kept a gig, and was calculated to last a stated time before it reached
the naphtha. He furtively deposited the whole machine in the cellar,
within eight inches of the wooden floor, in a place constructed to
conceal it. The attorney went out, and on coming back again found, as
he expected, that his house was on fire. Unfortunately, however, for
him--if it is ever a misfortune to a scoundrel to be detected--it was
put out at a very ear]y stage; and the firemen, whilst in the act of
extinguishing it discovered this infernal machine. The order to make
it was traced to the delinquent; a female servant, irritated at the
idea of his having left her in the house to be burned to death, gave
evidence against him; he was tried and convicted, and is now expiating
his crime at Norfolk Island. Plans for rebuilding this villain's
house, and estimates of the expense, were found afterwards among his
papers.

The class "Doubtful" includes all those cases in which the offices
have no moral doubt that the fire has been wilful, but are not in
possession of legal evidence sufficient to substantiate a charge
against the offender. In most of these instances, however, the
insured has _his reasons_ for taking a much smaller sum than he
originally demanded. Lastly, we have the "Unknown," to which 1323
cases are put down, one of the largest numbers in the entire list,
though decreasing year by year. Even of these a certain percentage
are supposed to be wilful. There is no denying that the crime of
arson owes its origin entirely to the introduction of fire insurance;
and there can be as little doubt that of late years it has been very
much increased by the pernicious competition for business among the
younger offices, which leads them to deal too leniently with their
customers; or, in other words, to pay the money, _and ask no
questions_. It is calculated that _one fire in seven which occur