The Sun.
London, England, 1852-10-16 00:00:00

LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, OCTOBER 16, 1852,

NEW NIGHT-SIGNALS.

RETTIE'S ANL) NOT THOMPSON'S.
TO THE EDITOR OF 7'HE SUN.
Stir,-You give the above as Thompson's. He may
just as well claim Mr. Rowland Hill's penny postage
system as the "Telegraphing by Coloured Lights."
That they are mine solely, and will be brought out at
the next meeting of Parliament, you will see by
the printed document now sent you. And Mr.
M‘Gre.-;or, M.P. for Glasgow—who is determined that
the party, under the " Russell Admiralty," who have
allowed certain underlings to take and use up, and
abuse a system, to the great loss of life, and de-
prive the real inventor of the credit, which even your
own paper, years ego, allowed him—can bear testi-
mony that I am the " Original Inventor of all
Coloured Light Telegraphing Signals." I trust in
justice to me you will give this a corner.—l am, Sir,
yours, &c., R. RETTIE,

THE LONDON GAZETTE, Oct. 15.
FOREIGN-OFFICE, OcT. 12, 1852.
The Qtl9l,li ip..s been pi-aced to approve of Adolph
Breisig as Vice Consul at Dundee for the Grand Duke
of cklenburgh-Schwa
The Queen has alio been p?es.sed to approve of 11r.
John Broadfoot as Consul at Leith for the United States
of America.

V7AR.OFFICE, OCT 15.

Commissions by the Lord Leutenant of the West Riding

of Yorkshire.

21 Regiment of West York Militia—Henry Van
S:rawbenzee, , to be M,,jor; Thomas Holy Holds-
worth, Gent., to be 'Ensign, Wt. 11.
Commission by L',rd Liatitz!na,tit of Cardiganshire.
Patrick Francis Durham, E q , Adjutant of the Royal
Cardigan Militia, late a Captain in her Majesty's 37th
Foot, to servo with the rank of Captain, Oct. 12.
Commissions by the Lord Lieutenant of Anglesey,
Royal Anglesey Light Infantry Militia—John Lewis
Hampton Lewis, E,q, to bo 01pta,in vice the Lord
Dinorbsn, deceased; Second Lieutenant 'Thomas Love
Duncembe Jones Parry to be First Lieutenant, vice
Grey, resigned ; -John Robert,, Gent to be Firs,.,
Lieutenant, vice Sir Richard Witham BuiLley, resigned;
henry Robert Pooh, Gen,., to be Second Lieutenant,
vice Horton, remove I; Oxen Lewis Cape Williams,
Gent., to be Second Lieutr:nant, vice J,ines Parry, pro-
moted, Oct. 12.
Goa:missions by the Lord Lieutenant of si-sfr,,ll-.
W' est Suffolk 11,,,gisaent, of Militia— Windsor Parker,
Esn , to be Nlsjor, vice Wilde, deceased; Alfred Hervey,
.Esq , commonly called Lout Alfred Hervey, to be cap-
tain, vice Bates, resigned, Oct. 9.
Commissions by the L.ird- LHatetrant of Gloucestershire.
Royal North Gloucester R,,girnent of Militia—Edward
Crippe, Gent., to be Ensign, O.A. 12.
Royal South Gloucester Li-;;ht Infantry Regiment of
Militia—Thomas 117nitty Chandler, Gent., to be Lieu-
tenant, vita Daniel, who retires; Ensign William James
Holt to be Lieutenant, vice Leman, who retires, Oct. 13.
[ Ibis article is substituted for the one which appeared
in the Gazette of Friday lust.)
Commission by the Lord Lieutenant of Gloucestershire.
Royal South Gloucester Light Infantry Regiment of
Militia—John French Slegg, Geut., to be Lieutenant,
vice Milieu, promoted, Oct. 5.
BANKRUPTS.

Sanawl Daines, hosier, New Bond -street, to surrender,
Oct. 28, at oae, and Nov. 18, at twelve, et the Court of
Bankruptcy. Bell, offiolal assignee, Ct&man• street •
buildings; Lepaid, Bannatyte, and Gammon, Cloak-
lane.

