The National Register. — London, England, 1818-07-27 00:00:00

UT V W 7 :NORWICH UNION FIRE AND ANNUITY OFFICE. ....... A meeting took place on Thursday morning, at the George and Vulture Tavern, of private gentlemen, neintitheturers, and others, holding policies, or other -to:3e concerned in the above establishment, to take into • consideration the spirit and manner of some of its late •promedings in regard to those persons who had claims upon it. About fifty gentlemen were present Mr. Alderman Thorp was in the chuir. .Some cursor facts were adduced on this occasion, which, if their correct ness may be dependod or., will direct a considerable de gree of public odium towards the conductors of the Nor. wick Union. Several persons present stated the treat ment to which• they had been exposed, and the difficul ties they had encountered before they were ehle to ob tain satisfaction of their demand's It was rid to have been the. practice, at least in London, to oppose every obstacle to clainunts, to offer sums ;!er short of what was really ?am, and on a day being fixed for final pay ment, still to evade, by every possible means, the final settlement. Indivi duals of tercet respectability have .. • frequently had their veracity impeached by theta with; • out cause; have undergone •crose-extninations, trod even been sehjeeted to the-imputation or: fraud and ilis _honesty, without the weediest gronad, what .ver. The London agent is said to have told one of the gentlemen present, t!.at• the company have a feud of 30,0001. for .defraying the expellee of litigatieeto Few of the noble men and gentlemen whose .rarocs appeared in their policies and circular letters, bad auy concern in the .company, and in some -few instances the enaction of their names had been obtained in a surreptitious man ner. As a proof of the importance and necessity of in qniry into the toneerns of this tympany, it was stated that - they -are 'liable, on policies of insurance aguinst lire, to the amount of 40,000,0001.; and were-Yeovil -661e upon life annuities to the extent of 2,1.00,0001. yearly. A series of resolutions, expressing the sense entertained by the meeting of the conduct of the Nor • wich Union, and its determination to proceed, for the public benefit, to a strict investigation cl all the .circumstances connected with it, were real and passed unanimously. A committee was appointed,with power io add to its number, to conduct the business A gentleman named Lovell, the agent to the Nor. svich Union for the town of.Dinriegham, was present in the room tlittiog the whole of the , proceedings, at the desire, as we understood, of the Directors of the Norwich Union. Mr. Lovell expressed his conviction of their general wish to render justice to the public, • but did not offer:any contradiction of the facts related to the-meeting. The cases adduced to show the manner in which the ...business .of this insurance company had been conducted -were numerous ; we give, as a specimen, that of Stubbs, a linendraper, in Fleet-marl:et, related by Mr. Itothwell, one •of the creditors. Stubbs was insured with the Norwich Union for • 3,0001. and.suffered a total loss by tire. On applica •tioa for the payment of the sum insured, on whiell his -solveacy depended, he exeerienced much difficulty in .establishing his, claims and in coming to a proper un derstanding with the office. The affair was taken up by his creditors, who made enquiry at ether insurance offices, when they learned that the ebstacles and delays .oaf the Union offoe were coneldered unusual, and very different from the liberal spirit generally. acted upon ; grey hed an interview on the .subject with the London tient, who treated them very-cavalierly. After some time an offer was made to Stnhboef 1,7001., little-more than half his claim. -This was of course rejected. After a 'further delay the offer was increased to !2,20.01., but this was also. refused. An arbitration was then agreed on, and after infinite tro u caused ebigy by the London :went, who demanded in the firstluseance, that thearbitmtor.should not be a Lawyer:, .and afterwards insisted on thecontrary, Stubbs obtained an award -fin. something more than 2.,900L--- A day was then fixed ow for the payment, but on ap elicatien the Lundell ane nt was not to be found, having, • 0- os it appeared, net out for .Norwiee. Stubbs was ad vised to fellow him, end did so, arriving.at . Norwich roan after the Donlon agent, whom be traced to the in which he had taken a place to return to Lon don, and they boat came back by the same vehicle, Stubbs being an outside and the agent an inside pas senger. Stubbs. it appears, had a very intelligent legal friend, who advised all his actions ; aid the arrest of the agent was recuminentiea, which was effected with some difficulty, and then, andatot till then, the money was paid. Stubbs was literally wevea from bankruptcy by the vigilance of his friends. Mr. Rothwelly in con cluding his account, observed that the prieciples.on which the Norwich Union conducted its business ap peared to him higely reprehensible, and a proper subject of public notice. As the•Seots Greys passed - through Gatehouse (North Bti , tin) last week, on their wly o liedand, each wl diet ;as presented with a