The National Register.
London, England, 1819-08-22 00:00:00

THE COMMESIONEES OF BAN EHUPTS OF TUE YEL ENTH

LIST. V. DRVCE AND DAVIS.

It still be rerollected that this was the petition of the
C iiii missioners, Messrs. Dytiely, Wroth:,ley, and the Hon.
E. Law, ',rash; that Isis Lot dship would commit the
bankrupt /Satire, fir a contempl of Coort, when under ex-
amination before them as Commissioners of !Janke-opts.—
Mr. Cullen was heard on a forms r day in Ammo!l of the
petitian ; Mr. Heald .Ir. Alotitagne Mr the Defeudant,
Davis, and the Bankrupt in propria prrsopia.
Mr. Cullen this day replied, and contended, that nothing
hail been stated by his Learned Fs lends to thew *by the
prayer of the petition should nut be granted. It was tie
y for the Com t to intes fere to protect its dignity,
and to maintain proper order rind regularity in cases of
hankrupts. He therefore called int the Court to act with
energy.
Mr. Heald said, it was unnecessary for him to make any
observations as to the Defenlant Davis, as his Lordship
had stated that 4e w..a satisfied that Davis's 11101IVC) for
inlet feting were not improper.
_

Mr. ----, a .junrior Conned, said, he wax in-
tti forted that taut ll ill g to address the Court on behalf of
Mr. Bruce.

The Lard Chancellor-.." It cannot be, It is too late; I
have all the facts of the ease before lee. All the parties
have heel, heard, and Mr. Cotten hes now replied. My
time is ant to he wholly taken tip with this case."
Mr. --- begged leave •to say. that Mr. Bruce
was I/OW convincesi that lie hall been misled by Ilk own
judgment, and acknowledged that his conduct had been
improper and irregular, and thst.he was now willing to
an JJJJJ it to any under the Conti in its judgment might think
proper to make, and that he ma also willing to submit all
the ac ts, &c. to u Master of the Court, and to abide
by his report.
The Lord Chancellor—" This ease rotate before me on
petition. .1 have given full and deltherate attention to all
the facts and proceedings of this most extraordinary rate
(for extraordinary it Lain every view), nod it is also most
tinportant, as It relates to the liberty of the subject,
Mid the dne administration of • very high branch of she
law of this•country. I htee read over 411 the affidavits
with great ,care, and I do think it quite clear that Mr.
Bruce does not deity what the Commissioners allege in
their adtdavits, but on the twittery he admits what they
allege to be true. This ease has been Jong before me,
and ought to have been before this disposed of, slid I
would have done so if I had not been preeemed by the
extraordinary course which Mr. Bruee pursued, hy.pre-
lei ring,five hills fur perjury against the parties, via. three
against the Commissioneis, one against the Solicitor foe
the Commission, and one against the messenger. Whatever
my own opinion on the subject might be, I paused before
I gave my juidgment, front a due respect for the law, till
the ft. tiSioll .tot the Jury was known.. 1 lament exceedingly
that the Giond Jury were not competent judges of the
weight of evidence befere them, for had 14,1 been com-
petent judges not one bill would have been luttnd ; never
was their such ft ivolous grounds for finding a will. The
Jury in the Court of Bench, by the direction of
the Learned Judge who pieadcd, dial eight in finding the
defendants nossuilly. , The pi osecution was most item,-
per, as there wss no ground for it. The Commissioners-
doubted their powee to commit for a contempt against
themselves, said by this petition they applied to me. They
did right, and butt for these prosecutions of the betikrupts,.
I would base put this doubt of theirs at rest in the fit et in-
stance, as would base applied to Patti:tow:it Ins a legis-
live enactment on .the pahjeet. This however, I may
say, that, a contempt offered to thAutiimisaieners is a
contempt of the Great Seal. Looking at all, the facts of
the case, and all the extraordinary proceedings of Mr.
Brice, I, silting where I am, fed it my they to have all,
the proceedings laid before his Majesty's Attorney General
for him to &dile what course lie will adopt, lieJtearilig lit
his mind all that has bees, dune here,"

Mr. Gillen hoped 14at his,Loidship would direct she
costs of the pruverttiov, which antonoted to the cum-
ulous soul of 7001. to bts paid out of Ilse separate estate of
Mr. Bruce.

