St. Croix Avis (Christiansted, St. Croix [V.I.]) 1844-Current
October 31, 1865

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‘}i’f\a N BE oae el avh, son S B O 3 3 P eaas 13 o AN eST PRI Ao] i o '&-'5"; ;v.,t.;‘!ih. e “3““;"1 kv I.‘" 3 S 'R:c%v"?“fl BiRE AR p R LGP e E3a e A Rl it ».H-‘.?_; oty BT et e =o) B 7 ,"'-i R _F,;-‘q.q?, 2 3 Goroauh ER At SEPRT S o F e 2 REAY e ~%s WA T S et Epmi g L v‘e.:{.fiifj‘ TR, R s IR /e”’ -e g v PERCER PR —e, ~.F:«fl‘?‘fiéjm i"‘ AU B el AL SEA B e g T R, Woihea B 2 G Bel £os e S hil i| €5 3 i (s s IholVvin: HANS HMATOHETT TRYKT 1 ENKEN HARRIET HATCRETT'S BOGTRYKKERIL 21de Aarg.] The “AVIS? IS EDITED BY HANS HATCHETT; AND PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY. for the Proprietress. Terms of Subscription.—Six Dollars per an pum, payable quarterly in advance. Single number to non-advertisers——lo cents. ge@ Parties desirous of withdrawing their sulscription to the Avis’’ are required to give three months previous notice. Terms of Advertising, Approved by Government, 25th June, 1855. Foranadvertiscment of 8 lines, or under, one to three lusertions—- Small Type (Brevier) 1 to Blines....sl 00 Gag eoSR AT TSGR B G R Larger Type (Long Primer, Small Pica, Pica, Oolumbisa:) 1 to 8 hines T 00 ONar 8 limen, B, 106 ciane 10 ¥or o line of lavpent Iypo ..o inivs 12 025 lor 1 to 3 subsequent insertions, the hall amount of the first charge will be made. Ail advertisements for insertion must be delivered at this Ofice on Mondays and Thursdays, notlaterthan 4 o'clock P. M. accompanied with the CASEH, as otherwise insertion will be refused. The Postageon lettersto this Oflice from West End or St Thomas must be prepaid, or no notice will be taken of c4€ell. W Shipping Intelligence. L IENTERED AT CHRISTIANSTED Oct. 30,—Danish ship IHelene Catbarine, G. Koudtsen, Hamburg via St Kitts, Merchandise. CLEARED AT (HRISTIANSTED: Oct. 31, English brig Ida Abbott, B, G. Clark, st. Thomas, Ballast. From the Edinburgh Review.) THE WEST INDIES AS THEY WERE 4’.\ll\“‘: D f.\. l{ E ART. V.—l. Jamaica in 1850 or the Effects of Sixteen Years of Free dom in a Slave Colony. By JoHN BicELow. Bvo. New York: 1852. 2. Copies or Extracts of Despatches relating to the Sugar-Growing Colonics. Presented to Parliament by command of Her Majesty. 1851 —IBSB. 3. Returns of the Quantities of Sugar Exported from the British West India Islands, and Entered in the United Kingdom. Parliamentary Papers. 1858. (Continued ¥From Jamaica, and from Jamaica alone, the accounts continue to be discouraging. Those received in 1853 and 1854, after the terrible de vastation of the cholera and small-pox, were very painful indeed. It is natural to ask why, when every other colony is rapidly rising to pros perity, why should this island, the finest and most important of all, be etill in a depressed condition Nor is this quéstion easily answered. In others of the West Indian colonies there is a superabundance of waste land. The other colonies have had to contend with difficulties of encum bered estates, absentee proprietors, and a great fall in the price of pro duce. The other colonies have had their slaves set free, and have had to buy labour as best they could. Why should Jamaica be still deep under water, while they are afloat? We caunot discover any specific cause which has operated there but did not operate in other colonies, execept it be the superlative badness of its government. ‘There is,” says Sir C. Grey, ‘no system or consistency whatever in the conduct of the financial affairs of the colony, nor any recognised organ of gevernment or legislature which has the power to bring about effective and compre hensive improvements.”* Though giving full weight to the difficulty arising from the want of labeur. j e iTi’npers relative to Jamaica, 1854, p. 6. CHRISTIANSTED, TIRSDAGEN den 31te OCTOBER 1865. THE 50 MULES received by the “Antelope™ having re-

