ENTRANCE TO THE RIVER THAMES, PRINCES AND HORSE CHANNELS. TRINITY HOUSE, LONDON, September 15, 1858. Notice is hereby given, that the Girdler Spit buoy has been moved to a position midway between the Princes Channel light-vessel and the Girdler beacon, and now lies in 3 fathoms at low water spring tides, with the following marks and compass bearings, viz. :- -Chislet Mill open west of Geoge's Farm, S. S. W. W.; St. Peter's Church open west of a mill at the back of Margate S. S. E. E.; North Tongue buoy S. E. by S.; Girdler beacon N. W. by W. Notice is also given, that it is intended in the course of the month of October to make the following changes in the buoys in the Horse Channel, viz. :-The Gore Patch buoy will be taken away. The East Last buoy will be moved 14 mile east of the West Last buoy, by which arrangement the three last buoys and Margate Hook beacon will be separated at equal distances. A red buoy will be placed on the Reculver Sand, which, with Margate Hook beacon, will form the eastern entrance to the Horse Channel. Further notice will be given when the above changes are effected. By order, P. H. BERTHON, Secretary. LIGHTHOUSES ON CAPE GROSSO, ON THE ISLAND OF LEVANZA; AND ON FORT SAN SALVADOR, MESSINA-KINGDOM OF THE TWO SICILIES. Official information has been received at this office from the Department of State -1. That on the 1st instant a light of the third order was shown for the first time from the lighthouse on Cape Grosso, island of Levanza, province of Trapani. Sicily. The apparatus is a Fresnel lens. The light is fixed, elevated 282 feet above the level of the sea, and should be visible in clear weather a distance of 18 nautical miles. Latitude 38° 03′ 30′′ north, longitude 10° 01′ 17′′ east of Paris. 2. That on the same night (1st instant) was shown from Fort Campana di San Salvador, at the entrance of the port of Messina, a fixed red light. The light is at the extremity of the fort, and its object is to show the entrance of the port. It bears with Fort St. Raineri, N. W. W. and S. E. E. By order of the Lighthouse Board, WASHINGTON, October 27, 1858. W. B. FRANKLIN, Secretary. FIXED RED LIGHT AT PORT CIOTAT-COASTS OF FRANCE AND CORSICA. Official information has been received at this office, that the Imperial Ministry for Public Works in France has given notice, that on and after the 15th October, 1858, a fixed red light would be exhibited all night from the tower recently constructed on the head of the new mole of Port Ciotat, on the south coast of France. The light is elevated 52 feet above the mean level of the sea, and is visible at about 6 miles. In entering the harbor, the above red light must be kept to port, and the fixed white light on the mole Berouard to starboard. FIXED WHITE LIGHT AT PORT DE I'LLE-ROUSSE. Also, that on and after the above date a fixed white light would be shown all night from a lantern placed at the center of the head of the jetty of Port de I'lle-Rousse, or Isola Rossa, on the northwest coast of the island of Corsica. The light may be seen in clear weather at a distance of 5 miles. By order of the Lighthouse Board, W. B. FRANKLIN, Secretary. WASHINGTON, November 12, 1858. NOTICE TO MASTERS OF ALIEN VESSELS. It is now required by the Trinity House authorities, that the masters of all alien vessels under treaties of reciprocity with England, should give their pilots a certificate of their vessel's name, tonnage, draught of water, destination, &c., which certificate is attended with no expense to the vessel or master. But should the master refuse to sign such certificate, the pilots will demand the full rate of alien pilotage for the vessel. PILOT OFFICE, Redcross-street, 10th June, 1858. BISHOP ROCK LIGHTHOUSE, SCILLY ISLANDS. TRINITY HOUSE, LONDON, September 7, 1858. Notice is hereby given, that, pursuant to the intention expressed in the advertisement from this house, dated 15th December last, a fixed bright dioptric light, of the first order, was exhibited on the evening of the first instant from the lighthouse on the Bishop Rock, and will henceforth be continued every evening from sunset to sunrise. The light burns at an elevation of 110 feet above the mean level of high water, and illuminates the entire circle, and will be visible in clear weather at a distance of about fourteen miles. By order, P. H. BERTHON, Secretary. SURVEY OF THE ROCCAS, OFF THE COAST OF BRAZIL, The Department of State has received notice from Robert G. Scott, Esq., Consul of the United States at Rio de Janeiro, that a survey has lately been made of the coral island lying off the coast of Brazil, called the Roccas on the English charts. The position of the island as given by this survey is--latitude 3° 51′ 30′′ S., longitude 33° 50′ 09" W. of Greenwich. It is a perfect coral island, circular, about two miles in diameter, and has in its center a shallow lake with an opening to the sea. The greater part of the reef is under water. There are two sand banks, one on the southwest side, and the other on the northwest side of the island. These are ten or twelve feet above water at all tides, and are two or three hundred yards long. The smaller has on it some stunted vegetation and hazle trees. A tower 33 feet high has been erected on the larger bank, which can be seen in good weather a distance of about 11 nautical miles. The island lies in a strong westwardly current, varying from one to two miles per hour. By order of the Lighthouse Board, W. B. FRANKLIN, Secretary. WASHINGTON, November 2, 1858. JOURNAL OF INSURANCE. WISCONSIN INSURANCE