The Sun.
London, England, 1850-08-01 00:00:00

understood without reference to _the practice of the
dock, and the supervision of the Crown, which is
briefly as follows. With regard to various articles,
such as sugar, coffee, sago, pepper, spices, &c.,they have,
at the special and earnest request of the Dock Compa-
nies, for many years been permitted to be carried direct
from the ship to the warehouses, without being
weighed or brought to account by the landing waiters.
The consequence is, that these goods are entirely in
the hands of the Companies, until they are lotted and
presented for weighing by the Customs. Thus the
Customs have knowledge only of so much, with respect
to weights and quantities, as the servants of the dock
companies may bring to the scale, although, we be-
lieve, the number of packages is tallied on landing
by tidesmen. Previous to this indulgence being
granted, it is understood that the cargoes of vessels fre-
quently exceeded the invoice quantities ; but that, since
the landing waiters abandoned the practice of taking
the weights at the ship's side, these excesses have been
gradually superseded by deficiencies. It is, however,
somewhat singular, that since a little more vigilance
has been exercised by the Crown, during the late
inquiry, many instances have occurred where the
excesses in cargoes have re-appeared as heretofore.
We have given these outlines with as much
accuracy as the information, derised from a mercan-
tile correspondent of experience, will admit. If this
statement be correct it shows that a very large and
irresponsible power is placed in the hands of the dock
companies if they be disposed to abuse it, and taking
into consideration what are the staff employed by the
companies, it is possible that abuses . may have crept
in without the knowledge of the directors themselves,
who can have no personal acquaintance with the
practical working of the business beyond what is laid
before them. We observed, from the correspondence,
that the Customs have frequently intimated to the
dock companies their conviction that frauds were
being carried on by their servants, but the companies
have repudiated those charges contemptuously
we can therefore divine the policy of
those measures which the Board of Customs
here pursued towards the servants of the companies,
as the most effectual way of bringing conviction to
their minds that their servants were not so immacu-
late as they affected to believe, and upo❑ which Mr.
WESTON, the solicitor for the London Dock Company,
has seized and analysed in his letter to our contempo-
raries, to give a trivial character to the proceedings
against them. But, if we mistake not, the large
seizures said to be in the hands of the Crown must
yet form an important item in the reckoning between
the contending parties, and should it turn out that
the merchants can establish claims to the goods, and
show that they were not the wrong doers, but igno-
rant sufferers by the acts of others, we apprehend the
Board of Customs will not turn a deaf ear to their
claims, and stand upon a legal forfeiture, to the in-
jury of the real proprietors. As regards the corre-
spondence, it appears to us that the company have
made a tolerably strong case against themselves and
the Customs too ; but, be that as it may, if it opens
the eyes of the merchants to their true interests, it is
immaterial to us whether the two great antagonists,
or either of them, go to the wall.

The man who has a wife and children is said " to
have given hostages to fortune." A strong motive—
the strongest perhaps that can influence the human
heart—is supplied to stimulate him to industry and
frugality. He no longer lives for himself alone. The
selfish feelings are extinguished, or, at least, are ex-
tended from the individual to the family, to the
small kingdom, of which he is the monarch. For
their sakes he will joy fully submit to many priva-
tions that might, under different circumstances, prove
subjects of serious annoyance. He looks beyond the
present day and acquires provident habits ; he en-
deavours to accumulate a future provision, that
his children may be enabled to enter upon
"the battle of life" with advantages at least
equivalent to those which he himself enjoyed
through the bounty and foresight of his own parents.
This purpose he feels he can accomplish if life be
spared. He has full confidence in his own powers
while the hand of " the destroyer" is kept aloof. But
human life is proverbially uncertain ; the strongest
and most vigorous may be cut off at any mo-
ment. Brief, indeed, may be the warning that
summons him to his last account, and leaves his
heart-broken widow and helpless orphans in misery
and destitution, exposed to all the sufferings and ills
engendered by cold and biting poverty.
But happily there is—thanks to the prudence and
enterprise of the present generation—a means of
averting (to a certain extent) this danger, and
removing a load of apprehension and anxiety from
the heart of every husband and father. His projects
of saving and gradual accumulation may at once be
realized, and a guarantee afforded that, although he
may descend to an early tomb, his family will, under
any circumstances, enjoy the pecuniary advantages
which they could have obtained had he attained
the ordinary average of human existence. He
is thus, utruinque paritus, ready for any alter-
native that may arise, and thus obtains that
enviable tranquillity which is so eminently con
ducive to health and longevity. It is said, and we
believe truly, that the average duration of life
in persons insured at the various offices throughout
the kingdom is greater than that of the general body
of the community, and that it is to that " lucky acci-
dent" that the great and almost invariable success of
insurance companies is ascribable. There is, how-
ever, less of "chance,„ or what is termed "luck," in
human affairs than is generally supposed. The
stories of " Murad, the Unlucky," and S iladin, the
Lucky," contained a deep moral—showing that pros-
perityto prudence and fore-
sight
rather
er
or accident. The
flourishing affairs of insurance companies are chiefly
owing to the accuracy of the calculations on which
their tables are framed, and also to the prudence
and caution of the medical men and di-
rectors in selecting none but persons of approved
health for insurance, or if a policy should be granted
on the life of an invalid, or on more than usually
hazardous terms, in ascertaining that the rate of pre-
mium should he fully equivalent to the additional risk.
We firmly believe, also, that something may be attri-
buted to the peace of mind and equanimity, which the
mere fact of "being insured"produces, which averts that
heartrending care and bitter anxiety for the future
condition of his family, which the Ayrshire poet on
his death-bed described as being " more than half his
disease."

