The Sun.
London, England, 1860-11-02 00:00:00

' moment it was discovered he was for going into
the Bankruptcy Court.
The committee was reappointed, with the addi-
dition of such of the assignees who had just been
nominated as were not already on it, and they
were authorised to take such steps to secure the
election of the assignees just nominated as they
thought proper, with power to act for the general
benefit of the creditors who guaranteed them the
repayment of all reasonable expenses.
Mr. FOWLER, a member of the committee, ex-
plained the course they had pursued, and amongst
other things stated that they had written to
Mr. Davies a letter narked " private," and
inviting him to a meeting on the previous day,
to hear what prospect he could hold out to them
in order that they might have been able to state
the result of his communication to the creditors at
the meeting to-day. (Hear, bear.) This letter
was marked " private," posted to Mr. Davies at the
Bank, and as it had not been returned, he presumed
it must have reached that gentleman. The com-
mittee met at the time and place appointed, but
neither saw nor heard anything of Mr. Davies,
which-they thought was hardly treating them as
they had a right to expect. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. Fox, for Mr. Davies, denied that such a
letter had ever reached him. On.the contrary, Mr.
Davies had actually consulted him as to attending
the meeting ho was addressing; but he advised
Mr. Davies not to be present at any meeting to
which he was not invited. It had been thought
advisable, for reasons which he need not enter into
there—(hear, and laughter)—that an adjudication
in bankruptcy should take place, and the meeting
of creditors was adjourned because nothing effectual
could be done till after the examination in bank-
ruptcy. Mr. Fox then explained, and apologised
for the delay in notifying to the creditors the ad-
journment of the meeting, and stated amongst other
circumstances that Mr. Davies was at Brighton.
Whereupon an excited creditor exclaimed in earnest
tones—" What right has he to go down to Brighton
to spend our money ?"—an inquiry which caused
great noise and confusion, at the partial suppres-
sion of which Mr. Fox stated that Mr. Davies had
not gone down to Brighton to " spend their money;"
he had gone there to his mother's house, as many
of them would be glad to do in a similar time of
trial. This statement elicited counter cheering on
behalf of Mr. Davies, and the tone of the meeting
was still further improved when Mr. Fox stated
that if they were only united and prudent the estate
would realise for them 10s. or 12s. in the pound,
without the £53,000 at all. It was true that
Messrs. Evans and Co. made a show of assets to
the extent of 20s. in the pound, hut he did not
believe that. (Hear, hear.) He begged to say
that personally he had nothing whatever to do
with the acceptance of these inadequate securities.
(Hear, hear.) He did not want to smooth over
matters ; but he demanded for Mr. Davies what
they, as creditors, had asked from him, viz., a full
and searching investigation. The amount which
they as creditors would realise depended on their
acting in concert, and putting forward such men as
Mr. Davies would have confidence in, seeing that
the offer to supersede the bankruptcy must come
from the bankrupts. They would have to appoint
men who would strive to realise as much for the
estate as possible, and not men who would employ
themselves in discovering a score or two of mare's
nests. (Hear, hear.)
Mt. HARMAN expressed a belief that £15,000
would be the extent of their loss from the Evans
affair, but thought that every effort should be made
to get the bankrupts' estate out of the Bankruptcy
Court.
A number of speeches were then delivered, in
which the most conciliatory tone was adopted
towards Messrs. Davies and Co., and the following
resolution was enthusiastically carried :
" Resolved,—That in the opinion of this meeting
it is desirable that the bankruptcy should be super-
seded, if practicable, at the earliest possible period ;
that it is most desirable to avoid litigation and
hostile proceedings; and that a copy of this reso-
lution be forwarded to Messrs. Davies and Co.,
through their solicitor."
The CHAIRMAN cautioned the creditors against
giving anybody a power of attorney to vote and act
for them, and said that where such powers had
already been given they could be and ought to be
revoked, so that they might all act together.
They would meet Messrs. Davies and Co., whom
he had known for 35 years, in the most courteous,
kind, and proper manner, so far as they could do
so consistently with due regard to the creditors.
(Hear, hear.)
A vote of thanks to the chairman brought the
proceedings to a close, after having lasted from
one o'clock to four.