The Sun.
London, England, 1850-09-12 00:00:00

2iilt

LONDON, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 1850.

The incalculable advantages afforded by the prin-
ciples of "insurance" to the community in general
are at length beginning to be appreciated. Various
contingencies that might defeat the most sagacious
projects, and baffle the most auspicious undertakings,
can now be provided for at a moderate, and, what is
even more important, an easily ascertained expendi-
ture. Dangers which in " the good old times "
would be encountered every day, which in a moment
might reduce families ft= the enjoyment of every
comfort that affluence could afford to the deepest
poverty and destitution, may now be guarded against,
if not with absolute certainty, at least with the clos-
est approximation thereto. The merchant no longer
shudders at the howling storm which may overwhelm
his ship or cargo. He is fully secured by solvent un-
derwriters against all the dangers of the sea. The
premium is added to the first cost of his merchan-
dise, and fairly charged against the consumers. A
destructive conflagration may level to the earth
the dwelling-houses of many industrious families,
with their contents; the parties themselves would be
utterly crushed by the calamity, were it not that the
Genius of Insurance stands their friend, and causes
new and more commodious buildings to rise phoenix
like from the smouldering ashes, amply stored with
every convenience. But how can this be achieved ?
How are the damage 3 averted that in isolated cases
would prove absolutely ruinous ? The risk is fairly
averaged, the loss in place of falling on an individual is
spread over many—what would be fatal to one is un-
heeded by " the many," who, out of their prosperity,
shield their less fortunate neighbour from the unto-
ward results of the casualty under which he might
otherwise suffer severely. Every contributor to an
insurance fund of almost any description, al-
though he may not receive any direct re-
turn, will at least have thin consolation, that his
money has not been wasted or thrown away, but that
it has been applied to alleviating the misfortunes of
others. We say has been applied, for the calculations
of the risks have been so closely and accurately made,
the average of uncertainties have been fairly measured,
that those who undertake the risks do not receive
more than a fair and reasonable return for the amount
of capital invested, the premiums received being dis-
tributed among the various sufferers.
We have hitherto not alluded to the most valuable of
all species of insurance, by which families are pro-
tested from the fearful consequences resulting from
the death of the husband and father, to w hsse exer-
tions they are indebted, not merely for the comforts
and luxuries, but even for the common necessaries of
life. While he is spared he can watch over their
welfare, but their happiness rests on a precarious
tenure. He may be removed, not by slow and wasting
disease, but by a sudden aacident that cuts off the
guardian and provider in the full vigour of health and
strength, in the pride and bloom of youth. These are
cases thet cannot be adequately provided for by the
ordinary class of life insurances, for the largeness of
the premiums necessarily required (and which every
man should pay as far as his means will allow) pre-
vents him from insuring a very large suas. It may be
sufficient to place his wife and children beyond the
reach of absolute want, but not to continue the
luxuries to which they had been accustomed during
his IFetirae. Something more is required to guard
against the more obvious dangers to le hick he is ex-
posed, and also, which no life insurance company now
extends to, to give remuneration fur any personal in-
jury which he may sustain, and which might debar
him from pursuing his ordinary occupations for some
time. This hiatus has, however, been supplisd by a
company, which has just completed the first year of
its existence with almost unparalleled success, which
has prospered itself, while affording vast relief to
ethers, who, but for its beneficial operation, might
have been involved in most unpleasant difficulties.
The promoters and osiginators of the " Railway
Accident Assurance Company" deserved the marked
thaelss of thys community fa: the energy and judg-

mant dizplayed in filling the void, in providing the
much-required desideratum. Every one ackucw-
. le, - - • t .. artanc,. of being guaranteed against
-
.:4,..=
~... 4 g E que nc es of 2ny severe accident
..' :,, ;:it'a _ . outlays that must so frequently
1
1.44,444,e,t, bAthera were great difficUlties to be
:441 Oril*edoi' 40 the: preliminary steps could be
.t,,,... , .. ,s lry no ordinary energy and de-
, r• , _-.
~ .; 1.• .. '.. . s • l' : rcome. One of the chief impediments
it.. . -...-• s : :ii ~,I ' tl e stamp laws. It was a new case,
,-..
-a,. . -,,- . • a.: - matters safe, stamps had to be placed
on • '. o icier of equal amount , to those on
life insurances. This was a practical prohibition to any
transaction for single journeys, or abort periods, and

