ROYAL EXCHANGE ASSURANCE OFFICE, for assuring houses and other buildings, goods, wares and merchandize from fire. This corporation was established by act of Parliament, at the same time with that of the London Assurance, when it was enacted, that such as should be admitted members of these corporations, should be each a distinct and separate body politic, for the assurance of goods, ships and merchandize at sea, or for lending money upon bottomry. That no other society should insure ships, or lend money on bottomry for the future; though any private person might do it as usual. And that each of these corporations, in consideration of the many benefits that might accrue to them by their charters, should pay the sum of 300,000_l._ into his Majesty’s Exchequer, for discharging the debts of the civil list. These corporations however met with so little encouragement at first, that Maitland says, the crown was obliged to remit most part of the money. By a second charter granted to this corporation, they are impowered not only to insure ships, but houses, goods and lives. _Maitland._ This society therefore, by this last mentioned charter, assure all buildings, household furniture, wearing apparel by special agreement, and goods, wares, and merchandize, the property of the assured, except glass and china ware not in trade, and all manner of writings, books of accompts, notes, bills, bonds, tallies, ready money, jewels, plate, pictures, gunpowder, hay, straw, and corn unthreshed, from loss or damage by fire, upon the following conditions. I. All manner of stone and brick buildings, covered with slate, tile, or lead, wherein no hazardous trades are carried on, nor any hazardous goods deposited, are considered as Common Assurances, and are assured upon these terms: any sum above 100_l._ and not exceeding 1000_l._ at 2_s._ _per cent. per annum_; any sum above 1000_l._ and not exceeding 3000_l._ at 2_s._ 6_d._ _per cent. per annum_. II. To accommodate those who are desirous of being assured for a term of years, this corporation will assure on such buildings or goods, any sum not exceeding 1000_l._ at the rate of 12_s._ _per cent._ for seven years, and as far as 2000_l._ at the rate of 14_s._ _per cent._ without subjecting the assured to any calls or contributions to make good losses. III. Assurances on buildings and goods, are deemed distinct and separate adventures; so that the premium on goods is not advanced by reason of any assurance on the building wherein the goods are kept, nor the premium on the building by reason of any assurance on the goods.