The Lord Cliancellor—," Certainly ; let them be paid
out of his proportion of the estate ."
Mr., J4tonta,..tue requested that his Lordship would give
hit opinion as to the defendant, Davis.
The Lord Chaneellor—" I s.. id before, what I now re-
peat, that although Davis acted most inconsiderately," et it
wiS pot t's om improper motives. His seal was ill-limed
but I think lie wished to give the Commissioners,.full infor
'nation of all that Bruce said. The lottontssionetsi I hope,
will not when I tell them, and all those in
the C ##### missioners' list, that they have the power:to com-
mit fe.r a contempt, and that they (mot in and in
every oilier cave to protect themselves against outrage,
and to pot it out of the power of any pltrson to treat them
with instat or insolence. Let them be, as they always
have hem', Courteous to ali.hatikrapts ; but Jet them be
firm and determined to do their public duty. The case is
certainly a paiMUI one, but I would not be doing my
public duty if I did nut send all the proceedings to the
Attorney General forthwith, end let him, a.s.law officer of
the Crown, dichaige his.puldic duly.

14Ept.t1vNGE ow Sor.turvons„.—Seeend applies/inns were
nth& by counsel for orders w confirm reports made previously ao
the lint seal, but the Lord Chancellor would listen•to none of
arm. lli.. Lordship comr.united in terms of great severity on
the conduct of th_ collators, thromdt whose negligence unneces-
sary delay was frequently casioned. tie said, that while all
he world blamed the toasters for being •so dilatory in making
their reports, the blNnao nen to be atur'ied to the solicitors,
thojetsninsd the reports at die Mx. ter's (ohm as soon as they
were made. but neglected to gr.:Looters 00 them tili is suited -their
wren convenience. lle had loo;; observed that, however indif
thrent these gentlemen might have Leen to the interests of their
etients, they awe generally very anxious, as at present, to obtain
°inlets for getting money oct cf Court at this *WWI of the year,
in order that they might be paid their own eons before the Jong
vacation. Ile should mica care, however, that in future the
C.ourt should pay no more regard to their interests than .t hi
paid to those of the suitors; a,141 as a r roof of that &nomination.
lie would not grant any orders, inch as *beluga:sit, which ought
to have barn obtained long ege..still the Arst.stal attar the
wanton.

tirt.urd.l er Ceiclietrirp7iiter, undertook
64 a wagered ten gatinear, to jutnp from the centre arch
of Blickfriare-bridge, which he performed to the,oato-
nishment of all who aw bite, without sultainiog any
strieJs

ATJG!.7S7

t)Clit(e.
M A NSION. HOUSE.

On Friday 111 r. lhvirun, a mater printer, reaidinz
is Duke-stirrt. Smithfield, mid .1. Harris, a journeyman
printi r, living in Clarh'il-cuurt,St.iimer.atreet, were brought
before the Lori tilaor, upon information charging them
with their mums to JO owe bills said to he lk editinus,
they out It:tying any printing pruoes duly licensed nud
enter. d.

The hill on which Mr. Davison was examined wits one
which has air ally been before•the public, headed " Smith.
field Meet mg." After solve few questions bent:: put Io him
he was dis• barged, but the other defendant, Harris, under-
went a long examination respecting the bills plentifully
posted up thringhont the City and Borough,calling a meeting
at Kennington 'Common or. Monday next. He stated, that
he wits employed by an acting Committee, composed of Dr.
Wawa), who, he la-hewed, drew up the hill, Preston,
Thistlewiani, Wedderburn„ and illandford. The bills came
to SI. printing, and he durst net trust them with any before
he bad the moneys There were, he said, sometimes us ninny
as two hundred at their meetings, at which time the instal-
ments ,serecilised by subset ip • . lie &periled the lure' jogs
to ronsi., of voqr tarn like Itim:elf, %nitwit a shilling in
their pus kets, mid were mosCy !Irishmen. Hunt was never
at .their meetings, but they looked up to him us their lender.
The remonstrances, waitresses, &v. were all written by Dr.
Watson, nn,l Deems Show was the Srcretary. The defen-
dant assured the Lord Nits or, thug be hid a wife anti three
hungry children at home without food, ur he never *wed
have had tiny hoot to do with I hem.-11e hail, he said,
seen such scenes ofeliuffling at their Committees, that he was
detertnined to get rid of them at the first opportunity.
The Lord Mai or said, that the defendant had proved him.
self, by the evidence whirls he had givens to be an honest
man, and he should not suffer for what he had disclosed, and
in consequence of the evidence which he hail. given further
steps would br taken. Th.• defendant was for the present
discharged upou cunditionof his appearing when calkd upon.

