The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1818-12-19 00:00:00

Committee collectively and individually. Ile hail
talked of a coalition between the Committee and
the Norwich Directors. This must have arisen
from a circumstance that had occurred late last
night, when the Deputation from Norwich made
a proposition, which was not encouraged by the
Committee, and the proposers of it then agreed it
should be withdrawn. It was said, that the Nor-
wich Directors had cast the London Insurers off—
then let not the latter return to then).—lllear.k.
It is said, that the Norwich Society prospers in the
country, though/ it (hoes not in town. was
this difference ? for other establishments of a similar
kind were found to flourish in the Metropolis; and
surely nothing but bad management could have
prevented equal success to this.
Mr. KEMISLE said lie would not have obtruded
himself upon the Meeting were it not for the re-
marks that had been mode on the conduct of the
Committee, the members of which had no reward
for their trouble but the consciousness of having

discharged their duty, " and nothing extenuated or
lei down in malice." If the Committee had done
wrong, let their error be proclaimed, and their mis-
conduct reprobated. A Learned Gentleman had
made un eloquent speech against them, but the
Meeting would recollect, that Gentlemen of that
highly honourable profession were often in the
habit of speaking at particular sides of a question,
without ever incurring any moral animadversion for
the opinions they had so expressed.—lle thanked
Mr. Barry, however, fur his Latin (Notations,
and he would apply one of them to 11r. Bignold.—
That Gentleman was completely defunct, and of
him let it be said—" De morttris oil nisi bonuns."
—( Laughter.j—With respect to what had taken
place last night in the Consinittee, it would be as
well at once to state the plain tale. The deputa-
tion from the Norwich Society had intimated, that
if a new Fire-office un their phut were set oil foot,
they would willingly assist it, by giving their fire-
engines to it for six months, giving it the hornless
which it would not itself embark to, and other ad-
vantages. The Committee thought it right to re-
ject this tender of co-operation, and there the mat-
ter elided.
Mr. •Eane defended the conduct of the Com-
mitter, and thought they had acted throughout iu
the most praiseworthy manner.
Mr. BROOKE said, the C 'ttee did not want
to accept the favour offered by the Deputation.—
If anew society were to be established. they could
purchase engines of their own.
Mr. Alderman l'Atitsom said, that as a Member
of the Norwich Board, he could assure them
that the Board felt the confidence which had
been placed its them by the public, and when
they were obliged to relinquish the London Fire
Insurance, it was because they were informed by
eminent lawyers that they could out legally perse-
vere in currying it on. lie could assure the Meet-
ing that the country fire insurers were averse to this
union with London, for in the metropolis, during
the two or three years that this union had subsisted,
the concern had sustained a loss in London of
ti,ooo/. They would still uphold their life insur-
ance here, and would gladly wish well to any fire
iusurance company established on their own plan.
There was surely room for both to prosper, sod lie
took leave of the Meeting on the part of the Nor-
wich Directors. with the greatest respect.

The Rupert was then rtcrivetland agreed to.
Mr. BROOKE then proposed, that a Meeting be
convened to consider of the iiiropiitty of establish.
ing • National Fire and Lite Association, on the
principle of mutual risk and mutual assurance.
Mr. HANSOM seconded this motion, which was
immediately carried.--(Fer krsoltations see Ad-
vertisement in front of our Paper.)
Mr. WATSON put the following question—" I
desire to know, wind the holders or policies lOr six
years on fire assurance are to tlo, after the separa-
tion between the Norwich Hoard and London In-
surers next Christmas?"

Mr. BIGNOLD, jun.-1, Whether the policies be
for six mouths or six years, the Directors at Nor-
wich consider themselves hound to abide by them;
and if the holders should wish to ailed them at
any period while they remain in force, the Directors
will he ready to return a fair and full proportion of
the premium already given.—(Near, hear.)-1;e-
-&Mrs, the Directors will share among the London
insurers their quota of the general protiis of the
business throughout the count ; although in
London the concern, as had been stated, incurred
on actual loss. The Duet:tors could not, it was
now ascertained, pursue the tire insurance in the
Metropolis; but they had the power, and would
exercise it, of carrying on the life bii,iness herr."
Mr. WATSON, Mr. TWIGG, and other gentle-
men, were of opinion that a Committee ought to
he appointed to investigate the affairs of the Life
department of the Norwich Society.
Mr. BROOKE complained of the inaccuracy of
the accounts, particularly of the monists in the
hoods of agents.
Mr. BIGNOLD, jun. said, that these accounts
were closely arranging, and that the balances with
agents were by nu messes so much as had been
stated.

~M►. MORGAN (ihe Actuary) could see no use of
appointing a Committee to ►nake the suggested
inquiry.
Severn! irregular explanations took place at this
time in the room, and Nlr. T. Bignohl, jun. threw
out a sharp allusion to the George and Vulture
Committer, which called up Nlr. Alderman Thorp,
who pointedly complained of the indecency of the
allusion, and defended the conduct of the George
and Vulture Committee, whose original charge of
mismanagement against the Norwich Society had
been since substantiated by the fact.
After some mutual explanations between the
Gentlemen who hail spoken, a motion of Thanks to
the Norwich Directors was then put and r►jecled.
The motions, of course, to the Clciirtnito and Se-
cretary, were then carried, and these Gentlemen
severally returned thanks.

A further Meeting Mill be held on Wednesday.
the 30th of Deceuslwr.

The late fire in Cornlntl 11119 No Mlle!' injured
the adjoining Iron-.r, thut int tof them mu. un-
dergo sums repair. The Oohs. I,l,la:ince I /thee ni
to he pulled down, and it is txrecied that Ni.' I,
bring the corner, EITON's, Nii, mid the ad-
joining house, will hr puttint•ca by the City, to
make the improvements lung spoken of.