552 Hail in the South of France. 



and on lands intersected by rising grounds, the calamity more 

 frequently occurs. No higher charge was also made for 

 insuring the vines than for corn, although these crops are 

 exposed to the danger three months longer ; and tremendous 

 hail-storms are more frequent during the latter part of the 

 season. The society also, at the end of every year, had a 

 general account taken, and if any surplus remained, it was 

 divided amongst the members, instead of being laid up as a 

 fund to meet the losses of a more calamitous season. 



The results of nine years were as follows : — 



1st, As to corn : — 



In six of these years there was a considerable surplus after 

 paying all the amount of losses ; but, in the other three of 

 these years, the amount of corn destroyed considerably ex- 

 ceeded the amount of the premiums, and in one year was 

 about six per cent of the whole amount insured that year, 

 or twice the amount of the premiums. The aggregate net 

 premiums of the whole nine years were 502,944 francs, 

 22 centimes, and the losses 589,286 francs, 72 centimes. If 

 the premium had been 3j per cent, and the profits of one 

 year had been reserved to meet the losses of the next, the 

 society might have paid all the losses in full. 



2d, As to the vines : — 



Except in the first two years, when the business of the 

 society was very small, and very fortunate, the premiums were 

 insufficient, and, on the aggregate of the whole nine years, did 

 not amount to so much as one third of the losses ; the net 

 premiums being 107,769 francs, 96 centimes, and the losses 

 340,807 francs, 23 centimes. 



The society, to have been able to make good all claims 

 upon it, ought therefore to have charged about 10 per cent 

 per annum. 



The society was proceeding favourably, under the manage- 

 ment of M. Barrau, and was acquiring confidence by having 

 its affairs submitted to the superintendence and control of the 

 general meetings of the members, when all at once it excited 

 the jealousy and fear of the imperial ruler, and, by one of 

 those acts of tyranny which tend so much in despotic coun- 

 tries to cripple commercial enterprise by destroying con- 

 fidence, a decree was issued from the camp near Vienna, on 

 the 15th of October, 1809, and the society was thereby dis- 

 solved. Four years afterwards this decree was recalled ; but, 

 in such a state of insecurity, no one was then willing to 

 hazard his property in attempting to revive a society which 

 otherwise might have been flourishing and beneficial. 



