The Sun.
London, England, 1826-12-06 00:00:00

110 wish to obstruct the object in view, but rather to promote its
attainment, by rendering the proposed inquiry practicable. The
Honourable Alderman, in the eourse of his speech, had stated
to some of the friends near Virn.,..,.who were giving him, but not
favouring hint with suggestines—that be would rather take his
own course, as he could otily do one thing at a time ; that was
precisely the principle ran which he (Mr. Canning) wished to pro-
ceed ; thinking, U. he did, that a sufficient Parliamentary ease
had been made `out for one specific inquiry—to that inquiry he
gave his conseatt, and to' that case he wished it to be confined. He
did. not I%iean, thereby, to preclude further investigation, should
other "eases be subsequently established'; but at present it would
be sufficient to direct attentien: to that which was most distinctly
brought before the House. It might be convenient to state its
the outset, that whereas the Honourable Alderman wished the
investigation to be extended to the " origin, management and
present state of all the Joint Stock Companies formed during
the years 1824, 1825, and 1828,' he (Mr. Canning) proposed:
by his
,Amendment, that it should be restricted to matters con-
!netted only with the Avigna Mining Company. In suggesting
' this alteration, he might add, that neither he, nor those with
whom he acted, felt the slightest disposition to screen frOm tee
tenure any parties guilty of alleged misconduct. If the purpose
of the Honourable Alderman were practical good, he seemed
elierate. d to launch on so wide :an ocean, that even if he ever ar-
%rived at the end of his voyage of discovery, it would be prolong-
ed to such it distant date, as to deprive the result of its most ma-
terial advantages. He (Mr. C.) was desirous to steer Mr one
point in the first instance, and afterwards, if it were found: ex-
pedient, to proceed in quest otnew :adventures. As at present
flamed, it was impossible to agree to the Resolution, since Its
terms would include many joint stock companies not in the con
temptation even of the lion. Alderman himself. Many persons
of the most unimpeachable character had embarked in speculetionis
of this description for the must irreproachable ends : Companies
for Rail-roads, Piers, Hai 'sours, Gas-lights, and many other laud»
able objects, had been established during the years mentioned hi
the Resolution, and into these he presented it was not intended
town the investigation. Ile did not apprehend that the Hon.
Alderman meant to cast any imputation upon the parties who bail
engaged in these useful speculations.
Mr. Alderman WAITHMAN said, 10; we under-
stood, that hg bad no such design in the P.:esoltilion he had offer-
ed to the House.
Mr. CANNING repeo+ f'
that at some tuture time
he should not resist
,
y into tne origin and management of
other Associations,a case at all like that against the :Mites
Company cwid, a 'established in the first instance. What' had
recently pa's in Parliament had excited in the mind of ever
man y
°a:fending to debates a suspicion, that in the conduct
of parties connected with that undertaking there is matter for grave
inquiry. The ellegations on the one hand, and perhaps the nature
of the defence set up on the otliet, chewed that the case could not
be passed over in 'silence. The project had been stigmatised by
epithets lee Would not repeat, while the Hon. Gentleman ;w-
-eaned 'bad Jellied hie participation, and had maintained his inno-
venice ; all who heard him meet wish that that innocence shindil
he established ; and without inquiry, the opportunity of yin-eli-
te:lion could net he afforded. Ile begged, to be understood as
hint intending' at all to prejudice any question hereafter to be
brought before a Committee ; but he felt called upon to say,
that what had fallen from the Honourable Alderman, regard-
ing any tither project, did not establish a ease at all equal to
that which had been made out against the Arigna Company.—
As to any general investigation, he was quite sure, that it the
Honourable Alderman mould induce the House to comer
'with him, he would find, in practice, that he merged Iris
men particular object in the multiplicity of details. It
W&s expedient, therefore, that the House should limit the
labours of the Committee in the first instance to one sub-
ject. There was certainly matter requiring further exami-
nation as fir as related to one mining speculation, and the Ob-
ject would he defeated by mixing up with it other tellies
illy connected in subject but not in substance. He could pot
angina to some of the notions promulgated, by the Honourable Al-
alermen, nor go the length of censuring, in such unmeasured tellies,
l'inn supposed readiness of the country to lend itself to these delis-
*tee projects. Some of the most: beneficial undertakings bad been
carried into effect by the agency of Joint Stock Companies, end
it was sufficient, perhaps, to mention the Bank and the East India
Company. The, Heim, he thought, ought to confine the present
Inquiry to the Arigna Company merely, and to go rio farthei ut
this time. To that extent the motion had his concurrence.
