The Sun.
London, England, 1851-11-14 00:00:00

cession

in our i
way to th
health, wl
are sad&
effectual E

A very important question was, on Wednesday,
brought under the consideration of Mr. Commissioner
FANE, at the Court of Bankruptcy, Basinghall•street.
Although' we cannot in every respect agree with the
learned and experienced gentleman who brought
forward the subject, we cannot deny that his state-

ments are
legislative
acknowle,
The au
a very luc
complaint
estate WI

I worthy of the closest attention, and that a
remedy may be required to provide for the
Eged grievance.
bject was introduced by Mr. REED, who in
;id, and at the same time temperate, manner
;d of the enormous charges to which a small
is subjected when wound up under the

j urisdictii
of the

mof the Court. The case itself was one
►rdinary character, requiring no unusual

exertion 1
bill of Ca
claim on

1r outlay. There was nothing to swell the
its, or to give any party concerned an extra
the assets, which were of fair amount—

somethin,

less than 1,0001. being collected by the

official all
have 1)(
of the exii
Mr. RESq
attention
meats woi
throughot
It appe!
to 957/. 14

ssignee. A better example could scarcely
(4en found to illustrate the working
isting system, and it was in that respect that
ro thought it desirable to direct the public
thereto, being well aware that his state-
mid be wafted on the wings of the press
at the length and breadth of the land.
,ared that the entire sum collected amounted
4s. 9d., which was distributed, or rather should

have been
a reasonal
collection

distributed, among the creditors, subject to
le drawback for the expense and trouble of
The deductions had, however, amounted in

he whol

to the sum of 235/. ss. (exclusive of the

allowanc,
than 25 1
has been

for the official assignee), or rather more
r cent. on the gross amount. Now, if, as
asserted, this case may be taken as repre-

senting a fair average of similar transactions, we
cannot fell surprised at the statement of Mr. REED,
that the effect of the system is to prevent cases from
being brought forward, and to induce the parties to
submit to' almost any proposition rather than see
the property frittered away and wasted,in so scanda-
lous a manner. In a commercial country
there is, perhaps, no part of the law more important
than the debtor and creditor code; and anything
that prevents an appeal to the recognised tribunals,
and the closest investigation into the mercantile
character and conduct of those who, under
the plea of unavoidble circumstances, are de-
sirous of being exonerated from the con-
sequences of their former deficiencies, must be
productive of the most injurious results to the best
interests of society. We concur with Mr. REED in
thinking that the allowance to the bankrupt
himself is not one of the objectionable items. In the
case now under notice, the bankrupt received 19/.ls.
for a continued attendance for many successive weeks
at the office of the official assignee, to furnish the
necessary information for rendering his accounts as
perfect as possible. Expediency, as well as common
humanity, alike forbid any interference with
that item, which constitutes but a small propor-
tion of the sum total. The bankrupt is sup,.
posed to surrender everything in his possession,
to retain nothing of any kind or description. If
he acts in accordance with the strict letter of the law
he would not have the means of obtaining a single
meal, or the commonest necessary of life, for himself,
or his truly destitute family—if no allowance were
made he should conceal property. Few indeed would
have strength of mind to sustain their sufferings
patiently, more particularly when they considered
that they were bestowing the time and, labour, that
might be devoted to earning a scanty subsistence
for their families, to the benefit of their creditors
generally, in assisting the official assignee to obtain
the largest sums practicable for the benefit of the es-
tate. We believe that there are few, if any, who
would object to such a charge, which is justified
alike on grounds of humanity and expediency.
We cannot, however, agree with the Learned
gentleman in his objections to the charges of the
professional accountant. There is no part of the en-
tire proceedings more beneficial as well to the cre-
ditors as to the bankrupt, and indeed to the com-
munity in general, than that which ensures
the most correct statement of accounts practicable un-
der the peculiar circumstances of each particular case.
Therm accounts must be rendered in a certain recog- I
. _ ,