INSURANCE. 



parts of the kingdom, companies or focieties for infurances 

 againll fire have been very numerous ; and their number has 

 poffibly been augmented by the emoluments that accrue to 

 thofe who ellablilh and conduct them. Some of thefe are 

 called " Contribution Societies," in which every pcrfon in- 

 fured becomes a member or proprietor, participating in 

 profit and lofs. Such are the " Hand in Hand,'' and the 

 " Weftminfter" fire-offices, for the infurance of houfes and 

 other buildings; and the "Union'" fire-office, for infu- 

 rance of goods. The other companies infurc both houfes 

 and goods at their own rillc. Of thefe the principal are 

 the " London'' and " Royal-Exchange" Affurance Cor- 

 porations, the " Sun," the " Phoenix," and the " Britifii" 

 fire-offices. 



As to the duties to which this contraft is liable, the Hat. 

 37 Geo. III. c. 90. § 23. repeals all the former Uamp- 

 duties impofed on policies of infurance againil fire ; and 

 (by § 24.) impofes on every policy, in lieu thereof, a new 

 duty of threeJhtUings, wlicre the fum infured is under icoo/., 

 and oi fix JhiUings where the fum infured amounts to loco/. 

 or upwards. And by the ftat. 44 Geo. III. a duty of /ct'O 

 /hillings and Jtxpcnce per cent, per annum is to be levied on 

 property infured agamft fire. It is much to be regretted, 

 that infurances againll fire are often made to a large amount 

 upon property of very fmall value ; this can only be done 

 with a fraudulent view, and a premeditated fire muft be the 

 neceflary confequences. Such praftices require caution in 

 the infurers, ought to be reftrained, and when they occur 

 feverely punifhed. If there be feveral infurances on the 

 fame property in different ofnces, eacii office fhould have 

 notice, that the fame may be allowed by indorfement on the 

 pohcy ; in order that each office may fjear its rateable pro- 

 portion of any !ofs that may happen. But unlefs fuch 

 notice be given to the office where another infurance is 

 made on the fame effects, the infurance made without fuch 

 notice will be void. In general, the riik commences from 

 the figntng of the policy, unlefs fome other time be fpe- 

 <ified ; and it will of courfe end with the term for which 

 it is made. Infurances againll fire are, in general, cither 

 annual or for a term of feven years, at an annual premium ; 

 and the offices, as an indulgence to the infured, generally 

 allow fifteen days from the e.xpiration of each year for the 

 payment of the premium for the next fucceeding year. 

 But the infured has always been confidered as being under 

 the protcftion of the policy till the expiration of the fifteen 

 days, provided the premium were paid within that time. 

