The Sun.
London, England, 1850-10-01 00:00:00

DISPUTED LIFE POLICIES.

•
" A trial of considerable interest to Life Assurance Offices and the
public was concluded yesterday in the Court of Exchequer. The
Eagle Company held a policy for an assurance of 539/. in the Albion
Company as security for an advance, the payment of which policy
was now disputed by the Albion, on the ground that at the time it
was effected the fact of the assured party haying been a man of in-
temperate habits was concealed from the office. The chief evidence
turne I upon the question as to the degree of intemperance that had
been exhibited, and the result was, that a verdict was given against
the resisting office, not only for the amount of the policy, but also for
401. interest from the date when it became due. The circumstance
of the action being brought by one office against another presents a
striking illustration of the uncertainty which may attach to all po-
licies under the present system, and shows that the only mode by
which absolute security can be obtained by the public must lie in the
general adoption by Assurance Offices of the plan of protelting them-
selves in every case by due inquiries before the grAntim-- f each po-
licy, and of afterwards assuming the full responsibility Os the com-
pleteness of such inquiries by holding themselves precluded from
raising any future question. In the present case two offices aro
found to be diametrically opposed in their opinions as to what can
properly invalidate a (Linn, and yet the public are expected to be
able to guare themselves against such contingences. Similar cases
have occurred before, and even if they were snore rare, they would
seriously injure the progress of life assurance. 'I he very principle
upon which the business is founded is the removal of uncertainty,
and whenever that principle is counteracted in the slightest degree,
the people who would be the first to resort to its advantages are the
first to be deterred."—Thnes, July 11, 1850.
THE LONDON INDISPUTABLE LIFE
POLICY COMPANY
No. 72, LOMBARD-STREET, LONDON.
TRUSTEES.
J. Campbell Renton, Esq., M.P. Richard Spooner, Esq., M.P.
Richard Ma I
Matins, Esq., Q.C. James Fuller Madox, Esq.
William Wilberforce, Esq.
DIRECTORS.
Robert Henry Forman, Esq.
John Hamilton, Esq.
lames Fuller Madox, Esq.
John Matthews, Esq.
C. Octavius Parnell, Esq.

William Adams, Esq.
John Atkins, Esq.
henry Augu4tus Bevan, Esq.
J. Thompson Bramwell, Esq.
John Dangerfleld, Esq.

-
ATIDITOB.S.
'4POrge Cumming, Esq. Javies Turner, Esq.
William D. Starling. ESQ. David Henry Stone, Esq.
SiccurrAßY—David Alison, Esq.
Basarzas—Messrs. Spooner, Attwoods, and CO.
PADDINGTON LOCAL BOARD.
24. Connaught-terrace, Etigeware•roild.
Rev. James Sherhold Boone, A.AI , Stanhope•strcet, Hyde-park.
Captain Creed, N or fi)lk- crescent, Oxford-square.
‘'harles Pemberton. Esq., Ea,tbourne-terrace, Hyde-park, and Lin-
colu's Inn-flelds.
Thomas Je,•vis Autos. Esq., York-sir, et, Portman-square.
George Y. Esq., Ea,thourne-terrace, Eyde-park, a al New-
square, Lincoln's Inn

Secretary, Chas. Hot, k ton, Esq.
The POLICIES of this Company, being' INDISPUTABLE, form
Faintly Provisions and Negotiable Securiti:s, for their validity is not
dependent, as iii the case of ordinary Policies, upon the Import of
previous reports and other documents.
Owing to this important improvement in the practice of Life As-
surance, the progress of this Company has been rapid from the com-
mencement of its business, and is steadily advancing.
Copies of the Report of the last Annual Meeting will be forwarded,
on application, to Solicitors, to whom Commission is allowed.
ALEXANDER ROBERTSON, Manager.

