The Sun.
London, England, 1857-10-23 00:00:00

THE STJIN, LONDON, FRIDAY

occasion of my other colleagues visiting me at Bridling•
ton—they named a large sum, I stated, as I then be-
lieved and still believe, that it was impossible, for I
knew well how frequently I had advanced the company
large sums (and my colleagues knew it also), and I felt
sure there must be some radical error in the company's
books.

" I was then so racked with pain as to be unfit for any
attention to business ; but I volunteered that my clerk
should give any information Mr. Carlill might wish.
This was done ; but I left Bridlington in an invalid's
carriage sooner than I otherwise should have done, in
order to attend to so important a matter myself. I had
already asked Mr. Carlill to let me have the company's
statement of account, and quite expected to find it ready
for me. It was not, however, completed ; but a clay
was named when it should be given to me. I had my
office books brought to my private residence, where I
was still ill ; but when the day came no account was
forthcoming. Over and over again did I press for this
document, stating distinctly that I was ready to pay any
balance that on examination iv might show against me.
That, account I never got nor have yet received it.
"It now turns out that there were private and vin-
dictive reasons fer this gross neglect of duty—for so I
must call it—when I know that it had been furnished,
and had presented the appearance assumptively stated
by the accountant, arrangements could have been made
for the liquidation or security of the balance which my
subsequent misfortunes render impracticable ; but that
did not suit the purposes of those whose counsel pre-
vailed at the board. It wag the policy and incsutious'y
expressed intention of ;Mr. Josh. Rylands to get rid of
me, and for two reasons : Ist, Because I had frustrated
a barefaced attempt on his part to get the board to re-
lease his family from all responsibility as regarded the
shares held by his late father; and 2nd, Because he
found I adhered more and more strongly to the opinion
repeatedly expressed, that the sooner our company aban-
doned the existing mode of business—which involved
engagements all over Europe upon a large borrowed
capital—and adopted the sure, sound, and legitimate one
pursued by the Kingston Cotton Mills, the earlier we
should be relieved from our financial difficulties. To see
this done I was pledged to the bankers ; but its carry-
ing out would have relieved our company from any de-
pendence upon the name of Rylands. So that to have me
out of the way became an important point. Had I re-
mained in health, the alteration I allude to would have
been carried out, and, with the knowkdge and approval
of three of my colleagues, I was then in correspondence
with influential Lancashire parties, with every prospect
of getting them to take a considerable pecuniary in-
terest and share in the management. But for my ill-
ness, your mills would have gone on and have been re-
modelled ; but my owing money to the concern, as as-
serted, was taken unfair advaotsge of in my absence.
The result you know.
"In conclusion, I have for four years toiled day and
night with a single eye to our common interest—the
improved condition of the mills. I have done so to the
serious and—it proves—ruinous neglect of my own
business, and against the advico and remonstrance of
many good friends, whose counsel I had done well to
follow. During this period I have never drawn one
shilling of the salary you voted for your chairman. I
have found money repeatedly to keep the mills in opera-
tion, and have repeatedly—nay, continually—made my
firm responsible for thousands upon thousands of pounds.
I boldly challenge any director to contradict me, when
I assert that but for me, and the financial resources I
commanded, the mills would have stopped long ago. I
have notes before me, from each member of the board,
which sustain this appeal, and three-fourths of them are
too honourable to deny it. Surely, surely, as men and
as gentlemen they should have given me the account I
asked for, and if a balance proved due (which is not
proved yet) then have treated me as they judged correct
and proper.
"Under present circumstances you will do well to
%vied up your affairs in the way recommended by the
board ; but I trust those who have this duty to perform
will take care not to let your valuable property pass
away for an old song."