LLOYD'S, a set of rooms on the first floor of the royal exchange, London, frequented 'by merchants, ship-owners, underwriters, etc., for the purpose of obtaining shipping intellig,enee, and transacting marine insurances. One large room, with small rooms :attached to it, is set apart for the use of the underwriters, and there two enormous ledgers lie constantly open, the one containing a list of vessels arrived, the other recording dis asters at sea. In the same series of rooms there is a self-registering anemometer and anemoseope for the use of the underwriters; also a valuable collection of charts for con sultation. Sec INSURANCE, MAturNE. The extent of business transacted here may be imagined when we consider that the value annually insured amounts to above £40,000,000. None but members of Lloyd's, who have duly paid the fees, are allowed to transact busi ness there either as insurance-brokers or underwriters. The shipping intelligence is furnished by azents appointed for the purpose, and there is scarcely a port of consequence where one is not stationed. The agent receives no salary, his labor being- amply com pensated by the advantages he derives from the connection. The intelligence contained
in the ledgers is also diffused over the country every afternoon by the publication of Lloyd's List. There are two other rooms--the reading room, which is merely an extensive news-room; and the captains' room, where auctions of ships are carried on, and where captains and merchants can meet together in a sociable manner. The society of Lloyd's is managed by a committee of twelve, selected from among the members, who also appoint the agents and officials of the establishment. Thc expenses are defrayed by fees .and annual subscriptions. t, Lloyd's Register of British and Foreign Napping is a volume published annually, and containing information respecting vessels, their age, materials, repairs, owners, captains, etc. This information is supplied by salaried agents at the different ports. The office of the Register is quite distinct from Lloyd's of the exchange.
The name L/oxi'8, which is now generically applied, arose from the circumstance that the head-quarters of the London underwriters was originally Lloyd's coffee-house. See Martin's History of Lloyd's, 1876.