covered from their sca vovage, will be exposed for Sale at our Lumber Yard on Monday the 6th November

at 12 o’clock. Bassin October 30th, 1865. ROCHE BROS. <o, f f 4de AUCTION. f[ A intet antageligt Bud skete ved UJ 3de Auction over

No. 52 A. Compagnie Gade og No. 40 B. Compagnie Gade tilhorende l afsangne Mrs, Maria Shoridan vil 4de Auction ved bemeldte Eiendom- me blive afholdt LOverdagen den 4de T am persuaded,” says Sir H. Barkly, ‘that the want of mutual con fidenco in the transu@tions of every day life, and the insecurity of pro perty arising from the inadequacy of the existing arrangements for en foreing the law, are at the root of the eyils which are shaking society in this island to its basis.’ Some important changes, however, have been made; and the effect already is visible in rapid improvement. The ezports of the island rose’ from 837,2767. in 1853, up to 1,003,325, in 1853, being an increase of 166,0401. in two years. Andin the latter year the Governor ‘says, I fecl far more confident of the ultimate restoration of prosperity than I ever did before.”™ The latest news is of last October, when the commercial report was that, ‘The southern districts have suffered greatly from severe drought, and the deficicncy would be very large. But on the north side of the island the prospects were the best known for many years. “The government had in no way relaxed the stringency of its finan cial enactments, and the country was suffering greatly under the pressure of cxcessive taxation.” Times, Oct. 2. 1858.) Even Jamaica then secms to be making some steps forward but still it is far outrun by the other islands. Though a catalogue raisonné of them may seem dull, yet we feel it to be of so much consequence to ghow how thoroughly freedom of labour and trade is working out the most beneficial results, that we shall venture to give a series of extracts from the Governors’ reports, describing the state and prospects of each colony, But lest it should be thought that these extracts are carefully culled to produce a particular impression, and that if the reader had the whole reports before him he would find complaiots and lamentations, we may at onee say that they appear to us to'be fair samples of the views entertained by the Governors, and also by other gentlemes acquainted with the West Indies. The language of complaint is no longer heard. Throughout these colonies hope and congratulation’seem to have taken the place of irritation and despair.} 2 Antigua.—Satisfactory evidence is afforded, by the revenue returns, of ingrease in trade and mercantile business, consequent upon the revival of a!écultural prosperity.§ rlo fal Bahamas—The rapidity with which these islands are -advancing; is indicated by the fact that the exports and imports rose from 201,4971. The Reports of the last two or three years contain no information, or sta tisties, as to the general state of Jamaica. We have always taken the last account we could find but very often the governors send reports full of local affairs, with no reference to the general state of the island. 1n all cases, the later the report the more gratifying it is found to be. 1 Report, 1858. November d. A. paa Auctions Con toiret respective Klokken 12 og 2 slet. Christiansteds Auctions Contoir d. 30te October 1865. J. A, Stakemanmn. 4th AUCTION. O suitable offer being made at UJ the 3rd Vendue on o The Properties No. 52 A. Company Street and No. 40 B. Company Street belonging to ‘he late Mrs. Maria Sheridan a 4th v endue will be held on said proper ties Saturday 4th November next at the Vendue Office, at 12 2 o’clock respectively. Christiansted’s Vendue Office, the 30th October 1865. J. A. Stakkemannmn. MBECEIVED in the Helene Catha [\j rine aud for sale by-the Under cioned: An assortment of PROVI SIONN and DRY GOODs. Bassin, Oetober 30th 1865. PETER LASSEN. [Nr. 87.

