^{page 58 note *} In adding to this value ₤74,822,895, the balance of agriculture in France amounts to ₤255,906,778; but this estimate is generally considered too low. M. Moreau de Jones takes it at ₤280,000,000, and M. Millot at ₤320,000,000 sterling.

^{page 58 note †} In a report made to the Constituent Assembly on the 26th April, 1849, respecting a proposition of M. Pézerat, recommending that the insurance of this kind of property should be undertaken by the State, M. Loizet considered the amount insured by ten Mutual Hail Insurance Companies, the operations of which were known, to be about ₤7,696,315.

In a memorandum presented to the Council of State, in support of the application for authorizing L'Union Générale, M. de Boucheron gave the total of all the existing Societies, on the 1st January, 1846:–

At the present time, the number of Companies and the amount insured has diminished.

^{page 59 note *} M. Dumas, Minister of Agriculture, stated in the National Assembly, on the discussion held respecting M. Joret's proposition with reference to agricultural assurance, that he had caused an estimate to be made of the damage occasioned by hail, for several years. The damage amounted from £ 1,600,000 to £2,720,000, the average being £2,000,000 a year. It was contended by some of the representatives that the losses were exaggerated; and though M. Dumas was inclined to admit that fact, he still maintained that they could not be valued at less than from £1,600,000 to £2,000,000 annually.

From information furnished to the Ministère du Commerce by M. Du Boucheron, Directeur de l'Union Générale, it appears that in 17 years agricultural produce had suffered damage from hail to the extent of £26,331,754, or, on an average, £1,560,000 a year. M. Du Boucheron is willing, however, to admit that this estimate may be too high, and sets it down at £1,200,000 per annum.

^{page 59 note †} A law, passed 19 vendemiaire, an. VI., decreed, that indemnity should be granted for damage caused to property by intemperate seasons, by the elements, by contagious diseases amongst cattle, &c., and by such fires as did not arise from negligence. The fund applicable for these purposes in the year VI. was voted to be £600,000.

For several years past, the relief accorded to agriculturists has not amounted to more than £80,000 per annum, half of which is allotted to the Minister of Agriculture and Commerce, and the other half to the Minister of Finance. This sum allows of from 2 to 3 per cent. for damage caused by hail, drought, or inundations; and 5 or 6 per cent. to losses by fire, or epidemic diseases of cattle. A decree of the President of the Republic, dated 27 August, 1851, raises to 7½ per cent., as a special allowance, the proportion of relief to actual losses caused by the devastations of the weather on 20th July, 1851. This is all that the State could grant, even on the most extraordinary occasion.