The Sun.
London, England, 1844-05-23 00:00:00

GENERAL TOM THUMB (for a few days
longer), the American Dwarf, under the especial patronage
of her ➢iajesty and the Royal Eamily, exhibiting every Day and
Evening, previous to visiting Paris, in'CATLIN'S spacious INDIAN
GALLERY, EGYPTIAN HALL, Piccadilly, from Eleven to One,
Ilalf-past Two to. Five,• and from Seven to Nine o'clock, giving
illustrations of Napoleon, the Grecian Statues, Singing, Dancing, &c.
This wonderful nitutinininiature.weighs only FIFTEEN POUNDS,
and is smaller than any infant that ever walked alone. The elegant
presents from her Majesty and the Queen Dowager may be also seen.
The General wears his Uourt Dress daily at Half-past Twelve.
The General continues to wait on the Nobility and Gentry on due
notice.

Admission One Shilling.
The General has nover appeared on the stage of the Haymarket
Theatre as has been represented.

DISEASED AND HEALTHY LIVES
ASSURED.

Th/EEDICAL, INVALID, and GENERAL LIFE
1. OFFICE, 25, PALL.MALL, LONDON.

TRUSTEES.
Charles Hopkinson, Esq., Regent-street.
Sir Thomas Phillips, Temple.
Alfred Waddilove, D.C.L., Doctors' Commons::
DIRECTORS.

Edward Doubleday, Esq., 249, C. Richardson, Esq., 19, Bru-
Great Surrey-street. ton-street, Berkeley-square.
George Gun Hay, Esq , 127, Thomas Stevenson,Esq.,F.S.A.,
Sloane street. 37, Upper Grosvenor-street.
J. Parkinson, Esq., F.A.S., 80, Robert Bentley Todd, M.D.,
Cambridge.terrace, Hyde-park. E.R.S., 26,Parliament.street.
Benjamin Phillips, Esq., F.R.S., Alfred Waddilove, D.C.L.,
17, Wimpole-street. I Doctors' Commons.
AITDITORS.

John Pursord, Esq., 7, York. IJ. Stirling Taylor, Esq
terrace, Regent's-park. 14, Upper Gloucester-place,
Joseph Radford, Esq., 27, Dorset.square.
Cambridge. terrace, Hyde- I Martial L. Welch, Esq.. Wynd-
park. I ham.place Bryanston-square.
STANDING COUNSEL—John Shapter, Esq., Lincoln's Inn.
BANKERS—Messrs. C. Hopkinson and Co., Regent-street.

SOLICITORS—Messrs. Richardson and Smith, 28, Golden-square.
DEPARTMENT OF MEDICAL STATISTICS—WiIIiaM Farr, Esc].,
General Register Office.
ACTUARY—F. G. P. Neison, Esq.

This Office is provided with very accurately constructed tables,
by which it can assure unsound lives on equitable terms.
Similar tables enable the Society to grant increased annuities on
unsound lives, the amount varying with the particular disease.
Members of consumptive families assured at equitable rates.
Healthy lives are assured on lower terms than at most ether
offices.

The first Life Assurance Society eommenced business in 1705,
and the principles of life contingencies, understood at that time to
a very limited extent only, have repeatedly undergone important
changes and improvements; but till the establishment of this So-
ciety in 1841 no attempt had ever been made to assure the lives of
persons who suffer from disease.
The science of statistics has only within a recent period been
successfully applied to the duration and mortality of disease, and
hence tables on the probability of these results could not have been
formed; and it would evidently have been unsafe and hazardous
for any society to have undertaken the risk of assuring the lives of
persons afflicted with any particular malady. The statistical in-
formation, however, now collected, and in possession of this office,
is of so great an extent as fully to warrant the extension of life
assurance to such cases, and, in fact, to place the application of life
assurance on diseased lives on a more secure basis than even that
on healthy lives. _ _

It is hoped that while kept clearly in view that this Society, in
common with other offices, will assure the lives of healthy persons,
it is as yet the only one established to assure the lives of persons
labouring under disease; and to this latter feature particular atten.
tion is directed.

