The Sun.
London, England, 1857-03-20 00:00:00

COLONIAL.

TEA—Tho market bass rather heavy appearance and very
little has been done privately. At public sale full average
prices were obtained for most qualities. Good common
Congou is quoted is Old to is Oid. per lb.
SUGARS—Holders of this article continue to demand full
rates, and do not press sales ; consequently business has
been limited. At the Dutch company's public sale an ad-
vance of 11 to 2 guilders took place in most descriptions,
but no corresponding improvement may be quoted here.
in the refined market there is very little doing and prices
ruled at former values.

COFFEE.—The stocks on hand being very limited prices
are fully supported for both Plantation and Native Ceylon.
Large arrivals are, however, shortly expected, when prices
will ro doubt recede.
RlCE.—There has been an active demand for all quali-
ties at full rates, and fine Bengals sold readily at a slight
advance.

Rum.—A. strong demand, with full rates current.
SPICES.—There has been a good demand for most de-
scriptions of spices, and full prices are obtained for pepper,
pimento, ginger, and nutmegs.
COCHINEAL.—There has been a very limited business
transacted in this article, and sorts have receded about
14 per lb.
SALTPETRE.--The demand is less active, with a declining
tendebcy in prices.
TALLOW.—The market rulcs very firm with lood de.
tuand. P.Y.C. tie (-motel ;1,6 high
~s
3d per cwt., aLd fur later delivery, t-`2,3 to i",2s .t 3
per cwt.
69s

just published it
ENORMOUS EXPENSES IN BANKRUPTCY•—By a return
appears that of 1,978,325/. 2s. 9d.,
collected in 2133 cases, the sum expended in the collec-
tion and administration of the assets was no less than
628,2204 160, 11d.

ROYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTI-

TUTION.

Yesterday the annual rat eting of the fiends and
supporters of th's truly philanthropic institudon
was held at the London Tavern ; the Duke of
Northumberlan 1, K.G., president of the society,
in the chair. The meeting was numerously and in-
fluentially attended, and amougbt the principal
gentlemen present we observed :—Admiral Earl
Talbot, Admiral Sir Thom is Cociirane, Admiral
Deacon, Gen. Blanchard, C. 8., Capt. Hall, RN.,
Captain Halsted, R.N.' Captain Plane, Capt. Bul-
lock, R.N., Capt. Lean,
C-ti,t. Sulivan,
R.N., U 8., Capt. Robertson, Capt. Grant, Capt.
Shepherd, N.C.S:, clabuty-master of the Trinity-
house, Capt. Raven, R.N., Capt. Redman Capt.
Washington, R.N., F.RS., Mr. Thomas Baring,
M. P., Mr. Thom is Chapman, F RS., Mr. Mon_
tague Gore, Mr. W lliani Cotton, Mr. J D. Powlen,
Mr. Edward Hurry, Mr. B. Hebeler, Prussian.
consul general, Mr. A. W. Ribarts, Mr. John Wil-
son, Mr. H. J. Vardon, Capt.. Ellerby, Trinity_
house, Mr. Joseph Reynolds, Captain Lambert
Perrott, Capt. Ward, R.N.,

The noble CHAIRMAN opened the proceedings by
expressing his gratification at the great success
which had attended the important operations of the
institution during the past year, and after dwelling
in appropriate remarks on the facts disclosed in the
report, called on the secretary (Mr. Lewis) to read
the annual report.
The SECRETARY (Mr. R. Lewis) then road the
annual report :—" During the past year new life
boats had been built by the institution for Drog-
heda and Dundrum Bay in Ireland ; and for Dun-
geness, Padstow, Bideford, Walmer, and Hornsea,
on the Engli-h coasts ; whilst ethers are in course
of construction for Arklow, Cdhore,
Youglial, and Ballycotton in Ireland, for Camber
in SusiFex, for Seaton Carew in Durham, and for
Penmon in the Island of Auglesea. Boats were

