The Sun.
London, England, 1827-04-04 00:00:00

REPORT FROM THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON THE ARIGNAL

MINING COMPANY. ORDERED, BY THE HOUSE OF
COMMONS, TO BE PRINTED, MARCH, 1827.

(EXTRACTS FROM THE REPORT.)

The Select Committee appointed to inquire into the origin,
management, and present state of the Arigna Iron and
Coal Mining Company, and to report the same, with
any special matter touching the conduct of any Members
of this House, together with the Minutes of Evidence
taken before them, have examined into the matters re-
ferred to then', and now submit their Report to the
House; subjoining to it an Appendix, the evidence both

oral and documentary, on which it proceeds.
On the sth of November, 1824, a meeting, consisting of
Messrs. John Dunston, Power, Aubone Surtees, Matthew
Surtees, and Henry Clarke, besides Messrs. Healing, Hol-
royd, Hinde, and Flattery, was held by the invitation of
Mr. Henry Clarke. At that meeting, a prospectus was
agreed on ; the draughts of the deeds were approved ; the
solicitors were directed to complete the aseignnsents for
the purchase of the works from Mr. Flattery for the sum
of 25,0001., subject to the conditions in his leases, and to
the further payment to Mr. Flattery of one-fifteenth part
of the net profits of the undertaking, and of a sum for the
materials on the premises; resolutions were entered into
for the formation of a company, to be called " The .&rigna
Iron and Coal Company," with a capital of 300,0001., in
shares of 501. each; Si. per share to be paid down at the
time of subscribing, and another payment, not exceeding
5/., on or before the 28th of February, 1825 ; Messrs.
Bosanquet, Pitt, and Co., were named bankers, and other
measures of an auxiliary nature were adopted.
The prospectus, approved at this meeting, named Sir
Wm. Congreve as the chairman, and the two Messrs.
Clarke and seven other persons as directors. Of these, it
is to be observed, Messrs. Bent, Brogden, M‘Lean, and
Morgan, had been named by Sir Wm. Congreve, and Messrs.
Dunston, Power, and Aubone Surtees, by the Messrs.
Clarke. A somewhat altered prospectus was afterwards
issued, adding another director (also named by Sir Wm.
Congreve), Mr. Schneider, jun. Both prospectusei also
named other officers of the company.

Although Messrs. Bent and Brogden were thus pro-
claimed as leading members of the new company, neither of
them, in fact, joined it (even dating their connexion with it
at the earliest) till the end of November or beginning of
December, 1824. Before that time the undertaking had
become extremely popular, and its stock was in great re-
quest. In the course of December the deeds were com-
pleted : the execution of them by the proper parties was in
progress ; and Sir William Congreve having returned from
the Continent towards the close of November, and all pre-
liminary proceedings being accomplished, the first meeting
of the Board of Directors took place on the Ist of Jan.,
1825.

