The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-03-30 00:00:00

POI. ICE.

IMANMON-HOUSE.
THE EQUITABLE TEA AGENCY COMPANY.-1 ekterilay
John 11. 'forriano, solicitor, of Fenchurelisatreet, applied to the
Lord Mayor on the part of a country taii.dealer. Mr. Nicholas
Bell, fir his Lordsitip'a aaaistance in obtaining restitution of* sum
of money which the Managing Director (Mr. William Goundry)
of the Equitable Tea Agency Company. contrived to get from him.
His client had become acquainted with the 31anaging Director,
who was a Member of the Socly of Friends. when the tierce was
traveller for an extensive tea-dealer earned Nicholson, with whom
Mr. Bell used to deal. The acquaintance was very slight, but
Mr. Gaindry took care, at a meeting which acvidentalle took place
afterwards in the country, to improve it, and introduced himself an
a partner in the Equitable Tea Agency Company, which he nitre-
peated as abounding with the most brilliant advantage.. Mr. Bell
was induced to transmit to William Goundry hills for upwards of
901. for tea, to which he received an answer. Stiltille that he had got
his bill no 51asterman and (•o. discounted, and forwarded a chest
of tea, 73 break, by sne'l and Co. as per receipt. The other bill
ha had also given to be discounted, which. if not done immediate!),
he would return. for the Directors would not send tea except for
cash. All his client tectived of the tea ordered was one cheat.
value about 211. or 221. and all him subsequent applications proved
ineffectual. In answer to a pressing application, Mr. Ouuntlry
sent a letter containing a number of shares in the Company, which,
though stated as of considerable statue, proved altogether or—
marketable. Mr. Bell was debited with the amount of these
shares, and which were not acknowledged by •he gentlemen whose
names appeared along with that of sir. (foundry, in the list of
Directors. The bills were paid when they became due, and Mr.
Bell was out of pocket by the transaction, and likely to remain so,
unless the Lord Mayor would interpose.
The LOAD MAYOR said he perceived by the prospectus that
there were to be immense profits arising from this Company (25 per
cent. commisaion to shareholders on all orders procured by mem);
and by Mr. Goundry'a letters (which were reach that there were to
be no lawyers' bills to eat up the profits—(a laugh)—and that the
shares sent in lieu of the balance of 711. or 721. amounted, upon the
very face of them (for upon each of them it was stated that the
holder was entitled to 5/.) to the sum of 1001. Besides all this, it
appeared that the country dealers were the p mitts principally to be
b.nelited. Ile supposed, putting all these advanteges together,
that Mr. Bell was induced to take the shares. _ _

Mr. Tow I NO said his client would swear that he had never
contented to take the ohares in lieu of the money.
The Loan 3IA TOP—And how much are your shres worth?
Mr. Toe itt N o—Not a farthing. The Company was got up by
Mr. (Mondry himself. and nobody knows any thing about it but
the projetior. There is nobody on the premites but a poor blind
man. He then read a letter from Mr. thrundry, evidently written
with a view to impress Mr. Bell's mind with • favourable opinion
of the Company.
The Lwow MAYOR gave some directions to Mr. Bell', So-
lieittw upon the subject, declaring at the same time, that he would
most willingly 'mist in procuring the amount of the money which
had been ao imprudently loaf AO( of.