The Sun.
London, England, 1831-01-19 00:00:00

mode of collecting the suffrages of the people, not
in the principle of representation ; but even sup-
posing it were the latter, why should it not be al-
tered, provided the alteration were for the better—
the representation more pure—and the country
likely to be more benetitted.—Morning Advertiser.

INSOLVENT DEBTORS' COURT, JAN. 18

John Joseph Stoekdale, the notorious publisher.
of the Memoirs of Harriette 117ilson, was opposed
on his petition to be discharged by a creditor in per-
son, named Samuel Chambarlayne, for a debt of
131. 13:. Ga.
The CHIEF COMMISSIONER—WeII Mr. Chum-
berlayne, what is the nature of :.our claim ? Mr.
ChamberJayne—lt is for coach-maker's work done
to the insolvent's carriage, which I agreed to per-
form for ready money only.
The CHIEF COMMISSIONER—Put any question
you please to the insolvent, relative to your case.
Mr. Chamberlayne—Did you not tell me trhen
you met me in the street, that such debts as mine
ought to be paid ? Insolvent—l might have said
so. I told you that every debt ought to be paid.
Mr. Chamberlayne—l expressed my wonderment
to the insolvent that he had not paid me.
Insolvent—Ought he not to say all this upon his
oath ?

The CHIEF COMMISSIONER—He is only asking
you questions: we will hear him upon his oath af-
terwards.
Mr. Chamberlayne—What had you your carriage
repaired for ? Insolvent—l wanted to go down to
Coventry, to offer myself as a candidate.
Mr. Chamberlayne—Pray, insolvent, what were
your qualifications to represent the city of Coventry
in Parliament ? Mr. S!oekdale—Am I to answer
such questions as these, Sir ?
The CHIEF COMmISSIONER—Aye, indeed, but
you must.
Mr. Stoclidale—Well, then, I was qualified by
money to purchase property. I wish to qualify
what I say, to avoid the technicalities of tie Court.
The CHIEF CoMMICSIONER—Nonsense, mast ;
answer a plain question in a plain way.
Mr. Chamberlayne—l throw myself upon the
clemency of the Court.
The CHIEF COMMISSIONER—Go on, Sir.
Mr. Chamberlayne—What reduced you so sud-
denly from affluence to beggary ? Insolvent—The
sudden destruction of my property, which took place
under the iniquitous colour of law, the effect of
which he (Mr. Chamberlayne) knew full well.
These words were delivered with great emphasis,
and in a loud tone of voice, and produced the follow-
ing remark from the Chief Commissioner :—" Sir,
I will tell on that you are acting very improperly,
and as a man of intelligence you ought to be aware
of that ; if you answer so again, you will be sent
back to learn how to conduct yourself better."
Insolvent—l lost 150,000/. worth of property by
an execution four years ago, and have a right to
complain. My wife and family were reduced to a
bed of straw.
Mr. Chamberlayne—l would have lent you a bed
had I known that.
The insolvent was here hard pressed by the op-
posing creditor, as to whether he had not omitted
from his schedule his residence in Coventry-street,
which he admitted, observing,, that if the Learned
Commissioner would only look into Whitecross-
street Prison, and ace how closely the debtors were
crammed for want of room, they would really ex-
cuse the omission.
The CHIEF COMMISSIoNER—I can make no al-
lowance for negligence. You had a copy of your
schedule ; but, inasmuch as you contracted no debt
whilst residing in that place, the case will not be
stopped.
Mr. Chamberlayne—Was not the business car.
vied on in Chalton-street, on your own account
Insolvent—My son Jeremiah carried it on. He too

it without my knowledge, at Lady-day, 1828. He
never paid me any thing for the business. I had very
little property there.
The CHIEF COMMISSIONER—What was its value?
Insolvent--I will swear that, it was not worth more
than 501.
Examination resumed—He kept two carriages in
1825 and 182 G. His son is 23 or 21 years of age.
Mr. Chamberlayne having been sworn, was exa-
mined by the Court.
Witness is a coachmaker, and lives in Great Ru-
pert-street. Mr. Chamberlayne then observi d, that
he very much doubted whether the property in
Chatton-street was the property of the son.
The CHIEF COMmISSIONER—InsoIvent, have you
any interest in the property which your son claims ?
Insolvent—No; only the natural interest a father
feels for his son.
The CHIEF COMMISSIONER—A foolish speech.
Insolvent—l feel as a father. I have no interest
in that property.
The CHIEF COM3IISIONER—IS the son here ?
Mr. Stockdale, jun.-1 am, Sir.
insolvent said that he wished to ask Mr.
Chan:berbyne whether the letter which he now
handed to him was in his writing, and why he had
sent it to his (insolvent's) son ?—Mr. Chamberlayne
admitted the letter. The substance of it was, that
he (Chamberlayne) had received a notice from his
father, and that in order to avoid taking the benefit
of the Act, he thought he had better settle his de-
mand, which be considered would prove in the end
more agreeable to his feelings.
Mr. Chamberlayne then described the nature of
the repairs done to the carriage, to which he had
put a seat behind fit for a servant in splendid livery,
with gold epaulets and a cockade—(Laughter.) I
have called, said the NNitnesl, fifty times for tny
money, and received a hundred excuses : payment
was out of the question. It is a shocking thing to
cheat creditors.

Commissioner HARms—No preaching here. Wit.
ness—He made no offer. I will swear it.

The CHIEF COMMISSIONER—.Keep your temper,
Sir ; and now let the son stand up.
Jeremiah Fox Stock*,isle examined—Witness is a
bookseller in Chniton-street. Has lived there nearly
three years. Will be 24, years old in April. Was
not quite 21 when he took the premises. Took
them from Mr. Nash's clerk. There had been no
lease or written agreement. He took them on his

own account, and pays the rent; ►he receipts are
made out in his name; he has the whole house; it
is small; pays the rates. He took the house un-
furnished; it is furnished now ; is a single man;
has six rooms occupied. After he took the house
he furnished it at different periods; his mother and

sisters resided in it ; his father lived there before he
went to prison ; has four sisters ; himself and sisters

. -
bear the expenses. There were a few things there
belonging to his father, but they had all been taken
under execution. The few things that he (witness)
took he bou'ght at the sale. Cannot say what was
the extent of the execution. lie had occasionally
applied to his father for advice, lie (witness) had
had a reversion of 500/.; he sold it when he came
of age.

The CHIEF COMMISSIONER—On your solemn
oath, young man, has your father any interest in the
property Witness—None whatever; the books
published there were published on his own account.
The insolvent then interrogated his son to the
following effect :—Have not your brothers and sis-
ters an interest in the will under which you re-
ceived 5001. ? Witness—Yes; we were wards in
Chancery.

Insolvent—Who is the guardian ? Witness—
Why you, of course.

considered
value.the propertyihere were,
taken n
The insolvent then addressed the Court, and said,
tiiathe
oofns gilre
not less than 10,000 copies of the Memoirs of
Wilson, no copy of which he had ever
sold under six shillings, besides other property of
a t under
e time,
met h
execution ,e
.50 times the value.
The CIIIEF COMMISSIONER—What have we to
do with that, supposing it were 100 times more?
Insolvent—Many taunts were thrown out against
me for keeping a carriage
The CHIEF r
COMMISSIONER--11.. ...- f chambetlayne,