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Life Insurance.—The following are the principal London offices, with their terms and assets, corrected to date by the officials of the several companies. NB- the names of such companies only as have made returns to the Editor are included in this list.

Literary and Artistic Societies.—The following are the principal Literary and Artistic Societies, with their objects and terms of subscription, according to official returns provided, at the Editor’s request, by their respective secretaries. The societies omitted are those from which his request for information has failed to elicit any reply:
AERONAUTICAL SOCIETY OF GREAT BRITAIN, Maidenstone-hill, Blackheath. — Subscription: £1 1s. per annum. Object: To perfect and bring into use the principles of flight as observable in nature in all its variety of action; to stimulate experiments with that object; and also for the purpose of extending the employment of balloons upon occasions when their capability can be usefully demonstrated.
ARUNDEL SOCIETY (founded in 1848), 24, Old Bond-st, Piccadilly.  Subscription:  No information. Obyect: To promote the knowledge of art, by copying and publishing important works of ancient masters.
ASSOCIATES OF THE LATE DR.BRAY, 19, Delahay-street.— Subscription: £1 1s. per annum, or £10 10s. life payment. Object: Founding theological libraries for use of clergy.
BRITISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ UNION, 6, Tenterden-street.
CHAUCER SOCIETY, 9, Milner-st.
CAMDEN SOCIETY, 25, Parliament-street.—Object: To perpetuate, and render accessible whatever is valuable, but hitherto little known, amongst the material for the civil, ecclesiastical, or literary history of the United Kingdom; by the publication of historical documents, letters, ancient poems, and whatever else lies within the compass of its design. Subscription:  £1 per annum. Members may compound for their future annual subscription by the payment of £10 over and above the subscription for the current year.
CHEMICAL SOCIETY, Burlington House, Piccadilly.—Object: The promotion of chemistry and of those branches of science immediately connected with it, by the reading, discussion, and subsequent publication, of original communications. Also the formation of a chemical library and museum. Subscription: £2  
DRAMATIC AUTHORS’ SOCIETY, 28, King-street, Covent-garden. Subscription: No information. Object: Protection of the rights of dramatic authors.
FINE ART SOCIETY, 148, New Bond-st. Subscription: A limited liability company, shares held by private individuals. Object: The promotion of the fine arts, by producing works of art, whether paintings, engravings, or etchings in the best possible manner.
LONDON AND PROVINCIAL LITERARY ASSOCIATION, 5, Friar street, Broadway.— Subscription: 10s. 6d. per annum;  5s. entrance fee. Object: Literary.
NEW SHAKSPERE SOCIETY London Hospital. — Meeting a University College, Gower-street on the 2nd Friday of every month (except at Easter, and during July August, and September), at 8 p.m  Subscription: £1 1s. a year, constituting membership. Object: To promote the intelligent study of Shakspere, with special reference to the chronological succession of his plays, and to print texts illustrating Shakspere’s works and times.
PHILOLOGICAL SOCIETY, 3, St George’s-sq, NW. Meets on 1st and 3rd Friday from November to June (inclusive) at University College, Gower-st, W.C. — Subscription:  Entrance fee, £1 1s. annual subscription, £1 1s; life composition, £10 10s. Object: To investigate and to promote the study and knowledge of the structure, the affinities, and the history of languages; to publish “Translations,” &c., and with the Clarendon Press, Oxford, a “Historical Dictionary of the English Language” (in 7,000 quarto pages), on which the society has been engaged since 1858.
PHYSICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON, Science Schools, S. Kensington.
PSYCHOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF GREAT BRITAIN, 11, Chandos-st, —Cavendish-square.
ROYAL ACADEMY OF ARTS Burlington House, Piccadilly. (See under special head, ACADEMY OF ARTS (ROYAL).)
ROYAL ASIATIC SOCIETY, 22, Albemarle-street.
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, South Kensington. (See under special head, HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY (ROYAL).)
ROYAL INSTITUTE OF BRITISH ARCHITECTS, 9, Conduit-street, Bond-street.
ROYAL SoCIETY, Burlington House, Piccadilly.
SIR MOSES MONTEFIORE LITERARY AND ART SOCIETY, 32, Tavistock-place. — Subscription: Gentlemen, £3 3s. per annum; ladies, £1 1s. Object: Lectures, entertainments, &c.
SOCIETY FOR ENCOURAGEMENTOF FINE ARTS, 9, Conduit-street.
SOCIETY OFARTS, 18 & 19, John-street, Adelphi.
SOCIETY OF BRITISH ARTISTS, 6 ½ , Suffolk-street, Pall Mall-east.
SOCIETY OF PAINTERS IN WATER COLOURS, 5a, Pall Mall. east.

