The Sun.
London, England, 1844-07-15 00:00:00

the dealings of the bankrupt, not only as a solicitor but
as a speculator, was very great, and the Learned Com-,
missioner was aware that when once this spirit entered
the mind of a person there was no knowing to what
extent in speculation that person would proceed. Now,
as far as the bankrupt's accounts showed, he had been
in receipt of from 3,0001. to 4,0001. by his profession,
and from his property he had an annual rental of
from 5,000/. to 6,01;0/. It was exceedingly difficult
to say, what might not be the bankrupts reason-
able expectations of repaying any moneys he might
have speculated with ; and if on investigation of his ac-
counts his Honour should find many extenuating cir-
cumstances, he (Mr. Sturgeon) felt convinced that the
Court would incline to give that leniency to the bank-
rupt o' which he stood so much in need. That he had
striven manfully against his evil fortunes was true, for,
for a long period of bis life he had not gone to bed on
any one night till two in the morning, so anxious was he
to restore to all the properties he might have
taken the temporary use of. But would the creditors
greatly lose by this unfortunate gentleman? He held
Lecurities on property which was valued at 120,000/—
Sir C. F. WlLLtams—l would compound for 120,000
half-crowns, Mr. Sturgeon. I feel so much for you, on
account of the difficulty in which you are placed between
this Court and your client, that I will hear all you have
to say in mitigation ; but I will feel obliged if you will
state nothing but what is founded on facts, lest it should
get to the public through the medium of the public press.
I cannot permit you to go on with these statements, be-
cause if I do I must reply to them,
Mr. STURGEON was not aware that the amount of
property stated in the schedule was contrary to the fact.
Sir F. C. WILLIAMS—There is no voucher for it.

You have no foundation for those statements but your
instructions, and a kind and generous feeling towards
the fallen.

Mr. STuncros—What he was contending for was,
that the property in the balance-sheet was stated at
120,0001., which was proved from the banker's book and
other source. Mr. Bromley, he was assured, would
amend his schedule. He would, however, suggest that
the creditors should meet to prevent the sacrifice of the
bankrupt's estate at a nominal value. He complained
that in the addresses of his Learned Friends on the pre-
ceding examinations of the bankrupt, they had used lan-
guage which, to say the least of it, was greatly exagge-
rated, as when his Learned Friend, Mr. Humphrey, said
that he had twenty-three similar cases to those advanced
by Mr. Clarkson.
Mr. IlwirlinEy—l have them now.

Mr. STURGEON—Had written for the list of such cases,
and many of them he found (sixteen, no less), which
Mr. Bromley could not, after the most careful considera-
tion, charge himself with.
Sir C. F. WILLI...Ns—How can you prove that ?
Mr. STURGEON—WouId prove by the oath of the
bankrupt that on these sixteen cases no fraud had been
committed.