The principle of insurance is founded on the fact
that the average of uncertainties may be easily mea-
sured, although an individual uncertainty cannot
even be guessed at with any pretension to ac-
curacy. It will be impossible to hazard a predic-
tion as to the duration of a single life, although the
average of ten thousand similar lives may be calcu-
lated almost to a day. HORACN announced this
great truth, even before the Christian era, when he
wrote—

" Pallida more aqua pulsat pede
Pauperum tabernas regumque turres."
There is a certain regularity apparent in the approach
of even " the king of terrors," who comes with equal
footsteps and under certain laws that may be traced
with the greatest accuracy. Hence it is that com-
petent actuaries will be enabled to decide, on a mere
inspection of the "tables of rates," whether a com-
pany, whieh has survived the earlier risks inseparable
from t'ie first three or four years of its existence,
willimeet with almost certain success, or decisive de-
feat, which, however long it may he averted, must
inevitably arrive at some period.
We also hail with pleasure the progress of a com-
pany which is winning its way along gradually
and steadily, which is based on sound principles, and
the management of which is vested in persons of
unquestionble honour, who have no fear of laying
their affairs before the public without concealment,
courting the strictest inquiry, the most searching
scrutiny. Such is the 44 CATHOLIC LAW AND GE-
NERAL LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY," which held its
fourth annual general meeting on the 25th ultimo, a
brief account of which will be found in our
advertising columns this day. THE CATHOLIC
INSURANCE ComrANT started with the most
propitious auguries. It was chiefly directed to a
large and influential holy of our fellow.subjects, who
had previously no society which was conducted by
members of their own creed, and among its directors,
and those who took the deepest interest in its progress,
were some of the most respected dignitaries of their
ancient Church. Its advantages were open to all,
without exception, but it was to Catholics that i

particularly appealed, and from that it hoped for
steady and unflinching support, and it was not
mi:tal en ; the very name " Catholic" has proved a
tower of strength not only in the United Kingdom,
but on the continent of Europe, where branches
have been opened. To use the expressive lan-
guage of the able report of the directors, it " has
been a sort of talisman—a rallying point—which
has presented to them a great and powerful attrac-
tion." It has thus secured the patronage and sted-
fast support of the French as well. as of the British
hierarchy, and is at this moment fortunate enough
to number among its most stedfast friends and advo-
cates in that country, where a few years since the
principles and practice of life assurance were com-
paratively unknown, the names of the Archbishop
of Paris, the successor of the martyred DENIS
Arran, his Eminence the Cardinal Archbishop of
Lyons, and that distinguished Member of the Chatn •
ber, Monseigneur PARAsts, Eveque de Langres,
" all of whom, having informed themselves of the
bases of the calculations and the principles of the
' Catholic,' have promised their support and assistance,"
...`the principles upon which it is based being so dif-
ferent from those of their own tontines, once their idol
—now fallen into disrepute—that they see in it the
realivation of their long-cherished hopes."
We may be excused from quoting from this ad-
mirable report a few facts, which prove the steady
progress, that is more encouraging than even a rapid
bound into prosperity. The deaths among the in-
sured within the past year have been only two, both
of which were in Ireland, none having occurred in
England, whose representatives had claims for only
7001. This gratifying result, so far below the antici-
pated mortality, sufficiently proves the care ' with
which the lives of " the assured" had been selected.
It should not be forgotten that during that period
that fearful scourge, the cholera, had made ravages
in every grade of society, although the " Catholic"
Company escaped comparatively scatheless from its
awful inroads.

