The Illustrated Usk Observer and Raglan Herald

THE ROYAL INSURANCE COMPANY. I At the annual meeting of the Royal Insurance Company, held last Friday, Charles Turner, Esq., M.P., in the chair, the Actuary and Manager (Mr. Percy M. Dove) read to the directors and shareholders the twenty-first annual report of its affairs :— "FIKE BRANCH. The statements of adverse results shown by similar establishments during the last year will have prepared the proprietors for the announcement which the directors have to make that, to some extent, the company has shared in the general calamities of fire in. surance offices during that period. The fire losses sustained by the Royal Insurance Company have amounted to £318,946 Os. 6d,,or nearly 77 per cent. of the premiums received. This is far beyond the legitimate per-cantage of claims which, under ordinary circumstances, would have accrued, though less than the amount anticipated at one period of the year; and, although the total sum is 10 per cent. less than the average ratio of loss recently an- nounced authoritatively as falling upon three other well-known and highly respectable establishments of large revenue during the year 1865, this combined ex- perience affords, together with the still more disastrous results of some other companies which might be referred to, undeniable evidenoe that the premium charged upon fire insurance is at present unremunerative. This now-established fact has, however, formed so universal a theme of regretful comment at recent meetings of fire- offices, that the directors of the Royal content them- selves with assuring the shareholders that they are prepared for a re-arrangement of rates of premium. I They will, however, at the same time, as they have ever done, carefully guard against recognising more than a moderate addition to the existing charges sufficient to meet the exigency of the occasion, and no more. "Passing 'to another subject-the progress of the company, as respects the amount of business effected, has been satisfactory, the returns of duty published by Parliament, on the motion of the chair- man of this company, exhibiting by far the largest measure of increase which the company has ever, in its most prosperous times, experienced. The total net amount of fire premium for the year, after deducting guarantees, is £ 414,733 13a., which does not show an advance quite corresponding in com- parative amount with the increase of duty. This, ^it should be explained, arises in some measure from the fact that the directors voluntarily surrendered a portion of their accruing advances of premium for the purpose of protecting themselves by guarantee from undue limits on any one risk. Hence, in no small degree they consider they owe their exemption from any very large claim on any single insurance during the year, the largest amount of loss on any one strictly individual risk being little more than £6,000 They have not been hindered from this prudent course by the consideration that when their guarantee account was last investigated it was found that. for a period of six years the company had paid = £ 88,934 8s. GéI. more, in the shape of premium to its guaranteeing connection, than it received in amount of claims. It would, however, be inconsistent with a true stability of purpose (which should remain unmoved by acci- dental or erratic results) if the directors were drawn from a prudent course of action by any experience of this kind covering a limited space of time only. "Before passing from the subject of the fire depart- ment, the directors would draw brief attention to the favourable effect which would be produced if a judicial investigation were permitted by legal authority on the occurrence of fires. It is satis. factory to know that a wide -spread opinion has recently arisen throughout the country that a measure of this character would be attended with the happiest results. Such a system exists, more or less, in many of the continental cities; and the natural consequence is, that the ratia of fires in several of them is far less than in the cities and large towns of this kingdom, and that the protection of insurance can therefore be obtained at a much less rate of premium. This is, however, more a general than an exclusively insurance question, as it affects the whole body of the nation. A well-digested Act of the legislature for this purpose would mateMalIy increase the general security of life and property, and would ultimately tend to reduce the premium. for insurance to an extent which, unless the aukjfioh waro duly weiffhfld and GxarriinfiO. would scarcely be imagined. LIFE BRANCH. "Taming now to the life branch, it remains to be reported that the progress has been marked by un- checked success. This will be made clear by one or two statistical expositions. "Taking the four previous quinquennial periods; it is found that the first from 1845 to 1849 inclusive, commenced with a sum assured for:- Year 1845 of £ 23,319.and ended the period with a total sum assured of £ 272,796. The Second, 1850-54 w Do. 1850 95,650. do. do. 733,408 The Third, 1855-60 > Do. 1855 206,514.. do. do. 1,655,673 The Fourth, 1860-64 Do. 1860 449,242. do. do. 3,439,215 And now the first year of the fifth like period—viz., 1865, the company has granted assurances for < £ 886,663 7s. 83., nearly twica the amount at the com- mencement of the last quinquennial period-more than one million sterling having been proposed during the year. The amount of declined livea alone is £ 189,947 Is. 2d. If therefore, the result of the total five years, end- ing in the year 1869, were to have a corresponding increase with the previous periods of five years oach, the amount of business that would be effected in the quinquennial period now running would be more than has ever been on record in any insurance establish. ment in this country. The directors likewise have to report that the life and annuity funds have increased by the sum of .