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London, England, 1818-09-26 00:00:00

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comparison, it observed, the Committee were let atitutios had all g ly ?To the
only provoked but forced to make. This com Pat. Gentleman who had originate formed, and este.
sou went into a very minute detail ; from which Is. bushed it, and to-whit:lt it Was indebted for all the*
. appearbd the Norwich bad the superiority oville theexcellent features in its constitution, which gave k
Equitebte in every respect I Well a vast superiority ever every other Insurande
--- The Peals of the Society were nest totselsishipon 1 i institution.. And yet it was. this Gentleman (lire
these were stated to have been in. March •lait, the Bignold) the Founder and Former of the Institution,
sum of £366,0e7. 9s. 6d. from which, however, some who, in the same Report, *hich speaks in such high
very small deductions were to' bee....inede for losses and flattering terms of the work of his hands, is
since. This sum consisted, of various descriptions of spoken or with the reprehension Mr. Barry had allu-
property, such as mortgages, shares in Southwark- ded to ; who is actually recommended to retire from
Bridge, and several kinds of stock, a small propor- the administration of the Society's affairs, as a step
tion of the mortgages stood in the name of Thome indispensably necessary to its welfare and prosperity !
Bignold, sen. Esq. but with a clause of elute The He had brought the Institution to what it is—he has
next head of the Report was, raised it above ell its competitors--and yet now it
Agencies—Upon which it was observed, that many seems that what has prospered so well in his hands,
agents had not given any security, and of malty can be trusted in them no longer. Mr. Barry hoped
esthete the security given was very inadequate to the Gentlemen would pease, and reflect well before they
trust confided ; and though the loss sustained froitt agreed to any sweeping resolution which would go
these circumstances was comparatively very trifling; to stamp with .opprobrium the character of any indo
and though in general the agents were a very respec• vidual, and more particularly of one to whom they
table body of men, yet the evil was one which ought avowedly owed so much. What was it that the Re-
to be immediately remeeied. The Committee hied port imputed to Mr. Bignold ? What was the of-1
before stated, that some of the mortgage securiti fence with which it charges him, and for which he
-*were in the name of Thomas Bignold, sen. Esq. deserves to be dismissed thus disgracefully from die
they now suggested the propriety of having them management of the affairs of the Institution ? The''
transferred to Trustees; and in this the Board of Di- only specific offence which it imputes to Mr. Bignold
rectors had fully concurred. When Mr. Bignold is, that he bad not at all .times shewn that deference!
was applied to upon the subject, he said that he should to the Board of Directors at Norwich, which they
be ready to do any thing which the Directors had consider themselves entitled to. This was the who).'
,authority to command, if it were for the interest of. amount of the matter of fact Which the Report cono
ethe Society—an answer which the Committee did not mined against Mr. Bignold. The Committee are
''think at all satisfactoiy. The Committee _felt it pleased to say, that after the most deliberate coasi-
their duty to state, that there were very great defects deretioa they are of opinion, that Mr. Bignold's im-
in the deeds of settlement, which should be corrected mediate retirement is necessary ; but except this
as speedily 'as possible ; and with that view again charge of want of due deference to the Board of
pressed the necessity of a Committee continuing to Directors, they do not state a single other ground of
investigate, for the purpose of devising the necessary offence which had led them to come to that conclu-
remedies. The Report then went on to state, that sion. And how can it be known, from the general
the Committee would have felt it'a very gratifying and vague way in which this want of deference is de-
task to be able to exonerate any Officer of this So- scribed, whether it has been of such a nature as to
ciety from any charge against him, and particularly merit the signal punishment now proposed to be in-
Mr. Bignold. sen. but they felt obliged to state, that flitted upon it, or indeed any punishment at all.
the immediate retirement of that Gentleman from his Want of deference to the Board of Directors might,