In the first place, because it opens a larger field for business than
all other offices can have unitedly; and in the
Second place, because that branch of assurance must, from its
own nature, be less hazardous, and its principles rest on a more
permanent foundation.
These are two highly important facts, and we shall enter into an
explanation of each ; and first, as to the prevalence of disease.

The period of life most important to an assurance office is that be.
twee!) 15-60 years of age, and in the following remarks we refer
exclusively to this period of life.

It will he found that the deaths in the metropolis for the two
years preceding 1842 were, from all causes, 30,518 ; and Irons
consumption alone, 10,688 ; showing that more than one-third of
the total deaths in that period of life takes place from tt.e preva-
lence of a single disease ; and if the same inquiry were instituted
with respect to other diseases, such as asthma, dropsy, diseases of
the head, heart, &c., it would be found that more than one-half
of the whole population would, on medical examination, be refused
admission into an assurance office. If the inquiry be carried to
the principal towns in England, like facts are elicited—in Bir-
mingham, Liverpool and Manchester, the deaths from all causes,
per annum, are about 5,023, while those from consumption are
1,988, forming considerably more than one-third of the whole. The
same thing will be found to hold good in the large towns In Scot-
land, in six of which the deaths in a given period, from all causes,
amounted to 23,078, those from consumption alone to 6,359, and
from six important diseases, 9,754; in the latter case forming snore
than 42 per cent. of the deaths from all causes. On reference to
the returns from the city of Glasgow for 1836-1840 It will be
found that the deaths in that period, from all causes, were 14,107,
from consumption 4,087, and a list of five diseases, 6,423, being
more than 45 per cent. of the deaths from all causes.
The diseases here alluded to are such as exist in general in a
chronic form, frequently for many years prior to death, but which,
on a strict medical examination, would effectually exclude the
persons so affected from the benefits of life assurance ; and since
it thus appears that a majority of the population is included in this
class, the value and importance of the new feature of this society
cannot fail to be justly appreciated.
The second point to be explained is the fact that there Is
much less risk in assuring diseased lives. This is a feature of
paramount and vital importance to the interests of this society, and
deserves to be carefully considered.

The real risk incurred in all assurance transactions consists in
the chance to which an office is liable of experiencing a different
degree of mortality from that expected by the tabjes on which its
caculations are founded. This difference is termed the fluctuation
of mortality, and will be found to be much less among diseased
lives than over the general population, and among selected lives.
The deaths from consumption in the metropolis per annum are
sufficiently near the annual number which takes place in Glasgow,
from all causes, to admit of a comparison, and by reducing the
matter to figures it is found that while the fluctuation per annum
in the latter case is as high as 45 per cent., in the former it is only
9 per cent., or, in other words, the fluctuation of mortality in
consumption was only one.fifth of the other; and in Manchester,
Liverpool, and Birmingham, even with the disadvantage of
smaller numbers, the fluctuation does not exceed 3 per cent.,
showing a remarkable uniformity in the law which determines the
mortality of this disease, and that it is more positive and absolute
in its results than that which regulates the general population.
Consumption has here been selected, not because it was consi-
dered more favourable in its results, but simply on account of the
larger numbers affording a more satisfactory proof of the question
under consideration; but the same test has beets applied to a great
number of other diseases, and like results obtained. Among nine
diseases in the metropolis, including asthma, dropsy, rheumatism,
disease of the liver, of the heart, of the nervous system, &c., the
fluctuation was only 7i per cei.t., anti in five diseases in a different
district the fluctuation was about 7 per cent., while among eleven
in another locality, and even with small numbers, the fluctuation
did not exceed 6.2 per cent. ; and taking the principal towns in
England, including Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham, Leeds,
Sheffield, &c., the fluctuation over eleven of the more important
diseases was 6'4 per cent.
The remarkable uniformity in these results cannot fail to pro.
duce a conviction of the positive character of the law of mortality
in disease; indeed, there seems to be nothing within the whole
range of the doctrine of probabilities so well defined as the snot.
tality of diseased lives. The mortality of the general population
has frequently been referred to by writers as an example of the cer-
tainty of common events, but the preceding remarks must show with
how much greater certainty the mortality of diseased lives can be
depended on.

