Chapter I

Origin of the Doctrine of Probabilities. Essay of John de
Witt. The Plague. First Bills of Mortality. Captain John
Graunt--his Opinions, Life, and Estimates. Curious Terms in
the old Registers--their Explanation. Life of Sir William
Petty. His Career and Character Page 1

CHAP. II.

Practice of Assurance by the Romans. Saxon Approximation to
Friendly Societies. Marine Assurance. Danger of Navigation,
and its Effect on Life Assurance. Assurance for Palmers and
Pilgrims to the Holy Land. Bulmer’s Office of Assurance.
Assurance of Navigators, Merchants, and Corporations.
Uncertainty of Life. Annuities. Audley the Usurer. His
History. Anecdotes concerning him. The Usurer’s Widow 25

CHAP. III.

Judah Manasseh Lopez, the Jew Usurer. His Trick on the Duke of
Buckingham. Suspicions concerning him. The Increase of London.
Population of London. Proclamations. Halley’s Movement in Life
Assurance. His Tables 46

CHAP. IV.

First Trial concerning Life Assurance. The Mercers’--its
Establishment and System. The Sun--John Povey, its
Projector--his Character. Wagers on the Life of King William.
New Assurances. The Amicable--the Mode in which it was
established. New Annuity Societies--Anecdotes concerning
them--Close of their Career 56

CHAP. V.

Royal Exchange and London Assurance--their Rise and Progress.
Bubble Era. Epigrams. Opposition to the New Companies.
Accusations against the Attorney-General. List of Assurance
Companies. Extraordinary Character of many. Remarkable Career
of Le Brun. Directors in Trouble 72

CHAP. VI.

Sketch of De Moivre--his Doctrine of Chances. Kersseboom. De
Parcieux. Hodgson. Dodson. First Fraud in Life Assurance--its
romantic Character. Thomas Simpson. Calculations of De Buffon 87

CHAP. VII.

Rise and Progress of the Equitable--its Dangers and its
Difficulties. Comparative Premiums. Sketch of Mr. Morgan--his
Opinions. Singular Attempt to defraud the Equitable--Death of
the Offender. Attempt of Government to rob the Offices 108

CHAP. VIII.

Bubble Annuity Companies--their Promises. Effect on the
People. Dr. Price--his Life. Sir John St. Aubyn. The Yorkshire
Squire--Assurances on his Life--his Suicide. 125

CHAP. IX.

Gambling in Assurances on Walpole. George II. The Jacobite
Prisoners. The German Emigrants. Admiral Byng. John Wilkes.
Young Mr. Pigot and old Mr. Pigot. Lapland Ladies and Lapland
Rein-deer. Insurance on Cities. Gambling on the Sex of
D’Eon. Public Meeting. Disappointment of the Citizens. Trial
concerning D’Eon. Lord Mansfield’s Decision 140

CHAP. X.

Fraudulent Annuities--Act to prevent them. Salvador the Jew.
David Cunningham, the Scotchman--his Career--his Annuity
Company--its Success--his double Character--his Fate. Mortuary
Registration. John Perrott--his Passion for China--Trick
played him. Curious Fraud. Westminster Society. Pelican 157

CHAP. XI.

Legal Decisions. William Pitt, and Godsall and Co. Romance of
Life Assurance. The Globe. New Companies. The Alliance--its
Promoters. Improvement of the Value of Life consequent on the
Improvement in Society--its Description. Trial concerning the
Duke of Saxe Gotha. Important Legal Decision 176

CHAP. XII.

Government Annuities--Opinions concerning them--Great Loss to
the State. Mr. Moses Wing’s Letter. Mr. Finlaison. New Annuity
Act--its Advantages to Jobbers. Endeavours to procure old
Lives. Anecdotes concerning them. Philip Courtenay 199

CHAP. XIII.

Fraud in Life Assurance Companies--its Extent--its
remarkable and romantic Character. Janus Weathercock. Helen
Abercrombie--her Death. Forgery of Wainwright--his Absence
from England--his Return, Capture, and Death. Independent and
West Middlesex--its Rise, Progress, and Ruin of all concerned 213

CHAP. XIV.

Select Committee of 1841. Instances of Deception. Publication
of Accounts. New Companies--Assertions about them--their
Importance--Suggestions concerning them 252

CHAP. XV.

Extension of Assurance. Society for Assurance against
Purgatory. Commercial Credit Company. Guarantee Society.
Medical, Invalid, and General. Agricultural Company. Rent
Guarantee. Railway Passengers. Law, Property, and Indisputable
Societies. Disputed Policy 282

CHAP. XVI.

The Banker’s Mistress. The elder Napoleon. The deceived
Director. The murdered Merchant. The Corn Law League and the
Cutler. The Unburied buried. The disappointed Suicide. A Night
Adventure 295

CHAP. XVII.

Scotch Life Assurance. Scottish Widows’ Fund--its Directors.
North British. The Farmer’s Fate. Edinburgh Life. List of
Scotch Companies 317

ANNALS, ANECDOTES, AND LEGENDS OF LIFE ASSURANCE.