The Sun.
London, England, 1826-09-26 00:00:00

TUESDAY EVENING, SEPTEMBER, 26, 1826.

Yesterday, a meeting of the Shareholders in.this Coin-
PanY was held at the office, in Cooper's-tow, Savage-
gardens, Captain Dickson in the chew.
The 'CHAIRMAN, previously to the commencement of
Proceedings, requested that the gentleman who attended
from the Morning Herald would inform hint'whether, it
any error should be found in the report which he should
make he would take upon himself to correct it.
This was answered in the affirmative, and
The CHAIRMAN said, that he had called that meeting in
order to lay. beforethem the full exposition of every thing
that had taken place with respect to the enterprise in
which they had engaged. About 18 months ago he had
been informed by a Gallician ghtleman, that considerable
treasure was lying in vessels which had been stink in Vigo
Bay. He had put into his hands a letter from a foreign
gentleman, expressing much surprise that the English, who
were so enterprising a people, had never attempted to
raise such immense treasure, and referring him to Smollett's
History zi England, from which extracts were made of
a nature calculated to excite expectation. Those extracts,
stated, that several millions of pieces of eight 'were in
the galleons which had been sunk upwards of a century
ago in the Bay. This letter he' put into the hands of eight
gentlemen, upon whose judgment and honour he had the
utmost reliance. He called upon the Spanish Ambassa-
dor, for the purpose of making a contract with him on the
subject of the enterprise which he had determined to em-
bark in. The contract was, that half of the recovered
treasure should be given to he Spanish Government. The
contract had been made as publicly as possible. Amongst
the thousands of Spaniards who were in London at the
time, there was not one who ventured to contradict that
there were immense treasures in the Bay; but there ex-
isted a difference of opinion as to the practicability of rais-
ing them. It frequently happened that, before he dis-
posed of the shares in that Company, he was asked
what loss might be incurred, and he uniformly replied,
that by the purchase of shares from him the buyer would
incur no loss, in addition to that which might result from
the want of success. Was this, he would ask,• ensuring
success to those who' speculated ? No. He certainly
never anticipated a failure, but he never spoke posi-
tively of success. It was the fate of the shares that they.
disappointed his expectation, but was he responsible for
the failure ? If he had known to a dead certainty that the
treasures would be raised, he would have been a fool to sell
a single share. For the purpose of arranging the plan, he
went to Madrid to see the Minister, and he received the
greatest encouragement from that gentleman,viho expressed
a confidence that there were great treasures in the Bay.
• Nobody, in fact, doubted the existence of the treasure, al-
though many spoke of the difficulty of getting at it.—
'One said that the divers never could get through the
mud. No men could exert themselves more than
the crew of the Enterprise had done, and the eight gen-
tlemen, who had the management of the company, were
equally assiduous. In Burnett's History of England, it
was stated that the Duke of Ormond requested Sir George
Rooke to make an experiment to raise some of the trea-
sures which lay in the Bay, but the attempt was not made
in consequence of the deficiency of provisions 'upon the
occasion. It was • the common report in Spain, that if
the Spaniards had all the treasures that were in Vigo Ai.), ,
they would be the richest people-in the world. Hia.hopes
became more and more elevated, and he actually consulted
Captain Brown, who commanded the Enterprise., as to
the sum which he should pay to the eight gentlemen who
held fifty shares each, for their interest in the company.
He had put an advertisement in The Times newspaper,
calling together the shareholders this day, and he was now
ready to answer any questions which might be put to him.
Mr. STEELS requested the attention of the Meeting.
The.question which now presented itself was different
films that which occupied the attention of the share-
holders twelve months ago. It was at that time a ques-
tion as to the quantity of treasure.. It was now a question
as to its existence. He had, as had been stated by his
friend, Made research at the British Museum upon the sub-
ject which occupied their attention, in order to ascertain
the amount, if possible, of the treasure that had been sunk.
He found in Smollett that part had been raised, and that,
part remained below, and he persevered 'in his inquiry
upon the subject .on which the motives and conduct of his
friend had been so grossly misrepresented. He knew the
difference between historical . and rhetorical evidence, but
he considered the following quotation from the "Oratio ad
Annani Regina»s, 1703," confirmatory of the historical evi-
dence with which other writers had written on this sub-
ject—" Et cistis diffractis argentea lanzina nummosguc pet-
lueere per undas." He sent the original to the eight gen-
tlemen who were interested in the enterprise, accompanied
by the following translation---" And the cases having been
broken, plates of silver and coined money were seen glit-
tering through the waters," Mr. Steele mentioned other
works, in which he met with allusions to.the treasures in
Vigo Bay, but they contained no intelligence as to the
quantity. The Oratio, however, by the strong expression
"argentea lamina," most strongly confirmed in his mind
the previous opinion of the existence of a large treasure.
Mr.,MoJEw said he had had nothing whatever to do
with the Vigo Bay Company. He, however, thought he
might bear testimony to the documentary evidence moon
this subject. kle had a book which treated of " The
Fleet of Holland," and. he had met with a passage in it,
mating that many millions of pieces of eight had been
either taken or sunk.