Alfred Dawson, engineer, Charles-street, Mile EAd
New Town, Oat. 21, at two, and Nor. 18, at one, at the
Court of Bankruptcy. Jrihnson, offlaial assiznee, Basing-
hall-street; Cowper'-court,
John frigurch, iron ciE.,rehant. liot.herhithe-street,
Rotherhitne, Oct. 26, at two, and Nov. 25 at twelve, at
the Court of 13•Inkevptay. Johnson, tAll'ii.3.l assigoce,
Basinghall-street; Hoppe ar.d Boylo, Suu-cJart, Corn-
hill.

Angastue Yekott, brick ervater, Brighton, Oat. 28, at
two, and Nov. 29, at (level), et the Court of Bankruptcy.
Johnson, of assignor, Bauinghall-atreet; Suwton,
Great James street, Bedford-row.
Charles Henry Canning, draper, Warwick, Oct. 30
and Nov. 20, at half-past ten, at the Birmingham Dis-
trict, Court. Christie, offL:ial assignee, Birmingham;
Sole, Turner, and Turner, Aldermanbury; Hudgsuu,
Birmingham.
William Smith, grocer, Bolton-le-Moors, Lancashire,
Oct. 28 and Nov. 18, at twelve, at the Manchester Dis-
trict Court. Lee, official assignee, Manchester; Sutton,
Manchester.

DIVIDENDS.
At the Court, Basingnall-street.
D. Pugsley, Bread-street, CneapAda, warehouseman,
Nov. 8, at one-J. Harris, Leicester-square, carpet-
warehouseman, N0v..9, at eleven-T. G. Jemes, River-
street, Mydeletorasuliare, builder, Nov. 6 at eleven-R.
Mackenzie, Hunter-street, Brans etck-square, and Bond-
caurt, Watbrook, commission agent, Nov. 6, at half past
eleven-A. Scott and W. Thompson, Upper Ground-
street, Biackfriars, iron-founders, Nov. 6, at half-past
twelve-M. Branson, Stratford. EdieX, stationer, Nov. 5,
at half-pest eleven-T. J. Edwatel4,
King-street, St.
George, Bloomsbury, dressing-ease maker, Nov. 5, at
half-past cieven-G.Clark, Old street, St. Luke's, draper,
Nov. 5, at half-past eleven-J. Whittaker, Park-place,
Mile-end-road, draper, Nov. 15, at eleven-J.
Streeter,
Brighton, Su,sex, corn merchant, Nov. 6, at half-past
twelve-S. Knight, Fore-street, Cripplegate, cheese-
monger, Nov. 6, at twelve-F. Ricketts, Moorgate-street,
merchant, Nov. 5. at half-pest eleve-E. Montcastle,t
King William-street, and Greenwich, hatter, Nov. 6, a
twelve-J. Mitchell, Camden Town, carpenter and
builder, Nov. 6, at half-past eleven-G. Rutland, Luton,
Bedfordshire and Falcon-square, straw bonnet manu-
facturer, Nov. 6, at twelve-R. W. Street, Oxford•
street, victualler, Nov. 6, at ball-past eleven.
In the Country.
G. Stander wick, C. Standerwick, and T. Barnes, Bris-
tol, auctioneers, at the Court, Bristol, Nov.lB, at eleven-
W. Plaister, and Mary Pleister, Wickwar, Gloucester-
shire, and Bristol, cheesafactore, at the Court, Bristol,
Nov. 18, at eleven--B. H. Bates, Liverpool, merchant, at
the Court, Liverpool, Nov. 8, at eleven-J. Webster and
J. Harrison, Liverpool, merchants, at the Court, Liver-
pool, Nov. 5, at eleven-T. McCree and A. McCree,
Newcastle-upon-Tyne, grocers, at the Court, Newcastle•
npon-T) ne, Nov. 11, at twelve-T. McCree, Newcastle-.
upon-Tyne,Nov.n,a grocer,
t balr.pa sett
tt.whtel
vCeLu r,
At. Newcastle
McCree, upon-Tyne,
Court. Newcastle-upon-Tvne,
Newcastle-
upon-"Gyms, n
ate , grocer,one
J . at o. t
hn
es,
11, Sunderfaud, and Y. L.
Marshall, Reiter, Durham, timber merchants, at the
Court, Newcaetle-upon-
TYro, Nov. 9, at twelve-J.
Nicholson, Shatley Durham,- irOntnouger, at the
Court, Newcastle-upon-I') ne, Nov. 4, at twelve-J.
Passmao, Stockton-upon• Tees, currier, at the Court,
CN,felTlwbc.OaTifllee,.llCP:rint-Zyl,(d''ru,Npu:r.,iii theat Crevret Exeter, el Nov. Rogers,-
11, at 0110-J. Edwards, Allington, Doreetslaire. sack,
twine and shoe-threed manufacturer, at the Court, Exeter,
Nov. 11, at one -,T. T. Hetten, Pete ince, warchroaker,
at the Court, Exeter, Nov: 11, at one-W.V. Matthews,
Yeovil, Sornersetshire, drueeist and grocer, Nov. 11, at
one, at
Devonshire,t e C tn,thEuxpo,trn
Exeter--J.
grocer, Nov. 11. at one, atr-J. Hill, Eledcombe Bogus,
the court, Exeter-T. Dilger, Bradford, Yorkshire,
general dealer, Nev. 5, at eleven, at the Court, Leech-
J. Child and W. Barker, WaketEld, Yorkshire, railway
at eleven,
, Yorkshire,
contractors, Nov. 5, at-e.leven, at the Curt, Leeds-
J. Child, Wakefield, Yorkshire, railway centracitor. Nov.
5, at eleven, at the Court, Leeds-W. Barker, Wake-
field,
te ltdh, Yorkshire,eCourt,
L or,daista cJ. iobebtertescotuo, Bradfordr,N v. 5
heokteller and stationer, Nov. 5, at eleven, at the Court,
Leedi.
PAYBENT OF DIVIDENDS.
Mary and T. A. Butterfield, Royston, linendrapers,
41d., on Saturday next, and three subsequent Satur-
days, between eleven and two, at the office of Mr.
Groom, Abchurch-lase, City.
T. and R. Hatfield, Clapham, plumbers, 3a. 2(.1., on
Saturday next, and thug subsequent Saturdays, between
.eleven and two, at the office of Mr. Groom, Abchnrola-
lane, City.
T. Hatfield, Clapham, plumber, le. 51, on Saturday
next, and three ,subsequent Saturdays. between eleven
and two, at the office or Mr. Groom, Abehurch-lane,
City.
E. Tinaloy, Staffordshire, plumber, 2s. scl.,any Thurs-
day, between eleven end three, at the efficia of Mr.
Christie, Birmingham.
J. and G. Clarke, Market Harborough, Leicestershire,
rag menufaeturers, 1-9th of a penny, any Thursday,
between eleven and three, at the efli:o of Mr. Christie,
Birmingham.
NOTICES op CERTIFICATES.
At the Court, Basinghe.ll-street.
A. Scott and W. Thompson, Blackfriars-road, iron-
founders, Nov. 5, at half-past one-J. B. Dauptain,
Wharf-road, City-road, colour merchant, Nov. 5, at half-
past eleven-G. Ball, Fenchuroh-street, wine merchant,
Nov. 5, at one-L. England, Shepperton-street, Now
North-road, Islington, builder, Nov. 9, at half-past one.

