The Sun.
London, England, 1823-11-26 00:00:00

THE REV. C. C. COLTON.

[The following statement has been communi-
cated to us from a quarter upon which we can
rely. There certainly does appear to be some
mystery in the disappearance of Mr. Colton.]

The Gazette of the beginning of this month, announced
amongst the Bankrupts, " the Rev. Charles Caleb Colton,
late of Princess-street, Soho, wine-merchant ;" and the second
meeting of his creditors has taken place without the Bankrupt
appearing, or any information respecting him being fortvarded.
to the Commissioners. Previously to thp declaration of
such Bankruptcy, Mr. Colton had been entirely lost sight
of by his friends in town;- since May 29. He was neither
to be found at his residence; for to be seen at a tavern near
St. Martin's-lane, where he was accustomed to meet some
select friends, nor even to be heard of any where arming his
acquaintance. Though this occasioned some surprise and
inquiry, it did not excite alarm, on account of Mr. C.'s ec-
centric habits, and as he had been frequently known to leave
London for a short. period, without any particular prepara-
tions for his journeys. Nor did his absence produce any
particular notice till the Bankruptcy to the surprise of all
who had any knowledge of Mr. Colton, appeared in the Ga-
zette. Though Mr. C. had speculated and largely too, at times,
in the Funds, in purchasing wines, bullion, paintings, am; he
was never viewed as other than a man of ample means. lie
was, what may be termed an ostentatious man, for he fre-
quently displayed on his fingers diamond rings worth two or
3001., or more each ; a thick and long gold chain from his
waistcoat pocket, passing ever a portion of the coat to his
watch;, and if he wanted a note, he would select it from a bun-
dle, or a sovereign he would draw a handful out of his pocket.
These peculiarities he.would observe frequently in the course
of one evening. He was an ostentatious man, entering com-
pany for the sake of conversation; but he had always much
money about him (and in this peculiarity he was like the late
Mr. Wreare, with whom Mr. Colton was acquainted.)
t :For some time it was supposed, and given out, that Mr.
Colton had gone to Calais ; but what :was the authority or
motive for such statement cannot now be ascertained; but it