Several shareholders said, that they Were prevented
from speaking,by the apprehension that their names would
appem before the public : and they did not wish that it
should be known that they embarked hundreds of pounds
in a speculation in which there was considerable hazard.--
They, however, took care, by not mentioning each other's
names,. to avoid the danger; and finding they were not
likely to be known to those who attended for. the press,
spoke unreservedly.
' One of them.said, he haditirchased shares upon the
authority of Smollett's History of England. He had alio
en the zee( of all concerned in the company; and never
1 a Dickson thought there *es
had he, seen more marked activity. He . had - lost his
nmnreys but he was satisfied that every exertion had beene, unless indeed Captain
still sons chance upon examination of the bottom.. He
knew that four or five of the directors of the company had
770e00/""fd 4 .share; and that one
• or 60 slim.understood five or six
had sold ,dus ea. He that
of them had refused
res.
reluctantly
since he returned °fr.
.Capt. Dickson, he was told, sold sham
Captain picks rg
said, that he never had sold a shire
ultimate success, V: Vigo, such was his opinion • of
would amts the nature
- tohfen requested that Captain Brown
Captain BROWN prod the -proceedings at Vigo Bay.
12 galleons that were sunk
superintended the whole teed a ems to the Meeting. He
the trey
they
Itag. They ' worked at
quantity of mud out of themn the bay, and took a great
consequence in them, alth • They found nothing of any
art to the main-mast, treat'.
, s pointed out by' the Spanish
examined them from
panoYun(Ctiell.: parTthoefwaooshdipoi* the ces4in
TI: Iree
never being placed in
a situation
ti Iri en board were 281
:if the vessels was' . Was quite soft. The
' A Shareholder,--What depth did You Li:o 9
Captain BROWN.'"•••
We went dovrri 13-fathoms, but we

