them from fire. Common fame gives the project to Dr. Barebone--a
man, I suppose, better known as a builder than a physician. Whether
it were his, or whose it was, I do not inquire; it was settled on a
fund of ground rents, to answer in case of loss, and met with very
good acceptance.

But it was soon followed by another, by way of friendly society,
where all who subscribe pay their quota to build up any man's house
who is a contributor, if it shall happen to be burnt. I won't
decide which is the best, or which succeeded best, but I believe the
latter brings in most money to the contriver.

Only one benefit I cannot omit which they reap from these two
societies who are not concerned in either; that if any fire happen,
whether in houses insured or not insured, they have each of them a
set of lusty fellows, generally watermen, who being immediately
called up, wherever they live, by watchmen appointed, are, it must
be confessed, very active and diligent in helping to put out the
fire.

As to any further improvement to be made upon assurances in trade,
no question there may; and I doubt not but on payment of a small
duty to the government the king might be made the general insurer of
all foreign trade, of which more under another head.

I am of the opinion also that an office of insurance erected to
insure the titles of lands, in an age where they are so precarious
as now, might be a project not unlikely to succeed, if established
on a good fund. But I shall say no more to that, because it seems
to be a design in hand by some persons in town, and is indeed no