olass•u• whi:key, as a small of the veneration and esteem in which these gal zeroes of Waterloo are held by the inhabitants of Shat Butsgh. THE NATIONAT. REGISTER. THE COUNT, OR THE CONVICT. The remarkable trials for imposture and mysterious villainly which have lately se-singularly sucLeeded each other in France, and fixed the general attention cf Europe, seem only to have stimulated ingenious auda city to become notorious at the risk ofjudicial condem nation. The doow,:o or the Court of Paris, on the 20th instant, has added another item to the register of " Celebrated Causes." The examinations in the affair of Count Pontis de St. Helene being concluded, J&is Counsel (M. Unpin) made a most ingenious defetueno prove the identity of his client's claim to distinguished birth. He traced his adventurous life, and stated that he was covered with glorious wounds ; that he had gained the hmourable approbation of his commanders in a military career, of which he possessed numerous certificates, particularly one from the Duke of Dalma tia, who gave him the command of a battalion, observ ing, that " he knew no one more capable of comunind ing, or possessed of more intelligence." In his perora tion, M. Dupin entreated them to banish prejudice 'from their minds, and seriously consider whether circumstances did not substantiate his client's title, and to reflect that .so many estimable qualities as bad been proved, could never be cherished in the mind cf a con demned convict. The Kiag's Counsel, in his reply, forcibly exposed the filllaey of Cok,manl's pretensions, and the evidence in 141;4a/a of them. He stated, that no family named Poit:ig, .Count de St. Helene, ever existed in France: and ihrtherothat,the Minister of Justice had applied to the tspimish Government, and had received for answer, that no French Officer of the Da me of Pontis had ever , Nerv-3tl in the Sp:wish armies. The archives of the or.ier of A!can• :- I had been examined; but the name eauLi not be notwithstanding Coiguard assumed that decorati.,;„ After a deliberation of three-quarters of an hour, the Court declared the prisoner to he identified as the condemned Coignard, who had escaped from his con finement,.aftd decreed that he should be placed at the disposal of the. Attorney General to.cosnplete the judg ment passed upon him, of fourteen years hard labour. The latest ermines from St. Helena continue to zention the circumstance of the sailor making his way to the residence of Buonaparie. lit was also reported on the island, that, in oonsequence of representations from Napoleon, or from other circumstances, heewould shortly quit Longwood, and reside at Mr. LCLVWS farm, whichbad been, or was about to he, purchased for his future residence. The latter is situated to the westward of the only landing place on the island, about three or four miles in the interior. The only access to it is a winding way up the ladder-hill, at the top of which is a stro n g battery. The.accounts state, that it was considered by every person not only the most plea sant reeidence.en the island, but that all chance of es cape was rendered impossible, as any person.appreach ing could be seen at a great distance ; and as there was only one path, a few seetinels would be sufficient the purpose of guarding it. The fortifications on Lad der-hill are represented to be of the most commanding description, large cannon looking nearly perpendicular down both on the narrow pals end also towards the sea. Some of theta are fe2 and 14 pounders ; they are swung in chains, and. could on the instant be levelled at any object, however much below the range of the „guns. By means of a telegraph at the house of Mr. Leech, communications could be had in a few seconds with the Governer:F. house, or with any part of the island. On its being made known by si„ettal that a vessel is about to sail from she island,• the officer on duty makes himself Fore that Buonapartc at hiseesi dence, or, -to speak in the language of the island, " he .sights him." The•signal is then tirade for the vessel to depart, and if she dues not instantly heave her an chor, the batteries come:awe firing, end continue till the vessel has cleared the hay. Upwards of fifty beautiful , Roman urns have been accidentally discovered within the last few days, in a field belonging to the Marquis Cornwallis, pear Lye, in Suffolk. From the great length of time they have been deposited in the ereth, the workmen experience much difficulty in getting than out entire. .It is strongly reported that :slr. Cobbett is arrived in town. It is said he sailed at the saute time with-his faufily, in another vessel, in order te avoid observation at landing, as he ietentis makieg the necessaryeare raugements with the persons to Whom he is indebted befOre his arrival is publicly announced. The expeaces of the several Candidates for the coun ty:of Wexford are estimated at 8001. a day. According to this-estimate, the contest will cost each of them not less thanl‘2,o6ol. The heat for some days has been so excessive, we •seem to have exchanged &mates with Italy and tLe West Indies—the one at pre.