412 
of the mode of raising money at an 
annuity-office. «This appears to hima 
very easy, ‘comfortable ‘moile; and 
particularly gratifying, as the matter, 
he'thinks, will not be known to bis 
father or relations; nor, in fact, to 
scarce any body but the broker and 
himself, He is accordingly introduced 
by his friend, is received with many 
smiles, and much respect, and obtains 
a promise of his» business «being 
speedily executed. This all appears 
very pleasing, and the young noble- 
man little thinks that already many 
eyes are upon him; that already his 
character: begins to be blown about 
town; and that soon he will be known 
to hundreds, ifnot thousands, to have 
fallen into the trap. A few sources of 
exposure deserve to be pointed out; 
and, if our labours have the eflect of 
opening the eyes of one honourable 
youth to the disgraceful nature of the 
course of folly ‘he is about to run, and 
induce him to save at once his property 
and his honour, we sball have de- 
served well of the community. 
The yisits to the office turn out to be 
far, more numerous than expected ; 
and, instead of having to go two or 
three times, he may think himself 
lucky if the affair be transacted at the 
end of twenty or. thirty. visits. In the 
mean, while, however, .on. signing a 
warrant of attorney payable on de- 
mand, lie receives a supply for present 
use... This places him at mercy, as, in 
addition to his previous difficulties, in 
tlie course of the transaction his deal- 
ings with the money-lender are known 
to persons innumerable. 
1. To his friend who introduced him. 
2. To the money-broker. 
3. To the porter at the door, who takes 
a list of all that go out and in. 
4. To the money-broker’s clerks, who 
laugh not a little at the sheepish shyness of 
the maiden customer, and his useless at- 
tempts to conceal what he is about. 
5. To innumerable clients to whom the 
money-broker proposes the securities, in 
order ‘to find who will contribute to fur- 
nish the needful. 
6..To innumerable friends of the clients 
_to;whom they relate the proposal, in order 
to Haye their opinion and advice. 
7. To various house-stewards, butlers, 
valets, grooms, footmen, housekeepers, 
cooks, and ladies’ maids, who have been to 
the’ office to lay out money, or to receive 
some annuity ;.and, from the connexion 
amongst those gentry of high life below 
Stairs, whose’ chief eouversation is abont 
their annnities, the matter is universally 
known amongst the moneyed servants all 
Exposure of the Grantors of Annuities. 
[Dec. 1, 
over the west end of town, Any one of 
them, seeing the new man. at, the annuity- 
office, talks of it to the rest ; and the state 
of his affairs, his family, and expectations, 
become the subject of discussion, that they 
may form an opinion how far it may be safe 
hereafter to have dealings with him. 
8. To the counsellor who is consulted as 
to the securities. If it be a doubtful case, 
yet appear to be likely to be productive of 
good, two or three counsel may be con- 
sulted on the matter. Also their clerks. 
. 9. To. the convyeyancer. who is. em- 
ployed to draw a dratt of the deed. . Also 
his clerk, 
10. ‘Yo the law-stationer’s clerks, who 
are employed to engross the deed on 
parchment. Five, ten, or fifteen, drunken 
characters, are usually kept by the law- 
Stationer at work together in an attic, 
writing at from 15 to 20s, a-week, 
11, To the clerks and directors of the 
insurance-office where thie life is proposed 
for insurance. If the first office decline 
it, then it must be proposed at another. 
1z. To the persons to whom reference 
is given as to his presevt and general state 
of health. Two friends are necessary, and 
they of course know for what reason the 
life is to be insured. 
13. To the clerks of the courts of law 
at which judgment to be entered upon the 
warrant of attorney is obtained to secure 
the payment of the annuity. 
14. To the clerks of the Enrolment- 
office in Chancery-lane, where the full 
particulars of the deed must be enrolled 
by the Stat. 53 Geo. III. c. 141. “ 
15. To every money-broker in London, 
These gentry are constantly searching the 
books at the Enrolment-office, in order to 
see what annuities have been effected. 
We have heard of a great house keeping a 
book, in which every annuity done in Lon- 
don was entered, the particulars being ob- 
tained from the Enrclment-oftice at the 
expense of two guineas a-‘month. Sucha 
book in an annuity-broker’s office, fur- 
nishes with ready information. of his cus- 
tomer when a new man.comes to him, 
He sees in what former transactions he 
has been engaged, and where. In what 
state his affairs are, and how far his securi- 
ties and expectations are loaded or over- 
loaded. Also, woe to the borrower who 
Icaves him to go to seek money at anvuther 
office, and woe to the clients who go else- 
where to lay out their money. 
16. ‘Vo all the world whe choose, Any 
person, by calling at the Enrolment, and 
paying one skjlling, may consult it, audsee 
the names of ali the desperate borrowers 
of money, by, way of granting usnrions 
annuities, how much they, have borrowed, 
of wham, and)at what rate, with, othyr 
particulars. Tradesmen who suspect their 
customers derive important information 
for their shillmg. Arter stating that. it 
may 
