The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-01-14

Or, Like the weary traveller reaching in stor-
my night a dccayed and crazy houss-he sees it
totter before the Mind, bu; he reflects that il AUST
have witllstood many such storms, he hopes ii win
resist that before which, it then bends and threat
ems to tall and therefore he enters 70 rest his TIM
bered limbs beneath its shelter But ere morn.
riS the whole fabric is III ruins, and with Difficult.
ty he creeps forth half dead
Just such is the condcct of the Individual who,
knowing that fire is Of constant use III his house
that his servants have the chief use of it that
they have no such incentive to caution as he has
and that single spark may bercave him of the
greatest part of his property yet neglects to
make AN insurance on his house.
How many individuals there who feel no
hesitation at paying forty fifty dollars for lottery
tickets, with view to a considerable prize, when
the chance is against them 500 to / ! Yet these
very persons will object TO the appropriation of
the same sum, 10 secure from entire loss, a pro-
perry which they have in actual possession, altho'
the risk OF loss by fire may be considered as equal
to the chance of escape from it.
This IS indeed astonishing, particularly when
1t Is recolected that we have in the bosom of our
own state, cheap, safe, and permanent assur-
anCe society which cannot be bankrupted which,
notwithstanding the great losses by fire in the last
twelve years, has, when operating on small
scale, paid every sufferer insured, with prompt
tiude that, however complained of, surpasses that
OF any other insurance company. In most insti-
buttons OF this sort, the smallest flaw is taken adj
vantage OF to the injury of the insured. But in
this, except clear evidence of fraud be produced
the sufferer has promptly received his
money.
1t is extremely probable that, even if couvic.
ton should remove all doubts and general conf
dencc in this institution should be restored ma
ny persons will delay to declare for assurance
each man waiting for the example Of his neigh
bour.
Let me intreat all such to remember. that A
| neighbours carelessness is no shield to them
Let not him who dwells within walls of stone
and under roof of slate or metal, imagine that
he is safe, because his house is not principally ON
| posed of wood for there are almost miraculous
| instances OF long exemption from fire in towns
| whose buildings are almost entirely composed Il
| wood Petersburg and Williamsburg are emsrk
| able examples of this these towns principal,
composed of wooden buildings, have ESCAPED
without any material loss by fire for the last twelve
years, whilst Richmond and Norfolk, built chief,
with brick, have repeatedly suffered from extern
/ sive cohfiaglatons during the same period
IL would be an insult to the citizens at large &c
/ attempt an argument calculated TO shew the fol
| iy OF neglecting insurance on wooden buildings
ne man who holds property OF that description
| ana neSectS to insure 1T, when he may do SC
cheaply, conveniently and III a society which can
not be bankrupted, errs against the commences
! dictates of prudence-He sleeps on the post NJ
| aiun.He rashly encounters his armed enemy
| mInsef unarmed-Hc rushes into the midst O.
danger with ineXcusable foolhardness
These observations respectfully submitted
to the consideration of the house owners in Vir
ginia.
have been drawn into unexpected length in
tins publication, by desire to throw into one
piece, such general remarks as seemed to me wor.
Thy OF consideration, In my succeeding addresse,
to the public on this subject, shall consider some
| facts which are supposed to be worthy of the Sc
r1ous attention of those who are not members OF
tins society, as we'll as Of those who are so.
| Unaccustomedt to composition for the eve of tie
public at large, my style Will doubtless be found
greatly defective, and proper subject of crit.
c'sm--But Us believe the subject to be impor-
tant, shall not be appalled, by any apprehension
OF the censures of the critic. deem it dctv
and with ny best capacity will perform it.
SAMUEL -GREENHOW,
Principal Agent IF the Mutual assurance
Society, Gs.
Richmond. Ian ID