office of Secretary was indispensably necessary for the in a hundred supposable cases, have been theeesult
future welfare of the Institution. In conclusion, the of the truest devotion to the interests of the general
Report stated it to be the conviction of the Commit- body of Stillecribers. The Committee, in short, had
tee, that the Society, by a careful management and furnished the Meeting with nothing beyond their own
an alteration of the constitution, bid fair to raise it- unsupported opinion that Mr. Bignold ought to retire;
self to that prosperity which its warmest supporters and the Meeting were now called upon to subscribe
could wish. to and adopt that opinion, without having the least
This Report, which was frequently interrupted by proof of culpability, on the part of Mr. Bignold,
plaudits, was, at its conclusion, received with very before them, to shew that such opinion was founded
long and general approbation. , either in justice to him or in a regard to the well-
Mr. PATTCSON rose to move that the Report now being of the Institution. Mr. Barry humbly but an-
read be received, adopted, and ordered to be printed xiously solicited the Meeting to look to the matter in
and distributed amongst the Subscribers. a-spirit of even-handed justice, and not thus rashly
Mr. 'Alderman' THORP, on presenting himself to to pass sentence of dismissal and disgrace upon an
the Meeting, was received with very general applause. old- and well-tried servant of the Institution, without
He felt great satisfaction in hearing the very able any evidence being adduced against him, and with.
Report of the Committee. He was the more happy out his beieg even. heard tn his own defence.
. to express this satisfaction, as it had been insinuated —(Loud cries of a No, no, Ise has beta heard.")—
that he and those who acted with him were hostile to Yes, continued Mr. Barry, without evidence, with-
the Institution.' He could assure the Meetin , that out his being heard. He was entitled to maintain so,
they had entertained no hoeile feeling—(A use). for the Committee had not in their Report stated
thja
The account of the funds now laid beforecm must that any evidence was taken—that any defence from
give the highest satisfaction to all of tam. ' The de- 'Mrellignold was called for—and it was fair to pre-
sire of inquiring into the state of the funds had been sums, that had either the one or the other been done,
ascribed to the hostility of persons connected with the Committee would not have failed to record cir-
other Offices. He denied that the inquiry had any cumstances of so much importance to the validity of
concern with any other Office. There were sixteen or their. proceedings. Had the Committee stated that
seventeen instances of claims brought foretaste' against they had called-Mr. Bignold before them—that they
- the Office.. They thought those chines- Quglrt to be had stand to him the matters of offence with which
iuquired into, and be hoped that the Meeting could he was charged—that they had taken evidence as to
not be of opinion that fair inquiry in any instance the truth of those charges, and had given Mr. Big-
oted mischief—(Great applauss).—.The claims made nold every opportunity of exculpating himself—thee
were answered by the CrLimmitme, and their Report, would Mr. Barry, such was the estimation in Which
in fact, had justified all that had been done by him he held the Gentlemen who composed the Commit-
and those.who bad acted with him. Their own Com- tee, have bowed to their judgment of the case, and
mittee had recommended a revision of the deeds of been on the pretest occasion silent as the grave. But
settlement, and an improvement of the mode of ma- it was not so : the Committee had not ventured to
nagement. This was, in fact, to admit, that the state any such thing; and in the absence of el that
statement made by them (Alderman Thorp's Com- was necessary to come to a just, fair, and honour-
:Mute) was correct.-(Applausei..-Their object had able decision on the conduct of Mr. Bignold, Mr.
been to promote the interests of the Society. They Barry would' never, for one, consent to visit with dis-
were accordingly much gratified by the Report now mission and disgrace a Gentleman to whom, for
read, which must be considered as the result of the' aught he had yet seen, the Institution ought rather to
inquiry to which they had given rise. 'He felt much yield the tribute of their gratitude. If the Meeting
pleasure, therefore, in seconding the motion just condemn Mr. Bignold this day, continued Mr. Barry,
made---(Applause). they will do what hat always been abhorrent to the
