The Sun.
London, England, 1825-01-05 00:00:00

INSOLVENT DEBTORS' COURT.

Yesterday Hugh Mills Bunbury, Esq. late of Cambridge
University, was opposed by Messrs. Poi.r.ocx and HEATH,
for a great number of creditors, principally tradespeople.
The insolvent, who is a fashionable-looking young man,
not yet 24 years of ale, stated in the course of his Ocamina-
, tion by Mr. Pollock, that he went to Cambridge about the
'26th ,April last, accompanied-. by Mr.. Platt, who is a
liachelor of Corpus Christi College, Aliis tutor ih he took his
wife down there also, with a young lady named Harris; on
his arrival he engaged lodgings at two guineas a week,
in the suburbs of the town ; he had previously lived for
eighteen months at Walworth, and was in the habit of at-
tending Mr. Harley's office, in New Bridge-street, Blackfriars,
for the purpose of qualifying himself by legal study to enter
Lincoln's.inn ; he remained at Cambridge only until the
Ist of September, when he again returned to Walworth, and
through the medium of an advertisement in the newspapers,
obtained a situation on trial at the British Annuity office. Ile
was arrested on two actions, and gave bail. The persecution
of his creditors prevented him from retaining his situation
or returning to the University, and taking his degree of bachelor
of Arts; he had engaged himself in the conveyancing depart-
ment of the British Annuity-office, with the, intention of ap-
plying his salary to the payment of the derrisnds made against
him ; he is not the son or the nephew of Sir Charles Bunbury,
" nor had he ever said he was ; his father was never Commissary.
General of the lonian Islands, nor did he say he was ; but he
had been Commissary-General of the Leward Islands; he is
23 years of age, and has been married 18 months ; shertly.be-
fore he went to Cambridge, his income was reduced to 1201.
a-year ; but his father's agent gave him a sum of 1201. when
he was going to college ; in 1812 he received 6001. from his
father ; in 11113, 8001. ; he hail no specific allowance ; up to
182211 e might have spent 40,0001 ; but in the middle of 1823
his income was cut down to 10/. per month. He was proceed-
ing, but
The CHIEF ComaiissrowEit recommended him to answer
_the questions put to him,
_and not boast of the enormous sums of
money he had Squandered
The Insolvent continued.—He had Miss Harris on a visit
with him, because his wife was in delicate health. He had met
her at the house of Mr. Pilme, a sculptor. Whilst be was at.
Cambridge, two poor men were drowned, and he raised 3/. by
subscription for their widows, all of which he paid over, ex-
cept 155., part of his own donation, to gentlemen named
Martin and Campbell, Members of the University. At one
time there was a Concert at Cambridge. Madame Catalan],
Miss Stephens, and other eminent performers were there.—
He gave • a breakfast and dinner on that occasion. Signor
-Placci, Signor Spagnioletti, Mr. Sapio, Mr. Vaughan, and
others attended his entertainments. The dinner was provided
by Mrs. Dickinson, the cook of St. Catherine's Hall. Mr.
Rutledge supplied he cheese and dessert, consisting of-pine-
apples, melons, &c. Mr. Newton supplied part of the wines, and
Mr. Naughton the remainder. The entertainment was given
not at his college-roornsOmt at his lodgings. lie did not know
the amount of the bills. He expected an increased allowance
from his father when he went to Cambridge. He did not bor-
row any money while there, except 31. front Mr. Bramah, when
he was coming up to town. He entered a debt of 261. in his
schedule, as due from Mr. Corrie; it was the caution-money
he was obliged to lodge with him on entering the College. He
was not aware it had been forfeited. He was obliged to dispose
of part of the clothes he had had of Mr. Creek, and also two
rings and a watch, to bring his wife up to town. His books,
and a few articles of plate, were seized for three weeks rent at
Walworth. He contracted a debt with Mr. Ridgely ibr china
and glass : he returned the glass. He also contracted a debt
with Mr. Thrower for silk dresses, &c. He gave some of them
to his wife, and made Miss Harris a present of some : the re-
mainder he pledged. He had not accounted for the duplicates
in his schedule, because he had given them up to his brother-
in.law, to whom he was indebted. The 1201. lie had received
from his father's agent had been expended in travelling, and
in paying his College expences. He never had a horse of his
own, but he had hired a horse and gig; and he occasionally
drove a second horse tandem. He was never charged for the
extra horse. Ile had never been a member of either of the
Universities of Oxford and Edinburgh. When he went to
Cambridge, he owed 701. to tailors, &c.; during his stay there
he increased his debts to upwards of 500/.
The following affidavits were then put in and read :
A. Campbell, Esq., of Jesus College, Cambridge, swore,
that the insolvent entered a Fellow mmoner of St. Cathe-
rine's-hall, and stated himself to have been an officer in the
16th Lancers, but had sold out about two years ago for the pur-
pose of entering the church ; that he was allowed 9001. a year
by his father, who was brother to Sir Charles Bunbury ; that
his mother was a rich heiress; that when he reached 25 years
of age he would become entitled to considerable property, and
that it was his intention to keep a couple of hunters, besides
horses for driving. In consequence of these representations,
the deponent and other members of the University introduced
him to several of their friends.