Lloyd’s.—This etablishment which has risen to the dignity of a corporation, with rights assigned to it by special Act of Parliament occupies a great portion of the first floor of the Royal Exchange, Cornhill. It is still frequently spoken of, by old-fashioned people and foreigners, as Lloyd’s coffee. house; Edward Lloyd having been the name of the enterprising proprietor of a coffee-house in Tower-street, once much patronised by ship owners and merchants. The first mention of it is to be found in the London Gazette of 21st February, 1688. During the reign of Charles II., and towards the close of the seventeenth century, merchants, like their more fashionable contemporaries farther west, greatly affected coffee-houses, though it was not until 1691 or 1692, when Mr. Lloyd removed to the corner of Abchurch-lane and Lombard-street, that his house became the head-quarters of ship sales, and of marine insurance, with which the name of “Lloyd’s” is now associated. Previous to his settling in Lombard-street, the chief resort of shipbrokers and owners was “John’s” (surname unknown), in Birchin-lane, but Mr. Lloyd succeeded in attracting to his house the best of the shipping fraternity, and before long it became their chief place of meeting. For many years, and even after the middle of the eighteenth century, the transactions carried on seem to have been of a nondescript character, and, according to existing records, many of the everyday occurrences were of an order calculated to wound deeply the susceptibilities of the respectable body of gentlemen who at present preside over the destinies of Lloyd’s. In addition to the sale of ships, all sorts of articles were put up to auction, varied by a occasional raffle of a horse, sixty members at £1 1s., which it was prudently stipulated must be paid in advance. Another form of speculation in which our ancestors indulged was effecting insurances on the lives of public men; the chances of persons in bad health, or who had infringed the laws of the country, being alike made the medium of gambling. Steele, in “The Tatler,” and Addison in “The Spectator,” notice Lloyd’s coffee house as the resort of merchant and shipowners, and the latter paper, No. 46, April 23, 1711 gives a very good insight into the manners and customs of its frequenters. The miscellaneous forms of betting and gambling in vogue seem to have made the spectable  habitues ashamed of their surroundings, and about 1770 the notion, which had been taken up and abandoned more than once, of making Lloyd’s, hitherto open to all corners, a society confined to qualified members of repute and means, was again brought on the tapis, chiefly through the energy  of John Julius Angerstein, a German by descent, whose talent an integrity had raised him to a formost position amongst underwriters. Martin Kuyck von Mierop, considerably Angerstein’s senior, and a man of weight, presided at the first meeting, held towards the close of 1771, when  seventy-nine gentlemen put down £100 apiece towards uniting themselves into a society, then mentioned as “New Lloyd’s,” though before long the adjective was dropped. After temporary occupation of a place in Pope Head-alley, Cornhill, which proved inadequate to their purpose, “New Lloyd’s,” on the 7th Marc 1774, entered into possession of premises on the first-floor of the old Royal Exchange (since burnt down), previously occupied by the British Herring Fishery Society. Established in suitable quarters, Lloyd’s rapidly increased importance and reputation, and membership became, and has been ever since, a guarantee of high commercial standing. In 1811 its arrangements were re-organised and the first regular secretary appointed. Sixty years later Lloyd’s succeeded in getting an Act passed constituting it a corporation, and giving it many important facilities. At the present day those who have the entrée of Lloyd’s rooms are: members entitled to under write, members not so entitled, subscribers and substitutes. The expenses of the corporation in telegraphy, &c., are very considerable and the records, kept in alphabetical order, of the voyages of all vessels, with the other miscellaneous requirements of a large establishment, involve the employment of an extensive staff, ranging from expert linguists to tiny messengers. The underwriting business i.e. the insurance against loss or damage of ships and cargoes and from all parts of the world, is carried on in two rooms of noble proportions, while another is devoted to files of commercial papers, lists of shipping intelligence, written and printed, and seats and tables for reading and writing. This is called the merchants’ room, distinguishing it from the under-writing rooms where the chief business of the place goes on. Beyond the merchants’ room is a large apartment, used as a restaurant and luncheon-bar, and known as the captains’ room, from the fact that masters of ships frequent it when vessels are put up to auction. These sales take place in the luncheon-room usually at 2.30 p.m. There is also a library, well stocked with books of reference on many subjects, and containing, amongst other curiosities quaint old policies of assurance, one of which bears date 16th August, 1708, while the other  insures Napoleon I.’s life and freedom up to the 21st June, 1813, and some pieces of splendid black oak furniture, made from the wreck of H.M.S.Lutine, a frigate bound for Texel, which was lost off the Dutch coast on the 9th Octobe 1799, with a large quantity of specie and bar gold and silver on board. From time to time efforts were made, with varying success, to recover portions of the treasure until, Lloyd’s underwriters having long since paid the amounts insured, the Lutine affair became forgotten; but twenty years ago energetic measures were again taken to make further search, and with so much effect that over £20,000 was eventually secured. NEAREST Railway Stations, Mansion House and Moorgate-street;  Omnibus Route, Cheapside, Moorgate-street, and Queen Victoria-street; Cab Rank, Bartholomew-lane.

