The Sun.
London, England, 1824-09-20 00:00:00

MEETING OF THE CREDITORS OF MESSRS.
• MARSH AND

•
Saturday, in pursuance of an advertisement,,
anonymously inserted in 'some- of the public prints,.convening a
meeting of the creditors on the Banking Firm of Messrs. Marsh,
Stracey, Fauntleroy, and Co. at the Boar and Castle, Oxford-
street, about fifty persons assembled in a room in that tavern
at the appointed hour (one o'clock.) As they assembled
they accosted each other, to know either the nature of the meet.
ing, or the parties who called it, but for some time no satisfac-
tory information could be obtained. At length Mr: Frost.
rose and said, that it was time some Gentleman should state
why this meeting had been called, or what was the intended:
object. Ile was at a loss to know what was the object of -their
being thus convened—at all events, now that they were. met,
it was obvious, that, in their unfortunate situation as creditors
of the Bank, they ought to conduct themselves with the'
utmost temper and patience ; nothing beneficial could be done
without the exercise of these virtues, and particularly when
they were placed in so embarrassing a predicament.
Several Gentlemen disclaimed any knowledge of the con-
veners of the Meeting, or its object, and suggested the pro-
priety of calling up the landlord, for information, upon these
points.
Mr. Saunders, the landlord, who was sent for, 'soon appeared,
and said, that all he knew of the matter was, that creditors who
resided in the neighbourhood, named Messrs. Marks, Newsom,
and somebody, Bushnell, Alleu, and others, had called on him
to have a room for the purpose, and he understood there were
Gentlemen present who were prepared to open the business to
the fleeting.
A desultory conversation then arose, and the propriety. of
having a Chairman was intimated, for the sake of regularity.
Mr. Frost was named for that purpose. He expressed his rea-
diness to take the Chair, if assured of the support of the meet-
ing, although he had nothing to do with calling it. He re-
marked, in the course of his observations, that he iuid heard
With regret'i► message hail been sent to two of the firm, request.'
ing their attendance here to-day, but no answer was returned.
Ile thought it was rather premature and indelicate for such a
message to have been forwarded, because, if the purpose were
to interrogate them for information, it was clear they could not
give any, it being understood that Mr. Fauntleroy declined
sticttliyle
giving them any explanation as yet of the extent of the mischief.
aciii,ariivr
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te Ito nweasfottri ecnred notified,iton
alone,t
hat
sataalsibni:teclijos.sjinhlOolneelfle.nlCilSriineTo:sillile:woewfrrfit)stl
that any body attending in behalf of the public press, and not
Il'ivoteour were tdicl chiefly
cnwtwe,rilittetibei
interested.
any
niontotitileer
it)triea%tionues-
A Gentleman observed that all the creditors could not attend,
'and lie thought the Gentlemen of the Press ought to be per-
mitted to be present, to report the proceedings, for the benefit
of those creditors who were absent. This was .opposed by a
person whose name was said to be Honeywell, anti he put a
motion to exclude the reporters from the room, which war al-
most unanimously negatived. Upon the motion of a Creditor,
that the list of persons who called the meeting be produced, a
paper containing the following names was put , into the hands
of the Chairman :—" Signed, Honeywell,. for Bushnell and
Co. ; Charters, Holland, and Co. ; Cork , and Spain • John
Messer; G. Smith ; Isaac Smith, jun. ; .lohn Marks and Co. ;
Mr. William Mills; Thomas Barnes; Wm. Sanderson, John
Hill." _ _