also ready to be furnished to Westport and to Wick-
low in Ireland. Life-boat carriages and boat houses
had also been built for all of the above statims
which required them, the total number of life-boats
lielonging to the society now being 58. The life-
boats belonging to, and in connection with, the in-

latitution, had since the last report saved the crews,
consisting of 126 persons, of 16 wrecks, and bad
proceeded to the assistance of many other vessels in
reply to sigwils of distress. From the return of the
wrecks and casualties which occurred on the coasts
of the United Kingdom during the present year,
presented by the Board of Trade to Parli7ment, it
appealed that the to•at number of wrecks in that

period was 1,153. The less of lives from shipwreck
during the same period was 521. Although this
number was considerably less than had occurred in
previous years, with the exception of the year 1855,
when the number was 469, it was yet lament-
ably large ; and the committee felt persuaded
that in future years, if the present vigorous
exertions that were now being made were sustained
and increaied, this loss of human life on our coasts
syould he st ll further considerably reduced. The
number of lives saved from shipwreck had been
unprecedeutedly large, 2,243 shipwrecked persons
having been rescued by life-boats, shore-boats, and
other means. During the past year the institution
hat awarded 21 silver medals, and 48 honorary
testimonials inscribed on vellum. It has also voted
4621. in pecuniary rewards to persons who had
saved the lives of 473 persons from wreck. S;nce
the ef•tahlishment of the institution in 1824, 79
gold medallions and 577 r medals for distin-
guisbed servicts had been voted by it for saving
life, besides pecuniary rew:rds, amounting together
to 10,1211. From the financial statement of the
income and expenditure of the institution during
the past year it appeared that 2,6371. had been
expended in the building, repairing, fittings, and
exercising of life-boats, 1,053/. on lrfv-brat ow-
! ilges, 6901. on life-beat houses, 4901. on rewards
and medals for saving life from shipwreck, these
being the principal and legitimate objects of the
institution. D►e total expenditure having been

5,7101., while :he receipts of the society, exciusive
of the grants of 2,2161. 13s. 2d. from the Board of
Trade, had heen_2,767l. The 1 ahilities of the in-

stitution for life-boat., tarziagts, and b,at-houses
were still 2,7601. The committee drew attent on

to the three gifts of a special character during the
past year to the institution. The first was that of
1601. 17s , the cost nf fiat-class life-boat, contri-
buted by some members of the Ruyal Thames Y. C.
This life-boat had been statione-t at Walmer, near
Deal. She had already rescued during a dark tem-
pestuous night, opt the sth Jan. las., 15 persons
from the barque Reliance of Lon'lon. The second
was that of 1501., being the value of a life-boat ft mu
a previous• liberal contributor to tht institution,
Mrs. Ann Wood, of Eltham. This life-boat was
st•ii ioned at Horusea, belt Hull. The third was
ttit.t of 1807., being the cast of a first-class life-boat,
her gear, and life-belts for her crew, from Mr. W.
AVlCerrell, of Hillhouse."

On the- motion of Admiral the Earl TALBOT,
seconded by Mr. MONTAGUE GORE, the report was
unanimously adopted.
Various resolutions, pledging the meeting to re-
newed exertions on behalf of the truly benevolent
objects of the institution, thanking the Board of
Trade, the Coast Guard, and the Local Life-boat
COMmit'ees fur thpir valuable co-operation with
the institution, we moved and seconded by Admi-
ral Sir T. Cochrane, Mr. Wm. Cotton, Capt. Wash-
ing on, R.N., Mr. J. D. Powles, Mr. T. Baring,
M.P., Mr. Thos. Chapman, F.R.S., Capt. Hals'ed,
R.N., and Capt. Raven. The usual complimmtary
thanks having been given to the noble chairman,
dud the same having been briefly acknowledged,
the proceedings, which were of an unusually inte-
re:ting character, closed.