Great power must always lie with friends in recommending assurance to those whose circumstances demand it. An instance of this may be found in the case of a well-known City merchant. The estate of this gentleman was entailed on the male line; but notwithstanding this, it was his chief fancy to improve the property, to the detriment of the female branches, the only mode of obviating this being to insure his life to the extent of the sum spent in improvements. Those to whom he was near and dear felt the delicacy of the case, and hesitated to broach the subject. His land agent was appealed to, a shrewd and sensible Scotchman, and he took the first opportunity of talking to Mr. ---- on the subject, who immediately acknowledged its importance, promising to take the necessary steps on his first visit to town. This he did; proposals were made to the extent of 15,000_l._; but some technicalities interfering which prevented so large an amount being effected in one day, only 10,000_l._ was insured; and the remainder postponed “until a more convenient season.” That season never arrived. In less than nine months the beautiful village where he resided, rung with the news that he and his wife were murdered; and though money could not soften or subdue the grief of such a tragedy, it tended at least to alleviate it. * * * * * When the Corn Law league established its bazaar at Covent Garden, among others who contributed to the exhibition was a cutler from Sheffield, who visited London to see this great political feature of the day. Before he left the city, he applied to an office to insure his life. He was examined by the medical adviser; and though he seemed somewhat excited, this was attributed to a prize which had been awarded him, and he was accepted, subject to the ordinary conditions of payment, with certificates of sobriety and good habits. The same afternoon he left town, arrived at Sheffield very late, and probably very hungry, as he ate heartily of a somewhat indigestible supper. By the morning he was dead. He had fulfilled no conditions, he had paid no premium, he had sent no certificate,--but he had been accepted; and as his surgeon declared him to be in sound health up to his visit to London, and as his friends vouched for his sobriety, the money was unhesitatingly paid to his widow, whose chief support it was for herself and five children. * * * * * C. D., in possession of a good entailed estate, but largely in debt, had his life insured for the benefit of his creditors for sums amounting to 10,000_l._