The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1818-09-26 00:00:00

„ derolserfierit Prettier's,
a sweeoirie modelle, sit the close of the Report,
Mr. Bignold's resignation is declared inehipen-
aahle, H 4,1 the Cainmittee stated, 4We have
called on the S•cretirry, and examined him as
to the accusations that have been made against his
conduct, and heard all he had to say iu reply;'
then there might be some reason foi the recommen.
station with which they conclude. But as the case
WWI stands—abet, the Secretary has net been 'heard
not been called on for any defetice—has tint
hero- allowed any opportunity of vindicating his
conduct. either by his own testimony. or that of
witnesses--I say there is neither equity nor jos-
tier in the course about to be taken respecting lion.
PIP is condemned without trial. and culled upon to
suffor his fate So silence. Why was hr not Rd-
mit led and heard by the Commititee, before they
framed their Report? He never was 'disked,
though his accusers were.--(Hear./-1 do not
mean to asperse. any set of gentleman; they may,
perhaps, be able to exonerate themselves from the
charge of nrifainwee to the individual. I only
• ernisplain of sloe Report in the shape that 1 hod it,
situ say. on the face of it, it takes a man out of
the protection which the hippy law of this land
• gives alike to the pesiant and the prince; it de-
cide• on his case without reading to him Mil clairge.
or heerrieg his defence—without coofrositing I
with hi. remise..., or enaliting his judges to weigh
tile evidence for and against hini."—(lfeer./
A gentleman here said, that the charge 'stated
against Mr. Bignold in the Report, was. that when
the DriectOrs ordered the securities to be trans.
tented to cei'taits trustees, the younger Mr. Bignolds
immerhitely agreed to transfer those in their hands,
hut the father merely replied, he would do all the
Board had * right tq aik him to do for the good of
the es•ahlisisnletit.
Mr. BARir redbird—” I again maintain, that
they colidemii him unheard. and without givint
him a single opPetinenty of disproving the ace*.
airborne made agane:t luau.—(.'ogre interruption.)
—Gentlemen. it is not. clamour unit can gummy
otituitterit--( after, bide/—it is not justice or
fairness to refuse a hearing wan onjuiard mess. He
is scrim d and refused b 'hearing. It would ill
become me to speak agisimiethe judgment of a large
number of persons; tool thillk this case so strong
Vast on reasonable man 'e'en "resist the ground I
• take. Herr is.asi Individual by whose Isbours,
dmory, and pions, this Society wis Rest Pounded,
mid afterwanticondocted to Its present maturity ;
he tuts eisodireted it for twentpoile years with
industry. seal, and 'effect. 'Report to-day,
io ilescrthing the state of the Society. lifonounces
his highest Writotiani, because it *heir,' 'the sic.
ie.* that Nati crowned his labours and exertiens.
—(Hear, hear. hear.)—lf I spoke until &Mos-
dui t could not pay Mr. •Bignold a higher corn-
phases,' than this Report 'rime's-v. Let it there-.
fore weigh with candtd toiridshe is most @Heine, .
and willing to More a Committee appointed to in-
qiiire into surf investigate hie whole conductall be
