The Sun.
London, England, 1826-09-21 00:00:00

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.

MANSION-HOUSE.—Yesterday, a Mr, Cottrell appeared at,
the Justice-room, to prefer a complaint against three of the trus-
tees of the Rio de la Plata Mining Association. Mr. Barber
Beaumont, having had intimation that it was Mr. Cottrell's in-
tention to apply to the LORD MAYOR upon the subject of some dis-
appointments experienced by those who had put their faith in
the assurance given of the advantages arising from an emigration
to South America, sent his agent to hear the statement, and to
answer it.
Mr. Cottrell's statement was as follows :—The association had
been established by a number of gentlemen of respectability,
aniongst them were those against whom Mr. Cottrell had found
it necessary to bring an accusation of a very serious nature, viz.
the trustees, Sir John E. Harrington, Bart., Sir George Duckett,
Bart., and J. F. Barber Beaumont, the last of whom was also
chairman of the Company. The prospectus stated, in its very
first paragraph, that one of the objects of the Association was
to remove part of the unemployed agricultural labourers of Great
Britain and Ireland to the settlements of the Association in
South America, and to establish them there as independent
farmers. In September, 1825, Mr. Cottrell was induced,
by the great advantages held out by that prospectus, to join
the Company, and embarked for what they called their
settlements at Entre itios, as an independent settler, having
first paid for his own and his son's passage. They arrived
at Ensenada do Barago the 19th of December, and from that
period all provisions or accommodation were denied them. lie
had been promised a share of the extensive territory alleged to be
in possession of the company, but not an inch of land had he ever
seen of theirs. Indeed, it would have been a difficult matter, for
land they had never been possessed of. In fact, they had not per-
formed a tittle of their pledge to the 400 or 500 unfortunate per-
sons who were deluded by the hope of a prosperous result to the
enterprise. In this extremity, he applied to the British Consul
at Buenos Ayres, for protection, and stated, that the agents had
refiised to send him up to the settlement; but the agents declared
before the British Consul, that the company had no land. Now
he had paid 1751. to the agent, in England, of this company for
200 acres of the promised land, and the passage of himself, his
son, and his brother, to the place of destination ; and all this
money, and more property, amounting to altogether between 5001.
and 6001., had disappeared, and no satisfaction had been made.
The Loan Maroa.—By what sort of conveyance was this pro•.
perty made over to you ?
Mr. Cottrell..--By none. We were promised an enclosed farm,
stocked with cattle. We acted upon that promise, and the whole
is a most gross delusion.
The Loan Mayon—Are you a shareholder in the Company?
Mr. Cottrell answered in the affirmative.
The Loan Maroa—Then I fear that puts an end to the
business.

Mr. Hobler—Was not the ship in which you sailed taken in
blockade on your passage?
Mr. Cottrell—No; the blockade did not take place until some
time after our ship arrived in the river.
Mr. fabler—Wore you not stopped by the Portuguese ?

Mr. Cottrell.—Not at all. -
Mr. Ilobler—l ask this question because I beard from a friend
of mine who has been unfortunate enough to be a shareholder in
this association, that a men of Mr. Barber Beaumont has been,
and I believe is still, in that condition. Of the fact that Mr.
Beaumont has sent out his own son, there is, not the Slightest
doubt ; and, I believe, that his being blockaded, there is as little
reason to queetion.
The Loan MAYDR..4 lee no ground for supposing, from
what has been stated, that the money was obtained under false
pretences. •
Mr. Hobler—lgy unfortunate friend states that the association
have lands, God knows to what extent,• hundreds of ►wiles, per-
haps. Of the quantity of success which may be attained here-
after, they certainly could not speak with any degree of certainty.
--(A laugh.)
Mr. Cottrell—Theee men received one hundred dollars a heitri
from the settlers for the passage, and paid but a small part of that
to the Captain of the vessel. They pocketed the rest.
The Loan Mavoa—Can yo►i prove that, Mr. Cottrell ?.
Mr. Cottrell—lt is matter well known, and publicly reported,
at Buenos Ayres.
The Loan Mavos.—l cannot take public report as evidence.
As you have been; disappointed in your hopes, it is but natural
that you, should feel,veverely at disappointment of so serious a
nature, and express yourself strongly. But you must see I cannot
act in this matter.

