The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-09-28 00:00:00

FRIENDLY SOCIETIES.-

A Committee of the House of Commons has published
Re
in which is contained an etraition of their principles an 4
Report on the laws which regulate these useful institutions,
practice, together with a variety of evident" in,illostratii
Of the subject. There can be ho doubt that the object
these societies, which is to provide a fund for sickness ii
old age, is laudable, and ought ttl be encouraged. A 1
bourer, who lives from week to week on his wage*, Is e
ch
(117:aetbliesto
hwirtemeflrioeilmneswosraknd wltaunttbbyy
japiny niecognwtiingetbohtehyertish4
knell weekly contribution out,of his awnings when in }mall
hereceives a provision which he has a right to, which heo.
call his own, in the event of his being oveftaken be diseAse.
or infirmity. Such an association is, in Act, a scheme --
insurance against the worst calamities of life; and institu
dohs of this nature, from their evident utility. have timed.
ingly spread all over the country. Few of these, howe'
we regret to state, have andwered their intended purposes,,
they have generally failed from a miscalculation of it
means. A scheme for pibviding out of the joint contrit
tions of a number of Members against the contingencies
sickness, age, or death, would requite, as its basis, a v,
accurate and comprehensive calculation of the robabili
affecting life or health. This however is an extremely ,
dcult subject, on which we observe that the opinions
eminent and skilful calculators ate not agreeit. It is scat
in evidence by one of the witnesses, thdt on the average
a certain number of individuals, siekness obeys an unify
law, and is reducible to certain calculations. This ma;
true; but if this uniform law is not known, we cannot'
ilsta any durable basis a society for mutual support in
event of sickness or age. We must grope in the dark, _
hie that we have no sure prineiple by which to proporthin
Often contributions to future wants. It will be found
gly, that almost all those Friendly ficeetrties '
taken too low a scale of contribution, and though at
....secain
and for years after their institution, their affairs flotirisi
yet time, and the advancing age and increasing dement
the different members, disclosed Ai length the erroni
principle on which the whole scheme was founded. A
cicty of one hundred or two hundred individuals in
prime of life, between twenty we may suppose or thi
years of age, may, by a comparatitely small weekly cone
bution, provide foe all contingencies, and even accumul
a yearly surplus; but as age and infirmities creep apace ,
the great body of the contributors, the funds gradually
dwindle away under the heavy and increasing demanus
from this cause, until they bedtime wholly insufficient for
their purpose. Most of these friendly institutions accord-
ingly, however they may have flourished for a while, have,
as time unfolded the defects of the original scheme, enticed
in insolvency, to the grievous injury and irreparable disap-
pointinent of their unfortunate contributors. Other errois
may have been committed in the constitution of those so-
cieties; but an incorrect scale of contribution was the radi-
cal mistake on which the whole plan was shipwrecked and
went to ruin.

In regulating such institutions, therefore, the great point
is to find out a correct scale of contribution. 11'ithout lay-
lug up a sufficient fund for the contingencies of age and
sickness, it is clear that the whole scheme must proe'e
nusatory, and that those wito embark in it must be ruined
and disappointed. In any legislative provision on the sub-
ject, therefore, it would be of importance to enforce, if that
were necessary, or to recommend, the adoption of correct
tables, on which a plan might be formed that would meet
any contingency. By the last Act of 1819, Justices are
required not to sanction any plan in which the tables of
payments have not been approved by two " professional
actuaries, or persons skilled in calculation." This pro-
vision, however, though it has been of use, has not been.
found so efficient as could be wished, the Place of profes-
sional calculators have been frequently supplied by " petty
choolmasters and accountants,' who have certified the suf
ficiency of the tables. It was proposed in a Bill which vi,!s
introduced into Parliament in 1818, that the Lords of the
Treasury should appoint five or more persons of skill in
calculation, to whom every Friendly Society should submit
their tables for inspection. This clause was however
withdrawn, in consequence of the alarm which it occasioned
among those institutions. The Committee who have
.published the present retort propose kclause somewhat
namely, that every society shall send up its rules
to the National Debt Office, to be examined by the calcu-
lator of that office, either singly or along with others, and
to be certified by him as sufficient, previous to their adop-
tion. Others propose, that certain icalctilators should be
appointed in London, Edinburgh, and Dublin, to examine
the correctness of the tables proposed to be adopted by
friendly societies; that they should give their advice for
a small fee; and that it should not be compulsory to con-
sult them. We have little doubt that the etrora which
have beet: committed in the formation of those aiso:iations,
and the ruinous consequences which have ensued, will in-
force caution in all future schemes of this nature, and will
impress on those who adventure in them the necessity of
procuring information. We hare little doubt that they
would apply for advice to any one in whose capacity they
had confidence. There are other schemes of Friendly So-
cieties, which, along with contributions for sickness and
age, comprehend insurances on lives, and a provision also
for children left destitute. These would require very nice
and complicated calculations, founded not merely on the
casualties of human life, but on the fruitfulness of mar-
riages, which cannot be ascertained, hut by the most ex-
tensive experience. Such intricate schemes involve con-
siderable risk, and are certainly not adapted for general
use.