Local Government Board,Whitehall, S.W.— NEAREST Railway Station, Westminster-bridge; Omnibus Routes: Whitehall and Strand Cab Rank: Horse Guards and Palace-yard.

Local Marine Board, Office for examination of rnasters and mates, St. Katharine Dock House, Tower-hill. — NEAREST Railway Station, Cannon-street; Omnibus Route, Fenchurch-street, Cab Rank, Royal Mint-street.

Lodgings.—The immense extension of late years of the metropolitan railway system has thrown open to those in search of lodgings a much wider field than heretofore, even when sightseeing is the object, and time pressing. To those who are very hard pushed in the latter respect, or who contemplate being out late at night after the trains have ceased running, a central situation is, of course, still of importance; and these would do well to confine themselves — if economically disposed — to the streets between the river and the Strand, where they will get tolerable accommodation at about 30s. to 50s. a week, or to those on either side of New Oxford-street, where the charges will run a few shilling lower. In Bloomsbury again, a little farther north, but still within easy reach of the amusement centre, will be found a whole region, the chief occupation of which is the letting of lodgings, and where the traditional bed and sitting room can be obtained at almost any price from one guinea to two and a half. Those who wish to be central, and are not particular as to the price they pay, should prosecute the search in the streets between Pall mall and Piccadilly, including the former, where they will find as a rule small rooms, often shabbily furnished, but good cooking, first-class attendance, and a general flavour of “society.”  Prices here are a good deal influenced by the “season,” this being the special resort of fashionable bachelors who live at their clubs; but the weekly rent of a bed and sitting room may be taken at from three to eight or ten guineas; “extras” also, of course, being in proportion. On the other side of Piccadilly, prices are much the same, or, if anything, rather higher; but you get larger rooms for your money, the increased distance from the more fashionable clubs rendering them relatively somewhat cheaper. Beyond Oxford-street, again, there is a considerable drop, becoming still more decided on the farther tide of Wigmore-street, where very good lodgings can be had for 30s. to 40s. a week. We have here, however, got beyond the region of male attendance and must be content with the ministrations of the ordinary lodging-house “slavey.” The streets running immediately out of Portland-place may be taken as belonging to the category of those between Wigmore-street and Oxford-street, averaging, say, from about 50s. to 60s. per week. Turning southwards again we have the large districts of Brompton and Pimlico; a good deal farther off in point of absolute distance, but with the advantage of direct communication with the centre both by rail and omnibus, and the houses are newer and of better appearance. Visitors, however, having their families with them will do well to make enquiry either of some well-informed friend or some respectable house-agent in the neighbourhood before settling down in any particular street. The prices here will be found much the same as in the two districts last mentioned, varying of course with the accommodation, which has here a greater range than in most districts. Those who desire still cheaper accommodation must go farther afield, the lowest priced of all being in the