit to a poli-
tical defeat. They could not brook being beaten
once in tho election of a supreme magistrate, and
beaten, too, by " the vulgar Republicans of the
North." Southern chivalry would reign. If it
could not reign over all, it would reign over half.
It was to them, one of the cases which exemplified
most perfectly the famous adage of HESIOD, for,
under the circumstances, "the half was much better
than the whole."

By the last accounts little information was brought
respecting the Southern Aristocracy and their
doings, and that little not so altogether in their
favour as formerly. They have entered upon a
fierce fight with freemen and republicans for the
utmost extreme of aristocratical privilege; and, one
of the first facts we met with is that the subject
class are escaping from their dominion r Five hun-
dred slaves have, it is said, already run off from
Maryland, and it is much feared in the Border
Slave States, that if the contest last long, it will
not be worth their while to fight for slavery, for
slavery will—may we use the phrase—have "cut
and run." It would be, certainly, a most amusing
result if the Border States should thus become
Free States, not through any attack from the"
e intemperance of the Southern
North, but through the
Aristocracy in precipitating a war with the
North. We might even imagine, then, the next
tier of slave states losing their slaves into the newly
created slave States, and thus even without a ser-
vile war, the whole becoming ultimately free. Too
pleasant dreams, however, these.
are plainly in Progress. Sadder realities

Happily we hear of no more bloodshed; but pre-
parations are making for it on a fearful scale.
'Washington appears to be now placed pretty well
beyond the reach of danger, by the arrival of regi-
ments from the North. Nor does it appear to want
supplies. It has, at
provisions and present, the
undisturbed command of tho Potomac, to the sea,
no batteries having yet been placed by die Vir-
ginians on the shores of the river to obstruct
vessels passing to and fromthe Rational
metropolis. The troops hitherto, however,
have been sent thither, not by conveying them
up the river, but up the Chesapeake Bay to Anna-
polis in Maryland, about sixteen miles from
Wash-
ington.

In other respects the scale this time went in
favour of the North. One or two undefended forts
have been taken, as a matter of course, but Fort
Pickens has been reinforced ; the army before it is
not in a condition to attack it, indeed seem to be
fading away ; and several ships of war are riding
off the harbour. The blockade seems likely to be

soon enforced with vigour, and the whole of the
Southern ports from Baltimore to New Orleans
will probably soon be effectually closed. The South
will therefore be soon driven in all probability to
commence a serious war by land, and as Kentucky
will not move either way, Virginia, and perhaps
Maryland are not unlikely to become the scene of
the first conflict. In Maryland the negroes are
comparatively few, and the Union feeling strong in
a great part of the country. It is through Mar/-
land also that Washington must keep up its com-
munications with the Free States. There are com-
plete railway communications through Baltimore
with the North, but if that city will not let the
troops and supplies pass through, no alternative is
left but a land route to Pennsylvania, of at least
sizty miles, or the Potomac, if it canlbe kept open,
and the sea. The Virginians seem now to be the
most dreaded. For the safety of the capital, they
must also be the first object of Northern attack, the
more Southern States must, of course, come to the
help of " the Old Dominion" when attacked by the
North, and hence we should not be surprised to
hear soon of fierce conflicts in Virginia.
It will be seen that agents from the South are in
all probability in England seeking privateers;
and doubtless Mr. MAGUIRE and Mr. BOWYER
Will tell us that they have as good a right to them
as GARIBALDI had to English volunteers ; and we
may add, as the POPE had to the heroes of Spoleto.
Happily, we cannot doubt that the whole country
will practically differ from the hon. members, who,
however, we may well hope, will agree with the
rest of the country, that no Englishman can take
a part in this war. He cannot join the-Southerns,
and make a :gain of fighting for slavery ; he can-
not join the North, which probably will not ask
him in a fratricidal war. No man could retain his
place in English society who could fit out a priva-
teer to plunder American vessels, whether of the
Northern or Southern confederacy.