William Ford, A. 8., stated, amongst other things, that the
insolvent represented that he had taken the degree of A.B. at
Edinburgh.

11Ir. Creek. tailor, &c. swore that he had been induced by
the insolvent's representations respecting his family, fortune,
&c. to give him credit for 401. worth of clothes. On one oc-
casion the insolvent said to him,—" I wear the gown usually
worn by noblemen, and I shall require to have such a gown
made."

Mrs. Dickinson, cook of St. Catherine's Hall, stated that she
was induced by similar representations to give him credit for
cooking and pastry to the amount of 291.
Mr. Corrie, of Cambridge, swore that the insolvent's name
was struck out of the College board, and nothing was due to him.
Mr. Rutledge stated, that he had given the insolvent credit
for 18/. worth of cheese and fruit.

When the above affidavits were read, the insolvent was
examined in explanation at great length by Mr. CooxE,
and stated that he went to Cambridge at the instance of
Mr. Platt, and of Mr. Ross, the barrister, of Lincoln's-inn,
who is his relation. He did not know the difference when
he entered between a fellow-commoner and a pensioner.—
His father's name is the same as his own. When in town,
he resides at No. 4, Burlington-street ; he is a West Indian
planter, having estates in Demerara. He is now travellin,,
abroad. He had received a promise that his income should be
doubled. When he contracted the debts complained of, he
gave a reference to his uncle, Thomas Bunbury—to another
uncle in Berkshire—to Mr. Holmes, of the Treasury—to Dr.
Wright, and to Mr. Ross. _ _

Tile CHIEF COMMISSIONER here directed Mr. Bramah's
affidavit to be read. It stated that the insolvent represented
that he had been an officer in the 16th Lancers—that he was
to receive 30,0001. on the death of his mother—that he was the
nephew of Sir C. Bunbury—that he was promised a valuable
living by lord Grey, but that the Bishop of Salisbury had re-
fused him ordination until he should have attended a course
of divinity lectures, &c.
Insolvent's examination renewed..—He endeavoured to effect
an arrangement with his creditors, to whom he offered to pay
ss. in the pound, and 21. a month out of his 101. ; and still
more if he obtained a salary ; but they refused to accept it,
and he was obliged to surrender in discharge of his bail.
Mr. POLLOCK addressed the Court on behalf of the oppos-
ing creditors.
Mr. Coox E, on the other side, complained of the introduc-
tion of the affidavits of persons who were not creditors, for the
purpose of blackening this young man's character, and pro-
tracting his imprisonment. He had obtained no credit by
whatever vain representations he might have made to his
fellow-students in their rooms ; but his doors were beset by
rapacious tradespeople, anxious to force their goods upon him,
because he had the appearance of a gentleman; and he was now
forced by these very individuals to endure this day's ordeal for
the paltry sum of a couple of hundred pounds. If he had been
guilty of errors, they were the errors of a youth reared in ex-
travagance. He was now but 23 years of age; and he trusted
that some indulgence would be extended towards him by the
Court.
The COURT observed, that the schedule must be amended,
by the insertion of the duplicates, &c ; and when the necessa-
'ry alterations were made, and the notices all served, they would
state what the period would- be for which they would remand
this insolvent. It certainly would not be an inconsiderable ont.
They had often had occasion to remark upon the facility with
which tradesmen gave credit to young men who were sent to
the seats •Jf learning, who were therefore not entitled to much
protection from this Court. The present case, however, was of
a very different description; for here the insolvent was not a
raw inexperienced boy, but one who had led a long career of
extravagance, and even boasted of having squandered 40,0001.
It was to be hoped that this day's exposure would operate with
a beneficial effect upon his mind ; if not, nothing that he could
say could add to it. _When the alterations, &c. were completed,
the insolvent would be brought up to receive the judgment of
the Court.

Sri-rm.:ls appointed in Middlesex and London, before the
Right Hon. Sir 'N. D. BEST, Knight, Lord Chief Justice
of his Majesty's Court of Common Pleas, at Westminster,
in and after Hilary Term, 1825 : •
tic T.EIIIII.

MIDDLESVC. LONDON.
Tuesday January 25 Wednesday - January 26
Thursday - February 3 Friday . - - February 4
Tuesday --,-- 8 Wennesday

AFTER TERN.

Monday - Februaryl4l Tuesday - February 15
N.B. The Court will sit at one o'clock on January '25 and
26, and February 3 and 4, and at ten o'clock precisely on each
of the other days.