AtiGOST

nrressary tnaek any question hot one, which was, whether King,
the Muter. hail attest that ten inintites elapsed betweca the in.
trialuction of the priamer to the room whets Mrs. item was and
the lieu shriek of the womsr.
Kin; he helicvol.
The MagistrsteK then o.ireete:i that In. -eat .bruin b: cola
dulled from s; ag:.tratz; roam to the ()thee.
She was bran ht in by I..attheater. the Niarstialtuan. and
If whficl.T. the tPlicyr. anti phse,ed in a chair clooe to the %Lurie.
indef. She was gaudy %skated. Her sister stood ou ooe auk
end her father on the other.
The priwincr inaint..itird his compoatte—we could not perceive
the slightest change in his deportment.
Alderman Smith then calico upon her in the most compa.sion-
ate manner to give her evidene7 She NI; I, she was the wild of
Henry Stem, and that her name was Maria—•• I arrived," said
she, •6 from Liverpool on Thursday week. an.l mit up at the sa.
rteen's Ilene, Snowltill. I sent as letter to my linstiond to Pimli-
co soon after twelve o'clock, and in conseluenez of that letter he
came between 6 and gin the evening, as well as tam recollect.—
;el y agitation was so great that I remember nothing of wunt oc-
curred after I saw him till I found myself en Dattitaloinew's hos-
pital undressed."
Alderman Smith.—" Did you and yourself wound.hl?"
Stent..—••Yos—l was wounded, principally in Me neck-.I
also was wounded in the thumb." . .

Aldammn Miuth—•• Were you not wonnkil in the breast ?"
Mrs. steot—.•• I had a wound under my breast."
-Alderman Smith...." You have no recollection as to what oc-
curred itnnietliztely_atler you saw your Lbband
Mra. Stent.—" None whatever."
Alderman 4ntith then observed to Alderman Ttothwall and
Mr. Harmer. that what Mrs. Swat wanted in recollection ass
f dip supplied by the evideniro of the waiters, and that there
existed no doubt as to the manner in which the wounds were
in‘hcted.
The Alderman then Called upon. the Either of Mrs. Stent, and
a aced him whether he would be answtrable for her appearance
at the yrolecution of the pri.cner. It wai a painful duty, Al Li-
man Smith stUtl, to put such a question, but public duty required
it