The Chairman was asked what was the object of the ,
Meeting ?
Mr. Charters, a creditor, said he had signed the paper call-
ing the,Aleeting together, and the object was, to adopt means
to obtain possession of their property.
The Chairman said, that if no person belonging to the firm of
Marsh, Stracey, and Co., appeared to give the creditors infer-
mation, he thought the Meeting was premature, as the creditors
mould be quite in the dark as to the true state of their affairs.
Ile thought • it would not be improper, as there was a great
number of the creditors present, to say that, at the present
moment Marsh and Co. had cash in the house sufficient to pay
all who had claims upon -them, and more.—(Applause.)—He
hoped that no rash measure of the creditors would throw the
estate into the hands of improper persons, and the property
be swallowed up in law proceedings.
A Gentleman observed, that he was a creditor to 4 eonsida.
cable amount, and he had always experienced the most honour-
able treatment at the hands of the bankers. Ile did not mean
to say that this Meeting was premature, but he thought it was
a favourable trait in the character of Messrs. Marsh and Co.,
thaton the Saturday before they stopped payment, they should
have paid out to the public not less than 350,0001.---( H ear, hear
Mr. Noel, an Attorney, said he wait a creditor for 5001., and
had attended the meeting from mere accident, having seen a
paper et , the door of the Tavern announcing the meeting of
creditors as he pasted by. He thought, that as no person was
present front the (lank to give them infetmation.; that the meet-
ing was premature. Ile had great confidence in the honour
and integrity of the partners, Messrs. Marsh, Strawy, and
Graham, and wax surprised that the meeting had not been ge-
nerally made known to the body of creditors.--(Some voice ex-
claimed, " There is not a tenth of the creditors present.")
Mr. Charles said, " Gentlemen, I am one who signed the
advertisement for calling the meeting, and our sole object is
to get our money es soon as possible.—(Cries of " You said so
before.")--We wish to know the cause for stopping payment ;
and I ask, Gentlemen, why the Bank should have stopped
payment when they possessed funds sufficient to pay all the
claims upon the house, as the worthy Chairman has stated ?
(Ilear !)—I hope, as we are now met together, that the affairs
will he put into honest hands; and I cannot but express my
surprise that Messrs. Marsh, Stracey, and Graham, who are
not under charge of illegal conduct, should not have thought
proper to have appeared in person, or by their agent. Gen-
tlemen, I hope we shall avoid the fate that befel the creditors
in the case of Howard and Gibbs, and I think it was nothing
more than what we might fairly have expected, that Messrs.
Marsh and Company should have given some reason for their
having suspended payments." He hoped that, before the
meeting separated, some persons would be pointed out to watch
over the interests of the'creditors. _ _

Thelwoll said he did not approve of the present Meeting.
It had been called by persons scarcely known, and in such a
partial manner, that excited strong suspicion that some job
was contemplated.—(Cries of " Hear, hear !" and much noise
from a coterie.)
Mr. Honeywell—Are you a creditor?
Mr. Tlielwell—Ycs, I am, Sir, and have banked In the house
sixteen years. I object to this meeting for various reasons,
and I believe it is likely to lead to no good, except to throw
work into the hands of the lawyers (here the speaker cast his
eye, and looked expressively towards a knot of attorneys pre-
tent), and his observation excited a noise and uproar. Gen.
tlemen, I beg_to state that I oppose the last speaker's observa-
tions, and will answer them if I am not prevented by cia.
moor. He asked why they stopped payment ? I reply that
the reason has been publisliesi in the newspapers by the other
partners, viz., that it was owing to the delinquency of Mr:
Fauntleroy, who had been committed for forgeries of the
most extensive description. I give the other partners credit
for having acted in a way most honourable to themselves,
and likely to prove most advantageous to their creditors ;
and am of opinion this meeting is not only premature, but
may be very injurious to the interests of the creditors ge-
nerally. lie concluded by moving that if any person present
has authority to give authentic information to the meeting
concerning the affairs of the Bank, he be kind enough to
come forward and state the same, and if no such person be in
attendance that the meeting be dissolved.—(Loud Opposition.)
A person present opposed the latter part of the motion, " That
the meeting be dissolved," and it was expunged. The motion
was seconded.

