The Sun.
London, England, 1844-02-28 00:00:00

scrapes, but I now find' -.l4phitt-r;-
I
have raised 800/. or 900/. on . Watiallot
but money was advanced on - ti e I
received money from Whistle ' ober,
1843. The 800/. or 9001. so r • • t fn riaX
schedule given an account of it y.• I
began to borrow money upon those jewels about May, and
from that date to October, the 800/. or 900/. was raised.
Mr. James—Will you turn to your schedule and state
the amount of your professional earnings at your country en-
gagements since your last insolvency?
,{r. Mathews—The amount is 4,562/. This includes both
the salary of myself and Mrs. Mathews, and is the result of
our playin at Liverpool, Dublin, and Glasgow. I was in
in Dublin January, 1843, and stayed there four weeks, for
which I received 610/. Out of the 610/. I paid several cre-
ditors. -Goldspede had SOL Chittenden, the upholsterer,
50/. I was in the country during the months of January,
February, and March. At Liverpool our earnings amounted
to 1,700 L, out of which I sent 9001. up to London. The re-
mainder was spent in travelling expenses, &c. While there
I had to contend with the repeated applications of my cre-
ditors. I had to write regularly seven letters a day to
appease them. (Mr-Mathews here read a list of creditors
who had received payments out of this 900/., and Mr. .Lnder-
son was entered as having been paid 1601.)
Sir C. F. Wii.m.vms—Then Mr. Anderson's debt was ori-
ginally 800/.
Mr. Mathews—Just so, your Honour, and for 1:4 right
understanding of the Court and the public, I beg to*plain
how that money was borrowed from Mr. Anderson. The
Learned Counsel of that gentleman has made it appearthat
the money wat lent me on the understanding thati was not
in difficulties, but that is not the case.
Mr. Mathews then went into a 'statement of the manner in
which the money was lent by Mr. Anderson, and &dated
that the first act of kindness was offered by his wife, who
knew all about his affairs.

~/ ~i

This led to the examination of Mr. Anderson himself, who
gave a very different version. Ire said he was first requested
to lend the money by Madame Bartolozzi, Mrs. Mathews's
mother, and also Mrs. Anderson's nether. He said he had
no wish to deal harshly with Mr. Mathews, if he thought he
had not means ; but he believed that he had means. Madame
parted with her money very reluctantly.
Mr. Mathews—l wish she did. That is certainly making
her appear in a new character. .
After Mr. Anderson's evidence, Mr. James said it was now
thus for the other side to support the petition.
Mr. Chambers—No such thing. Let us first have your
whole case. `,
Sir C. F. WiLuAlts—l am very much afraid that there are
some things here which are not justified by law.
Mr. James—Upon the evidence already adduced I con-
tend that my Learned Friends are bound now to support their
petition.
Sir C. F. WiLuksis—l cannot say that with so large a
salary, and to great a degree of popularity, that Mr. Mathews
had no probable means of paying his debts. I think that
justice may be administered with kindness, and I shall not
interdict Mr. Mathews in his defence. Neither shall it be my
fault to deprive the public of the benefit of his talents and
popularity.
Mr. James—The earns rules "of law must "apply to Mr.
Mathews as would be applied to the case of a blacksmith if
he came here to seek the benefit of the A-ct, which should not
be used so as to accommodate Mr. Mathews.