Mr. BARRY said, he had heard with much patience nature of Englishmen—they will condemn an indi-
and attention the voluminous Report which had just vidual without a hearing—(Cries of" He is hare, and
been read, and lie would venture to affirm that the ours defied hirnself.")-4, Yes, Gentlemen," said Mr.
whole annals of insurance history could not produce Barry, a he is indeed here, but in the private cabi-
e parallel to the state of prosperity which that Report
ile net, in the Court of Judgment, if I may so call it,
had chewed this Institution to have attained. where the Report which passed that sentence upon
Gentlemen who had framed it deserved, the best him was concocted, he was never once admitted—
thanks of their fellow members of the Institution, never once called upon in his defence. His accusers
for the uncommon exertions which they had made alone were there, and on the accusation alone was
for the general good. But while he paid this justly that judgment passed which poll are now called on
merited tribute of praise to the Report as a whole, to confirm by your sanction. What the Committee
and to she Gentlemen who framed it, and which he were bound in justice to have done, but neglected to
did not with satisfaction merely, but with something do, could not be expected- to be done at such a public
like a feeling of exultation, there were some things meeting as the one now assembled. Mr. Barry,how-
in that Report, to which, as he could not agree, he ever, understood that it was very far from being the
, • must be under the necessity of dissenting from -the wish of Mr. Bignold to avoid meeting the strictest
, , 'motion now made for its unqualified adoption by the Itivestigation into his conduct; thit, on the contrary,
Meeting. It was his design to move an amendment he was anxiously desirous that the Mcsting would
to the motion, and his grounds for doing so he would appoint, out of their number, a new Committee to
now. brietly state, relying on that considerate 'attar inquire into all the charges which could be brought
tion which lie had a rigeeto expect from them as against him, before which he might have an oppor-
reasonable hearers, and as Englishmen, of whom tunity of meeting his accusers face to face, and de•
candour and honour were always the emendest cha- fending himself as well as he was able. Mr. Bignold
racteristics. The amendment he had to propose re- asked no more than what was the right of every'
gated tie an individual of whoni the Report spoke in Englishman—the tight of being heard before he was
terms of teprehension ; and he trusted, that whatever condemned. Would the Meeting deny him this ?
might be the reports which had gone abrOadrespett- Would the Meeting deny to the founder and bene-
ing that Gentleman—whatever might be the preju- factor of the Institution what they would not deny to'
dices which they had occasioned in the minds of some she humblest being upon earth ?--Gentlemen would
against him, the Gentlemen present would so far be so good as to reflect for a moment on the extent
dismiss every thing like unjust preppssession from of the injury they would do this individual by ac-
their minds as to give the case of the individual in ceding to the motion before them—that by one hasty;
question thaf fair, open, and impartial consideration decision they wore going to blast for ever the chary.-
which was due from them as just and honourable ter of a Gentleman who had devoted the best part of
men, to a party whose dearest interests were involved a long life to.their service—who had, as had been
in the issue. Mr. Barry agreed with the Report in acknowledged on all hands, been the source of an
• all that appertained to the state of the finances, to immense good, not only to all the members of the
' the introduction of amendments in the Acts of Con• institution themselves, but to the nation at large—a
stitUtion and Deeds of Settlement, and particularly which ouht, in common charity, to cover a
.to that branch of the Report which describes the P:rdgreater multitude of sins than any with which
prosperous and flourishing state to which the Institit-' Mellignold is tharged, or likely to be charged. It
tion had attained;—and to whom, he would beg to was tree, .that in the same Report which passed chi:
ask, was this height of success, a success unequalled' severe cells's* oft Mr. Bignold. some very high, and
I,y that of any, r rival Institutiou, to be ascribed? he beliesitd-well-siititeli. eocceiolusisftwere bestowed
to *hom else could it remogably be. ascribed, tiut on the conduct of see% cactiecteireith him in the