At this meeting, Sir William Congreve being in the
chair, and Mr. Bent (but not M. Brogden) being present,
cheques were drawn for the purchase money of 25,0001.,
as payable from the company to Mr. Flattery ; likewise
for 1,5001. paid to him en account of materials, and machi-
nery, and for 1501. paid to Messrs. Wilson and Holroyd.
At this meeting also,the deeds, vesting the Arigna property
in the Company, were produced ; and it may be expedient
to describe them briefly, adverting at the same time to the
rough drafts of them which have been found among the
papers belonging to the Company.
From the inspection of one of these draughts, though
drawn in blank, it is plain that it was originally intended
that the parties to the conveyance from Mr. Flattery,
should be, first, Mr. Flattery himself; secondly, Sir Wil-
liam Congreve, and the Messrs. Clarke; and thirdly, their.
nominees, Messrs Vivian and Hinde, or rather, Mr. Vi-
' vian alone; for Mr. Henry Clarke asserts, what the papers
abundantly confirm, that Mr. Vivian had, before the 30th
of October, been meant as sole nominee, and that Mr.
Hinde was added at the time of signing the agreement of
that day. -
The barrister, however, who framed the draught (as ap-
pears by a note annexed to it), objected that a transfer to
trustees, followed by another transfer to the company,would
unnecessarily increase the ad valorem duty on the con-
veyance. In consequence of this objection, fresh instruc-
tions were received, and the draught was altered and re-
altered, till it became what the first of the two principal
deeds now is—a simple conveyance of the property from
Roger Flattery to Peter Moore, Samuel Barret, Moulton
13arret, and 1 homes Dunston, in consideration of 25,0001.
paid by them to Mr. Flattery; the receipt of which, Flat-
tery, in the body of the deed, acknowledged.
By another deed, reciting the former deed, and made be-
tween all the shareholders of the company of the one part,
and Messrs. Moore, Barrett, and Dupeton, of the other
part, it was recited that Messrs. Moore, Barrett, and Dun-
ston, had not paid the 25,0001. out of their proper monies,
but out of the monies of the Company, and that the pro-
perty had been conveyed to them as trustees for the Com-
pany; and it was agreed that a Company should be
formed under regulations which the instrument set forth
at large. This deed was signed by the shareholders indi-
vidually.
(The report then goes on to state, that the two deeds just
mentioned were not completed till Dec. 1824, yet bore
date Oct. 30 previously, for which no satisfactory reason
was given.)
There is a much more observable peculiarity in these
deeds, and especially in the conveyance from Mr. Flattery:
--The Committee have already stated, that the names of
Sir W. Congreve and the Messrs. Clarke do not appear in
Mr. Flattery's memorandum of agreement; but it could
hardly have been expected that a like omission would occur
in the regular conveyance. It was indeed natural and
proper to simplify the transaction, by having the convey-
mice at once from Mr. Flattery to the Company, or to
trustees for the Company ; but the Solicitors examined by
the Committee state, what is obvious to common sense,
that when land is conveyed by the first of a series of sel-
lers to the ultimate purchaser, all the intermediate purcha-
sers and sellers should appear as consenting parties to the
deeds. The deed from Mr. Flattery, however, by a double
leap, passes over, not only Sir William Congreve and the
Messrs. Clarke, but also their alleged trustees, Messrs.
Vivian and Hinde ; not one of these five persons is named
or even hinted at; no allusion is made to
any intermediate
transaction ; none to any previous memorandum of agree-
ment ; and this, notwithstanding a long train of recitals
relating to other matters. Mr. Flattery conveys the pro-
perty directly to the Company, for the consideration, as
the deed states, of 25,000/. 7 • he acknowledges, in. the body
of the instrument, that he has received a sum of money to
that amount, and endorser on the bask of it a receipt to the
same purport. By the effect of this extraordinary mode
of procedure, not only does the instrument omit that which
is true, but it suggests that which is directly and palpably
false.

(TO BE COYCLiDED To-7srounow.)

CORN EXCHANGE.-(THIS DAY).

The:supplies of all kinds of Grain are moderate, and there is
another good quantity of Flour arrived. There is very little fine
Wheat here to-day, and such supports Monday's prices. Barley
also fully maintains the advance of last market day. Beans and
Pease are unaltered. Oats meet a very heavy sale, at last rates.

Anitivets.
Wheat. I Barley. I Oats. I Flour. ,
4,100 qrs. 1,600 qrs. 1,750 qrs. 4,900,,ck5.

English
Irish
Foreign

-530 I 3-----,650

SUBSCRIPTION FOR DISTRESSED MANU-
racrunEas.—A proceeding has taken place on the part of
the Committee for the relief of the distressed Manufac-
turers, which is worthy of notice, as its policy and pro-
priety are very equivocal, and as it will probably lead to
some comment and animadversion elsewhere. The sum
raised by the King's letter, authorising collections for that
purpose all over the kingdom, amounts to near 120,0001,
and has been paid ever to this Committee, for distribution,
like the funds raised by subscription, under its superinten-
dence. An application has been recently made, on the part
of the Emigration Committee, for the assignment of a
portion of this fund ; and it is further said, that this has
been consented to, after some discussion, by the Relief
Committee, to the extent of 25,000/. Only one Member
of this latter Committee, we learn, was opposed to the actual
grant, which was made in the first instance without
qualification. At the suggestion, however, of another
member, a resolution was passed that no disposition should
be made by the Emigration Committee of this fund, with-
out previously consulting and obtaining tke consent of the
Relief Committee. Some of the arguments used on this
occasion by the members of the Emigration Committee are
nearly as curious as the grant itself, it being contended
that this Committee, in its intended application to Parlia-
ment for money in furtherance of its objects, would apply
with a much better chance of success, if able to show that
they had funds already in possession ; as if Parliament
were likely to be influenced by such an argument, inde-
pendently of the policy of the measure in aid of which
assistance was asked. The Relief Committee, we think,
will find it extremely difficult to justify its conduct in this
affair. The fund was entrusted to them for a distinct ob-
ject, from which they ought not to have deviated, nor to
have lent themselves to the views of any individuals, how-
ever well meant, which have only a very questionable re-
lation with the relief of the distressed nutaufuturers..—
Zi7/Ifit

FASHIONABLE AND MISCELLANEOUS.