In the Country.
J. Craven, Birkenhead, grocer, Nov. 5, at eleven, at
the Court, Liverpeol—J. (keener, jun., Wigan, Lanca-
shire, ironmonger, Nov. 12, at twelve, at the Court,
Manchester—E. li. Griffin, Liverpool, merchant, Nov. 8,
at eleven, at the Court, Liverpool—J. Avery and S.
Street, Birkenhead, shipwrights, Nov. 8, at eleven, at
the Court, Liverpeol—F. James, Walsall, Staffordshire,
iroafounder, Nov. 4 next (and not October instant, as
before advertised), at half-past eleven, at the Court,
Birmingham—J. Mottram, Shrewsbury, hop merchant,
Nov. 8, at half-past ten, at the Court, Birmiugham—d.
Swifr, Stanley, Derbyshire, grocer, Nov. 6, at twelve,
at the Council-hall, Sheffield—J. Richardson, Leeds,
wool merchant, Nov. 5, at eleven, at the Court, Leeds—
J. Beanland, Bradford, WOOltltttpitAr, Nov. 5, at eleven, at
the Court, Leeds.
CERTIFICATES GRANTED.
C. Johns, Great Quen-street, Lincoln's Inn-fields,
and Kirby-street, Hatton-garden, looking glass mane-
facturor—J. Wilson, Sheffield, linendraper, certificate
of the first class, after twenty-one days from Oct. 9.
PARTNERSHIPS DISSOLVED.
R. Hirst and R. Maxey, Gloucester-terrree, Now-road,
gas.fitters and brassfounders—H. Griffiths and E.
Griffitha, Birmingham, tailors and clothiers—W. H.
Mann and W. Crickmore, Woudton and Seething,
Norfolk, auctioneers and valuers—J. Felix and L. C.
Lrpareille, Noble-street, Falcon-square, manufacturers
and importers of iancy goods—J. Walker and G. J.
Soper, Uniornsquare, Horsemonger-lane, builders—J,
Gregory and A. Tod; Duke-street, London-bridge, and
Toppines-wharf and Chamberlain's- TI h irf, potato sales -
men—R. Farrar and J. Summer'., Great Russell-street,
Covent-garden, linendrapers—R. Procter and W.
Procter, Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, and Nefford,
Worcestershire, corn-dealers and mealinen—J. Carter
and M. Bind, St. George's•place, Knightsbridge, and
Edgeware-road, linendrepers—T. M !plea and W. Jack-
son, Cross-street, Nawington. Surrey, braziers and cop-
persmiths—J. Odams and W. Theliford, Leadenhall-
street, merchants and general commission agents—J.
Davis and W. G. Caldwell, Knweford, Cheshire, nur-
serymen and scedsmen —F. Bury and E. P. Arthur,
Liverpool, ship bread bakers—F. Sharp and E. Sharp,
Wood-street and Little Love-lane. City. fringe and lace-
manufacturers—W. T. Lyon and H. Poult, r, Bradley-
terrace, Wandsworth-road, Surrey, house dee,oretors—J.
G. Anderton and B. Anderton, Liverpool, coffee-roasters
—J. Cropper and C Eyre, Sheffield, millers and grocers
—D. Thomas and H. Norris, Cardiff, Glamorganshire,
builders—Susan E. Wallis and Jane Emma Spence,
Gottieg- bill, ladies' boarding-school-kPepers—T. King-
don and G. S. Davies, Wimborno Minster, Dorsetshire,
attorneys and solicitors—J. Crowther and H. Todd,
Bradford, Yorkshire, plumbers and gleziera—J. Fitton,
J. Brownhilt, B. Fitton, end G. 'Riven, Shelley, York-
shire, cloth-manufacturers (so fur us rega:ds Joseph
Fitton).
INSOLVENT PETITIONERS.
Moil Horne, Swindon, Wiltshire, blacksmith—
Thomas Bailey, Stamford, Lincolnshire, publican—John
Whittaker, Shaw Chapel, Lancashire, boos and abooj

