Another proposition has been made, to the effect that no company should be allowed without a large paid-up capital. “The public safety,” says the ‘Morning Chronicle,’ “requires that a sufficient capital should be provided;” and this the same article suggests should be 50,000_l._ “There are special reasons,” adds the writer, “particularly at this time, why new insurance offices should be required to provide a sufficient capital. Causes are in operation which may interfere largely with the rate of interest procurable on first class investments, and it is not to be overlooked that the increasing facilities of communication with distant regions, Australia for example, combined with the wide discretionary powers which it is the fashion for deeds of settlement to confer, may lead to remote and hazardous investments, full of promise when entertained, but liable to great and sudden accidents,--accidents such as insurance offices without any independent resources could never recover.” In another portion of the very elaborate articles alluded to[31], it is added:--“The only real remedy is to take care that the parties who enter into the several speculations have something considerable to lose, self-interest will then render them infinitely more prudent and vigilant than all the inspections and certifications in the world. With the general requirement, however, of the payment of 50,000_l._ as capital, might very properly be combined certain improvements on the present law of a minor character.” “It would be proper also to enact that after a specified date all persons whose names are with their consent advertised as patrons, vice-patrons, trustees, or honorary directors, of any insurance company, shall be deemed to be shareholders therein.” How far the suggestion of no office being allowed without a large capital, should be carried out, is a very serious consideration. A large paid-up capital does not appear an absolute necessity, although the faith engendered by it would probably repay the assured, because the larger the capital, the greater the confidence, and the greater the power of the subscribers to extend the business, as it does not follow that all the profits should go to the proprietors. The money invested would not be idle; it would be the business of the directors to place it in security at a good interest, and the interest would probably be greater than the subscribers could obtain elsewhere for their money.