WINDSOR, APRIL 3.—The long expected
visit of the KING to the Castle took place yes-
terday afternoon ; his MAJESTY arrived from the
Royal Lodge in his pony phaeton, accompanied
by the Duke of Dorset, the Lord Steward, and
Sir Andrew Barnard. His MAJESTY was re-
ceived in the quadrangle by Mr. Wyatville, who
pointed out the progress that had been made
since the KING'S departure for Brighton, and
with which his MAJESTY appeared highly sa-
tisfied.

The KING is expected to leave the Royal
Lodge on Thursday next for St. James's Palace.

DUKE o CUMBERLAND.—Letters were re-
ceived yesterday at the residence of the Duke of Cumber-
land, in the King's Palace, St. James's, from Berlin, dated
the 24th ult., at which period the right eye of the Royal
Duke, on which the operation for the cataraet had been
performed, was in as favourable a state as could be expect-
ed ; the inflammation occasioned by the operation had sen-
sibly dimished, and his Royal Highness's general health, we
are happy to state, was declared by Dr. Graesse to be in
every respect satisfactory.
The. Princess Augusta entertained the Duchess
of Clarence, the Duke of Sussex, and the Duchess of Glou-
cester, to dinner on Monday. There was a select party to
meet their Royal Highnesses. The Duke of Clarence

ntg.gave a grand dinner on
joinTedhteheDpuarcthisisnstho;f eKvemen
Sunday, at her apartments in the King's Palace, at Ken-
sington. The Duke of Sussex and the Princess Augusta
were of the party. A select party of nobility were invited
to meet the Royal guests.
The Duke and Duchess of Clarence came to
town on Monday, from their seat in Bushy Park. His Royal
Highness honoured Mr. and Mrs. Hope with his company
to dinner, at their residence in Mansfield-street.

The Duke arid Duchess of Clarence returned
to Bushy-park on Monday night.
The Duchess of Gloucester and the Princess
Augusta rode out out together, yesterday, in Chelsea and its
neighbourhood.
The Duchess of Clarence, the Duchess of
Gloucester, And the Princess Augusta took an airing on
Monday in the Regent's-park and its environs.
KING'S PALACE, ST. JAMES'S.-Various

alterations have lately taken place in this edifice. The
walls at the east end of the palace have been partially taken
down, owing to the chimney of the grand ball-room smock-
ing, to prevent which no sufficient remedy could be found.
The chimney has been accordingly rebuilt, on the plan of
Hioia's patent chimnies. The windows on the suite of
state apartments hare had double sashes. A bath has been
been put up in the private suite of rooms for the use of his
Majesty.
THE EARL OF LIVERPOOL.—The same
statement was made yesterday on the state of his Lordship,
by Dr. Dreyer, after visiting the Noble Earl, as has been
made for some time past, viz.—" His Lordship is going on
verywell.•

The Earl of Harrowby and Mr. Wynn had
interviews yesterday with the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
Viscount Granville transacted business with
Mr. Secretary Canning yesterday at the Foreign-office.
Lord Chief Justice Abbott had an interview
with Mr. Secretary Peel at the Home-office, yesterday.

In consequence of the Lord Chancellor
being, yesterday, engaged in the House of Lords, in hear-
ing Appeals, his Lordship did not sit in the Court of
Chancery.

• Yesterday morning, at ten o'clock, the Lords
of the King's Privy Council had a meeting at the Council
Office, which was attended by the Lord President of the
Council, the Master of the Rolls, and the Right Honour-
able Hugh Elliot. Their Lordships were occupied iu
hearing Plantation Appeals till three o'clock.

We learn from good authority, that C---1
B-y has beet appointed Editor of the Evangelical
Magazine.

DRURY-LANE THEATRE.—Yesterday, on
the occasion of the sale of some of the Shares in this pro-
perty, it was stated that, before Mr. Price, the present
lessee, took the Theatre, there were bond debts to the
amount of no less than 36,0001.—that amount was 110 W
reduced to less than 16,000/. ; and, in the course of two
years, it was quite certain that the Theatre would be en-
tirely out of debt, and the shareholders receive a dividend.
The amount of the property belonging to the Theatre, was
at present about 300,0001.