Mr. COBDEN has, at length, turned his footsteps
in a homeward direction. He is reported to have
arrived in Paris from his recent sojourn in Algeria,
and to have alighted at Meurice's. How soon he
may be expected to appear in London we know not ;
but it is to be hoped that many more days will not
have elapsed before he takes his place once more
by the side of his friend, Mr. BRIGHT, on the
second bench below the gangway on the Minis-
terial side of the Commons House of Parliament.
He is wanted there very urgently. The time has
just arrived m hen his reappearance in the Legisla-
ture would be regarded by all parties as singularly
opportune. For is it not borne only too vividly in
recollection that to Mr. COBDEN'S hard head was
entrusted the responsibility of negotiating that
soi-disant Reciprocity Treaty between France and
England, one of the most remarkable results of
which we are but just now beginning to appre-
ciate. Everybody in the House of Commons
we believe to be, at this moment, more or less
desirous of hearing from Mr. COBDEN, viva voce,
some clear, distinct, categorical explanation as
to the meaning, as to the value, as to the origin
of those portions of the Commercial Treaty be-
tween France and England relating on the one hand
directly to Paper, and on the other hand directly to
Rags. Perhaps Mr. COBDEN, when he resumes his
place in the House of Commons, may be able to ex-
plain that matter to us now in someway satisfactorily.
Any more of those little generalised letters haughtily
"putting down" this and that objection, and at the
same time blowing the trumpet in favour of what
is nominally a Reciprocity Treaty, and doing so,
oddly enough, upon the plea that it is the latest
and the most signal evidence of the triumphant
extension of Free-trade Principles—any more of
those small epistles addressed by Mr. COBDEN every
now and then of late to " My Dear Sir," Some-
where—will fail to be accepted, as in any parti-
cular even, acceptable. The English people are
beginning at length to want, instead of these
almost pert generalities, something in the shape
of a candid and matter-of-fact explanation.
The impost upon Paper has at length been defini-
tively removed. The question was last night decided,
just for once and for all, between the Government
and the Opposition. According to the numerals upon
the division list, the dispute was put an end to by,
as nearly as might be, two to one—at any rate,
while the proposed evasion of the matter was sup-
ported by 54, it was triumphantly scattered to the
winds by 100! The Chairman of the Committee of
Ways and Means, it was decided, should not
report progress at that particular stage of the
,proceedings. The resolution, instead of that,
being put by him and agreed to by the
Committee. So that the question has been
again—(shall we say now positively for the last
1 time ?)—settled. It was decided, most people
thought, several days back, when the great Party
Fight brought the Opposition to grief, and gave
the palm to her MAJESTY'S Government, by
1 fact of the famous clear majority of Seventeen.
But there is a scarcely calculable amount of vitality
in the Opposition to the paper duties; so that,
after all the heads of the hydra had been lopped
off, one after another—lo ! and behold there was
yet one more (a very small one—one in no respect
by any means formidable), sprouting forth last
evening from the yet almost raw and bleeding, and
apparently fatal wound, inflicted by that deadly
master-stroke of " Seventeen." However—as we
have remarked—the matter yesterday was settled
for once in a manner the most off-hand, summary,
and we will try to believe now, conclusive.
Accepting the decision of last night as conclusive,
there still remains, however, after the Question of
Paper—the Question of Rags. And certainly we are
not far wrong when we assert quite plainly in
regard to these two Questions, that the general
impression, the almost universal impression in
this country is, that in the matter of Rags and
Paper Mr. COBDEN has blundered wofully in his
negotiation of the French Commercial Treaty.
The popular impression in this matter may be
erroneous. But that has yet to be demonstrated.
We shall be heartily glad if it can be so demon-
strated.
And it is precisely because we want to
hear what
turn forthwith to hisarpel
Mr- COBDEN has to say in ex-
planation that we
one can of course speak
solicitous for his re-
ace in Parliament. No
with
the authority that
he can in respect to
everything relating
to the Commercial Treaty : he hi
mself having
been chiefly and primarily the means of calling it
into existence. It is simply a question of figures
that the House wants to have decided—it is purely ,
a matter of calculation. Is there this blunder?
Fins Mr. COBDEN been guilty here of this egregious
oversight ? It looks uncommonly like it. We
cannot in any way understand at this moment how
it can be otherwise than as we actually see it. Yet
it is the nation, it is the House that may
in g all this
these gloomy
Mr, be labour-
while under an error in cherishing
anticipations. We want the in-
quiry plainly
put to
- r. COBDEN himself, as the
responsible negotiator of the
Commercial Treaty--
we want the query put to him in his place in the
House of Commons. And we want to listen there
to what lie—the fittest person of all to speak in
this matter—has to say in the way of
explanation.
Abolished the Customs and Excise duties upon
paper—will not our . own paper. manufacturers i

here in England be placed forthwith at a glaring
disadvantage as compared with the foreign paper-
manufacturers? The belief is that—by reason of
the continental nations imposing an export duty
upon rags amounting in the average to £9 per ton
—our English paper - manufacturers will to
placed at an immense and obvious disad-
vantage. Mr. COBDEN may' have some
arguments stowed away in that wonderful brain of
his, that may prove to absolute demonstration the
fallacy of this wide-spread opinion. If so, let him,
in the name of fortune, hasten homewards with all
convenient despatch, and from his old:familiar post
below the gangway upon the Ministerial side of
the House, dissipate into thin air, by a few words
of his masterful common-sense, by a few "passes"
with his potent forefinger—these delusive and
lugubrious misapprehensions.

A simple communication from a minister of reli-
gion, who has recently left England for Jamaica,
is really well worth more attention than a mere
publishing of the letter. It gives one little fact,
which fact, however, seems capable of indefinite
repetition. Sir JOSEPH PAXTON said of his plan
for building the Crystal Palace, that it was a series
of repetitions of one large greenhouse. And may
we not say of cotton cultivation in Jamaica, that to
supply Manchester from thence would be but to
obtain a series of repetitions of the missionary's

garden experiment.
On the 9th of March, he writes, that, only six
months previously, he took out with him some cotton
seeds; and, by the time he wrote, he had three
bags of beautiful cotton in his possession. We are
accustomed to hear so much of the elaborate sys-
tem of cotton cultivation in America, that we think
of it as almost a mystery ; something certainly not
to be done off-hand and informally. Yet, for ought
we can see, there is nothing to prevent every negro
in Jamaica who lives in a suitable locality,from be-
coming at once a cotton grower, and supplying
forthwith the loss, should it occur, of the past
American crop. One would think all Liverpool
and Manchester would prick up. its ears at
the following statement :—" Although I am a
Minister of the Gospel who had not be-
stowed an hour's thought on cotton culti-
vation till I met you in Manchester, not a year
ago, I think I could now grow cotton as well as any
American slaveholdEr• It is the simplest thing
imaginable in this colony, at any rate ; a delicate
London lady could manage the whole affair.
Scratch the grass off the surface of your garden
with a nice hoe ; make a hole with your walking-
stick, or the heel of your boot, deposit the seed,
and in three or four months your wife and little
ones, basket in hand, will start out to the ' pick-
ing' with as much delight as ever an English
mother and her little daughters went to gather
roses or gooseberries. My dear boy, who is not
three years of age, is a capital picker."
The plant seems to be exceedingly beautiful,
while flowering and blooming it was quite an
ornament to our missionary's garden, and he ex-
presses the wish that he could persuade 50,000
British families to come out with him and grow
this beautiful and valuable plant." It may be hoped
that Mr. FLETCHER'S example, on the island will
be contagious. The -negroes readily follow the
lead of their religious teachers, and if other mis-
sionaries take the same course, it might be to cotton
growing in Jamaica, what Father MATHEW'S
example and influence were on behalf of temper-
ance in Ireland; nor would it be unworthy
of their sacred calling, for putting the
people into the way of an honourable
and profitable industry would be doing much
towards making them steady and respectable
Christians. Unsettled and indolent habits are at
least unfavourable to religion. So favourable is the
soil and climate of the island to the production of
cotton, that the Jamaica Cotton Company received
by the last packet foety samples of very superior
cotton picked from stray trees on different estates
in the eastern part of the Island; four of them

the largest and best, were sent by ladies. Wha

with India, Jamaica, and all our tropical possessions,
it will be a disgrace indeed to us if we cannot save
the operatives of Lancashire from ever wanting
cotton to spin and weave.