Sir. C. F. Wmootais—l am sure that I can cite from
the bankrupt's own books amounts to the value of
20,0001, where, and I am obliged to say it, this cold and
determined wrong had been committed.
Mr. STURGEON—NO doubt but there seemed a
deeper and hidden motive on the part of the
learned gentleman retained by the assignees. There
might have been money appropriated in three or four
cases—a man might do so with the firm intention of
refunding it ; but then it was stated that an
amoant of 90,0001. had been used in various acts
of speculation, and every one of them steeped in fraud,
that it would be painful to go into. Therefore, he
thoeght his Learned Friend Mr. Humphrey was hound,
in justice to the bankrupt, to prove these allegatir.ns.
hy, in the list he held, he found the name of Earl
Grey for an amount of cash to have been invested in
stocks, but which the assignees alleged had been misap-
propriated, and vet none of Lord Grey's family were
there to Ares; their claims. None of the family of Mrs.
Hare were there, and her name was also in the list. He
prayed the Court to confider that the bankrupt was in
declining health. the result of his intense application
to business, which had induced an affection of the
heart ; his wife was also in the same condition,
and he had a family of eleven children. He felt
confident, that if the Court did not paralyse the
bankrupt's energies, the creditors would reap the result
of his activity. He trusted that the future would not
only exhibit a gleam of hope for the unfortunate gentle-
man beside him, but for those also who at present
seemed the greater sufferers. He was deeply contrite
and penitent, and would do all in his power to give satis-
faction to the assignees.
Sir C. F. WILLIAMS said that the question before him
was, whether or not he would be satisfied with the ba-
lance-sheet sent in by Mr. Bromley. He would not
comment upon the figures quoted by Mr. Sturgeon, as
the whole endeavour of the Learned Counsel had been
to raise a feeling of compassion for his client. But he
(Sir C. F. Williams) had a duty to perform, not only to
the public but to the creditors, and not only to them but
to himself also and to the unfortunate bankrupt; and he
he must say that he never, in the whole course of his lire,
saw a balance-sheet more calculated to excite the strongest
feelings of disappointment, and not disappointment only,
than this sheet of Mr. Bromley's. Mr. Bromley's trans-
actions reached over a long period, those which were
blameable, and those which were much more than
blameable, had extended over ten and thirteen years.
If there was one avocation more than another which re•
quired honour and integrity in its professors that of an
attorney required them, for there was scarcely a family,
scarcely an individual, who, at some period or another,
were not obliged to consult an attorney. There-
fore, these transactions of Mr. Bromley not
only injured himself, but cast a blighting influence
over his profession. These transactions had not been
done on the impulse of the moment—on the spur of
necessity. No ! they had covered a course. of years.
He had dropped, on a previous occasion, an expression
that it' part of those transactions was not obtaining
money under false pretences, he did not know what was,
and such, he felt convinced, would be the opinion
of all honest and all estimable men in the profession
of the law for would not such doings as these
be calculated to excite deep distrust and suspicion, would
not men quote the unfortunate man's name when they
wished to produce proof that their suspicions, and that
their distrust was not a chimera. And now to the
balance-sheet. The bankrupt did not profess to show in
it that he had possessed one single shilling when he
commenced those speculations, and yet, at the time of
the issuing of the fiat his liabilities amounted to
141,5221. Is. 11d. Out of this there were creditors
without security, without: the shadow of a shade
of security to the enormous amount of 86,7911.,
and of the whole names in his schedule
only those drawn for an amount of 4541. 15s. held secu-
rities. On examining the balance-sheet, and scruti-
nising the property value at 120,000/., he was verily of
opinion that it would not realise 6,0001. The Learned
Commissioner then recapitulated in detail the bankrupt's
transactions with Archdeacon Brymer, respecting the
misapplication of various sums under the will of the late
Mr. T. Wilkinson ; and a further sum of 3,500/., also
appropriated to his own ate, and other sums of greater
or lesser amount, appropriated in a similar manner.
Let them imagine four, five, or six families reduced,
through the means of the bankrupt, from opulence to
indigence ; from enough and to spare, to a loaf, and
would the Learned Counsel, under these circumstances,
have them extend their sympathy to the creditors, or to
the bankrupt ? He thought that ere men commenced to
speculate, they should first examine their banker's book
to ascertain if they could do so upon their own
resources, without trenching upon property en-
trusted to their care. He never knew an instance
(perhaps he might except one) where ruin did not sooner
or later overtake the speculatm without a capital. The
present was a sad instance, the speculator without a
shilling. The bankrupt in 141,000 L Such a case had
never been before him yet, and never would be, he
trusted again. He would, therefore, adjourn the further
examination of the bankrupt, to give time for the
amending of his balance sheet, and he trusted that when
he next came up he would be prepared to show the real
nature of his property. for he might rest assured that
pass he would not until the Court and his creditors
were fully satisfied.
After some further remarks and some discussion be-
tween counsel, as to whether the bankrupt should still
receive his allowance from the estate, the further hear-
ing was adjourned till the 29th of October, at ten o'clock.

TATTERSALL'S.-THIS EVENING.
QUARTER TO Six O'CLOCK.
LIVERPOOL CUP.

6 to 1 agst iEra
6 to 1 agst A British Yeoman
6 to 1 agst Castor
8 to 1 aget Poor Soldier
8 to 1 aget Aristotle
10 to 1 agst Pompey
16 to 1 agst Mickey Free
16 to 1 agst Best-of-Three

GOODWOOD STAKES.
6 to 1 agst Franchise
10 to 1 agst Croton Oil
11 to 1 agst Red Deer
16 to 1 agst The Currier
17 to 1 agst Elegance
17 to 1 agst Lucy Banks
20 to 1 agst Poussin

GOODWOOD CUP.
2 to 1 agst Alice Hawthorn
8 to 1 agst The Squire
ST. LEGER.

7 to 2 agst The Cure
7 to I agst Princess
8 to I agst Ithuriel

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.
(THIS EVENING.)

HOUSE OF LORDS.

Their Lordships assembled at Five o'clock.
The Earl of RODEN presented petitions from Caith-
ness and other places, in favour of the legalisation of
Presbyterian marriages in Ireland.

MAZZINL
The Earl of RADNOR moved that the petition, which
he presented on Friday last from Mr. Mazzini, be referred
to the Select Committee which had been appointed on
the subject of opening letters at the Post-office.
The Duke of WELLINGTON said that the Com-
mittee which had been appointed was to inquire into
the state of the law respecting opening letters by the
Secretary of State ; and he did not see, therefore, how
such an investigation could affect the character of Mr.
Mazzini, or how such a Committee could clear his cha-
racter, supposing it to have been attacked ? He (the
Duke of Wellington), therefore, thought this motion of
the Noble Earl was premature.

The Earl of RADNOR thought if this were the case,
that the decision of the Committee ought not to be,
biased by any statement which might be made with
respect to the character of Mr. Mazzini. As the Noble
Duke said the motion was premature, he (the Earl of
Radnor) would withdraw it for the present, and reserve
it for a future occasion.
tof I The motion was then withdrawn.