,for' 'rriycw;sh, tie deprive any fair tie; t e
Establishmeht; but it v:ac a poet' cenafort to the •i'i
years. Is it inesos 'lbis*,elett '
then, that the same &meanie:A which contained a sett- I jest demand en the Institution up ULU
tence of disgrace upon himself should record the , This Institution, of which I
tnine.,:sein•lhfr„...6'.rylb:es.;
merits of children, to whom, if such disgrace were , honour of' being the founder, has nover't "r"
justly incurred, it must be an inheritance of shame ; wards of twenty-one
and reproach. Nor could there surely beany thing (fall the cases of insurance d ' ' si
' -....4.'
Of: grateful, kindness to the feelings of these sons in i and considering that. the whole kingdom, from
any eulogiem which, like 'this, was accompanied : end to the other, has been ransacked by the •
with a deadly blow at their father's reputation. Mr. iof the Institution for charges . against •
new,
Barry concluded with moving, as an amendment, cases they haie been ferreted out which hay—.
" That the Report, with the exception of those passages leach a colourable pretext to the present outcry a,A e '
relate to Mr. Biguold, should be approved *l=4 adopted, am! But is there one of all these.cases in which iii
what was my bounden duty? I believe,
Vi t)
!.'ir
Stieution." not; and if so, you will excuse me fur tan;
Mr. Ramose a member of the Committee, spoke in will he returning evil for good if you give nn
vindication of their conduct The Committee had prove' to such a censure as that contained it
most deliberately come to the opinion, that it was for port bele= you. It will, considering all the
the interest of the Society that Mr. Bignold should the Instifttion has derived generally favor
retire. There were many circumstances of Mr. Big- Lions, be a want of gratitude—(Hear, hare
neld's conduct which no provocation could induce and hisses.)-1 will say, considerine the eve A
tiesi"'
hint to mention, but which amply justified the opinion doae to the Institution—it Wel by my tee,,
of the Committee. They had signified to Mr. Bignold London, at the desire of the Directors,
the propriety of tetiring before the Report should be fits of the Institution were extended here, and
given in, and he had hoped that, in consequence, they more than 10,000 additional insurers were as
could this day apply the old observation to him—de the institution. I have had the misforee- to
inortuis nil nisi bontins—(laughter). They imputed my name bandied about the United KU:ellen
no misconduct to him—they attached no disgrace to all the opprobium which slander could heap p
his character. His honesty and his eclat were not but in every instance in which I have 'tar ,
only unimpeached, but highly meritorious. His zeal trace that slander to its source, I have fele; x
Was not, however, tempered with prudence—(ap., bottom of it individuals connected, mcre or be
p/ause). That he acted according m the best of his reetly, with some one or other of those rival,
they would admit, but his judgment of the Panies who have suffered so much neon, tly
proper mode of acting was such as rendered hie relishment of this Institution, and whom [wee
tirement indispensable to the prosperity of the Society delight more than to have it deprived of the
—Orent applause).. of the individual to whom it owes its being, o,
-Mr. BIONOLD--." Sir, I need not say that it has and its prosperity. My zeal for this Institta.aa
been with much pain I have heard certain parts of been the cause of their enmity, and it is to eft
the Report now before you read, in which my con- that enmity a triumph that you are now cal
duct as Secretary to this Institution is censured, my upon to give your approval to the sentenced,
retirement recommended as a step essential to its demnation passed upon me in this Report. I'
future prosperity, and this censure and recommenda- grown old, Gentlemen, in your service—a fee
tion are proposed to be sent forth to the world in, a more, and the question whether I can beam'
manner which would seem to convey that I had been of service to you will be at an end. But at
cell. I trust I shall be able to convince you and the
guilty of some great criminal act, which. justly
ed for this visitation of wrath upon me. I think, at large, that lam still capable of doing much,
Mr. Chairman, and Gentlemen, that you will allow still do very much for the hen-..E: cf the heti;
that it is but fair that I should not be thus denoune. If it can be proved that I am wanting in thejt
ed without being heard in my own defence—that I meat necessary for the man; Bement of an Ingle
should not be held forth in this degrading light to which, through a long series of threw one ,
t
the world unless specific charges suificient to justify have conducted to an unexampled heigh of
it have been proved against rrie—and I trust that Pority—that I have not been so diligent, so
you will not refuse me that fair opportunity of at- tive, or so assiduous in the discharge of me
jus- duties as I oi'ght to have been, then most ready
tempting my own vindication to which I am in
tice entitled, but which lam now content to request willing should I be to accede to the meth,
of you as a favour. Ido hope that', you wiil not wished to be forced upon me. A fair Enquire
allow yourselves to be hurried into a censure of my I ask, and for this purpose Mr. Barry has
conduct in my official capacity as your Secretary, you truly that it is my most anxious wish th.
without making that strict and.scrupulous enquiry Committee might he formed out of yew
into it which so grave a matter deservek—an enquiry before whom such enquiry might be made
which, if fairly gone into, may perhaps end in show- should it appear to that Committee, or. a fall
ing that in what has been deemed my fault I have candid investigation of my conduct, that, as '
said, 1 have been either disregardful of the .
done no.more than my duty: It has been imputed
to me as a most serious offence, that I did not pay of the Institution, or am incapaele of ere
tiro respect to the demands and recmisitions of the duties of its Secretaryship, then by all mare .
mark of displeasure you please fall upon me.
Committee of Subscribers. met at the George and
until the correctness of my eenduct is impeached
Vulture Tavern, which some persons seem to think
they deserved—but if the Meeting will take along some accusation clearly and fully proved visit
with them" that it% many of the cases about which which has not been the cue this day, certainly,'
tlemen, you will be doing at least a hasty and