We are informed that the Rev. Mr. Dillon,
author of the Lord Mayor's Journey to Oxford, is busy
in preparing for the Press, a Collection of Voyages and
Travels up the Thames, as far as Isleworth, together with
a Topographical Account of Richmond, its customs, climate,
and inhabitants. He positively contradicts the old esta-
blished notion that the natives of Kew and Twickenham
are cannibals.

LADY MORGAN.—A national novel, from
the pen of Lady Morgan, has been announced by some of
our coternporaries, and though neither the title nor epoch
of the story are mentioned, the reading public, both at home

and abroad, (for Ladylliorgan's works are now incorporated
with the, highest class of foreign literature), is prepared to
receive with avidity another proof of the genius and pa-
triotism of the author of the " Wild Irish Girl," of" O'Don-
nel," and of " Florence Macarthy."—Freeman's Journal.
The roads in Russia being once made, are
maintained at little comparative expence, as they consist
merely of the soil, which is either sand, or a kind of
hardened turf; and except in places where the water is
collected, afford the most easy and agreeable travelling in
the world. The road between Petersburg and Moscow
used to be extremely bad, as, indeed, part of it is still, con-
sisting only of planks or branches of trees thrown across it ;
but a fine chawsse, almost equal to any in Eurcpe, is now
forming, and will greatly facilitate the intercourse between
the cities.

ANECDOTE OF THE LATE EMPEROR ALES•

ANDES.-In an account of the death of Alexander, lately
published at Saint Petersburgh, the following anecdote
occurs. Shortly before his departure for the Crimea, the
Emperor between three awl four o'clock in the evening,
happened to be writing to the Empress hi■ mother. When
the horizon being suddenly overcast, be ordered his valet
to bring lights; while, however, these were being got ready,
the sun re-appeared with unclouded brilliancy, so the valet

. _ - •
came in to know whether he should bring the lights ?
ic Why do you ask ?" enquired the Emperor; " because,"
replied the footman, " it is the custom with some of us
Russians, to consider this premature appearance of lights as
inauspicious." " You conclude then, that passers by, see-
ing them so early in the room, will imagine that a corpse
is lying there." " Precisely so, Sire." " Very well ; bring
in the lights." The same same evening, after his return
to Taganrog, the Emperor recalled this conversation with
his valet, and the instant he perceived him, said, " Theodo-
ron, I do not forget the circumstance of having ordered you
to take the lights to any bureau, believe me, they are the
heralds of my death ; and shall gleam above my body."—
Le Furet.

LORD ELDON'S FIRST BRIEFS.—The Lord
Chancellor is said to have related the following anecdotes
of himself, at the table of a distinguished Member of the
Administration :—" At the commencement of my profes-
sional career I borrowed thirty pounds to go the Northern
Circuit, but I got no briefs : and, Sir, I borrowed another
thirty, but got no return. After some time at this game
I had determined to borrow no more, when I was prevailed
on to try again, and did so. At York I had a junior
brief; and Davenport, then a leading Counsel on the Cir-
cuit, was to state the cane to the Jury. The cause was
called on in the morning, and Davenport was engaged in
the Crown Court. I begged the Judge to postpone it ;
but he replied—' You must lead, Mr. Scott,' and I did so.
It was an action for an assault; two Yorkshire ladies bad
quarrelled at cards—a scuffle ensued—and one of them was
turned off her chair on the ground. This was the nature
of the assault. It set the Court in a rear of laughter, and I
succeeded for my client. Retainers began to flow in,
and the prospect brightened. On proceeding to Car-
lisle, a circumstance occurred, which was far more for-
tunate than the preceding in its results, as it laid the
foundation of my future prosperity. I had retired early to
bed the night before the assizes, when I was aroused by A
knock from Mr. the solicitor, with a large brief in
his hand, who observed, that a cause was coming on in the
morning, and the leading Counsel were all too much en-
gaged to read a large brief---" you must take it, Mr.
Scott." I hesitated, as Davenport 'and others had declined
it, and expressed my doubt of being able to accomplish the
task. He pre,ssed me, and by the little light there was, as
the attorney put the brief into my hand, I saw written on
it, " Mr. Scott, twenty guineas." This was not to be re-
fused ; and I said, " Well, I'll promise to read your brief,
and state its substance." "That's all we want," replied
the solicitor ;
_so I dressed myself, and read it. The next
day I succeeded in the cause, and never wanted briefs
agaiu."..NSuplA