The Sun.
London, England, 1868-04-17 00:00:00

Triennial No. of Amount No.
of
Amount Annual
period. L r,sr,toii:c.)-
Proposed Insurd Assured Premiums.
- - - - -
Inclusive. £ £ £ s. d.
1856 to 1858 4,230 868,986 2,907 585,465 18,672 1211
1859 to 1861 7,287 1,380,003 5,359 1,010,390 29,860 4 4
1862 to 1864 9,237 2,218,551, 6,805 1,648,878 53,708 9 9
1865 to 1867 10,914 3,069,5471 8,773 2,427,630 76,919 15 3

The above table exhibits the satisfactory progress of the
association during tho periods embraced therein. The
net premium income has risen to the sum of £212,743 4s. ;
the interest on monies invested and from other sources
yields £18,796 17s, 11d.; making a total income of
£231,515 Is. 11d. The claims have been 311 in number
of lives and 319 in policies, and amount (less £6,000 re-
ceived from re-assurance) to £114,000 15s. 10d. It is
satisfactory to observe that this amount is less by £27,361
than the amount of the claims which arose in the pre-
vious year. The balance of the income over all outgoings
is £76,311 16s. 10d., or nearly 33 per cent., which sum
has been duly carried to the assets account.
The total assets of the association at the close
of the year atnounted to £571,817 17s. 9d. The accounts
of the association have been minutely examined
by the four appointed auditors, whose report on the same
is as follows:—To the Directors of the Briton Medical
and General Lifo Association. Gentlemen—We have fully
examined the various books, accounts, and vouchers of the
association, and have found the same correct and satis-
factory. We have also carefully examined the whole of
the securities, which we have found in perfect order. We
have continued he excellent system of quarterly audits,
and have thus been enabled to exercise greater supervision
over the extensive transactions of the association. It is
but due to the officials to record the excellent manner in
which the books are kept, and wo have much pleasure in
so doing.—We are, gentlemen, your obedient servants,
H. Alcock, J. Brown, W. Brooks, C. R. Rowland, auditors.
The directors recommend that a dividend at the rate of £8
per cont. per annum on the capital of the Association, and
bonus (free of income tax), be declared. The period
having arrived for the quinquennial valuation of the affairs
of the Association, up to the end of the year 1867, with a
view to the declaration of a bonus, the directors have
given instructions to their consulting actuary, Mr. Arthur
Scratchley, to proceed with the same. Sufficient time has
not yet elapsed to enable him to furnish his report; but
the result of his investigations, which the directors
have every reason to believe will be of a most
satisfactory character, will be communicated, and the
bonus declared, at the earliest possible moment.
The directors have continued to give their best attention
to this important department, and have endeavoured to
secure and maintain a perfect representative organisation,
feeling convinced that by so doing they are taking the
most certain moans of bringing the merits of the associa-
tion before the public, and of securing its permanent pro-
sperity. The directors are happy to report the various
branches and other representative machinery of the asso-
ciation as being in a state of great efficiency. The mem-
bers of the Scottish board and the officers acting under
their direction continue most energetic in the discharge of
their duties. The amount of the business transacted has
been in the highest degree satisfactory, and the directors
are encouraged tolook forincreased results from the further
development of this important branch. Some difficulty hav-
ing been felt in obtaining suitable offices for the transaction of
the extensive business of the Manchester brancb,the directors
secured a plot of ground in a central situation in that city,
and have erected a handsome and commodious building
thereon, which affords every accommodation for the pur-
poses of the association, and yields, by the letting off as
offices such portions as are not required, a highly remune-
rative rate of interest on the outlay. Three of the direc-
tors, viz., Mr. Francis Webb, Dr. Tyler Smith, and Mr. T.
B. Jones, retire, in accordaace with the provisions of the
deed of settlement, but, being eligible, offer themselves for
re-election. The auditors also retire and offer themselves
for re-election. It is with sincere regret the directors re-
cord the death of Mr. J. Propert, one of the trustees of the
association, and one of its earliest and most valued friends.
The directors cannot conclude their report without
acknowledging the generous support the Association has
continued to receive from the members of the medical pro-
fession, and from the public in general, nor can they re-
upon the policyholders and share-
frain from again urging
holders, in fact on all connected with the association, the
duty of aiding the exertions of the management by intro-
ducing the association to their friends. If this appeal were
freely responded to, the results now reported wold bear
but an insignificant comparison to those which would be
obtained.

