When they returned to the farm-house, the agent, who saw that if his host died, all that he had done would be for his landlord’s benefit, only said to him, “You must have spent a large sum on this estate.” “Many thousands,” was his curt reply. “And if you die,” was the shrewd retort, “your landlord will receive the benefit, and your wife and daughter be left penniless. Why not insure your life?” The man rose, strode across the room, and drawing himself up as if to exhibit his huge strength, said, almost in the words of one of Sir Bulwer Lytton’s heroes[33], “Do I look like a man to die of consumption?” The agent was not daunted--he persevered, explained his meaning, enlisted the kindly feelings of his host, persisted in asking him how much he would leave his family, and at last induced him to listen. They examined his accounts, and found that he could spare about 120_l._ a year. The village apothecary was almost immediately sent for, the life was accepted, and policies were granted for 3000_l._ In less than nine months this man, so full of vigorous health, took cold, neglected the symptoms, and died, leaving only the amount for which he had assured his life to keep his family from want. There is much in favour of life assurance in this little anecdote, and there is much too in favour of the proprietary system, for a man like this would not have risked his savings with a mutual insurance society. The Edinburgh Life Assurance followed in 1823, having been originated by the legal bodies in Edinburgh at the same time, and very much upon the same principles, with the Law Life in London. The Scottish Union ensued in 1824, the Aberdeen in 1825, and the Scottish Amicable in 1826.