The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-09-25
THE ROYAL INSURANCE COMPANY

CoTs tne usual report OF the business for the past
twelve months. The company was established
Ia the year lS45, and has, therefore, lust com.
pleted its twenty-hrst year. 1t passed through
is minority with far fewer checks aud viclssi-
tudes than tall to the share of most great CONNER
clal Undertakings; and now that it Is of full
age, II occupies POSITION of stability, and can
boast OF measure of prosperity, which, we
Deheye, was never attained within the same
time by any institution of the same class in any
part OF the world. It's adverse experiences
have invariably found it so well prepared that
even these have been poWerless TO affect the
general result IL bas gone on, from year to
year, extending its influence aud increasing
ITS strength; and those who have watched it's
development from infancy to maturiiy-the
wealthy and influential tOwnsmen under whose
auspices it was founded and still more emphati-
cally, its able Actliary and Manager, Mr.. Percy
NJ. Dove, who Is the handspring of all its ma
cchine1y, and whose udicous prudence regu-
latee and controls, In every department, the
gigantic business which his indefatigabe
energy mainly contrl buted TO create-may we'll
be proud of state of things which is so sats-
factory in itself, and which bears such decisive
testimony to the wisdom of their policy III the
past, while it Is full of encouragement for the
future.
We always leok with great interest to the pro-
gress of the Life Department, because we see in
IT the most conclusive test OF public confidence
Fire Policies-which are renewable at the end
of every year, and, in many instances, at even
shorter intervals.-,are often effected, even by
people who call themselves cautious, in offices
whose character and resources have not been
made the subject OF much consideration or in
quiry. The duration of the risk is 80 short and
1t is so easy to effect q transfer if anything
should occur to excite dissatisfaction or distrust
that we are apt to iorego the trouble of antece-
cent investigation, under the impression that
the consequences of a mistake-if q mistake
should happen TO be committedNcould scarcely
be very serious. But Lite Policy, when once
effected, cannot be cancelled without consider
able loss. II the office should fail, all the pre-
miums which have been paid are, of course,
utterly swept away. If, without actual failure,
its apparent position should be so altered as to
inspire doubt, and to make it desirable to with
draw, the party assured is virtually at the mercy
OF the managers, and must accept, for the sur
render of his policy, whatever they think fit to
give him. In the meantime circums tances
may have occurred to render 1t all but i'm
possible to substitute another in its stead. The
increased premium, which he would nave to
pay upon a new policy, in consequence of his
increased age, may be very much beyond his
means, or his health may nave broken down,
and he may thus have become uninsurable upon
any terms whatever. 1t is fair, therefore, to
assume that no man of common sense sets about
lnsur1ng his life without realizing the fact that
he is entering into an engagement which is to
last during his LIFETIME and upon the faithful full
tlment OF which, after his death, the pecuniary
re5OuTCes-perhapS even the means OF subsst.
ence-of those who are nearest and dearest to
him, must depend. With this fact before him.
he will naturally look for an office whose founda-
tons are firmly established-whose manage
ment is Systematically liberal whose Directors
are men OF business as we'll men of honor
whose ample accumulated funds, securely in
vested, and, at the same time, steadily increas-
ing, are manesty more than sufficient
for the full satisfaction of every possible claim,
under any conceivable contingency. Upon
all these points the Royal challenges, and has
always challenged, the severe5t scrutiny; and
the verdict OF the public has been pronounced
in manner not to be mistaken. In the year
lS45, which was the first year OF the COmpany's
existence, the sum insured upon life policies was
f23,2 ,249 In the year 1850, five years afterwards,
new policies were assured for f95, $50. In the
year 1867 the amount was E206,5l4. In the year
1860, ii was f449,29 In the last year, 1865 il
reached the astounding sum of 1886, 663; and, in
the six months which have already elapsed OF
the year 1885, proposals have been accepted to
thrown off, of 9i99, ,l24. We do not think,
therefore, that are at all too sanguine in
anticipating that the ratio OF increase, in the
next qunquennial period, viii be quite re-
markaGle as that which has hitherto been
maintained.
There would be small satisfaction, however,
in recording these large augmentations of the
transactions and responsibilities Of the Com
pany, if there were the slightest reason to ap-
prehend that the increased business was due, in
any degree, to laxity or lack of vigilance upon
the part of those who are intrusted with the
conduct of its affairs. 1t is easy to multiply
policies, if you will take any risks that are
offered, and will refrain from inquiring too
closely whether they are likely to prove remu-
nerative or to result in serious loss. But the
practice of the Royal has uniformly been to
place safety before everything, and to steer
clear OF all doubtful or exceptionally hazardous
engagements, so lar as this could be accom-
plished by the most incessant watchtulness and
the most conscientious care. We have already
stated that the amount assured, in the year
1865, was fSS6, 663, but, in the same year, the
Directors declined proposals for further sum oil
fl69,947 because, upon investigation the lives
rendered tor assurance were not found to be salts
factory. This single fact speaks volumes. II
shows that the inquiries which precede the
issue OF a policy are OF the stIictest kind
and that, where those inquiries disclose
cause tor distrust, no temptation to increase
business is permitted to prevail, but the pro
posal is unhesitatngY rejected. One conse
quence of this is, that the rate of mortality
among lives assured in the Royal, is more
favorable than that experienced in other first
class offices would have warranted the Direc
tors in anticipating, and more favorable, also
than they had themselves deemed 1t proper L
provide for, at the time of the establishment o
the Company. Another consequence is, thu
the Life Department. At the close OF the yea
1864 these funds amounted 70 f697,866 In tn
wear 1865 an addition was made to them o
flO0, LAG: and as the rate of addition, judgin
from all past experience is much more liKel
10 increase than to diminish, there can be n
reasonable doubt that the opinion expressed b
tie Actuary in his last Quinquennial Report
will be more than realized, and that the accu
mutations Of 1875 will exceed those of 1865 by
least million sterling. With such guarante
fund every pohcy-holder must feel himself al
soIutely secure; and when we couple with tn
security the prospect Of unusually aree an
liberal Bonuses-such as the ROYAL has htheri
declared, and will certainly be able to MAINTAIN
ifnot eventually to increase-we do not thin
it would be easy to point TO any Office possessiI
equal attractions.
- D;ro Danartmenf tho rasuIts ~ ~