It is perhaps right to state, that, in applying the test of
fluctuation to disease, it has not been confined to one place or
class of lives, but has been extended to the principal towns in
England and Scotland, as well as to many rural districts in Eng-
land, and included the experience of one or two large societies of
select lives. This has afforded an opportunity of judging of the
effects of locality and its sanatory condition on the duration of
life, and a remarkable fact has thus been developed, viz.,
that the value of life generally is much greater in the coun.
try districts than in large cities; but that of those persons
who suffer from disease the value of life is nearly the same. As
an example of this—the expectation at the age of 90 in the country
districts is 36.7 years; in cities (viz., Glasgow) 27.6 years—diffe-
rence 33 per cent. nearly; but take the case of persons of that
age in whom the conswmptive tendency is developed, and who will
ultimately die of consumption, and their expectation of life in the
counties of Essex, Suffolk, and Norfolk, will be found to be 14.5,
in cities (Glasgow) 14.4, and in the metropolis, Manchester, Bir-
mingham, 13'9 ; difference •017 per cent. (or 1.57 per cent.) It
therefore appears that while the difference between country and
town life in the former case is about 33 per cent., that in the latter
instance (consumption) the difference is almost nothing, and the
results nearly uniform. The same thing holds good with some
other diseases, which have been investigated in this manner. This
fact, although not generally understood, is only what might have
been expected by a careful consideration of the conclusion formerly
arrived at—that the fluctuation of the law of mortality in disease
is confined within a very narrow limit, and consequently little in.
fluenced by external circumstances.
It hence appears that the fluctuation in the mortality of diseased
lives is much less than a.nong select lives and the population gene.
rally, and therefore the risk of assuring diseased lives must also be
less.
To apply this conclusion to the affairs of an assurance office, it
may be stated, that supposing the number of lives in a society,
taking only select lives, was such that the table of mortality would
indicate 100 deaths per annum, it would be necessary to have
always sufficient funds at immediate command to meet 145 deaths;
on the other hand, an office assuring only diseased lives need not
provide for more than 109 deaths per annum; that is to say, the
risk of assuring diseased lives is to that of average lives as 9 to 45,
or only one. fifth. This fact is highly important to the interests of
this Society, and establishes beyond doubt the safety and correctness
of the principles on which it is founded.
For further information, reference is made to the prospectuses
and other published docum'.nts of the Society, which may be ob-
tained, on application at the Society's offices.
F. G. F. NELSON, Actuary.

1)IZ, DICKSON'S IVOI2KS.

FALLACY of the ART of PHYSIC, as
taught in the Schools. Price So.

FALLACIES of the FACULTY,
price 2s. 6,1. _ _ _

People's Edition, enlarged,

" This work has at last been fairly praised and abused into fame.
It is a clever, stimulating, and suggestive book, and the present edi-
tion is considerably enlarged by the accumulation of illustrativo
facts. It is in other respects improved."—Tait's Magazine.
Simpkin and Marshall, 5, Stationers'-court ; J. 011ivicr, 59, Tall-
man ; and all Booksellers.

THE PHYSIOLOGY OF THE, PASSIONS.
" There are passions grateful to the breast,
And yet no friend to life: perhaps they please
Or to excess, and dissipate the soul,
Or while they please, torment."
Elegant pocket edition (20 engravings) price Is., by post Is. 6,1.
THE PHYSIOLOGY OF THE PASSIONS,
their Purport and Control. On Chastity, its abuses and diseases
arising therefrom—on Marriage ; its duties and denials—on infeli-
citous and unproductive unions.—Law of Divorce, &c.
By R. J. CULVERWELL, M.D., Member of the Royal College of
Surgeons, &c.
" But happy they, the happiest of their kind,
Whom gentler stars unite; and in one fate,
Their hearts, their fortunes, and their beings blend."
Sherwood, 23, Paternoster-row ; Carvalho, 147, Fleet-street
Mann, 39, Cornlsill ; and the Author, 21
Strand.
ettill Two; evenings, Seven till Nine.
Arundel-street, lAsttr 63,
ehe Orford-street;