The CHAIRMAN, in moving the adoption of the
report, congratulated the meeting on the continued
prosperity that attended the operations of the so-
ciety. The last year had been one of commercial
difficulty, yet the policies they had issued exceeded
by 110 those of last year. Their net income had
increased, but it was by a safe progression, and it
was a matter of the greatest congratulation that in
ten yearn they had actually quadrupled their busi-
ness. Their income from investments amounted to
19,000, which he thought was one of the best proofs
of the solidity of the institution. They bad been able
toadd £76,000 to their reserve fund, which }vas about
33 per cent. of the income for the year. The divi-
dend they felt justified in recommending the meet-
ing to declare was an honest and safe one, and as it

was paid upon the capital and bonus which had
been received, it, in fact, amounted to nearly 10
per cent. The valuation which was now in pro-
gress for the declaration of another bonus would
extend down to December, 1867, and although he
could not tell them the exact amount of it,
yet, thanks to the exertions of Mr. Mes-
sent and Mr. Scratchley, their consulting
actuary, he was enabled to say that the
result would be very satisfactory, and one which he
felt would content all parties. (Hear, hear.) The
business transacted in the branch offices was also a
matter for congratulation ; the Scotch office bad
sent up last year 700 policies, and with the energy
which he knew existed in that quarter, he felt cer-
tain it would be greatly exceeded when they
had to talk about the matter at their next meeting.
The building of the new offices at Manchester was
a good work, because they not only got their
offices rent free, but, by letting off that which they
did not require, they received a good per-
centage on the money invested. They had 28,000
policyholden., and he should very much like to see
that number doubled if possible. (11 :ar, hear, and

1 tughter.) He need hardly say how beneficial 3
sensible increase of that number would be to the
society. lie begged to move the adoption of the
report.

The motion having been seconded by Dr. Tyler
Smith, it was carried unanimously.
The retiring directors, Mr. F. Webb (the chair'
man), Dr. Tyler Smith, and Mr. F. B. Jones, were
re-elected.

Mr. HOLLAND moved the re-election of the midi'
tors as they had invariably done the duty faithfully
and for the advantage of the institution.
Mr. SMITII, of Dartford, seconded the motion,
which was carried unanimously.
A resolution adopting the recommendation of the
directors for the payment of a dividend at the rate
of 8 per cent., free of income tax, was carried unanl"
mously.

A resolution was also carried thanking the direc-
tors for their exertions during the past year. It 105
acknowledged by Dr. Sieveking on the part of his
colleagues. He said that the board was animated
by one desire, and that was to work their utmost
for the benefit of the Association.

Mr. MOFFATT, iu acknowledging a vote of than°
to the Scottish board, said it was a very great plea'
sure to him that such success had attended their
efforts in that part of the United Kingdom.
Mr. A. SCRATCHLEY, in returning thanks for the
complimentary vote to him as their consulting ae"
tuary, said he had very little to do, thanks to the
efforts of their actuary and secretary. It was Otte
true that they had large assets and a large incoalese
but the meeting might feel quite certain that Ilea
would never consent to their profits being fritter 0
away. If the amount of bonus he should have to
declare was not so large as the agents could WiSt
they might rest quite satisfied that he had erred 0°
the side of safety.
The vote of thanks to the medical officers je
town and country was acknowledged by Dr. Far
re
Mr. MESSENT, the actuary and secretary, re;
ceived a most cordial vote of thanks for his ever
tions during the past year, and in acknovvledgi 0
which he paid a high compliment to Mr. Begat;
and the other members of the staff for the cherZ,
and praiseworthy manner in which they each
filled the duties they were called upon to perfore3'
The meeting then terminated.

r
IMPOR7S AND EXPORTS OF THE UN-
iO
f
STATES FROM JULY 1 TO DECE i--
R
31, 1867.

(From the Wall-street Journal.) of
From the last monthly circular of the director
the Bureau of Statistics we are enabled to Presteb-e
a statement of the imports and exports, for h'er
United States for the six months ending Deal:6l,s'r,
31, 1867, the first half of the current fiscal 3:,,:j0r
It appears that during the months of Novew„iir
and December the imports decreased very '-ro,
terially, while the exports increased in an equalctope
portion. This turn iu the current of trade has io
much towards reducing a large adverse balabesiog
our trading account which had accumulated &rite,
the four months ending October 31. The 111°, of
ment for that period showed an adverse balave,iing
$23,281,000 in gold ; during the two sucCee';
months, this balance, as will be seen from the
joined statement, has been reduced to p 1,281, tioci
The following statement shows the imports fitbo
exports of the United States for the six 93°-
ending December 31, 1867 :