Every house before it can be insured, must be surveyed by a person employed by the office, and in case of a loss or damage, is to be put into the condition it was in before the fire, allowing not more than three shillings a yard for painting, nor above thirty pounds for any chimney piece; or else the whole sum insured is to be paid to the sufferer without any deduction.
Nothing is more evident than that the profits of insurance, which in the offices insuring for gain are divided on their capital stock, are here, together with the salaries of the Directors, applied to the benefit of the insured. The consequence of which is, that this office having paid above two hundred and fifty thousand pounds for losses; the charge to the injured from its beginning in the year 1696, has been at a medium under nine-pence a year for one hundred pounds insured on brick houses.
The surveyors are to survey houses with all convenient expedition after directions are left, without any fee or reward.
The clerks give constant attendance at the office, from eight in the morning to six in the evening. The proposals delivered by the Office, October 10, 1758.
This company keep in their service thirty firemen, who are annually clothed, and have each a badge, on which are two hands joined and a crown over them.
Hand in Hand yard, Old Horselydown lane.*
Hand yard, Thames street.*
Hanging Lion yard, Nightingale lane, East Smithfield.*
Hanging Sword alley, 1. Quaker street.* 2. Water lane, Fleet street.*
Hanging Sword court, Water lane, Fleet street.*