trellis is i.iqrstry. and an opportunity of ',indicating
his charm-ter. It is no trifling thing to like from a '
• mass tlw reputatiosi•w tech he feels he has earned by
a !nog cosine of industry and integrity. It Wall a poor
comPhinent to praise the eons at the expense of their
father. The sons, he trusted. would reject a comply 1
merit rerogrosing such an isrvtdious distinction. My
propositivo is, that we reject from the Report the
few hisee reflecting ou Mr. liiguOld, sett. and sub.
stitnte as ail Amendment, that a Committee lie Hp-
routed to inquire Moo and investigate conduct.
Amendment Merely pledger you to an act of
justice; it only asks of you to do onto others as
yon would wish they would do moo you.'—
(Hear, hear./—Mr. Bigisold, I believe, in his in-
tercourse with the Committee. had only two goes-
fuels put to him, which were instantly answered."
—( hear, hear.)
Mr. %VI incatiroon seconded this Amenditient.
Mr. BIGNOLD here endeavoured to address the
Meeting, • tint the some and opposition was DO
that he was obliged to sit down.
The CHAIRVAN then put the amendment pro-
posed try Mr. Bau'u.
Mr Become rose and said, that in standing lip
lie was opt actuated by a *ids to prevent Mr. Big.
hoist
that it was in his power to do ow a future occasion ;
but it oar doe to the Committer, of which lie was a
Member, that one of them should be next heard,
as a charge had been brought against *ltem. He
believed it was *ell knower to storey persons present.
that the Meetings of the Committee hail been held
for a considerable tissue at the house its Bridge-
buret, where Mr. Hlgiadd had cosistiolly acted as
Secretary so the Society. This circumstance, of
course, gave the Committer wry opportunities
of meettog that gentiermaa, mod übserviog the course
6f his conduct. Access to Ism hail frequently
taken place, and a constant reference to that gem.
floosies, was "memory daring the investigation in-
trusted to them. lie, among. the rest. en-
joyed these opportunities, and.. without entering
further into particulars. or making disagreeable
etaiements, he felt buund to declare that he
. certainly agreed in the recommendation respect-
ing the retirement of that gentleman contained in
the Iteiont. Marry circumstances that led him to
forgo lire sip moon, he should forbear an exposure of
—a regard tor the other members of Mr. Bignold's
Stir rest of whom had acted with the great-
est propriety, required slits—and he understood it
to he their wish that the Report should pass without
any particular outlet's', the part referred to. Ut.
der such circumstances it would be extremely hard*
that the Croomitsee should be accused of con-
demning as individual unheard—it was mint the
case; facts inentreined in the Report, sufficiently
justilied the Committee iu what they had 'rerun-
mended. It never was the illumine) of loon, or
the Committee, to bring any charge egainst Mr.
Bigi.old, as an honest man, and a man zealous for
the interests of,the institution. His labours had
twen greas, and .his exertioris augural sbpy of the
greatest use to the Society. But, siotwithstanding,
unfortunately such bad been the mode of manage.