maker—George Terry, Wendover, 1330 t and shoemaker
—Thomas Brown, Buckland c'unenon, Backinghamihire,
licensed victual!er—Hetiry Jackson. Goscotte, Stafford •
shire, steam engine titter--•-Samuel Pri-st, Newton next
Castleacro, Norfolk, miller--James Strong, Harborne,
Staffordshire, en,;ineer—James Waterhouse, Titford,
Worcestershire, coliier—John Davit. Bridge, Kent—
George Gibbs, jun., Canterbury—Thomas Jourdan,
Stomforo, Lincolnshire, boot and shoemaker—William
fI nry Wuod. Little London, Staffordshire, grocer—
Thorna3 Webb, Newton, Cheshire, grocer's assistant—
Baker, Hastings, groct.r—Willim Henry
Slab., Colchester.
SCOTCEI SEQUESTRATIONS.
J. Murray, Dundee, ironmonger, to meet Oct. 21 and
Nov. 11, at twelve, within the British Hotel, Dundee—
J. Gray. Dundee, merchant, to meet Oct. 21 and Nov.
11, at twelve, within the British Hotel, Dundee.

PRICE OF SUGAR.
rho avorage price of Brown or Muscovado Sugar, com-
puted frwn returns made in the week ending October 12,
1852. er.clmive of Customs Duties paid or payable thereon

on the importation thereot into Great Brit in:--
From the British possessions in America 225. 5,1. per cwt
From the Mauritius ... ... 235. sd. „

From the East. In,lie3

.••• 15s. 81d. ~

Nverage price of the three foregoing de-
scriptions of suu,ar, jointly, computed as
above, and exclusive of duty ... 221. ld.
By authority of Parliament,
lIENnY BEca N F.T.L. Clerk of the Grocers' Company.
Grocers'-hall, October 15.

