_Non-Participating or Honorary Subscribers_, who, it is hoped, may include THE ROYAL FAMILY and great Officers of the state, on account of the political and moral influences of Authors; NOBLEMEN and MEN OF FORTUNE who have manifested a marked predilection for Literature; AUTHORS OF FORTUNE and others sympathising with, and interested in the labours of literary men. _Participating Subscribers_, consisting of PROFESSIONAL AUTHORS, and that large mass of writers who produce the current literature of the age in Works of Science, Imagination, Education, and the Periodical and Newspaper Press of the Empire. The Constitution of the Society is such that the general body of its members hold the directing power. The Board of Business Directors is elected by it, and their powers and duties, as well as those of the officers, are clearly defined by the laws and rules of the Institute, which are in strict conformity with the elaborate requirements of the Friendly Societies' Act (14th and 15th Victoria, chap. 115.). THE QUALIFICATION OF MEMBERSHIP is authorship in some shape, but a large and liberal will be the most just interpretation of the term. As close a definition as can be given perhaps is, that it intends to include all who use the pen with an intellectual aim, women as well as men. The printed forms (which can be had on application) will show more minutely what is required to constitute membership. REVENUE. The distinguishing feature of the Institute is its applying the principle of Life Assurance in all its transactions. The _Subscriptions_ of the _Honorary Subscribers_ are applied to an Assurance of the Life of the Donors. For instance,--The Right Honourable Benjamin Disraeli, Esq., sends a Donation of Twenty-five Pounds, which is immediately invested on an Assurance on his life, and will ultimately produce to the Institute an Endowment of 42l. Or to take another instance,--The Right Hon. Lord Viscount Goderich subscribes Two Guineas per year, which is invested in like manner on an Assurance on his life, and will ultimately Endow the Institute with 100l. And thus the Honorary Subscriptions, instead of being spent as soon as received, are made to form a Capital Fund, which will be ultimately available, as the Lives fall in, to the Provident Members and Participating Subscribers.