The Sun.
London, England, 1845-05-14 00:00:00

received and adopted by the meeting, and be printed
and circulated among the Proprietors. I
believe the report is so ample that it leaves but little
room for any observations, for it has always been the
study of the Directors to expose to the Proprietors in
their report the real position of the Society.—(l-lear.)
It may happen that in reading the accounts in the
rapid way in which they are necessarily read at these
meetings, some gentlemen may have been unable to

catch some of the items. These accounts, however,

will be found at the office, and they are open during
the whole course of the year to any Proprietor who will

:ake the trouble to call at the office and examine

hem. This book, containim7 the auditors' report, is

always open to the Proprietors. It may, in
fact, be considered as their boob. To those who

have been engaged, a; we have been, in
life assurance for seven or eight years, it is very
satisfactory, as far as this office is concerned, to see
what great progress it has made. Such an impulse
has been given to life assurance since that time that
we have now from forty to fifty rivals

in the same field, but still the progress
of the National Loan Fund has been steady,

and its pace has 'Ken extremely satisfactory.
This is the third year of the distribution of protitF,

and you will observe by the report that the policies
taken out in 1837 of 1,0001. are now entitled to a
bonus of 200/., although those who have policies are

not represented here yet, as the report will be made
public, it cannot but be very satisfactory, to them.
The Proprietors have every reason, also, to be satis-
fied, because, for three years past, they have
been paid 7 per cent. interest.—(hear, hear.) It is
pleasing to see the progress which life assurance
is making, not only with us, but generally.
When we commenced it was but in its dawn.
It had not then taken full possession of
the public attention. Since that period you
have activity on the part of offices, and a great desire
on the part of the public, to avail themselves of
i;-s advantages, and I trust that those who,
like ourselves, have commenced this system,
will receive a corresponding share of the public
favour ; because, though they may be our rivals, it
is good to see the public taking advan-
tage of the benefits of Institutions which
secures a provision after death.—(Hear.) I have
been making a calculation as to the state of life
assurance generally, and I find that there are
113 offices in England, and Scotland, and Ireland.
There are now in these offices '240,000 policies, and I
imagine that the public of England and Scotland
would be entitled now, as each death occurs, to
one hundred millions of money.—(Hear, hear.) Such
has been the result in an inconceivably short space of
time, and I think that those offices may expect to go on
accumulating in a very rapid ratio. Those who have
read the old books on life assurance will find that at
their early commencement most of the offices were
obliged to succumb, but now they have been in
existence for a number of years, and the only one of the
offices that has not paid it liabilities, and this office
was conceived and carried on in fraud, was the West
Middlesex.—(Hear, hear.) It could not indeed be
said to have been based on any principle, ex-
cept the principle of roguery, and though
it may be mentioned as an example, yet
it did not fairly come into the category
of life assurance offices. We have felt a pressure,
from other countries, and it will be satisfactory
to the meeting to know that intelligent persons
who have come here from other countries, and
who have observed the value which life assur-
ance is to any country, have given the preference
to our system over any other.—(Hear, bear.)
I think this something to our credit.—(Hear, hear.)
Some have attached themselves to us, and we have
formed, and are about to form, connexions which will
be valuable to us in the course of years—(Hear)—
and those who have not joined us have formed them-
selves into societies on the principle of the National
Loan Fund. I might say more, but, as everything one
says here will go before the public, I think it
is better not to state where our connexions are, be-
cause it would only induce others to rival
us in a field which ought to be left to us for some
time to cultivate.—(Hear.) It is now my duty to
move that the report bo adopted, printed, and circu-
lated amongst the Proprietors.
Carried unanimously.
It was then moved and seconded, and carried una-
nimously, that John Elliotson, Esq , M.D., F.R.S ,
Clement Tabor, Esq., and Joseph Thompson, Esq.,
be re-elected Directors.
Professor Wheatstone, F.R.S., and Professor
Graves, F.R.S., were then unanimously re-elected
as Auditors.
Mr. STUDLEY—I think we are in duty bound to
offer our best thanks to the Chairman and the Directors
for their services. For myself, I feel highly gratified
at the state of our affairs. We are going on in a
satisfactory way, and I have pleasure in proposing this
vote of thanks.— (Cheers.)
Mr. 111URDO YOUNG—I have great pleasure in
seconding the motion. It is gratifying to find that
private prudence is keeping pace with national
enterprise. The National Loan Fund has given the
impulse to insurance societies, and I think we may
anticipate every prosperity for the proprietors and the
public generally.—(Hear, hear.) I most cordially
second the motion.—(Cheers.)
The motion was carried by acclamation.
The CHAIRMAN returned thanks for himself and his
colleagues. They were deeply interested in the pro-
gress of the Society, which was in that posi-
tion that it would be satisfactory to the public. He
thought they might anticipate even better results, if
possible, next year.
The meeting then separated.