that Committee made so much noise, I was in' the
knowledge that the parties bad been paid all their siderite thing to Ent such a sentence upon
demands and given the most satisfactory acknow- contained in-the Report now recommended .
ledgments for them ; and that others, as has been adoption. The fatigues of office, Gentlemen, car,
proved to you by the Report itself which you have but little charms for a man advanced to my tie
now before you, had no well-founded.claim on the. but having long filled the satiation of your S
Institution, you will not perhaps be disk osed to think withott reproach, I cannot consent to retire
that my conduct in•thit respect has Leen so repre- in a n.anner which would carry a reproach .
hensible as it has been represented. It is at the same with it, which I am conscious of not deservie.
time, not unknown to many of you, that feeling sea- had hoped too, Gentlemen, by a little longer
sible that a prejudice had been raised in the public tinuance in office, to give you still farther
mind, by the active exertions of some designing in- than you have yet had of my continued capabi
dividuals to poison and inflame it, which it was of be of service both to the Institution and to the ,
essential consequence to the interests of the Institu- try at large, by bringing forward a plan nil,
titer should be rerhoved, I did of my own accord
have in progress for the better prevention of t
select from the list of insurers and members in the
dreadful Fires with which the liletropolis is so
metropolis several of the most respectable and inde- quently visited, and which, if carried into
pendent among them, to whom I addressed a letter
reocildel.am confident, tend most materially to
requesting them to act as a Committee for the our-
important object. A Gentleman of the Cc
pose of making such enquiry into the state and ma-
has been pleased to state to the Meeting, in s
nagement of the Institution as might tend to refute tion of that part of their Repoat affecting me. in'
the groundless charges brought againet it—and that
is not of my zeal or integrity as Secretary that e
it is these Gentlemen of my own voluntary notnina- complain—but that my zeal has been without
don who have formed the Committee whose Report
dence—that I have been guilty of errors in jedr
is now under your consideration. I thought they lf, Gentlemen, it is merely errors of judgment
were my friends—the friends of the Institution, but
they have acted as enemies would not have donee— ing., the judgment of rte Committee us that s
are imputed to me, :night not, by a purity of •
, !hey have condemned me unheard—l now appeal to
yvour justice whether you will do the same—l crave Gentleinen, secms, in short, to be s: tha: I
be itself an error? The whole amount of my .
oily the advantage, the right of a fair trial. And
with respect, Gentlemen, to this other Committee of too scrupulous in my enquiries to prevent your
been too zealou.s in doing my duty tithe Ince.
my awn nomination, I would bog to observe, that
imposed upon by frauduleet and unjust claims
although these Gentlemen may have, in consequence in a word, I have not allowed every body to el.
of new circumstances which may have been brought
1 • IS
under their consideration, recommended some Les; demand upon them. And after an, Gettlernoa.V
their hands into your pockets who chow to make
Claims to be settled which I had previoesly conceived
ought to be resisted, it cannot reasonably be an
ground of accusation against me .that with less in-
y extended to every corner of the United Kingdom,
many are the cases which after the striitest eat,
formation and with an apparently just cause of re-
aista,nce I acted ail I felt bound to do from a faithful accusers have been able to bring forward as'
,with circumstances whiCh it might be wished
regard to the interests of the Institution. Gentle-
hien will be pleased to consider how the Secretary it is to be observed,
departmeist is not more khan six or seven ; ar.ci it
occurred ? The nurnber of cases falling within t
I did not act alone, but wit
of an Institution such as this is liable from his concurrence of three other Gentlemen of the
official situation to be identified with every thing blishment. The Institution, Gentlemcr. has I
that is obnoxious or offensive, in inquiring into or
enemies e and it is through me, as its fouvil.et
opposing, no matter how necessarily or justly, the P
claims for indemnity which may be brought against
it; and how easily it night be for him to acquire po- Principal manager, that their shafts are ..
agaiust it. But I trust, Gratlerr.ree that yea
polarity at the expense of his integrity, by acceding, not, by agreriee ..0 this Report, dc any gnat'
without inquiry, to every sort of demand w can be a triumph to your enemies. I lour
be trumped up or insisted in. The risk of such op-
probrium I have run cheerfully, considering it as a
;ea, ruse after all I have done for the Inst;mtica "To
not treat me so illiberally, and, I cannot help sat
ungratefully—(Some dersour)—as to sea `s
sort of drawback inseparable from the situation of' from office on no better evidence than reereaccesat
di
Secretary; but I hope, in return, that since the Secre- Mr. A LDIS, after observing that it vete:epees.
tars,. cannot escape being vulgarly identified with
right of an. Englishman net to be colderirel
many disagreeable things in the course of his duty, heard, said, that neither the Coma:ince ner I
Gentlemen will not be so unjust as deliberately to
Meeting had any power ontr the executive plea,
identify these things with the personal character of Society (" Of, qlf! from all parts•cf gilt rwirl.
the Secretary, when they have been done not as mat-
ters of choice, but as matters of imperious duty. Let
my conduct be scrutinized to the utmost, but let it be heard, but in va=st. lie was at
Gentleman continued upon t.'te tzble, su
oblif
vrena
length
yield, and to resume his seat.
be scrutinized with a just discrimination; and if any
thing is distinctly proved against me, let it, by Mr. Ht addressed the Chair from a
an . corner of the room, and, after getting forward
means, be sent over all the world; but do not let me table, he exhibited a copy
be held fbith as principal and sole responsible actor, ' of the trust deed,
1 ceeded so far as to meatiea the Duke of Soy-
in mailers ia which I was only the ostensible organ:' one eatthe Nobie trictees. whets a general bee
(,o knows, it is not iet.my nature, very fitii indeed, :44`PPITbati°4 4"4"d :11'17- • lit was ze5'3.3.44