The number of policies issued during the last year
was more than double that of the twelve months pre-
ceding. Proposals were made during the later pe-
riod for 138 insurances, of which 123, comprising 106
lives, were accepted, to the amount of 45,125/. 6s.
The company have now outstanding assurances to
the amount of 86,9811. 165., producing an annual
income on the Ist of June, the first day of their
financial year, of 2,9911. 15s. 11d., and applications
were made for loans to the amount of 17,700/., of
which 1,1831. Ils. 101 only had been granted.
The French agency, of which M. DE L'ETANG, a
gentleman of high standing in Paris, is the head, has
achieved extraordinary success within the last four
months, business having been already obtained pro-
ducing in life assurances annually 931. 14s. ld., and
in deferred and immediate annuities 7041. 3s. 11d.

Under such circumstances, we may well congratulate
the directors and shareholders on having turned the
point where success is no longer doubtful, and on
having reached so high and secure a position in the
fifth year of their existence.

THE FRENCH REPUBLIC.

We have received the Paris journals of yesterday.
The Ordre publishes a letter from London, which
may he regarded as the official statement of the views
and intentions of the Orleans family. After contra-
dicting the statement which appeared in the Univers,
that the Duchess of ORLEANS and the Prince DE
JoiNvILLE were alone opposed to a fusion with the
Legititnatists, the writer thus proceeds :
" Be assured, Sir, that tho most perfect accord exists
between the King, the Duchess of Orleans, the Prince
de Joinville, and the Duke d'Aumale, as to the duties
of the family towards France; and be assured also,
that the same feeling would continue if the King
were to be unfortunately taken from them. This is
how the state of things appears to the reason and to
the patriotism of the Princes of the house of
Orleans. Much has been said of the protest of the
Duchess of Orleans in favour of the rights of her son, of
the pretension which she had to put them forward, and
of her resistance on that account to any fusion. There
is not a word of truth in this. The Orleans family does
not attribute to itself rights, to be imposed upon what the
Legitimatists call the inviolable and unalterable rights of
the Count de Chambord to the throne of France. It has
no pretension to represent such a principle. It only knows
that a state of things was made in 1833 by the positive
will of the nation, and which situation was overthrown
by a violent event. It wishes as much as it can to re-
main in that situation at the disposal of France. If
Franco should think proper one day to demand its safety
from the hands of legitimate royalty, the Orleans
family would submit without considering that it bad any
claim or protest to make on its own account. It has no
pretender to offer in opposition to the Count de Cham-
bord. But it does not think that it belongs to it, with-
out a fresh declaration on the part of the country, to
declare the negation of the work of France in 1830, to
proclaim the absolute and exclusive sovereignty of the
royalty of Divine right, and to refuse beforehand, by a
complete change in its situation, the services which
critical circumstances might induce France to demand
from it. The Orleans family inclines itself honestly
before the principle of national sovereignty, and recog-
nises no other. It cannot outrage this principle, and
repudiate it by loudly demanding pardon for the act by
which the nation chose and proclaimed it as its instru-
ment of victory against the principle of Divine right.
It remains faithful to the duties which events have im-
posed on it. It confines itself to holding itself respect.
fully at the disposal of France, ready to serve it, if a
regular manifestation, or flagrant dangers, should make
an appeal to its devotedness.'

In—the Assembly M. DE FLATIONT drew the at-
tention of the Minister to the insult offered to
France and the injury inflicted on her citizens by the
American authorities at San Francisco, who had
seized several French merchant , vessels, and impri-
soned their crews. General LAHITTE replied that
representations had been made to the American Go-
vernment on the subjeet.
It is said that immediately after the prorogation
MM. VIIAUTPOOL, BAROCHE, and BINEAU, will
retire from the Ministry.
Letters from Cherbourg of the 24th ult. state, that
the Henri IV., 100 guns, that was preparing to pro-
ceed to Brest on the 29th, had been countermanded
by a Ministerial dispatch until fresh orders,
and that she has consequently landed the sea-
men and passengers she had taken on board for
Brest. The counter-order is supposed to be connected
with the reported visit of the PRESIDENT of the
Republic to Cherbourg to review the Mediterranean
squadron.
New arrests have been made in Paris in connexion
with the Nemesis secret society. Some members of
the former Constituent Assembly and some ex-
Commissioners of the Provisional Government are
amongst the number. Five new arrests have been
made at Oran, Algeria, in connexion with the plot
lately discovered there. Two of the parties were
employes of the Government.
The Republique has the following on the composi-
tion of the Committee of permanence :
The commission charged to replace the National
Assembly during the prorogation, and to watch over the
maintenance of the Constitution, is composed of thirty-
nine members, including the members of the Bureau of
the Assembly, whose names, and, as far as it can be
done, political opinion
,we here give :
M. Dupin, President, Monarchist, under different

