An account of the several life-assurance companies established in London. Containing a view of their respective merits and advantages / [Francis Baily].

  • Baily, Francis, 1774-1844.
Date:
1810
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An account of the several life-assurance companies established in London. Containing a view of their respective merits and advantages / [Francis Baily]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    These, and a thousand other cases of daily occur¬ rence, render this branch of the science interesting to every class of the community. Numerous Offices have lately sprung up, in the metropolis, for the pur¬ pose of granting Assurances on every possible contin¬ gency amongst lives in general; and it therefore be- 4 * comes every one, engaged in the public business of life, to study this subject with attention. But, notwithstanding the importance and utility of these inquiries, I fear that Life-Assurances are too often effected in a very loose and careless manner; and which can arise only from an ignorance of the true . nature and constitution of the several Societies that t ' have been formed for this purpose. A person is apt to imagine that, because the Bates are the same at all the Offices, it can be of little consequence at which of them he effects his policy.—If he is himself in, doubt upon this subject, he applies to some of his ac¬ quaintance ; who, influenced by partiality (or perhaps by a more disgraceful motive*) recommend him to that Office with which they are more immediately ac- \ quainted and connected; or who, equally ignorant with himself, confirm him in the indifference of his * See the note in page 29.