The Sun.
London, England, 1837-05-22 00:00:00

INSOLVENT DEBTORS' COURT, MI r 20.

Caroline Collornbon, a French woman, applied for her
discharge. She was opposed by Mr. Cook on behalf of
Mr. Hocken, of 23, Maddox-street. She boarded and
lodged at the detaining creditor's house, and, under the pre-
tence that she had two law suits pending which involved a
great deal of property, got into his debt to the amount of
461. On her examination the insolvent stated that she was
a married woman, that she came to England on pleasure
about two years ago, that she had no law business in Eng-
land, and that she had no claim against any one for money.
Her debts amounted to 1,134/. The Court declared her
entitled to the benefit of the Act, after she should have been
in prison at the suit of Mr. Hocken for four calendar months.

MIDDLESEX COUNTY COURT-

KINGSGATE-STREET.

FILIAL AFFECTION.—PORTMAN V. ARNOLD.—Young
Mr. Portman, the plaintiff in this case, afforded an amus-
ing sample of a weak head hung upon a huge shirt collar.
He seemed ambitious of impersonating all the madness of
Hamlet the Dane ; but there was too much of method, and
all the drift was in his own favour—he wore a suit of sables ;
but it is impossible to say which he resembled most, an un-
dertaker's assistant—or an itinerant waiter—his leaden eye
rolled, not in a fine frenzy, but in a most pitiful squint. On
perceiving his aged father in Court, who had attended as a
witness for the defendant, he affected to start with indigna-
tion, and like the " Angry Boy," he rendered himself most
'tarnation ridiculous—the amount sued for was 18s.
What's this for ?" said Mr. Dußois, addressing the
plaintiff.
For printing 2,000 bill heads, vociferated the plaintiff, at
the very top of his voice.
Mr. Dußois—You have no occasion to rave so, Sir.

Plaintiff—l shall speak as I like.—(Laughter.)
Mr. Dußois—No, you will not, Sir, and if you non't be-
have with decorum, you may walk home again. What do
you say to this, Mr. Arnold ?
Mr. Arnold—lt is a shuffling affair altogether, Sir. I
left my order for Mr. Portman, senior, and I have paid
him, and here is my receipt. I never saw the son before
Mr. Dußois—So much the better, for he seems a very
ungracious sort of character.
The father, a very respectable•looking tradesman, assured
the jury that the work had been done upon his premises,
and, with the exception of the paper, with his materials ;
the conduct of his son was, he said, as extraordinary as it
was ungrateful. During the time the old gentleman was
speaking the plaintiff turned his back upon him, occasion-
ally, however, hastily turning round and glancing at him in
a manner that was intended to be dignified ; but which,
from the unhappy squint, fell at once from the sublime to
the ridiculous.

The jury dismissed the case.
The plaintiff started, or rather shyed, like a cab-horse
at the refreshing sight of a hay-stack, and then bellowed
out, " Mr. Dubois, I say Mr. Dubois, you owe me a guinea,
Sir !"—(Laughter.)
Mr. Dußois—Officer, call on the next case, and remove
that man.

Hamlet travestie, however, seized hold of the table, and
again vociferated, " Mr. Dubois, you owe me a guinea 1"
(Considerable laughter.)
Mr. DUBOIS—Have the goodness to explain then, Sir,
how I owe you a guinea.
Hamlet travestie—You do, Sir, and I shall summons you
for it.—(Laughter, in which Mr. Dubois could not help
Joining.) Your decision of this day (continued the discom-
fited plaintiff) leaves you in my debt one guinea, and I will
certainly summon you.
It was with difficulty that this sample of filial affection
was removed. An old tar, who stood in one corner of the
Court, let fly at him as he passed with—" You're are a
pretty sort o' lubber arnt ye, my fine swab-wringer ? I can
tell you, if they had rich a warmint as you in Chaney
(China), they'd bury you alive, and carve ye right too ; go
and haul up yer own old father to the quarter-deck !"