[.
M. Beecher, the father of Mn.o' Stert, said he hoped it would
ncc b: rrt.i•ieil upon I . lie wad liVe.Pae to it, anti should nut
except upon compulsion.
fle Magistrate slid he night refuse to do so.
Stent, who seemed in great agony, foolt her father by
and whispered—" Oh, for God's sake, father, do
rot t."
.Vr. Beecher said, "My dear. shall not;' and then said to
the V.igistrate. " Sir. I shall not do so."
Iderinan Smith said, that every body regre'ted the dreadful
calamity, and felt toe the prisoner in the strongest manner.
A klennen Smith then said, that in the perthrmanee otitis duty,
wast.bligtd to call upon the tither of Mrs. Scent to answer
for het appearance upon the trial of the prisoner, u hum it wit.
Lis duty to commit.
Mr. Beeches' said, that he had no objecionso enter inteeecog-
nizances tir her appearane it it was uldf;..ettaty.
(laving been told, that if security v.....s hot giver. she must
remain is prison, the father iimitedi vely entered iota re:a„iii-
LeICCS. II a .aid he was ile,binet-taak,r. tutu re.4.1...1 at No 53,
b.retton Ground. %YestniMstrr.
Ilirdsfiekl, the Oliecr, who produced tl,eknife with wl.ieh the
stabs were etippoied to have been Milieu-I, tea • /hell IN/114d over
to provcitte in the notne of t:e Kieg. an I Mr. Ma:eller *as made
reponsi de for the appearance of I ra. St tint
:Ors. Strut had retir.xl befoce.the exanittiation had proceeded to
this length.
Mr. !tanner, after some convgrsation with her, requested that
she might he allowed to have an interview with her husband
before his cone-Intel Mr. Harmer Said lie merely made the re-
qnest. Ile had not advised slat a electing shoMtl take place..
.kldennan Smith said it would be iumedsible to refuse it except
of en the ground that the meeting would be too much calculated
produce di,ti efts upon both side:.
Mr. !tanner returned to Mrs. Stmt, and stated .he objection of
the Magistrate. She beggcl•him to ;Tess it.
The Magistrate then suggested that tne Compter would be the
place tbr at Lunette, and said he should oll"tr no impedi-
e .e.it if the prisoner had no objection to the meeting.
'lra. Stmt was satisfied at h at ing
.',lderniun Smith then addressed Stent.—ff On this ereasion,'
he, " I should be extremey sorry to wound your feelings,
y askirg you whether you had any deleice to make. Your So-
licitor. Mr. Harmer, advises you to say nothing.— I suppose you
..re willing to take his advice."
The prisoner said, " Yes, Sir," and bowed most respectfully.
Alderman Smith said. " We are anxious to grunt you every
humane assistance. We understand that it is your wish to re.
.pain in the Com; ter till your lila). We comply with that ai-h.
The prisoner then was taken to the Coomter, accompatied by
h's brother and Mr. Bryan. Mr,. Swot lea. conveyed to the bus-
y...tad

iNIERVIEW RETWF.eII MR. AND MRI
titinigh very strongly iitged i.nd reci.n sended h. bar iriends
to delay her interview se hit her husband, until they were
each recovered fuoin the agitation of the long mid alTecting
♦lamination of Wednesday, such was the uusicsy of Mn..
S tent to we him, that she could not he persuaded to defer
her visit, hut wocld stop at t hes Compter on h. r ietetrit iron
the Justice•room to St. Bartholomew's-hospital. Air.
Teague, the Governor of the Compter, hissing no intima-
tion of her visit, was from home al the time, and Mrs. Stent
was obliged to wait patiently in his a pattinvist a till his re-
turn, as none of the other's felt then a hes artallled to al-
low of the MU.' iew bi, ptrnri►siom. lbi las re-
turn, at 4 o'clock, he readily compliu d ith her review, but
with the conditt ion that the imicusirw took place in his p e-
senee, and that hen husband consented to the inertia:. Mr.
Stet., was accoidii.gly informed of his a ife's desire to We
him, and replied he had no objection, hat wished that Done
Mends he had with him should also be pre eat. Mr. Teague
then showed Alas. Steed and lier siste r into the Committee-
room, o he, e het husband and his I. iends a etc also Immedi-
nWly introduced. Out his entrrinee she seized his hand,
kissed him very nth etionately. and inquired, a lilt eat up.
parent eitv•rues, attar his he..l;li, and how he had mime ills
confinement. He replied to he r w ita kindness nod all:tbi•
lily, but seemed enretully to avoid any thing like the ap-
pearance of retuning erection. The stru;tle wills himself
was evidently great, a bile she press. d his hand unJ
rued it with her tears. After some Nether coast rinetion, in
which she inf. timed him ►he had been much fatigued in the
hospital by the kitabirss of numetous friends, and the Vl4lls of
ether presents from t otiosity, nnd thitt she uu•aut to go home
to her father's to-morrow (l'hurialay ), she :Ward his permis-
sion to see him again ; to a hit Is he replied he had 41,12 übjer-
lion. She then moil, kissed him and took her leave. By 9
o'clock friday morning she wet at the Crompter, and
again saw her luoloo:0, to the 'outwore of Mr. Teague; the
Diterview was shout, and a her departure she obtained at,
eotakiiit to see lier again. At neither e.f tin se lositi has Mrs.
ventured the slit:Weal allusion to la•r elan misconduct,
or her husliainl'sse.crity ; she seems at II aware that be is as
yet WO Medi irritated vttninst her, and a ishis to accustom
►ilo to Lille tither Wilia.illi reseutownt.