The Sun.
London, England, 1857-03-20 00:00:00

IN BE SKINNER.

SINGULAR CASE OF DISPUTED ADJUDICATION.—
Skinner was described as of James-street, Bedford-row,
auctioneer, and an adjudication in bankruptcy was made
a few days ago, but which was disputed. The petitioning
creditor's debt was on a judgment ob‘ained against
skinner on an action brought against him for trespass.
Mr.. Barrow, for the defendant, contended that a verdict
for damages did not constitute .a debt under the Bank-
rupt Law.
His Monour bad no hesitation on that point, and was
rho satisfied as to the trading and act of bankruptcy.
Mr. Barron then asked for an adjournment, on the
ground that the Chief Baron bad expressed his opinion
that 201. would be sufficient, but the jury found for
501., and the costs amounted to 1001., and it was in-
',ended to move the Court to reduce the damages, but
that could not be done until the next term.
His Honour expressed his doubts whether he had the
power to adjourn ; yet it was a hard case to make a
man bankrupt when it was sworn by him that be had
no other creditor, although be had money from his
friends for his support, and they would not press him.
Under all the circumstances, therefore, he would not
take any proceedings in the bankruptcy till the next
term, on 2001. Wog deposited in court to abide the ap.
olication for a new trial. It was an unusual case, but
le did not see that any one could be injured by the adop-
tion of such a course.
Mr. Lawrence, for the petitioning creditors, assented,
and a memorandum to the above effect was drawn up.

ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION WITH

INDIA.

TO THE EDITOR OF MI SUN.

SlB,—The Directors of the European and Indian
unction Telegraph Company having bad their attention

,Irawn to the letter of Mr. Lionel Gisbcrue, published in
your columns, the object of which is to disparage this
undertaking, and to advocate a competing line to India
via the Red Sea, have commissioned me to place you in
possession of the following facts, which I believe not
only satisfactorily answer the comments made upon the
position of this company, but show that Mr. Giaborne is
not observing good faith :

" In the first place, all the capita! in this company has
been subscribed, the shares allotted, and the deposit upon
them paid; and although the directors in their prospectus
state that no call wil; be made until the firman of the Sul
tan is obtathed and the other arrangements alluded to
(meaning the Government guarantee) are concluded, yet
the paragraph in question obviously contemplated that
the grant of the firman would have preceded, instead of
which it has been anticipated by the Government ar-
rangernent, one of the terms of which is that the Govern.
meat undertakes to use its ibfluence in procuring the
firman. In return for this assistance, it requires, as a
preliminary condition, that 20 per cent. oa the capital
be paid up, to which there is no reason to doubt
that the shareholders will most cheerfully accede.
" Secondly, with regard to the propriety, or even
right, of Mr. Gisborne to promote the undertaking he
k now advocating, I trouble you with the following

facts :
" Some time before the prospectus of this company
was published, Mr. Gisborne had failed in attracting
public support to a line of telegraph from the Darda-
nelles to Alexandria, which, as holding a firman from
the Porte, he bad projected, with a view to its subse-
quent extension to India, via the Red Sea.
" Immediately on the appearance of the prospectus o
the European and Indian Junction Telegraph Company,
Mr. Gisborne wrote Mr. Andrew, the chairman of the
company, &letter datedthe 29th of July, 1856, of which
the following is an extract :
" It is proieable that the competing lines to India
will prevent either of them being carried out by private
enterprise, telegraph companies not being in favour with
the public ; and I would suggest that arrangements be
made to bring the whole support upon one line. My
opinions regarding the Red Sea route are not changed,
but, neverthele-s, as the European and Indian Junction
Company are so sanguine of success, I am prepared to
place in their hands all the powers I hold from the Porte
n condition that they carry out the line from the Dar-
danelles to Alexandria upon the basis of the prospectus
of the Ea'tern Tel graph Company.'
" I will leave it to your readers and yourself to say
whether the obvious iaference to be deduced from the
above is not that Mr. Gisborne retires from competition
with this company upon being relieved from his obliga-
tions to the Porte, and obtaining the other terms sought
by his letter.
" Upon such an understanding, I, on behalf of par
ties interested iu the lines intended to be connec/ed with
those of this company, concluded an agreement with
Mr. Gisborne, under which my client has paid and se-
cured to him a very large sum of money for the purchase