Mr. Riley, a linen-draper, of Oxford-street, said he was a
creditor, and should not oppose the Motion ; but he thought
there was no person present, who could give more information
than himself--(leitighter.)—He had been told from authority,
which no one could pretend to dispute, that twenty shillings in
the pound would be paid to all the creditors—(" Hear, hear !"
and " no, no !")--:.This depended much, he admitted, upon the
allowance of the Bank of England's claims on Marsh and Co.'s
funds. lie firmly believed the Bank was in solvent cir-
cumstance.
Mr. IVood, of the firm of Bushnell and Co. said that he was
convinced, that though the Dank had 400,000!. in cash in the
house, yet it was not in solvent circumstances..
Mr. Thelwall's motion was put and carried.
Mr.. Riley said that a Committee ought to be appointed to
watch over the interests of the creditors.
Mr. Thelwall wished the meeting to be dissolved, as tending
more to the injury of the creditors than serviceable.—(A per-
son named Honeywell, here used some coarse observations to.
wards Mr. Thelwall.)—Mr. T. exclaimed, " if any person
uses ungentlemanly language to me here, he must answer for
it elsewhere:"
Mr. Allen, (an Attorney and Deputy Clerk of the Peace
forlVestrninster) said, that though they had no information
from the verniers of the bank laid before them, yet they had
these facts that the bank had stopped payment, and that a
Commission of Bankruptcy had been issued. He was of opi-
nion the Meeting, before they separated, ought to consider the
propriety of appointing proper persons as a Committee 50
watch over their interests, by carefully looking into the pro-
ceedings during the working of the Cominission.—(Applauee,)
for in his opinion, it depended mainly upon the parties into
whose hands the proceedings fell, whether the creditors obtain-
ed their property, or were deprived of it.
Mr. Noel said, that a Committee ought to be appointed to

consider who were ch most proper permns to be made choice of
for assignees, under:the camtnisainn-against:Massh andsMr. assignees,
again ateonely ppppseil the proceedings, and
said, that the only effect Of-theM would' to throw busine.is
into the hands of lawyers.
Mr. Allen said, that the attack of Mr. T. upon the profession
was. as,uninst as his observation was false; anu,he.would assert,
that a more honourable body of men did not' xist than atomics.
—(Cries of hear, and laughter.)
Mr. Thelwall replied, that he meant nothing personal; but
his experience had caused him to know, that these kind of meet.
itigs, got up by the Lord knows Who, and the Lord knows how,
only tended to the multiplication of law proceedings, to the
profit of lawyers, and to the great injury :of the c.:vditors.—
(Noise and contusion.)—Mr. Theiwall's‘ motion to dissolve the
meeting was put and negatived.
Mr. Birnham, a creditor, said it wasOf importance, if a cont.
Mittse was appointed, that petsons whose debts were of solue
magnitude were appointed on it; for if they had a large stake
they would naturally look to the interest of themselves. Ile:
then moved that the following nine persons be appointed of the
Committee, whose claims are above 1,0001. each.. The motio4
was seconded and carried, and the Meeting sf.lected the foliow_
ing six persons,viz. Mr. Dawsoci, Marlboiough-street ; Mr.
1V arr, builder, New-street ; Mr. Charters, Mr. T. Oilby. (an
•attorney), Mr. J. Ilutchins, and .Mr. John Rogers. There
being no other creditor in the room whose claim amount:Al to
Ivoool. it was propOsed to withdraw the motion after it was
paned._ _ .

• Mr. Thelwall opposed it ; but the Mover would not consent
to-such a proceeding ;he moved, " That the 'Meeting do ad-
journ, and that a General Meeting ,of the Creditors be called
on a future day by more general advertisement." This motion
was seconded, and after a good deal of noise on the part of 3:-
veral of the persons who called the meeting, by whom languai.;::
rude and violent was used, was negatived. •
It was moved and
.seconded, " That , the above six named
Gentlemen be appointed a Committee (with power to add to
their numbers) to recommend proper persons to 'be chosen by
the creditors as assignees to the estate, and that a general
meeting of the creditors be called prior to the second meeting
under • the commission." This motion 'was carried, and some
conversation took place, in-which a Creditor said:that he was
informed at the bank of .harsh • and • C 0.,. that the Creditors
would sustain a very considerable loss by the conduct of Mr.
Fauntleroy. _

•A motion of thanks to the Chairman was put ard carried.
Some altercation took place between 111 r. Gilby, the At.
torney, Mr. \V Noel, and the Chairman, as to who ought to
take possession of the documents containing the resolutions
and
.proceedings of the meeting, which terminated in the
Chairman putting them into his pocket and leaving the room.
He said that when the Committee met he should take care to
supply them with the documents authorising them to act for
the Creditors.