62 
EDITORIAL OBSERVATIONS. 
is obtained at once by the very easy and simple process of 
effecting a policy of Life Assurance. 
There is, perhaps, no greater proof of the onward progress 
of the present generation than the rapid spread, and very 
general adoption, of Life Assurance, which is now re- 
duced to the position of one of the exact sciences. 
This mode of making provision for a family has obtained 
the sanction and recommendation of the greatest modern 
statesmen and political economists, from among whom we 
only need cite the opinion of the illustrious Benjamin Franklin, 
who says, “ My object is, to call attention to the fact that, a 
policy of life insurance is the cheapest and safest mode of 
making a certain provision for one’s family.” Thus, in the 
opinion of this great philosopher and eminently practical 
man, three most important features distinguish Life Assur- 
ance from all other modes of investing money ; 'namely, 
cheapness, safety, and certainty. 
Against the first of these, objections have been frequently 
urged; many persons believing that, if individuals insuring 
their lives are fortunate enough to live the natural term of 
existence, they pay into the office more than their represen- 
tatives would receive. In the majority of cases this argu- 
ment is fallacious, and would be so in all, if persons insuring 
were to do so with profits ; that is, by paying a fraction more, 
and thus sharing the profits of the establishment. 
Secondly. Its security has also been impugned, and it has 
been objected, that many offices are not safe. The best 
answer to this objection is that, with the exception of a 
notorious swindling office formerly in existence, no instance 
has ever been known of the claims of an assurer having been 
repudiated, unless under decided circumstances of fraud 
practised by the assured. Moreover, it is a well* ascertained 
fact, which has been demonstrated to the satisfaction of a 
Committee of the House of Commons, that, with ordinary 
prudence and economy in the direction of its affairs, no office 
can do otherwise than succeed. 
Thirdly. As regards the certainty of the provision made 
through the medium of Life Assurance, a few words will, we 
trust, convince our readers that this is, par excellence , the only 
