[Footnote 237a-1: We might, however, improperly add another class, that of self-insurance, which lies in the proper distribution of a large capital over a great many points. When, for instance, a large state insures its buildings, this seems a superfluous outlay of public money for the benefit of private associations. Or does England insure its ships? On this account, in Prussia, the insurance of post-offices which Frederick William favored, has recently been done away with. (_Stephan_, Gesch. der Preuss. Post, 195, 803.)] [Footnote 237a-2: According to _Brüggemann_ (D. Allg. Ztg., 1849, No., 75 ff.), 100 million thalers of an insurance-sum. Actual American legislation prescribes in the case of mutual insurance a minimum number of members of from 200 to 400, a minimum amount of annual premiums of from $25,000 to $200,000, of cash payments on the annual premium of from 10 to 40 per cent. of cash-paid yearly premiums, $5,000 to $40,000; and a maximum amount of premium notes made by a member of $500. (Compare Mittheilungen, 26 ff.)] [Footnote 237a-3: Hence several mutual companies limit themselves to a maximum liability. Thus, for instance, the Gotha Fire Insurance Company requires from each member a bond that in case of necessity, four times the amount of the presumptive contribution paid in advance shall be paid after; in Altona, six times the yearly premium is the maximum.] [Footnote 237a-4: In France, every premium-insurance-company has to be approved by the government (Cod. de Comm., art 37), and the approval is not given until 1/5 of the joint-stock capital has been deposited. (_Block_, Dictionn. de l'administration, Fr. 153.) Many recent American laws require that the shares of insurance companies should be registered with the name of the owner.] [Footnote 237a-5: The Aix-Munich Fire Insurance Association raised its joint-stock capital after the Hamburg fire from 1 to 3 million thalers.]