person whose
miscoridact only hail been the ground of all the im-
putations against the lost, 1101011 that had gone abroad
into she world. Accordingly, having come to the re-
soluiion in their Report, they thought it the most
conciliating method to acquaiut the individual con-
cerned with their determination, and to request hie
voluntary resikoation. The uipariimous opinion of
the Committee on this head had been read to Mr.
&gooId; and he did hope that he would have aim.
plied with• the friendly advice, which would have
superseded the necessity of all these remarks, so
that there might be hoard here--
" De imolais nil sill bosom."

The Committee did properly distinguish between
the diffeseist parts of Mr. Bigot°ld's family. The
greatest purl of it were tint only of the greatest in-
tegrity, but the most earful mod efficient servants
of the Society. But when the Committee saw a
system of mismanagement laid down by Mr. Big-
uold, senior, and ferrtiesuctunbly adhered to—when
they saw that fur the few last years the system was
ineffectual and pernicious, yet persevered in with
obstinacy, could they have advised otherwise that,
tiwy 111111 It was a fall exoneration of him and kis
colleagues, that liaviug examined into that Gentle.
maii'm conduct, not in the spirit of accusers, but
that of impartial judges, end having found it
to be such that it could not be beneficial to
the Society, they had recommended his retire-
ment. There were circumstances which, if detail-
ed. would render their recommendation much more
forcible. No charge was meant to be couveyed
against Mr. Bognold for defect of real or integrity—
full credit was intruded to be allowed him as
founder of the Society in London —but there they
must stop. They would admit his seal and
lute-
grity ; but must accuse his mismanagement. If
Mr. 'Lipoid persevered in desiring to address
them, lie felt convinced they would give Mint a pa-
brut bearing; though he was of opinion, it would
be the more prudent course for that Gentleman
not to enter auto an explanation, but remain sates-
fled with that be had given.
A Mr. Rum then rare to speak. He had stated,
that having once written lb the Society, expreeseng
a wish ilea a surveyor should be sent to exonione
his premise', and that accordingly Mr. Howell
was sent for the purpose ; when the interruption be-
came so vehement that he was obliged to eerie,.
Mr. Bitootta then • said a few words, which were
not at all audible to us, there being a considerable
noise. As we understood him. he said, that if
such was the sense of the Meeting, lie had 110
objection that the part relating to Mr. Biguold
should be expunged from the Report.
Mr. BIGNOLD, senior, then rose and said, that
it must have been taw painful to him to hear a
certain part of the Report read, which contained
charges against him of as much weight and mag-
nitude as if lie had been guilty of some criminal
let. He hail but one request to make of the Meet-
ing, and be trusted that was so reasonable it
woutd tie granted—it was. that they would not
seal out such serieue secosotions against him into
the world, till I.4tate specific charge was brought
and suhetaiitiated. It was far from being consist-
ent with justice, that a man should be calumniated
from one end ro`f the kingdom to the other for his
conduct in en official situation, when lie had probos
bly done no more than others in similar situations,.
The cherget against him ought not to go forth
without being proved or established. Nevin sera
most 'uojustifiable and unconstitutional measures at-
tempted by 11 hostile set of persons at the George
and Vulture, he had, therefore, wished that the
documents in his prosteosion should be examined by
the oilier Committee, mod had written to them to
that effect. He had therefore naturally supposed,
that the Gentlemen who sat here as his accusers
were his friends. He thought they had heed
celled upon to phew that he and the three krtstlroisrai
who acted with him load done every thing correct.—
Toe very nature of his office required him to ear:
tutu« the claims before allowing them : that lie had
been too nice and too 'careful this respect was all
that was alleged against him. Who were the per-
sons calling the meeting at the George and Vol.
lure? Were they soot the very men who would be
int lined to censure him for d g what he ought,
as a faithful officer of the 11,61401;0st, dud as its in-
terests required ? And lie had imagined that the
Committee sot the York Hotel would hare been
employed in exposit% to the world the simmer views
with which the former persons Irene at tuattd. If it
had been discovered that claims remained sins:did-
fied which were well founded, it in strictness formed '
no g 4444 ind of censure against him, because his duty
we* to see clearly that that was the case, that there
was no imposition, and to have satisfactory evidence
of its justice before admitting a single our. When
be fiosi came to London the Society had no exist-
ence here. While it nuoubered 60,000 in the
country, he knew it to be of immense utility to the
nation, thought it a pity it had not been introduced
here, and was sent fur that purpose; and why had
the Directors pitched upon him to soloist sod pro-
pagate it here I—because they were acquainted with
his services and experience, au experience now imp.
lured by conducting their alLirs for thirty years.
From the time that the Society began to spread in
London, he had been engaged in looking through
the books for select and fit persons to met as a Coin-
miner. Still new insurers were cooling in every
day, which rendered a choice more difficult, as it
might hove the effect of excluding persons more
suitable. On this account he had deemed delay
advisable, but he could assure the Meeting that
lie did not sit and decide alone. He trusted they
would accede to what his friend (Mr. Barr)) had
desired. He was confident they would not send
round the world a report containing vague and
general charges against his charabter, of the most
serious kind, quite unsupported. He might pray
this, as the founder of this branch of the Society,
seventy-one years ago, at a time when persbus of
judgment r onsidered it a hopeless scheme, and told
limo he might as well attempt to wash a hlackmoor
white—but he knew what beneficial effects to the
public would result from its establishment, attempt.

whole kingdom . been , few,
individuals should he found to suinke si charge
against him ? Was there one pers.'', could shim
belad, in a single instance. behoved dishononvs.
ably, or that• he had done any thing but his duty.?
Should they resolve to censure him, -it would be
relit g evil for good, and being guilty of isigni.
titude towards an old and faithful *Abbot. I', hod
already been subjected to great uppleasantuess in
having his name bandied round the country. If
all (Isis apparent activity and teal were -fireballs°
the bottom, it would be found to have originated
with other Insurance Offices, and he believed
nothing would please them better than that the
public should be deprived of his services.—
The Directors knew whether he had abused the