north, east, and south-east districts, in either of which a bed and sitting room may be had at rents varying from 10s. to 30s. In the extreme west, south-west, and north-west, rents are a little higher, 15s. a week being here about the minimum. In all cases, except perhaps that of the Pall Mall district, these prices should include kitchen fire, boot-cleaning, hall and staircase gas, attendance, and all extras whatsoever. It will, however, be necessary to stipulate for all these things individually. The mere word “inclusive” means nothing, or less, being very commonly taken as an indication that the enquirer either does not know what extras mean, or is too shy to formulate his requirements categorically. Set everything out in plain terms and in black and white. Stipulate also at the same time and in the same way as to the prices to be charged for gas and coal for private consumption the former being usually charged at the rate of 6d. per week per burner, and the latter at the rate of 6d. per scuttle. It may be as well to remember, too, if bent on rigid economy, that scuttles vary in size. Finally you will find it necessary, if in the habit of dining late—i.e. after 1 or 2 p.m.—to make distinct stipulations to that effect, not only generally, but, if you so desire, with special regard to Sunday. In the first-class districts this does not so much apply, though even in them there is no harm in mentioning it. But in houses of the lower classes, this will almost invariably be found a difficulty, a very large proportion flatly declining to furnish late Sunday dinners on any terms. The usual mode of hiring lodgings is by the week, in which case a clear week’s notice, terminating on the day of entry, is necessary before leaving. If you wish to be at liberty to leave at shorter notice, or to give the weeks notice from any other day, it will be necessary to have an express stipulation to that effect in writing.

London and Westminster Supply Association Lim. 10, 11 and 12, New Bridge-street Blackfriars, E.C.—Established to supply the shareholders and members with all kinds of household requisites at wholesale prices.

London Bridge—built in 1824-27 from the designs of John Rennie, architect of Southwark and Waterloo Bridges, partly by himself, partly on his death by his son, Mr. J. Rennie. The cost, from various causes, was enormous, and a good deal of misapprehension seems to exist upon this point; some authorities placing it at a little under a million and a half, while others give it at over two and a half millions. It is built of granite in five arches; the centre arch being 152 ft., the two next 140 ft., and the two shore arches 130 ft. each in span. In order to facilitate traffic, police-constables are stationed along the middle of the roadway, and all vehicles travelling at a walking pace only are compelled to keep close to the curb. There are still, however, frequent blocks, and the bridge should be avoided as much as possible, especially between 9 and 10 a.m. and 4 and 6 p.m. Seen from the river, it is the handsomest bridge in London. NEAREST Railway Stations, Cannon-street and London-bridge; Omnibus Routes,. Cannon-street, King William Street, London-bridge, and Southwark-street.

London Crystal Palace, Oxford-circus, and 9, Great Portland-street, Oxford-street.-.. A bazaar for the sale of toys and the cheaper kind of fancy goods NEAREST Railway Station, Portland-road; Omnibus Routes Oxford-street, Regent-st and Great Portland-street; Cab Rank, Great Portland-street.