LAMENT ON DEBILITY, NERVOUSNESS, AND ALL
DISORDERS ARISING FROM EXCESS, &c.
" He who in pledsure's downy arras
Ne'er lost his health or youthfulcharms,
A hero lives, and justly can
Exclaim, in me behold a man !"
Susfpublished (in a staled envelope), Tentb Edition, price 2s. ad.,
or sent by post, free, to any address, 35. d.,
SELF-PRESERVATION : a Popular Essay on
those concealed disorders, originating in youthful excesses,
and terminating in Nervous Debility, Local and Constitutional
Weakness, and, all those Sinkings, Anxieties, and Tremors, which
afflict the Weak, the Sedentary, and the Delicate. With Practical
Observations on Marriage, and on the Anatomy, Physiology, and
Diseases of the Reproductive Organs, with plain Directions for
their perfect Restoration
By SAMUEL LAMERT, Consulting surgeon,
9, BEDFORD-STREET, BEDFORD-SQUARE, LONDON,
Matriculated Member of the University of Edinburgh, Honorary
Member of the London Hospital Medical Society, Licentiate of
Apothecary's Hall, London,dc.
" The various positions of Lover, Husband, and Parent, the in-
herent privileges of mankind, are frequently marred and prevented
through the follies and frailties of early Indiscretions. To such,
among others, this Essay addresses itself; and by its perusal many
questions may be satisfactorily adjusted that admit of no appeal even
to the most confidential friend."—Stafford Gazette.
"The design of this work will be tolerably obvious from its title,
and we cordially recommend the author and his book to all who are
suffering from nervous debility and general weakness."—Wakefield
Journal.
Published by the Author, and sold in London by S. Gilbert, 51 and
52, Paternoster-row; Starle, 23, Tichborne.street, Quadrant, Regent
street; Hannay and Co., 63, Oxford-street; Noble, 114, Chancery-
lane; Gordon, 146, Leadeahall-street ; and by all Booksellers.
At home every day till ' h ree and from Five ti Eight.

Just published, price ss. 6d.,
IME VERSUS LIFE.
AR Enigma; attempted to be solved by observation on the
three leading phases of human existence—
YOUTH—MANHOOD—AGE.
[he ill-concealed imprudence of Youth, the irresolution of Manhood
as prematurely heralding the advance of Age—on Indigestion and
Mental Irritation which too surely ripen the seeds of mortality ; also
on the moral cAnmand of the Passions, and on the probable result
when they shall have surrendered to the invasion of error and indis_
cretton, viz.:—Diseases of the Urethra, &c., and on other Disquali-
fications to Marriage.
By ROBERT THOMAS CRUCEFIX, M.D.,
Member of the Royal College of Surgeons of England.
Laneaster_place, Waterloo-bridge, London.
.c Intus et in cute, novi hominem."—PERSIUS.
EXTRACTS FROM TII II PUBLIC PRESS.
Sup.—", The work before us gives in simple and perspicuous terms
such directions for the preservation of health as are most likely to be
serviceable to the conan unity."
BELL'S MESSENGER.—"This is a useful medical work; the best
portion appe.tra to us to be that which treats of the obstruction to
natural functions in the later portion of life. We recommend the
work to our readers as at once scientific and practical."
SUNDAY TIMES.—" Dr. Crucefix has spoken in the Ltnguage of a
scholar, a gentleman, and a friend. The following passage should
be remembered by all who wish for the general good of mankind :
Morality suffers sadly by concealment of what, if known and un-
derstood, would operate as a guard against crime.' "
SATIRIST.—" The large amount of useful information, devoid of
the inctimbrance of pedabitic mystification, favourably distinguishes
this work froin most treatises of the same description."
AGE AND A ROUS.—. It is a work that must he read with interest
by both sexes, and particularly those who are suffering from indi-
gestion and mental irritation, We can honestly recommend the
perusal of it to our readers."
ERA. It is written in a plain and easy style, from which may
be obtained many valuable hints on the method of retaining the in.
estimable b icssing—llealth."
MARK LANE EXPRESS.--" WIIOSO readeth this excellent work
let him ponder it well."
To be had of Sherwood, Gilbert, and Piper, 23, Paternoster-row ;
011ivier, 59, Pall-mall; Onwhyn, 3, Catherine-street, Strand,
London. Price 55. 6d.