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REPORT Os the Receip t of Deposits at the St. Croix SAVINGS BANK, On Saturday, 28th October 1865. et it Receivers: IN CHRISTIANSTED T. E. Mendes, Esq., Trustee. IN FREDERIESTED W. Peebles, Esq. Trustee. Amount of former deposits. 244,934 75 4 deposits of 20 cents each. 11 above 20 cts. and under 1. e 5 y o. s 5 s 10. s W 60. 31 deposits, of which 29 in Christiansted amounting o a0 8 18 11} 21n Frederiksteddo. 11 00 85 11 Total $245,019—gg Balance of deposits 51,5‘;2 28 2 new deposit accounts, viz.: 2 Minors. 11 Withdrawals amounting t0..5189 47, Receivers for Saturday, 4th Nov. 1865. "IN CHRISTIANSTED Abr. Meyer, Esq., Trustee. J. de Pontavice, Esq., Member. IN FREDERIKSTED Counsellor Rahr, Trustee. R. G. Knight, Esq., Member. GEO. BEHAGEN President. St. Croix, 30th October 1865. in 1854, to 304,421/, in 1855, an increase of 102,924/ in one year. Twenty three vessels were built in the colony in the year 1855.* "The governor refers, in 1851, to the *great and important change for the better” in the condition of the people, which he }nainly attributes to improved education.’ Barbadoes—~lßs3. ‘‘Vast increase of trade-” «So far the success of oultivation by free labour in Barbadoes is unquestionable.” “In 1851 more sugar shipped from this island than in any one year since it has been peopled and it is a remarkable fact that there will be more labourers’ sugar made this year than previously.” "Sugar exported in 1842, 21,545 hogsheads in 1852, 48,785; the increase being 27,240 hogsheads.’ In 1858, ‘a great inorease in the value of the exports.’ *The large prosortion of land acquired by the labouring classes furnishes striking evidence of their industry.’ Dominica. 1853. ‘The steady maintenance of production is full of promise as to the fature.’t The exports show a considerable increase under heads of sugar, rum, coffce, cocoa, oranges, fruits, hides, hard wood, and cotton. 1857. ‘Very considerable increase in revenue, and an equally marked improvement in the amount of imports” The Gov ernor also dwells on the industry of the bulk of the population, and i the great amount of general comfort and independence among the labour ing olass, in which their industry has resulted.} “The native labourer, whose growing independence, manifested in the small patches of canes and little wooden mills here and there dot ting the chequered plain around,” the sigpificance of which was so point edly alluded to in the last despatch of your Excellency’s predecessor, has risen a step higher, and we now see him becoming the lessee of large sugar plantations regular eztablished, with all the usual appliances. As witness, for example, the lessce of Hope Vale Estate, containing 492 acres, with water mill and works complete theo lessee of Perseverance Estate, containing 522 acres, with steam engine and other apparatus; and the leséee of Mount Hardman, formerly a sugar estate, and lately a cattle farm, with 400 acres of pasture and wood, soon to be revived into its former state of flourishing luxuriance. True, these were abandonéd properties belonging to absentand needy propretors, who had not the means of keeping up the cuttivation, and were glad to concede them on mere nominal terms; but in the course of time the properties will im prove without any cost to the owners, while they furnish the means of profitable employment to and engage the enterprise of an aspiring class. It is cases like these that the more intelligent labourer is laying iimself out for; and as he can manage more economically than his educated landlord, he spends less, and saves more; and when he cannot find a friend to assist him with pecuniary sdvances, he procures the physica) e e e ettt e et Ibid. 1856, t Report, 1854, 1 Report, 1858. ST CRO(X AVLS. ROUTE OF STEAMER

Clara Rothe, From 18TH OCTOBER TO IST NOVEMBER. APPROVED BY GOVERNMENT. Wednesday |lß{Leaves St. Thomas for West End at 7 Aa.M Do.....|lß[Leaves West End for St. Thomas at 5 p. M. Thursday .{l9 _ Friday ...|2O Saturday ..|2l| }On the repairing Slip to clean Sunday ..[22| Bottom. _ Monday ..[23] Tuesday ..[24Leaves St. Thomas for Bassin at 7 A M. Do.”. ..|24/Leaves Bassin for St. Thomas at 5 P. M. s WednesdaylQSlLeaves St. Thomas for West End at 7A. m. Do.. ..[25/Leaves West End for St. Thomas at sp. M. Th.-ursday -|26| Remains in St. Thomas. Friday .27 Leaves St. Thomas for St. Johns (Pto. Ro.) at 8 p. m._ Saturday (28 Leaves St. Johns (Pto. Re.) for l West End and St. Themas atß A. M. Sunday ..|29 Remains in St. Thomas. Monday. |3o|Leaves St. Thomas for Bassin at 7 A M. D0.....