The Sun.
London, England, 1857-12-22 00:00:00

THE WORCESTER BANK FAILURE.

WORCESTER, MONDAY.
To-day the first meeting of the creditors of
Messrs. Farley and Co.'s bank was held at the Star
Hotel here, to receive a statement of liabilities and
assets. T. G. Curtler, Esq., presided, and there
was a large attendance of creditors. The proceed-
ings occupied about two houra, but were unanimous.
Mr. PIDROOK (attorney for the bankrupts,
Messrs. Owen and Gutch) laid before the meeting
a history of the bank from 1844, when the firm
consisted of Messrs. Farley, Lavender, Owen, and
Gutch, and the capital was 30,0001., of which Mr.
Farley contributed 10,0001., Mr. Lavender 10,0001.,
and Messrs. Owen and Gutch 5,0001. each. Mr.
Lavender, who was Mr. Gutch's father-in-law 9 lent
him his 5,0001., and also lent Mr. Owen 1,5001.
Those sums are still owing to his executors. When
Mr. Farley and Mr. Lavender died the present
partners, Owen and Gutch, continued the firm with
a reduced capital. There was about 5,000/. in cash
and good bills in the bank when it suspended pay-
ment.
Mr. Kettle, accountant, produced their state-
ment of liabilities and assets. The total liabilities
were 89,4511. 15s. 2d., and of the assets 49,659/.
3s. 11d., leaving a deficiency of 39,7921. lls. 3d.
The seporate estate of Mr. Gutch showed credit to
0,8101., and debits 10,5001., including the 10,0001.
owing to Lavender's executors, and Mr. Owen's
separate credits 2,9051., and debts 3,1791. 16s.
The CHAIRMAN announced that Miss Lavender
was willing to forego her claim of 12,750/., due to
her, as executrix of her father, if the general credi-
tors would not attach Mr. Gutch's life interest in a
property, worth about 1,5001., he bah)°, in his 82nd
year. He had also a sum of about 4,0001. sterling
in the funds, which she intended to appropriate
in liquidation of the poorer class of claimants under
the estate. _ _

The announcement was cheered, and a resolution
was passed for proceeding with the bankruptcy,
and approving of what had been done ; also recom-
mending J. W. Willis, Esq., and Mr. J. B. Read,
merchant, as assignees.

A vote- of thanks to the Chairman closed the
proceedings.

The liabilities of Messrs. William Dray and Co., whose
suspension took place on Friday, are stated to be about
60,0001. Mr. Dray Was connected with Deane, Dra9l
and Co., but his partnership with that firm bas just dul.
Solved, and they will not be compromised.

Clara Leicester.

~. LITFATtThL.

3 vols.

By Captain Da la B elord;
thy t and B 1 iekett.

This is a very mehncholy story, tracing the sad
effects of an unsuitable marriage, and subsequent
weakness and sin. Contrary to the usual method
of novelists, the tale commences when the heroine
has been married for some years, though she is still
youeg ai d b She h:8 tn..ried a harsh
and unfeeling man to extric,ete her father from
some involvements, and sees herself condemned to
a life of wretchedness. Instead of en•fe ',veering to
find peace in the conscientious fulfilinen ef her duties,
and the love of her children, she tries to mingle
with her former circle and accompanies her sister,
who has married an elderly duke, on an extended
voyage. They unfortunately meet with Lord
Sidney Tresham, a distant relation, and after EOllllO
weak vacillation, Clara elopes with Lice. The
greatest part of the story is occupied with her sub-
sequent struggles with poverty, nelect and
remorse. In this respect the story has an
excellent moral, showing how Clara wilfully
cast away all chances of peace and comfort by
suffering herself to b 3 deceived by a heart-
less and unprincipled man. Lord Sidney is
very well drawn, he is not elevated into a • hero
as is too often the case in fiction, but he is de-
scribed as a selfish, mean, and dissipated character,
though he could appear under a very different
aspect when it suited him. Lady Grace Dalzell
is
the most pleasing person iu the book. She is
Clara's cousin, and always endeavours to befriend
and assist her. Clara herself is too weak to excite
much interest. The same weakness and want
of decision that made her agree to the
marriage that was the source of all her
subsequent troubles, made her yield in the time of
more serious temptation. It is a satisfaction to the
reader to leave her entering a Spanish convent, for
whatever theological errors might be involved in
her change of faith, she was secure from want and
disgrace. The story cannot be said to be pleasing;
but the moral is a good one, and the sketches of
fashionable life and character will very probably
render it acceptable to many readers.

