The Sun.
London, England, 1842-04-25 00:00:00

WIGNEY'S BANKRUPTCY.

TOWN-HALL, BRIGHTON, FRIDAY.—This morning a
meeting of creditoni took place at the Town-hall, for the
proof of debts and last examination of the bankrupts.
Mr. ,James attended on behalf of the creditors, and
Mr. Creasy for the bankrupts. Mr. Turner and Ir.
Upperton were present, es solicitors for the assignees,
who were also in attendance. -
• Mr. Isaac Newton Wigney sworn, and- examined by
Mr. James—Bankrupt carried on the business of a
banker at Brighton. His father was partner up to the
time of his death, which took place in 1836. At that
time the accounts and assets of the bank were-not taken.
Various sums of money were paid out of the bank as'
bequests. He (bankrupt) made the payments ; his father
had no balance in the 'bank •at the time of his death.
None of the assets of the bank were made available at his
death. His father had no money in the bank. They had
not been in the habit of striking a balance, and had not
done so for many years. Could not tell what the bank
was worth at any time. The books would show what the
assets were at any time,. but had never made himself ac-
quainted with them. Did not believe the bank was solvent
at his father's death without his fath9.'s property—he
meant the property bequeathed. - The amount he be-
queathed as applicable to the asscas of the bank he could
not tell. He was utterly insolvent without his father's
properly. Had certainly never been solvent since 1836,
considering the operations in • which he had been con-
cerned. He fixed the day before his father's death as
the clay on which the bank was solvent—his property
could have met all demands. His father was worth be-
tween 90,0001. and 100,0001. at the time of his death.
The first speculation he entered into after 1836 was a
potato-sugar manufactory in December, 1840 ; he was
insolvent at the time he entered into it. He was the
responsible . party. Mr. Wright and Mr. Taplin were
engaged in it, but they had no capital. This concern
was a factory in St. George's in the East, London,
and he commenced advancing money, but could not
swear at that time that he could pay 2s: 6d. in the
pound. He advanced out of the Bank of Brighton, to
the sugar concern 7,5551. 19s. 11d. from Deceinber, 1840,
to January, 1842. He could not tell what it had realised.
The 7,555/. 19s. 11d. was the balance after giving credit
for returns. He entered into a regular btiainess of India-
rubber web-manufacturer in 1836, before his father's
death, with' Messrs. Keene and CO. He was a partner,
as also his brother Clement, but not his father: The
advance made from the bank to this concern was 6,7221.
Mr. Commissioner Attree—What was the date of
the advances ? Bankrupt—They commenced in 1836.
Keene and Co. were debited with the advances. They
have repaid the whole. Had another operation iu Glas-
gow, which was entered into in 1833. •
Mr. James—Have you not since June 1840, advanced
as much as 40,000/. to the Glasgow concern ? Bank-
rupt—l have not. Am not prepared to go into the ac-
counts. Cannot say what I had advanced since June
without reference to the books. The advances to the
Scotch concern were by bills, which were made payable
at Masterman's.
In reply to Mr. James, the bankrupt- stated that he
had some shares in the Glamorgan Land Company, in
America, and some American shares. The Glamorgan
shares cost 900/.; they were purchased in 1841. Had
no shares in India Stock, either, in his own name or
another. Had some gas shares; in Brighton ; shares in
the Palladium Assurance Company. Had some property
in an association at Nassau. His interest amounts to
about 750/. in the British Nassau Iron Association,
bought in 1841. Has got a share in the Brighton -Steam-
boat Company. • A 15/. share in the Brighton Tennis
Court. Has got some Belgian Bonds ;- laid out about
1,400/. in the purchase of them: Has no entry in the
book ; it was not paid out of the bank. lied some
shares in the Phoenix, in November last, which he sold
to purchase the Belgian Bonds. No entry of this pur-
chase.
Mr. James--At the time you spent this money in the
purchase of Belgian Bonds, were you not utterly insol-
vent ? Bankrupt—Certainly ; but hoped to keep it off.
Never received any bona fide returns from the Scotch
house.
Mr. James—Where is the correspondence of the bank-
ing-house ? Bankrupt—We had no correspondence ;
they were merely letters of advice, which we did not
.keep. In November, 1841, they were in intxtticable
insolvency. Had never invested money in foreign: secu-
rities before. The Belgian Coupons are in Brighton, at
my house.
Mr. James—Then you must give them up, and I re-
quire them to be given up instanter.
The bankrupt then went for the shares, accompanied
by Mr. Westen, the messenger, and Mr. Patching, one
Of the assignees. In a short time they returned, with a
large parcel of foreign securities.
Mr. Commissioner Cooper read Mr. Wigney the section
of the Act requiring him to give up everything before
three o'clock on the forty-first day. • .
Mr. James said, had he not delivered up the bonds he
would have been liable to transportation.
Mr. Creasy said he was ready to deliver everything up.
Mr. James did not call itdelivering up when they were
wrung out of him by
• Bankrupt then delivered GOOL of Belgian Bonds, Dutch
Stock Securities to the amount of 9,000 florins said 5,000
florins, and he stated they, had got 3001. worth in Lon-
don. in the hands of a stockbroker, which were bought
about a fortnight ago, since the bankruptcy. lie bought
the shares with. some money he had by him. He had no
recollection of making • other purchases. He had a su-
perabundance of small cash by him. There is a sum of
2001. in Mrs. Wigney's possession, ut least, in the pos-
session of his wife's sister, a MiS's7Witlter.
Mr. James—What amount of cash had you in your pos-
session since the fiat? Banierupt—About 300/. Will swear
had not. I,oool.—that is, he eoultlnot control that amount.
He might have had about 5007. since the bankruptcy,
300 L of which he had laid out in purchase of bonds. He
also delivered up a bond of 4,000/, from Mr. Wright, for
a sugar concern at Soutlovich. lie also delivered up a
promissory note from Ann Walker for 100/.• also a pro-
missory note from Mary Ann Hicks for- ; and a bill
of exchange for 130/. from I. J. Lamprell. • :He `also de-
livered .a paper containing an account of several packages,
some of which were at the railway terminus, and other
articles. There were some cheques in the. hands of his
mother, to the extent of sot ; five packages and a harp,
at the railway terminus, a box of china figures, &c. &c.
Most of the articles had been taken to London, and
brought back, including his wife's jewellery, but were
now returned to the banking-house in East-street. He
had only two sovereigns in his possession. The five
packages arrived last night. They came from Devon
shire-place, the residence of his wife's mother,

