163

on the tables of the probabilities and values of lives in
London; another circumstance which secures a very
advantageous profit to the Society, as experience has
proved that the deaths are really in a much lower
proportion than according to those tables, and even
lower than those of Dr. Halley, which are founded on
the bills of mortality of Breslaw. By these means the
Society finding itself, by experience, well secured against
future hazards, and being unwilling to take from the
public an extravagant profit, have determined to reduce
all the future payments for assurances, one tenth, and
also generously to return, to the persons now assured,
one tenth of all the payments they have made: and it
seems there is reason to expect that this will be only a
preparation to farther reduction.

From the foregoing account of this society, it is
manifest that its business is such, that none but skilful
mathematicians are qualified to conduct it. The interest
of the society therefore requires, that it should make
the places of those who manage its business sufficiently
advantageous, to induce the ablest mathematicians to
accept them: and this will render it the more necessary
for the society to take care, in filling up any future vacancies,
to pay no regard to any other considerations
than the ability and integrity of the candidates. The
consequence of granting good pay, will be a multitude
of solicitations on every vacancy, from persons who,
however unqualisied, will hope for success from their
connexions, and the interest they are able to make.
And should the society, in any future time, be led by
such causes to trust its business in the hands of persons
not possessed of sufficient ability, as mathematicians and
calculators, such mistakes may be committed, as may
prove, in the highest degree, detrimental and dangerous.
There is reason to believe, that at present the
society is in no danger of this kind; and one of the
great public advantages attending it, is, that it has
established an office, where not only the business above
described, is transacted with faithfulness and skill; but
where also all persons, who want solutions of any questions
relating to life annuities and reversions, may apply,
and be sure of receiving just answers. The following
is a
Table of the rates of assurance on single lives in the Society
for Equitable Assurances. The Sum assured 100 l.

Age.	For one year.	For seven years at an annual payment of	For the whole life at an annual payment of
	l.	s.	d.	l.	s.	d.	l.	s.	d.
10	1	9	6	1	10	7	2	2	10
15	1	11	0	1	12	7	2	6	6
20	1	13	11	1	16	0	2	12	10
25	1	17	7	2	0	2	3	0	6
30	2	2	6	2	6	0	3	8	11
35	2	8	7	2	14	2	3	17	9
40	2	19	2	3	5	1	4	7	11
45	3	11	0	3	18	6	5	0	0
50	4	4	8	4	11	2	5	12	11
55	5	0	9	5	11	7	6	9	3
60	5	19	1	6	16	10	7	17	7
65	7	0	11	8	13	0	10	3	9

These rates are 10 per cent. lower than the true values,
according to the decrements of life in London,
reckoning interest at 3 per cent; but at the same time,
it is to be observed that, for all ages under 50, they are
near one third higher than all the true values, according
to Dr. Halley' s table of the decrements of life at Breslaw,
and Dr. l' rice' s tables of the decrements of life at
Northampton and Norwich. But as the society has
lately found that the decrements of life among its
members have hitherto been lower than even those given
in these last tables, it may reasonably be expected, that
they will in time reduce their rates of assurance to the
true values, as determined by these tables.

As to the Westminster Society for granting Annuities,
and insuring Money on Lives, lately established, viz, in
the year 1789, from the number and respectability of
its members, the equitable terms upon which it proposes
to deal, and the known ability and accuracy of
the mathematicians and calculators employed in conducting
it, there is every reason to expect an honourable
and equitable treatment of the public, and a permanent
continuance of its usefulness.

ASTERISM

, the same with constellation, or a
collection of many stars, which are usually represented
on globes by some particular image or sigure, to distinguish
the stars which compose this constellation from
those of others.

ASTRÆA, a name given by some to the sign Virgo,
by others called Erigone, and sometimes Isis. The
poets feign that Justice quitted heaven to reside on earth,
in the golden age; but, growing weary of the iniquities
of mankind, she left the earth, and returned to
heaven, placing herself in that part of the zodiac called
Virgo, where she became a constellation of stars, and
from her orb still looks down on the ways of men.
Ovid. Metam. lib. i. ver. 149.

ASTRAGAL

, in Architecture, a small round
moulding, which encompasses the top of the fust or
shaft of a column, like a ring or bracelet. The shaft
always terminates at top with an astragal, and at bottom
with a fillet, which in this place is called ozia.

Astragal

, in Gunuery, is a kind of ring or moulding
on a piece of ordnance, at about half a foot distance
from the muzzle or mouth; serving as an ornament to
the gun. as the former does to a column.

ASTRAL

, something belonging to or depending
on the stars.

Astral Year, or Sidereal Year. See Year.

ASTRODICTICUM

, an astronomical instrument
invented by M. Weighel, by means of which many persons
shall be able to view the same star at the same time.

ASTROGNOSIA

, the art of knowing the fixed
stars, their names, ranks, situations in the constellations,
and the like.

ASTROLABE

, from ashr , star, and lam<*>anw , I
take; alluding to its use in taking, or observing, the
stars. The Arabians call it in their tongue astharlab ;
a word formed by corruption from the common Greek
name.

This name was originally used for a system or assemblage
of the several circles of the sphere, in their proper
order and situation with respect to each other. And
the ancient instruments were much the same as our
armillary spheres.