The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-05-07 00:00:00

INSOLVENT DEBTORS' COURT, FRIDAY, MAY 6.

This Court was very much crowded, in consequence of his Royal
Highness the Duke of York,being stiblicena'd to give evidence, in
the case of IVilliam Pope, an insolve.it, who came up on his peti-
tion to be discharged.
Soon after ten o'clock the Commissiopers took their seats, and
shortly after, Mr. Harrison, of the Treasury, who had also been
subpamed by the insolvent, attired, and was ushered into a private
roost.
Mr. Coox E, on the part of the creditors, opposed the insolvent,
and Mr. F. POLLOCK defended him.
The insolvent was described in his schedule as formerly of
York-street, Westminster, agent ; after then of Linfield, Sussex ;
afterwards of Streatham, in Surrey ; then of Stockwell ; after-
wards of Glanville.house, Middlesex ; and late of Garden-row,
London.zoad, Surrey, tavern-keeper, and keeper of a lunatic
asylum.
William Pope was then =lied into the box.
Mr. PoLLOCE suggested, it' his beamed Friend (Mr. Cooke)
would go at once into that part respecting some payees and other
documents named in the schedule, it would be the means of ac-
commodating many individuals of high consideration who were
present, and had been subpeened merely to give their evidence
respecting such documents.
The Chief Commissioner CIIAIIII is) then read from the schedule
respecting the papers.
Win. Pope, examined by Mr. COOKE.—In January, 1824, I
was in this Court before ; I then had in the possession of a friend a
trunk of papers, which had been given me by a Mr. Ogilvie, as a
special security for a debt of 2,6301. odd. In January last, when
1 was here, the Court ordered those papers to be given to the 016-
cer of the Court. for his inspection. I was then residing within
the rules of the King's Bench. In a few days after, I obtained the
papers front my friend, and did not give them up to the officer, not
liking to expose the parties they related to. On the 16th of March,
1821, I gave them up to Mr. Knight, to whom I was recommended
by a Mr. Morrison, as a Solicitor to manage this business. On the
receipt of the letters, Mr. Knight gave me an undertaking in writ-
ing, a copy of which I produce.
The COURT ordered the undertaking to be read, which was ac-
cordingly done, and front which it appeared that Mr. Knight had,
as security for the paper'. agreed to pay the debt due front Ogilvie,
to the insolvent, viz. 2,63411. odd.
Examination continued—l received the papers back from
Knight, on the 13th of April, having teamed front him the parties
would do nothing, or words to that effect. I said I understood that
the Duke of York had sent somebody to settle the debt due front
Ogilvie. Knight said, he thought it would have been so, had it
not been for Mr. Oreenwood and Sir Herbert Taylor. I was much
surprised at the papers being returned, and said I had nothing
else to do but to lay the case before the public. I afterwards
waited upon Mr. Morrison and Mr. Ogilvie, and upon come rem-
actuation I returned the papers again to Mr. Knight to give to the
Duke of York, but whether they were given to his Royal High-
ness, or not, I cannot say. An offer of money had been recently
made to hint to give up the papers.
Mr. POLLOCK thought the Court need not be occupied in this
examination, as there were parties present to speak more particu-
larly, about diem.
Mr. CooKE said, that he would now submit the propriety of the
papers being inspected by the officer of the Court.
Cross-examined by Mr. PoLLOCK—There were no securities for
money amongst the papers. They were private letters.
Insolvent—Ant I to name the parties ?
Mr. POLLOCK—No, no.
Insolvent—They were letters of privacy, end there was also a
manuscript book intended to be published.
Re.examined by Mr.Cooxx—The book, if published, would
have paid all my debts.
Mr. C. Knight, Solicitor, of Basinghall-street, stated, that he
received some papers from the Insolvent, but he bad not got
them now in his possession ; they are deposited in the hands of a
gentleman well known at the Bar. The insolvent had no power to
get Meth back. The papers were not relating to his estate ; I
they were private letters, not in the slightest or remotest degree
touching the insolvent. They were extremely libellous, and tile
insolvent has no interest whatever in them. Them was no security
for money amongst the papers. If money could be obtained by
the letters, it must have been by extortion. Witness received
the papers unconditionally, to destroy them if he thought proper.
Witness did not consider himself justified in destroying the
. papers, which was his intention be therefore thought it right to
deposit them with a gentleman at the bar. He had L.,ver seen them
since.
By Mr. CooxE.—Never heard of the insolvent till this occasion ;
he called at my Chambers, in Basinghall-street, previous to getting
' the papers. but did not call on me as a professional man. Mr. Pope
said he bad heard of my :fame and character, and he wished to dt-
.

it some papers with me, to see if I could reap any benefit for
him by them. He said he thought 1 might have moms influence I
with the parties to whom they were directed, as he was a poor man.
I never recollect giving Pope any undertaking for the papers. I
was in the habit of seeing Mr. Morrison respecting those papers.
They were subsequently given up to me again without any under-
taking. Some of the letters I saw, and saw the inscriptions on
them. Ido not believe there was any manuscript book amongst
them. There was a manuscript relative to some private correspon-
dence of a person of high consideration, but 1 do not think it was
intended fqr publication.
Mr. PoLLoc I submitted to the Court, after what had passed re-
specting the privacy of the letters, that no ordinary person should
inspect them ; but if the Court would take upon themselves to in-
vestigate the letters, he would undertake to produce them. They
were 61 in number, but he had no doubt the Court would be satis-
fied with looking at the superscriptions.
The COURT here consulted upon the proposition of Mr. Pol-
lock, after which
The Chief Commissioner said, that the purpose would be an-
swered, if the Barrister who held the papers would investigate
them, and report to the Court the purport of the investigation.
The Court could not undertake to examine them privately.
Mr. Coosa said, that as it was only a report from Mr. Knight
those Gentleman at the bar had the papers, it perhaps would be
better if he was to give the name of the Barrister.
Mr. Knight then said, that the letters were in the possession
of Mr. Pollock, brother to the Heideman who defended the in-
solvent.
The Cornx then said, the case had better be adjourned till
Wednesday next, if that day would be convenient to all parties.
The case was then fixed for Wednesday, when it will be re-
sumed.
The letters in question area correspondence between his Royal
Highness the Duke of York and the once notorious Mary Anne
Clarke.
There were several persons in fashionable life present during the
examination of the insolvent. and seemed much disappointed at the
letters not being read, and also at the case being adjourned.