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mereaccasarr..
t wdt the rm.
: coldemrol
nniir.te nor
:clative put of
f 1 e reez.).
smoggimg
length Obliged •
it from 3 "
ng forward to
au deed, aosi "
ke of Somerset
general
teas
1T1L:114.4*

that the only quettion no* before foe
he Motion and Amendment respecting
at he still persevered in his attempts to
zing. and proclaimed himself an Rug
ile he thus stood upon the table.
sias put the amendment, which was
great majority, and the original mci-
irneusly
was now resit::: Mg, when he was again
was a meeting for the special purpose
se Report. Ile proceeded—" I have a
mit to the meeting, that Thanks be
'hairman.' At this moment he encoun-
Lads inch manifest and marked disap-
t he sat down.
o:t now proposed four several Resolii-
ch scc the front page of this Paper.)
sw,Tested a slight amendment of the
tion, which he ultimately withdrew.
e said, that they, the Committee, had
r. llignold's puppets. It could now be
,:ther they were inanimate puppets, or
puppets. He had buried all animosi-
; but he would slightly advert to the
lad met with at the George and Vul-
erman Thorpe, the Chairman, was dis-
le to his proposal, that they shad." delay
y resolution for a few weeks; but time
behind the Chair, and greater than the
resisted the proposal—(A laugh.) He
klderman Thorp would now admit that
;tier if they had acceded tistlie proposed
per had been handed to him which sug-
tr. Alderman Thorp and his Committee
he present Committee. He was anxious
in Thorp should be added to their num-,
he Committee should be added, they
t with cordiality. After several further
on Alderman Thoris Committee, he
!moving, that Alderman Thorp be added
late&
NI was seconded, and carried unanimously.
Tun TUORP said, he would not enter
ular reply to the observations of the last
tan sufficient to state, that of sixteen
rated by them, nine were paid since their
begun—(Applou4e).—He should wil-
-11 the assistance in his power to the Corn-
h had facilities of information and in-
which he and those who had aeted with
o excluded.