DISCONTINUANCE OF SECOND MONTHLY MAIL
TO CHINA.—The second monthly mail to Penang, Singa-
pore, and China, viz., that now despatched via Southamp-
ton on the 20th and via Marseilles on the 26th of the
month, will be discontinued after the month of Jane next.
Commencing with July, therefore, the mails for Penang,
Singapore, and China will only be forwarded via South-
ampton on the 4th and via Marseilles on the 10th of eaeh
month.—By command of the Postmaster-General. Row-
LAND HILL, Secretary.

FRANCE, SYRIA, AND ENGLAND.—The Indepen-
dance Beige says :—" A report of great importance was cur-
rent yesterday in Paris. The Government, it is said, with
a view to develope the moral resources of France and to
enlist auxiliaries against the clergy, intends to complete its
decree of the 22d of November, 1860, by a series of measures
which will modify in a liberal sense the laws on the Press.
Another rumour statesthat a treaty offensive and defensive
has been concluded between France and Italy, which will
lead to the renewal of diplomatic relations between both
countries. The discussion on the occupation of Syria is to
come on on Monday next. Whatever be the result, it is
doubtful whether it will have much influence on the reso-
lutions of the Government, which is bound by its engage-
ments to England, and if the latter Power insists on their
being fulfilled, France must either comply or assume the
responsibility of whatever consequences may arise. The
proposal of a joint occupation by France, England, and Sar-
dinia, having been rejected in London, it is said that the
French will not retire—that they will remain at Beyrout
and in the Labanon—that the English will occupy St. Joan
d'Acre with 8,000 troops drawn from Malta, and that a
communication to this effect was made yesterday by Lord
Cowley to M. Thouvenel."
CENSUS RETURNS.—The result of the census for
Newcastle-on-Tyne has been published. The total of the
population is 109,000. In 1851 the population was 90,156
and in 1841 the numbers were 71,850. These returns are,
exclusive of the-census of the river, which is taken by the
Customs, and whioh is not published. The most re-
markable increase in the numbers of the popu-
lation is in the parish of Elswick, in which Sir W.
Armstrong and Co.'s ordnance and engine works are
situated. In 1851 the population of this parish was 3,539.
This year the population is 14,345; and in Westgate, where
many of the men employed in Messrs. It. Stephenson and
Co.'s and in Messrs. Hawthorn's works live, there is a
population of 21,225, as against 16,477 in 1851. In this
latter parish, however, there has also been a large increase
in the number of respectable houses since 1851. In the
parishes of St. Nichol s and St. John's, where extensive
building improvements have been the means of Blearing
away a number of wretched tenements, infamous in cholera
annals, there is a falling off in the population; but in the
parish of All Saints, where a number of rookeries were
cleared away by the great fire, the population has increased
from 26,117 to 29,490. The following is the result of the
Census for the city of Canterbury :—Males, 10,545 ;
females, 10,778—total, 21,323. Houses—inhabited, 3,921;
uninhabited, 120 ; building, 25. Increase of population as
compared with 1851, 3,120.
THE OPERATIVE SHOEING SMITHS.—Last night
a numerously attended meeting, convened by circular by
the Amalgamated Society of Farriers, was held in Soho
Theatre, Dean-street, Soho-square, to protest against the
introduction into the trade of horseshoes made by machinery.
Several addresses were made, and it was resolved, " That it
is the opinion of this meeting that the steam-made shoes are
in nowise fit for the animals; therefore they (the operatives)
pledge themselves not to use such shoes in any shape or
form." A resolution was next passed thanking those mas-
ters who had met the men so liberally by adopting the
Saturday early-closing system, after which the meeting
closed with a vote of thanks to the chairman.
ANOTHER RESULT OF THE FRENCH TREATY.—
We published recently an advertisement from the Man
4 Chester Guardian, in which a " gentleman of Lyons" ex •
pressed a desire to form the acquaintance of an English or
Svotch young lady with a view to a matrimonial alliance,
as he expected to be stationed at London for commercial
purposes. This notificatim has called forth another ad-
vertisement in the same journal, which is a favourite " me-
dium" for such announcements, a " young lady of London"
notifying that she is " most desirous to make the acquaint-
ance of a French gentleman wittt view t 9 a fUrther
alliance," 4c,

.A IEST N E WS.

MADRID, MAT 9.
The Correspondencia Autografa of to-day says :
" Spain has at present entered into no engagement
in reference to the annexation of San Domingo.
Slavery, however, is not to be introduced. The
legislation will be the same as that now valid in
the Antilles."

MESSINA, MAY 5 (via Marseilles).
No popular rising has taken place, although one
was expected.
Great uneasiness, however, prevails here.
The troops are encamped outside the town for
fear of being taken by surprise.

NAPLES, MAY 8.

Yesterday about 200 Bourbon soldiers were de-
feated by :the National Guard at a village near
Capua:

They are now surrounded at Caserta Vecchia
and Marroni by the National Guard and a detach-
ment of Bersaglieri.

SERAJEVO, MAY 9.

The town of Niksich has been supplied with pro-
visions according to the arrangements made be-
tween the foreign consuls and the Christian inha-
bitants. The Porte has agreed that the European
oommission shall proceed to the Herzegovina.

