The Sun.
London, England, 1830-04-24 00:00:00

ASYLUM LIFE OFFICE.

The following letter appeared in the Times of this day

TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES.

Sta,—As the Chairman of the Board of Directors of
the above4atmed Office, I feel called on to notice the attack
made on that Company, by an anonymous letter in your
columns of this day. 1 will not stay to discuss the ex-
pediency of the law which renders a pecuniary interest in
the life of another a necessary foundation for an insurance
on such a life, but will at once prcceed to state the facts
of the case alluded to in the letter in question, and which
would have been proved in evidence, if the plaintiff's case
had not broken down even on his own showing.
The plaintiff in the action sought to borrow money on
security of certain property, which he could acquire contin-
gently on his son's attaining 21 years of age. On investi-
gating the nature of the property the advance was de-
clined. The plaintiff then, with the alleged view of per-
fecting the security, proposed to 'this Company to insure
5,0001., payable if his son should die before he came of
age, specifically detailing at the time the particular inte-
rest to be covered. The situation of the father was pe-
culiar, the property being in settlement, and the precise
period at which be would become entitled to it not known,
and therefore two years were stated to cover the event.
Now, mark the result. The sou did live to attain the
period at which the property devolved to him. The
father did obtain every shilling against the loss of which
he sought to insure, but because the son died within a
few drys of tl e expiration of the nominal term of two
years, the plaintiff sought to recover 5,0001. from the
Asylum Company.
Your correspondent, instead of stating facts, has sup-
posed a case. I will suppose a case also. A vessel is in-
sured for a voyage to India, and back to the port of Lon-
don, such a voyage being limited to a period of 18 months.
The vessel returns safely at the end of 15 months, but
after lying several weeks in port tumbles to pieces,
is otherwise destroyed; would the assured, either legally or
Morally, recover front the underwriters?
One line in conclusion. There are always persons to
he found who have an interest in decrying any prosperous
establishment, but if the Directors of Life Insurance
Offices were to condescend to publish one half of the
attempts at fraud practised against them, your valuable
paper would not be sufficiently large to contain the details.
I am, your obedient servant,
April 23. WILLIAM FEASER.

SHAKSPEAR lAN FESTIVAL.—The second
commemorative festival in honour of the natal day of
SHAKSPEARE, commtnced on Friday morning, at Strat-
ford-upon-Avon, upon a scale of splendour and extent we
did not anticipate, and Which reflects very great credit vu
the Committee of the Royal Shakspearian Club.

SOCIETY OF ANTIQUARIES OF

LONDON.

Yesterday being St. George's Day, the S'ociety' of Anti-
quaries met at their apartments in Somerset-place, in pur-
suance of their Statutes and Charter of Incorporation, to
elect a President, Council, and Officers of the Society fogy
the year ensuing:—Whereupon
George Earl of Aberdeen, Hudson Gurney, Esq.
Thomas Amyot, Esq. Henry Hallam, Esq.
John Britton, Esq. W. R. Hamilton, Esq.
Niche. Carlisle, Esq. J. H. Markland, Esq.
Henry Ellis, Esq. Right Hon. C. W. W. Wynn,
John Gage, Esq.
Eleven of the Council, were re,chose of the New
Council, and
C. F. Barnwell, Esq.
T. C. Croker, Esq.
A. Henderson, M.D.
F. Madden, Esq.
J. a Merivale,_Esq.
W. V. Ottley, Esq.
Ten of the other Meuibers of the Society, were chosen
of the New Council, and they were severally declared to
be the Council for the year ensuing. And, on a Report
made of the Officers of the Society, it appeared, that -
George Earl of Aberdeen, K.T. was elected President,
Thomas Amyot, Esq., Treasurer,
John Gage, Esq , Director,
Nicholas Carlisle, Esq., Secretary ; and
Henry Ellis, Esq., 8.C.L., Secretary for the ensuing
year,
The Society afterwards dined together at the Free
masons' Tavern, according to annual custom.

Thomas Lord Bishop of Sails-

bury,
Sir U. Staunton, Bart,
Col. B. C. Stephenson,
Percy Viscount Strangford,