Sir C. F. WILLiAms—I am not, Mr. James, accommodating
Mr. Mathews, but doing my duty to him and to the creditors,
acoording to rules of law and the dictates of my conscience.
Mr. Chambers—lf you have closed your examination of
Mr. Mathews, then it will remain for me to explain any dis-
crepancies which may appear in the case, but not till then.
Sir C. F. WiLmams—l wish to give Mr. Mathews every
opportunity of explaining one of the charges which has
been particularly pressed against him, and which has
weighed much upon the mind of the Court. I allude to
the charge -of reckless expenditure. His renewal of debts
was clearly illegal towards his new creditors, though his
offer to do so, no doubt, arose from a very proper feeling.
The impression upon my mind at present is, that these re-
newals will deprive him of the benefit of the Act in this
Court. I find that the present debts are 8,0001., and the
amount from which he was released before was no lees than
29,000/. Now I must have some satisfactory explanation as
to these two large amounts.
Mr. Chambers—We cannot, Sir, take the case by piece-
meal, and I now ask my Learned Friend again, if his exami-
nation of Mr. Mathews is concluded; for if not, then I
say let it be proceeded with at once. We shall then exa-
mine Mr. Mathews. We believe we shall be able to explain
all, both as to the legal and technical points of objection
urged against his application, for I am sure that he will come
out of the ordeal like a man of honour. I know there are
difficulties, and we are ready at once to grapple with them,
and, as we venture to think, triumphantly too.
Sir C. F. Wuilams—Your case, I take it, Mr. Chambers,
has not commenced.
Mr. Chambers—l am only waiting, Sir, for the conclusion
of my Learned Friend's case, when I shall at once proced to
examine Mr. Mathews.

Mr. Charles Poulton, confidential clerk to Messrs. Hunt
and Mortimer (now Hunt and Roskill), was then examined
as to the jewels and various transactions. In the course of
his examination he begged is correct a statement which had
been made at the last hearing by Mr. Chambers, as to their
house hiring out diamonds to the nobility who attended her
Majesty's Draiving-rooms, as that was 'not the ease They-
never hired out diamonds, although they sometimes obliged
their friends with the loan of them.
The re-examination of Mr. Mathews was then resumed by
Mr. James—l renewed debts to the, amount of 4,400/. alto-
gether, to Goodspede and Davis. . I renewed on their becom-
ing bail for me. I also renewed to Colonel Greville for 5601.
The same with regard to the Marquis of Abercorn, and many
of the renewals I only gave upon compulsion. The sum re-
newed to Goodspede was 4501., to Laurence Levi 150/., and
these were the only renewals I made by prior engagements,
and on the promise that they would become my baiL Other
renewals I made as a matter of honour, which might amount
—which did amount to 2,010/. 12s. Levi • promised to lend
me money as a friend, to relieve me from my difficulties ; but
at the wind-up of the affair I found his friendship consisted
in his charging me only 60 per cent. I paid him 611/. in
money, and yet I now find he says that I am still indebted
to him 200 L, but by what process he 'makes that out I am, at
a loss to know. To me it is quite a puzzle.
Do you contemplate taking any theatre now?—Ne,J do
not. If Mr. Webster was to leave the Haymarket we would
take it, as I think we could make that theatre answer very
well.
Sir C. F. WILL tuts--What were your losses at Covent-gar-
den Theatre? .
Mr. Mathews-27,0001. ; and I am , glad your Honour has
asked me that question, as it may enable me to correct sonic
very erroneous statements as to our alleged want of success
at Covent-garden. I say we did not succeed, strange as that
statement may be thought to be. When I took that theatre
they asked me 7,000/. a-year for the rent ; I said, "No such
thing," and offered 5,000/., which was accepted; Mr. Moore
saying tome, " We must have the 7,000/. a-year, if you eau
make it : and before you put a single shilling in your own
pocket, we must, at least, have our 5,000/. a-year." I
said if I agreed to such a condition, that I must have a
weekly salary, for under the circumstances I expected to lose
for the first two or three years. That, however, was not so,
for the first year I paid 5,800/., and the next year, .6,800/.,
when the proprietors bowed very low and took their hats off.
—(A laugh.) The third year Miss Kemble arrived in Eng-
land, and at first would not consent to appear except at the
Italian Opera. At last, however, she yielded, and I was
obliged to give her whatever terms she required.
The nights she did not play we had wretched houses,
and the losses were immense, as I had to • keep up
almost a double company. At the conclusion of her en-
gagement, the Germans whom I engaged broke down, and