£103,146 7e. 3d. A further important testimony, however, is given that the Royal has not even yet arrived at the zenith of its favour with the public, by the fact that the sum assured for the six months of the present year, after deducting all guarantees thrown off, almost reaches half a million sterling, the actual amount being < £ 499,124 4a. 3d., a sum larger than the total amount assured for the entire year commencing the last quin- quennial period, so that, at any rate for one further year the impetus of continued advance is not likely to slacken. In this department the shareholders and policy-holders, have the opportunity of which it is trusted they will avail themselves, not only to keep up the high position of the Royal, but even to advance it considerably. The result of such an aetivity on their nnrfc. it is confidently affirmed, would so tell upon the permanent prosperity of the establishment that the favourable result on .the property of the shareholder and on the profits of the life assurer would be such as would exceed their highest anticipations. The directors had during the last months of the year 1865 entertained some apprehension that the re- sults-of the year, so far as respects the fire business, would have been far worse than they have turned out to be. Many of the fire claims, however, having proved in their settlement far less than the amounts estimated, and the increase of revenue at the same time having reached to a larger sum tha,n was at one time anticipated, the total result, includ- ing interest, instead of showing a considerable loss on the year's transactions, forms a gain of £ 9,916 7s. 5d. on the year. The directors propose to the proprietors that a dividend be declared of 3s. per share, and a bonus of 4s. per share, together 7s. per share, free of income tax. ft ft "It is a matter of satisfaction to state that after withdrawing the amount of this dividend and bonus from the profit and loss account, a credit balance will still remain to that account of no less than X62,076 9s. in addition to the reserve fund, which, by the aug- mentation of the year, now reaches the sum of X116,913 2s. lOd. "Notwithstanding, therefore, the comparatively unfavourable aspect of the fire insurance business, these two funds together will now be actually more than they were only three years previously (1862) by the sum of £ 24,743 lis. 8d." The chairman, in an elaborate speech, adverted to the losses of insurance companies generally through- out the past year, and said that although the Royal had come in for its share, it had not suffered to the extent of ethers; but he continued:- "The business of the last year exhibits a. con siderabla Urease on that of the year preceding; and at the end December, 1865, the accumulated funds of the life and annuity departments amounted to £ 740,458. We are advancing every year in the issue of new nnlicies, at a rate surpassing that of most other i-tfSAWif 2S3S £ addition of £100,000 annually for the next ten years I to our present accumulation of .£740,458, so that it is not beyond the bounds of reasonable poseibilitythat. at the end of that time, the Royal will hold, in its life funds alone, not much less than two millions sterling." The report having been well received and unani- mously adopted, thanks were voted to the auditors, Messrs. Titherington and Youngbusband, for their past services, and who were re-eiecte d. These gentlemen having responded, a vote of thanks to the manager was passed by acclamation. Mr. P. M. Dove in responding said: The cir- cumstances connected with insurance transactions during the last year or two have certainly not been of a kind to form a bed of roses for those who have had tho conduct of companies dealing in such matters. No shadow of distrust has, however, crossed ray mind consequent on those dis- asters which have formed the subject of discussion at many insurance meetings lately. Unpleasant while they last, and requiring as they do no ordinary degree of tension for all our business qualities, they may be I looked on in some measure as merely items in a neces- sary process going or; for the correction of certain evils which have existed in the insurance world for some years, increasing in intensity year by year, but now, it must be confessed, aggravated by now hazards, for which no calculations have yet been adequately I made. For some jears the establishment of an insur- ance office has been considered the easiest t.hing. in the world, and certainly, as far as the originators oi many companies established of late years are concerned, who having launched these establishments re- ceive their reward, and then leave them to their fate, it hiis been so; but it is a far different thing to sustain them afterwards, or to make them yield any profit after, perhaps, the first year or two. It is not in times of prosperity aud^ease that true principles are thoroughly tested. __We nave had, and are still in the midst of, an epoch ot trial and disaster, by fires, to offices around us, and ia some measure to ourselves and it is now, I think, judging from the proceedings of this day, more seen than here- tofore, and more acknowledged by tbe shareholders, that the principles which have governed this great company are sound and prudent (Ones (applause).

