The Sun.
London, England, 1861-03-27 00:00:00

s. d. s. d.
Presentvalue of office pr,emiums 440,554 4 0
Leas value of offide inatgin.... 85,359 rig-

~ ~:.,

255,194 12 0
Bankers' balances, Government stocks, and
other Securities, as per audited account .. 114, 68r1 1 8

£469,880- 13 8

The CIIIIRMIN said he had great pleasure-in meeting
the policy holder's that afternoon, but the gratification
would have been heightened had there beetr-a greater
attendance on the part of 3,000 poliek holders; who, each
and all, had an interest in the success °rale society'? But,
although the attendance was somewhat limited, he looked
upon it as a circumstance that showed the great confidence
reposed in the directors. Had there been anything to com-
plain of or wrong in their proceedings there would have
been a very large attendemee, but as everything was so ex-
ceedingly satisfactory the policy holders were content to let
the directors continue their exertions undisturbed. (Hear,
hear.) He had to congratulate them in the first place on
the amount of business transacted during the year, for
during that period .they had issued no less than 395 new
policies, a number far greater than they had succeeded
in obtaining in either of the preceding years.
The annual income of the society, as.a nature,
consequence, also had greatly increased, and as
long as that happy state of things continued there
could be no liMit to their prosperity. .Another .matter of
congratulation Was the small number of deaths that had
occurred amongst the" assurers in the Reliance Association;
it was a very great deal below the number calculated upon,
and the assurers, he was certain, would agree with him,
when he said it showed the great care taken by the* medical
officers to introduce none but, gpod lives into their offices.
(Hear, hear.) Among the deaths that had occurred since
they last met, a gentleman of-the greatest ability had been
taken from amongst them. He alluded to the late Dr.
Rowe—(hear, hear)—and he could net pass over that event
without giving expression to the deep regret the board of
directors felt for the loss of so able a colleague. (Hear,
hear.) The society, as all the assured knew, divided their
profits in the shape of bonuses triennially ; they
divided a bonus in 1858, consequently next year,
1861, the sum to be divided (after a prudent
reserve) would then amount to more than £20,000.
(Hear, hear.) The society have secured the services of a
body of energetic agents, but much might be done to in-
crease the success which now happily attended their efforts
if the assurers themselves were to agitate the subject of
life assurance amongst their friends and acquaintances ; he
thought a man was conferring the greatest benefit on his
fellowman in persuading him to make a provision for those
near and dear to him, when, as in the ordinary course of
things, he had paid .the debt of nature. (Hear, hear.)
The society had increased their agencies in Edinburgh,
Glasgow, and Wales, and he hoped that the policy holders
would second the exertions of the directors. (Hear, hear.)
He did not think he need detain them with any lengthened
explanations with respect to the accounts. They were
already set forth, and he. saw the paper in the hands of
every gentleman in the room ;
,in the event, however, of
any explanation being required, he should only be too
happy to give any information in his power. He would
therefore resume his seat by moving that the report sub-
I mitted by the directors be adopted.

Mr. A. C. VELEY thought the very small sum set down
as law charges showed clearly the society was not at all
litigious. (Hear, hear, and laughter.) He had very great
pleasure in seconding the motion of the chairman.
The resolution was then formally put to the meeting,
and carried unanimously.

Resolutions passing and approving of the accounts were
also agreed to unanimously.

The retiring directors—John James, and John W. Lay,
Eggs., Major Skinner, R.A., and the Rev. Arthur Pearson,
M.A.—were re-elected.

Major SKINNER returned thanks.
Charles Phelps, Esq., and J. T. Abdy, Esq., were elected
auditors for the ensuing year.
A resolution thanking the directors for their exertions
during the past year was carried unanimously, and acknow-
ledged by

The CHAIRMAN, who, in the course of his remarks, paid
a high compliment to Mr. Osborne Smith and Mr. Butler.
He said a more able actuary than the first named gentle-
man, or a more zealous and energetic secretary than Mr.
Butler, was not possessed by any office in London. (Cheers.)
They had a capital working staff of officers, and an active
body of agents ; and, that being the case, he did not think,
as they had all contributed so much to the success of the
society, the meeting could do better than recognise the
fact by an unanimous vote of thanks to all those gentle-
men.

A resolution to that effect was carried unanimously.
Mr. SMITH and Mr. BUTLER gracefully acknowledged
the compliment.

Thanks were also voted to the medical officers and to the
chairman, after which the meeting terminated.

A DETERMINED *SUICIDE.—A singular suicide
was committed on Sunday by a workman, fifty years of
age, of the Boulevard de Grenelle. He was found hanging
dead by the neck near his window, and on a table was a
paper announcing that he intended to put himself to death
on account of domestic sorrows, and these singular lines
were added to the announcement :--‘, The rope has broken
before strangulation was effected, and lam still alive. I
will go to bed for awhile to gain strength, and then I hope
that I shall complete my job." The rope by which the
man was hanbing being a little old was found to have
broken, no doubt beneath his weight, but it had been tied
together again, and strengthened by having his braces
wound round it,—GaAfnani.