|30/Leaves Bassin for St. Thomas at SP. M e 91/Awaits arrival of EuropeanSteam ‘l\Petjgggdd) 3; er and convevs Mails to West l End and St. John's, P.R. Christiansted 17th October 1865. JULIUS KNUTHSEN, Agent. h 4 A I executed at this Office jnß PR‘NT'NG with neatness and des v PRy satoh, help of his fellow labourers, and at harvest either shares the produce or remunerates them from the proceeds of the sale. Even the “old esta blished hands,”” who fiod it difficult to struggle against the tide, are now, emulating the despised ‘“wooden mills,”’ and gladly take the cunes of their own labourers and neighbouring petty settlers, and manufacture them on the share system, in order to make up something like a return of produce on their ancient patrimony.’ From Grenada we hear (1858) that ‘contentment appears to per vade all classes of the community.’ ‘A proprietary body of tonsiderable magnitude and importance has already risen from the labouriong class.’ ‘State of the finances most satisfactory,’=-owing to augmentation in the imports. Some remarks on the want of labour, but the trade of the island rose in the last two years of which we have returns (1851 and 1852) from 205,2821. to 293,696/., an increase of 88,4147, In the ‘Times’ of October 15, 1858, the Grenada Report is that ‘a greatly extended surface is covered by (sugar) cultivation.” A con siderable increase is noted in the exforts of sugar, rum, and cocoa. 1t bas been urged on the people of Grenada by Mr. Thomson Hap key, M. P., to abolish all tonnage and import-duties, and make all taxa tion direct but at present they have not adopted this sensible advice. A class of peasant proprietors and renters of land has come into existence, which in its degree is making rapid strides in prosperity and indepeudence, and a new class of tradesmen more fitted to supply its limited wants than the larger mercantile firms. But with the change in their position the peasantry of Grevada have hitherto altered but very slightly their simple habits of life, and consequently their purohases of imported goods for personal consumption do not ‘sugce to fill up the void that bas been created. As they advance in civilisation as well as in material well-being, they will no doubt become tonsumers on a more ex tended scale, but the present tariff being adapted to a different state of things, operates to check this development.’ Guiana.—None of the West Indies have gone through a harder struggle. ‘The fall of prices in 1847 and 1848 was 80 sudden and so enormous as to have almost annihilated the colony at that crisis,” writes the Governor in 1852; but he goes on to state, t{mt’ BBow, ‘the revenue is flourishing, population augmenting, education spreading, crime dimin ishing, and trade increasing.’ Montserrat.—After referring to ‘the improved and improving state of the community, as allowed on all hands,’ and giving various fetails, the Governor says, (in 1853), ‘So much for the increase of confidence, enterprise, and industry in Montserrat.” ‘No island in these seas ex. hibits a more decisive tendency to social and moral regeneration and im provement.. The rural population are guiet, contented, and orderly. Their condition one of great comfort.” A new system of taxstion (as we nnderstand, throwing it off imports upon real property) came into opera- AUCTION. HE public is hereby reminded of that the Auction on HOUSE LOT No. 41 A.B.C. in Company Street Christiansted belonging to the late Mrs. Sheridan, will take place on the premises Monday 6th Novem.- ber 1865, 12 o’clock noon. Christiansted’s Dealing Court Of fice 26th October 1865, J. A. Stakemann. e il i MR. JAMES GORDON, SURGEON DENTIST, arrived this merning by the Clara Rothe from St Thomas, and has taken rooms at the Crown Ilotel where he will remain for one weel only. e will be happy to see those who may require his services from 10 a. m. to 5 p. m. Mr. GorpoN has always on hand a supply of Tooth-powdet. Christiansted October 24, 1865. DIED on Thursday last, the 26th instant, Mrs. Harry Rainals, borah Deacon, the beloved wife of Harry Rainals Esqr, Her Britannic Majesty’s Consul in this Island. Mrs. Rainals was born in Hailey House, Hertfordshire, Eng land in the year 1826 and had resided in this Island since 1863. Her remains were nterred on the following morning, followed by the authorities of the Island and a large circle of surrowing frionds,

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From the Barbados West Indian, October 24.) RIOT AT JAMAICA. The news from Jamaica is truly dis tressing. No doubt the circumstances are exaggerated let us hope so, at any rate, in respect of the dreadful atrocities said to have been committed by the mob. It is represented as an insarrection of the black people against the white, and fears are entertained that Jamaica will become another Haiti. We cannot believe there is ground for any such anticipations. It is more likely to have arisen from dis content and exasperated feelings, excited, with or witliout just cause, amongst the laboring class in the district about Mo rant Bay, from which it spread like a conflagration into the neighboring parish of St. Thomas-in-the-East. It is also re ported—we know not if it is more than a surmise—that the dissatisfaction