London Stone, in the wall in the front of St. Swithin’s Church, Cannon-street. Supposed to be the centre milestone from which the Romans measured distance. NEAREST Railway Station, Cannon-street ; Omnibus Routes, Cannon-street, Queen Victoria-street, and King William-street; Cab Rank, Opposite.

Lord Advocate’s Office, Home Office, Whitehall, S.W— NEAREST Railway Station, Westminster-bridge ; Omnibus Routes, Whitehall and Strand: Cab Rank, Horse Guards.

Lord Chamberlain’s Department, Stable-yard, St. James’s Palace (hours 11 till 4), is a branch of Her Majesty’s Household, and includes among other officers the Lord Chamberlain, Vice-Chamberlain, Comptroller of Accounts, Master of the Ceremonies, Lords and Grooms in Waiting, Poet Laureate, Examiner of Plays, &c.—NEAREST Railway Station, St. James’s-park; 0mnibus Routes, Piccadilly, Grosvenor-place, Regent-street, and Victoria-Street; Cab Rank, St. James’s-st.

Lord Great Chamberlain’s Office, Royal Court, Palace of Westminster, SW.— Tickets are issued here gratis every Saturday to view the new Palace of Westminster.—NEAREST Railway Station, Westminster-bridge; Omnibus Routes, Whitehall, Victoria-street, and Strand; Cab Rank, Palace-yard.

Lord Mayor’s Show.—The dull monotony, which is one of the saddest features of the life of the hard-working lower orders of London, is relieved by so little in the way of pageant or show, that it is no wonder that the most insignificant mercies are received with disproportionate gratitude. It is necessary to bear this well in mind in  endeavouring to account for the popularity of the procession which blocks some of the principal City streets annually on the 9th of November. One redeeming point may be noticed. There are always plenty of bands and some military display; and there is so little to enliven the usual dinginess of a London November day, that the streaming flags and banners give unwonted life and colour to the dingy scene It may, after all, be doubted whether he is not the wisest Lord Mayor who relies on the personal attractions of the personnel of the City for his show. Quite enough wonderful things have been exhibited by ambitious and aesthetic Lord Mayors in the way of beery knights in armour, circus elephants, and shivering ladies from the back rows of the ballet, to prove that whatever qualities may be requisite to secure civic honours, the organisation of shows finds no place amongst them. The course of the procession in the City proper, and the inconvenience to which men of business are put during its progress, depends upon the ward of which the Lord Mayor is alderman. In any case, Fleet-street and the Strand are sure to have all the benefits and all the disagreeables of the show. It is, perhaps, a thing to see once. A single experience will show that it is undesirable to take any trouble to see it twice. The best point of view is from the window of a friend who occupies rooms along the line of route, more especially if he have liberal ideas on the subject of lunch. The kerb-stone can in no way be recommended. The 9th of November is pickpockets’ carnival, and one of the very worst mobs in London is that which closes up behind the final escort, and follows the procession with howls and horseplay. If more shows were provided for the people—who, after all, may be supposed to require amusement as well as their betters—the Lord Mayor’s annual “march through Coventry” would probably be better organised.

Lowther Arcade, 437, Strand, opposite Charing-cross Station and Hotel.—A bazaar principally for cheap toys, and mosaic jewellery. NEAREST Railway Stations, Charing-cross (S.E. and Dist.); Omnibus Routes, Parliament-street and Strand; Cab Rank, Charing-cross.