Mr. Cottrell—My Lord, I can produce Witnesses who Cilll
prove those and other facts.
The LORD MAYOR—Who have returned besides yourself?
Mr. Cottrell—No more than one person besides myself.
The Loan Mavou—Why not?
Mr. Cottrell—For the best of reasons, my Lord, because they
could not.

The Low) Mayon—What is the condition of the settlers?
141 r. Cottrell—Most deplorable. They are now for the greater
part slaves.
The LORD MAYOR-..-Slaves!

Mr. Cottrell—Yes, my Lord. The agents in South America
have refused to assist them. They were without the means of
subsistence, and were handed over to Proprietors in Buenos Ayres
as Redemptionists. They had not paid their passage-money, and
they have now been in servitude for years.
The Loan MAyna,--If this be the fact, the case is a very se-
rious one indeed.
Mr. Cottrell—lt is the fact.

The Loan Mayon—This is upon the old plan of settling,
that which took place at Maryland. Had you seen the true,
tees, against whom you complain, before you set out upon your
expedition ?

Mr. Cottrell.—Ycs, my Lord. On the 21st of August, 1825,
a meeting took place at the County Fire-office, to which the new
settlers were invited, and Mr. Birber Beaumont rose amongst them,
and said--‘! Fellow Countrytnen,—ln consequence of the very
deplorable' condition of the mechanics and labouring poor of this
country and Ireland, I and several of my friends have determined
to subscribe a capital of 1,000,0001. for the the encouragement of
emigration to the flourishing country of South America, and every
man who joins shall have SO acres of land, whether he pays his
passage or not." This was the language of encouragement held
out to the poor labouring and industrious English.
The Loan MAYOR..--. 1 perceive by the prospectus, that share-
holders
in the capital of the association are entitled to receive pos-
session of 300 acres of land, 50 head of Cattle, and .50 sheep, on
prove that the association
the credit of each share paid up. I need not ask you Whether you
ever saw any of the cattle or sheep ?—(A. laugh.)
gentlemen entered upon an
they are not
Mr. Cottrell--Cattle or sheep ! I can
had not a single head of cattle or a sheep in the world, and that
they had not an inch of ground.
answerablehe
e
u undertaking
kgbf LORDse
rre
l‘rtliounifYilrOytml:::alaend.thScetiewltilrtircitlilltinlahca:t9god44ttehnattiot:re was a con-
r.
but :aatillopur.eherid that would
infinitely more money in the
t tilieundirtecoutoars; mr.l3.."mont
has
venturer,
sa bePt
i leastr:mcciYnclejo:utt.totgLi'fito.diihee'l 2y, 0
haveoo/.
speCulation than that, every one of them. They have realised
enormous sums by the delusion. . ...
Mr. Peake, agent to the association in this Country, upon being
minadtheespeou
asked by the Loan MANOR whether he had any observations to
make, upon the subject, addressed his Lordship. Mr. Cottrell's
stateinent had, he said, becii'made merely in order that the public
'prints might show up the asiociation. . That 'object would, Pm'
inlay, he completely gained ; but at all evejiti, it should slot g° '
'forward without its antidote..(-0 flat denial of the truth of its lead-
ing features. The charms were undoubtedly of a very serious ne- 1

tura. With reaped to the practieehility4 moving up the river
to the settlement, it was totally out of the question. When the
Thalia, in which vessel Mr. Cottrell sailed, entered the river, the
blockade commenced, and it was impossible to convey, her or the
other ships to their destination without danger of being taken by
the Brazilian fleet. Of course the association could not give the
land which had been promised, and those who had claims were
not able to take it. The assertion that the association was pos-
sessed of no land was without the slightest foundation. He had
last night seen the title-deeds.
The Loan INlA.von—By whom was the land assigned ?
Mr. Peake--By the several proprietors, the lords of the manors.
The LOAD MAT OR—How much land is in the possession of the
association ?