irele A, we might almost say, to hehi!nal passengers
by railway—such as commercial travellers, and the
employes of the different companies, who spent a great
portion of their lives upon " the rail," and even those
whe, residing at easy distances from town, came to
their daily avocations by the different metcopelitan
lines. Such obstacles, however formidable, will, how-
ever, vanish before skill and resolution. A deputation
waited on the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pointed
out the advantage of the system about to be intro-
duced; and, mirabile dictu, succeeded in satisfying
all the objections of the Right Hon. Baronet. Having
achieved this triumph, and Sir CHARLES WOOD having
assented to a modification of the stamp duties so
far as the company was concerned, a certain per-
centage on the premiums being paid in lieu of the
actual stamp, the rest was easy; Parliament readily
assented to the Bill, by which it was provided that
a token, issued at the incredibly low price of Id., 2d.,
or al , according to the class of the passenger, should
have all the force and effect of a duly stamped policy,
and should entitle the party receiving it to the pay-
ment of 2001., 5001_, or 1,0001., in case of loss of life,
or a proportionate remuneration for all damages in the
event of any accident not actually fatal. The rates
for permanent assurance were equally, or if possible,
more reasonable. Periodical tickets were issued to
insure 1,0001., for passengers by any class or any
railway fur a single month, quarter, half-year, or
year, and it is almost unnecessary to say that many
thousands availed themselves of this novel description
of insurance, and with what benefit to themselves will
be seen from the advertisement which will be feund
in another 'Art of this day's impression. No less
than 30 persons insured by the company, many of
them for the single journeys, had not only the requi-
site medical attendance and care necessary during
their illness provided, but received sums varying
from 21. to 2101. as compensation for their injuries.
These persons are in a position to speak feelingly of
the advantages afforded by the "Railway Accidents
Assurance Company," and the prompt and satisfac-
tory manner in which their claims were disposed of.
When such facilities are given to all, that the policy
can be received with the ticket, and for a few addi-
tional pence—the coppers that are usually wasted
—we cannot conceive how any can neglect taking the
obvious precaution. Strange, however, as it may appear,
out of more than sixty millions of passengers by rail
only 110,074 availed themselves thereof, in addition
to the 2,808 holders of periodical tickets. This can
only be accounted for by the consideration that the
society is only in the second year of its existence. It
has, however, made good progress, and we have no
doubt that it will make rapid strides until assurance
shall be the rule and not the exception, and the tokens
of the society shall be issued by millions in place
of tens of thousands. As it is, we are happy to find
that the profits of the society have not only been
sufficient to cover the expenditure, including the sums
paid for compensation, amounting to 2,4801., but to
leave a balance of clear profit equivalent to 8 per
cent. on their paid-up capital.. Tney have thus al
ready attained a portion of the success they have so
eminently merited; their society has been prosperous
ab ir.itio.