LAW INTELLIGENCE.
COURT OF BANKRUPTCY, Oct. 15.
(Before Mr. Commissioner Forn.trictur).

IN RE DANIEL KEITH AND THOMAS SHOOBRIDGE.

The bankrupts were shawl warehousemen in Wood.
street. Their de=bts are about 35,0001.; their assets
about 8,000/:; there are also debts to the further
amount of 12,3541. covered by securities valued at
7,8001. This was an adjourned examination meeting.
Linklater appeared for Keith; Mr. Lawrence
for Shoohridge ; Mr. Reed for the assignees ; Mr.
Lucas for creditors.

Mr. REED said he would not object to the bank-
rupts passing their examination ; but us regarded
Keith, he must ask the Court to withhold any fur-
ther protection, and to grunt the assignees a certificate
of execution. Tbe proceedings at an examination meet-
ing on the 23 i of April showed that Keith had been
guilty of offences which brought him under the penal
clauses of the 256th section. After the firm had
suspended payment he had forwarded to his brother,
Mr. Alexander Keith, of Glasgow, certain bills of ex-
change, amounting to 626/. to cover him against a
liability to the extent of LOON that he had incurred
on account of the firm of Keith and Shoobridge.
These bills had not been given up to the assignees,
and he had 'o a-k the Court bath to decide that the
bankrupt Keith had been guilty of a fraudulent pre-
ference to his brother, and to withhold protection
accordingly ; and also to sanction an action being
brought against Alexander Keith for the amount of
the bills.
Mr. LINKLATER submitted that the evidence was
not sufficient to warrant the Court in arriving at the
conclusion that the bankrupt had been guilty of any
fraudulent intention. He had done his utmost to in-
duce his brother to give up the bills. If the Court
were to refuse its protection to the bankrupt, it would
be to anticipate the judgment of a superior tribunal
on the right of the assignees to the bills.
The COMMISSIONER said if the legal proceedings
against Alexander Keith had been in an Engliah
court, he should have felt, inclined to take his usual
course of ordering a short adjournment, with a view
to ascertaining their result. He scarcely knew in
what period the proceedings, under the laws of Scot-
land, could be expected to ba brought to a deter-
mination.

Mr. REED thought that a judgment could not be
obtained in less than three or four years. The laws
of Scotland moved at about the same pace as our
Court of Chancery. He had only that morning seen
a client who bad consented to compromise a claim
upon a debtor in Scotland, solely on the ground that
the legal proceedings had already occupied four years.
The CoaratissioNza said he would reserve his de-
cision of the question of protection to Keith until the
17:h of November. He should then be in a position
to judge of the steps that the assignees had taken in
the prosecution of their claim, and the manner is
which that prosecution was met.
The bankrupts then, after a short examination of
Shoobridge by Mr. Lucas, passed their examination.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.
MANSION-HOUSE.
_ _ _

