though expressing all the impregnability that
could be desired in a word, it was considered to
be rather far-fetched. In order to expedite our
deliberations on this important point, the
Insurance Directory was sent for; when, on looking
over the alphabetical list, we found that
almost every desirable name had already been
used.

"In this difficulty," said Mr. Harrison,
"there is a very good rule to be guided by.
Let our name, whatever it may be, begin with
the letter A; for then we shall have the
advantage of appearing in the first rank of the
published list of companies. That, I can tell
you, from long experience, is a matter of
considerable importance. If we can stand at the
very head of the list, so much the better. Let
me see what is the first company in the list.
Ah, the Albert! Can any gentleman suggest
a name that will stand before the Albert ?"

Mr. Beasley suggested the "Acorn."

" Good, very good," said Mr. Harrison ; " the
Acorn, the seed of the oak, the germ of those
wooden walls which have so long guarded our
shores from the foot of the invader ; an emblem
of security, no doubt ; but there is, I think, a
want of development about it."

Mr. Beasley was good enough to coincide:
"there was a want of development about it."
Mr. Bosher, the secretary pro tem., in an unguarded moment, suggested "The Accommodation,"
but withdrew it at once, and seemed to be
sorry he had spoken. The colonel then, wildly,
advanced the merits of "Abecedarian," but that,
though admitted to stand second to none in an
alphabetical point of view, was also, on calm
reflection, rejected. At this period of extreme
embarrassment, Mr. Harrison laid his finger
emphatically on his nose, and exclaimed, "The
Adamant." We all, with one assenting and
delighted voice, repeated "The Adamant."
"The Adamant is your title against the world,"
said Mr. Harrison. We admitted it, and Mr.
Harrison took a pen and wrote, at the head of
the blank sheet of foolscap, " THE ADAMANT."

"Now, Mr. Chairman and gentlemen," he
continued, "having once made a beginning, it
is comparatively easy to go on. We come next
to the capital. How much shall it be ? If you
will allow me to advise, I would say not less than
one million sterling. Have you any objection to
one million sterling?" We had no objection,
and Mr. Harrison wrote, "Capital one million
sterling."

"The next thing," said Mr. Harrison, "is
the prospectus. Now, sir, I have no desire to
dictate to my directors, or to interfere with
their legitimate functions; at the same time you
will, perhaps, permit me to submit for your
consideration the draft of a prospectus which I have
already prepared." Leave being granted, Mr.
Harrison proceeded to read his draft. It was a
most flowery production, recommending the
Adamant (the name of which Mr. Harrison
filled in as he went on) to the notice of the
public as an institution combining the utmost
security with the most advantageous and easy
terms for the shareholders and insurers. The
great success that had attended other offices
which did not profess to offer sucli advantages,
was pointed out: the obvious inference being
that The Adamant could not fail to prove more
successful than any of them. The Adamant
was specially designed to meet the wants and
requirements of the working classes, and, in
conclusion, it was mentioned that in anticipation
of the great and wide-spread operations of the
company, branches of The Adamant would be
forthwith established in all the principal towns
of the United Kingdom, at the Cape of Good
Hope, and in Australasia. After receiving
some verbal alterations, with a view to grammar,
suggested by Ralph Abercromby, Esq.,
M.A., of Brasenose College, Oxford, who was
glad of an opportunity of showing that he was
not entirely ignorant of insurance matters, the
prospectus was adopted, and Mr. Harrison
triumphantly announced that The Adamant
Assurance Association was formed, and had
existence from that moment.

"You perceive, Mr. Chairman and gentlemen,"
he said, "what this sheet of paper, which
an hour ago was blank and not worth a
halfpenny, has now become. Here we have the
name of the company, its objects, a capital of
one million sterling, and a board of directors to
carry on the business."

After this we met regularly every Wednesday
to take measures for bringing the company into
operation. These measures were taken in due
course, and they amounted to this: Mr. Harrison's
nephew, Mr. Bosher, was appointed secretary
at a salary of three hundred pounds per
annum; Colonel Buncombe's son was appointed
accountant at one hundred and fifty pounds a
year to begin with; the lower part of Captain
Barlow's house, in a leading thoroughfare, was
taken for offices at a rent of one hundred and
twenty pounds (which I subsequently discovered
enabled the captain to live rent free); a brother-in-law
of Mr. Harrison's was appointed actuary;
another relation was appointed superintendent of
agents at a salary and commission; and an
arrangement was entered into, whereby
Mr. Harrison was to be paid two thousand pounds as
promoter when the company floated. Further, Mr.
Harrison had obtained the consent of two gentlemen
of distinction, the one a baronet and the
other an admiral, to give their names as trustees
on the distinct understanding, however, that
they should have no responsibility. Finally, Mr.
Harrison had achieved the great triumph of
inducing Lord Churchmouse to join the board.
Nothing now remained but to comply with the
requirements of the Act of Parliament. All
had gone so smoothly hitherto, that I thought it
would have been the easiest matter imaginable
to comply with the Act of Parliament. But
that part of the business proved by no means so
easy as I had supposed; for what the Act of
Parliament required was, that two-thirds of the
capital should be subscribed for, before the company
could be incorporated and licensed to carry
on business.