The calculations of Dr. Price for friendly societies, sup-
pose that among persons under 32 years of age, one in 48
will be always incapacitated from illness or accident ; that
from the age of 31 to 42 this proportion will be increased
one quarter; from 43 to S I to one-half more ; from 52 tt
38 to three quarters more; and from .58 to 64 to double.
He accordingly proposes that each sub3criber under SX.
who should have four shillings a week during ttstress,
should pay a weekly contribution of one penny ; above se
the payment to be increased to a penny farthing: above
43 to three halfpence; above 58 to twopence. Mr.
Morgan, calculator to the Equitable Assurance Office,
continues to use this table: as also Mr. Frend, ate
eminent mathematician, and actuary to a great as-
surance company. The same tables have been adapttd.
by several societies in England on a large scale, and have
been found to answer their intended purpose. In some
friendly societies in London payments considerably higher
are required, which however may be probably ascribed tea
the greater unhealthiness of the metropolis. The report of
the Committee of the Highland Society, drawn up on a
return from 80 societies, exhibits a rate considerably lower..;
At the same time, considering the inaccuracy with whicl;.
the accennta of many friendly societies are kept. implicit
reliance can hardly be placed on the facts from which such.
tables arc constructed, more especially as they tend to re..
duce the rate of contribution, on which side it is alwsvr-
most dangerous to err. The subject is certainly one of
deep importance to the welfare of society.
Thryse institu-
tious, in which the labourer lays up his pittance, serve to.
foster in his mind the love of independents, to raise hits
above the rank of a mendir and

. -
•11
kr
shed a
utions,
les and .
tration
dect of
ess ind 4
Ala-
,
Is ex-
whlch
ors in a
health;
he ttan
disekse r
eme of /
wcver,
es,anci
11
f their
ltrit4u-
cies.of
a very
bilities
ly dif- i
one Apf
stated
age of
rtifofm
nay be
it form
In the
k, see-
iortign
found
have
it fir;t,
4
tnds of
oneous
A so-
in the I '
thirty
ontri-
rnulao.
ace on
dually
mantis
nt for
ccord ►
-

above the rank of a mendicant. and to give him all those-
virtues of foresight, energy and prudence, without which
lie is of little value either to himself or others,ro and in this ill
view we hope the subject will be thoroughly investigated,
until the truths of science ate rendered familiar as well as
practically beneficial to the great body of the people.--. 4
Caledonian Mereury.
1
. • I 4
INIF•TIOY OF GOLD.—M. Dittmer has published, In
the Hanoverian ?linguine, the following account of a
compound metal, invented by Professor Ilernibstadt :-...
'Cake of pure platina 16 parts, pure copper 7, and pure
zinc 1 ; put them into a crucible, and cover them with
powdered charcoal, and keep then. over the fire till they
ate perfectly inched into one mass. This compound is
stated not only to be of the same colour as gold, but to be
. ,
equal to it in specific gtuvity, density, and ductility.—
4
News of Literature.
A few days ago, es some labourers were digging silt tip( it
the farm of Isaac Whitsed, Esq. of Sutton, ti:. Edmuntln,
in the fens of this county, they found, twelve feet glow .b
the surface, a bane, supposed to be the wing of an eagle, its I,
a good state of preservation. According io Dogdnle I His..
tory of the Fens. it most • have been there more than IA;
thousand years. Some time since, a canoe, in a van 7 yob
feet state, was !band heir the spot.—.lfereford News.
I
V
1. 1
illtoL i
isia....-

4

41V ERPOUL, 110PIDA/•ET4NINO.

FAST

SHIPPING INT E LLIGENCE.

CUSTOM.HOUSF. Sm. IL

FROM LLOYD'S LIST.

