The Sun.
London, England, 1834-10-11 00:00:00

CORPORATION COMMISSION.-(THIS DAY.)

The Commissioners, Sir F. PAL GRAVE and Mr. ELLIS
sat again this morning to hear any evidence that might be
be ofered with respect to the affairs of the Mercers'
Company.
Sir F. PALGRAVE, at the sitting of the Court, stated
that the Commissioners had received a letter from the
Clerk of the Salters' Company, in which he said he was
out of town when the notice and list of inquiries were
sent to him. He did not know whether he would be al-
lowed to give any further evidence than had already been
furnished to the Commissioners : he would, however, take
the sense of the Court of Assistants upon the matter, and
communicate their decision.

The inquiry into the affairs cf the Mercers' Company
was especially appointed for this morning.; but none of the
Company attended. The Commissioner stated that they
had also received a letter from the Clerk of that Company,
declining to attend until he had received the instructions of
his Court.

Sir F. PALGRAVE begged that it might be understood
that the clerks of every company had been informed by cir-
cular, that those inquires would be presented early in Oc-
tober ; therefore it was not strictly the fact that they were
not now prepared, at all events they had had enough of time.
Mr. WOODTHORPE having been sent for, attended, and
stated that he was a freeman of the Stationers' Company ;
he was anxious for the attendance of the clerk of that Com-
pany to explain the bye-laws.
Mr. F. PALGRAVE said the clerk of that Company had
told them that he considered it was unnecessary to attend,
forhe could give no further information than he had done on
a former occasion. That information was given to him
(Sir F.) when sitting individually, and went merely to their
charters. It gave no information relative to their bye-laws,
or the admission of the Liverymen.
Mr. WOODTHORPE was anxious to have the bye-laws ex-
plained, for he was born free of the Company, and so long ago
as June 1801, he applied to them to take up his Livery ; but
they refused to admit him, because he was not connected
with the trade, unless he signed a sort of bond, disclaiming
all right to the profits and stock of the Company. He re-
fused to sign away any part of his birthright, and notwith-
standing the office he held in the City, he was yet only a
freeman. There were many Liverymen who had signed
such a document, and he was pretty clearly of opinion, that
those who had done so were not Liverymen in fact, and that
their votes would not stand an investigation.
Mr. TAYLOR, the Common Councilman, had attended, in
the hope of having some information respecting the ac-
counts between the Mercers' Company and the Gresham
Fund. He believed there was a sum of 30,000/. due by
Company to the Fund, which required explanation. As
they refused to appear, the public must draw their own con-
clusions upon the matter.

Mr. FRANKS (Common Councilman), said he had gone
to the Mercers' Hall with the Act .56 Geo. 111., which
bound all Companies to allow any person to inspect their
lists of the Livery. The Clerk, however, refused, though
he offered the 2s. 6d., as directed by the Act.
Mr. JARSOM, a fishmonger, said he applied to his Com-
pany for the same list, which they offered to give ; but, as
they entered every one as they were admitted, and bad no
account of deaths or changes of residence, the list, there-
fore, would be useless.

Mr. BISHOP, the gentleman who yesterday promised to
give some interesting evidence relative to the Mercers' Com-
pany, was several times called, but did not answer.

h e CommlssioNEß inquired whether any one was pre-
pared to give any information respecting the Company ? No
one answered, and the Court was adjourned till Monday.

BANKRUPTCY COURT.-(THIS DAY.)

(Before Mr. Com Missioner EVANS.)
IN THE MATTER OF BENTLEY, DEAR, AND CO.

,
A very numerous meeting of the creditors of this firm
took place this morning for the purpose of appointing
assignees. _

On the Learned Commissioner taking his seat,
Mr. LEIGH, a solicitor, said that before the business of
the day commenced, he wished, on the part of Mr. Thorn-
ton, to correct a mis-statement that had gone forth at a
previous meeting of the creditors in this matter. It had
been said that Mr. Thornton had been summoned for the
purpose of being examined before the Learned Commis-
sioner ; but the fact was that Mr. Thornton had no inti-
mation of the meeting, and it was only at two o'clock
on the day the meeting took place that Mr. Thornton
was apprized by a note, that the Commissioner was waiting
to examine him. He (Mr. Leigh) had subsequently
waited upon Mr. Ashurst, and informed him that Mr.
Thornton was out of town ; and he thought that puffs and
paragraphs relative to the non-attendance of Mr. Thornton
should not have been published, which were totally un-
founded. In conclusion, he begged to say that if there was
any wish on the part of the meeting.to examine Mr. Thorn-
ton, he would attend with pleasure.
The COMMISSIONER said that there had been no intima-
tion made to him, on the part of the creditors, of a wish to
examine Mr. Thornton.
Mr. LEIGH then withdrew.