THE REFORM LEAGUE. Great Meeting at the Guildhall. On "Wednesday night a monster Reform meeting was held at the Guildhall; the Lord. Mayor in the chair. The meeting was essentially one of the working classes, the admission being by tickets. Long before the dt«ora were opened the whole of the vacant space in front of the building was filled by a dense crowd, and the hall itself was packed in a few minutes when the people were admitted.^ The pro- ceedinss were quite unanimous, and considering the vastness of the assemblage and the pressure of the crowd extremely quiet and orderly. In order to avoid any commotion resulting from the disappointment of those who could net gain admission to the hall, some of the more prominent of the members of the League left the Guildhall and addressed the crowd outside, who were formed into two distinct assemblies. Two or three things were observable about the yard, in contradistinction to appearances at recent out-door Reform meetings, which it may be well to notice. The powers that be seemed not only to have avoided any display which might have been construed into intimi- dation, or referred to a desire to strangle free utte- rance, but they had actually gone out of their way, and incurred trouble and expense to accommodate the people. A few polioemen- isolated, not in groups— were scattered here and there, mixing and talking with the people, and conspicuous by the absence from their sides of those leather cased wooden appendages of their belts with which the heads of many citizens of London bave become painfully familiar. Then, along the walls each side of the quadrangle was placed gas tubing with jets at short intervals, eo that the out-door meeting might enjoy light when the sun went down; and, close to the porch of the Guildhall a platform formed of loose stones was improvised, upon which the Reform leaders could hamngue the multitude. Add to this the fact that constables were placed at Cheapside, where it is inxsrseuwu uy iiEiig-oMA-ocu, ouu U.LçPl.LaI' "7 „ i *3 to prevent the street traffic from interrupting-the —aa regards the action of tho autWiti^s—to those lately held in London. A cab was iraproviseS as a chair, and Mr. John Richardson took ma passion upon it as chairman, when the resolutions which were being spoken to inside the Guildhall were read to the crowd, and the meeting was addressed by Mr. Wool- terton, Mr. Lester, Mr. Leno, and Mr. Osborne. At the same time another gathering in the yard was being addressed in a similar way by Mr. Bradlaugh, Mr. Mantle, Mr. B. Langley, and Mr. Nieaas, Mr. G. Brooke being chairman. The cheers of the populace outside could be distinctly heard in the Guildhall itself, and in this manner there were three' meetings going on at once. The number of people outside the hall were variously estimated at from three to five thousand. The Lord Mayor, attended by the raaee^anc, swoi. bearer, with their iaBignia of office, entered the ana at half-Dast seven, and was loudly cheered. I The Lord Mayor, in opaning the proceedings, begged to return his thanks for the hearty reception he had met with, and to say that was there in the char^e of his municipal duties, and he would never shrink from anything done in that hall which de- manded the presence of the chief magistrate. The present meeting was held, as he understood, for the rmrpose of permitting the free expression of the feel- ings of the working classes m that hall upon the great question of political reform (cheers). It was essential to the success of such a gathering that the proceed- ings should ba conducted with good temper and mode- ratidn (cheers). He had never geea a larger or more intellectual gathering of working men under one roof, and that alone was a guarantee for order. Ho con- cluded by introducing Mr. BeeJes, the President of the Reform League, to the meeting as tha mover of the first resolution. Mr. Baales said that it fell to his lot as President of the Reform League to propose the first resolution—the other speakers being working meh in the popular sense of the word; though, as regarded the working of the brain, he also claimed to be considered a working man, Mid a very hard working man—(cheers)—with all due defer- ence to his friends of the Tory press, who in the excess of their love and kindness to nvn who had furnished them recently so much matter to write about, would, if they could,macfehimabrieflessbarrister. Tberesolution he had the honour to propose wag as folio vrs:—" That the moderate measure of Reform introduced. by her Ma- jesty's late Government having been rejected by Parlia- ment, and the present Government having indefinitely postponed the question of Reform, this meeting feels it its duty to declare that the great body of the unen- franchised working classes in this country will be satisfied with nothing less than the speedy introduc- tion of a bill for the amendment of the representation on the baais of residents! and registered manhood suffrage and the ballot." It w&g a significant sipa of the times, and a somewhat serious warning to the anti- reform faction in this «ountrys that suoh a resolution should be, as it would, carried by a large majority, if not unanimously, in the Guildhall of the City of London (cheers). It was, perhaps, the first time in which working men had held a meeting them- selves in defence of thei)- rights in that building. The existence of the present ministry as an anti- reform ministry was only on sufferance (bear. hear). It had but a minority in parliament, while in tb.