Relolutions were then put, and unani

:is of the Meeting were unanimously
Clarke, Esq. &ere zary to the Committee.
nr of the Committee moved, that the
iould be instructed to consider what sa-
le given to Mr. Bignold.—The Motion
as premature.
It.n said, if he deserved dismissal, he
no salarya if he did not, the dismissal
ion of salary were equally improper.
of the Meeting were unanimously voted
ars of the Society in Norwich.
ItmeN then put the question of adjourn•
was carried unanimously.
nour arose upon a young Gentleman
t the Meeting highly disapprove of the
of Mr. Bignold.
In was seconded, but the discussion was
o, by Mr. Perrstson 'moving that the:
sre the Chair, which he did immediately.
Ming broke up at lialf.past fout.
HE EVENING STAR

LONDON.

JRDAY. SEPTEMBER 26, 1818.-
THE FUNDS.
STOOKS MIS DAY AT TWELVE O'CLOEK
xk shut-3 per Cent. Reduced shut—
al. Consols 4•i 75 for Acc. 7.5 i.
shat--4 per Cent. shut
Navy 105105i.—Ornnium 314 disc.
ler Bills 15 17 prem.

sceedings at the Meeting of the Members 1
with Union Insurance Company, given in
ins this day, deserve the particular atten-
sly of every member, but of every
indivi-
has any interest at stake in Insurance Corn-
t is a matter of notoriety, that this Society
o encounter the enmity, opposition, and
!hinations, of those Commercial Insurance
s whose profits hate been so largely cur. ,
he Norwich Union t and it is equally ap-
spite of the glosses put upon the proceed-
sowever pure might be the motives of some
to active part in the meetings at the George
re, that the main object of some of others
aes was to bring a slur upon the character
midi Union, if not upon its responsibility.'
have failed: they have been completely
nil the Company has been proved by the
e certainly the first in the Empire, as re.
he security and benefits which it yields to
411—that is, to every individual insured
~.ompany.

with this prominent feature if the Report
arni:tee, supported by the most irrefragable
we were not a little surprized at that part
is related to the individual to whose inde-
exertions, for more than twenty years, the
and the Public are, confessedly, indebted
acing, founding, and rearing the structure
sent state of stability and prospe:ity. He
cd that be had been condemned without be-
; and we must say that, after having paid
it attention in our power to every thing that
his appears to us to have been the fact.
and the case could not be otherwise, that
ften with the Committee, furnishing them
uments, vouchers, Btc. but this is a yen' dif-
ing from being with the Committee to en-
charges brought against hire, noy was

there any evidence offered to the Meeting, or ant
assertion midi by any of the Mintitier§; that Mr.
BIGNOLD had been put upon his defince by the Corn.
inir.ee. This is not • a conduct becoming impartial
men, or individuals jealous of the privileges which
belong to every Englishman.
We mean nothing disrespectful to the Committee,
for we are willing to give them credit for the purest
motives and the most upright intentions ; but no
purity of intention can make that right which if in
itself directly opposed by the dictates of justice: star
can we believe that they would, acting dispassionately,'
and intirely independent of the secret and inimical
influence which originated the whole business, have

ided the dismissal of an officer to whose

assiduous labours the Company owes its present high
state of prosperity—have ever recommended an act of
injustice—for injustice it is and of the most flagrant
kind to condemn a man unheard.
Let us not be misunderstood. We have no weans
of forming our opinion but from what we learnt at
the public meeting. It is possible that the Commit•
tee did not recommend this measure without first in-
stituting a proper enquiry. If they did, their pro-
ceedings and the evidence on both sides must be on
record, and of course can be adduced: Nothing of
the kind, however, was stated at the meeting—aid with-
out this evidence before them, the meeting itself
acted unjustly in approving that part of the Report.

