128 Mr W. Fraser on the History and Constitution of 



King announced that premiums would be given to the Friendly 

 Societies in Paris, in proportion to the sums which they them- 

 selves had deposited ; and 50,000 francs were distributed ac- 

 cordingly, through the medium of the Philanthropic Society. 

 In June 1824, there were 164 Friendly Societies in Paris, but 

 they are all upon a very limited scale, the whole comprising only 

 1 4,700 members, with a total capital of 821,1 98 francs, (L.34,216 

 Sterling, or about L. 2 : 6 : 9 per member)— -To the Philanthro- 

 pic Society, then, as well as to the indefatigable exertions of M. 

 Everat, printer in Paris, one of their Committee, is chiefly to 

 be ascribed the establishment of Friendly Societies in France. 



Legislative Enactments, and Inquiries. 



In 1772, Friendly Societies attracted the attention of the Bri- 

 tish Legislature ; but although they were frequently under the 

 consideration of Parliament in the course of the twenty years fol- 

 lowing, no statutory regulation of them took place until the year 

 1793, when a bill was introduced by the late George Rose, Esq. 

 and passed into a law. During the subsequent twenty-five years^ 

 the subject of Friendly Societies came also frequently before 

 Parliament ; and the provisions of the original act were greatly 

 extended, by no less than seven different statutes. These acts, 

 after reciting that " the protection and encouragement of Friend- 

 ly Societies, for securing, by voluntary subscription of the mem- 

 bers thereof, separate funds for the mutual relief and mainte- 

 nance of the said members, in sickness, old age, and infirmity, 

 is likely to be attended with very beneficial eff'ects, by promot- 

 ing the happiness of individuals, and, at the same time, dimi- 

 nishing the public burdens,"" enact, that it shall be lawful for 

 any number of persons to form themselves into such societies ; 

 and, upon their rules being exhibited to the Justices of the Peace, 

 and confirmed by them at a Quarter Sessions as lawful, they 

 shall become entitled to many important privileges. The prin- 

 cipal of these are as follows : 



No stamp-duty is exigible for any bonds required from their 

 Treasurers, and upon these bonds being lodged with the Clerk 

 of the Peace, he may, in case of forfeiture, proceed against such 

 office-bearers in his own name, for the use of the Society ; — if any 