for that season I only paid 2,0001. as rent ; but taking all the
seasons together I paid an average rent of about 5,000/.
Mr. Kemble was in the eye of the proprietors, who thought
they had got hold of the golden goose, and we were turned
out. I told them not to be too sanguine in their hopes, for
many accidents might befal Miss Kemble—for she might get
married ; she might leave the stage.; she might fall oft in her
attraction, or she might die; the first three of these predic-
tions have all been verified, but happily the fourth has not.
'We put in properties to the amount of 14,000/., every bit of
which has been seized by the proprietors, and I thought my-
self lucky to put up with the loss of 27,000/.
What were your own debts when you took the benefit of
the Act ?—I should say about 4,000/., but my personal debts
at the time did not exceed 300/.,"1 should say,: if so much.
Mr. Macready paid only 3,500/. in one year. Our working
salary was to be 40/. for the first year, and 60/. for the second
year, but during the first two years I took no salary, in order
that I might not injure the other performers, and, in fact, I
sent up 490/. out of my earnings in the country in order that
others might not be left without their salaries. One person,
except Mr. Anderson, was the only person to oppose me in
the other Court.
A Voice in the erowd.—You owe me Si. 18s. 34d. (a
laugh). .
Mr. Mathews—l know by his voice that this was my op-
ponent.
Mr. James—lt is only a voice in the gallery, while waiting
for the music.
Mr. Chambers—lt is his second appearance, then, in the
same character.—(A laugh) " '
Mr. Mathews (in continuation)—The proprietors of Covent,
garden took all the stock, which cost 14,000/.
Mr. James here again submitted that Mr. Mathews, from
evidence already adduced, had no local standing in this Court.
Mr. Chambers (contra) contended that the case should not
be divided. The real question was, was the interim order to
be granted or not?
Sir C. F. WILLIAMS would be sorry, if by any act of his he
should weaken the benevolence of the Act of Parliament ;
and it would be evidently doing an injustice to Mr. Mathews
if the Court refused to hear explanations, to put his character
right bfore the public.
Mr. Mathews, in examination by Mr. Chambers—Out of
my present debts, 4,400/. are renewals, and others have ac-
crued since my last insolvency—viz., the claim of Colonel
Greville and the Marquis of Abercorn. When 'left France
I only took 25/. of the 300/. and 25/. from Mr. Whistler, for
my own expenses, leaving the remainder for the necessary
charges for Mrs. Mathews, and other affairs. A great por-
tion of my means have been expended in staving off cre-
ditors, and paying law and interest charges for their for-
bearance. I gave my mother during this period 300/., being
at the rate of 2001. a-year, and Madame BartOlozzi 2001.
The latter lady, up to the day of her death, was dependent
upon me for support.
Mr. Mathews then at considerable length made a series or
charges against Mr. Davis, relative to his management of
his (Mr. Mathews's) affairs. Mr. Davis denied the truth of
a part of the allegations against him, adding that he had
evidence to that effect ; and Mr. Mathews rejoined by saying
that he could establish the charges he had made by evidence.
After sonic further proceedings,
Sir C. F. WH,LIAMS made a powerful appeal to the feelings
of Mr. Anderson, and
Mr. James having stated that he was empowered to con-
sult upon the leading points of the case with his Learned
Opponent,
The case was further adjourned.
The case occupied the whole of the day, the Court not
rising until six o'clock.

MIDDLESEX SESSIONS, Feb. 27.
(Before Mr. Wm-usav and a Bench of Magistrates.)
William Anderson, Samuel Levy, and John Wright, three
fashionably-dressed young men, members of the swell mob,
were indicted for unlawfully attempting to steal from the
person.
Levy was deaf and dumb, and his sister was sworn as in-
terpreter.
The sister, on making the signs, astonished the Chairman
at the rapidity with which she communicated, and desired
her to repeat it, as it was done in less time than. by speech.
The evidence adduced proved that the prisoners, on the
19th inst., were.in Clare-market attempting to pick the:pockets
of females.
Mr. PAYNE, in addressing the jary, said the indictment
charged the prisoners with endeavouring to pick the pockets
of certain females, when there was no evidence to prove that
the females in question wore pockets.—(Laughter.) •
The gry acquitted the prisoners.
j
Mr. Sergeant ADAMS, in reference to a questiou
see, 2, it was quite clear if any party shot.
the previous day, said, on perusing the 6th • raised On
an' 1 tth Victo-
ria,attorney or solicitor, not having been d 1 '
trpttrd render himself to be indicted r
u admitted, he
Sr a misdemeanor.
d act as an

A