:NDIA, CHINA, AND AUSTRALIAN MAILS.
MALTA, MAY, 8, 9.25 P.M.

The Peninsular and Oriental Company's steamer,
with the above mails, has arrived here from
Alexandria.

SOUTHAMPTON, MAY 10.

The Ellora, with the heavy portion of the Bom
bay and Mediterranean mails, arrived off Hurs'
Castle at 11.15 a.m.

COTTON IN AND FROM JAMAICA,

The Rev. Mr. Fletcher, a missionary in Jamaica
connected with the London Missionary Society,
has written a letter to Mr. Hayward of Man-'
chester, dated Chapelton (Clarendon), March 9,
1861, in which he states as follows
You and the cotton supply friends will I doubt
not be gratified to hear that I have now beside me
three bags of what I think you would call a beau-
(a sample of which I herewith send
from the seeds I brought out with me
beau-
tiful
grownt t
sciox o
monthsn
Although I am a minister of the Gospel who
had :not bestowed an hour's thought on cotton
cultivation till I met you in Manchester, not a year
ago, I think I could now grow cotton as well as any
American slaveholder. It is the simplest thing
imaginable in this colony, at any rate ; a delicate
' London lady could manage the whole affair.
Scratch the grass off the surface of your garden
with a nice hoe; make a hole with your walking,:
stick, or the heel of your boot ; deposit the seed,
and in three or four months your wife and little
ones, basket in hand, will start out to the pick.
ing ' with as much delight as ever an English
mother and her little daughters went t) gather
roses or gooseberries. My dear boy, who is not
three years of age, is a capital picker.
The cotton while flowering and blowing is
quits an ornament about our premises—in fact, a
beautiful flower garden with every variety of tint.
To-day the flowers are snow white, to-morrow they
are pink, next day red, and so forth. I wish I
could prevail on 50,000 British families to come to
Jamaica to grow this beautiful and valuable
plant."
This is the very thing which has been so long
wanted in countries hitherto desolated by slavery,
namely, the encouragement and example to the
labouring classes of the white man and his family.
It is evident that Mr. Fletcher does not think that
there is anything degrading in useful labour, and he
brings up his family to delight in it. So long as
everything in the shape of labour was forced from
the black man by the terror of the lash, it could not
be otherwise than ill and reluctantly performed.
Mr. Fletcher has set a noble example to his brother
ministers and their families, and from the general
adoption of this plan we anticipate a rapid improve-
meat is the quality as well as quantity of cotton
thence supplied, as well as a return of general pro-
sperity to the people.
But this is not all ; the last packet brought to the
Jamaica Cotton Company 40 samples of very su-
perior cotton, picked from stray trees, on different
estates in the eastern part of the island. Four of
these samples, the largest and best, were sent by
ladies, who desire to show how well adapted the
climate and soil of their beautiful, but too long ne-
glected, island is to the production of the finest de-
scription of cotton. If, three years ago, the gentle-
men of Manchester could have been induced to fol-
low the example of their intelligent and public-
spirited citizens, Messrs. Thomas Bazley, M.P., and
Thomas Clegg, and to have co-operated with emi-
nent capitalists and experienced men in setting on
foot an example of successful_cultivation of cot-
ton, which would no doubt have been followed out
by West Indian proprietors in general, they might
by this time have • had a million bales of cotton
leveryateThyoweaervferr, evenomt he West Indies. It is not too
now,
if they can spare a little
time for reflection.

* Whether this superficial mode of culture would be
found to answer in the dry or the very wet seasons, or whe-
ther the level lands near Chapelton are adapted for European
settlers, is yet undetermined. Th-it the elevated mountains
on which fine cotton has been grown, are, there can be no
doubt ; or that cotton will pay for good drainage and deep
ploughing.

WELLINGTON REVERSZONARY AN•
ZTUITY ASSURANCE. SOCIETY.

ANNUAL MEETING.

The annual general meeting of the share and policyholders
in this society was held on Wednesday afternoon, at the
head offices, N 0.3, Chatham-place, Blackfriars, for the pur-
pose of receiving the report of the directors for the past year,
and also for election of the directors who retire in accordance
with the deed of settlement.

The chair was occupied by Lord Henry Gordon, chair-
man of the board of directors.

The advertisement calling the meeting having been read,
The CHAIRMAN said he would open the business of the
day by calling upon their manager to read the directors'
report.
Mr. ROE then read the report, which was as follows :
"Your directors have much pleasure to submit to the
shareholders their annual report of the business transacted
during the past year, 1860, and in doing so, they consider
the increased progress of the Society, more particularly
during the latter portion of the year, a source of much con-
gratulation both to the shareholders and also to the mem-
bers assured. The following statement of the proposals
made to the Society during 1860, and of new policies
actually issued, will at once bear out the above remarks.
No. of proposals offered the " First-class" branch,
352 ; Industrial do., 4,102. Amount proposed for
assurance, £118,440. No. of policies actually issued,
in the " First-class " branch, 244 ; " Industrial "
do., 3,523. Amount assured thereunder, £Bl,Bll 165.,
producing new annual income of £3,029 Bs. 4d.,
leavinc, proposals for £36,680 uncompleted ; of
which amount, proposals for assuring £15,530 were de-
clined by your board, and £21,150 was not completed,
chiefly because your boa, d, considering it necessary to
charge extra premiums, the proposers declined to assure.
The average amount of each policy completed in the " First-
class" branch, is £234.

