British assurance companies afraid for war between Mexico and the USA according to the Dutch newspaper Algemeen Handelsblad dated 4 June 1846

In an item published in the newspaper Précurseur dated Brussel Tuesday 2 June with as source letters from Liverpool and London was reported that British assurance companies feared the war between the Mexico and the USA. Some insurers refused to assure American merchant despite under which flag they sailed while other insurers increased the premium with factor 10 unless they were spared from any war threat. All this was caused by the thought that the seas would be harassed by privateers American flagged and the just like the last war American privateers would capture American ships! Rumours claimed that with the prospects of a war letters de marque were supplied to speculators at Plymouth, Portsmouth and Falmouth who were waiting for the first sign to start. It became impossible to find at London an insurer who want to insure beneath 2-5% and for an American packet boat active on the line Le Havre-New York despite being French property was when she departed a premium of 2% for war and (the normal) sea threats paid.