William Johnson

“ And what is usually done by such a ship, with such a cargo, in such a voyage, is understood to be referred to by every policy. Hence, when a neutral, carrying on a trade from a belligerent to a neutral country, asks for insurance 'for whom it may concern,' it is an awakening circumstance. No underwriter can be ignorant of the practice of neutrals to cover belligerent property, under neutral names, or of the precautions ordinarily resorted to, that the cover may escape detection. ”

“ To affirm, 'That in policies of such description, there can be no undue concealment as to the parties interested in the property to be insured,' is obviously going much too far; since the underwriter has an unquestionable right to be informed, if he makes inquiry-the assured may be silent, it is true, if he will, and let the premium be charged accordingly-but if the inquiry then made should be responded to, with information contrary to the verity of the case, this obviously gives a conventional signification to the terms of the policy ”

“ Gentlemen-I wrote you a few days ago, by the brig Ospray, Captain Perkins, direct for Baltimore, requesting you to have insurance done for me, on the brig Columbia and her cargo, owned and commanded by me, to sail from this for Baltimore, about 5th to 10th May, with a cargo of sugar. When I wrote to you by the Ospray, I could not say what amount of cargo to have insured for me; I now think I shall have on board about 130,000 lbs. valued at 8,000 dollars, which amount I wish you to have insured for me, at as low a premium as you can. ”