" Your directors have exercised every proper considera-
tion and care in accepting proposals, and when any life
offerel has been found to be other than' select,' an increased
premium,commensurate with the extra risk, hasbeen. charged,
your directors feeling sure that the safety and well-being of
a Life•office depend both upon the class of lives accepted,
and the adequate premiums charged upon those, not abso-
lutely of the select class.
"Your directors beg to offer a few remarks upon the
latter portion of the year 1860, having been more produc-
tive of business than the first part. The reasons were these :
That in April circumstances determined your directors to
discontinue the connexion which had previously existed
with another company, and to give a fair value for certain
assets and policies transferred over to your society, and after
doing so to strengthen the Board by adding to its members
some gentlemen of position and standing, thereby re-esta-
blishing an independent direction, in order to carry on the
Wellington business with increased energy; and at the
same time combined exertions were made in every depart-
ment of the business, more particularly in the agency
branch, and your directors are happy to state that
since these arrangements have been fully completed (vir.
since June last year) the amount of business done has in-
creased in the proportion of 4 to 1, and it must be a source
of great satisfaction to the shareholders to know that the
same ratio of increase is still continuing, so that on the
next occasion of your directors reporting the progress of
1 business, a very much larger result will be shown.
The policy claims during the year have been on a mode-
rate scale as compared with previous years, and consider-
ably under the estimated average, and when the large
increased mortality during the whole of last summer and
autumn in all parts of the kingdom be taken into account,
this may be considered a very favourable feature.
" Evei y assurance claim has been promptly met, and your
board congratulates the shareholders and members upon the
great and widely spread benefits they have been intrumental
in affording to hundreds of families in the hour of bereave-
ment.

" The industrial branch of the business, which was esta-
blished about seven years ago, in order to afford the benefits
of life assurance to the respectable working portion of the
community, has hitherto proved a valuable adjunct to the
general business, and so long as such is the result your
directors consider it advisable to continue this branch.

" Your directors, whilst being resolved to use every legiti-
mate exertion to increase the business of your society, will
not lose sight of the necessary system of economy in its
general working, feeling that this is the surest means of
placing the society on a secure and permanent basis.
" Looking at the operations of the year 1860, your direc-
tors beg to recommend that interest after the rate of £5 per
cent. per annum be paid upon the new share capital of the
society.
" As the time has arrived for the periodical declaration
of bonus upon the participating policies of five years' stand-
ing and lupwards, your directors will (upon the valuation
of the actuary being concluded) call a special meeting for
the purpose of making a report upon the result of such
valuation.

"The following gentlemen having been elected of the
society during the past year—viz.:--Lord Henry Gordon;
Francis Brodigan, Esq. ; Jas. Bancks, Esq. • Sidney Besly,
Esq.; Edward A. Lamb/Esq.; Ponsonby A. Esq.
Col.
William J. Morris • and Robert F. Power, M.D., this
meeting is hereby asked to confirm their election accord-
ingly.
"The following directors retire from the Board by rota-
tion, via.:—Francis Brodigan, Esq. ; Edward A. Lamb,
Esq. ; and Robert F. Power, M.D. ; all of whom being
eligible for re-election, offer themselves accordingly. Henry
Croysdill, Esq., public accountant, of Old Jewry Cham-
bers, City, and S. Bell Carpenter, Esq., accountant, of the
Oriental Bank, City, also retire from the auditorship, and
beg to offer themselves for re-election.
" To conclude,—Your directors feel that they cannot too
strongly impress upon the shareholders, agents, and general
body of policy holders, the great advantages to themselves
of renewed exertions on their part to obtain fresh busluesS
during the present year, and if each policy holder would only
make up his mind to introduce one fresh assurer, your
directors se ould be able upon the next occa-ion to report a
most eetiefactory increase, which, looking even at the pre-
sent p;rogrese,- they Toot cntilleent of being able to osta-
Wi
sh..

The CIIAIRMA.N, in moving the usual resolution for the
adoption of the reprt, said he felt great pleasure in meet
ing the policy-holders that day, because he felt that they
would all agree with him in thinking that the report which
they had read was a most satisfact)ry one. (Hear, hear.)
It was a great pleasure to find that their business was
steadily and rapidly improving, notwithstanding the sharp
competition which now existed for life assm
ances.

The extension of their business he attributed

to the advantages held out by the Wellington to those of
prudent habits, to the energy and activity of the direc-
tors and agents, and the sound basis on which the society
was founded. Looking at the number of new policies that
had been completed during the year just closed, he must
say he felt great pleasure, because it showed a steady and
progressive increase on those of the preceding
year. He sincerely trusted that success would
attend their future efforts, and that at their next annual
meeting he should again have to congratulate them on the
pleasant theme of increased business. lie begged to move
that the report be received and adopted.
Mr. MooRE said he had much pleasure in seconding the
motion of the chairman. The report they had just heard
read was most satisfactory and encouraging, but the
report the directors would have to make to the policy-
holders next year might be made still more interesting
if, in addition to the policies that would come to them by
way of but iness, each policyholder was to introduce one
new assurer. (Cheers.) Each man had his friends, and
from amongst them it did not appear to him a very difficult
matter to persuade one at least to insure his life. Theirs
was a good, sound society, and was well worthy the strongest
recommendation. Another great recommendation that
could be most forcibly urged was that it was not a liti-
gious one, for in their report it would be seen that their law
expenses amounted for the year to just £4 10s. (Hear,
hear.) The name they possessed was a good and strong
one, and he felt satisfied that the society was
equally as good and as strong as its name.
(Hear, hear.) From the many features introduced in
that society, all classes would find their wants
provided for in a most liberal manner, and in a few years
he certainly anticipated that the 'Wellington would stand
second to none amongst the assurance companies in the
United Kingdom. (Hear.)
The Cilikinmsx then put the resolution for the adoption
of the report to the meeting, and declared it carried unani-
mously.

It was then moved—" That the retiring directors,
Francis Brodigan, Esq., Edward A. Lamb, Esq.,
and Robert F. Power, Esq., be re-elected." The
proposer thought the business transacted proved
that they could not get a better set of gentlemen to manage
their affairs than these which they at present possessed, and
therefore he had great pleasure in moving their re-election.
(Cheers.)
The resolution having been seconded, was carried unani-
mously.

Mr. BRODIGAN returned thanks on the part of himself
and colleagues. Their only anxiety was how they could
best serve and further the interests of the society.