LAW, AN ACT IN RELATION TO ALL COMPANIES TRANSACTING THE BUSINESS OF LIFE, FIRE, SECTION 1. Every company or corporation, organized under the laws of the State of Wisconsin, or of sister States, or foreign governments, and transacting the business of life, fire, and marine insurance companies in this State, shall within three months after the passage of this act, and, also, on or before the first day of February in each and every year thereafter, furnish to the Governor of this State, and shall also publish in the State paper, daily, for two weeks, a statement verified by the oath of their president, or principal officer, and majority of their directors or trustees, showing the amount of their paid-up capital and accumulations of which they are possessed, and specifying the particular securities in which they are invested, with the amount of each; the number of policies, and the amount of outstanding risks thereon; the several amounts received in premiums and from other sources for the current year; the amount of losses and the expenses severally for the same period; the amount of claims unpaid; the amount offered for re insurance; the amount of premium notes, if any, held on account of policies upon which the risk has terminated; the whole number of policies issued or continued through their offices or agencies; the amount of risk thereon, and the gross amount of premiums received therefor, in the year preceding their report; the number and amount of losses paid through their agencies, and by their officers, during the same period. SEC. 2. It shall be lawful for the Governor, whenever he shall deem it expedient so to do, to appoint one or more competent persons, not officers of any life, fire, or marine insurance company doing business in this State, to examine into the affairs of any life, fire, or marine insurance company, incorporated in this State, or doing business by its agents in this State; and it shall be the duty of the officers or agents of any company doing business in this State, to cause their books to be opened for the inspection of the person or persons so appointed, and otherwise to facilitate such examination so far as it may be in their power to do, and for that purpose the Governor, or the person or persons so appointed by him, shall have power to examine, under oath, the officers and agents of any company relative to the business of said company; and whenever the Governor shall deem it for the interest of the public so to do, he shall publish the result of such investigation in one or more papers in this State. SEC. 3. Whenever it shall appear to the Governor from examination made under his direction, that the assets are not sufficient to insure the outstanding risks of any company incorporated by or under the laws of this State, he shall communicate the fact to the Attorney-General, whose duty it shall then become, to apply to the Circuit Court for an order, requiring them to show cause why the business of such company should not be closed; and the court shall, thereupon, proceed to hear the allegations and proofs of the respective parties, and, in case it shall appear to the satisfaction of the said court, that the assets and funds of the said company are not sufficient, as aforesaid, the said court shall decree a dissolution of said company, and a distribution of its effects. The Circuit Court shall have power to refer the application of the Attorney-General to a referee, to inquire and report upon the facts stated therein. SEC. 4. It shall not be lawful for any person to act within this State, as agent or otherwise, in procuring applications for insurance in either life, fire, or marine insurance, or in any manner to aid in transacting the insurance business of any company or association not incorporated by or under the laws of this State, until he has procured from the Governor a certificate that the company or association for which he acts has complied with the provisions of this act, and for every certificate so obtained the sum of three dollars shall be paid the Governor. SEC. 5. Whenever it shall appear to the Governor from the report of the person or persons appointed by him, that the affairs of any foreign company, as aforesaid, are in an unsound condition, he shall revoke all such certificates in behalf of such company, and shall cause a notification thereof to be published in the State paper for four weeks, and the agent of such company is, after such notice, required to discontinue the issuing of policies. SEC. 6. Every violation of this act shall subject the party violating to a penalty of five hundred dollars for each violation, which shall be sued for and recovered in the name of the State, by the District Attorney of the county in which the company or agent so violating shall be situated; and in the case of non-payment of such penalty, the party so offending, shall be liable to imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months, in the discretion of any court having cognizance thereof. SEC. 7. This act is hereby declared a public act, and shall be printed by the State printer immediately, and when so printed, the same shall take effect, and be in full force. ALEXANDER W. RANDALL STATE OF WISCONSIN, 88. F. S. LOVELL, Speaker of Assembly. E. D. CAMPBELL, Lt. Gov. and President of the Senate. The Secretary of State of the State of Wisconsin does hereby certify that the foregoing act has been compared with the original enrolled act deposited in this office, and that the same is a true and correct copy thereof, and of the whole of such original. In witness whereof. I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the Great [L. S.] Seal of the State, at the Capitol in Madison, this 27th day of May, one thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight. D. W. JONES, Secretary of State. INSURANCE COMPANIES OF BOSTON. The following is a summary of the Boston fire and marine insurance companies, their capital and dividends, October 16, 1858 : Two last Value, paid. p. ct. Boston.... 