The Sun.
London, England, 1850-02-21 00:00:00

The CHAIRMAN proposed, in very complimentary
terms, the health cf Mr. Rouse. In doing so he ad-
verted to the new and beautiful room in which they
were then•assembled, and to the very splendid dinner
which- had been served up. to them, which could not
be surpassed by any house in the metropolis.— (Hear)
Their excellent friend Mi. Rouse hud removed from •
the Temple of Apollo, and had taken up his abide in _ a
. the Belvidere, and he trusted that his new location'
would' his- best- friends could desire. Of -
'this, however, /he was satisfied, that if a desire to
please, and u determination to make his friends and
the public Comfortable, by supplying the'm with the
beit of everything connected with his trade, could
insure success, -then they- need habe no fear for the
.futbre -TOrtitnes- of their frjend.—(Hear, hear.) He •
begged, therefore, togive, Which he did with all sin- -
cerity,'" Mr. Amuse, ktid Sticcess to his new under.
taking-:-!--(Applaisse.) • . -
Mr. Rouss said he rose With feelings of 0114 •
PlecaSilre to Icknowledge the, •co=p that had
heetr.oesifeirect4spewthlm.,i He ` could not express, as
he ;desired,- the feelings by which-be was influenced
at that moment, but when he saw so many friends
around him, and when he witnessed the enthusiastic
manner in which his name, and the hope for his future
success, had been received by the company, he would
not be a man if he did not feel deeply the kind and
warm feelings that had been manifested towards him
on that occasion.—(Hear.) Allusion had been made
to the mode in which he had endeavoured to cater for
the comforts of his friends. He could only assure
them that it was his intention to go on as he had corns
menced.—(Hear.) If he was successful in his efforts,
why so much the better for himself and his family;
but if he failed, why then all he could say Was that
it should not be from any fault of his.—(Hear.) In
conclusion, he had only to observe that he drank their
healths in a full bumper, and wished them every
happiness.—(Hear.)
Mr. SHILLIBEER then proposed the health of the
chairman, which that gentleman acknowledged, and
said that upon all occasions he would feel most happy
if he could in any way promote the success of their
esteemed host.

The CHAIRMAN then proposed the health of the
vice chairman, who, in responding to the toast, ex-
pressed a hope that his friend Mr. Rouse, when he
retired from the Belvidere, would do so with as good
a fortune as the late proprietor, Mr. M'Diarmid, who
he was happy to see present in good health.
Several other toasts were drunk, and the evening
was spent in the most agreeable manner, the pleasure.
of which was materially heightened by some exqui-
site singing by Messrs. Holmes, Jones, Mayne, and
Edney, the latter of whom presided at the pianoforte
with his usual ability. Mr. Mitchell, Mr. Jones, and
other visitors, also contributed their vocal aid on the
occasion with considerable advantage to the general
satisfaction of the company, who retired evidently
much pleased with the proceedings of the evening.

MUTUAL LIFE ASSURANCE SO-
CIETY.
The half-yearly general meeting of the members of
this society was held yesterday afternoon at the
London Tavern, Mr. Whiskin in the chair.