< country it waa regarded as only existicg because om betoved Sovereign, according to the present: faahior and etiquette in such matters, had no other person! to whom she could anolv t" +!k-a the reins or govern- uv ,Y"¡'V" I.tV \1.ú.f¡.O UUV "0. -• W, >- ment on the resignation of the IRtfj It was, in fact, the strongest possible proof that the present system of the representation oi the people in Parliament was nothing more than a fiction and a delusion, and that the present House of Commons violated its own character, its own title, was nothing more than an exclusive and oligarchical assembly, elected by a mere fraction of the commons of this country, when at the present great crisis, when the country wag crying out for Reform, the administration of public affairs should have been committed to such men, notwithstanding t-hovico ot the present system of representation was so notorious that its amendment had been urged in ppeech after speech from the throne; and that they, with the as- sistance of the Liberal renegades, should be able to de. feat the attempt of the late Government to arpend thE representation; and that now upon takingtofSce the3 positively declared that they postponed indefinitely the question of Reform altogether. I" adverting t< the late disturbances in Hyde-park, he said Lor> Derby, whose literary and debating powers and hig. principle he highly respected, had recently stated that however good a. cause may be, however it may be commended to the reason of the country, it could only be injured in the opinion of the public and in the opinion of the Legislature, if it be attempted to be supported by anything bearing the ap- pearance of violence or intimidation." He (Mr. Beales) assented to every word of the noble earl and to the principles so laid down, as the president of a body advocating manhood suffrage and the ballot. The principle laid down recalled to his mind the scene which had taken place on the 23rd of July last, when his request for admittance into Hyde-park had cer- tainly met with something in the shape of intimida- tion, in the uplifted truncheons of police —(shame) — under the direction of the very Government of which Rul Dorby was himself the chief— (hisses). Tha Times, in commenting on Mr. Mason Jones's letter, had im- proved upon the Earl of Derby's guarded allusions, and protested against any attempt on the part cf the Ra- form League to overawe reason by brute force, a-rid to sitenca discussion by threateningdemonstrations. That wa,1) a modest protest, considering that the brute force which had first made its appearance on the 23rd of July to overpower reason was the force em- ployed against the Reform. League for the purpose of preventing the entrance of those members into the park, and for the brute force which had been provoked in opposition it had nobody but itself to blame (cheers). Under what circumstances had the Reform League in its advocacy of manhood suffrage end the ballot held the demonstration which had been called threatening, and a meana of overpowering rea.son by brute force ? Invectives had been poured out in Par- liament and in the press of the anti-reform faction against tha working classes. They had been cha- racterised by one well known to the Times— (hisses and cries of "Lowe") -as so venal, ignorant, and vicious, as to be unfit for the franchise, end so besotted as not to care for it. If it were true that the crown had still the right to exclude the public from the parks, was it wise, just, or politic to exercise that, right on an occasion when the people wished to uee it for one of the most important aad constitutional of all their rights (hear, hear, and cries of No ") ? Put, E independently of that, what became of the reasoning of Earl Darby and the Times, when it was notorious that the same Government offered to the Reform League Primrose-hill for their meeting (cheers) ? Could they legally overpower reason by brute force, and use intimidating and threatening demonstrations against the Government on Primrose-Mil (cheers and laughter) ? What, then, became of the allegations of Lord Derby and of the Times, when the meeting pro- hibited on Monday had been held by himself in the same park on Wednesday with the eon sent of the same Government ? The verdict on that question was now recorded, and the Reform League could appeal to the whole country, whose verdict could neither be arrested nor changed. The prohibition of the 23rd of July had done more to advance the cause of Reform than a hundred such meetings could have done—(hear, bear)— to unite the people in its support (cheers). The Go- vernment and its partisans were doing all they could to advance the cause of the League. No half and half measure of Reform would no v be listened to for a moment. The banner of the Reform League-man- hood suffrage and the