Resolutions thanking the manager, the general provincial
superintendent and agents, and the other officers of the
society for their exertions during the past year were agreed
to unanimously, and acknowledged by Mr. Roe, Mr.
Yelland, and other gentlemen.
A vote of thanks to the noble chairman terminated the
proceedings.

The following are the new features of thh society alluded
to by Mr. More :
TEMPORARY SUSPENSION OF PREMIUM. Persons
assured upon the whole life tables, of this society for five
years and upwards, and being unable, from any unforeseen
circumstances, to pay a whole year's premium when it falls
due,—can, by giving 14 days' notice to the directors, and
paying a small fee to the Office,—be allowed credit for
three-fourths of such year's premium, by merely paying
the remaining one-fourth, together with five per cent. in-
terest annually upon the debt, which will be deducted from
the amount of assurance payable at death, and the policy
will still be continued in full force and effect.
EDUCATIONAL ANNUITIES.—A system of annuities
peculiar to this society, by which the means of education is
brought within the reach of all classes, by the payment of
a small quarterly premium for a certain number of years,
at the expiration of which time Vac) annuity becomes pay-
able, regularly every quarter or half-year, to furnish the
p trents with a sum of money to pay the schooling or college
expenses, and to continue till the child attains a certain
age. when it is supposed to leave school or college altogether.
POLICIES PAYABLE DURING LIFETIME OF ASSURED.
—All policies issued on the Participating Tables are made
payable to the assured himself dining his lifetime, without
any increase of premium, by applying the Bonus Profits to
converting the policy into an Endowment Assurance, Pay-.
able at a certain age.
BUILDING SOCIETIES POLICIES.—This branch of till
business has been established, to supersede and remedy the
defects of Building Societies generally, and also to embody
in one simple system the advantages of those
.Societies,
and the security of Life Assurance in connection with them.
FREE POLlClES.—Assurers of seven years standing and
upwards, who may be unable (from unforeseen causes) to
continue their policies, can have their full values secured,
by means of ti ..eqicy, given to them, without any
cliarge.

LAW INTELLIGENCE—(This Day).