We know nothing of Mr. BIONOLD. We were
never in his company till we saw him in the public
room yesterday. But having demanded to know
who are his accusers? what the crimes charged ?
and what the evidence ? we cannot avoid saying that
his demand was reasonable. If he has_ asked fat
what the Committee In.ve only kept back out of deli-
cacy, we must say that, after his demand, no delicacy
is necessary on their part. Let it come out—let us
have the evidence, and if that evidence shall be found
to condemn Mr. BIGNOLD, we shall join in the ver-
dict of guilty. But never will we join in countenanc-
ing general slander unsupported by public evidence.

Tht Paris Papers of Wednesday arrived this morn-
ing.—The Austrian Ambassador had a special audi-1
ence of the limo on Tuesday, when he delivered to
his Majesty a letter from the Emperor FRANeIS.
According to recent advices from Constantinople,
it appears that all the Foreign Ministers had joined
in presenting to the Dtvari a Memorial relative to
the persecutions which the Catholics have suffered
at Aleppo. The Minister of England in particular
is said to have displayed the most laudable zeal on
the occasion.

French 5 per cents. Tnesday, 75 fr. 10 C.

Barbadoes Papers• have been received to the 25th
of July. They contain a dispatch from the 'Spanish
'General Moeda.° totord Commitment, annohbeing
the successful results of his spring campaign against
the Patriots. This contrivance of the Don to make
the Governor of a British Colony a sort of trumpeter
to the Royalists, mightily gratifies the Editor of a con-
rternPorary Journal, who observes, that " if it were re-
gularly done, it would enable the friends of the Royal
Cause in Europe to obtain speedier and more authentic
information as to its progress." This first attempt,
however, does not augur favourably for the rapidity of
the new mode of conveying intelligence to the friends
of the Royal Cause in Europe; the fact being, that
the details of Moatta.o's operations were fully known
yin
London previous to the date of the publication of
his dispatch in Barbadoes. So much for the speedier
information to be obtained through this channel.—
' As to the more authentic information, our Readers
may ea,ily judge from the circumstance, that the
Editor alluded to believes that BOLIVAR was posi-
tively " killed off," because a Spanish dispatch of
the 25th of May says so, notwithstanding the receipt
of a score of letters from Angustura, Trinidad, and
St. Thomas's, one of which we inverted yesterday of
as late a date as the 20th of July, all of which concur
lin the fact, that BOLIVAR was

hale and well, and letting ;"
with the additional intelligence, that liatcrat had 11
brought him reinforcements and supplies, which
would speedily enable him to resume the offensive in
person ; and that Mos.ALas had actually been driven
back beyond CaLibozo, by one of his subordinate
Officers.

From these Papers it appears, that Barbadoes con-
tinued free from the fever. Tke Governor had issued
a Proclamation against the increasing prevalence of
gaming throughout Bridge Town and its suburbs.
The EsK had arrived from Jamaica with 500,000
dollars, for the pay of the troops in Barbadoes, and
sailed again for the former island.

The Duke of KENT resides in Brussels till the !d
of October, when he departs for Ammersbach, on
the Rhine, to reside on the estates of the Duchess.
The Grand Duke Micit.tat. paid his first visit, since
his return to the metropolis, to the name ItzoENT,
at Carbon-house, yesterday afternoon.
Sunday, Lord BINNING, one of the Members of
the City of Rochester, was presented with the free-
dom of that ancient City; i❑ tonseluence of which,
his Lordship gave an elegant dinner, at the Crown
fun, to the MAYOR and Corporation, Admiral Sir
JOHN Gone, COIOREICIIIRLSTIE, and the neighbour-
ing Gentry.
Lord LYNEDOCH, General Sir THOMAS DALLAS,
Sir CHARLES GORDON, Sir C. OOLIC, Mr. Justice and
Lady PARK, Governor BAILEY. and the Countess de
FRONT, arc in the list of distinguished arrivals at
Cheltenham.