Mr. Stephen H. Sleigh and Mr. Henry Owen, of
No. 1, Adelaide-place, London- bridge,were sum-
moned before the Lord Mayor for having unlawfully
conspired, together with divers other persons, to
cheat and defraud Dr. John Hall Davis, and that in
pursuance of the said conspiracy, they, by certain
false pretences, obtained from him the sum of 1001.
Mr. Clarkson, instructed by Mr. .Hutnphries,
ap-
peared for the prosecution ; Mr. Wontner attende
for the defendants.
The Learned Counsel said the charge arose out of
certain transnctions in what was called a joint-stock
company, with the unusual title of " The Annual
Bonus Life Assurance Company," which professe 1 to
be founded upon the principle of the Art-Union, by
giving an opportunity of ballo;ing for a large share of
the annual profits of the society. That principle was
in direct violation of the law, and was no doubt adopted
into the company, which had no foundation at all, with
the view of inducing unwary speculators to venture their
money in the hope of turning it to quick and profitable
account. The prospectus to which the attention of the
Lord Mayor was particularly called, contained the fol-
lowing recommendations :—" Assurance instantly ob-
tainable on application to the agent, without the
trouble and loss of time ordinarily incurred. Annual
bonuses paid to the natured, not in equal fractional
amounts, but in accumulated sums, as bounties for
the encouragemene and promotion of life assurance in
general, and varying in amount from 101. to 1,0001.
The first distribution to be made on the Ist of July,
1853, and continued every succeeding year, in the
manner of the Art-Union of London, when every
member of the society, who has subscribed one guinea
before the Ist of June, will have an opportunity of
balloting for a large share of the annual profits of the
society." The complainant was led, by the represen-
tations of the defendants, corresponding with the high
promise of the printed recommendations, to advance
the sum of 1001., of which he complained of having
been defrauded ; and having received an intimation
that the company was without stamina, and that it
had been projected for the mere purposes of imposi-
tion, he applied to his solicitor, who advised the pre-
sent mode of seeking retribution.
Doctor John Hall Davis, of 17, Russell-place,
Finsbury-square—l am a doctor of medicine, and
was in the month of June in attendance upon the
wife of Mr. Henry Owen,. one of the defendants, in
Adelaide-place, London-bridge. I had then no idea companyof the existence of such a as the "Annual
Bonus Assurance Company. ' It was introduced to
my notice by Mr. Owen in July, when he showed me
a small prospectus, without names, and said the com-
pany would be of great service to the public in ef-
fecting life insurances, and inducing people to adopt
the habit of iusuring, and that he thought it would be
likely to prove a successful undertaking. This was
mentioned to me on three subsequent occasions as I
was attending Mrs. Owen in her illness, and I was
informed there would be no difficulty in obtaining
agents, and that there was one agent who would
undertake to get one thousand subscriptions. I
did not until subsequently determine to join the
company. He had recommended the company as
calculated to promote my interest, likely to be pro-
ductive to the directors, and also as baying received
the sanction of Mr. Tidd Pratt to its regulations.
He :said he should like to introduce me to Mr.
Sleigh, to bear what he would say on the subject,
as it was his proposition. I was taken by him into
the next room, where Mr, Sleigh was. I understood
it tó be. the hoard room, and there I had a repetition
of the statements snore forcibly expressed by Mr.
Sleigh, who further steted that Mr. Tidd Pratt had
seen the prospectus, and had certified and sanctioned
the society by. his signature. In consequence of
these atatements,and on the faith that Mr. Tidd Pratt
had given his sanction to the rules, I consented to be
connected with it. In answer to a communication
from Mr. Owen, I enclosed him on the 18th or 19th
of July my cheque, which, from my ignorance of
mercantile payments, I marked with the sign of the
cross, having been requested to send in my crossed
cheque for 1001.. Afterwards I exchanged for that
another cheque which I crossed by his suggestion in
the customary way. I never saw any board of direc-
tors, from the 26th of July to the 4th of October, in
the boardroom, and am not aware of any proceedings
at the board. I was quite unsuspicious of any un-
fairness until I received a letter while at nesting/. I
then came to town and at once put myself in the
hands of my solicitor. Had it not been for the assu-
rance made to me by Mr. Owen and Mr. Sleigh, that
Mr. Tidd Pratt had Certified as to' the rules, I would
never have had any connexion with the company.
Had I known that the constitution of the society was
vitiated by the introduction of rules at variance with
the lew, I never would have joined it. I had no idea
that the prospectus was kot in conformity to the rules
certified by Mr. Tidd Pratt. When I signed the
agreement there was a number of small prospectuses,
which did not contain the names of directors, lying
upon the table at which Mr. Sleig'n was sitting, I
directed my attorney to serve notices on all parties I
discovered in the prospectus.
Mr. Clarkson—Have you received back your 100/. ?
Witness—l have not.
Cross-examined by Mr. Wontner—l have known
Mr. Henry Owen nine or ten years, and have been
his professional attendant. Ihe two
at tended him on
many previous occations. sorn
ago he intimated to me his desire to oasosristthinrefeorymeianrgs
an assurance society. I said if it was well constructed
I should be glad to be appointed physician to an in-
surance society.

