The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-08-23 00:00:00

LONDON SMELTING ASSOCIATION.

A Meeting of the Shareholders of the above Company tank place
yesterday, at one o'clock, at Batson's Catfee-house, toe the purpose
of contradicting the reports of the last Meeting, as regarded Mr.
Hendricks accounts. The Meeting was called at the ins-mice of
Mr. Anichini, who stated, in the advertisements convening the
Shareholders, that the accounts had been inspected by hint us one
of the three persons appointed for that purpose, and in his op nion
found quite correct.
Soon after one o'clock, Mr. CLATIK was called to the Chair;and
addressed the Meeting. He said that he had been appointed upon
a Committee of Inquiry, after he had quitted the mom at the last
Meeting. in unison with Mr. Anichini and Mr. Robson ; but he
had refused to act, as had also Mr. Robson, because he thought it
most preposterous thus to mix up the accusers with the anus .d.
Mr. Hendricks, since the Meeting, had sent a message to him
(Mr. (lark), requesting that he would call upon him in order that
he might explain the mis-statements which had appeared in the
Report at that Meeting. This he at first declined doing ; but in
reply to another application, be sent word to Mr. Hendricks that
he was at home if he would call upon him. Mr. Hendricks did
call upon him accordingly, having, however, previously sent him a
letter in defence of his conduct, which letter he would read to them
before he sat dear. When he called, there w.ut no getting him to
go into the subject. He seemed to be very virulent against his ac-
cusers, and said that he (Mr. Clark) had taken liberties with his
name, and if he did so any more he would lay his stick about his
shoulders. (A laugh.) Mr. C. ordered hint to quit his house,
upon which he said that he expected to be turned out. (A laugh.)
How far the proceedings of that day might subject him to the dis-
cipliie of the cane, he could not tell ; but he would at all events
observe, that the excuse which Mr. Hendricks had for non-attend-
ance at the last Meeting could not avail hint on the present occa-
sion • and is an honest man he was bound to appear, and not
shrink from inquiry in a case in which his character was so deeply
implicated. His absenting himself on such an occasion must neces-
sarily lead to a presumption that his conduct was bad, and could
not stand the test of investigation. He had had some communica-
tions with Mr. Antehini, who had unguardedly, and perhaps im-
properly, consented to inspect the accounts of Mr. Ilendricka. and
who had, after that inspection, been prevailed upon to give a letter
to Mr. H. approving of those accounts. This letter, however, was
given under a pledge that it should not be published. Notwith-
standing this pledge, however, Mr. Hendricks violated his honour,
and that letter had been published, to the great inconvenience of
Mr. Anichini. Fri in all the attention which he had devoted to the
subject, it appeared to him that Mr. Anichini stood completely free
from any thiag like corrupt participation in the concerns of the
Company. lie had acted a very indiscreet part in lending his
name to an association got up by such worthless characters. At
the former Meeting Mr. Anichini had professed his readiness to
come forward and pay his quota of the loss sustained in these
transactions, and since that period he had actually done so, and
thus removed all suspicion from his character of ltsving been
a participator in such transactions. If others of the Provisional
Committee were to follow his example, there would be realized a
aufficiel.t sum to satisfy the Shareholders, though perhaps net
quite sutliciet,t to cover the total loss. Mr. Clark next referred to
two papers ; one, an invoice of machinery shipped to Cornwall,
and the other a statement of expenses ; and said that they were
wholly at variance with Mr. Hendricks' statements to himself, to
the effect that the machinery was all in the Curtain-road,
L and that he had never even dreamt of sending it to Corn-
wall. Mr. C. then read Mr. Hendricks' letter, which contradicted
several unin:portant statements made at the last Meeting, and in
others contradicted what had upon that occasion been stated by
his own clerk. The fact was, continued Mr. Clark, the whole

was • trick between 31r. Hendricks and Mr. Pass to get possession
of the ',oldie money. The shares to be disposed of were .1000,
only Ban of which had been taken up ; and their commencing ope-
rations in the face of such a total failure clearly betrayed that
their only object was to get the money, and not to maintain the
existence of the Company. Mr. Castello had heard from the lips
of Mr. Pass that Mr. Hendricks had given him bills for the
money, and had kept the money itself in his own pocket. If Mr.
Hendricks' object was to civry on the Company he should have, in
the first instance, secured the patent before he had made any
outlay in machine. y. The whole transaction bore every character
of a fraud; and he had no hesitation in denominating it as gross
and fraudulent a delusion as any which modern times could furnish
an example of. The crag person amongst those concerned, who
hail the slighest pretensions to resnectarility, was Anichini ; the
rest were little better than a nest of swindlers.
Mr. CAST ELL() said that lie had been told by Mr. Pass that
MK was to he divided between him and Mr. Hendricks--that he
fdt himself ill used because Mr. H. kept the money. and gave him
only his acceptances for his share. Mr . H. stated that he had no
private accounts with 31r. Pass. If such was really the case, how
was it that Mr. Pass had b'come a bankrupt, and that Mr. Hel-
drieks was the petitioning creditor to the commission, and also the
assignee ? ( Hear, hear.) M' Hi respect to the 500?. which had been
drawn out of the hands of the bankers, Mr. lineation, wha sus one
of the persons who signed the order, had informed them that Mr.
Hendricks was to have been paid in shares, and that the order was
to that effect. or at least that a memorandum was at the bottom of
the check. articling the bankers to pay it in scrip receipts, which
memorandum Sir. Hendricks must have torn Mr', in order to get
the check paid in cash. At the former marine Mr. Hendrick., sent