1822.]° 
ihe king’s arms at the beginning, and 
ending with the pious,ejaculation of 
** God save the king.” 
You willreadily discover this solemn 
document is no other than what is very 
briefly termed, “a brief,’—the object of 
which is to raise a fund for the indem- 
nification of sufferers by fires and other 
casualties. I have now before me a 
register, in which the sums collected on 
these, accounts by this congregation is 
regularly entered from-the year 1707 to 
the présent time. 
_-olL observe, by this register, that our 
predecessors were more liberal on these 
oceasions: than their successors; and, 
if I may judge of the feelings of my 
friends by mine own, I much suspect 
that the small sums we now contribute 
is more from the prevalence of custom 
than any impulse we feel from charita- 
ble consideration. Neither is this to be 
marvelled at, when we consider the 
different circumstances in which our 
predecessors and ourselves are placed. 
At the early date L have alluded to, I 
conceive the benefit of insurance from 
losses by fire was very limited: if not 
confined to London alane, extending, 
perhaps, only to Bristol and a few other 
populous places; and therefore, as the 
benefits to be derived from these useful 
establishments were scarcely attainable 
by the far greater part of the nation, 
when individualssustained heavy losses 
by fire, as they had no opportunity by 
prudential means to secure themselves, 
it was very natural to apply to the be- 
nevolence of the community at large, 
especially when sanctioned by the an- 
ihority of the state, to alleviate their 
sufferings and rescue themselves and 
familics from ruin. {But the case is now 
very materially altered. Insurance- 
offices are so abundantly increased, that 
the protection they offer extends to 
every town and parish in the kingdom; 
so that every man, who has an hundred 
pounds worth of property ‘subject to 
the devastation of the devouring ele- 
ment of fir¢, may, at a moderate annual 
expence, obtain security against its ra- 
vages. It therefore scems needless, 
and worse than needless, for any who 
are deprived of their property by this 
means, to levy a tax on the benevolence 
of others for restitution. Ample seen- 
rity ,is offered, and may be obtained 
with facility; and such persons, who, 
cither from carelessness or carefulness, 
will not avail themselves of the offer, 
deserve to abide by the consequences. 
Those who suffer the loss of their pro- 
On Church Briefs. 
307 
perty by means which no humau pru- 
dence can guard against, such as hurri- 
canes, inundations, &c. are objects of 
commiseration and worthy of the aid 
of the benevolent. 
But, after all, I cannot but entertain 
doubts how far this mode of indemnify- 
ing sufferers by fire is effectual. The 
proceedings are so tardy, that it seems 
questionable whether these streams of 
benevolence, which flow in so sluggish 
a manner, and diverge into so many 
little rivulets, ever reach the spot they 
were intended to recover from the 
parching effects of the arid element. I 
have four of these sanctioned applica- 
tions for relief from the effects of fires 
now beforeme. One of them happened 
on the 5th of January, 1819, tbe others 
somewhat more recent. Now it strikes 
me, that the relief intended for a suf- 
ferer three years ago, and which, per- 
haps, will not reach him (if at al!) for 
three years more, will not be likely to 
be of much advantage in repairing his 
losses. It has indeed been insinuated, 
that a practice has prevailed of forming 
of briefs, and that the sufferer receives 
a sum in advance; but, as there is a 
heavy penalty attached to this practice, 
it is not probable that it prevails; so that 
I am really at a'loss to appreciate the 
benefit the suffering party, notwith- 
standing this formal authoritative ap- 
peal to the charitable feelings of the 
“‘king’s loving subjects,” receives. 
It is much to be apprehended that 
the various officers, from the lord chan- 
cellor down to the local receiver, de- 
rive more advantage from the practice 
than the petitioners, and that this reason 
is more operative than the administering 
to the wants of the unfortunate. Other- 
wise, I think the practice would be 
discontinued. _ I do not apprehend that 
the stamp affixed at the head of the 
document is a duty; and, therefore, 
that no advantage arises to the govern- 
ment, but all the emolument attaches 
to the officers of the brief office. . Now, 
were this practice discontinued, | insu- 
rance of property would become more 
general, and a proportionate revenue 
result to the state, as the duty paid on 
policies is frequently more than, the 
premium. And thus, whilst individuals 
were encouraged to secure themselves 
from the losses occasioned by these 
casualties, they would, at the same time, 
be contributing to the exigencies of the 
government, and be rescuing them- 
selves from the pitiful imputation of 
public beggary. 
These 