The minutes of the former meetings having been
read and confirmed, Mr. Hardy, the secretary, read
the report for the year 1849. A considerable in-
crease of business had taken place during the past
year, the new premiums received during the year
1848 being 2,4751. 13s. id., whilst in 1849 they
amounted to 3,227/. 2.. 2d. A considerable sum had
during the past year been added to the invested
capital of the society, whilst the expenses of manage-
ment (with an increased business) were lower than
in 1848 by the such of 2061. The expenses charged
for local boards would continue no longer, as since it
had been determined to allow commission, the direc-
tors had deemed it proper to dissolve these boards ;
the society..k_howeyer,.had not lost any of tbe.poli-
eks effecteii through Ibese boards, the:_proirsississ.------
-% hioh- atnounted ,to- 3,01)0/. yearly: 4 lliajtiriiere •
'1,247 policies in force upon the 31st of December
last, assuring in that aggregate 828.0901.. find
the premiums on these amounted to 28,2231. 9s. 4d. .
The halance• sheet showed a surplus in fa-
vour of the society of 74,0961. 2i. 9d., and this
sum is applicable to the augmentation of the sums
assured to the members under their respective poli-
cies. The accumulated capital of the society
amounted to 146,217/. 2., 91, and this amount was
invested in Government and other real securities.
The income of the society, on dividend, mortgaees,
bond?, and funded property amounted to 5,9331.
7s. Bd., and the total income was 34,156/. 175., show-
ing an increase of about 3,000/. for the past year.
The general balance-sheet debited the society with
472,4001. as the present value of 828,0901., the aggre-
gate sum assured, and 4,822/. for claims on policies
admitted, but not yet paid. The creditor-account gave
the present value of 28,223/. 9s. 4d. income on
policies as 465,1611. ; value of funded stock,
87,917/. 175.; mortgages, 31,066/. 13s. 4d. ; loans
to members, 2,704/. ; bonds on the London and
North-Western and other railways, 13,000/. ' • value
of the society's house, 3,014/. 2s. Id. ; dividend on
stock and interest on premiums due on the 31st of
December, 6,482/. lls. 7d. ; total, 551,3787. 2s. 9,1.
Mr. BOLTON, a member, objected to the expenses
of management as very great; and, after many ques-
tions, proposed an amendment recommending greater
economy to the directors.
The CHAIRMAN explained that the directors had
done all in their power already, and had stated in the
report that no effort of theirs should he wanting
in future. The expenses were not so great as Mr.
Bolton would have it appear.
The report was received unanimously, and Mr.
Bolton's amendment negatived by an immense majo-
rity, and amidst some marks of disapproval.
Mr. CLAYTON, a director, objected to the p-actice
of members advertising their own views in a way cal-
culated to damage the society ; and upon a show of
hands being asked as an exhibition of disapproval of
such a mode of proceeding, nearly all present com-
plied with the request.
On the motion of Alderman SALOMONS, seconded
by Mr. Gaoym, Mr. H. F. Davis was elected a di-
rector ; and
On the motion of Mr. ROUSELL, Mr. Pennythorne,
the architect of the Woods and Forests, was also
elected.
These gentlemen were elected in the room of Mr.
Godson, deceased, and Mr. Burchell, retired.

The proceedings terminated with a vote of thanks
to the Chairman.

ALARMING FlRE.—Last night, between the hours
of ten and eleven, a fire broke out in the Globe Tavern,
situate at the corner of Drummond and Seymour-streets
and nearly lacing the North-Western Railway termi-
nus, Euston-square. It originated in the second floor
front, and ass discovered by a gentleman connected
with the Royal Navy, who was sleeping in the room.
Ho succeeded in getting out of bed, but so fiercely was
the fire burning, and so dense was the smoke, that he
was unable to get to the door. Police-constable 302 S
trace several attempts to enter the room, but the smoke
was of such a suffocating nature that he was forced to
give up the task. The lodger all the time kept crying
out for some one to save him. Buckets or water having
been obtained, several were scattered over the , fire,
which in a.grest measure got it under, when two young
men crawled upon their bands and knees, and fortunately
the gentleman out, but. nut until he
°lce and heat. Thef ngines of
the Birmingham Railway Company, and several of the
w succeeded
u a
London brigade attended, but, fortunately, their tier-
rl) fienzglalinel with fM
vices were not required, the damage done having been
confined to the destruction only of the contents of that
part of the bu ldine in which the tire commenced.
CHARGE OF WORKING AN ILLICIT STILL. Mr.
jaes Jones,
himself o of No.
ao.ttu'rnjearin,easultMr"er.t'Tborna4 Herder Peckham, who de-
scribedof
wpo,r)leiepelteceohdrzt
on
nhe
the
er beehta'orrgeteaSierf.
No. 3, Char!es-street, East-lane, Cambers ell, who d
From the evidence it appeared.
Elliott,hwiomr toeilnfga at
Ittbhetellaline,
tamgabedeilitith:
stanv, f being concerned with a gang
and e
xitresnt
that the prisoners had keen suspected, in
have latterly committed various daring of thieves, who
robberiesivo
at different parts of the town, by ststtin 'out
cf the s -lop; of silversmiths, jewellers, and watchmakersg
with viltrshle property, and then getting into a light
chaise-cart with a fast horse, and getting out tf sight in
a short time, but the officers who followed them home,
observing the contents of the cart to be molasses, bad no
doubt as to tne nature of their trade, and gave.infortma-
tiers to the Excise officer. The prisoners irere both
taken on the premises occupied by Jones, in which a
60-gallon still was at full work, and a quantity of wash
in preparation for distillation, and it was evident, from
the appearance of the place • that an extensive illicit Ueda
was carried on. Jones endeavoured to get his
differents ,)
r _qpeiancibo, n
o , r
default to three months' icuprumment.
fellow-
prisoner off by saving he knew nothing whatever of the
is
business he carried on. Nor was he, he said, many
minutes in the house when the officers made their sp-
end
po eoaorvai
oo
n to ed;
bothbut Mp
prisoners
oElliott was
a of
. o
penaltyf a