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.