was o%¢- casioned by a reduction of wages. Ano ther report attribates it to an increase of taxes, and the imposition of an obnoxious poll tax, or ecattle tax, resented as a grievance by the numerous small land holders and tenants. We must wait for further intelligence and more detailed ac counts before we speculate upon the cause or the result of the deplorable out rages which we fear have been unhappily committed. No such atrocities, no vio lence attended with anything like the same amount of bloodshed and display of angry feeling between the whites and the blacks have taken place in any one of the British West India Coloniessince the proclamation of Negro Emancipation thir ty years ago. Strange that we should now have to record such things for the first time. How can it be explained? Wihat is the value of the experience of a generation, the labours of Ministers of religion of every denomination and the tion in June, 1856, and with such striking and powerful effect, that the imports more than -doubled in value in the course of the year! Nevis.—The case of this island is peculiarly interesting, because in it an experiment bas been tried in taxation, which may perhaps some day become generally adopted throughout the world. Things in Nevis had got to such.a desperate state—tley were, in fact, past all bearing— that at last Mr. President Seymour, a gentleman of remarkable boldness and vigour, induced the legislature to consent to a radical change in the fiscal system. The import duties were totally abolished and a tax of 20 per cent. placed on rentals: Suiall as the field was in which this experiment was tried, its aston ishing results are worth noting by statesmen: The new system came into play, March, 1836. In that year the imports rose from 19,7881, to 34,4491. New shops were specdily opened. ?louse-rent rose threefold. The sound of the hammer was heard, and the smell of fresh palnt expe rieneed, where all had beea_crumbling decay. ‘The roads appear as if the greater part of thie popufation had new clothed themselves, and in the barbour, so often deserted, I new count tent Bhips of considerable burden.’* S St. Kitts.—*A larger quantity of Sugaf is produced now than in the time of slaVcr{,’w‘ (though on a smaller. area). ‘The sgricultural pros pects of the island are most encoutaging. Itß financial condition con tinues satisfactory; so do the Education retgrns. The whole trade in creased from 246,536/ in 1856, to 352,769/, in 1857—an intiease of 106,233%. in one year! Atteudance in schools steadily increasingj; crime steadily diminishing.’§ St. Lucia.—*At po period in her listory was there a greater breadth of land under cultivation than at the present moment.’|| The Education: Returns are ‘om the whole extremely satisfactory.” There seems to the Governor to be ‘an increasing desire on the part of a very respectable{] portion of the inhabitants to avail themselves of the schools.” In 1857, the Adwinistrator notes the extension of cane cultivation and says that ‘the aspect of the country is more promising: the pros pecis of the agricultarists are encouraging.’ Sugar exported from 1838—1842, 4,588,475 lbs. and from 1852 1856, 6,392,093 Ibs. the increase being 1,803,518 Ibs. Report, 1857: President Rumbold, who succeeded President Seymour, disapproved of the change, on account of the greater difficulty of raising revenue by direct taxation: He says, however, that ‘there appears now to be at work an industrious spirit of improvement cultivation appears to be carefully attended to. .oo There is ample room to hope for the gradual fegenefation of the colony. _ 1 Report, 1856. Jmmd’ 1858. _ Ibid, 1856. Il Report, 1853. ¥ln the sense of a very lirge portion. Report, 1853, ST« OCROILX AV S lessons of the schoolmaster have religi on and education failed to make any im pression upon the heart of the blacks; and has the enjoyment of freedom and equality ‘of privilege not availed to im prove the ¢haracter of the labouring po pulation, and to raise them above the condition of the slave. Shall it be said that Jamaica with advantages and re sources beyond those of any other British Colony in these parts isnot only worse off than any other, but even affords a sad contrast with the improvement visible in %‘;leater or less degree ii every other. 1e following brief statement we take from the Globe of last night. Amongst the victims we learn were Baron Von Ketelholdt, the Custos of the district and Mr. Price, a Magistrate, who trusting to his influence with the people, went out with the Cuastos to-reason with them both of whem were instantly killed My Dear Colonel,— H.M.S. Troop ship Urgent (4) Capt. Henderson, has just arrived in 6 days from Jamaica with urgent despatches for “Troops” to suppress a rebellion which broke out afew days ago, and which is reported had spread on their leaving to St. Thomas-in-the-East, from ¢“Morant,” where it first started. Some 50 or 60 whites had been killed, and 4 or 5 of the rebels had been ¢aptured. This is hasti ly got on board. The Captain has just started to the Governor with his documents. I am yours, The Major-Genl. Commanding lost no time in sending a portion of the small force in garrison at St. Anns, consisting of 429 men besides Oflicers 29, and Non- Commissioned Officers under the com mand of Col. Whitfield, 2nd W.1., which St. Vincent —ln 1852 the Governor déscribed the financial man agement as ‘inexcusable.’ In 1856 important reforms were made’ The result is, that, in 1857, he says, ‘lt is a matter of great satisfaction to me to state that the foundation has been laid for a great and pro gressive improvement.’ J speaks of extended cultivation, and of ‘a really sotind and healthy state of the colony at present, and a cheering and promisinig prospect for. the future.” He says the condition of the labourer is almost universally one of comfort; and describes the rising villages, the growing number of freeholders and leaseholders, and the steady progressive increase in the value of imports.* In 1858 he de. scribes the colony as in a ‘most satisfactory state.” ‘Agricultural opera tions largely extended his anticipation of its continued prosperity had been fully realised. Imports and exports had increased from 249,526/. in 1856, to 406,159, in 1857 an increase of 156,633 l in one year.} And he expressly attributes it to ‘increased cultivation and prosperity.’ He says, ‘the cheerful prospects of 1856 are being fully realised. The present position of St. Vincent is most satisfactory, and its future most promising.’ s In Tobago, again, the accounts were dismal, in 1862 and 1853, which the Governor said was beyond doubt owing to the state of its financial affairs. In 1856, however, an improved system having been adopted, the result iB, that already the Governor ‘has much satisfaction in taking a more encoursging view of the prospects of the colony.’§" A marked im« provéient is visible in the revenue returns. The labourers are described as well-behaved and industrious.§ o _ Tortola under slavery exported 15,559 ewt. of sugar. It now,ex ports none at all. But the change is wholly an advantage. The island is singularly suitable for the raising of stock, and accordingly.‘all the people, witi few exceptions, are owners of eattle, which they dispose of to great advantage.’ Shn il RER It is very gratifying to be able to observe that the labouring popula tion appear fully sensible of the advantages of education te their child ren, and that the latter manifest a great desire to benefit by the oppor tunity afforded them.’ 1857. 1 1858. 1 Ibid. Ibid. (To be continued) left this morning for Jamaica, as shown in the following report:— Retarn of Troops embarked per Ur gent and sailed for Jamaica 12-45 p.m. to-day Capt. Mant, 3 Non Com. Officers and 39 Privates of R. Artillery Capt. Jones, Lieuts Forster and Poctins; Ensigns Russell, Oliver and Lynch, 18 Non-Com. Officers, and 128 rank and file of the 3rd (Buffs). Colonel Whitefield, Brigade- Major Reece, Capts. Wise, Knapp, and Drouett, Lieuts. Brett, Roger, Cooper and Dolan; Ensigns Stanforth, Mitchell and Grant, Adjt. Turton, Pay-Master Ternan, Surgeon Crisp, Assist.,, Surgeon Byrne, and Elger, 48 Non-Com. Officers, and 261 Rank of file of 2nd W.I. Regt. D.A.C.G’s. Monk and Archer. (From the Insurance Record, August 11.) We offer no apology to our general suppor ters for the prominence given to one particular fire and life office in our paper this week. This may be described as a *“Royal”’ number, and there are those who may be ready to take ex ception to the fact; but a few words will, we are Sure, satisfy them that we have reasonable grounds for devoting so much space to the Roy al interests. In tfne first place, this office is an exceptional omne in the rapidity of its rise and the magnitude of its operations. It does not date further back than 1845, and in the compa ratively short period of twenty years it has as serted a position in the very foremost rank of offices. In sporting phraseology, it is the Gla diatewr of insurance, carrying everything be fore it. Now, to watch the progress of such an office is to take a lesson in the art of success, and, apart from this consideration, its proceed ings must be full of interest to all engaged in the pursuit in which it has achieved so much. Then, as a second consideration, the meeting which we report so fully in our columns to-day, is not an ordinary one. It closed the fourth quinquennial period of the society’s existence