worked in ten fathoms.
one ship.
A shareholder—Who worked the bells ?
Captain superintended tbe working of the
belle. One man went down 50 times. Wel arrived at
Vigo Bay on the 24th of October, and we left it on the
Wu of August.
A shareholder—no you know, Sir, that the bells cannot
be worked in deeper than 40 feet water—that in deeper
water the lungs cannot act ?
Captain BROWN—I know quite the reverse.
Captain DICKSON—Sir Edward Banks -assured me the
bells could be worked in 60 feet water; and offered to en-
gage in the contract.
A shareholder—To my knowledge
the Spanish Govern-
ment Made offers of a similar kind. In Spain they were
as sanguine of success as they have been in this country.
Captain BROWN—If the shareholders wish to see the de-
tails, my log-book is open to their inspection.
A shareholder—ls the thing abandoned or. mot ?
Captain DicicsoNSiich cruel misrepresentations have
been made with regard to the company, that I would wish
to answer the shareholder privately in that respect. I
should be sorry if I timught I should die without Making
a strenuous effort to get at that treasure.
A Solicitor to a shareholder—l understand that the means
taken to accomplish the desired object have been totally
linadequate. I wrote to Mr. Dickson a few questions,which
I shall now repeat. I asked him whether a piece of plate
had not been picked up near the place where the vessel
lay, and whether he was not present when it was so fished
up ; whether he did not write to the Directors, on set-
ting off from Madrid, stating that he had sold fifteen
shares to Mr. O'Shea, at 300/. each; and whether his
letter did not convey those shares in separate transfers ef
100/. each, the transfers being signed and sealed with
the royal arms, to your agent in London, with direc-
tions to sell them at the rats of from 100/. to 150/. a
share, or whatever he could get for them; and whether
the said shares were not sold in the London market at
from 120/. to 1304 a piece ? You admitted that you did
not sell your 15 shares at 300/. per share; but that you
had exchanged them for silver and gold mine shares in
Madrid, and that you had given directions to your agent
to sell at 1201. or 130/. a share. You say that you did
not sell a share after your return from Vigo Bay. No, you
certainly did not,• for they were not saleable after that..
We saw this share (showing a share) which formerly be-
longed to you in the market,and were completely staggered to
'see it after your high expectations of !success. It was taken
to the directors, and they' were thunderstruck. It is my;
opinion, gentlemen, that waought to form a Committee to
inquire into the pertieulars of the whole transaction. Mr.
Dickson, it is said, has put many thousands into his
pocket by the CoMpany, and it is very easy to get up a
plausible story.
Captain DICKSON—I can have no objection to a .Com-
mittee. With respect to those questions, it is easy to an-
swer them. The man who, as the worthy gentleman says,
fished up the plate, is below stairs, and will, if called up,
describe what took place fully, as he went down in a bell.
I was not on or near the spot at the time.
Captain BROWN—Upwards of a dozen pieces of plate
were picked up at different times in the Bay.
Captain Dloneots-,-..Vott 'poke of shares wile?! I autd
in Madrid: I was frequently solicited there to sell some
lof my shares, and repeatedly 'eeltoed. A gentlemasit•
however, having otkred mu three sinarib in .a Madrid Gold
and Silver Company for one of mine, I let him have 17
shares at that rate, for I knew that company weuki get
up. I valued mine at 3001. each, and his at 1004, and to
my surprise I found afterwards that they were in the mar-
ket. I got them back, with the exception of a few, for
which I received 300/. each. ,It has been said that a
prospectus was issued ; that was not the fact; I never
saw such a thing as a prospectus, and I most solemnly de-
clare that I never ordered a single share to be sold in the
Stock. Exchange.
A shareholder (pointing to the share)—This was your
share, and it appears that you transferred it to. Mr. O'Shea,
for the consideration of 3001.. Now you received no such
thing.

We took 50 tons of wood out of

Captain DICKSON—I have already stated that 'received
shares to that amount in a gold and silver mining company.
It is an every-day transaction.
Captain BROWN said that he had heard it asserted that
the means used in the Bay were not adequate. He most
plumply contradicted that assertion.
At this moment Mr. Polhill, the unsuccessful candi-
date for Southwark, and Mr. Chambers, the police magis-
trate, entered the room.

Mr. Pout4.4-1t appears from this share that Mr.
O'Shea gave to Captain Dickson 300!. for it. Now he
has done nothing of the kind. The statement here that
he did, induced my friend Mr. Chambers to purchase.
Captain DICKSON here explained the nature of the ex-
change he had made, as he had done before.
Mr. CIIAMOEILS—IIere is a paper which states that Mr.
Dickson received 300/. for a share. This sum he has not
received, and it therefore seems to be a false pretence. If
he has not received that money, the share gets into the
market, and the perscm who buys it is swindled out of his
money. J consider you in a perilous state.
Captain DtpxsoN—Do not use any more of this lan-
guage, Sir, whoever you are.
Mr. CHAMMERII--I ask, as a magistrate, whether this is
not a false pretence calculated to give to the shares a false
value.

Mr. pautiLL--1 have seen enough to convince me that
I must have my money back.
Mr. CHAMBERS... 4 am of opinion that a ease of conspi-
racy to defraud may be made out.
Captain Dicxsos—l'll not he bullied by you, who-
ever you are. Magistrate or not, you have no claim to the
character of a gentleman • and if I hear any more of this
house at
ungentlemanly language, order you out of my
once.

Mr. ettAsinEn4-1 say this is a false token under the
Art of Parliament.

Captain It is false. You are the only per-
son who has acted unlike I gentleman ; but you shall not
bully here.
Mr. Pot money return,
attlx.—T shall expect to see my
ed.—(Loud laughter.)
Captain DieusoN.—l should be glad to know, Sir,
whether, if you had sold your shares at 1,000/. eachou
would have given me the difference.—(A laugh , y
After a great deal of conversation upon the ) subject of
Committee, a Conittee, one was appointed to investigate
the affairs of the Company, &c. &c, and the Meeting
separated,

It is very much to the honour of the female sex, at
least such part of it as are employed in trades or Milli-
h
factures of any description, that they never combine
aoainst their employers,
in order to obtain higer
c,
wages, or to impose regulations of any kind.—Stock-
port Advertiser,

SYMPTOM OP Ravi VING ENTEICIPRISF,-.A cot-
ton work in Itenfrewshire, which WU Vtilued by corn-
)etent rersons, in July last, at 11,000/., was exposed
is coup' on nurstiay, at 1-matey, at the upset
ince of 11,500/., and after a keen competition, was
Lnocked down at 11,050/.—Paisley Advertiser.