VOTTRT OF EXCHEQUER,
(Before the Lord Chief Baron.)
HATCH V. LEWIS. -
This case, which has excited so much interest, was pro-
ceeded with this morning. The principal heads of the case
appeared in The Sun of yesterday.
The first witness called was
Mrs. Hatch, who was examined by Mr. Garth. She
said—l am the wife of the plaintiff, the Rev. Mr. Hatch,
who was chaplain, in 1859, at the Wandsworth House of
Correction. We had an adopted child named Lucy Butler.
In 1859 we advertised for some children for education. In
that year we had a communication with a Mr. and Mrs.
Plummer, and the result was they sent their daughter
Eugenia, who arrived on the 11th of August in that year.
After she had been with us a fortnight her sister, Stephanie,
also came, and on the following day Mrs. Plummer fetched
both her daughters away. Some time after that
my husband received a letter from the Bishop
of Winchester, in the month of October. Lucy
was about eight years old, Eugenia was in her 12th year,
and Stephanie about eight. The letter from the bishop was
dated in the first week of October. I did not see the letter
for some time after it was received. My husband left his
home very shortly after that. He was in great pecuniary
trouble. That was the reason we had the children to help
us. There was an attachment against him from the Gene-
ral Indemnity Insurance Company. He left his home be-
cause he thought he would be arrested. That was on the
28th of October. At the time he left his home he was in a
very disturbed state of mind about his debts—he thought
of nothing else. He was away from home about a fort-
night. I was in constant communication with him all the
time. After that, in November, there was a warrant issued
against him.
Lord Chief Baron—Have you the warrant ?
Mr. Garth—Yes, my lord ; I will put it in.
The warrant having been examined by the magistrate's
clerk, the examination was proceeded with.
My husband surrendered on the 12th of November, at
Ridler's Hotel, in Holborn, on that day. He was to appear
before the magistrates at Wandswcn th Police -court on the
Monday. On the Saturday when he gave himself up to
Mr. Pratts, they first said they would let him go home, but
he was not allowed to do so, but was taken to the police-
station, where he remained till the Monday morning. On
the Sunday I did not know who to go to, but I selected Mr.
Lewis from the Law List, and I saw him at his residence
the same day. I told him of the position of my husband.
I also showed him the letter from the Bishop of Win-
chester. Mr. Lewis looked the papers over, and said—
Sergeant Shee—The letter referred to ought to be read,
as it forms part of the conversation.
The letter addressed by Mr. Plummer to the Bishop of
Winchester, dated Sept. 16, 1859, was r ut in and read. It
complained of the conduct of the Rev. Mr. Hatch towards
his two daughters, Eugenia and Stephanie.
Examination proceeded—l did not know all the contents
of the letter. When Mr. Lewis looked over the papers he
almost immediately said, "'phis case must go to trial."
He afterwards said he must be informed of the facts of the
case, and that he would do his best, and that he would be
down at the Wandsworth Police-court to see the witnesses
before they went into court, and also my husband, but he
did not do so. I and the witnesses were there seen after 9. He
did not come till a little before 10, when he ran in just as the
court opened. He saw my husband for a moment, and said
he would come down and talk with him before he went into
court, but he never did. He seemed in a great hurry. He
did not examine or speak to any of the witnesses. I was to
pay him three guineas. That was the fee he fixed. I did
not go into the police-court. I saw Mr. Lewis after the
examination was over, when he said " You must get bail as
soon as you can." I then paid him the three guineas. I
asked him if he would see the witnesses and talk to them ,
but he said he had to go away. Amongst the witnesses
were my mother, Mrs. Dillon, Miss Howe, the governess,
two female servants, Lucy Hatch, Mr.. Williams, Mr.
Onslow, the governor of the prison, and Mr. Gibb, the
under chaplain. I don't think anything else was
said before my husband was committed to Horsemonger-
lane Gaol. I could not procure tail to the amount of £5OO
and two sureties in £250. I saw my husband in gael. My
husband made complaints about the conduct of Mr. Lewis.
By my husband's directions, I frequently went to Messrs.
Lewis's offices, in Ely-place. The day after my husband
was in gaol I went to Mr. Lewis's, and there I saw Mr.
Lewis senior, whom I wish I had never seen. I told him
my husband wanted to see him immediately, and wished
him to go to Wandsworth and see the witnesses. He pro-
mised t 3 go at once. On my way to Lewis's, I went to Field's,
the detective's office, but he said Field was a fool, and
he would send a better man down to Plummer's, to
get information. Mr. Lewis never went either to my hus-
band or Wandsworth. I saw Mr. Lewis altogether six
times, but I had been to his office about nine times. I saw
Mr. Lewis's brother in Horsem.onger-lane Gaol. It was in
the large visiting room. I did not then know him. Miss
Grove and Mr. Coward were with me. I left Mr. Lewis
with my husband, ;but e teeie
time I went to Ely-place I begged of Mr. Lewis to go and
see my husband and the witnesses. I begged and prayed of
him to go, but he never did. When I found he did not go,
I Ted him if I should bring the witnesses to him, but he
said he could not see them until after be had seen
my husband. I wanted to have Mr. Ballantine to defend
my husband, but Mr. Lewis said that would be very
expensive. I again wished him to see the witnesses, but
he said he could not do so until he had seen my husband.
Some time after Mr. Lewis told me he was going to have Mr.
Ballantine, that the case was in his hands and he would
do the best ha could. Mr. Lewis said he was very lucky in
getting people off. On another occasion, Mr. Lewis said he
could not see the witnesses until after he had a consultation
with Mr. Ballantine. Mr. Lewis said all he wanted
me to do was to get friends to speak as to my
husband's character. I again asked him to see
the witnesses, but he said he would not do eo,
as they ;would not be wanted. I said they would all be in
court, but he said he did not intend to call them, so it would
be taking useless trouble. My adopted daughter never
went with me but on the first Sunday I went to Mr. Lewis.
I told him she was one of the witnesses. He never asked
anything, but told her to go into another room, as he did
not wish her to hear anything. When I heard that Mr.
Lewis was not going to call witnesses, I said, "I wish I
could see Mr. Sergeant Ballantine," He said it would be
irregular, as attorneys always conducted the business with
counsel. Mr. Lewis said my husband was sure to be acquitted,
and that all 1 had to do was to get witnesses as to character.
He said the reason he did not wish to call witnesses was
because Mr.`Ballantine wished to have the last word. On
one occasion when at Mr. Lewis's I saw one of his sons,
and he remarked he had known people to come out of prison
after two years' confinement fatter and better than when
they went in. (Laughter.) I attended the trial at the Old
Bailey with all the witnesses—Miss Howe, the governess,
Airs. Dillon, Lucy Hatch, my two servants, and nearly 100
witnesses as to character. I saw Mr. Lewis hurrying by
me in the passage. I said, " Mr. Lewis, will you speak
to the witnesses." He said " They could all go
home again as they would not be wanted." I
told Mr. Lewis I had something important to coramuni-
site to him, but he said, "Don't bother me, you must not
interfere with me." I was not in court during the trial,
but I waited outside. I was present at the trial of Eugenia
Plummer when she was tried for perjury. I saw Mr.
Lewis. He first held out his hand to me, and he said I hey*
just been in court to do you a service. I asked him what
it was, and he said he had been in to tell them it was all
Mr. Ballantine's fault the witnesses were not called on the
.first trial. After my husband was convicted Mr. Lewis
said to me " Well, Mrs. Hatch, if he is guilty we must pray
God to forgive him." I said, "he is not guilty." All I
said at the trial of Eugenia Plummer was true.
Cross-examined by Sergeant Shee—l was married to my
husband in 1849, in Australia. We did not remain there
more than a year after. From that time, until this unfor-
tunate occurrence, we have lived happily together. He
never hid any secrets from me. 1 recollect Mr. Hatch re-
ceiving a letter from the bishop, I had no knowledge that
anything oppressed his mind but money matters. When
the letter arrived we were at breakfast. He did not show
it to me. I asked what it was, he said a letter from the
bishop. I pressed him to show me the letter, and in a few
minutes after he handed it to me. I could not make it out.
I knew of no charge against him. He never told me
of the contents of the letter of Mr. Plummer to the bishop for
a long time ; he said he did not like to tell me. Until he was
apprehended he never asked any body if they recollected
what passed when Mrs. Plummer left the house: I cannot
remember when he first asked if anybody recollected what
took place while Mrs. Plummer was there. Never until
the 12th of November. He never asked me or anybody if
they recollected anything about what passed in the garden
after Mrs. Plummer had left her daughter Eugenia. Mr.
Hatch surrendered on the 12th of November. He said he
• eild not tell me the cause of his arrest. He told me no-
thing about walking about the garden with the children, or
asked if 1 recollected anything. We All knew what
occurred. Mr. Hatch left his home on the 28th October,
and up to that time he did not seem to think
anything about this case.
I saw him, after he left, at Pop-
lar. He did not seem to think much about the charge of Mrs.
Plummer; his money affairs seemed to affect him the most.
A discussion here arose with respect to the production of
a copy of the letter of Mrs. Hatch to Mrs. Plummer, which
was handed to Sergeant Shee. It was dated the 28th of
October, and appealed to Mrs. Plummer in the strongest
terms to forgive Mr. Hatch, as what had occurred had
driven him distracted from his home,
Cross-examined—lsaw him before he left; he said he did
not know where he was going, but he said he would write
to me. I will swear I did not see him at Plummer's. It is
true Eugenia Plummer came to our bed every morning ac-
cording to the wish of her (Eugenia's) mother. She cam
in her night dress. I don't recollect that he kissed
her. He has not told me that he had sworn
that he had done so. Ho may have told me, but I
don't recollect now. Eugenia was never in bed with us
for more than two minutes. I will swear she was not under
the counterpa6 upon the bed for a quarter of an hour. I
will swear Eugenia did not lay on the counterpane with
Mr. Hatch whilst I washed Lucy of a morning. I Will
swear the girl was no: in the bed more than two or three,
minutes at a time, and that was only to please the mother,
Will tiwor it W t‘A giziAlttcN 91 R clAtirte; vf l 3 hour,

