INDEX OF CASES CITED. Theliusson v. Sheddon Page 561 | Vaughan, Mac Andrews v. v. Staples 4.94 Thomlinson, Lorain v. 583 Vaux, Schroeder v. Page 185 Thompson, Page v. 131 n Veedon v. Wilmot 500 , Archangelo v. 156 Vezian v. Grant 485 Routh v. 411 Victoria v. Cleeve 502.509 v. Royal Exch. 628 Vigne, Kulen Kempe v. 611 v. Rowcroft Brown v. 267 Scott v. 452 Visger v. Prescott 131 n v. Taylor 56 Wainhouse v. Cowie 514 Thomson v. Charnock 595 Walton, Hinckley v. 514 v. Royal Exch. Ass. Walker, Jolly v. 4.48 Co. 186 n. 356 , Freeland v. 368 v. Whitmore 178 Wallace v. Tellfair 4.57 364 Wallis, Anderson v. 261 Walpole v. Ewer 629 Webb v. Thornborough, Whittingham v.. 502 Walter, Lavabre . 85.465 -, Mayne v. 531.306 327 Want v. Blunt 647 Waples v. Eames 54 V. Lance 513 Ward, Jarrat v. 450 Thwaite, Ross v. 26 Wardell, Stitt v. 438 -, Salisbury v. Tidswell v. Angerstein Tremayne, Roberts v. 640 Warwick v. Scott 66 Watt v. Monro 130 n 504 334 374 308.478 334 v. Mainwaring 651 46 Watts, Tonge v. 56 473 502 438 Webster v. De Tastet 15 464 v. Foster 289 622 Wedderburn v. Bell 349 Western v. Wildy 631 166 n Weston v. Gares 307 Tunno, Parkin v. 265 Wharton v. De la Rive 573 v. Edwards 228 Wheeler, Vallejo v. 143 Turner, Dandy v. 624 Whitehead v. Bance 122 Tyler v. Horn 329 v. Vaughan Tyrie v. Fletcher 579 543 note (6) Tyson v. Gurney 519 Whittingham v. Thornborough Usparicha v. Noble Usher v. Noble Vanharthals v. Halhed 132 176 Whitmore, Brough v. 365 327 70.93 Goldsmith v. 152 Vallance v. Dewar 74 Thompson v. 178 Vandam, Munro v. 333 n Power v. 206, 631 Vandyck v. Hewit 574 Hore v. 484 v. Whitmore Vallejo v. Wheeler Vaughan, Le Mesurier v. Sterling 364 Vandyck v. 364 Gordon v. 143 Wildman, Plummer v. 208 631 347 456 284 Shirley v. 317 61 Williams Williams v. Steadman Page 632 Wolfe v. Claggen v. Horncastle 627 Wolliford, Barton v. 289 Wood, Knox v. Page 461 132. 411 627 405 650 470 Woodbridge, Bermon v. 585 500 n Woodman, Spitta v. 79 328 440 Woodmass, Saloucci v. 20 Young, Green v. Withers, Goss v. 108.234 INTRODUCTION. WHEN we consider the wonderful effects which commerce has produced on the manners of men, when we observe that it tends to wear off those prejudices which give birth to dissensions and animosities, that it unites mankind by the strongest of all ties, the desire of supplying mutual wants; and that it disposes them to peace and concord, by establishing in every community an order of men, whose interest it is to preserve public tranquillity; we are led to think that the history and progress of it would not only be amusing, but highly important and instructive to the inhabitants of every civilized society. Such a work would be in fact the history of the intercourse and communication of mankind, and must necessarily abound in events the most interesting to every social being, but particularly so to the people of this country, whose great importance in the eyes of Europe originated in commerce, and will endure no longer than whilst the same attention continues to be paid to her commercial interests. In a dissertation upon commerce, Insurances form a very distinguished part, and therefore it cannot but be agreeable to the scholar as well as to the lawyer, to trace this branch of commercial law to its source, and to give some account of those various nations, which have been rendered famous by the extent of their commerce, and by the excellency of their maritime regulations. Indeed, in tracing the origin of Insurances, an account of the maritime states, that have existed in the world, necessarily forms a part of the enquiry. VOL. I. a Insurance 2 Blackst. Comm. 458. 3 Smith's Wealth of Nations, P. 148, oct. ed. Insurance, then, is a contract by which the insurer undertakes, in consideration of a premium equivalent to the hazard run, to indemnify the person insured against certain perils or losses, or against some particular event. When insurance in general is spoken of by professional men, it is understood to signify marine insurances. It is in this light we are at present to consider it; and from the preceding definition it appears to be a contract of indemnity against those perils, to which ships or goods are exposed in the course of their voyage from one place to another. The utility of this species of contract in a commercial country is obvious, and has been taken notice of by very distinguished writers upon commercial affairs. Insurances give great security to the fortunes of private people, and by dividing amongst many that loss, which would ruin an individual, make it fall light 1 Magens, 2. and easy upon the whole society. This security tends greatly to the advancement of trade and navigation, because the risk of transporting and exporting being diminished, men will more easily be induced to engage in an extensive trade, to assist in important undertakings, and to join in hazardous enterprises; since a failure in the object will not be attended with those dreadful consequences to them and their families, which must be the case in a country where insurances are unknown. But it is not individuals only that derive advantages from the increase of commerce, the general welfare of the public is also promoted. It is an observation justified by experience, that as soon as the commercial spirit begins to acquire vigour, and to gain the ascendant in any society, we immediately discover a new genius in its policy, its alliances, its wars and negotiations. No nation that cultivated foreign commerce, ever failed to make a distinguished figure on the theatre of the world, as the history of the |