164 Analytic Formula and Table of an increasing Life Aunuily . 



cant return the sum of barely 93^. Is this then a precedent di- 

 stinguished by any principle of liberality? is it distinguished by a 

 feature of justice ? It would, I imagine, be an excess of candour to 

 confess as much; but nay, more than this unjustly it seems, that 

 at some offices there is a refusal to cancel at all, or rather to 

 make any return whatever of the premiums received ; and thus, 

 were it not through the instrumentality of those trafficking in 

 such things, it would be impossible to recover a single shilling of 

 the immense sums so expended, and which, under the peculiar cir- 

 cumstance, would inevitably be sacrificed without any collateral 

 advantage acquired. An observation occurs now, and though im- 

 plied, yet should be expressly so, to the credit of the Society 

 animadverted upon, it docs then at recurring intervals divide 

 with its members a part of the enormous gains of profit made ; 

 they do this in reality, and as what is falsely insinuated in many, 

 where the scale of premiums is actually the same as at the Equi- 

 table, and yet never add a mite beyond the sum assured ; and 

 with this fact so glaring, it bewilders one to think how they 

 should be able to effect any policies with the public at all, ex- 

 cepting by the medium of a corrupt influence, or a courtesy 

 tantamount to servility which their most interested and strenuous 

 supporters may command in the world. If in general this is the 

 arbitrary and unfair practice dictated in all the subscription So- 

 cieties, how arc we to applaud or even gire credence to the rei- 

 terated professions made with unblushing effrontery, that in all 

 :iegotiations with the public, both its " interest and convenience 

 arc considered," being in all their proceedings actuated by a strict 

 sense of rectitude and of honour ? 



I have in the present paper intentionally abstained from mix- 

 ing up any extraneous calculations with it: by resolving algebraic 

 into numerical values, the enunciation is simply apparent and 

 intelligible to the general reader, I must now, in conformity 

 with my original design, revert thereto, and introduce the table 

 itself and auxiliary means of construction suited accordingly. 



Tujle 