1823 300,000 100 Mar. & Sept. Apr. & Oct. Apr. & Oct. Elliot, fire only. Apr. & Oct. Firemen's, fire only. 1881 Jan. & July. Franklin Jan. & July. Hope Apr. & Oct. Manufacturers'.. Apr. & Oct. May & Nov. Apr. & Oct. Apr. & Oct. Apr. & Oct. Jan. & July. Apr. & Oct. Apr. & Oct. 5 5 100 "Martin's Twenty-one Years of the Stock Exchange" remarks : Large as the dividends have in some cases been, the profits on marine risks, taking three of our best Boston offices as a test, have not exceeded for the past thirty years 4 per cent annually on capital stock. The extra profits have been realized from investment of capital. Had the dividends on this class of risks depended on the profits thereon, they would have been exceedingly small, even with the best paying offices. A State-street office, which declared 20 per cent dividends for several years, made but 4 per cent on its marine, and 6 per cent on its fire risks-the remaining 10 per cent being earned by its invested capital. The actual business of three of the Boston insurance companies, confined solely to marine writing, from 1826 to 1853, shows average dividends of 9 642-1,000 per annum. Of this, 7 247-1,000 per cent was derived from interest on investments, leaving a net profit of only 2 395-1,000 from marine insurance. Since 1853, the marine losses, as is well known, have been unusually severe, and had these years been included in the above statement, the profits from this source would have shown even a smaller percentage. It is stated that the enormous sum of $18,972,092 74 was absorbed in marine losses by the insurance companies of Massachusetts and New York during the disastrous year of 1854. LIFE INSURANCE IN ENGLAND. The success of several of the old established life offices in England has led to the formation of one hundred and one additional companies in London since the year 1837, viz. :— The Warren Insurance Company has made no dividend since April, 1856, nor has the Hopo Company made one for about the same time, and the probability is that this company will long have to forezo dividends. I think the foregoing nearly accurate. The shares I have placed at the percentage advance, or percentage discount on the par value. The evident unfitness of many of the projectors of these companies, and of others preceding them, is fully established by the fact, that six of the companies have been declared swindles, seventeen have died out from want of business, fifteen are insolvent or winding up in chancery, and seventy-nine have been merged in older companies. POSTAL DEPARTMENT. STATISTICS OF UNITED STATES POST-OFFICE, 1858. From the annual report of the Hon. J. N. Brown, Postmaster-General of the United States, we extract the following figures, in relation to the service of the past year. The statistics of the preceding year will be found on page 110, vol. Xxxviii. :— NUMBER OF POST-OFFICES. The whole number of post-offices in the United States on the 30th June last was 27,977, of which 400 are of the class denominated presidential. The number established during the last fiscal year was 2,121, and the number discontinued 730, being an increase of 1,391. The number of postmasters appointed during the year was 8,284. Of these 4,595 were to fill vacancies occasioned by resigna tion, 998 by removals, 278 by deaths, 292 by change of names and sites, and 2,121 on establishment of new offices. The whole number of offices on the 1st of December, 1858, was 28,573. TRANSPORTATION STATISTICS. On the 30th of June last there were in operation 8,296 mail routes. The number of contractors was 7,044. The length of these routes is estimated at 260,603 miles, divided as follows, viz. :Railroad..... Steamboat.. .miles 24,431 Coach.... 17,043 Inferior grades... .miles 58,700 165,429 ..... The total annual transportation of mails was 78,765,491 miles, costing $7,795,418, and divided as follows: Railroad, 25,763.452 miles, at $2.828,301; about eleven cents a mile. Steamboat, 4,569,610 miles, at $1,233,916; about twenty-seven cents and two mills a mile. Coach, 19,555,734 miles, at $1,909,844; about nine cents and eight mills a mile. Inferior grades, 28,876,695 miles, at $1.823,357; about six cents and three mills a mile. Compared with the service reported on 30th June, 1857, there is an addition of 18,002 miles to the length of mail routes; 3,859,424 miles to the total annual transportation, being about 5.11 per cent, and of $1,173,372 to the cost, or 17.46 per cent. The aggregate length of railroad routes has been increased 1,901 miles, and the annual transportation thereon 1,495,508 miles, or 6.05 per cent; at a cost of $268,454, or 10.44 per cent. The length of steamboat routes is greater by 1.798 miles, and the annual transportation 51,491 miles, costing $241,918 additional, or 1.10 per cent on transportation, and 24.38 per cent on the cost. The addition to coach routes is 5,371 miles in length, 464,804 miles in annual transportation, or 2.43 per cent, and $199,018 in cost, or 35.37 per cent. The additional length of inferior routes is 9,932 miles; the additional annual |