Ludgate Hill— The appearance of this, the western approach to St. Paul’s, has been completely marred by the railway bridge of the London, Chatham, and Dover Railway, which crosses it at its lower end, and destroys the view from Farringdon-circus at its foot. Ludgate-hill is steep, and in slippery weather horses with heavy waggons have serious difficulty in getting up it, though the difficulty and danger have been much lessened by the laying down of the new wood pavement. Some houses recently built near the foot of the hill, on the south side have been thrown back some feet: and it is hoped that eventually the improvement will be carried out throughout the whole length of the street. From Ludgate-hill only can a good view be obtained of the grand western façade of St. Paul’s cathedral, a view that has been greatly improved by the clearing away of the iron railings, so leaving the west front open to Ludgate-hill. Few improvements in a small way have been as valuable and effective as this.

Lunacy Commissioners, 19, Whitehall-place, SW.—The office of the Masters in Lunacy and of the Lunatics’ Visitors is at 45, Lincoln’s-inn-fields, W.C. The office of the Registrar in Lunacy is at 3, Quality-court, Chancery-lane. Hours of business generally from 10 till 4, but fewer in the vacation. NEAREST Railway Stations, Charing-cross (S. E. and Disc.); Omnibus Routes, Whitehall and Strand; Cab Rank, Horse Guards.

Lutheran Places of Worship.—The following information has been kindly furnished by the respective ministers, the “terms of membership” being in their own words:
DANISH CHURCH IN LONDON (Den Danske Kirke i London), King-street, West India-dock-rd E.—Terms of Membership: “Conformity to the Articles of the National Church in Denmark.” All seats free. Service every Sunday morning at 10.30 am. ; lecture Wednesday evening at 7 p.m. Danish service also at St. Anne School-room, at, Dean-st, Soho-square; Sunday afternoon at 4.50.
EBENEZER (the Norwegian Sailors’ Church), Bickley-row, Commercial-docks, near Commercial-docks Steamboat Pier. —Foundation-stone laid on the 20th July, 1871, by Oscar, the present King of Norway and Sweden, then hereditary prince.  
NEW JERUSALEM CHURCIH, Warwick-street, Deptford, SE.— Terms of Membership: “Signing the Swedenborgian Declaration of Faith.”
SWISS CHURCH, Endell-street, Long-acre. — All seats free. The church is supported by voluntary contributions, and administered by a consistory of twenty members. Attached to it is a relief society for the Swiss poor in London, which is administered by a committee, with the Swiss consul at its head. This committee sits every Sunday after the service. Divine service, in the French language, every Sunday at 11.30 a.m. Founded in 1762.
THE SWEDISH PROTESTANT CHURCH, Prince’s- square, St. George’s, E.—Terms of membership: “Must belong to the Lutheran Church as established in Sweden and Norway. Even Swedish speaking Finlanders have access to the church, which is chiefly attended by sailors.” All seats free. For the right of voting every member pays a minimum contribution of 2s. 6d. Service at 11 a.m. every Sunday. Bible reading Thursdays, at 7.30 p.m. The church was built 1728. The chief income is derived from a charge on the Swedish ships. In the vault beneath the choir is buried Emanuel Swedenborg, who died in London 1772. A reading-room is kept up at 33, Prince’s-square, St. George’s, E. Swedish books may be there obtained, or ordered at cost price in Sweden.

Lyceum Theatre, Wellington-street, Strand—Has recently passed into the hands of Mr. Irving, who has for some years past been the leading actor and principal attraction there. It is one of the prettiest houses in London, and, while large enough to enable the poetical drama, even in the case of the heaviest Shaksperean play, to be effectively mounted, is not too large for the requirements of a modern audience. It may be noticed that evening dress is more commonly in vogue in the stalls and dress-circle here than at other theatres, but there is no absolute rule. It is worth notice, too, that the Lyceum, occupying a perfectly isolated position with a street on each of its four sides, offers special facilities for egress in case of alarm, whilst the saloon and lobby accommodation is on an unusually handsome scale, only equalled by that at Drury Lane. NEAREST Railway Stations, Temple (Dist.) and Charing-cross (S.E.); Omnibus Route, Strand; Cab Rank, Wellington-street.