THE HURRICANE, THE TTPHOON, AND THE TORNADO. 21 
It seems as unreasonable to complain and be astonisned, when a 
serious accident from storm occurs in such a spot, as it is for 
the capitalist who invests in a speculative security at a high rate 
of interest to feel aggrieved when his security is found to be 
somewhat unsound. The speculator must be presumed in each 
case to have estimated the risk, and acted accordingly. We 
venture to offer these remarks, not to check the liberality of 
those who, after a disaster of this or any other kind, do their 
utmost to sympathise with and help innocent sufferers, but 
simply to show the real state of the case. The hurricane that 
swept over the harbour of St. Thomas and the adjacent island 
of Tortola was not in any sense an extraordinary phenomenon. 
It was one of a class foreknown, foreseen, and certain to happen 
at one time or other. The risk mio'ht have been calculated in 
O 
any required terms ; and as far as the West India Mail Steam- 
boat Company were concerned, it appears that their Insurance 
fund provided for their loss in ships and money. Unfortunately, 
although we may insure human life for the benefit of the survi- 
vors, we cannot replace the life sacrificed — and life being lost, 
money cannot pay for it. Thus there is a sad and painful 
feature in these events, admitting of no comfort ; and naturally 
enough the human part of the question is so prominent in the 
eye of human beings that they are apt to forget or ignore the 
greater cosmical question which is also involved. 
