2 
LIFE ASSURANCE. 
invested. Moreover, the abundant interest will have to be 
received just at the time when probably it is most needed ; 
and having thus acted, what an anxious burthen is at once 
removed from the mind of the survivors, and how different is 
their position to that which otherwise would have been the 
case. Charity is proverbially cold ; and when eleemosynary 
aid is solicited, the cutting inquiry is frequently heard, Why 
was no provision against this made during life? Why was 
this or that extravagance allowed in the family? It had 
been well if pride had been curbed ? Censure is cheap. ; Tis 
easy to condemn. These are the mere loop-holes of escape. 
We have before alluded to the fact that among us as a profes- 
sion it has been found impossible to form a benevolent fund. 
Many efforts have been made, and they have all signally failed. 
At the present time we have much less cause to regret this than 
we had, since of late years the benefits to be obtained from 
life assurance are better understood than they were ; w hilst 
many societies have started into existence, the manner of 
conducting business in which is so w 7 ell known by the 
managers thereof, and supported as they are by a large paid- 
up capital, and a responsible proprietary, that more good is 
likely to be derived from these than from any similar institu- 
tion that could be formed by a small section of the commu- 
nity. In confirmation of our view r s we make the following 
extract on account of its clearness and point. 
“Life assurance is susceptible of many different advantages, besides 
those which are implied in the mere mention of the term. For instance, 
every contingency incidental to human life and to commercial pursuits may 
be rendered certain by the adoption of one or other of the various plans 
which existing Assurance Companies hold out to the public, whether it -be 
the assurance of a stated sum at death, or at the death of the first of two 
parties assured, the youngest or the eldest, as the case may be ; a husband 
may assure his life, or that of his wife, on such easy terms that, though 
he could not otherwise leave her a shilling, he may provide for her £1000, 
receivable at his death, with which she may rear up a family with re- 
spectability, and place them well in the world ; or the payment of a specified 
sum on arriving at any age agreed upon at the commencement of the con- 
tract ; or a deferred annuity to begin at a specified age for present payment 
of a sum of money, or by the regular payment of instalments extending 
over a given number of years. It must not, however, be forgotten, that 
some Assurance Offices will only assure persons in the highest state of 
health, so that when we are in ill-health, and a belief takes possession of 
our minds that death is not far off, and the desire to make a provision for 
one’s family, by means of Life Assurance, is strong upon us, so good a 
resolve generally comes too late to be carried into effect. It is right, how- 
ever, to mention, that there are offices in existence which assure, at an in- 
creased rate, of course, the lives of persons “ declined ” by other offices, 
because their rates have been framed only for the best class of lives, which 
rates are reduced should the party ever be restored to a healthy condition. 
Time was when only persons in the ripest health could assure their lives 
