The National Register.
London, England, 1818-09-28 00:00:00

KM

ST:PT.

A person from the orchestra called out, ‘• He is here;
let him defend himself if he era."
' Upon the stiggestion of :t subeeribcr, that part of the
report which referred to Mr. 13ignuld was again read
amidst. bud applause.
Mr. Barry proceeded. and urged the title of every
Englishman to be heard irefere he should be condemned.
Ibis anicoldnient was, that the rerirt approved of,
except that part which related fo Mr. Bignold, which
should be left out, and that the conduct of Mr. Bignold
'e referred to the game committee, or to some other
cononittee. in further support of this amendment he
urged the. long and successful services of Mr. Bignold.
For i t years, that is, ever since the commencement of
this institution, he had beer. its secretary. He had in
feet been its thunder, and the very report which con-
veyed the censure was the proudest mouuraent of his
merits. The prinziples of the institution which they
el justly praised, the unprecedented progress of the
society, and thntrishing state of the funds, all were to
be ascribed to the zeal and perseverance of Mr. Bignold.
Surely a gentleman who had so served the society ought
not to be disgraced and• condemned without arc oppor-
tunity of defending himself.
Mr. Brook, a member of the committee, spoke in
vindication of their conduct. The committee bad treat
deliberately come to the opinion, that it was for the
interest of the nociety that :::r. :ingot hi should retire.
There were many circumstances of Mr. Bignold's con-
duct which no provecation could induce him to mention,
but which amply justified the opinion of the committee.
They had signified to Mr. Bignold the propriety of
raking before the report should be given in, and be
hoped, that, in consequence, they could this day apply
the old observation to him—de nortuis nil nisi bgnum.
They imputed no misconduct to him—they attached no
disgrace to hit character. His honesty anti his real were
Wet only uuimpeached, but highly meritorious. His
zeal was not, however, tempered with prudence. That
he acted according to the best of his judgment they
would admit, but his judgment of the proper mode c:.f
acting was such as rendered his retirement indispensilde
to the prosperity of the society.
Mr. Bignold addressed the meeting at considerable
length. Hoe could nut endure to have his name branded
from one part of the kingdom to the other, as a person
who had been guilty of a criminal offence, without any
. specific charge against him. All he wanted was a Lir
enquiry into his conduct. Was he to be blamed far
having considered it his duty to inquire into the cir-
cumstances of every case of claim set up against the
seciety ? What if they should tied, that if he had neg-
lected any one part of that Conduct which gave offence,
be had just so far neglected his duty ? Others had acted
together with him, to whom no biome was attached.—
' The hostility, against him had arisen from the jealousy
And other 'oflices. When he attempted to
I:atablish this society in London he had been told he
might a{ well attempt to wash the blaekanwor white.
J,,I.Py his experience in insurances, and by his zeal and
perseverance, he had, however, succeeded, and that was
I the cause of the attempt now made to get hint dis-
missed. Tke enemies of the society wished to deprive
it of his experience, zeal, and he would add, ability—
(a laugh.) He had indeed supposed the committee
were his friends. After he had devoted his whole life
to the service of the society, it would be most migrate-
. ftil in them to dismiss him. In a few years he should
perhaps of himself retire.—(Cries of " question, ques-
tion.")
The Chairmen put the amendment, which was nega-
tived by .a great mtjoricy, anti the original motion was
unminiously carried.
Mr. ketable said, that they, the committee, had been
Called Mr. Bignold's puppets. It could now be per-
cared whether they were inanimate puppets, or elr.
Bignold's puppets. He had buried all animosities in
oblivion; but he would slightly advert to the reception
he had met with at the George and. Vulture. Mr.
Alderman Thorp, the Chairmen, was disposed to at.-
. cede to his proposal, thee thy should &hay coining to
any resolution for a few weeks ; but there was a power
, behind the chair, and gre.uer than the chair, which
. resisted the proposal. lie believed Mr. Alderman Tb,rp
would now adratt that it had been Letter if they had
ucceded to the propose: of delay. A paper had been
handed to him which ;.tievested that Mr. Ahleratin
Thorp and his culemittee be' added to the present ern-
mittee. He was anxious that Alderman riorp sbeu.d
be added to their number ; but if the committee sitoeld
be added, they could not act with cordie7ity. After
several further observations on Aidarmen Thorp's een-
snittee, he conchn`ed hy moving that Alderman Thcio
be added to the committee.
The motion was seconded and: carried unanimously,
Mr. Alderman Thorp said, he would not enter into
any particular reply to the observations of tile last
speaker; it VMS StAdeft.t, to state, that of 16 caeca re-
presented by them, nine were paid since their inquiry
leas begun. Ile s!lealti willingly give nil the assistance
in his power to the ceminittee, which hail fitcilities of
information and inquiry, from which he and those who
had acted with him had been excluded.
The thanks of the meeting were unars'ennesly v'tcd
to k. A. Clarke, f'sq, :Ictsvetary tbe committee.

THE NATION'AT, RF.CISTER.

A !italic!: Ortlie cotnuiittee moved, that the comnit
toe should.- bil-Itistructed to consider vi:tt ahoy
Amalfi be given to Mr. Bignoil. The motioa was :.-
jeett‘tlaa premature.
Mr. Bignold said, if hn deserved fl;srnissal Ee cm "cl
_dcierve no salary ; it ho did not, the dis.missai and t e..
question of s ;tiny were equmlly r.
The Chairman then put ti:':
which was carried tutaniinous4.