DEAFNESS.—From John Sawyer, Esq., of Hay-
wood Lodge, Maidenhead, Berks, to Messrs. S. and B. Solo-
mons, 39, Albemarle-street, Piccadilly. Gentlemen, having
been deaf for some time, I was induced, in the month of No-
vember, 1839, to make trial of your Invisible Voice Conductors,
and, although at my advanced age, at that time past my 77th
year, I had no hope of obtaining any relief, yet immediately I
applied them I could hear the general conversation, and my
hearing has become so much improved by their use, that I can
now hear acutely without their aid. I am, Gentlemen, tour
most obedient servant, J. Sawyer. 211 June, 1842.-1 rum
the late Henry Cowper, Esq., of Tewcn Waters, Herts, to
Messrs, S. and B. Solomons :—Gentlemen, having been deaf
for many years, I was induced to try your Invisible Voice
Conductors. They enable me to hear persons in company,
and at a place of worship most distinctly. The Spectacles and
Handglass which you have sent me are very excellent, and
suit my sight perfectly, the transparency of which is so bril-
liant, that although I have passed my 86th year the 22d of
May last, yet they enable me to read, and by candle-light, with
the greatest ease and comfort to myself. I return you my best
thanks, and remain your obedient servant, Henry Cowper.-
22d June, 1839.—Telescopes, Opera Glases, Microscopes,
&c. of the same kind of Lenses.—Caution.—Messrs. S. and B. So-
lomons, Opticians and Aurists, arc not in any way connected with
a person of the same name in their immediate neighbourhood.
Nor n any part of the country. To prevent mistakes, be cau-
tious, and Observe,—Only to be had at 39, Albemarle-street,
Piccadilly, oppoiite the York Hotel.

NATIONAL BANK OF IRELAND.
The ninth annual general meeting of the Share-
holders in the National Bank of Ireland was held
yesterday, in the Board-room of the Bank, 13,
011 Broad-street.

On the motion of T: LAMIE MURRAY, Esq., J. C.
Ruding Esq., was called to the chair.
We observed that the following Directors and Pro-
prietors were present :—J. C. Ruding, Esq., Chair-
man ;:.T. L. Murray, Esq., Maurice O'Connell, Esq.,
Robert Sutton, jun., Esq., Hon. Colonel Leicester
Stanhope, JaMes Reade, Esq., J. J. Keene, Esq.,
Jphn Rawson, Esq., F. B. Renshaw Esq., Fowler
Newsom, Esq., A. P. Johnson, Esq., W. L. Wheeler,
`Esq.' J. Wheeler, Esq., John Green, Esq. (Wex-
ford), -Charles -Rule Esq., Charles Bianconi, Esq.
(Clonmel); R.:M. Jones, Esq., J. L. Wheeler, Esq.,
„' illiam King, Esq., E. J. Daniell, Esq., Morris
Bixter, Esq., John anson, Esq. (Hitchin), Nicholas
Maher, Esq., M.P., and J. B. Bacon, Esq.
The. CHAIRMAN said he was happy to meet the
Shareholders on this their ninth meeting, and ex-
pressed his regret that it should become his duty to
take the chair in consequence of the unavoidable ab-
sence of the Governor of the Bank, Daniel O'Connell,

icir. N. S. KING, the Secretary, having been called
on by the Chairman, read the advertisement conven-
ing the meeting.
The CHAIRMAN then called upon the Secretary to
read the report, which was accordingly read as
follows :

The Directors of the National Bank of Ireland, in pre-
senting the ninth annual report to the Shareholders,
have to revert to the events which occurred during the
year 1842, and exerted so powerful an influence in mili-
tating against the usual prosperity of the banking inte-
rest generally, by interposing a difficulty in realising
profits equal to those which have been obtained under
more favourable circumstances.