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and afforded an opportunity for considering its position, and regarding its progress, retrospec tively, and prospectively, of which the utmost advantage was taken. Viewed from all points, 80 important a meeting in connection with in ~surance is not likely to be held for some time to come, and it therefore demands at our hands the utmost attention. It is a startling fact that on looking to the re port of this singularly successful office, the very first words which arrest the attention have re ference to unfavourable results and losses sus tained. We have suggested that the progress of such a business as that of the Royal is in s.trugtive, and this particular fact is almost too significant to need comment. In two yearsout of the last eight years the fire department of the Royal has resulted in a loss—that of the past year reaching the sum of £4,968 9s. 7d. Ilero 13 a warning to reckless speculators, always ready to embark in new companies, and who talk so flippantly of the enormous gains of the fire offices. The year 1864 was most disas trous in respect of fires: the offices generally were great sufferers, and the Royal, on account of the magnitude of its operations, felt it severe ly. Happily its position and resources ena bled it to regard the constant drain on its purse with social indifference. It could afford to do so. Its distinguished actuary, Mr. Percy M. Dove, while announeing the unfavourable re sults of the year’s fire business, is enabled, in the same breath, to announce that while the profit and loss account is diminished by £4,908 98. 7d., the reserve fund is increased, from other causes, by «£7,355, by which the small loss is more than compensated. Beyond this, the Chairman of the company, Mr. Charles Turner, M.P., assuming the true position that fire husi ness must necessarily be conducted with a view to results extending over given periods—that is to say, offices embarking in it must be content to take one year with another—showed that on the twenty years of its existence the Royal had been most fortunate, as, for example, the net profit for the year 1863 (nearly £84,000) more than covered the losses of those disastrous years, 1861 and 1864. 'This speaks volumes as to the stability of the company, and what Mr. Gladstone calls its power of recovery, which in this case we will take to mean its power of neu tralising the effects of dicastrouno ycars, vwiug to its continued and irrepressible prosverity. Turning from the fire to the life department, we have the satisfaction of recording not only general but particular results of the most cheer ing, not to say astonishing, nature. As we have before taken occasion to remark, life buss.. ness is that by which public confidence in an office is mainly to be tested, since people do not readily commit matters affecting long terms of years to offices in which they have no reason to place confidence. And what reasonable man could do other than exhibit confidence in an of fice which announces the sum of £55,000 as the proportion of the profits apportioned to the shareholders and aceruing from the transactions of five years, while the policy-holders are al lotted double that amount? Well might the Chairman say at the meeting, “I believe there is no example of so rapid and so substantial a progress having been made by any company as that which the Royal'has achieved within the last ten years. In 1854 our premiums in round numbers were £25,000. In 1864 they were £150,000. In other words they have increased six-fold!”? For other facts, quite as remarkable, we must refer to the Report, to the Chairman’s speech, and to the proceedings at the meeting, full of interest and suggestiveness from begin ning to end, and all serving to show that, be yond question, it is no mere figure of speech, no idle boast that places the Royal “in the very first Tank of life assurance companies.” Among the more noteworthy features of the meeting was the presentation of the “Valuation of the Life Liabilities,” a small volume prepar ed with singular care, perspicuity, and intelli gence by Mr. Dove, and which puts the public in possession of the most ample and gratifying ~intelligence respecting the successes and posi tion of the Royal as a life office. This docu ment is so voluminous and so formidable in its elaboration and detail that we cannot attempt o deal with it as a whole in the compass of a leader. But there is one point which seems to call for special remark. Having shown a eTe CROODX AV S profitable result from the business operations of the Roy«l equal to the highest reasonable ex f ectution that could have been formed, Mr. Dove goes on to consider the causes which give assurance of security to the life transacticns of this company as regards the future. And fore most among these he places the rate of inter est which has been selected as the basis of its operations. This is a most important point for persons effecting policies of insurance to inquire into, when selecting an office to which to en trust their interests. The basis taken by the Royal is three per cent., and Mr. Dove clearly sets forth the advantages resulting from the se lection of that mioderate rate. The life reserve, formeetingliabilities, amountsto over £600,000, and in all probability