The Sun.
London, England, 1818-11-16 00:00:00

DISMISSAL OF MR. BIGNOLD, SEN.

On Monday last a very numerous and respect-
able Meeting of the Members at this Society was
held at the Angel Inn, it, the city of Norwich, for
the purpose of taking into consideration the con-
duct of Mr.TmomAs BIGNOLD, sen. the Secretary,
and adopting such measures respecting him as the
Meeting should see fit.

It will be recollected, that in consequence of some delays
on the part of Mr. Bignold, sen. in the payment of claims
made upon the London branch of the Norwich Union Fire In-
surance Office, a Committee was appointed some time since
for the purpose of inquiring into the conduct of Mr. Bignold
in this respect, and reporting to a General Meeting of the
Proprietors the state of the Funds of this Institution. At
a Gent.ral Meeting held at the City of London Tavern, on the
25th of September last, the Report alluded to was laid before
a numerous body of the Proprietors, in which the Committee
gave a very flattering account of the prosperous state of the
Institution, but recommended the immediate dismissal of Mr.
T. Bioold, sen. from the Office of Secretary, as a measure
highly necessary to the welfare of this Society.
The proceedings of the day were opened by reading, from
the Chair, the statement of the Board of Directors, respecting
the conduct of Mr. Bignold in his office of Secretary. This
statement contained various charges against this Gentleman,
which the Directors thought sufficient to justify his dismissal
in, pursuance of the recommendation of the London Com-
mittee.
The statement paid the highest compliment to the conduct
of Mr. Bignold's sons, who had discharged their duty to the
Society with fidelity and ability ; and at the sane tone it paid
a tribute to their filial conduct towards their father, whose
misconduct they had endeavoured to screen from public odium,
as far as was consistent with their public ditty. Lastly, it
urged, as a primary objection to Mr. Bignold's continuance
in his office, that he totally disregarded his responsibilities as
a subordinate and accountable Agent of the Society.

The Report, which was received with very general applause,
having been read,
Mr. BATHE, of Yarmouth, said it was unnecessary for him
to take up anv of the time of the Meeting, further than by
moving., '' That the statement of the Directors, read front
the Chair, he received and printed for the use of the Members,
and that Mr. Thomas Bignold, ten. be now removed and dis-
missed from the situation of Secretary of this Society."
Mr. Cooemt, of North Welsharn, seconded the motion,
which being put front tke Chair,
Mr. Bicso in proceeded to address the Meeting in his de-
fence. Pie insinuated that the statement read from the Chair
was made up, for the purpose of raising a prejudice against
his character. He put in his claim to consideration, on ac-
count of his meritorious services, in being the founder of an
Institution so beneficial in its consequences to the public,and
which cost hint 22 years of labour to bring it to its present
state of perfection. in the course of that time he had been
the butt of abuse, and had been calumniated from one end
of the United Kingdom to the other, by the other Insurance
Companies, and had been subjected to inconveniences cud
hardships, which perhaps no other man but himself would
have borne. He was proceeding with a variety of 'extraneous
observations, when he was repeatedly called upon to confine
'hints, if strictly to the matters of charge.
The CHAIRMAN, who had evinced the utmost candour and
impartiality, at length r interposed, and stated to him, seriddimp
the principal points to which his defence should be confthed.
The following question was reduced to writing, being 'the
foundation of one of the charges preferred by the Directors :
Did Mr. Bignold communicate to the Board of Directors the
claim made by Mr. ‘Valdegrave, and the intention of that
Gentleman. to brag it into Court, and did the Directors
sanction hint in defending that action ? He was 'called upon
to answer this question—yes, or no.
Mr. BIGNOLD conteptled, that he had indirectly the sanction
of the Directors to defend Mr. Walgrave's action, inasmuch
as he was in continual correspondence with his sons as to the
affairs of the office in town, it being their duty to communi-
tate his letters to the Directors.
NOVIRE and Mr. BRIUHTWELL, the Solicitors of the
Institution in the country, declared most solemnly that they
knew nothing of the action brought by Mr. Walgrave, until
they saw the trial reported in the Newspapers.
They also disclaimed, on the part of Mr. Thomas Bignoldi
jun. the joint Solicitor of the Institution, auy knowledge of
that proceeding except through the same medium.
Mr. BIUGHTWELL vindicated the Society frutu any litigious
disposition, by stating that, during the whole time he was
joint Solicitor, not a single claim upon the Office in the coun-
try had been agitated in a Court of Law.
Mr. Eltntiot.n was heal d at considerable length, but being
tied down to answer the specific charges prefetrod against
he was obliged to give up his defence.
After a- desultory discussion, in which Mr. Hanson, Mr.
Middleton, Mr. Clark, who composed a Deputation front the
London Committee; Mr. Robinson, a Linooo solicit";
Mr. Youngman, a bookseller at Norwich ; and several other
persons took part, the question was put for the removal and
dismissal of Mr. Rignold from his situatiou of Secretary, and
, carried without a dissentient voice.

LA.W INTELLIGENCE.

COURT OF CHANCERY, Nor. 14.

• The Court did not sit at all to-day, the LORD
CHANcELLoa, we are sorry to state, being much
indisposed with a severe attack of the gout.

VICE-CHANCELLOR'S COURT, Nov. 14.

TEMPEST V. ORD.

This case being called on for bearing, Mr.
BELL intimated to his Honour, that by the desire
of the parties, the ease had been transferred to his
Lordship's paper' in the other Court, as they
thought that the Lord Chancellor would be better
able to dispose of it, he having already heard the
other part of the case. The Lord Chancellor had,
therefore, fixed it for hearing on his coming into.
Court on Monday morning next.
The VICE-CHANCELLOR—" I can have-no ob-
jection to the case being heard by the Lord Chan-
cellor ; but I could wish, for the sake of public
busi'iess, that parties would exercise some judg-
tnent in putting cases on the paper of this Court,
because it creates much confusion to have a cause
transferred from one Court to another. Let the
case go to the Lord Chancellor."

COURT OF KING'S BENCH, Nor. (4.

CRIMINAL INFORMATION.

Mr. CLARK applied for a criminal information
against a person named Aldey, resident at Bir-
mingham, under the following circumstances :
Aldey was a dealer in skins, and on the sth of Oc-
tober an information on the subject was preferred
against him by the inspectors, and he was sum-
moned to attend on the Sth. He did not, how-
•ever, attend on that day, but sent an excuse, re-
questing a delay till the Monday following, on a
plea of the indisposition of his wife. On the
Monday he did not attend, but sent his brother,
and desired the inquiry might proceed. It did
accordingly proceed. and he was convicted in se-
veral penalties of 5/. each. The Magistrates,
however, who presided, Mr. Bedford and Mr.
Spooner, mitigated the penalties to forty shillings
each, ti►e lowest to which they could be reduced,
and they gave Mr. Aldey time to pay the penal-
ties in. On the 22t1 of October Mr. Bedford was
surprised at receiving a letter from Aldey to the
following effect I wish to inform you, that
the conviction to which you came, without in-
vesc igation, was infamous. The whole town
cries shame, and I was not surprised when Ed.
• wards told me you were to have part of the mo-
ney, An answer is requested."
The Court granted a Rule to spew cause.