There was no disposition among these who sat on the same Ode
'with him to protect any persons who might have miaeonducted
'themselves, be they whom they might ; and if, at any future time
the Hon. Aldetinan would Make out in proper ease for inquiry
into the conduct of persons connected with othee Conepneiee,
would be ready to
,give him his support. With respect to the
names of the persona whilin the lion. Alderman proposed as those
who were to constitute the Committee, a list of them had been
put into his hands: and certainly the names were very 'Tepee.
table : but, at the same time, be could not help remarking, that
no less than fourteen of them were on the Hon. Alderman's side
in polities. The Hon. Alderman, himself, teemed toad:nit, that
the greater nmnber of sinners were on his own side (4 letoeb);
and it was on that ground that he objected to so many names
hem that side; for it was not exactly right that so many sinner+
should he appointed to try signiors (a laugh), as the sinners would
naturally support each other (here Mn-. Waithman
Brougham intimated across the l'uble, that it was not .uhnitted
that the greatest number of sinners was on that side of the Iluuse).
However, he trusted that the House geuerally had nu sinister
in-
terest to serve, and that nothing was contemplated but a fair, just,
end impartial inquiry. —(Deals hear.)
Mr. BROGDEN gave his most cordial and elger
support to the motion for inquiry, and was glad that the enquiry
wee likely soon to take place. A speedy and impartial enquiry
was what be moat anxiously desired, as he had no doubt that he
could felly clear himself from any impropriety of couduct, and
dispel the prejudices which had been excited against him. Ilut
owing to these unhappy prejudices, he was now called upon to
speak under great disadvantage, on a subject which (to him wits
one of the last importance. He had been pen annually and plain*
larly selected as the object of the Honourable Alderman's anima+
versions ; and he certainly could not help blaming the Hon. Al-
derman for the uncandid and unfeeling manner in which he hail
proceoled sgaivat him. Ile repeated that he rejoiced at the pi ea-
pea of this inquiry; for he was confident when the neater cans,:
before the committee, he would be aisle must entirely and coins
plainly to clear himself frontal:ll blame. He rejoiced in the pria-
pea of the appointment of the proposed Committee, and his great
anxiety ware that it ahould meet immediately. He earnestly hoped
the Committee would commence its !Amen' without delay : fur
the Hume ciadd not bet be aware that after the manner in
which these ehargeil had been brought forward against him by the
Hem Alderman, his feelings newt be in a very harnessed state,
long as the enquiry should be suspended. lie was therefore most
anxious, that when appointed, the Committee should immediately
proceed to business ; and that the House would. not allow the ilia
veetigation to stand over Till after the Holidays. The Honourable
Alderinan had Illatir him the particular object of personal attack;
as if be hurl been the greed encourager of Joint Stuck Compuniee.'
That was nut the case. Ile certainly had been no encourager oi
impreper Joint. Stock Companiea. lie bed been engaged in the,
dileenon of two or three Joint Stock Companies--all of thetn of
, unexceptionable chewier, and mutit tionful to the public, except
this miserable Arigne foiiipeny; mid. whatever improprieties'
might have teken place in the inenegenteut of the affairs of that.
C"031,44, Inc had had no share in any of these improprieties. He'
had been already ne his tried respecting the transactions which had
taken place in the nutnagement of that Continently, anti before as
competent a "4194 as airy thet could be appointed by that
Home. Ile bath heel tried by uniuent merehents of London—
Men particularly en?veront with affairs of this mow, and with
general busineae, coil hyallem lie bad been entialy acquitted af any
participation in those lien:sat:nous which had been considered de-
serving of ceneute. At a Aleeting of elentlemen of this descrip.
time, a Resolution bail been pelmt& and unanimously passed,
stating' that he had nut been at all implicated in the frauds
which had been understood to have takers ear, hear.)
He was to far from deprecating iniquuity, that he meet anxiously
solicited it—(Hear, bear. )—He begged leave to call the attention
of the House to what had passed at the Committees and Aleeting,
where this Arigna bueinees was brought under investigation. In
July, 1825, a
_Committee had been appointed to inquire into the
matter, and of this he was first informed by the Solicitor of the
Company ; and afterwards a General Meeting was held, to Which
the Committee had reported that nothing had appeared ins the
course of the investigation to implicate him or Mr. Bent. Shealy
after a publication appeared its the Mars newspaper, Which
seemed to reflect our his character as connected with these trans-
actions;•
-se
and upon this the Solicitor bee expreed to bloc his re_
gat that any blame should have thus been imput&l to him, and
atnt a letter to the Editor of the ,
stating that he (A r.
Brogden) frail not been at all implicated in the fraud in ques-
tion. Tlie Times had published the letter, but remarked at
the same time, that the Solicitors of these Companies would
naturally put the best fay poesilnkt upon the transactions
of the Managers. After this mete of treating the matter
•
by the Tones, he had determined that rio rejoinder from
him should appear in that paper. Tine matter did not
am there ; for the Cotriinittee which he mentioned above,
Moved by the injustice done to him in the Times, had met,
altd--hait lot hint a letter expressing their regret at the- pub-