+•nt ildugeil with rains, and the other surprised with a v:Nit Loin the icebergs. Letters have been received from Preston, which state that one ,of the most extensive manufactories of that town had been attempted to be set on ':re by ail incendiary. The lire had Leen got under before great damsze was done. SPANISH COLONIES. The following is the copy of a letter from the Gene ral in Chief Murillo, addressed to a friend : " have the particular satisfaction to announce to you the consplete overthrow of the whole body of Cie enemy, which dared to oppose the troops of our Lori the Kiwi') these provinces. The ae , .ivitv of our cam paign, and!the fatigue of service, have himiered me fro.a giving you at an earlier period, a circuut,tAntial se court of our triumphs, and the new glory which tin army of his Majesty has acquired by so many atilt guished actions. " The leaders (Bolivar and Paez) united their forces, which had become numerous by the occupation of Guayana, and advanced with a large body, and con. siderable munition of war (acquired in that coltriy). t• attack these provinces. Seven brilliant actions, in which they were successively beaten, hare reduced them to u state of impotence, a vast body of wreteltes having been destroyed whose existence was an affliction to humanity. The town of Sombrero, Maracay, La Poem, Ortis, 'Uncoil de los Toros, San Carlos, and Sabartaa tie Cngede, will be externally memorable for having exterminated more than 3,500 rebels, with the greater part of their ringleaders, their chiefs, and most conspi cuous officers. In it ward, the - farcical Republic of Venezuela and its blustering authors have now dis covered that they can never domineer over a country, whose inhabitants are -attached to their lawful sove reign, and in which their sacred rights are defended. by troops as warlike and valiant as those which cowpoke the expeditionary army of Terra Firma. " More than 2,500 stands of arms, 12 colours, eo;) leads of ammunition, .40 chests of military stores, their park of artillery, their armouries, and all the eflbcts which they had been able to collect in a year Lave fallen into our heads. More than eight thou.: r. 3 horses of Apure have been destroyed. We have cut leetcd 3,000 and 1,000 mules. The staff of with his chiefs (among whom were many Engli:ll, French, and Italians), papers, letters, instrumeuta, Bolivar's writing desk, his equipage, and private Mr.. respondence, &c. have all lidlen into the hands of this Majesty's army. " The greater part of the g eneral::, and fhrty ceioneir,„ have been killed. That barbarous tle:poiler, Jose An tonio Paez, was pierced with a bullet. Bolivar escape , l in Lis shirt, most miraculously, when the pd::1111 Colonel Don Ratite' Lopez surprised him in the Itineuu de loSToros. " These provinces are free. Guayana and Margrait. to arc occupied by very weak garrisons, and I hope from our triumphs to continue to aim ince to you. very shortly, the reconquest of that province, and tho submission or extermination of the Margaritteniam. " I hasten ,to communicate these pleasing, evet.ts ; tir your satistitetion and information. God preserve you many year% (Signed) "!PABLO 310/111,1.0. " Head-quarters at Valencia, May 5, 1;1S." The Prince Regent will be one of the spetrom the baptism of the young Lord Brooke, for which great preparations are making at Warwick Castle. The Prince Regent .has lately received a present rom the King of France of.a full lengthlikeness of his Majesty. Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess at Kent intend to honour the, Haymarket Theatre with their presence this evening. A stage box will beulem ratvd to receive them. _ _ Prince Leon)'al of Saxe Colour,: leaves England is about a fur night on a visit to his mother in Germany. ills Royal ....4...;. , !nie5s will remain abroad *bout three months. -Previous to his departure, he hw takesliers. borough house on a lease of 8 yesiXii, SO .00111WILLUA from last _ _ _ Friday was settling day at the sunk - Recharge ; there were no defaulters. During the neeetiet •[hear has been less fluctuation than for many years preeneding.. Consols 74: to 80 has been all the variation ; the dff. ferences paid on Saturday have been in conseguenae very linii'‘ed. It is a matter of surprise that .the Funds should remain -at so low a rate, • when the situation of the country is sn flourishing., and the Re.. venni:increasing beyond what the trust sanguine ,addd anticipate. tbllowing is an egtrart of a letter from Ceyl , m„ dated March 1, }Bit; :—" TLe war .M the infrrior seems •to be spreading very taitet, :ma it. is great:, to IR; ftbareci.that the 11:7 . 4. 3 i5h will be obliged to rella.„ quish the contest of . .. Kandy, and be .content with tha, old possessions." An appeal was tried at the Guildford . Sesaions, -on Wednesday last. between the parishes of East Grin.. stead and Ilennond.sey, respect ing the settlement of ."up rish lel ; E ad so grea t was thelinis, whichtvininatc4 i p t o fi r oo n u an r , , , ) a f s t lic al l ). 111 goere , • pa e, , .ultution of the ,bast Urinsteu2 • Parizh (Kfleers, at the defeat of this poor half-starved cobbler, who was partial to the air of Grinstead, that they • set the tßlja a ringing, on Thursday . evening ; and the gentleman who pmfessionaly attended the Sessions, purai.ed the town with a purple CO,lilde in his hat. .1 1 7 1 C t • ais ' i ; "