The Sun.
London, England, 1825-11-28 00:00:00

THE LATE MR. BELZONI.

•
A Meeting was• held on Saturday, at Leicester-
-, square, of the friends and subscribers for the relief of Mrs.
—BELzoNr, to take into consideration the most adviseable plan
for the arrangement of her and her late husband's affairs, and
to see how far they were connected with each other, and as to
the expediency of satisfying the creditors of therespective partils,
and farther for the more effectual mode of raising a fund for
'the future support of the widow of the late enterprising BEL.
. zoNT, at half-past two o'clock.—Major DENftax was called
to the Chair. •
Mr. HawicE, acting as Secretary, having read the requisition
. and briefly stated the objects of the Meeting.
Mr. Ton itiExo begged leave to make an observation on a
paragraph which appeared in the Times Newspaper some time
ago, which stated that, " Mr. Belzoni, through whose instru-
mentality the sarcophagus was brought to this Country. It was
rather strange he should have no interest in it." Now such an
- observation as calculated to defeat the objects of the Meeting,
as the public would not be inclined to -contribute if such was
their impression. Ile also said he tt.tukerstood there were 3,000/.
offered -for it by the British Museum, and he was of opinion
that inquiry should be. made by what title' the present proprietor,
Mr., Salt, held it.
Mr. STERLING- fully concurred. with Mr. Torrictio that an
investitation of the matter Ought to be inatituted:.
Mr. BRIGGS (of the house of Briggs,'Brotkr, and Co.) said
he could, he thought, satisfy the meeting on-tharsubject. The
present preprietor of the sarcophagus, Mr.-Salt,liad advanced a
sum of 2,0001. to IVIr. Belzoni, and it was stipulated by written
articles then entered into, that should the Sareopliagus produce
any thing over the 2,000/. adiaheed by Mr. Salt-,-It was then to
be divided between Mr. Belzoni and Mr. Salt. lionever heard
that the British Museum offered 3,0001., but he -`certainly did
hear there was 2,500/. offered ; 'but it ,iraa after Mi. Belzoni
had left the country,' and Mr. Salt was on the continent, and
there being no agent here to act, the opportunity was lost, it
being locked up at a banker's ; and even bad it been sold for
_ _

. the ti.,5001. Mr. Belzoni would be only entitled to 2301.
Mr. STERLING inquired whether the present subscriptions
were to be applied to the liquidation of the debts of Mrs. Bel-
zoni, or was the money to be appropriated for her sole use.—
He said from what appeared, there were many ladies of dis.
tinction who took the liveliest interest in the affairs of Mrs.
Belzoni, and he was proud to be able to mention the names of
the Duchess of Hamilton and Duchess of Leeds among the first.
lie at the same time could not help regretting that the present
season was not propitious to the interests of Mrs. Belzoni, as
-many f.adies, distinguished for their humanity and benevo.
lence, were out of town, but he had no doubt on their arrival
*they would cheerfully come forward for the relief of such alne-
ritorioui individual as Mrs. Belzoni, who devoted so much of
her time to assuage the grief of the aged mother of her lamented
husband; and he submitted the necessity of .paSsing a resolu-
tioo declaratory of the expediency of the Ladies forming them.
selves into a Committee for the furtherance of the objects of this
meeting; which was accordingly passed. Ile begged leave
.further to state, that the Freemasons intended proposing a sub.
scription, at their next meeting, Mr. Belzoni being a member
of the body.
Which statement was confirmed by the Chairman, who had
had a conversation with Sir James Graham to that eftbct.
Mr. To HAIEN° then submitted to the meeting the propriety
of arranging the affairs of Mr. and Mrs. Belzoni jointly, by the '
Committee taking into their possession the antiquities, and
having them disposed of. The residue, should there be any
after the creditors of Mr. Belzoni were satisfied, to be applied
'in aid of-the fund created for the future support of Mrs. Bel-
_zoni. 'He conceived the antiquities of considerable value, and
fully adequate, to discharge all the demands of Mr. Belzoni's
creditors, and he thought they would leave a surplus for the
benefit of his widow.

Mr. BLADES objected to this, and was of opinion that the
iuhscription raised for Mrs. Belzoni ought not to be applied to
any other purpose than that for which it was intended ; and as
he conceived the antiquities to belong to Mr. Belzoni's credi-
tors, they ought to be left solely under their controul.
Gentleman inquired, could there be any idea formed of
the value of those antiquities ?
Mr. BRIGGS replied, it is quite impossible, as the value of
them was so much governed by fancy; which was proved upon
a recent occasion, when a Mr. Hope gave 3001. for one
figure, and a broker the other day valued a similar one at
only 121., •
Another Gentleman said he trusted that all Hope: were not
gone.--(A laugh.)
Mr. HAWKE thought that Mrs. Belzoni's debts ought to be
paid, a list of which he read, and which amounted to upwards
of 600/.
The CHAIRMAN inquired the amount of Mr. Belzoni's
debts ?
Mr. BRIGGS said about 1,5001. He was by far the largest'
creditor, as there was a balance of 5901. 9s. 7d. due to him ; and
what left such a large balance was for money recently ad-
vanced to Mrs. Belzoni for the redemption of the antiquities
from legal distress. He begged the meeting not at all to be in.
fiuenced by his presence *rim claim, but to do that which was
worthy of the committee and the meeting, and that which was
for the interest of Mrs. Belzoni. [This Gentleman was so
overpowered by his feelings in speaking of his late friend Mr.
Belzoni, that it was with the utmost difficulty he could con-
.dude his observations.]
A resolution was then passed to the effect of having the cre-
ditors of Mrs. Belzoni first settled with, and a subscription set
on foot to create .s. fund to purchase an annuity for her.
Mr. BRIGGS then read a letter from Mr. Banks, M.P., in-
closing a subscription of 201., and expressing his intention of
Tiring his strenuous co-operation to the effectuation of the ob-
. pets ofthe Meeting.
A resolution was then passed, announcing the intention of
the Committed() call a public meting in February, in further-
since of the objects of the present one.—The Meeting then
Woke in.