The National Register.
London, England, 1818-09-27 00:00:00

SEPT. cr

A person from the orchestra called out, " He is here;
::int defend himself if he can."

Upon the suggestion of a subscriber, that part of the
report which referred to Mr. 13ignold was again read
amidst loud applause.
Mr. Barry proceeded. and urgel the title of every•
Englishman to be heard before he should be condemned.
His amendment was, that the report be approved of,
except that part which related to Mr. Bil►nold, which
should be left oat, and that the conduct of Mr. Bignold
be referred to the same• committee, or to some other
committee. In further support of this amendment he
urged the long and successful services of Mr. Bignold.
For 9, i years, that is, ever since the commencement of
this institution, he had been its secretary. He had in
fact been its founder, and the very report which con-
veyed the censure was the proudest monument of his
roerits. The principles of the institution which they
so justly praised, the unprecedented progress of the
society, and flourishing state of the funds, all were to
be ascribed to the seal and perseverance of Mr. Bignold.
Surely a gentleman who had so served the society ought
rot to be disgraced and condemned without an oppor-
tunity of defending himself.

Mr. Brook, a member of the committee, spoke in
vindication of their conduct.. The committee had most
deliberately come to the opinion, that it was for the
interest of the society that Mr. Bignold should retire.
There were many circumstances of Mr Bignold's con-
duct which no provocation could induce him to mention,
but which amply justified the opinion of the committee.
They had signified to Mr. Bignuld the propriety of
retiring before the report should be given in, and he
hoped, that, in consequence, they could this day apply
the old observation to him—dc ofortuis nil nisi &num.
They imputed no misconduct to him—they attached no
disgrace tohis character. His honesty and his zeal were
not only unimpenchecT, but highly meritorious. His
zeal was not, however, tempered with prudence. That
he acted according to the best of his iv Igment they
would admit, but his judgment of the proper mode of
acting was such as rendered his retirement indispensible
to the prosperity of the society.

Mr. Bignold addressed the meeting at considerable
length. He could not 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 fiiir
enquiry into his conduct. Was he to be blamed fur
having considered it his duty to inquire into the cir-
cumstances of every case of claim set up. against the
society ? What if they should find, that if he had neg-
lected any one part of that conduct which gave tame,
he had just so far neglected lis duty ? Others had acted
together with him, to whom no blame was attached.—
The hostility against him had arisen from the jealousy
and rivalry of other offices. When he attempted to
establish this society in London he had been told he
might as well attempt to wash the blackamoor white.
By his experience in insurances, and by his seal and
perseverance, he had, however, succeeded, and that was
the cause of the attempt now made to get him, dis-
missed. The enemies of the society wished to deprive
it of his experience, seal, and be 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 ungrate-
ful in them to dismiss him. In a fsw years he should
perhaps of himself retire.—(Cries of "question, ques-
tion.")
The Chairman put the amendment, which was nega-
tived by a great majority, and the original motion was
t.n inimously carried.

Mr. KernLle said, that they, the committee, had been
called Mr. Bignol4l** puppets. It could now be per-
ceived whether they were inanimate puppets, or Mr. '
iiignold'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 Chairman, was disposed to ac-
cede to his proposal, that they should delay coming to
:any resolution for a few weeks ; but there was a power
behind the chair, and greater than the chair, which
resisted the proposal. He believed Mr. Alderman Thorp
would now admit that it had Leen better if they had
eeceded to the proposal of delay. A paper had ken
Landed to him which suggested that Mr. Alder tan
Thorp and his committee be added to the present com-
mittee. He was anxious that Alderman Thorp should
be added to their Humber ; but if the committee should
.be added, they could not act with cordiality. After
several further ohservatious on Alderman Thorp's com-
mittee, he concluded by moving that Alderman Thor))
he added to the committee.
The motion was seconded end carried unanimously.
Mr. Alderman Thorp F;:itl, he would not enter into
any particular reply e. tie eteervations of the last
speaker ; it was StlifiliCAL to state, that of 15 clews re-
presented by them, nine were paid since their inquiry
was begun. 11e should willingly give all the assistance
in his power to the committee, which had facilities of
inforeattion and inquiry, from wbieh he and those who
had acted with him had been excluded.
The thuuks of the meeting were unanimously voted
to I'. A. Clarke, Esq, Secretary to the conunittec.

THE NATIONAL REGISTER.

A member of the committee moved, that the commit -
tee should be instructed to consider what salary
should be given to Mr. Bignold. The motion was re-
jected as premature.
Mr. Bignold said, if ha deserved dismissal he cou'd
deserve no salary ; if he did not, the dismissal and ti e
question of s al ary were equally irupro!;er.
The Chairman then put the question of adjournment,
which was carried unanimously.