7, Waterloo Place, Pall Mall, established in 1824. The steady increase in the number of policies issued, and the amount of premiums paid, is a sufficient proof of the sound principles on which this society is conducted; it divides four-fifths of its profits amongst the assured, and, in order to maintain its present prosperous condition, and secure a continuance of the public favour, offers the advantage of the lowest scale of premiums that can with safety be adopted, and undoubted security, guaranteed by a large capital, and an influential body of proprietors; whilst the long standing of the society, and the satisfactory results of its business, gives full confidence to those who already participate in its advantages, and holds out the greatest encouragement to all who intend to avail themselves of its benefits.

From the last report of the Directors, we find that the annual amount of premiums, which in 1845 was £28,776, had increased in 1849 to £38,100.

The Directors meet every Thursday at eleven o'clock. Actuary and Secretary, Jeremiah Lodge, Esq.

49, St. James's Street, near Piccadilly. A neat and appropriate building, having a chaste and elegant elevation.

This excellent institution, which has a large subscribed capital, divides its business into three branches; the assurance of lives, at as low a rate as is compatible with security; making advances upon the policies, to those insured in the office; and granting annuities, in a manner that includes many new and attractive features.

Three-fourths of the profits are divided amongst those assured, thus giving all the benefits of a mutual society, in addition to the security afforded by the large capital of the company; all the policies issued are indisputable, the directors relying upon the strictness and probity with which the enquiries are made.

Parties insured at this office have the advantage of being allowed to reside in any part of Europe, without being called upon for any extra payment for the privilege; and at a small increased rate, are allowed to proceed to any part of the world.

Endowments for children are also granted, by which means a parent may with ease provide a marriage portion for his daughter, or à suffiaient sum to enable him to establish a son in business.

The board meets every Thursday at two o'clock. Consulting Actuary, F. G. P. Neison, Esq.: Secretary, H. D. Davenport, Esq.

FIRE ENGINE ESTABLISHMENTS,

The various Insurance Companies seeing the benefits likely to arise from mutual co-operation in cases of fire, united in 1833, in establishing the present Fire Brigade, a body of men, whose fearless exertions in the suppression of fire and the rescuing those exposed to its ravages, have won for them a large measure of praise from all classes of the metropolis.

The establishment is supported by eighteen of the principal Fire Insurance Companies, and the affairs of the association are managed by a committee, consisting of a director from each of the associated companies. There are fourteen stations, the most eastern being at Ratcliffe, and the most western near Portman Square. At the several stations are kept thirty-five engines, for whose management about ninety men are employed. These men, known as the "Fire Brigade,” wearing a characteristic uniform, are under the admirable management of Mr. Braidwood, the well-known superintendent. There are likewise two powerful engines floating on the Thames, belonging to the establishment, one moored near to Southwark Bridge, and the other at Rotherhithe, near the Tunnel.

FIRE ESCAPE STATIONS.

The Royal Society for the Protection of Life from Fire, was established in 1843, and maintains twenty-seven fire-escape stations, half a mile distant from each other, throughout the metropolis, each of which is attended by a conductor throughout the night, who is well instructed in the use of the escapes. Since the formation of the society, the escapes have attended seven hundred and seventy-one fires, and have been the means of rescuing seventy-nine persons from the jaws of death.

The expense of maintaining the conductors and stations, with inspectors, is about £2,000 per annum, defrayed by voluntary contributions, assisted by about £500 voted by the vestries of some eighty parishes.

CHAPTER XXIII.

THE POLICE AND PRISONS.

The Police of such a metropolis as London, cannot fail to excite the liveliest interest in the minds of every intelligent visitor; for next to the blessings which a nation may derive from an excellent constitution, and system of general laws, are those advantages which result from a well-regulated and energetic police, conducted and enforced with purity, activity, vigilance, and discretion.

THE CITY AND METROPOLITAN POLICE.

The London Police Force, consisting of the City and Metropolitan Police, was embodied in the year 1830, and is an admirably regulated body of men, for the introduction of which, the inhabitants of London and the surrounding districts ought ever to be grateful to the late lamented Sir Robert Peel, by whom it was established, superseding the old inefficient watchmen, and affording greater protection to the person, and ampler security to the property of the inhabitants, than is enjoyed by those of any other city in the civilized world.

The Metropolitan Police Force, the average strength of which is about five thousand men, is distributed into eighteen divisions, distinguished by different letters of the alphabet, each being attached to a particular locality or district, in each of which is a station or watchhouse, from which point the duty is carried out. The strength of each division averages one hundred and ninety-eight men: having a superintendent, four inspectors, and sixteen sergeants. The smallest division is that of Whitehall (A), consisting of one hundred and sixteen men; the largest is that of Stepney (K), consisting of two hundred and ninety men. Each man has marked on the collar of his coat the letter of his division, and a number corresponding with his name in the books of the office, by which he may at all times be recognized. The first sixteen numbers in each division denote the sergeants. All the policemen are dressed in blue uniform, and at night wear dark-brown great coats. Each man is furnished with a baton, a rattle, and a lantern.

The amount of bodily labour required from each individual is very considerable; he has to walk twenty miles every day in going his

rounds, besides being obliged to attend charges at the police offices, the labour of which may be estimated as equal to five miles more-in all, twenty-five miles a day. During two months out of every three, each police constable is on night duty, for nine hours each night, from nine o'clok in the evening to six o'clock in the morning,

The number of persons taken into custody, by the city and metropolitan police, in five years (1844-1848), was 374,710. The gross total number of robberies during the same period, was 70,889; the value of the property stolen, £270,945; and the value of the property recovered, £55,167, or rather more than one-fifth of the property stolen.

THE THAMES POLICE

Was established in 1798, for the purpose of suppressing the numerous depredations committed on the Thames, which had then become notorious. Its importance will be admitted, when it is recollected that on the river there are engaged upwards of thirteen thousand vessels, which annually discharge and receive more than three millions of packages. The superintendence of this department of the police extends from Vauxhall to Woolwich, with the exception of the space from Tower Stairs to the Temple, belonging to the jurisdiction of the city. There are three principal stations: at Somerset House, at Wapping, and at Blackwall; and between these, three boats are constantly plying at night.

THE POLICE OFFICES,

The City of London, which is separated from Westminster by Temple Bar, is under the control of its own magistracy, consisting of the lord mayor and aldermen; there are two police offices, one in the Mansion House, where the lord mayor presides; and the other at Guildhall, where the aldermen sit in rotation. All cases occurring east of King Street are taken to the Mansion House, and those west of King Street to the Guildhall. Both offices usually commence

business at twelve o'clock. For offences which are committed in those parts of the metropolis out of the jurisdiction of the city, there are eight offices at different distances in Westminster, Middlesex, and Surrey, namely, one in each of the following streets; Bow Street; Great Marlborough Street; Worship Street, Shoreditch; Lambeth Street, Whitechapel; High Street, Marylebone; Queen Square, Westminster; and Union Street, Southwark; and the Thames Police Office, Wapping.

The duty of the magistrates in these offices extends to several important judicial proceedings, which in a variety of instances, they are empowered and required to hear and determine in a summary way, particularly in cases relating to the Customs and Excise.