The continued depression in trade, and the consequent
reduction in prices, have co-operated to limit the demand
for the resources of the Bank, and thereby occasioned a
large amount of its means to be diverted from those
channels whence the profits of the Company have usu-
ally been derived in periods of greater prosperity.
The Directors have carefully watched the business
transacted during the past year, and have taken advan-
tage of every opportunity of extending it, where they
considered such extension to be safe and beneficial, and
they feel confident, by a steady perseverance in this
course, together with a constant supervision of the
affairs of the Bank, that the result will prove satisfac-
tory to the Proprietors.
The difficulty of finding employment for money, and
the low rate of interest obtained, induced the Directors
to reduce the annual dividend from 6to 5 per cent. In
adopting this measure their object has been to consult
the best interests of the Proprietors ; at the same time
the Directors have to assure them that from the present
prospects of the Bank, they have a firm reliance on its
increasing prosperity, proportionate to the improvements
that may take place in the trade and commerce of the
country.
The Directors hope that no alteration will be made by
the Government in the laws relating to banking in
Ireland that can have a tendency to limit the amount
of accommodations which the joint-stock banks have at
present the power of affording to the respective interests
in that country, where the absence of private capital
has been one of the chief causes which have obstructed
the development of its resources, and it is therefore the
more necessary that a sound end liberal system of bank-
ing should exist, and that no measures should be
adopted that would deprive the joint-stock banks of the
capability of meeting the requirements of the public, as
the effect would be to oppress the industry of the agri-
cultural and commercial classes.

It now remains for the Directors to lay before the
Proprietors the usual statements of account :
The undivided profits at Dec. 1842,

were £31,316 14 0
Net profits for the year ending
Dec. 1843

49,536 3 4
Deduct half-year's dividend for
Midsummer, 1843 .£10,500
Do. do. do. Christmas 8,750 19'250 0 0
Leaving atiount of qadivided pro-
fits at Dec. 1846; • £30,286 3 4
There are now to be elected six Directors, of whom
four are in the room of A. P. Johnson, Esq., Fowler
Newsom, Esq., T. B. Renshaw, Esq., and S. I'. Rick-
man, Esq., whose seats at the Board arc vacated by ro-
tation, and all of whom (excepting Mr. Rickman, who is
deceased) are candidates for the office, and eligible to be
re-elected; and two in the room of Directors who have
disqualified. J. C. RUDING, Chairman.
The CHAIRMAN moved that the report be received,
adopted, printed, and circulated among the Pro-
prietors.
M. BIANCONI, in seconding the motion, said that
he had great pleasure in finding that the Directors
had been enabled to lay before the meeting such an
agreeable state of their affairs. It was gratifying to
find that so small an amount had been taken from their
rest to pay the dividend. The amount taken from the
rest was much less than, under the circumstances, he
had expected it would have been.
The motion was then pit, and carried unanimously.
Mr. WHEELER then moved that A. P. Johnson,
Esq., Fowler Newsom, Esq., and F. B. Henshaw,
Esq., whose seats at the Board were vacated by rota-
tion, should be re-elected Directors.
The motion having been seconded, and put by the
Chairman, was declared to be carried unanimously.
The CHAIRMAN said it had now become their duty
to elect a Director in the room of S. P. Rickman,
Esq., deceased. Charles Bianconi, of Clonmel, had
been proposed by Edward Brenan, Esq., of Clonmel,
and seconded by Sir Benj. Morris Wall, of Water-
ford. Mr. Bianconi was known to many of them
personally, and to all of them by character. He was
a gentleman of great respectability and great wealth,
and had been the artificer of his own fortune--
(Cheers)—so that he would be likely to watch with
the greatest care over the interests confided to his
trust. The Board of Directors would be rejoiced
to receive Mr. Bianconi as a colleague, and unani-
mously recommended him to the Shareholders. He
would now at once put the question that Charles
' Bianconi Esq., of Clonmel, be elected one of the-
Board of Directors of the National Bank of Ireland,
in the room of S. P. Rickman, Esq., deceased.
The question having been put,
The CHAIRMAN declared that Mr. Bianconi was
unanimously elected a Director.
Mr. BIANCONI felt much obliged for the honour
conferred upon him by the Proprietors. He feared,
however, that they had imposed upon him a task to
the performance of which he felt that he was inade-
quate. He would, however, use his best endeavours
to merit the honour which they had conferred upon
him.

On the motion of Mr. WuEuLua, seconded by Mr.
JOHN GREEN, of Wexford, a vote of thanks to the
Chairman and Directors was unanimously agreed to.
The CHAIRMAN briefly returned thanks, and the
meeting broke up.