The Sun.
London, England, 1833-01-05 00:00:00

COURT OF BANKRUPTCY, JAN. 4.

SIR GEORGE DUCKETT, MORLAND, AND COMPANY'S
BANKRUPTCY,

A meeting of the creditors of this banking-firm
was held to-day for the further proof of debts, audit-
big the accounts, and the declaration of a dividend
Mr. Springall appeared to support a claim for the
value of an annuity in favour of Mrs. Isabella
Spencer, under the following circunsstances
The late S'r C. Morland was appointed adminis-
trator by the Lite Miss Edgworth to her property,
which consisted of a personality of about 1,2001, to
pay certain annuities, among which was that of 1501.
to Mrs. Spencer. The annuity was regularly paid
up to the death of Sir C. Morland, who died in.
testate—and his son, Sir F. Morland, the bankrupt,
administered to the effects of his father, and con-
tinued to pay the annuity. When the bankruptcy
took place rtie annuity ceased. A part of the pro-
ceeds of the estate of Miss Edgworth was, as al-
leged, placed in Government Securities, and, on be-
half iif [es client, he wished to ascertain the nature
of the security, and to prove for the value of the an-
nuity against the estate.
After some discussion a claim was allowed to be
entered for the value of the annuity.
Mr. Briggs asked for the decision of the Court
in the case of a voluntary bond given by Sir G.
Duckett, for an annuity to a servant of his uncle,
for faithful services. The question was, whether
this bond could be estsb!ished.
The COMMISSIONER said, the question was whe-
ther a voluntary annuity came under the same deci-
sion as a bond. H's impression was, that proof
could not he allowed for the value of this bond. He
had no objection to allow a claim to he entered, to
be again considered, in the event of there being as-
sets sufficient to pay all the creditors.
In reply to questions, the official assignee said
that all the bona fide debts, excepting about .500/.
had been collected, riot including the dividends du.
to the estate of the bankrupt, and that several debt-
had been lost.

Mr. Batron complained that the accounts had
not been properly audited.
Mr. Briggs defended the conduct of the assignees,
and, in reply to certain questions from Mr. Barber
Beaumont, stied that measures had been taken to
dispose of the canal property belonging to Sir. G.
Duckett. With respect to the bankrupt's estate at
Ruyton, the purchasers would not complete the
purchase until the Crown debts, to the amount of
12,0001. hanging over the property were cancelled.
With regard to the canal property, an offer had been
made by the proprietors of another canal to pur-
chase; hut they awaited the results of an applica-
tion to Parliament for power to do so. Under these
circum•tances it was considered improper to put up
the Stort navigation, encumbered as it was with
mortgages, especially as it realised a profit. With re-
spect to the Lee navigation, it only paid its expenses.
Mr. B. Beaumont was desirous of having an ac-
count of the bankrupts' property from the com-
mencement of the business—the amount of property
they then possessed. S.r Gen. Duckett was now

I viug in the same style as before the bankruptcy.
His son had been Gazetted as an Officer in the Life
Guards, wh,ch must have cost 2,0001. These ex-
p,nses begat suspicion, and the creditors had a right
to know, if posiible, how so huge a bum had been
got rid of by the bankrupts.

Mr. Bri;gs challenged Mr. Beaumont to state
one act of Sir G. Dackett's life in which he had
acted wrongfully. That gentleman's character was
aspersed without cause.
Mr. Barron asked what amount had been allowed
to the official assignee _ _ _

Mr. Goldsmid,"t he official assignee, said, in all,
he had received 7501.

Mr. Brigg 4 said a cla;m was made by Mr. Ra-
phael, for the agent of a "Liman Catholic Priest
of Quebec, for two sums of 6,3201. and 4301.,
money advanced to the bankrup.s. No security
was exhibited, and he trusted the Commissioner
would not allow the dividend to be diminished by
admitting such a claim.

Mr. Raphael had hills of exchange, and would
produce them on a future day.
The claim was entered.
THE IRISH FISHERIES.

Mr. Briggs said he hail a vestion of very con-
siderable importance to submit. The property in
frish:fisheries, held by Mr. Little, had been assigned
over to the bankrupts in trust, to pay a large debt
due to the bankrupts by Mr. Little. Up to the
time of the bankrup cy the fisheries had proceeded
successfully, and the creditors sanctioned the car-
rying them on for the benefit of the estate of
Wssrs. Wright, the bankers, having undertaken to
make the necessary advances. During the last sea-
son, however, in consequence of the prevalence of
the cholera morhus, salmon did riot realise the former
prices in the market, and the sale had been so bad
that a loss on the fishery had occurred to tke extent
of 1,4581. He wished to have the opinion of the
Court whether those fisheries should be tried another
season, as, should the property be sold now, they
would fetch little or nothing.
The COMMISSIONER said it was a difficult case,
and he considered the assignees should act on their
own responsibility. He was called upon to advise
judicially; his own private opinion was that they
ought not to be carried on.
From a statement handed in, it appeared that in
the season before last the produce of the fisheries

was as follows :—ln the _Bann fishery 22/
salmon were caught—in the Foyle fishery,_62
—in the Bans fishery, 34,806—and in the
ford fishery, 2,000, yielding a produce of 16,1• Pi
from which was deducted 10,5001, for expeno;
carrying on the fishery, and leaving .a wand
clear profit of 5,5001. Last year, however, in
sequence of the prevalence of the cholera, a
had occurred, as stated, of 1,4581.
Mr. Briggs should take the advice of the get)/
body of creditors 83 to how he should proceed.
The total amount of proofs and claims eid
to-day was nearly 20,0001 The total proofsf
viotisly made were about 157,0001. The off;
assignee then proceeded to prepare the account
make a dividend, which was not announced 1,
the rising of the Court.