Mr. Peake—l do not know ; but I have every reason to think
that they are owners of thousands of acres.
Mr. Peake, (in continuation,) said, that the declaration that
the settlers were sold is quite erroneous. There were 400 or 500
of them at Ensenada. It is impossible for the association to pass
them up to the proper territory, for the reasons he had stated.—
The poor men could not be supported in idleness by the associa-
tion; they were not interfered with, and were at liberty to do as
they pleased. Some of them, in consequence, hired themselves to
residents in the country. The association would be enabled to
conclude all its engagements, and every opportunity would be
given to the settlers to benefit by the advantages which would
present themselves in the new settlement.
The Loin MAYOR said, that Mr. Peake had stated that the
complaint had been made merely for the purpose of being shown
up in the newspapers. He (the Lord Mayor) never entered upon
an investigation for any other than the purposes of justice, and
the newspapers were certainly at liberty to state the particulars,
or let them alone; he did not interfere with their. With respect
to Mr. Cottrell, it appeared that he had paid a considerable sum
of money for his passage, and that he went out at a great risk of
property upon the faith of promises which had not been performed.
It was said that the contract hid not been finished in consequence
of the blockade of the ships ; now, Whatever might be the effect
of the blockade, the law would, he had no doubt, consider that
contract binding. He did not believe that the directors and trus-
tees had any criminal intention, but they were certainly liable to
a civil action.

Mr. Peake said, that Mr. Cottrell had put an end to all chance
from a civil action, by a receipt which he had given for a recom-
pense he had received. Mr. Peake then handed in the receipt,
which was as follows :
" Received of J. T. Beaumont the sum of 451. returned to me
as part of my deposit in my share in the Rio de la Plata Agricul-
tural Association. I having preferred not to proceed to the set-
tlement, and abandoned my claims to the advantages offered there.
" January 3, 1826. " PETER COTTRELL."
The Loan MAYOR (to Mr. Cottrell).—Why, it appears that
you have abandoned your claims?
Mr. Cottrell—That is but a trick, my Lord. I certainly
have, as far as regards my share, but not as regards my other
alai ms.

The LORD MAYOR (to Mr. Peake)—Pray, what do you say
was the condition of the settlers when they got to Buenos Ayres?
Mr. Peake—From the moment they got on board they were
victualled ; numbers are to this moment victualled at the expense
of the Company.
The LORD Mavoa—Why were any of them sold ?
Mr. Peake.—That is merely Mr. Cottrell's assertion. They
have thought proper to make engagements there, and the agent
did not interfere. If the agent has been guilty, and there is no
proof that he has, the trustees are not to blame.
-Mr. Cottrell.--I declare most positively that all assistance was
refused : my son and brother, and myself, were refused a morsel
from the time we entered.

Mr. Peake—Because you said you could support yourselves,
and insisted upon acting in an independent manner.
Mr. Cottrell.—l can prove that Mr. Beaumont was determined
to persecute me, in consequence of a letter which appeared in the
Sin; neWspaper, and Which he ascribed to me. I can, my
Lord, if you will be goOd enough to postpone this case, bring for-
ward the captain of the ship, and others, to show that the associa-
tion has not an inch of land.

The Loan MAyost.—How can you prove that ?
Mr. Cottrell—Front the admission of the agents before the
British Consul.

The LORD MAYOR.—That evidence will not be sufficient.

Mr. Peake (to Mr. Cottrell. )_You have got your wish now,
in having your complaint before the public, and you are likely to
get little by it. The public can judge between you and the asso-
ciation. The trustees entered upon the speculation with as ho-
nourable intentions as ever influenced any men. You say that
money was made by the passage. The fitting out of the Thalia
cost :MU and not more than 5001.- was received as passage mo-
ney. It is ridiculous to think that men who are engaged in other
concerns'of the highest character, would he guilty of the enormi-
ties charged against the trustees of the association.
The Loan Mavon.---1 am bound to say that, in my opinion,
there is no proof given of bad intention. (To Mr. Cottrell)—l
am sorry that you were induced to risk your property. You have
been disappointed, as thousands of others have been, but I cannot
entertain this complaint.