ballot—would be more and more hailed throughout the length and breadth of the land until its principles were adopted. In conclusion, he appealed to the meeting to pass the resolution uusnimously (cheers). Mr. G. Potter seconded the resolution. He said that they had met in that ancient hall by the permission of the Court of Common Council to discuss the question of Parliamentary Reform. They demanded reform on the principle that honesty, morality, and justice ought to be observed in matters of Government taxation; and in order to secure the observance of that principle it was necessary that each class should be adequately represented in Parliament. The only way to secure the greatest happiness of all, in a political sease, was to give the rights of citzenship to every man who was not morally or mentally incapacitated. The Govern- ment of England was said to be a representative one, but out of a population of 7,500,000 adult males, S4 per cent., or upwards of 6,000,000 had no more voice Ei making the laws than they had in making tbose ox Russians or barbarians (shame). On what principle were those 6,000,000 excluded ? The elective fran- chise wes alike a. right and a necessity. It was I a lig^, o",e.a.u" it w. aaaamod Yj-y ttva \<;> be the reason why obedience to the laws was exacted, that the subject was present at the making of the laws in the House of Commons, either personally or by delegate. That was a nut for the Tory Standard to crack. The franchise was also a necessity, because it was necessary to protect the subject from plunder and oppression, from class Government and misrule (cheers). The Tories gave one reason for the exclusion of the working classes from the franchise and the Adullamites another. They had been insulted and slandered by the Tories, and called venal, ignorant, and corrupt by the Adullamites, while, they were de- prived of their rights of citizenship by a. combined and overbearing oligarchy (cheers). They therefore do. manded the restoration of the rights of which they had been defrauded, their claims having been again and again recognisea as reasonable by the Queen in successive speeches from the throne. Their voice wm now making itself heard; they were making rapid strides in social progress, and their advanced intelli. gence fully entitled them to share in the management, of public affairs. Above all, they had learnt the value of unity, and he was sure that by exercising a little patience they would succeed. With confidence m the great leader of the Liberal party (cheers), who haa advocated their cause in the House of Commons, ana defended them asainsfe the slanders of the Tories- I with such leaders as Mr. Gladstone (cheers), M.r. Bright, Mr. Mill, and Mr. Collier, the day was not tar distant when their full political rights would be accorded to them (cheers'). The motion was taen put and carried unanimously. Mr. Conolly, a stonemason, aad a member of the Working Man's Association, moved the next resolu- tionT'hatunlessthepresent Governcaentis prepared to redeem the antagonism it has already exhibited to popular rights, by the speedy introduction of a bill for the amendment of the representation of the people, in accordance with the preceding resolution, it will be the imoerative duty of Reformers throughout the country to withhold from such a Government all sympathy and support." Ha said that in his opinion the working classes could offer no clearer demonstration of loyalty than coming to the City of London to express in the presence of the Lord Mayor their opinions on a great constitutional question. It WM pleasing to the citizens of London to reflect that in the late debate on the Reform Bill the representa,tives of the City had faithfully advocated the cause of Reform. As an Irish- man they certainly must have tbe greatest confidenea in him, when he reflected that 400 years ago the Lord Mayor and aldermen of London led an army against Jack Cade. People had got wiser since, and now knew that no difference of opinion justified the shed- ding by each other of; the blood of their countrymen. The working classes had, by tbe force of reason, and the support of the wise and good, every reason to T L il 1 Hnrvnnr<n f V. A f Mnfl (%V 1 3 O. T-Ta KAUCJU \}li.AIIJ uuwj 1'1' concluded by saying tha.t it was not the way to advance I political liberty to commence by bludgeoning the people in Hyde-park. He quite exonerated Mr. Walpole from any design on the liberties^ of the people, but expressed his opinion that the right hon. I gentleman would not be long able to act with his less liberal colleagues. Mr. G. Odgers seconded the resolution. He observed that the conduct of the Reform League, under its leader, Mr. Beales, a man well known for his common sense and his appreciation of the constitution, had been most moderate from the commencement of its existence; but no sooner had it started than the Stan- dard, Mrs. Gamp, called aloud to Mrs. Grundy and Mrs. Partington to help her to sweep it away. He con- tended that it would have been a gracieus concession on the part of the Government to have permitted them to hold a peaceable meeting in the park. Finding that the park-gates were closed against