. Wind W. to W.N.W.—lligh Water 23 m. p. 10.
Arrived the Mani:heifer, Demote, from Philadelphia ; St.
fieargir, lieer.y, from Drogheda; Harmony, Sire, from Charles.
sun t Casket, from ditto Mercury, Brown, from Brietush ;
Urn, Taster, from St. Petarsburgh t-Elarati, Kendall, from ('am.
/4= (sailed 22J July); Isabella, Athol', from St. Domingo
1" 13th Aug ; Alaidda, Slohi.on, from Cadiz.
The Lacy Ann, Andrew', from Nassau, I.P. railed 17th Aug.
Uo the Ilith Sept. in. lat. 41, 23, long SO, 26, rook* the brig He.
hoe New (Meese z on the 18411, in lit 49, 44, long 2C, 17,
apt to the Canadian. ban Liverpool for Quebec t on the 19th, in
lat. 60. 4. long. 23, 30. 'poi: the Marcus Hill, from Londonderry,
and brig Eagle, horn J:ll.l4,ica for Clyde.
The Elizabeth, from St. Domingo, and two dthen, were expected
emit from St Domingo in a few days after the Isabella. There was
cab eleßwins at the city.
The Amelia, Atidersan, from Liverpool, has arrived at Mira.
Tile Thomas. Drury, from Rkhelaucto, has arrived at White.
haven.

INI)1,1 SHIPPING.
The Alexander, Richardson, has arrived df Margate ; she sailed
from Collasho the 13th of May, from the 31auriuus the 11th of
• is* and Bern St. Helena the llst of July.
The Britannia, Boarke. has arrived off Dover ; she left the Cape
the Rtli of July, and Si. Helena the MI of July.
The Molten, Brown, has arrived a Portsmouth ,• she sailed
froth China the 3tit of lunch, from St. Helena the 17th Slay, and
rsom Quebec the 'Bth August.
ARIIIVaI. PROM ST. HILXIIA.—Tbt Shannon, Norquoy,
twin Stagapore and Batavia the 20th July, and was to sail for
Loudon the Is: of August.
Anatetas AT Tut 31 atm trtus.—The Pero, Rutter, from
Landon and the Venus, Cowan, from ditto, the list of May ;
she Mary, ?heir, from the Cape, the 24th 31ay ; the Ann, Worth-
iwgtan, from Bengal, the 4th of June; the Hortense, Vender-
amp, trout Antwerp, the 4th or June.
Saltine ratan Tilt Masi ant us.—The Constance, Chilean,
fir Cakseta, the SO Jtiocei
1411 Majsety'r ships A ma Wlhaltriewatn. •
Animas! AT vas r=.--The Brothers, Pons, limn the
Mauritius, July t the Butler, frank England, July h.
Uti.tsav PURIM TIM CAFIL2Th• Cantor packet, Bowditch,
from the Mauritius, the 14th June ; the Sarah, Milne, for Ceylon
and India, the loth June ; the Atlas, Rust, for Madras, the 23th
June ; the Margaret, liendersoo, for the Mauritius and India, the
241 July.
Snutso Thou 11orrit VtDuo.—Ths Bogdan, Meoti, for
the Mauritius, the 7th July.
A./RIVALS AT TRINCORALEX.—The Palmyra, Lamb, from
London, the 20th April ; and the Boyne, Lawson, from London,
tbe4th May.
SAILIXOS PROM TRINCORALri.—The Palmyra. Lamb, for
• Sware4 the 4th May ; and the Boyce, for ditto, the 10th :tiny.
Arture•Ls as ST. 1111.11 XL.—The Bridget, Leslie, from
Bombay, the 26th July • the Corsair, Robinson. from Batavia;
and the Griffin, narbutsAroor Timor. the 27th July; the Malay,
• Richardson, front Sumatra ; and the Euphrates, Meade, from
Brunel, the 19th July ; and the England, Reay, from Bombay.
th, 30th July.
CAPE, JUI.T 8 —The Brothers, Potts, was expected to sail
from the Cape for London the 15th July.
• There were no passengers per City of Edinburgh, from Cal-

Cads.
• Vnlrs eroicur etym.—The °Hamra, Laws, from London to
Bengal, the iOds May the Upton Castle, Thacker, from London
so Bombay, the IGth Atignit ; the Triumph. Green, from Lon-
don to Bombay, the. Auguat : the Regalia. llenning, from
• hisotbity to the Cape and London, the 20th June; The Sarah,
!tucker' from London to Bombay. the 12th July ; the William
Miles, Beadle, from London to Madras aid Beagal, the 16th
"J .

