In the paper I shall have the honour of reading to you this evening, upon some points connected with the education of an actuary, I shall endeavour to describe some of the more important duties and responsibilities of that office—to offer some observations to the student, as to his preparation for the profession of an actuary—and to suggest to the Council of the Institute some reasons for enlarging the sphere of the examinations that they may think proper to prescribe.

I shall not detain you with any account of the ordinary duties of an actuary, which are of course well understood in this room, but shall at once proceed to the consideration of the foundation of all actuarial knowledge—mathematics.