An occurrence has recently taken place in the
west of Ireland—not the first, we believe, of a simi-
lar character, which has happened, in what are
termed, par. excellence, " the distressed districts" of
that unhappy country—which may well attract the
public attention, and which, if, it can be sustained
in law, for a single moment, imperatively demands a
speedy legislative remedy, to guard against the pos-
sibility of the recurrence of a proceeding so dis-
graceful to all parties concerned, which appears to
be as illegal as it is, unquestionably, inhuman.
It appears that a creditor had recovered judgment
against the guardians of the Ballina Union. We be-
lieve that the debt was perfectly fair, and
are willing to concede that the creditor bad
himself urgent demands to meet, which ren-
dered it of importance to collect his assets.
He could not, however, obtain any satisfaction. The
guardians were not personally liable, and rates could
not be collected sufficient to meet the current expen-
diture, much less to provide for former debts. The
creditor was impatient, while no step was taken to
secure his demand. A writ of fieri facias was ac-
cordingly issued to the Sheriff of the county cf Sligo,
who not only seized the bedding and furniture in two
of the auxiliary workhouses situated within his baili-
wick, the only night covering of the miserable and
destitute paupers, whose wretched condition con-
signed them to the tender mercies of the union
workhouse, and other articles usually considered sale-
able, but took possession of the wearing apparel in
actual use by more than a thousand children. These
innocent victims were not stripped of their garments,
but they were detained within the walls of the work-
house by the sheriff's officers, lest they might abscond
with the valuable property. For six days, from
Friday, the 30th of August, until Wednesday, the
4th of September, they were thus incarcerated and de-
prived of the usual exercise so essential to their
health, and which alone relieved the tedium of
their melancholy condition. They were not liberated
until the Poor-law Inspector made himself personally
responsible that "none of the clothes would be made
away with, if the officer would permit the children to
leave the house for the purpose (I exercise," a request
which, after some difficulty, was conceded, unde r
the stipulation that the unfortunate children
should not be permitted to wander into the adjoining
county of A/ayo, " where the powers of the humane
officer would not extend." This was granted, it
being plainly intimated that the children would
otherwise " be stripped of their clothing," and left to
go whither they pleased in perfect nakedness.
Now there can scarcely be a question as to the
illegality of this conduct. The law, absurd as it is in
many respects, could never sanction so monstrous a
proceeding. There is express authority on this point,
that wearing apparel in actual use cannot be
seized. One of the most able and learned
Judges that adorns the bench of justice, Baron
PARKE, in " Sunbolfe v. Alford" (3 Meeson
and Welsby, 254), decided that " wearing apparel on
a man's person (even if it does not extend to goce:s
in the possession of the person) cannot bs taken under
a fieri facias, or under an extent." And the rule
would clearly apply to the case row under notice.
This is the first act which would justly subject the
parties concerned to heavy penalties; but there has
been even a grosser violation of the law. More than
1,000 children have been falsely imprisoned for six
days, or threatened with personal assaults, if they
attempted to leave the workhouses, and by parties
who could by no possibility have any authority over
them. The eyes of the officer might possibly ha
opened if so many different actions were instituted
against him on behalf of the aggrieved iufantr,
and he might learn that " humanity (as well as
honesty) might possibly prove the best policy." We
cannot feel much sympathy for the creditor who re-
sorted to such means to recover his demands ; but
some different remedy should be provided in such
cases. He was, perhaps, stimulated by the success
which attended a firmer proceeding of a similar de-
scription, when the benevolent SAMUEL GURNEY pur-
chased the clothing of the paupers, at a sheriff's
sale, to prevent their being cast naked en the world.
The feelings of humanity are not to be outraged by
a repetition of such conduct, nor are kind-hearted
strangers to be driven to pay debts with which they
have no concern, to prevent their fellow-creatures
from enduring the most heartrenaing privations and
sufferings.

EXTENSIVE AND ALARMING r IRE AT CIIISWICK,
Last night, between eleven and twelve o'clock, an alarming
fire broke out on the premises of Mr. Robert Butler, chandler
and beersbop keeper, Bennett-street, Chiswick. The fire was
discovered by the police, and an express was dispatched to
town for the engines, which were on the spot with all pos-
sible expedition, under the direction of Mr. Superintendent
G. R. Staples, of the King-street station. The house of Mr.
Butler, which is a clout& house, is 65 feet long, and was soon
a burning mass; and notwithstanding the exertions of the
firemen, the fire communicated to the adjoining house, occu-
pied by Mr. C. Wealthy, and from thence to three houses,
11, 12, and 13, Devonshire-road. The houses of Mr. Butler
and Mr. M'Carthy were completely gutted, and the other
houses were considerably damaged. The cause of the fire is
unknown, and the amount of the damage cannot at present
be ascertained.

The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster has pre-
sented the Rev. J. T. Layard, BLA , eurate of Mahon, York-
shire, to the rectory of Swafield, Norfolk.

LONDON PENNY SAVINGS BANK.— Yesterday the
managers published the following results of the experimental
Penny Savings Bank in London, which was opened in Com-
mercial-btreet, Whitechapel, on the 30th January last, up to
the 9th inst :—Deposits, 49,516; depositors, 7,553; amount
of receipts, 2,0171. _