THE PROPOSED NEW SMITHFIELD

MARKET.

Supposing the plan to be carried out in detail,
as hid down, the north-east corner of Smith-
field, which is a sort of cut-de-sac, or what builders
call au " eel-trap," lying b,-twee n Li: g-liie and
the Chart,rhouse, wcul. ue th spoi s. fectA for the
market; and to obtaiw the n,ce,sary spat,-, without
encroaciung on. i.se f t,,4. gr- c [prat space
claimed oy the Crown, th cal-de-sac
be enlarged by puil.ng d,wri s.n.ne th, :ar. jac4 nt
property, whicli is of •ow by c ,tittninng,
the line westward t Durham-tad, create a heath/
square spuee of 25:),(1,.0 squa,e r et. ii,is plan
w. mid he divided ne,rly by S n &Iliad Bars,
wh! eh would be strai4liteired and I 11: de 6,) feet wide,
and i.;e e. f etio ou the space would be cos suttee
pi in3T4lly iron aril and b.-aeng the .speei
o: a v,ry otilitaran Crys•al Palace, 1[1,4, 11-wever,
utteriy Oest.tute of elegance. There would be
coni inuous rows of shops, spanned by a continuout-
roofing of glass supported b.) iron colutury. dowa the
centie and ornamented at the intersection of the
central avenues with a graceful dome with lantern
over, to be constructed entirely of iron and 100 feet
high. The area would be set out lonLitudinally
and transversely by avenues 32 feet wide, and the
shops for meat-salesmen would average 24 feet iu
length by 16 in width, while those in the part to
be appropriated for poultry would be only 16 feet
square ; but the nature of the plan is such that
two or more of the shops can be easily united
to meet the requirements of large dea:ers ; and,
besides the ordinary shop room, there is a
basement for store4ge, and a room over to
serve as office or retiring-room for the principals.
Practical usefulness is stamped on every detail of
the plans of elevation,—abundant light, free venti-
lation, efficient drainage, and plenty of elbow.
room.

Externally, a simple but effective facade, so
readily obtainable in structures of glass and iron,
will contribute with the crowning dotnes to relieve
the utilitarian character of the structure, and render
it what it should be—an ornament as well as a
necessity.

But the proposed improvements in the adjacent
thoroughfares and outlets are equally worthy of
consideration ; for was it not a repeated argument
for the abolition of the Smithfield Cattle Market,
that the approaches and outlets were too small foi
the ingress and egress of droves of cattle, and
that foot-passengers were exposed to danger every
market-day. This same argument might be used
in reference to the establishment of a dead-meat
market ; nay, the narrowness and weekly suffo-
cation of Newgate-street, by means of market
traffic, is one prime reason for the transference of
the dead-meat trade from that close nook to the
open and accessible space of Smithfield. Ac-
cordingly Mr. Isaacs proposes, as shown in his
ground-plan, to open a new road from Holborn-
bridge to King-street, which would level that ques-
tionable block of houses lying West-street way, and
open a sixty-feet causeway in a locality that has
long been in need of light and air. Then, in con-
tinuation of this street, one side of King-street.
and Long-lane would have to be pulled down, so as
to give a spacious roadway from the coiner of
Barbican to the corner of Farringd, ,n-strve , which
is, even now, a desideratum, and with market
bustle inaugurated on the spot, would be indispen-
sably necessary.—City Press.