Mr. Ashurst said there was a claim made by Mr. King
for a sum of 3,5001. advanced upon a bill, which, on the part
of the estate, he would feel it his duty to object to. The
transaction had taken place in Mr. Gummersall's counting-
house, and the money had been actually paid to Bentley.
He thought it was a case which required some investigation.
The COMMISSIONER said he should require strict proof
of the payment of the money. If the creditor persevered
in pressing his proof, he (the Commissioner) did not see
how he could refuse to receive it.

Mr. Ashurst said the money had never been paid to
the firm—they had never received it.
After some further conversation- relative to the postpone-
ment of the proof to a future day,
Mr. King was examined by Mr. MONTAGUE, and deposed
that he was not in business, and resided at Hammersmith.
Produced a bill drawn by Gummersall in favour of Bentley,
Dear and Co., and endorsed by Bentley and Co. The bill was
delivered to him on the day it bears date (the 2d Septem-
ber). He was in London at the time. He had come to
London for the purpose of discounting it. An application
had been previously made to him on the subject by Mr.
Gummersall, personally, at a dinner party.
The Learned COMMISSIONER here interrupted the exa-
mination. The sum, he observed, was a large one to be
discounted by a person out of business, and he thought, the
examination should be postponed, and inquired into at a
private meeting of the creditors.
Mr. Ashurst then inquired if there were any persons to
prove papers bearing the endorsement of Gummersall and
Gamble ; and no person having come forward, he observed
that he had waited for an hour expecting that certain bills
would be put in, but as none had been tendered, he would
suggest that Messrs. Gummersall and Gamble be allowed to
retire, as they had business to transact in their counting-
house.

The COMMISSIONER said there could be no objection,
provided that if their presence was again required they
would be ready to attend.
Messrs. Daniel Evans, Edward Wilson, and James
Brand were then named as assignees, without any oppo-
sition.

We understand the claims against the estate amount to
upwards of 120,0001.

WESTMINSTER SESSIONS.-(THIS DAY.)

(Before FRANCIS CoNet, Esq., Chairman, and a Bench of
Magistrates.) _ _

Thomas Flint, a squalid' looking.wretch, was indicted for
assaulting, on the 7th of September last, Maria Bailey, with
intent, &c. The 2d count of the indictment charged the
prisoner with only a common assault.
Maria Bailey, a pretty looking little girl, 12 years of age,
stated that she resided in York-street, Westminster, with
her mother, who employed her at needle-work. Her mo-
ther went out Charing, during which time she remained in
the house. Witness did not know the prisoner, who lived
in Snow's Rents, till she was taken to his house by a little
girl named Esther Gray. Witness was goinc, to her grand-
mother's when she met Esther Gray, who asked her to go
with her to her uncle's. Witness agreed to this, and was
taken by her to the house of the prisoner, who opened the
door, took both of them by the arms, and forced them in.
(The evidence here was unfit for publication.) The pri-
soner kept the witness locked up in his place all night, and
the next morning went out, and sold her clothes and kept
her without food. Witness on the third day asked him to let
her go home ; he said he would not, that he had her prisoner
and would take a room at Lambeth, where she would do very
well without her mother. On being intreated, the prisoner
refused to let her go. He kept her there seven days—at
last the witness escaped through the window, and went to
her mother's, to whom she related all the circumstances,
after which the prisoner was taken into custody.
Cross-examined by Mr. ADOLPHUS (who appeared for
the prisoner, at the request of the Court)—Knew Esther
Gray by going to chapel with her. She had made a simi-
lar complaint against the prisoner. Was three days and
three nights without eating, drinking, or sleeping.
By Mr. TIDD PRATT—Went with the prisoner to Mrs.
Hutchins, in Orchard-street, to sell the clothes. While he
was in there witness walked about.
The mother of the prosecutrix gave evidence in many
points totally at variance with the statements of her daugh-
ter ; and the Jury, under the advice of the Chairman, ac-
quitted the prisoner.
The CHAIRMAN, addressing the prisoner, said he had had
a very narrow escape. It was clear he was addicted to the
committal of offences which were a disgrace to him, and if
be did not alter the course he was pursuing, he would
find the law would overtake him.
An Irishman, named Barry, was indicted for assaulting
a person named Symes. It appeared from the statement of