powers of his office; on the contrary, his whole time,
intention, and pains, had been unceasingly expended
on his duties; and when this stir commenced he
had had a plan prepared for rendering the inetropos
hs much more secure against firm He trusted he
could still chew that he was able to render import-
ant services. The attempt to thrust him out was
only for his too great zeal, and that lie had been in
the habit of molting too strict inepoiry, and all for
their benefit. No other charge was made. If
some claims had not been adjusted as expeditiously
as they ought, it was nothing extraordinary, all the
labour of investigation and adjustment having
fallen on him only. When be was sosisfied
that a claim was just, it was always paid.—
If it (mold be proved that he hid been wanting
iu judgnient, zeal, or integrity, he would willingly
retire ; but until some defect in his conduct was
established. until his prudence or abilities were
effectually impeached, he should still conceive him-
, self solemnise to the discharge of duties lie had so
long performed, and with such advantage to Ilw So-
ciety as appeared from its present flourishing coil-
dition. All be required was, that alter doing all
for the Institution, and for the public—after retitle r-
log fires as scarce iii•this country as in France=he
should not he forced out of office without any oppor-
tunity of justifying his conduct. He was conscious
he had mussy enelincr, who would wish him to he
condemned unheard, but he relied on their justice
and impartiality. not to decree punishment till
guilt was established by better testimony than the
words or the Report.
Mr. AI.DERS said. that as it was generally ac-
knowledged the Institution had been reared hy
Mr. Bigoold, it was illiberal in even his enemies' o
wish Imo to retire at this crisis, and under present
circumstances. Admitting retirement neves:arc, at
least a fit time should be waited for. Iltr perhaps
Mr. !lipoid might properly apply to himself the
old observatmsa. that " it was honourable to he ac-
cused by there who were deserving of accusation
thensselves." For himself, he was sorry to sec a
malignant spirit actuating Point persons prreent.—
(Dbopprobation and noise I—Nothing hail been
alleged against Mr. Bigiiiild winch he had not re.
fisted. The charges in the Report were not of great
pins or moment, Meeting had no concern
with the executive part of the manogeine. t--.
(Here the cries of.. Question !"—.. Down. down .r"
tc. became so strong, Mae Mr. Alders was obliged
to stop.)
Mr. 1101.118 then addressed the Meeting. He
observed, that very few Gentlemen liked to be im-
posed upon. an Englishman. shove all others. with-
stood it. Ile attended here today as an insurer.
and wished to make some remarks on that part of
the Report which referred to the trustees. Ile
had always understood that trustees denoted per-
sons actually and bona fide intrusted wills properly
or effect* fur the benefit of those on whose ac-
count the deposit is made. Here they had down
the name of his Grace the Duke of Somerset, mid
a list of other Nobles as trustees, who, it now op-
peered, had in reality nothing of that character
It was a lore to the public thus to have introduced.
without any grounit,•the names of the liist Noble-
men in the country.—Guise and opi,osiiion.l—
was invited here, and was now spiakh,g rep-
lady on the question before the Meeting.—(" QWCI•
lion, question ,")
The Custamao begged Mr. Hohne would allow
him to lout the question.
Mr. Hot sto oriented, reserving his right to pro-
ceed afterwards.

The amendment was then put from the Chair,
and negatived by a large majority.
The question on the orignial motion was then
put, That the Report of the Committee he now
received, adopted, and printed, together with the
Appendix, fur the use of the roman," which was
tarried unanimously.
Mr. Hinny. then wished to emitinue his speech.
The Cushman told him, it he had any motion
to make respecting the Report, he should hear
hum ; otherwise, it did not appear to be the wish of
the Mcrting that he should.
Mr. HOUSE persevered in endeavouring to pro-
cure a hesnog for a considerable time ; the Meet.
lug seemed decidedly against it ; end at length,
with great reluctance, ne left the table.
Mr. TWIGO begged pardon for taking up the
time of the Chair. He merely wished that the
'same of Alderman Thorp should be mentioned av
having seconded the last motion. tie conceived it
would be of advantage to the Society.
The CHAIRMAN replied, it had been done when
the motion was originally put.
Mr. PATTERSON professed himself (as the Mover
of the motion) obliged to Mr. Twigg—he should
always feel it a compliment to have his twine coupled
with that of Mr. Thorp.
Mr. PATTERSON then read a aeries of Resolutions,
which he proposed to have put to the Meeting :
The ht, pledged the Sleeting to sopped the Norwich
Maio. Society, and in correct its errors, tic.
The lii, to request the York Hotel Committee to continue
their lemma, add to their number, Ike.
The td, caromed a vote of thanks is the above Com-
mittee, for their must able Report.
Mr. PATTER*ON, uu readisig this, observed, that
to give an idea of what the. Committee had done
it would be enough to state, that their labours had
commenced on the :14d of June ; that since that
they had met twice a week, and sometimes oftener,

