The Sun.
London, England, 1845-12-31 00:00:00

situation in society than the commercial travellers.
There were no men who had greater opportunities of
ascertaining the general opinions of the country, end
there were no men who were more called upon
to exercise a knowledge of human character.—
(Cheers.) It was the first duty of a commercial
traveller to look scrupulously to the characters of
those on whom lie called, that he might know whom
to trust and whom to avoid. No class possessed a
greater influence than the class of gentlemen whim
lie had the honour of addressing.—(blear.) Through-
out their peregrinations they were looked up to as
men of superior information, and as exercising an in-
fluence on society which in general exceeded that of
any other class.—(Cheers.) He believed that they
were all willing to exercise that influence on behalf of
this Society, and therefore he would not detain them
longer, but would at once call upon them to drink
the toast.—(Cheers.)
The toast was then drank with three times three.

Mr. CUFFLEY, in rising to return thanks, compli-
mented his brother travellers on seeing so many men
of influence assembled around them.—(Cheers.) He
was delighted that the toast to which he had to re-
spond had been proposed by Mr. Nicholson, a gentle-
man who had been known upon the northern road
for years, and who on that road, by his exertions in
behalf of his employers, had always been an example
for all commercial travellers, both old and young.

In proposing the toast, Mr. Nicholson, as one of the
Directors, had been pleased to say that they were a
powerful body. He (Mr. C.) believed that they
were a powerful body, and he felt assured that they
were willing to exert all their power in promoting
the prosperity of the National Mercantile Life As-
surance Association.—(Cheers.) He believed that
the Society was greatly indebted to the commercial
travellers, who had not only insured their own lives
in it, but had induced their customers and friends to
become its supporters.—(Cheers.) In fact such
was the power of the commercial travellers, that if
they embarked in any enterprise with energy and
zeal, it was impossible for them not to succeed.—
(Loud cheers.) As an illustration cf this, he would
mention that the friends of this Society had endea-
voured to establish a school for the education of the
orphan children of commercial travellers. Four gen-
tlemen had come forward, Mr. Walsh, Mr. Carter,
Mr. Jones, and himself, with their subscription of ten
guineas each in support of this school. He had said that
if 100 gentlemen would come forward with 10 guineas
each, the school could be established. His scheme
had been treated as chimerical. But what was the
fact ? Instead of 100, they had obtained 250 sub-
scribers at 10 guineas each.—(lmmense cheering.)
Ile would not now appeal to them in behalf of that
school, although he knew if he were to do so, that
he should obtain a great sum.—(Loud cheers.) But
he would say, that he thought those who had origi-
nally set this school on foot were entitled to the praise
of their brother travellers—(Cheers)—and he hoped
they would show that they appreciated the exertions
which had been made by subscribing liberally to
the school fund.—(Loud cheers.)
Mr. ROBERTS rose to propose the health of the
Chairman. He wished that the duty of proposing that
gentleman's health had fallen into abler hands ; still,
he would do his best to express his feelings respecting
the excellent character of that gentleman.—(Cheers.)
On every occasion on which he had come in contact
ith him, he had experienced the greatest kindness.
All that he (Mr. Roberts) had seen of Mr. Wilcoxson
showed that he had the best interests of the Society

at heart.—(Cheers.) If the commercial travellers
would do their duty, as Mr. Wilcoxson had done,
their success would be placed beyond the possi-

bility of retrogression. However flittering it ;night
seem to Mr. Wilcoxson, it was his (Mr. R. s) duty to
inform them that had It not been for his firmness,
energy, and perseverance, the Society would not have
been in existance now.—(Hear, hear.) lie only men-

oried these things to remind them of the obligations

hey were under to their chairman.—(Hear.)

Unifier these circumstances he had very great
pleasure in proposing the health of that gentleman,

and he was sure they would receive it with warmness
and enthusiasm. Before sitting down, he would
refer to one pleasing incident of that day's proceed-
ings. It was in reference to the school. They had
laid the foundation of what would yet prove one of the
best schools in the country, and hundreds of children

yet unborn would have reason to bless them for the
establishment of that important institution. It would
enable parents to procure a good education to their
offspring, however much they might be afflicted with
disease or impoverished in circumstances. Without
further trespassing upon their attention, he
would propose " The health of their excellent Chair-
man, Mr. Wilcoxson."--(Loud cheering.)
The toast was drank in the most enthusiastic man-
ner, and accompanied with every demonstration of

