part thereof, in reduction or extinction of the future premium on such policy, the calculations being made upon the same principle as adopted by the society in cases of ordinary surrenders."

The report was adopted, and a vote of thanks given to the Chairman. EQUITY AND Law Life Assurance SOCIETY.—The Annual General Meeting was held at the offices, 26, Lincoln's Inn-fields, on the 22d February. Francis Newman Rogers, Esq., Q.C., in the chair.

The Directors might have made a greater show, and, by splitting their policies, have exhibited a larger number, in proportion to the amount insured; they might have added four, for four of the one hundred and forty-six proposals made within the year had been since completed-but they would not depart from the literal fact. They might do a great deal that they had not done: they might invite all comers, and by facility of acceptance, acquire the character of an easy-going office." They might then present flaming reports for two or three years, and in two or three years more might have the house tumbling about their ears-but they pursued a different course. Their medical officers were cautious, and they felt bound to act upon their advice. They consequently declined many proposals, and thus deterred many from coming at all.

Since they met the Proprietors last year, the Directors had been enabled to enlist eight gentlemen of the highest professional character at the now great city of Manchester, as members of a Local Board, who spoke with confidence of being able to establish a good business there; as it was but an experiment, the Directors had not thought it right to burden the funds of the Society with any additional charge, but had agreed to furnish, to the extent of 2001. per annum, the means of carrying on this Local Board.

Report." During the year, the Directors received and considered one hundred and forty-six proposals for Assurance, of which one hundred and seventeen, for 117,1807. 178. at annual premiums amounting to 3,1187. 28. 3d., were completed.

"The number of policies existing on 31st December, 1848, was four hundred and thirty-five, for 42,6797. 4s. Id., at annual premiums amounting to 12,3737. 58. 11d.

"The Directors have continued, in all cases of risk exceeding 3,000l., to re-assure in some other office of well-ascertained stability, to such an extent as to reduce the risk to that amount.

"The excess of interest received on investments, beyond the amount of that paid to Proprietors, which in the first three years amounted to 1,5697. 128. 11d., was in the last year alone 1,3917. is. 10d.; showing, notwithstanding the payment of interest at three per cent. per annum on the deposits on shares, an increasing fund from this source.

"Although the Society has met with losses amounting to 1,800l. by the death, during the year, of two of the assured, the Directors feel it to be a subject of congratulation that, with the exception hereafter referred to, this is the whole amount claimed in respect of losses by death during the four years of the Society's existence.

"It may be observed that in one of these cases, death happened by an accident; and in the other, under circumstances showing no want of caution in accepting the risk.

"As respects the claim before referred to, it arose out of two policies, amounting together to 9007. on the life of a person resident in Ireland, which the Directors thought themselves bound to resist actions were brought, but the plaintiff, after the commencement of the assizes, with

drew notice of trial, and no further proceedings can now be taken without the payment by the plaintiff of costs to a considerable amount."

A vote of thanks to Mr. Rogers, for his able conduct in the chair, having been unanimously passed, the meeting separated.

TEMPERANCE AND GENERAL PROVIDENT INSTITUTION.-A meeting of members and friends of this institution was held in London, on the 23rd of February. Tea was provided for the occasion, of which about two hundred and fifty ladies and gentlemen partook. The Rev. W. R. Baker in the chair. The secretary (Theodore Compton, Esq.,) communicated some very interesting particulars relative to the advantages of Life Assurance, and introduced a list of statistics, by which it appeared that the rate of mortality in this office had been less than one half that of other offices. In one of the most successful Life Offices, it appeared that the deaths in eight years had been four per cent., while in the "Temperance Provident Institution" it had been less than two per cent. Some interesting statements were also made of the mortality among the different classes. In the class of clerks, the usual rate of mortality was about two per cent. per annum. In the " Temperance Provident Institution," during the last eight years, out of one hundred and thirty-six clerks assured, the only death was that of a person aged seventy-four years. In the class of tailors, an occupation not generally considered healthy, out of one hundred and forty-eight persons assured, not a single death has occurred in eight years. Several valuable suggestions were made by various speakers, and the greatest harmony and good feeling pervaded the meeting.

BRITISH EMPIRE MUTUAL LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY.-The Annual Meeting of this Company was held at Radley's Hotel, Feb. 27, 1849. John Gover, Esq., in the chair.

