In the year 1847, a report by the Special Commission appointed by the Belgian Government to inquire into assurance by the State, led to a project of law, in the first article of which it was proposed that a general system of insurance against fire, hail, and mortality amongst cattle, should be undertaken by the State. The Commission, however, had omitted to state the cost at which the system recommended could be carried out, and it was referred to the Central Commission of Statistics to inquire further into the subject. The report of M. Frére Orban, the Minister of Finance, contains a large amount of very valuable information on each of the subjects referred to; and with regard to fire insurance, he enters upon the general inquiry how far it would be profitable to the State to undertake this branch of business.