Oct
Mr. F. KEMBLE said, that no one had paid more
Attention to the deeds of rettlement, or under-
stood them better, than the author of the Amend-
ment. But it went • little too fir; it went diiect-
ly to establish • supreme Board of Direction t i
Menage the affairs of the Society. There was a de-
ficiency in the Report in one respect, which he felt
anxious to supply. It did not imply a sufficient
degree of approbation of the Norwich Directors;
but it should be known, that they' had manifeued
the utmost willinguess to facilitate the labours of
the Committee. He approved of the Resolution
rather than the Amendment, but the difference was
so small, that he did not know whether it would be
worth his while to press the matter to it ,division.
If the original motion was carried, he, would sug-
gest the propriety of adding the name of Mr. Al-
derman Thorp to the Committee. A slip of pa-
per had been handed round the room, and put into
Ins hands, that the whole of the other Committee
should be incorporated in this : but he could not
think this advisable. Such differences existed be-
tween their Reports, that cordiality in an union was
not ti: be expected. When the worthy Alderman
had beets on his legs. and hail stated how the Re-
port of his Committee was bone out by that pro-
duced this day, he did expect that he would in can-
dour havedescribed wherein they differed, and men-
tioned in particulars they were not borne out by the
other. IVlien he had appeared at the Meeting of the
York Hotel Committee, he had good reason' for
edvising an adjournment; and he had patiently sub-
mitted to the ridicule thrown on hint, and the
charge of being a puppet of Mr. 'lipoid's. Mr.
Kemble then read u letter from Mr. Carter, con-
tained in the Appendix to the Report, to chew that
that Committee had been misinformed in one case.
He must say, that at that Meeting at the Yolk
lintel, there appeared to be an influence behind
the Chair greater than the Chair. The proceed-
ings of the Committee had receiveu considerable
bias by being instituted by a set of claimants.
The differences as to matters of fact between the
Wpm) of the Committees, were so considerable,
that he should confine the motion for addition to
the name of Aldermen Thorp only.,
Mr..BIGNIAD staid, it had been made matter of
scrwaficm against him. that he hod not so readily
liquidated claims on the Society, as might be ex-
pected ; but 11111 could very easily be remedied, as,
if it was thought proper to coutinue him iis his si-
Sootiest', au, order might be paid without any inves-
tigation.
Mr. Alderman THORP said, that after what hail
.falleu front one very respectable Member of the
Committee (Mr. Keinble), it was impossible be
could remain silent. .He had hoped that after
the approximation which had taken place this
day, and the general approbation of the Re-
port, that a few petty differences would nut have
been raked up for an accusation. He should
not occupy Mich of the time of the Meeting. The
Committee of which he was Chairman, might
have fallen into a few errors ; but had nut nine out
air the sixteen cases alluded to been satisfied by
payment since public attention had been drawn to
the Sorit ty's concerns ? ACommitter, with the means
of information denied to them, might not easily
have steered clear of mistakes into which they had
fallen. Freon the commencement of this day's
"proceedings, he had approved of the conduct of the
other Committee. The most important statement
in the Report of his Committee was borne out by
that of to-day, when it acknowledged the necessity
of new trustees.
Mr. Httoolue gave up his amendment.
It was then moved, es an amendment, by way of
addition to the second Resolution. that the name
of Mr. Alderman Thorp be added to the Com-
mittee.

A member stated, that he had a pamphlet in his
pocket, which stated that Mr. Alderman Thorp
wus an insurer in another Society.
The CHAIRMAN said, that if that wag a serious
objection, many on the Committee were in the same
predicament, and himself among the rest.

The second Revolution, with the addition, was
then curried tinaiiiinosisly7 _ . _

Mr. H•asox proposed a vote of thank• to Mr.
Frederick Arnaud Clarke, for his services as au in-
dividual on the Committee.

• This was seconded by Mr. MIDDLETON, and
carried unanimously.
Mr. CLARKE returned thanks.
The third Resolution was then unanimously
agreed to.
. Mr. BROUGHTON returned thanks for himself and
the other Members of the Committee.

