The Sun.
London, England, 1822-04-08 00:00:00

Increalie

AmouUt of Duty paid by the Noii.riCh Union
for 1817
Ditto ditto

51,0513 16 6
for 1820 41,554 3 9

ditto

Decrease - - £11,504 12 9
It is now asserted by the Norwich Insurers that they made
an iiiiiilepse addition to the duty last year, viz. for 1821 ; but
how does this controvert the County Fire Office statement made
in the middle of that year, and declared to be in reference to
preceding years ?
If a large increase of business were procured by the Norwich
Insurers in 1821, it is not wonderful, considering. the vast ex-
pence incurred to procure it—their captivating tale of wealth
and profit, their profuse distribution of pamphlets, bills, and
advertisements, and above all, their stimulus to Agents to ex-
tit theinselVes, by giving them ten per cent. out of the premium,
which is double the usual commission allowed by the County
and other principal offices. What was the effect of all this ?
Before the year was ended the concern was ruined and finally
dissolved !
Here the " Meral Difficulties" of the Norwich Insurers ap-
pear insurmountable. They had told a delightful tale of pros-
perity; but, upon their being charged with fraud in the Court
of Chancery, they told an opposite story ; they then pleaded
" great distress ; ' losses and differences had determined them
to refuse centintiing the polices. This plea allowed, and the
storm blown over for a while, they revive the delightful tale of
prosperity, and bespatter every one who reminds them of their
having previously sworn the direct reverse. -But as the plea of
distress was given upon oath, subject to the penalties of perjury,
and the song. of prosperity is only subject to the trouble of
writing, and the expense of printing, which the Norwich in-
surers do not seem much to regard, it is excusable of the two
to prefer their statement given upon oath, and to believe in
4.heir distress.
The only
,suestion after all for the public to consider in
effecting insurances, is not which Fire-Office gets most busi-
ness, but which dOes ii best; Dr. Solomon, no doubt, procured
more patients than Drs. Bailey, Halford, Sic. all put tother.
'But
it is not quite certain that the patients e'f the first Doctor
were in the safest hands. Using similar means to the learned
Tic. Solomon, the Norwich-Insurers procured a great increase
of insurances last year ; but before the year was out, the So-
ciety was extinguished, and the Members in Chancery.
The petty vexation expressed at the uninterrupted harmony
which has always prevailed at the numerously attended Courts
131 Directors, and the General Meetings •of the County Fire-
Office, is natural enough from persons who are notorious for
incessant displitei and lawsuits with each other and with every
body.
The assertion that " the County Fire Office actually made
a canvass, hotite by house, through the Metropolis," is auda-
ciously repeated. It is wholly false. That disreputable expe-
dient was used -by the Norwich insurers some years back, and
until their concern was driven from the Metropolis.
Their corps of canvassers then tendered their services to the
County Fire Office, but were refused employment
" The three iiiiportant questions put to Mr. Bignold, on the
dissolution of the Norwich Union Society, it is said he could
very easily answer, but he will not;' t': ", but he cannot," might
Pave been said ; and, if I have occasion to resume. my pen, I
may perhaps state why. A PLAIN DEALER.