The Sun.
London, England, 1848-11-09 00:00:00

IN RE JOHN HONOR PARKER.

The bankrupt, a carrier, carrying on business at no
less than eleven different places, came up on the question►
of certificate. The debts amount to about 16,0001., and
the assets will pay a dividend of about one haltpenny in
the pound.
The grounds of objection were, trading in a state of
insolvency, undue preference, and excessive expenditure.
After some considerable discussion,
His Honour Commissioner Gouusuarr considered the
bankrupt's conduct to be faulty, and the certificate must
be adjourned for six months, with protection.

INSOLVENT DEBTORS' COURT, .Nov. 8.
(Before Mr. Commissioner LAW.)
IN RE DION DE BOURCICAULT.
This insolvent, the dramatic writer, author of Used up,
&c., applied under the Protection Act.
Mr. T. B. Hughes opposed for Mr. Edward Lawrence
Levy; and Mr. Nichols supported.
From the insolvent's examination it appeared that he
had, in Jane last, applied to the Court of Bankruptcy,
ander the Debtor and Creditor Private Arrangement
Act, or, as the Learned Commissioner termed it, " The
Clandestine Bankruptcy Act," and his petition had been
dismissed. On being asked what countrymen he was, he
said he was an Irishman, but his father was a French.
man. His name was Bourcicault, and when in France
he had passed as Viscount de Bourcicault, to which title
he had a right. He had pleaded to an action for some
theatrical dresses, a plea of infancy, by the name of Lee
Morton, which was his theatrical name when a minor.
In 1843, when he was of age, he made about 2401. as a
dramatic writer. He was married in 1845, and had re-
ceived upwards of 1,0004 from his wife, now dead, out of
her settled property. He was interested in a new opera,
entitled " Esmeralda," for which M. Jullien had offered
him 2001., and Mr. Addison, the music-seller, had offered
2201. ; he had written the words, and Mr. Benedict com-
posed the music.
Mr. NicHoLs put the manuscript of the opera into the
hands of the registrar of the court, saying that it was
given up for the benefit of the creditors.
In answer to further questions, the insolvent said ha
was author of Used Up, performed at the Haymarket
Theatre, for which he received 301., and on account of
its success Mr. Webster had made him a present of 401.
more. He had received from Mr. Webster about 1,0001.
since 1843 for dramatic pieces, and he did not now owe
him anything. In the same period he had received
money from Mr. Beale, and a small sum from Mr. Bette,
for a song. The comedy of London Assurance was
written for Madame Vestris when she had Covent
Garden Theatre, and he had sold it to Mr. Webster for
40/. or 50/.
Mr. HUGHES asked the court to order the insolvent to
give an account of his transactions with Mr. Webster.
It was probable that that gentleman bad pieces in his
possession which might be made available for the
creditors.
The insolvent very frankly stated his engagement
with Mr. Webster. When he required money, whether
on pieces written or to be written, Mr. Webster made
him advances. His last transaction with Mr. Webster was
in October, when he undertook to write a five-act
comedy, and he obtained an advance.
Mr. HUGHES—W hat is the name of the comedy? In-
solvent—l do not think it fair to mention it. I will
mention it in private to the officer of the court, but I do
not think it would be fair to Mr. Webster to mention it
in open court, as other dramatic writers might use the
title.

Mr. HUGHES—Has not Mr. Webster a comedy of
yours, for which you are to be paid 5001., and have re-
ceived 1501.? Insolvent—Mr. Webster has a comely
for which he will owe me 3501. That is, I have a
contingent interest to that amount, as stated in my
schedule.
Mr. HUGIIES—State the nature of your agreement
with Mr. Webster. Insolvent—The agreement was that
I should write a five-act comedy for 400/ It was
finished about September last, and delivered; he has paid
me about 401. or 50/ on account of it.
Mr. NICHOLS remarked that a statement was made of
the circumstance in the schedule.
Insolvent—Mr. Webster is not a debtor. It is only
payable on the production of the comedy.
Mr. Commissioner Law—Suppose through caprice it
was not to be produced; what then? Insolvent—l could
in that case take it from him.
Mr. Commissioner Law—You will put him down as a
debtor and bring him here.
The insolvent stated that the opera he gave up would
produce 2201., and, with the 3501. to be received from
Mr. Webster, there would be 5701. available for his
creditors. It appeared that he had a 1001. bill dis-
counted by Mr. Lawrence Levy, the father of Edward
Lawrence Levy, and he deposited two pieces with him
as security. He declined to state the names of the pieces,
for the reason he had already given. He got 751. on the
100/. bill.
Mr. NicnoLa—That is at the rate of 100 per cent.
The Learned Counsel said he had a document signed by
nine creditors, whose debts were 2001., consenting to the
final order.
1 The insolvent said he valued one of the pieces in
I Levy's possession at 2001., and the other at 601. They
i were not pieces fit for the Haymarket, and he had re-
course to a money lender. Mr. Levy was at the time
I connected with the management of tne Lyceum Theatre,
1 His HONOUR, on the termination of the examination,
said he had only to name a day for the final order. It
would be seen whether Messrs. Levy would stand as
creditors or debtors ; in the meantime an account would
Ii be obtained from Mr. Webster.
The COURT then named the 7th of December for the
1 final order, and dispensed with the attendance of Mr.
Webster. There would be a sum for the creditors, and
no doubt they would be paid in full.