NEW COURT.
The CosmoN SERGEANT sat for a short time in the
morning, to dispose of the few remaining trials; after
which,

The REconnErt Caine into Court, and (the whole of
the convicts having, been called up for judgment) passed
the following sentences :--
DEATII—John Shales and John for returning
from transportation : James Field, Wm. Williams,ohnson, dies
Forbes, Joseph Cross, and Satimel Meneth, for horse-
stealing; James Spencer, George Morgan, and Charles
Haycraft, for burglary; John Buckhurst, Wm. Johnson,
John Wm. Wilson, Thomas Walker, Wm. Johnion, Eliza-
beth Allender, Ann Allender, Thomas Powell, Samuel
Percevall, and Edward Elliott, for housebreaking; Benji
Robinson, George Mullins, Wm. Arthur, Wm. Ipomas,
John Hayes, Samuel Mappin, Caroline Fittallen, Maiy
Hastings, aroline. Hopper, Charles 'Curry, J. Willia/AA;
T. Slack, Joseph Rayne, Daniel Lynch, and Wm. Haynes;
for stealing in a dwelling-house; Wrn. Waters, \V.
Andrews, John .King, Catherine Parmenter, Sarah
Jarvis, Henry Dunn (judgment respited),George Hough/
ton, James Boyce, Robert King, John Robinson, George
Nicholls, James Goulby, and John Playdell, for highway
robbery. I

Total sentenced to death
Transportation for life
Ditto, 14 years
Ditto,:? years
Imprisonment and hard labour for 2 years

47

5)6

Ditto, 12 months
Ditto, 6 months
To various other periods of imprisonment, from t lace
months to 14 days, including also thme who were
sentenced to be privately whipped and discharged

Total sentenced

7
11P13e'sPiidtedes ttihileisiee,ltthB;e6wmere upwards of 60 sentenced at
the close of their respective trials. Indeed, it seems
strange that this practice should not be generally followed.•
Nothing can tend more to produce a salutary impression
on those who have heard the trials than to hear of punish-
ment awarded, which they are certain will in all human
probability 'be carried into effect. Punishment is thus,
viewed in that light by which it, is productive of the
greatest good, the almost certain and immediate conse-
queneeof crime. On the other hand, nothing detracts
more from the deep respect with which the administration
'of justice in our criminal court is in general held, than the
sight of a vast multitude of human beings brought to-
gether in a crowded court, for the purpose of receiving
sentence, some of loss of life, others privation of liberty to
various degrees of length, and all to some measure of .stif-
tering more or less severe. The spectator, in such instances,
is in general ignorant of the details of each particular cue,
and his horror of the individual crime is changed to com-
miseration for the fate of the mass of wretched beings
before him, on whom he sees the law thus pouring forth
its vengeance by wholesale. The man who is present
at the trial of a common thief, and who hears the esta-
blishment of his guilt by the verdict of a jury, fol-
lowed by a sentence of transportation, is thus taught to
respect those laws, which, by removing a dangerous mem-
! i) iei Tr eor
f:44;i iel It society,
be :fir feeling e litgigrefaotrertlsteerwitr to property. Far
when he hears set).
itenee* of transphrtation for life, or more limited periods,
passed on upwards of 100 of his fellow men en mesas, of
' whose crimes he hears lillilii..6 oast,. 4.4)... that they had
been convicted of " felony" or " grand lareetl." Surely
the risk of lessening - the respect for the administration of
our criminal law in this manner, might be easily avoided
by having sentence passed on each individual at the close
of his trial. The only objection to this practice that we
have heard of, is, that the City of London claims the pri-
vilege of passing sentence by the mouth of its Recorder
on all criminals convicted within its jurisdiction. The ci-
tizens, no doubt, ought to be very, tenacious of their rights;
but we apprehend that good sense would teach them not
to object to the relinquishment of a privilege (if it be one),
from which they can derive no earthly advantage, and
which is itself absurd and inconvenient. Another subject
deserving of notice, connected with the close of these ses-
sions, is the manner of passing sentence of death.