THE ASSURANCE OFFICE.

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grief at your loss will be unmingled with theslightest hypocrisy. Why? The event whichputs your nearest connexions in possession oftwenty thousand pounds, takes exactly the samesum out of the pockets of these gentlemen. Yes,my dear madam; notwithstanding what you hastento tell me about " the emotions of conjugal affec-tion," and " the tears of filial sensibility," I main-tain that the most inconsolable mourners over aman's grave are the directors of the company bywhom his life has been insured.

There is no rule, however, without an excep-tion. Among the conditions on which a policyof life assurance is granted, is generally one,which it is difficult to describe in terms of suf-ficient delicacy. The benefits of the policy arewithheld from that particular casualty to which awant of due regard for the lives and property ofothers may unhappily subject any man. In plainEnglish, the insurance company declare that if theperson insured should be hanged, they will behanged if they pay a farthing to his heirs, execu-tors, administrators, and assigns. He and the