The Sun.
London, England, 1844-07-19 00:00:00

LAW INTELLIGENCE.

INSOLVENT DEBTORS' COURT, July 18.
IN RE GEORGE" _AUGUSTUS SEWEL CHAPMAN-DRURY..

LANE THEATRE.

The Court was crowded during the hearing of this
case by persons connected with the theatrical profession.
The insolvent's petition was opposed by Mr. Nicholls,
on behalf of the proprietors of Drury-lane Theatre, and
by Mr. Crouch, on the part of Mr. Pitcher. He was sup-
ported by Messrs. Cooke and Woodruffe.
Mr. BURGESS, Solicitor to the Committee of Drury-
lane Theatre, stated that the insolvent rented the saloon
in this theatre for 4001. per annum, having the privilege
of selling books, bills, fruit, &c. The rent was to be
payable half•yearly, and in July, 1842, he owed rent to
the amount of 250/., and when applied to for payment
he replied, that the alteration in the. rules and customs
of the theatre, introduced by Mr. Macready, in prohi-
biting females of a certain class from frequenting the
saloon had so far lessened the receipts and profits of the
saloon that he was quite unable to pay so high a rent.
Although the Committee had refused to take 6001, a-
year for the saloCin, they consented to take 1001. out of
the 2501, and release him from his engagement, but the
insolvent would not accede to this proposal, and an ac-
tion being brought by the proprietors the insolvent put
them to 1001. costs by vexatiously defending it.
Cross.examinecl by Mr. COOKS--Mr. Macready de-
prived the insolvent of many of the privileges which be
possessed previous to that gentleman becoming lessee of
the theatre. Mr. Macready also reduced the number of
acting nights from 200 to 116, and the; of course, the
insolvent must have suffered. He had also forbidden the
admission of females of loose character, and had fixed a
reduced rate of prices for the refreshments served in the
saloon. The Committee had nothinc, to do with these
arrangements. There was also a Stib-Committee, con-
sisting of four members and a chairman. The Earl of
Glengall was the chairman of this Committee, and the
members Sir. W. Curtis and Messrs. Ramsbottom, Allen,
and Cabbell. The insolvent's family had rented the
saloon for upwards of twenty years, during which time
they had paid to the proprietary nearly 20,000/.
Mr. Pitcher's opposition rested upon the insolvent
having employed him to defend the action brought by
the proprietors' of the theatre, and having vexatiously
defended an action brought to recover the incidental
law costs. ,

Mr. COOKE having addressed the court, in favour of
he insolvent.

Mr. Commissioner LAW said the insolvent had no
right to complain of harsh treatment on the part of the
proprietors of Drury-lane Theatre. In the case of Mr.
Pitcher a gross fraud had been committed. In the pre-
sent stage of the proceedings he should adjourn the case,
in order that the schedule which was now very imper-
fect, might be amended.