If I had called the maid she would have- known a grown
up girl was in our bed. Mrs. Dillon would have known it.
When the case was tried it rested on the statement of
Eugenia Plummer, but it ought not to have done
so. Mr. Hatch never told me the details of the
case. The papers my husband gave me I gave
to Mr. Lewis. I did not read them. I will swear that
while he was at Poplar he did not have Lucy Hatch two or
three days with him to talk the matter over. • Lucy Hatch
is in attendance in this court. When I saw Mr. Lewis at
Wandsworth Police-court it was very late. Mr. Lewis
never told me on that occasion he would go into court and
read the paper Mr. Hatch had sent him quietly. I don't
recollect the date when Sergeant Ballantine was first re-
tained. We never had any difficulty about getting funds
to carry on the trial.
Re-examined by Mr. Garth—When Mrs. Plummer
brought her daughter to us she said her children had been
used to be greatly petted, and that they had formerly been
at the Rev. Mr. Bright's. Mrs. Plummer asked me to let
the children lay on the bed in the morning, and the fear of
losing the children made us consent to such an arrange-
ment, although we did not like it. I recollect when Mrs.
Plummer left Wandsworth, Mr. Hatch, Eugenia, and Lucy
followed the fly. I was at the window with Mrs. Dillon
and several others. We could see them distinctly as they
returned.

Mr. Sergeant Shee objected to the line of examination.
They ware not now trying the guilt or innocence of Mr.
Hatch.
The Lord Chief Baron thought the learned counsel for f
the plaintiff mist confine himself to the case before the
Court.

Mr. Garth said he was only re-examining the witness in
the points alluded to by Sergeant Shee in his cross-exami-
nation. He was going to ask if certain 'witnesses were exa-
mined at the former trial.
The Lord Chief Baron—That is perfectly unimportant.
We cannot re-try the case of Mr. Hatch and Eugenia
Plummer. The only question we have to try is whether
Mr. Lewis at the trial exercised a sound discretion in what
he did.

Mr. Garth—We want to show what his witnesses would
have proved.
The Lord Chief Baron—That is quite another question.
Lucy Harriet Hatch, examined by Mr. Gordon Allen
lam nine years of age. Some time beforo November,
1859, I was adopted by Mr. and Mrs. Hatch. I always
called them papa and mamma. I recollect Eugenia Plum-
mor coming to Mr. Hatch's. I was there when Stephanie
came, and also up to the time they were taken away by her
mamma. I recollect a fly coming to take the Misses Plum..

mer away.
Lord Chief Baron—What do you intend to prove by this
witness ?
Mr. Allen—What the witness would have proved.
Lord Chief Baron—That is quite immaterial. We have
to try the question whether Mr. Lewis exercised a wise
discretion.
Mr. Sergeant Shee said he should object to having the
whole of the former trials gone through. The witness was
examined before the magistrate, and what she stated was
laid before the judges.
The Lord Chief Baron—l will consult the judges if you
doubt the course I am pursuing.
Mr. Sergeant Shee—l don't attempt to fix the guilt of
the charge on Mr. Hatch.
Mr. Garth—We want to show that had Mr. Lewis ob-
tained proper information from the witnesses in attendance
to give evidence the case would have been very different.
The Lore Chief Baron—l will consult my brother judges
on the point as to whether counsel can ask the witnesses the
nature of the evidence they would have given Mr. Lewis,
supposing he had asked.
After a short absence his Lordship returned and said the
judges thought the learned counsel could proceed in the
way he proposed.
The witness was then examined at great length, but in
effect it was merely a repetition of the facts of this case as
far as she was concerned, with which the public are already
familiar.
The case will occupy some days.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.—(This Day.)

MARLBOROUGH-STREET.

STEALING A LADY'S PURSE.—CLEV;;
Edward Malony, a well-dressed young man, described as a
cigar maker, from the neighbourhood of Brick-lane, was
charged before Mr. Yardley with stealing a purse from a
lady named Mellin, residing at 16, Tichborne-street, Hay-
market, and who has just arrived from Germany.
Serjeant Cole, 23 C, a very active officer, said—Yesterday
afternoon, about half-past three, I was in Oxford-street,
near the Circus, and having seen the prisoner walking
about that afternoon I watched him, and saw him feel the
outsides of several ladies' pockets, and afterwards near 118,
Regent-street, I saw him put his left hand into the ptose-
cutrix's pocket and take out the purse produced. The pri-
soner then rata across the road, and emptied the purse into
^^l,^4-. nna while doing. so I came un he lana
seized him. The prisoner then gave him the purse, saying
" Here it is." I then took him to the station, and on
searching him found £1 16s. on him, and at the station a
Prussian thaler was picked up behind some constables' capes
which the prisoner had no doubt thrown there, and which
was identified by Mrs. Mellin. I also found in the purse
a shop bill of some goods Mrs. Mellin had just bought.
Mrs. Margaret Mellin, of 16, Tichborne-street, having
identified the purse and Prussian coin,

The prisoner, whose debut it evidently was, and who
cried nearly the whole of the time the evidence was being
taken, said he was guilty, and was oommitted by Mr.
Yardley, who said he would assume it was his first offences
for 6 months, with hard labour.

• % :14.--*
•
A-A

THE SUN.