answered its object, if it restate() from design, as it put an
end to the inquiries of his friends about him. Time continu-
ing twelapse' and then the bankruptcy being proclaimed; but
still without bringing tidings of Mr. Colton, some anxiety
was felt b) his more intimate friends ; and this anxiety be-
came the stronger after the murder of Mr. Weare. The last
time Mr. Colton was seen, lie was at Epsom Races in corn,
pony with Mr. Weare ; inquiries lead to the belief that Mr.
Colton had been to the gambling-room in which Wean was
interested, and which was frequented by the Thurtell party. It
is known ho had been in such company. Besides Mr. Colton's
knowledge of many of the gamblers' doings, his constant prac-
tice of having much money and property about his person, ren-
dered him an object on whom such men as those who con-
spired to murder Mr.NVeare might have had and executed
dreadful designs. On Saturday last, the second meeting of
the creditors of Mr. Cohort took place before the Commis-
sioners of Bankrupts, at Guildhall. Assignees were to have
been chosen, arid Mr. Colton was to have surrendered himself;
hitt neither proceeding took place. Many interesting circum-
stances were related in the course of the examinations ; but, as
far as they support particulars above stated, especially regard-
ing Mr. C's habits of generally appearing' with much property
and money about him, they need net be repeated. There were
also sonic curious statements its to the manner in which Mr. C.
had engaged in various concern: ; such as to his being an ex-
tensive wine ,dealer, the proprietor of. a celebrated " wine
mart," the proprietor or part proprietor of several coffee-houses,
especially of one in Cornhill ; the real owner of an extensive
shoe mart at the west end of the town; &c: &C.
The docket for the Commission of Bankruptcy was struck on
the application of Mr. Pratt, a paper dealer, who of comae is
the petitioning creditor. The . debt, which is considerable, was
for paper supplied for " Loran." The act of Baoltruptcy is,
in disappearing from his lodgings in Princes-street, on and af-
ter the 29th May tart. He, left borne that day to go to Epsom
Races,. he was seen at those, races aeon-in-arm with Weare,
the Thurtells (according . to the statement of another per-
son) being also of' the party ; but though his trunita, pro-
perty, &c. were left at his lodgings since that period, the
landlady, down to the present hour, declares that all in-
guiries to learn any thing about Mr. Colton have been vain.—
The same was stated to be the east, with his mother, sister,
&c. ; and in the course of the day .a Mr. Wrightson was
mentioned as having seen Mr. Colton in. October last; but Mr.
W. did not appear before the Commissioners. According to the
statement related from Mr. W., Mr. Colton. was then on his
way to Paris via Calais; but had this been the ease, as a Gen-
tleman who knew Mr. C. observed, would the inquiries of his
relations aud.friends have been altogether vain, as Mr. Colton's
brother-in-law, a Clergyman, is now resident in Paris, having
lived there and at Versailles for a long time past ? No rela-
tion, no friend (it was stated before the Commissioners) could
give any account of Mr. Colton after his appearance with Mr.
Weare on the Epsom race-course, on the 29th May last; and
,; yet, inquiries had been. instituted' in every direction ; but as
Wrightson had been mentioned, the Hon. Mr. Law (one
,of the Commissioners) suggested the propriety the Solicitor
to the Commission calling on that individual, to ascertain what
he knew about Mr. Colton.
Among the creditors were a wine merchant, whose demand
wad forupwards of four thousand pounds; butt, as be said, that
he considered Mr. Colton to have bought the wine,to *ell again
(which a Clergyman could not do), be was not then allowed to
prove. Mr. Delafons was admitted to prove for 3241. for dia-
monds alone, which Mr. D. considered, calculating
_from the
prices charged, pot to have been bought for sale, but for use or
presents. Mr. llawley proved to the, WIWI/lit of upwards of
8001. for jewellery, snuff-boxes,Srinkets, &c. Mr. Valpy proved
for 18/..for the printing of a Poem entitled Napoleon." Se-
veral other debts, &c. wereproved, some of them on Bills of
Exchange, that became due in June last ; but neither Solicitors
nor Notaries could, in endeavouring to get them paid, ascertain
any tidings of Mr. Colton. It was stated, soon After Xay, that
Mr. Colton had taken lodgings in the Edgeware..road ; but what
lodgings they were, never could be ascertained, or whether he
took any such lodging.
The examinationtlastecifront eleven till after two, on Satur-
day, the Hon.:Mr. .I.4tw.,paylng great attention to them.--
'Morning Chronicle, Nov. 25.)

FRUIT TREEL—The growth of weeds round
fruit trees recently transplanted, does them great
injury, and diminishes their fruit in size and
quality. SONhINI, in his Bibliotheque Physic°.
Economique states, that to prevent this, the Ger-
mans spread on the ground, round the fresh trans:
planted trees, as far as their roots extend, the
refuse stalks of flax, after the fibrous part has
been separated. This gives them surprizing
vigour. No weeds will grow under flax refuse,
and the earth remains fresh and loose. Old trees,
treated in the same manner, when languishing
in an orchard, will recover and push out vigorou?
shoots. In place of the flax stalks, the leaves
which fall from trees in autumn may be substi-
tuted, but they must be covered with waste
twigs, or any thing else that will prevent the
wind from blowing them away.
GREAT ACCURACY---SOUND LOGIC.—The Cou-
rier is uncommonly smart about the appointment of
Lord GRANyir.t.c to be the soccessor of Lord CLAN-
eARTY. The Courier is a subtle dialectician
Lord GRANVILLE is appointed to the Hague—
therefore Lord HASTINGS never was intended for
it ; the conclusion is good enough for the Courier.
One part of our statement is fact—a proportion
which our
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Nov. 22.)
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