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Income Taxes - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)
3 Months Ended 6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2011
Jun. 30, 2010
Jun. 30, 2011
Jun. 30, 2010
Dec. 31, 2010
Income Taxes [Line Items]          
Undistributed earnings of non-U.S. subsidiaries     $ 8,700,000    
Taxes payable on undistributed earnings 600,000   600,000    
Deferred Tax Assets: State and Local 2,400,000   2,400,000   2,200,000
State and local net operating loss carry-forwards 1,400,000   1,400,000   1,400,000
Income tax (benefit) expense 5,032,000 8,223,000 539,000 14,568,000  
Effective income tax rate 34.60% 30.20% 25.10% 28.80%  
Net deferred tax asset $ 6,871,000   $ 6,871,000   $ 15,141,000
Syndicate 1221 | Minimum | UNITED KINGDOM
         
Income Taxes [Line Items]          
Foreign effective income tax rate     35.00%    
UNITED KINGDOM
         
Income Taxes [Line Items]          
Foreign effective income tax rate     35.00%    
Corporate tax rate     28.00%    
UNITED KINGDOM | Expected Future Tax Rate
         
Income Taxes [Line Items]          
Corporate tax rate     26.00%    
Net investment income
         
Income Taxes [Line Items]          
Effective income tax rate 28.70% 27.20% 28.60% 25.90%  
State and Local Jurisdiction
         
Income Taxes [Line Items]          
State and local tax carry-forwards expiration dates     The Company's state and local tax carry-forwards at June 30, 2011 expire from 2023 to 2025.