respect.
The CIIMRMAN then rose to return thanks, and
was greeted with renewed and most enthusiastic bursts
of applause. When silence was restored, he said—l
rise, under feelings of great excitement, to express
thanks for the very kind and enthusiastic manner in
which you have noticed me, and to say how exceed-
ingly gratified I am at the warm and cordial manner
in which you have received the mention of
my name. Were any further inducement re-

quired to stimulate me-to greater exertion in your
service, such a striking manifestation of your feeling
and respect would be an additional incitement. You

all well know the position I have occupied in this

life assurance company. It has been till within the
last twelve months often of a mixed and painful cha-
racter. There has been much to encounter, much to

endure ; still, the strong and undeviating sup-
port of two of my brother directors, Giles Redmayne,
Esq., and Edward Baker, Esq., who, with a large
majority of the proprietors, supported me, and en-
dowed me with sufficient moral courage to stand by
the interests of the company, to fight its battle and
to obtain the victory.—(Loud cheers.) As long as I
possess the confidence of the proprietors, so long shall I
employ every exertion to improve the condition and
advance the solid interests of this assurance society,
and I am proud in the result of this day, when I see
ranged around me at this friendly board so many of
my friends among the commercial travellers.—
(Cheers.) lam certain, with the gigantic efforts you
have made, and with what we are yet able to accomplish,
we must and shall command every success that is de-
sirable. Thanking you for the kind wishes you have
expresssed, in return I beg leave to drink all your
very good healths. The Hon. Gentleman resumed
his seat amidst loud and general applause.
Glee—" The Chough and Crow.
Mr. WADDINGTON then rose to propose the
health of the Directors. He regretted that
some other party had not been entrusted
with the toast who would have done it greater
justice. Still, when called upon to speak, he was
much gratified in having to appear before that as-
sembly to propose such a toast. He would not detail
the reasons why they should respond to it, as he was
sure, when he told them it was a vote of confidence
in the management, it would be quite sufficient.
From what he knew of the past circumstances of
the Company, he, as one, must say the Directors
were entitled to support, and that the meeting
ought, as a mark of respect, to drink their healths in
a bumper toast.—(Cheers.) If they considered
the onerous positions those gentlemen occupied, the
attention they had bestowed in conducting this public
institution, in conjunction with their standing in
society, he was sure they were entitled to every mark
of considefation and respect. When they found a
gentleman among them so highly respected as the
Chairman, along with those by whom he was sur-
rounded, and when he (Mr. Waddington) told them,
also, that that gentleman was a man who had risen
from the ranks, and had led an active and useful life
for forty years, he was proud to have that oppor-
tunity of calling upon them to honour the toast he
was about to propose. Looking to what the society
had been, and to what it now was, and well knowing
what life insurance companies ought to be, they would
perceive the great obligations they were under to the
Directors. He had most sincere pleasure in propos-
ing " the Health of the Directors," and hoped they
would find the amplest support from the Proprietors
in carrying out the good work in which they were
engaged.
The toast was drank with all the honouekrnss
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would not, therefore, shrink from the duty. He was
not prepared to say much on behalf of the board
after the excellent speeches which had been deli-
vered ; but this he must say, that with his
friend, Mr. Wilcoxson, he hadstuck well to the ship
—(Loud cheers)—and had got her under fair sail
again. They had left their adverse gales behind, and
found the vessel under fair sailing, and with few con-
trary winds.—(Cheers.) He had great gratification
in meeting them that night, and felt deeply interested
in the interest and welfare of the soc;ety. He be-
lieved the Directors had done their best to advance
the interests of the whole body. There was another
point to which he would refer. It was the school. It
would be most gratifying for them to know, that in
the event of their death, their children would
be well provided with the elements of know-
ledge, pr if th-2y, did not secure these advantages to
their own offspring, they would at least be secured
to the children of the widow and the orphan._
(Cheers.) They did not live for themselves alone,
but for the benefit of others ; and what could be
more praiseworthy than to provide those with know-
ledge who were not able to provide it for themselves.
Should their own families not require the advantages
of such a school as they were establishing, if
any of their brethren should die, and leave a widow
with a family, it was a very easy thing to
subscribe a guinea, by which the children so left
unprovided for would be enabled to enjoy the
blessings of education.—(Loud cheers.) He was
L not prepared to make a long speech, and would,