 Several offices now hold tl'.emfelves liable for any lofs during 

 the fifteen days that are allowed for the payment of the 

 renewed premium upon annual policies, and others for a 

 longer period ; but every policy for a fhorter period than 

 a year ceafes at fix o'clock in the evening of the day 

 that is mentioned in it. A policy of infurance, being a 

 chofe in aftion, is, in ftriftnefs, not affignable at law ; but 

 it may be afligned iri equity. However, the mere aflign- 

 ment of the puhcy would be of little avail without an 

 affignment of the fubjeft-matter of the i!;furance alfo. In 

 the printed propofals ^ all the offices, it is declared, that, 

 upon the death of an infured, his intcreil i:i the policy fhall 

 be continued to his reprefeiitative to whom the property 

 infured belongs, provided that fuch reprefentalive, before 

 any new payment be made, procure his right to be indorfed 

 on the policy at the office. The policien of the Contribution 

 Societies, t/z. the " Hand in Hand," " Union," and 

 " Weftminfter," may be affigned, without any exprefs per- 

 miffion from the refpeSive offices for that purpofe ; and it 

 is fufiicient if the affignment be brought to the refpeftive 

 offices to be entered. But the other offices give notice, 



generally upon the policy, that it fhall be of no force if 

 affigned, unlefs fuch affignment be allowed by an entry in 

 the books of the office, or indorfed on the policy ; and 

 hence it feems to be a fettled rule in all the offices, not to 

 allow any transfer of any pohcy without tl;e coi.fent of the 

 managers. If an afugnor of the property infured under- 

 take to get the policy transferred to the aflignee, he will be 

 liable to an adion for negletling to do it ; even though his 

 undertaking was merely gratuitous. Fir the proof ai.d 

 reco\'ering of lofs, the following article is found in the pro- 

 pofals of feveral of the ofBces, importing, " that perfons 

 infured fuftaining any lofs or damage by lire, are forlhwith 

 to give notice thereof at the office, and, as foon as potable 

 afterwards, deliver in as particular an account of their lofs 

 and damage as the nature of the cafe will admit of ; and 

 make proof of the fame by their oath or affirmation, ac^ 

 cording to the form practifed in the faid office ; and by their 

 books of accounts, or other proper vouchers, as fliall be 

 reafonably required ; and procure a cerlilicate under the 

 hands of the minifter and churchwardens, together with 

 fome other reputable inhabitants of the parilh not concerned 

 in fuch lofs, importing, that they are well acquainted with 

 the charafter and circumftances of the pcrfon or perfons 

 infured, and do know, or verily believe, that he, flie, or 

 they, really and by misfortune, without any fraud or evil 

 praiiiice, have fullained by fuch fire the lofs and damage, 

 as his, her, or their lofs, to the value therein mentioned. 

 But till fuch affidavit or certificate of fuch infured's lofs 

 fh.iU be made and produced, the lofs-money fhall not be 

 payable. And if tliere appe.^rs any fraud or falfe fwearing, 

 fuch fufferers fhall be exciuded all benefit by their policies." 

 In the policies of thefe ofnces the infurers undertake to pay 

 the lofs, not exceeding the fum infured, " according to the 

 e.\ad tenor of their printed propofals," defcribing their 

 propofals by their refpeciive dates. 



Infurances agaiuft fire are defcribed in the plans and pro- 

 pofals of the difiererit focieties, with little variation, as 

 common, hazardous, aiid doully hr.7:ardous ; and they com- 

 prehend buildings and goods. Buildings fubjeft to common 

 infurances are thofe of brick or ftoi;e, ilai.'ding alone, or 

 feparated by partition walls, and covered with llate, t le, 

 copper, lead, or iron, with brick chimjiies ; in which no 

 hazardous trades are carried on, or hazardous goods de- 

 pofited. Goods are houdiold goods, in private dwellings, 

 merchandize and ftock, not hazardous, in brick or Hone 

 buildings as above defcribed, and in vi'hich no hazardous 

 trades are carried on, nor hazardous goodr, depofited. Ha- 

 i.ardous infurances com.prehend buildings of timber orplafter, 

 br'.ck and timber, or brick and Hone, not having party 

 walls of brick or ftone, wherein no hazardous trades are 

 carried on, or hazardous goods depofited, brick or ftone 

 buildings in which hazardous trades are carried on, cr ha- 

 zardous go. ds depofited ; alfo thatched bams and out-houfes 

 (having no chimnies, or adjoining to any building having 

 a chimney), containing farmer's ftock or implements of 

 hufbandry : likewife all fhops and warchoufes which have 

 German or metal floves with pipes. Co-.ds fubjett to the 

 fame kind of infurance are the ftock and goods of bread- 

 bakers, brewers, vinegar and fweet-makcrs, printers, hot- 

 preffers and calenderert, carpenters, chemifts, coach-makers, 

 colour-men, coopers, hemp and flax-drefl'crs,' innholders, 

 ma'.thoufes, oil leather-dreifers, fliip and tallow-chandlers, 

 ftable-keepers, pawn-brokers, hemp, flax, pitch, tar, tur- 

 pentine, rofin, tallow, hay, ftraw, and all manner of fod- 

 der, and corn unthrafhed, apothecaries' iiock ; alfo, oil and 

 fpirituous liquors, as mirehandize and the ftock in timber, 

 yards. Doubly hazardous infurances comprehend buildings 



which 