Second Annual Report.-" The Directors have the pleasure to inform the members that the following policies have been executed during the last year :-General Life Assurances, four hundred and four policies, 63,1377.; Investment Assurances, four hundred and eighty-four policies, 34,2271.; total, eight hundred and eighty-eight policies, 97,3647. The average number of policies executed monthly, during the fourteen months which elapsed from the commencement of the Company's operations up to the last annual meeting, was forty-two. During the last twelve months, the monthly average of policies executed has been seventy-four, showing an increase both gratifying and encouraging to the future prospects of the Company. In addition to these policies, two hundred and seventy-one proposals for Life Assurance have been received, some of which are in process of completion, and others have been declined, for various causes, the Directors, while desirous to extend the business of the Company, being still more solicitous that such extension should be perfectly safe. The whole number of policies executed during the twenty-six months of the Company's operations, has been-General Life Assurance, seven hundred and thirty-seven policies, 121,780%.; Investment Assurance, seven hundred and forty-four policies, 50,9371.; total, one thousand four hundred and eighty-one policies, 172,7177. One death has occurred during the last year, making a claim on the Company's funds to the extent of 100l. The increasing income of the Company has enabled the Directors to pay off nearly one half the sum advanced at the commencement of the Company, to aid its establishment. An arrangement has been made with the Directors of the British Empire Mutual Fire Assurance Society, for dividing the rent

and office charges between the two Institutions, by which the expenses of carrying on the business of this Company will be materially diminished."

J. BLACKET, Esq., moved a vote of thanks to the Chairman and Board of Directors. SAMUEL WATSON, Esq., seconded the resolution, which was carried unanimously, and the meeting then separated.

CLERICAL, MEDICAL, AND GENERAL, March 1.-General meeting, Dr. Joseph Moore in the chair. The report was highly satisfactory to the meeting, which was very numerous. The number of policies had greatly increased during the year. The amount of claims exceeded 60,000l. The sum lent to first-rate railway companies was 30,000%.

There were many valuable remarks made, which we regret have not been furnished.

STAR LIFE ASSURANCE OFFICE, March 5.-The annual general meeting of this society, being its first quinquennial meeting, was held at the London Tavern. The attendance of members was most numerous, Charles Harwood, Esq., in the chair.

Mr. Hillman proceeded to lay before the assembly the fifth annual report. The business done in the year 1848, has exceeded that of the year preceding. The Directors, in the year 1848, received five hundred and fifty-two applications for policies, for the sum of 174,8657., and granted four hundred and five policies for the sum of 128,795l., whilst the applications in 1847 were five hundred and seven, for the sum of 162,5417., and the sums insured on four hundred and nine policies issued, 122,9117.

Annual income-1843-4, 65091. 4s. 1d.; 1845, 10,8717. 14s. 1d.; 1846, 14,1277. 3s. 8d.; 1847, 17,3447. 78. 7d.; 1848, 19,4921. 2s. 2d.

The Directors have received two thousand seven hundred and twentyfive proposals for insurance, two thousand two hundred and four of which resulted in policies; five hundred and twenty-one of those submitted having either been declined by the board as ineligible for admission on the society's books, or have been refused, or neglected by the applicants finally to be carried out.

The total amount of Assurance granted was 690,4777., upon which new premiums, amounting to 22,5067. 15s. 11d., were payable.

THE ENGINEERS, MASONIC, AND UNIVERSAL MUTUAL LIFE ASsuRANCE SOCIETY.-The first annual meeting of this society, which is established on the purest principles of mutual assurance, was held yesterday at the chief office of the society, No. 345, Strand. The meeting was well attended, and the chair was taken at two o'clock by Mr. W. F. Dobson, chairman of the board of directors. By the report, which was read by Mr. Frederic Lawrance, actuary and secretary to the society, it appeared, that in the interval from the 7th of June, 1848 (the date of the society's certificate of complete registration), to the close of the year, 253 proposals for assurance, to the amount of $1,3307., were submitted to the board; 28 of which, for an amount of 11,000l., were declined, while 208 policies, securing the sum of 64,580l., were completed, the annual premiums derivable from which were 2,0667. 38. 7d. For the last two months of the present year the business of the office proportionately far exceeded that of the previous half-year, inasmuch as 144 additional proposals, for the amount of 33,1407., have been received, and 108 already completed, making the number of policies existing with the society 316, for an amount of 93,3807., and the annual income from premiums 3,013l. 3s. 6d. The report further stated, that no claim had arisen from death amongst the policy holders; and concluded by