this will in twenty ycars’ time be <o increased as to be reckoned by mil lions. But taking a single sum of £IOO,OOO as the basis of his calculation, Mr. Dove submits this result. In twenty years £IOO,OOO, at 3 per cent. compound interest, will reach £180,611, all the company require (provided the valuations cnly give £loo,oQ@as the pre sent sum which should be held in reserve) with the premiums which will be annually received, to meet its entire engagements. But if it should occur—as in all probability it may—that the company should make 4} per cent. interest on this reserve of £IOO,OOO, it would amount, in twenty years 10 a sum of £241,171, and the company will have obtained a margin, over and above its actual requirements for meeting its liabilities, of no less than <«£60,560! Now, applying this to the actual sum in haud for meeting liabilities, say £600,000, what do we arrive at Why, that in twenty years we get a margin of «£363,360, resulting from the funds al prescal in hand. Such a fact as this is, in deed, calculated to lead to “the reasonable ex pectation of fature favourable results,” and so give “present and continued consciousness of en tire safety in transactions with the office.” lln its dissemination alone lies the germ of that enlarged measure of prosperity which the ac complished actuary who has prepared this “«Valuation’—and whose name is a guarantee of its serupulous accuracy—so confidently anti cipates. The great difficulty in insurance busi ness is to inspire confidence, and an office hav ine mastered that, having made a name and a position, and lazid the foundations of success broadly and securely, we can see no bound to the magnitude of its operations, no drawbacks to the splendour of the position it is destined to attain. wINI)LöSTE Breve i Christiansted's U) Posteontoir Mrs. M. Bodkin, Charles Brown, P. C. Brixen, Ann. W. Charles, Mrs. C. Coukley, Mr. Felix Cor nelius, M. Daeuilard, Mrs. Louisa David, Miss Diana Davis, Sarah Jane Derricks, Mrs. Julian Ellis, Messrs. Finlay Co., Mr. Martin Franeis, Mr. Martin Francis, Mrs. L. O. Garick, Wm., A. Gould, Mrs. Wilhelmina Henry, Mr. John Henry, Miss Ann Howard, Fuldmaety Cand. Jurus E. Jurgensen, Mr. Matheas Jacobs, Mr. Ma theas Jacobs, Miss Margureth Jonries, Mr. Charles Liggett, Mr. John B. Maghu, Meng. A. Moller, Mrs. Secealer Morrison, E. H. Perkin, George Petersen, Miss Sarsh Rochers, Miss Joney Samons, Sarah Sabont, Peter Sehuster, Madlane Sion, John Solman, Robert Feut, Vietoria van Vike, Mrs, Adeline Williums, Mrs. Mar tha Williams, Miss Sophia Williams, Mr. Julius Wolff, Julius Wolff, Caroline Wrisberg. 7YINDLOSTE Breve i Frederiksteds &3) Postcontoir Anna Bartise, Margr. Bedford, Saml. Benjamin, E. J. Brown, Sarah Carty, Cath. Christopher, C. Clen dinen, Adeluid Connor, Miss C. Dons, Eliza Franklin, Ann E. George, P. Ge radt, Mr. Ginsing, J. 'ToGrifiith, Chris tiana (Guilliam, BSus. "Eäutchett, T hs. Hatchett, Sus. Ilazel, Sophia Henson, J. Hiliger, Mr. Hoganconb, Sam. Jackson, Janny James, Sophia James, Sus. James, Mrs. Joan, Angelina Johannes, Sophea Johannes, Vincent Joseph, V. Jørgensen, Edw. Kerroll, Nancy Lareixs, MacFarley, Maria Miller, Miss L. Morch, Cath. Niel sen, Julia Oxholm, Adrian Petersen, Mrs. C. Petersen, Elizb. Petersen, Sam. Peter sen, Cath. A. Quin, Hugh Quinn, Maria O'Reily, Mary Samuel, Alex. Samson, Mrs. F. Schuster, Mrs. M. Sewer, Stc phan Simmons, Sergeant Slangerup, Ephi nia Smith, Mrs. Walentin, Alex. Williams, Anna Williams, Marly Williams, Jo. Zachues. HI annual examination of Frede riksted’s Danish School will take place on Friday the 3rd of Novem ber, commencing at 10 o’clock A. M. Frederiksted’s Danish School 26th October 1865. By Order, J. G. RIPPERGER. EBET bekjendtgjøres herved at der vil U blive afholdt en Skiftesamling paa Kjobmand H. C. Hoyers Fallitboe Fre dagen den 17de November førstkommen de Middag Kl. 12 slet, forat tage Be slatning om, hvorvidt de udestaaende Fordringer blive at inddrive eller at bort sælge ved Auction, og vil til samme Tid Decision blive afgiven med Hensyn til de ludsigelser der ere fremkomne pan B»et mod de as C. L. Hiyer Co. as St. Thomas og Roche Bros. Co. as Chri stiansted anmeldte Fordringer, Frederiksteds Skifteret, St. Croix den 14de October 1865. C. Sarauw. rHE Undersigned, intending to J leave the Island in a few days, requests those who may yet wish to obtain a good Photograph or erro type to make an early call. Price for four ferrotypes.. 00 50 Large Size, for each.... 00 25 Cartes visite, per dozen. 3 00 P. BUSCIL. D N account of the owner’s leaving the Island the following articles arc offered for sale at half price— A shower bath with force pump. large maQogany bed-stead. Press. pair rocking chairs. tables, Apply at the Printing Office. H. Krebs Praetorius, AGENTS OF THE NORTHERN ASSURANCE COMPANY. FOR FIRE AND LIFE. AGENT FOR ROYAL INSURANCE COMPANY FOR FIRE LIFE IN ST. CROIX. SUB-AGENT IN FREDERIKSTED