A Vote of Thauks to. the Chairman, T. BENS-
LEY. E•q. was turn carried unanimously.
Mr. BENTLEY thanked the Meeting for the ho-
nour done him.
It was rewired, that the Resolutions t.hould be
published in the usual Morning and Evening
Papers, and the Country Papers.

Mr. PATTERSON then assured the Meeting, that
the part he had taken in the past proceedings had
not originated in ally interested views whatever; he
had been actuated solely by the desire of conferring
stability and permanence on a Society which pro.
mord the greatest advantages to the public, and
which taken its rise, and flourished in the city
where he hail been born, and bud long ►esided.
Mr. Batruoirrom then observed, that the Corn.
miller could not be justly charged with entitle 1111 l ing
Mr. Bignuld unheard; they had bestowed the
greatest attention on every thing that required their
consideration. and had not by any means taken a
hasty view of the conduct of the Secretary—but if
they were unanimous in any one thing. it was in re-
commending the retirement of Mr. Bigiiiild. He
lied assumed, in the London branch of the Institu-
tion, a power inconsistent with the wholesome di-
rection of its concerns. He had, in fact, acted
the dictator, not the servant. They had taken
care to have stated privately to Mr. Bignold,
their wish that he should retire. However, if
he had !dented the mustard-seed from which
the mustard grew, they surely would not send

p--
out from the shade of it. without mat.
.-nti adequate mid handsome remuneration
its past services. lie wished therefore to move,
it be recommended to the Committee to eon-
, what remuneration was due and necessary to
Bigoold.
r. BIGNOLD said. that however well intended
towards him the motion was, it was pr.- m.,ture.
.4 it he seen whether the charges could he sub-
. .
. .

..intiated ; if it were proved thi;i he had done any
thing deserving of dimnisaid, reward should not 6.e
given him ; till it war, it was premature to speak
of retirement or reward.

motion was then dropped.
'lii. question of adjoureinield was then put and
earned, ond the Meeting separated.

FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE.

• - • 7rflF-- ' ,
N. f .11•NNIt iNe
N. .
i • • it: IL '"i' . ~,
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• . ..,
a Melltini • - tion against a man. ; meat, that the Committkinsd been in teeny in- *ed it, and succeeded. Since it Was got up. lie had in Sels.Comtnittees • and that during the last eight him
'r.
1 .stertes )h *elk . - we have never heard stands ~bisggd to give orders contradictory t.-his. been as greetw slave to its vtaa,peeetle. It was not dart-till! had devoted fourteen hours Gilt of the ing .4
• in his .tesfroisgls We are, iii feet, to reverse, in his This circumstance :was Int:kith: to weeDulttilee the his motel, wseilisPhai6on repitlnenjpiair,,Flailldrifit tWerty- lir to the duty devolved on-thetit, for his
•
c me. the invariable eastern of out famed la.v..—we coireluoiorkthey bad owes to. It was oeirerStral- of his jest demand. t huaiimo of the seeker- The 4th, conveyed este, orthaelos to The Chile. • that it
at to nothing, him before his trial. before he has ed to titt ISP make alpine ms the *moral diorite- had bean rogreatithrith was invpievible,eousieveede The first Repolutio• was pat sod eataied. On eider
hssrl an m.portunity of beim; heard in his ceculpa- tee-of Mr. ibgneld.: bet tiro Veen/nista, baying all with what he owed to the swerobere is genial.. it(: • 'the second being pat.,- ; • . Mr. f
lion, This. I say, is Marked injustice—it is the sir\ dearcr sweeties'', • before them, howl*. 'mi. ways to avoid delay. Since he had come td Lon. i. Mr. BROOKE !proposed an Amendment, that a mr.
• treatment which see Englishman has a right to . ruined into the outstanding claims preferred against don, he had attended nu less than 704 fires. Un- ! requisition should be made to the Directors by the lowan
endure. In one place, he is described as be. I the S..eiety, upon close investigation, did certainly der such circumstances. was it improbable, when 1 member. to hold a General Meeting on tive3lat of j Let it
_o __ o_ei
tug disobedient to the Directors, and then. in 1 find reason t be ff itled with that person whose the whole kingdom had been retracted, that a few 1 October. stantil
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