Mr. Wontner—Did you not endeavour to get some
directo-s for that corepeny ? Witoes,4—l did t•peak
to two friends upon the subject, hut did not succeed, 1
and I heard no more about it. When I first knew
about the present company, Mr. 0 Nen first spoke to
me, and not I to him, on the subject, and he showed
me a prospectus. My first converAntion with him on
the matter was in July, and I took home one of the
prospectuses and looked over it. Mr. Sleigh had told
me the terms on which I was to become a director
were that I was zo advance a loan of 1001. to provide
for the current expenses, and to sign an agreement
with the promoters.l read over the agreement and
signed it. I knew what I was signing. I was to
receive two guineas on each board- dey for at-
tendance, and three guineas when I officiated as
chairman.
Mr. Wontner—Dial you not call upon Mr. Sleigh
and insist upon the removal of the medical man who
had his appointment ? Witness—No ; I suggested
that they should be very careful that the person ap-
pointed as physician should be what he represented
himself to be. I was not anxious to have him re-
moved if he was a competent man. I said I could
not find his name in the " Medical Directory," and I
showed the Directory to Mr. Sleigh. I might have
said that he was a mere surgson apothecary. I after.
wants was informed that he had the qualifications. I
had nothing to do with the settling of the second pros-
pecltia. One, WaS sent to me in the country, and I
made a correction in it. I was styled in it a trustee,
and I objected to !diet design:stian. Ido not know of
any one advancing money but myself, but I have
learned of two others advancing 1001. each. I had
such perfect confidence in Mr. Owen that I enter-
tained not the slightest suspicion till I received the
latter I have alluded to.
Mr. Wonter—And did you before you came to
the Mansion-house to apply for a warrant against
these gentlemen, apply to Mr. Owen, in whom you
had such perfect confidence ? Witness—l did not. I
was advised not. My confidence was shaken in Mr.
Owen, and I therefore placed no further trust in him.
I was told, in order to induce me to join the com-
pany, that there were many applicatians for direc
torships, and that I had better be quick as there was
an anxiety to fill up the vacancies. Ido not recollect
having seen any rules at all in my interviews upon
the subject of the company. No rules were read to
me. Ido not recollect that the Act .of Parliament.
hal been produced. The prospectus was placed side
by side with Mr. Tidd Pratt's letter, and Mr. Owen
and Mr. Sleigh said that the letter referred to the
prospectus.
Re-examined—l was told that the letter contained
Mr. Tidd Pratt's approval of the prospectus.
Mr. John Tide]. Pratt—l am Registrar of Friendly
Societies in England. I produce the original rules of
a society which I sanctioned, called the "Annual
Bonus Life Assurance Society." The rules are
signed by Mr. Sleigh, Mr. Owen, and Mr Candy,
and by the clerk to the society, the Act requiring that
they should be signed by three members and a clerk.
I certified it as a registered friendly society. I do not
recollect having seen the prospectus produced. It
might have been seen by me. If any rule had been
sent to me containing anything like a drawing by lot-
tery I certainly would not have certified. If the
paragraph in the prospectus alluding to ballot were
handed to me as one of the rules of a friendly society
I would not have certified. I never have certified for
a ballot in a case of a friendly society.
Mr. Wontner considered the charge against his
clients, who were at least equal to the prosecutor in
respectability, to be one of the most audacious that
could be imagined. The whole of the evidence
showed that if any wrong had been done, the doctor
was as much involved as they were. They were all
in the same speculation, with the difference that the
doctor wished to add to the pecuniary profits
which might arise from the enterprise the advantages
to be derived from the connexion of his name with a
public company as a director. It was rather im-
probable that he, who had known Mr. Owen's family
nine or ten years, should have gone ignorantly into
the company. On the contrary, it was plain that he
had sought an acquaintance with the interests of the
association, and calculated like the rest of them, and
risked his money in expectation of deriving a profit,
to which he would be certainly entitled, and which
he would certainly obtain, if the speculation proved
successful. It was absurd to say that the 1001. had
been obtained under false pretences. The fact was,
that Dr. Davis calculated too sanguinely upon rapid
profits, and, finding that he was precipitate, deter-
mined to raise a cry against the company, in corre-
spondence with the existing prejudices, for the pur-
pose of compelling the defendants to return the sum
he had speculated with.
The LORD MAYOR said he felt some little difficulty
upon this question, but having looked attentively to the
evidence as to the conditions upon which the com-
plainant had parted with his money,-he considered
himself bound to bind over the defendants in their
own recognizances of 1001, each to answer the com-
plaint.