SECONDARIES.-(THIS DAY.)
( Before Mr. Secondary PorrEa.)
SMITH AND ANOTHER V. HOPKINS.
The jury were called at eleven o'clock, when no parties
being present, they were discharged till twelve o'clock, when
the above case was called on.
The facts were these :—The plaintiffs, who reside in Milk-
street, City, were compelled to bring an action against the
defendant, and issued execution at his request ; however, they
agreed to withdraw the execution, and take a bill for the
amount of the debt and costs. The bill was given, but not
duly honoured, and the plaintiffs then had to bring another
action.
The jury immediately gave a verdict for the plaintiffs.
The case did not occupy five minutes, and the jury who had
thus been so unnecessarily detained from their business were
discharged with a fee of 4d. each for their loss of time.

BANKRUPTCY.-(THIS DAY
(Before Mr. Commissioner Everts. )
EX PARTE -.

At the sitting of the Court a solicitor addressed the Learned
Commissioner, and said that he had to apply to the Court on
the subject of the costs of an application to the Court of
Review, an order having been made that the Commissioner
should decide whether or not costs should be allowed.
The Learned COMMISSIONER—HOW can I possibly decide
whether costs should be allowed for an application to the
Court of Review ? I know nothing of the case ; it is per-
fectly absurd to ask me.
Applicant—l will briefly state the facts—
The COMMISSIONER—You will make an ex parte statement,
and then ask me at once to give you costs. I cannot do any
such thing.
Applicant—But, Sir, there is an order of Court, and the
Vice-Chancellor has been spoken to ; -he considers the Com-
missioner as the proper person to decide the question.
CO➢IMISSIONER—WeII, I most certainly will not obey the
order. In fact, I have no knowledge of the matter, nor have
I jurisdiction.
Applicant--The Master will not tax the bill unless you
sanction it.
COMMISSIONER—I can't assist you. If the Court, hearing
the case cannot take upon itself to direct costs, I shall not
take upon myself to do it.

CRIMINAL COURT.--THIS DAY

OLD COUR?.

(Before Mr. Baron ALDERSON and Mr. Justice COLTMAN.)
TIIE LATE MURDER AT GREENWICH.---Martha Brixey,
the young woman who murdered the infant of Mr. Minch, of
Greenwich, was placed at the bar.
Mr. Bodkin, who with Mr. Ballantine, is retained for the
prosecution, applied to have her trial appointed for Friday.
Mr. Trail!, the Magistrate, one of the principal witnesses in
the case, could not conveniently attend until that day.
Mr. CLARKSON, who is engaged to defend the prisoner, did
not object to the application.
Mr. Baron ALDERSON consequently fixed Friday forlier trial.
THE ST. GILESS MURDER.—Joseph Connor, charged with
the wilful murder of Mary Brothers, will. be tried to-morrow.
THE LATE EXPLOSION AT BLACKWALL.— George Lowe, a
respectably-dressed middle aged man, surrendered to take
his trial for having by wilful and felonious neglect of his
duty, in attending to the generation of steam in a certain
steam engine, which was being worked on the sth of March
last, in the manufactory of Messrs. Samuda, the engineers,-
at Blackwall, caused it to burst, thereby causing the death
of Thomas Wright, and others. He was also indicted on the
coroner's warrant with the manslaughter of Thomas Wright,
Richard Drive, Jonathan Smith, William Neal, and George
Chapman.
To these charges the prisoner pleaded " Not Guilty."
Mr. Bodkin and Mr. Ballantine appeared for the prosecu-
tion ; Mr. Clarkson and Mr. Montague Chambers for the
prisoner.
Mr. BODKIN haring briefly stated the case against the
prisoner, proceeded to call the following witnesses to sub-
stantiate it :
Mr. Frederick Braithwaite, the engineer, said he saw the
boiler on the day of the explosion. It was manufactured by
Mr. Fairbairn, of 151illwall, and could tear. a prep= of