forms since 1815 ;
General Bedeau, Vice-President, Legitimist;
AL Leon Faucher, ditto, formerly Orloanist, now Bona-

partist I
111, N. Daru, ditto, Orleanist ;

M. D. Benoist d'Azy, ditto, Legitimist Tory;
M. Van Heeckeren, Secretary, absolute Legitimist;

M. Chapot, ditto, Parliamentary Legitimist
M. Berard, ditto, Republican de la Veille, now Consti-

tutional;
M. Arnaud (de l'Arilige), ditto, Constitutional Re-
publican;
M. Lanus% ditto, Bonapartist;
M. Peupin, ditto, Reaetionist, without any particular
colour.
M. haze, Questor, Constitutional Orleanist;
General Lego, ditto, Constitutional Legitimist;
M. Do Panat, ditto, ditto, ditto;
M. 0. Barrot, Constitutional Orleanist;

M. J. de Lasteyrie, ^ ditto, ditto;
M. Monet, Republican de la Veille, very moderate
Constitutionalist;
General Saint-Priest, Moderate Legitimist;
General Changarnier, Constitutional Legitimist;
M. D'ollivier. Constitutional Legitimist;

M. Berryer, Legitimist Tory;
M. Nettement, Constitutional Legitimist;
M. Molt, formerly Orleanist, now moderate Bona-
.. •

•
partist;
General Lauriston, Legitimist;
General Lamoriciare, Constitutional Republican;
M. Beugnot, Clerical Legitimist. and Tory;
M. 1)e Mornay, Constitutional Orleanist;
M. De Montebello, ditto ditto;
M. 1)e l'Espinasse, Legitimist;
M. Creton, Constitutional Orleanist;
General Bulliere, discontented Orleanist;
M. Vesin, formerly Orleanist, now Constitutional

Legitimist;
M Lii) de Laborde, Constitutional Legitimist;

M. Casimir Pirier, Orleanist;
M. De Crouseilhes, Tory Legitimist;
M. Douet•DQsvaux, Constitutional Legitimist;
M. Combarel de Leyval, ditto ditto;
G arnon, Constitutional Orleanist;
M. Chambolle, without any fixed opinion.
Thus out of thirty-nine names, there may be reckoned
eleven purely Orleanist, three of whom (MM. BAZE,
DE Moazuv, and CRETON) are of a very energetic
character. The Legitimists have eighteen votes.
MM. LEO DE LABORDE, LUTE, CRAISOAARLER, and

AUGUST 1, 1850.

BeDEAU may be considered as endowed with energy.
There may be reckoned four Republican votes, among
whom General LAMORICIERE is incontestably the
most considerable. There are two Bonapartiste. and
two, whose opinions it is imposFible to d;!•fice. Those
whom we have denominated as Legitimist Tories are
those who would readily accept afait accompli, what-
ever it might be. We have called Constitutional
those who desire, from one motive or another, the
actual maintenance of the Constitution. Such is the
committee, about which so much noise has been made.
When its composition is studied, we may feel con-
vinced that it will attempt nothing against the Con-
stitution, and that it desires the actual maintenance of
it. Equal conviction cannot be felt that it presents
any very great resisting force, when the little energy
possessed by the majority of its members is taken
into account."

PARIS BouftsE, Jura- 31.—Latest Priem—Five
per Cents., 96r. 65e.; Three per Cents., 58r. 20e.;
Bank of France, 2,370 f.
BUSINESS DONE IN FOREIGN RAILWAYS AT THE
LONDON STOCK-EXCHANGE, JULY 31. _

Boulogne and Amiens, 7%—Central of France (Orleans
and Vierzou), .15%—EaqIndian, 7%—Luxcmbourg, 21,4
Northern of France, 14,7,i Orleans and Bourtleaux, 3378—
Paris and Rouen, 2114—Rouen and Havre, 10.