exhorting the members to mutual co-operation in the extension of those principles which have secured to the society so large an amount of public support. The question that the report be received by the members was then put by the chairman, and, having been duly seconded, was carried unanimously. The auditors' report was also received, expressing their high opinion of the satisfactory state of the accounts and of the excellent way in which the books were kept. Votes of thanks to the chairman, directors, auditors, and actuary were then proposed, and carried unanimously; and the meeting broke up, having been characterized, from first to last, by the most perfect harmony between the directors and the members at large. At five o'clock the directors again met the members at the Freemasons' Tavern, where an excellent dinner was provided by Mr. Bacon. The conviviality of the evening was kept up till a late hour; and after the usual loyal toasts, followed by some good speaking from Mr. Dobson, Dr. Crucefix, and other gentlemen, the party, which amounted to upwards of fifty, separated, mutually well pleased with the proceedings of the day.-Times, March 7, 1849. Extract from Report.-" The Directors have only to request the continued co-operation of the members in diffusing the knowledge of the society, that the following problem may receive a satisfactory solution for their next annual report. If an association of twenty persons, acting zealously upon the purest principles of Life Assurance, and promulgating widely its inestimable benefits, have obtained, in less than seven months, so large an accession to their numbers, what amount of business can be produced by the combined exertions of more than three hundred members?"

MERCHANT'S AND TRADESMAN'S MUTUAL LIFE ASSURANCE SOCIETY, March 14.-The first annual meeting of this society was held at the offices, Chatham-place, Blackfriars, John Macgregor, Esq.. M. P., in the chair. From the report, it appeared that the amount assured by the society up to January 31, 1849, is 61,0307.; number of policies issued, one hundred and eighty-three; and the amount of premiums received is 1,8787. 19s. 5d. Since January 31, fifty-six proposals have been passed, amounting to 16,000l., the premiums on which are 480l. 2s. 4d.; and there are before the board twenty-six proposals for 7,500l., the premiums on which are 205l. 28. 8d., making total number of policies two hundred and sixty-five; amount assured 84,5307.; annual income 2,5647. 4s. 6d. The report also stated that the Directors had received no remuneration for past services, that little has been expended in advertising, but that they have chiefly depended on their own exertions, and those of the agents and others connected with the society. From the position of the society, no further call is thought necessary; but a guarantee fund is available to any extent required.

THE BRITISH BANK.

SOME Correspondents have called our attention to the peculiar features attending a proposed novelty in commercial enterprise-a novelty, at least, to London, although the system has worked well in Scotland.

It is observed that every department of banking business, if conducted on the Scotch system, would succeed in the metropolis; and this opinion has been supported by a portion of the public press, more especially by the "Morning Herald" in the city article of the 24th February, which

especially notices that there is a class of securities not usually taken by London bankers, to which this bank will direct attention. Notwithstanding that the joint stock banks have supplied desiderata long wanting, yet there is doubtless an enormous amount of capital locked up in various ways, and which is not even marketable as securities. This prevents many highly respectable firms from profiting by advances in aid of spirit and enterprise, and which capital would become available by a banking account on the Scotch system. To the industrious tradesman of limited capital, the proposed plan of cash credit accounts upon unexceptionable security, presents so obvious an advantage, that it may not be hazarding too much to say, that if the system be carried out, we may anticipate that the forcing of sales, and the fraudulent transfer of small stocks into the hands of grasping monopolists, will altogether cease. There are other manifest improvements offered in the prospectus, which details a very rational statement of the result of the operation in Scotland; and the declaration that if the bank be not incorporated, the deposits will be returned in FULL to the subscribers, will not be without its effect on public confidence. It looks well.

LITERARY NOTICES.

The Symbol of Glory.

The prospectus of the crowning labour of the Rev. Bro. Dr. Oliver is now in circulation; it shadows forth in the meaning of truth the advent of a magnificent combination, and is, we believe, intended to be, in the author's view of the subject, the very cape-stone of exemplification of the practice of Masonry, with the great theory of the future. Dr. Oliver's quotation from Walter Scott is telling-" Old men may be permitted to speak long, because in the common course of nature, they cannot have long to speak.”

The Golden Remains.

The fourth volume of this extraordinary compilation from the works of masonic worthies is now in the press; and on its completion, which will be very shortly announced (according to the advertisement), the fifth volume, which is considerably advanced, will be immediately put into the printer's hands.

The Circular of the Grand Lodge of England. Edited by the Right Hon. the Earl of Zetland. Published by W. H. White.

“Honour to whom honour is due,” is admitted to be but fair, and as the Earl of Zetland acknowledges himself to be the responsible editor of the "Circular,” he is entitled to all the merit thereof, no one ought to share with him the slightest portion, not even Bro. Denison, the Grand Reporter, because when he delivers in his report, the matter is settled, as far as he is concerned it is in un fait accompli.

The next point is to condense, suppress, and dovetail, within a sheet of foolscap, the transactions of the Grand Lodge of England for a period of three months. This to many may seem easy; but that it is not easy is proved by the evidence of labour, toil, reflection, consideration, and study, that is so clearly brought into view. It can then scarcely be wondered