*ars Erornitani lowans:la.—The Prosperity, Jona; Oscar,
Maims ; Manning, Living ; and Clio, Farman, from St. Peters.
burgh; Francis and Harriot, Dodds, from Riga; Voiotia,
Thompson. (mm St. Petenburgh : Olives, Cnrrigal, from Riga ;
Nimrod, Mike. Irma 'tenni& ; Vrouw Hinderkuna, Voss, from
Amsterdam; Comae*, Todd, frnm Almeria and Gibraltar;
Thinnas and: Ann, Shield, from Cronstadt ; Abeona, Turner;
Meaborough, Glutton; ard Leander, Richmond, from St. Peters.'
burgh: Elizabeth, Major; Thomas and Mary, Chapman ; and
'John, Burnett. from Memel; Elisabeth, Voss. from Pillar ; Hero,
Marley, noon Boulogne ; Juliana, Fotheringham, from Quebec
Vzuuw Catharina, Wilderniann, from Emden ; Hope, Paget and
Friends, Power, from Harlingen ; Colombia, Wilson. from To-
bago; Christopher, Robertson, from Rigs; Faith. Forster. from
Demerara; Lodovka Albertan, Kahler, from Stettin; Ruby,
Talbot, from Memel; Fortuna, Cattow, from Adra and Malaga
St. Johaanes, Rubin, from Manic ; Isabella Sarah, Cook ; end
Levant, Cummings. Rom Memel ; Danube, Allen ; Lisette,
'rescliner ; Gute Hoffnung, Jantsen ; Expoditioe, Krause; and
Newton, Maas, from Dantzic; General Murray, Clark, front
Liebau ; Union. Hogg from Croostadt ; Mary Stoakley, horn
Neustadt ; Diehborn, Taylor, from Archangel ; Charlotte, Brown;
Hickman, Fletcher ; Onsgow. Clem ; Catherine, Leighton •, Jona,
Croospood ; Guildford, Thrift; Fanny, Gray ; Providence,
Stamm; and Spas* Petriet, Thompson, from Alcatel; Rangy.
Ghia. fetchtrr, ; Anna, Fisk, and Rignhild, Thja
from Bilboa- 13, Wardell, from Konigsberg; C
dam Tam, from Panther. (lowing. from Cadiz . I
Bloke, from Rotterdam; Triton, Owens, from Belfast; Malcolm,
Food, tram Waterford.
Finstracri OUTWARDS—The Commerce, De Vries, far
Aotwerp and Brussels; Panetta, Wahlberg, for Gottenburgh ; ,
I.lat Runiney. Turner, for Jamaica; Cincinnatus, Blys, for New
York ; 'kilned and Emilie, Goal. for Stettin ; Bramin, Raw.
ion, tar fillboa; Viscount Exmouth, IVatt, for Valparaiso; Vigi-
lant, Thorp, for Elsinore and St. Petersburgh ; Waterloo, Leveque,
fur Jamaica; Luna, Knox, for the Cape of Good Hope; '
Edward,
Wessels, for liremtr. • Frau Catharina, Ottoman, for Bremen and
Brake; Elisabeth and Cornelia, Parlevleit, for Rotterdam; Sym-
metry, Moore, for Genoa and Leghorn ; Triton, Owens, for
Belfint ; Willis, Tayt, for Rio Janeiro and the Cape of Good
Mope; Fame, Stephenson, foe Bilbao.
CLIC/LIED OW:MAIDS FINALLY AT Gasivitsran.—The
Wlndlust, Engleman, for Amsterdam; Two Brothers, Attrill, for
Jersey ; IVemyss, Kennedy, for Elsinore and Copenhagen ; Raw. I
IPa Ripnaiden. for Jamaica ; Ocean, Whittle, for Yucatan and
Bandung% ; Edinburgh Packet, Williams, for Rotterdam;
Vrizadvdtap, Bakker, for Antwerp; Sprightly, Smith, for Am-
sterdam ; Sans Repos, Pothers, for Antwerp and Brussels; Met-
oi.ant, Robinson, for Elsinore and St. Petenburgh ; Margaret.
Wrangles, for Demerara; Unternermung, Klock, for Bremen and
Drake; Auguste, Sap, for Antwerp; Rotterdam, Laming, for
Rotterdam; Columbus, Brown, for Taira& and Calcutta;
Emma, Reid. for Genoa and Leghorn ; Sir William Wallace,
Brown, for 31adeira and the Isle of France; Agenoria, Aberdeen,
for Leghorn • Frederick, Curtis, fur Sierra Leone; Flying Fish,
Smith. for dstend.
';..t;ARINo 011TWAIDS.—The Britannia. Fos. for Hanburgh;
Marahull, White, fur Newfoundland; Skylark, Davies, for
Smyrna and Constaatinople ; Suipler, Chambers. for Hamburgh ;
ElatSetli, Richards, and Charlotte, %Vain, for Stettin ; Minerva.
Nietcan for Rostock; Kangaroo, Bunnell, for Genoa and
LCARED OUTWARDS TO 15. LAN Harmony, Hum-
trfor Waterford ; Mary and Elna, Davies, for Cork ; Mi.
aL,Moppett, for Limerick.