them they had only one course to pursue, and that was to go and make a quiet demand for admission, but they were met by Sir Richard Mayne and his bludgeoned policemen, who in the most reckless manner, struck down a neaceable and unarmed people, including even women and children. But for every man, woman, and chud thus struck down there would rise up ten men deter- rained to obtain their just political rights. Tne ■Rflfnrm League were determined to work steadily during the winter,preparing systematically and wisely for the next Parliamentary campaign (cheers). Tne ^resident of the League would not desert them, and would never lead them to anything wrong, but to a calm and dignified success (cheers). If the present for the next Parliamentary campaign (cheers). Tne ^resident of the League would not desert them, and would never lead them to anything wrong, but to a calm and dignified success (cheers). If the present Government would introduce a good measure, not only would they meet with the support of the working L classe3, but he felt sure that the Ministry would meet with no factious opposition from Mr. Gladstone and the other leaders of her Majesty's Opposition (cheers). The resolution was carried by acclamation. Mr. Upshall then moved I. That the working men and others composing this meeting pledge themselves to support the objects and principles of the Reform League and the Working Men's Association, by en- rolling themselves either as members of the Associa- tion or the League, and by all other legitimate means." Ke expressed his belief that tha Tories would intro- duce a much larger measure of Reform than the late bill, and he was convinced that the reason why the vorking people did not so thoroughly support the late Government by agitating for an extension of the franchise waa because they felt that the measure in- troduced was not liberal enough. I he Working Men's Association not only advocated manhood suffrage and the ballot, but an equalisation of II electoral district?, so as to get rid of Tory coer- cioii in the country at large. He urged on the meeting to join with the Working Sien s Association in demanding their just rights; but while they main- tained a peaceable aspect they should evince their unalterable determination never to cease^ agitating until they had obtained the fulfilment of their poutu.ca>. rights (cheers). Mr. Coffey, a bootmaker and member of the Reu'.rm League, seconded the motion. Mr. Mason Jones next addressed the meeting. He said that he was pleased, as the meeting was composed almost exclusively of working men, that working men had addressed them that evening, and he was equally pleased to see tho people at last rousing _them- selves into real vital political action. Within the last fortnight they had witnessed the greatest outrage that could be inflicted upon a free people; and in point of fact the Tory party, during its snort tecuce of office, had managed to cover itself with odium. In the first place, they paid that. the people did not care for Reform, and when by the mass ia et- ings which had been held it became obvious that the working men of England did care, they insulted and slandered them, and"finally endeavoured to put an end to their meetings by brute force. The resulo of all this would be a renewed and more earnest demand for Reform than bad ever yet been made, and the numbers, intelligence, wealth and infi.uencs> waich they could bring to bear on the Government were now so great that a far more liberal measure would be exacted than bad been offered by the late Government. He eincerelv hoped that in addition to passing the resolu- tionq they had passed they would agree to a petition to the Qaeen, signed on behalf of the meeting by the chairman, oalling on her to dismiss the present Caoiret and recall Lord Russoll, iiir. U-ladstone, and the Lioeral party to her councils. Mr. Bradlaugh, in the course of a short address, pointed out that it would be very inopportune at a meeting presided over by the Lord Mayor to compro- mise him by adopting a petition such as that sug- gested. The Reform League had now places of its own where such petitions had been and could be fit- tingly agreed to but the present meeting was rat-aer in the shape of a demonstration from the working men of London in favour of Reform. If the Lord Mayor joined the League in his private capacity, nothing would give them greater pleasure, and he ehauld be rejoiced to see the day when a memorial in a niche in the Guildhall commemorated the fact that the great Reform movement, begun with renewed vigour in his mayoralty, had been attended by a glorious success. The resolution was agreed to. Mr. Weston, joiner, Reform League, moved the fol- lowing resolution, which was greeted with great cheer- ing That the cordial thanks and confidence oftou meeting are most justly due, and aro hereby presen^ to the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor, ? and courteous conduct in the ch^r °^^»ou and the warm thanks^ moen CouSor thSr kindly granting the use of tha M, Davis, painter, Working Man's Association, and carried by acclama- tioa and the Lord Mayor having briefly replied, the proceedings terminated.