COURT OF BANKRUPTCY, July 18.
(Before Mr. Commissioner HoLROYD.)
IN THE BANKRUPTCY OF CHAMBERS AND CO., LATE OF BOND-
STREET, BANKERS.
This day •was fixed for taking an audit in this extraordi-
nary case, which has been for the last twenty years promi-
nently placed before the .public, both before this Court and
every other Court of Law in Westminster, and is even now
awaiting the decision of an appeal to the House of Lords as
to the right of sale in the assignees of the Italian Opera
House. The commission was dated in November, 1824, and
since that period Mr. Chambers, sen., has been the inmate
of the Fleet Prison, while his accomplished daughter was
compelled to support herself by the public exertion of her
talents.
Mr. Hamilton to -day attended for the assignees, and put
in a statement of the bankrupts' affairs, the receipts and pay-
ments from the commencement of thebankruptcy in 1824 :
The payments on account of the Opera House include up-
wards of 20,0001. for improvements and substantial repairs,
18,0001. for fines on renewal of leases, and between 12,000/.
and 13,000/. on account of the purchase money.
The property of the bankrupts now consists of—
The Opera-house (subject to a claim by Mr. Wa-
ters to an annuity of 2501., the arrears of which,
with the redemption price (5,0000, amount to
about 13,0000, valued at
Estate at Chettle
The Enfield property has been sold for 6,200/, to
three-fifths of which the assignees are entitled,
which, after deducting expenses, will amount to 3,5011
Whetstone and Northam 2,000
Four-fifths of a Moiety of some property in Kent 2,500
Supposed balance on the settlement of accounts
between Mr. Chambers and Mr. Waters, under
a decree of the Court of Chancery, the pro-
ceedings in which are suspended by the
appeal now pending in the House of Lords, in
which judgment is expected to be given this
session ....................... 30,000
Funds in the Court of Bankruptcy ... 18,900
Total supposed assets (subject to the above claim) £lsG,9fltl
The debts proved and to be proved against the
joint estate ainotint to (about)
Ditto against the separate estate of Mr. Chambers,
the elder
The Learned Gentleman now stated that he wished to Ball
the attention of the C!ontt to an item which was also some-
what involved ip the bankruptcy of Messrs. Wfight, the
bankers--nainely, a charge for warehousing some ,t11)0 or
10,00 Q hooks, although of that immense number only 100
ca4}l4 ha of ft,e slightest possible use; and lie, on behalf of
Chambers! assignees, objected to the payment of so much
rent. He had suggested that those uselesS books schould be
thrown at once into the river '91.7tti1f,4, asaig,
nees hat} not the courage
The official assignee cmrt certainly kid not
the courage;
11 r, Pothinisaloner TiotaloYD—There must be some place
obtained in which to deposit them.
Mr. HAMILTON thought that only St. Paul's Clint-oyard
would be large enough to hold them,
Mr. Commissioner linx.n9a'tl---.The question of a place for
the depsi)Sit of bankrupts books and papers is now before the
Lord Chancellor, and will, I trust, be spee4ily brought to
inVertallea,
i:o4ticl44S it is undoubtedly one of considerable
he could not understand the utility of
some de
Hampton saidP
preserving useless books and papers in balikrirptP))
Were now several creditors in attendance,
Perhaps
eo
so far hack as the year 1703 i nut to revert to Chambers'
tahffeaylrBr; might stiplrobably wish to know how it happened that no
dividend had been yet declared, either upon the 1(414 Pr
separate estate, and hence, upon the
, part Pt ;lip 4dognm,
hp was pow ready tO eliPlEiin the larger items in the state,
honaindej4isit nie, that could only have presentedbeen
offered their. information,
tniheollutghw,hctilthileP.
offered to them in round numbers. Great difficulties had
occurred in the sale and purchase of the Opera House, wh,h
formed by far the 'largest asset in the Thp pima
HogEw2 t!r.l!= was oritii4liY IP ,ilnVe heen purchased from
leatf,shfe9rht g.;
but before
I.)elinngthe";•etiVlCBl2ll9Y,
bills
were filed in Chancery to compel the purchase and sale, a
decree was obtained, but a difficulty arose, as Mr. Waters
then resided in Vrance, rid the aslg-Peei haul not ma ice
had before 091 TIN 't".4P4 aV.
• , • ‘‘ at r wo•
a papa title. Mr- • • 17,er! fting in 18.19,
sthawtpredifficulty was Obviated, and three
chosen.
ngtee. A conditional contract
anepwortaioslg'
for fts sale for 190,9°9, \IV made 'by them, hat
anether nfesp rroin eireUitistante of Mr. Wa-
ters? representative then residing in France, when the ii§gfig-
pqe4 felt themselves
.authorised to offer him 5,0007. for his
assistance in perfecting the title ; but subsequently it was
found that Mr. Waters
peal 4giilns the decree Pliaiiceo 'before. onse of
Laijcig;- still' pending tho' decision of their
Lord'ShiPs. The' inteodecl'inire4aoerS w.ere then' Oqvl4a t's)
negdtiatniii was immediately
broken off, and the issue was only now awaitinz
ment of the Lord Chancellor, which he (Mr. Haliiiltonjfliati
every' reason to believe would be in favour of the assignees ;
and if that were sd, anti nO Other dif4ilit_,
, sliotild arise, then
very large item .would collie to' the -credit of the 'estate.
After going through -Other' details; lie said the -total
assets were then; as he had before Stated, 186,9001., subject,
however to a 'possible redtietiell of about 13,0001. uud if
• 1 •