ON LIFE CONTINGENCIES. l7 



1. De Moivre's hypothesis was suggested by H alley's 

 Breslau tables, made from observations of the mortality 

 of that town in the years 1687 1691- It confessedly 

 errs considerably at the beginning and end of life. 



2. The Northampton tables were constructed by 

 Dr. Price from the mortality of that town, in the years 

 1741 1780, the numbers of male and female deaths 

 being very nearly equal. These tables were, and are, 

 almost universally used by the assurance offices, and 

 are those by which legacy duties are estimated in the 

 act of parliament, 36 Geo. III. cap. 52. 



3. The Amicable Society's table was formed some 

 years ago by Mr. Finlaison, at the suggestion of that 

 gentleman and myself to the directors, and as a means 

 of furnishing information upon points * as to which 

 they had consulted us. The Amicable society was 

 founded in 1705, and the table is formed from the 

 experience of more than half the subsequent period 

 ending in 1831. 



4. The Carlisle table, formed by Mr. Milne from 

 the observations of Dr. Heysham upon the mortality of 

 that town, in the years 17791787- They are to be 

 considered the best existing tables of healthy life which 

 have been constructed in England. The relative pro- 

 portions of the sexes are 9 females to 8 males. 



5. The Equitable table (published by the Equitable 

 society in 1834) gives the results of the experience of 

 that society from 1762 to 1829. The total number 01 

 deaths recorded is upwards of 5000. 



6. The Government tables (male and female life 

 separately). These tables were constructed by Mr. Fin- 

 laison, actuary of the national debt office, from various 

 tontines, &c., of which the records are in the possession 

 of the government. Each table contains about 5000 



* In mentioning this suoject, I may be allowed to state my full approval 

 of the plan subsequently adopted by the society, and my conviction -that 

 the errors of their ancient system have entirely disappeared. 



The mean durations above given were computed by myself, from the 

 tables of decrements circulated by the directors among the members. 



