The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1867-11-23


houses of all his subjects against fire, on their
paying per cent. annually. according to their
value; but the project of gain 20 tempting to
most persons could not induce the Count to adopt
the plan. He thought it would do for individuals
to insure their own property-to form mutual
protection societies among themselves; but for a
company of men to insure on the payment of an
annual per cent. he considered could not be
'honerably, Justly, and irreproachably instituted
without tempting Providence without incur
ring the censure of nsighbors, and without dis
grazing ones name and dignity y adding that
''God had without such means preserved and
blessed for many centuries the ancient house of
Oldenburg, and He would still be present with
him through His mercy and protect his subjects
from destructive fires" This illogical and biytoed
Count failed to comprehend the memorable logic
of events the relation of cause and effect, and
regarded this wise suggestion as mere fanciful
theory or gratutious assumption. He did not
seem to comprehend that God, no matter how
merciful and good, does not interfere or
interpose His miraculous power to prevent
the sequences Of violation of law-that all things
are more or less subject to chance, or governed
by laws which maintain, or the whole, their
primeval uniformity, and are inevitable. Nor
are the elements, FIRE included, less subject to
law and chance than all things else in this world
which, on the whole is so haraoniously govern
cd. Fire, though an element of destruction, is
vitality essential to the existence Of matter and
its use is Indispensable its abuse often results
disastrously. As disasters OF the kind may be
the result of carelessness or not--and We are
powerless in either event to control the result
is it not fortunate, if not providental, that aid
and relief in such emergencies which often pro-
duce suffering and restitution if no means of
assistance are at hand iuterpossd in our be-
half /, At just this point the wise and inestima-
bly, valuable assistance of fire insurance appears
in its true relation and use. 1t was regarded in
this light few years after the Count referred to
promulgated his absurd theory, when the great
fire of 1865 laid the city Of London in ashes !:
and it was then decided that God did not inter-
fere in any way to save property, not even the
houses of Count Ven Oldenburg from the de-
struction of this element.
The spur OF necessity has, in all the paths of
life produced evidence Of its useful application
whether the force of such necessity has been want
Of money, desire of fame, or the presence Of some
other exciting cause TO determine action. The
early history Of fire insurance seems to present
US with one Of these examples. The devastations
- a
tell who would be the victims Of its ruin. This
calamitous event-the destruction Of London
awakened the people Of that city to the
Importance and necessity OF using in buildings
less Asmmable material; adopting precautionary
measures against accidents and devising some
scheme for mutual pccuniary protection and re-
lief Proposals were submitted to the Court of
Common Council of the city, during the year
1862 for the mutual relief Of such - might
have their houses destroyed BY fire: the most
notable Of winch. and the acceptable one, was
from Mr.. Newbold, member OF the body. II
we may judge by the length Of time that elapsed
ere the committee 10 whom the matter WAS refer.
red made their report to the Court, We should
conclude that the adopting Of the proposal was
attended with serious difficulties and in verih.
cation Of the maxim that "delays are dangerous"
during the time intervening between the prsssn.
tation and adoption Of this proposition several
individuals associated themselves together and
submitted TO the Oitzsns Of London ''design
insuzing houses from 6rs," and q the lotA day
Of September, 1851, anotics or sdvertissnsat vss
issued from their 'oflce on the back eide Of the
Royal Exchange" Offering u insure brick housss
against hre for @speace. and timber housss for
s,ese9enee to thepound sterling, being at Ne rate
81 l0s pss cent. br former. and s. PSI cent. for
the latter. The W. the first Are insurance
company Of which there IL any record. Il was
on the mutual essentially the same - that
proposed in 1909, 70 which we have alluded It
has been modified. Of course, from time 70 time,
. circumstances and experience developed The
nscsssity or suggested the expediency Of chsags
and improvement. The proposition Of New.
bold vas seosptsa IN lSSs-s year latsr-
previous 70 which time several private sssocia-
tions had been formed. The corporation CON.
paay, - NJ. Nswbolds plan was called, va,
conducted By the city government, and each
policy, in case Of lesA became . lien on ths On.
tire property Of the oity. which was regarded
~ bsst pOssibis seourisys .Maeh-ss.ssi.s pam.
phletesrins bstwsen the friends Of TIE two
schemes followed. which had the effect Of srous'
ing the people to confederation Of the subject,
resulting in quite thorough development and
understanding Of IL. This seal On the part Of
companies resulted in obtaining large issue Of
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