BENDING BAD MEAT TO THE LOEDQM MARKETS. Several cases have been brought before tae magig- 1 trates at Guildhall lately, in which fines have been in- flicted for introducing bad meat into t\Q London markets, The following case waa heard Cll Satur- dafame3 Cook, who is what is termed a knacksr- man," residing at m. Ives, was summoned befsre Mr. Alderman Waterlow, by the Commissioners of Sewers for the City of London, to answer the following charge: For that you are the person to whom did belong three pieces of beef, which were, on the 5th day of July last, deposited in Newgate-market for the pur- pose OF sale, and intended for the food of man, tne same being diseased and unfit for tha food of man, against the statllte," L-c. blr. Baylis prosecuted for the Commissioners of Sewers. The defendant said he was the person to whom the three pieces of beef belonged. James Newman said he was inspector of meat at N^wgate-markefc. On the 4th of July ho saw three ouarters of beef in the shop of Mr. Stearn, in Newgate- market. The tally (a ticket) was on one of them, and tbe note produced wa3 under the package. On the Gth of July he showed it to the defendant, ana lie stated that it was his handwriting. The three quarters were of an animal that had suffered from disease a lon» time—some months; the flesh and bones were quite white, and any one acquainted with meat mus, have known for some tune that it was fou, an^ unhu for human focid. It waa full of water. On tne 6,h o, bA «a.w the defendant, wno was a kn»o*<u- "0 man," and told him he had come to see mm aoou„ *ne meat he had sent up to Mr. Steam. He said he hM received the condemning note. he had bought the cow tcr 40s., and .that ae aud h,g man had killed it. He thought it good, enough to s.na to London. He and his man had eaten some of it, ana the rest he had given to the "jigs. William Wood, of Godmanchester, said ua bougc-a the cow for 25s., and sold it to the defendant for 37a. It was then alive. The skin was worta 10s. He u thought it was worn out with age, but aid not think it was diseased. John Blott Fordham, a veterinary surgeon of be. hes, said that in May last be was called on to examine some cows, which a. Mr. Herbert wanted to turn OUT on the common. That co v was amongst them, and she appeared so diseased tba.t he refused to pass her. Henry Friend, porter at the St. Ives railway station, said that on the 4th of July the defendant left three packages of meat at the station with a. label on them similar to that produced. The defendant said he did not know the meat was unfit for human food, nor did he know the cow was I d^eaSvO. f.llic o. WW bad Bir. AUJerman vvaaeriuw .— case, and one that the imposition of a fine WGUI<- not: meet. He should, therefore, send the defendant .or one month's hard labour to the House of Correction. Richard Head Holt, of Edgcott and Grendon, Bucks, w.is summcned b,, James in-pector of meat ,4, N, for a precisely simi'Lar oo6ace, but under less aggra.vated ciccamstances. In this case the defendant was a larmer, and l'liS 'b, s&rs t £ "S to town- bThTLTchtnpfc^earedlafi3ta witness, and muntained rss I, a case of this kind before, and baa sola «ae meat to liis ctistomsrs. n Mr. Alderman Waterlow fined him £ 5 and costs, which were paid. J Tha inspector afterwards applied to Mr. Alderman Waterlow to condemn 172 oz tongues. He said about six o'clock that morning he saw in the shop of Mr. Bonsor, in Newgate-market, 172 ox tongues contained in two barrels. They were in a stinking condition, and utterly unfit for human food. Hia attention was called to them by the stench. Mr. Fisher, the collector of the market, confirmed the above statement as to the condition of the tongues. Mr. Alderman Waterlow made ail order for the tongues to be destroyed. Tile Austrian rifled guns which have been taken oy the Prussians are made of braes, on the same sys- tem aa the French ones, and are muzzle-loaders. The Prussian rifled ganE are all breech-loaders, and made of steel.