BOW-STRat.—Two very fashionably dressed females came
forward, in evident distress, to prefer a charge whist a gentle-
man in custody, who proved to be the husband of the younger
lady, the elder female being her mother.
Catherine Jane Kington being sworn, stated, that she is the
wife of Lieutenant Einyton, the prisoner. On the 24th of June
last, he married her, and since that time she had experienced
from him a series of abuse and ill usage for which she knew not
how to account. On the night of Monday last, complainant and
her mother were at the Golden Cross, Charing-cross. At about
12, o'clock, the prisoner, who had been to the Gloucester Hotel,
came in, and perceiving that he was a little tipsy, complainant
requested him to come to come to bed ; but be declined doing so,
and went away. At about half-past two o'clock, she was alarmed
by hearing a great noise and altercation below stairs, and she soon
discovered it was the prisoner, who wanted to gain admission to
to the hotel at that late hour, in company witn a woman of the
town—an infamous abandoned, woman—who, he' insisted, should
occupy the complainant's place. The porter of the hotel, how-
ever, would not permit the woman to enter the house, and the
prisoner, disappointed in his object, came up stairs, and seemed
determintsl to be revenged on complainant, who, hearing him
ascend the stairs, snatched up her watch and trinkets, lest in his
violence he should smash them all, and fled for protection to her
mother's bed-chamber. He pursued her there, dragged her back
to her bed-room, and locking the door, he made use of the most
dreadful language, called her shocking names, kicked her on the
side, abused, and struck her, and if it was not for the interference
of the mistress of the house, who Insisted on having the door open-
ed, the complainant said she was fearful of being murdered, as the
prisoner had threatened to put an end to her life. The woman
by. whom he was accompanied to the home, she discovered to be
his wife by a former marriage, and one of the principal objects of
taking the, prisoner, into custody, was to have him detained until a
charge of bigamy, which she (the complainant) had to advance
against him, should undergo a judicial rumination.
Lieutenant Kington—Assertion is no proof, your worship. I
am aware of my accusers' intention; there is nothing in the as-
sault, bigamy should be:the charge
is against me. My mother-in-
law, tvho Stands there, constantly in the habit of accusing me of
having two wives; in consequence of these repeated accusations I
admit thatl got drunk on the night in question. I was raving
mad, and know not what I did.
Mr. HALLS—AII that is at present before' me is a charge of as-
sault brought forward by this young lady, . whom you acknow-
ledgei as your wife. The assault is distinctly sworn to ; you call
no toldfiyspourorvue
ife has
alnsyhaoltlhtlehoanr;emtlotopf:(eir:T shallifor
hear it.

fearLileucat.nKnoitngretoadni—lylflanianbitalit.ranger in
.London, )hroaintrdeNdVothrsehip,o
Mrs. O'Brien, mother to' the complainer
~
1 t by her
magis-
trate a certificate of marriage . entered into m
daughter Catherine Jane O'Brien, June as
ton, at the church of St. MarY, Whain:cditl:Poeefreiu":;:rcioLniewnitt.hitreifnegr:
Mr. HaLts--What are your gioun
awe tt)a wend marriagl0e?tier, 1,,,,,r Worship, in which he calls
Mrs. O'Brien-r-Thirl,
htlit.atßmutylheuaresbann
r -wife ;" and besides that letter, we
the female he_ addresses " I.3er-
bare ..they
LgLro%."(l4 if°risl:n.lier: 'Brien if her daughter had brought
Air. HA asket Mrs t)
any property
.to tbetP;4e,ar, yes.
tolfpuerhchuasgeothi2msoa/.,db:tascid:estillooieu/..
pocket-money; and Airs. O'Brum__, it was oultyttydealutertdnaigy
nothing
for tenancy, .s is the ruin of my lid I look to ;. when her
for the nionel
;ial Ireland, becomes acquainted with our misfor.
father, who t.g
Fill break big heart.
I fear It
tunes, t Kington--I am not prepared with bail, and suppose
Lieutantin
n.
I must go t° Prison.
.had hail to offer, I •
is 1tAL1,5,..,,, nuer, could not take it new.
A '' youwith felony.
•
Lieutenant Kington—The charge of bigamy will be entirely
done away with. ' I wish to have the case gone into on as early a
3001. t° Grorre,evniv:i7:l;tse(l;azex,
ch.
perceiving the repoiters present, Lieutenant Kington turned to
the Magistrate, and requested his interference to prevent the etas
from obtaining publicity.
Mr. -HALLS Said) he had no tontroul over reporters ; and if he
irda: asa r
possible.charg e