the complete shillings it contains; such remainder will of course be the pence and farthings contained in the fraction. If, for instance, the fraction had been •7623, as in the example given to illustrate the ordinary rule, there would then, after deducting the complete shillings, or 7500, have remained ⚫0123*, which, by the following Table A, is shown to be equal to 3d., because it falls between the decimals 0120 and 0130: therefore the total value of the fraction 7623 is equal to 15s. 3d.; which agrees with the result obtained by the rule first given. When it is desired to find the value of a fraction, to the nearest penny only, the following Table B must be used, in the same manner as Table A was in the last example. * .7623 less 7500 is equal to 0123 In more than one Friendly Society recently established, certain assurances, called " endowments for children," have been introduced, which allow the members or others to secure, by small monthly or annual payments, certain sums for children, on their attaining given ages; and in some Societies the same principle has been extended to other cases of a like nature. The consideration of such transactions has been advisedly omitted in the following Treatise; not because it is supposed there is anything objectionable in their nature or their adoption, but for the reason, that the introducing them among the objects of a Friendly Society would unavoidably interfere with that simplicity which seems to be absolutely essential to its good management, if it be intended that the members of the institution should exercise any efficient control over its affairs. The societies alluded to, as having admitted the principle of endowments in their plans, have been established and conducted under the personal superintendence of a few zealous and intelligent individuals among the clergy and gentry, whose leisure has permitted them to dedicate a large share of their time to the business of the institutions to which they have respectively attached themselves and so long as the leisure of these philanthropic persons shall allow them to continue their useful exertions, all will possibly be well; but should those societies be deprived of such valuable aid, it is not unlikely that their multifarious transactions will be found a serious evil, and the intricacy unavoidably caused thereby may throw all the influence and control over their management into the hands of a small number of members, probably to the great detriment of the interest of the rest. If, however, it should be thought desirable at any time to embrace the assurance of endowments in the plans of a Friendly Society, and satisfactory data should be collected from which to determine the rate of mortality prevailing among the children of the labouring classes, the principles laid down in the following pages will be found of easy application to the purposes in question. . That the admission of varied objects into Societies is not necessary to their success, seems sufficiently evinced from the experience of the life assurance offices established in London. Every one of such establishments, without exception, which has become distinguished for the magnitude or success of its concerns, is marked by the extreme simplicity of its plan; while others, which embrace a vast number of objects and options, have also, without exception, remained comparatively unpatronised or resorted to by the public. The reason is abundantly plain;-men engaged in the ordinary business of life have little disposition to enter into the critical and laborious investigations which are requisite for the understanding of complex schemes in which life contingencies are involved; and they have as little anxiety to connect themselves with institutions of which they do not clearly comprehend the principles. It is not improbable that should Friendly Societies be hereafter formed, with plans as diverse as those of the different assurance-offices, experience may equally demonstrate the wisdom of a rigid adherence to simplicity in the former as in the latter cases. The Author has been anxious to record the reasons which have influenced his judgment on this particular point; because he is aware that several estimable and zealous advocates for Friendly Societies differ with him in opinion thereon; and the Act of the 4th and 5th of William IV., c. 140, passed since this work was partly printed, having removed almost every restriction as to the objects which a Friendly Society may embrace in its arrangements, it becomes the more proper that caution should be urged against a Society admitting complexity into its plan. J. d Friendly Societies are alike beneficial to individuals and to the com- Frequent insolvency of Friendly Societies il. ib. Data collected by the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge. ib. Comparison of data now published with other data of credit Comparison of curves representing different Tables of Mortality Values of allowances during sickness Values of temporary and deferred allowances during sickness Practical method of computing the values of allowances during |