CATHOLIC LAW AND GENERAL LIFE
ASSURANCE COMPANY,
8, NEW COVENTRY-STREET, LEICESTER-SQUARE, LONDON.
The FOURT ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING of the Proprie-
tors of this Company took place on the 25th instant, at the Dead
Office, at One o'clock precisely. The following is extracted from the
report, which is too lengthy for publication :
During the past year no claims have arisen from deaths in England,
and but two in Ireland—one for 5001. and the other for 2801.—making
together 700/., which have been paid. This is far below the expected
mortality, and is especially favourable, when it is remembered how
severely the life offices generally suffered from the epidemic of last
year.
The number of lives assured between the Ist of June, 1849, and
the 31st of may, 1850, was more than double the number issued in
the twelve months preceding.
Prop ,sa's were made for 138 Policies, amounting to 52,9631. 2s. Cel.:
of these 121, comprising 106 lives, were accepted for 45,1251. 6s.
ii.ixteen Policies lapsed, representing 6,0481., upon which 3201. 35.
was received by the Company in the shape of premiums.
Since the commencement of the Company to the Ist of June last,
assurances were effected to the extent of 110,9721. 12s. 6d., pro-
ducing in annual premiums 3,732/. I ls. 6d. Of these 54 lapsed,
amounting to 23,990/. 16s. 6d., of which the annual premiums were
741/. Is., leaving the yearly income on the let of June last equal to
2,991/. 15s. 1 Id.
Since last meeting loans were applied for to the extent Of 17,700/.,
but 1,183/. Ils. 10d. only was advanced.
The Directors were also highly gratified to report that within the
last four months they had considerably extended their business on
the Continent, having appointed, as Head Agent in France, Monsieur
de l'Etang, a gentleman of high standing in Paris, distinguished for
his integrity and ability in financial and in all assurance matters,
who, under the sanction and patronage of the Archbishop of Paris,
the Cardinal Archbish,p of Lyons, and Monseigneur Parisis, Eveque
de Langres, has already within the last three months effected a con-
siderab:e amount of business, not only in Life Assurances, but in An-
nuities both Immediate and Deferred.
After various resolutions, approving of the Report, and returning
thanks to the Right Reverend Chairman, Bishop Morris, the Vice-
Chairman, Actuary', Secretary, and Medical Officers of the establish-
ment, the meeting separated, highly gratified at its present results
and future prospects.

BRITISH EMPIRE MUTUAL LIFE
AND FIRE ASSURANCE OFFICES,
37, New Bridge•street, Illackfriars, London.
Incorporated under Act 7 and 8 Vic , c. 110.
DIRECTORS OF FIRE SOCIETT•
Gould, George, Esq.
1
Low, James:, Esq.
Mier:, Thomas, Esq.
Olney, Thoma,, Esq.
Wilinshurst, Joseph, Esq.

Blyth, John, F.sq.
Cartwright, Richard, Esq.
Cuff, J. Ilarcombe, Esq.
(lath! ertson, Francis, Esq.
Freeman, G. S., Esq.

ArDITORs.
rewtress, Joseph
Latter, Robert, Esq. W., Esq.
BANKERs.
Messrs. Barclay, Bevan, Tritton, and Co.
SOLICITORS._

Messrs. Watson and Sons.
The extraordinary success of the BRITISH EMPIRE MUTUAL
FIRE ASSURANCE SOCIETY has exceeded the highest expecta-
tions of its friends.
The whole of the profits are divided among the assured members.
One-fifth of the premiums have p all losses.
Assurances ellectel without trouble or unnecessary expense at the
head ,nd provincial offices.
There are some towns in which the Directors are
open for re-
spettable and efficient agents.
The MITTS!! EMPIRn VUTUAL LIFE ASSURANCE COM-
rANY is wider a separate dire. Don, though conducted on th. 2. same
principles.

WILLIAM SUTTO N GUY
ecER,
Actuary awl Sretary

FL L 0 T H S
Best Quality warranted - - 2s. f.d. per square yard.
Persian and Turke., pattern - 29. 9d. do.
Common Floor Cloth from -1 s. 10d. do.
'A quantity of Remnants cheap.-IC.B. No higher Prices.
JOWETT, Manufacturer, 532, New Oxford-street.