The National Register.
London, England, 1812-03-22 00:00:00

1s

'lllt NATIONAL RFAIIgTtit:

LAW INTELLIGENCE..

COURT OF CHANCERY, MArtcu ti.

. ,
.. 1
10:Pii.RTE READ, IN THE MATTER OF PETER SOWERES.
This WS; ana.pPlieation by one of the Assignees of the Bankrupt, to
OAT his cartill.aate, until he should undergo a turther examination before
tfit Commissioners, and make a full disclosure of his estate, for the be-
nefit of his creditors. About a. year before the Act of Bankruptcy, the
Bankrupt had taken in his son, then not twenty years of age, in
t ano port
at
-
Iltrinip, assigning him one-third of his stock, debts and , profits, ,:l
the time of committing the act of Bankruptcy was still a minor. When
the Bankrupt came to be examined before the Commissioners, he could
give no other account of his property, than that it had merged into the
copartnership with his son, in which the other' Assignee (a MT. Redish)
acquiesced, so that there appeared to be little or no property for the sepa-
rate Creditors. It was further contended on the part of the Petitioner,
that the assignment to the son was fraudulent, and the Bankruptcy ob-
tained by collusion, in order to defeat the Just demands of his creditors;
and that the Bankrupt sail continued in possession of kis effects, con.
jointly with his son.
On the part of the Bankrupt, Mr. Hirt contended, that from this
certificate it appeared, by the signature of the Commissioners and the
majority of the Creditors, that the Bankrupt had conformed to the pro-
-1,161011S of the Act, and whatever collusion or fraud there might be,
although it might effect the validity of the Commission, was no ground
for staying the Certificate.
The LORD CHANCELLOR, however, thought otherwise, directing
that the Certificate should be stayed; and that the Bankrupt and his
son should forthwith be examined before the Commissioners, touching
a full disclosure of his estate and effects, and the circumstances con-
nected therewith.
._ .

JOHN HORNE TOOK, E, ESQ•

On Thursday morning this gentleman died at his house at Wimbledon. I
lie had been distinguished, for nearly half a century, in the literary and
political world, and was the last surviving writer ot the school of Ju-
talus. With many eccentricities, Mr. 'l'ooke was a man of a most
lively and brilliant wit. He possessed the facility of shining in private.
conversation, in a superior degree, to any of his later enatemporarles,
Professor Porson excepted, who, in some measure, divided with him,
while he lived, the admiration of their acquaintance. As a man of ge-
neral learning, and more especially as a philologist, Mr. Horne Too.te
will rank amongst the most eminent men of his day. The sagacity and
excellence of his philological labours have never been disputed, and it
has only been regretted that those talents which might have been turned
to such good public account, in . the pursuit of such studies, should at
any time have been diverted from to politics. We understand
that he had been for several weeks in a declining state, at; had lost the
use of his lower extremities. A few days ago, mortification appeared, 1
and rapidly advanced. Dr. Pearson, Mr. Cline, Mr. Toelte's tw c
daughters, and Sir Francis Burdett, attended an him, and he was in-
formed that his dissolution was approaching. He signified, with a pla-
dd look, that he was fully prepared, and had reason to be grateful for
having passed so long and so happy a life, which he would willingly
aeon
e I
had extended if it had been possible. He exressed much satisfactio
p
that he 11104,111 e surrounded in his laq momer ts by thonewhowere most
dear to him, He professed his perfect confidence in the existence of a
Supreme Being, whose final purpose was the happiness of his creatt:r. s.
The eccentric facetiousness, for which he was so remarkable, did not
forsake him till he became speechless, and, even then his 'evoke wore an
aspect of cheerful resignations A short time before his death, when
he was supposed to he in a state ot entire insensibility, Sir Francis
Burdett mixed up a cordial for him, which his medical friends told
the Baronet it would be to no purpose to .administer; but Sir Fraeci,,
persevere.; in offering it, and raised Mr. Tooke with that view. 'rite
latter opened his eyes, and seeing who offered the draught, took the
glass and drank the contents with eagerness. He had previously ob-
served, that he should not be like the man at Strasburgh, who, when
doomed to death, requested time to pray, till the patience ot die Ma-
gistrates was exhausted, and then, as a last expedient, begged to be
permitted to close his life with his favourite amusement of nine pins;
but who kept bowling on, with an evident determination never to
finish the gamer-He desired that no funeral ceremony should be said
over his remains, and that six of the poorest vital in the parish should
save a guinea each fir bearing him to the vault svhipla had been pre-
pared in his garden.

We recollect to have read, in a very ancient arid respectable author,
of an automaton made by a prisoner in an Italian dungeon, and which
amended a flight of twenty-five steps, and delivered a Petition on its
knees to the Prince, in whose power it was to pardon the ingenious
4nechanilit ; but really this is nothing compared to what we have seen
It the Little Theatre, catherine•street; it appears as it the power
40'd:inking had been communicated to matter, and as if action were at
plt will of the constructors of those curious automatons. The astonish-
omit, attention, and silence of the spectators, make them appear auto-.
ratans themselves, at tAie %mondetful night of the animated flutes.

mAn'en

‘DISTURB4NCE IN'GOSI)0111'.

A very serious disturbance took place at Gosport on Tuesday evening
last, which still further justifies a remark we have fr..iveritly made,
that there does not exist any necessity for a soldier-rt brit.` entrusts
with his side arms when off duty : more espe,cLilly in times of. allaweA
festivity. It being St. Patrick's day, the Pron•commissioned Officers
arid privates of the Dublin and Cork Militias, stati.int:d at Gosport,
were intlidged in their ac.custonted annual merry.makine; dkputes arose
inconsequence of some of the lower order of the town ridiculing the
national badge, by wearing carrots, radi,hei, &c. in their hats. Exas-
perated to matinees, the soldiers proceeded to the most summary mode
of vengeance, by drawing their bayonets, rushing through the streets,
and striking at whoever came in their Way. A great many persons are
dangerously wounded, several of them innocent pns•.entrers ; among
whom is a little boy, the son of Mr. I,:llicrop, who was stabhed through
the left breast, and is not expected to recover. For several hours the
town exhibited the appearance of a siege—shops close shut up—picpiets
guarding every avenue—and the inhabitants running to secure them-
selves within their dwellings—the Watermen on the beach took shelter
in their boats, and pushed otf from the shore ; while those who were
arriving with passengers, put back without landing them. At length,
by the Indefatigable exertions of some of the inhabitants, aided by other
parties of the military, tranquillity was restated.
.