The Calcutta Law Journal Short Notes of Cases Articles and other Matters March 16 1908

These ordinances supposed to be largely the work of Colbert Louis XIV’s gifted Minister of Finance provide for the regulation of the business of insurance with a completeness of detail that speaks clearly both of the importance of commercial insurance at that time and of the age and extent of the practice that could make such detail possible. [...] Thus one of the clauses of the modern Lloyds' -policy provides that the policy ” shall be of as much force and effect as the surest writing or policy of assurance heretofore made in Lombard Street.” We know also that the earliest policies issued in London of which we have any certain knowledge were written in Italian with English translations attached. [...] The first certain record of an insurance transaction in England is found in the report of the case of Emerson c. De Sallanova determined in a Court of Admiralty in 1545 Curiously enough the insurance involved in this proceeding was not against the perils of the sea as might have been expected but against possible loss consequent upon the witdrawal by the King of France of a safe conduct. [...] The task of the British Administrtors of this country in the way of enforcement of indigenous laws has been of incalculable difficulty ; both Hindu Law and Mahomedan Law have suffered but by a curious accident the latter has fared worse than the former. [...] The general get up of the book is excellent and worthy of the reputation of the Publishers.