At this period of the proceedings a large quantity of
valuable jewellery was brought forward and given up.
Examination resumed—Never bought a valuable neck •
lace in London, and the jewellery produced was the
whole possessed by Mrs. Wigney.
-It was then agreed to adjourn the examination until
ten o'clock to-morrow.

Before the proceedings terminated, Mr. Clement 6
ney surrendered, and gave up a number of articles, and
the sum of 1,1001. in money. The usual protection was
then given to the bankrupt.
TOWN HALL, BRIGHTON, SATURDAY.--The adjourned
meeting, fur the examination of the bankrupts and proof
of debts, took place in the large room of the Town-hall ;
the proceedings continue to cause -considerable excite-
ment from the disclosures made yesterday, and the pro-
perty given up. The debts proved yesterday were under
15,000/. Several proofs were tendered this day, amongst
which was one for 2,5381., offered by Mr. Warwick, for
the supply of potatoe flour to the sugar manufactory.
Mr. Wigney, before being examined, wished to ex-
plain some answers respecting the bonds yesterday; there
are 400/.'s worth more, which he thought Was -at Mr.
'Mull's, the stock-broker in London. There is not a
greater amount than that, and he held himself .respon-
sible fur the amount, and a fee farm rent at Bramber,
which gave a vote, and 21. per itOSMO. There .was also
a mortgage on Marlborough-mews.
Mr. JAMES said he wished to put a few questions re-
specting the qualification of the bankrupt as Member of
Parliament.

A lengthened examination took place on this point,
and respecting certain property removed to London, but
it was without interest, and the meeting adjourned till
Tuesday week.

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE..
(From the Devonport Independe4.)
FAREWELL DINNERS TO ADMIRAL SIR G. MOORE,
CAPTAIN EDEN, AND OFFICERS ON BOARD' THE FLAG-
SHIP, CALEDONlA.—Yesterday (Friday) the Ward-room
officers of her Majesty's ship Caledonia gave a grand
farewell dinner, on board that splendid man-el-war, to
Admiral Sir Graham Moore, G.C.8., G.C.M.G, Com-
mander-in-Chief at this port, and Captain H. Eden, (his
Flag-Captain) previous to these gallant officers reasoning
their respective commands into the hands of AdMiral Sir
David Milne, G.C.8., and his son, Captain A. Milne.
The Ward-room was tastefully fitted-up foe the occasion.
Commander Worsfold, who presided, proposed the
healths of their gallant and respected guest • ' which
were given and received with all due honours. On Tues-
day evening last the Gun-room officers gave a dinner,
on a most magnificent scale, on board the Cale-
donia, to Captain Eden and the officers of the Werth
room, previous 'to their being paid off—the Senior -Mate
in the chair. The Gun-room was very tastefully fitted
up for the occasion' being decorated with evergreens,
choice flowers, and flags, with two appropriate large
transparencies, painted by Mr. Parker, surmounted with
laurels and ensigns. On the cloth being removed, the
following, among other, toasts were given, and heartily
received by " all hands : "—" The Queen ; " " Admiral
Sir Graham Moore and Lady ; " " Captain Eden ; "
" Commander Worsfold ; " "The officers of:the•Ward-
room ; " " Captain Fynmore, R.M., and the marine offi-
cers present ; " " The health of the President, the Senior
Mate," which was given with three hearty cheers. Ex-
cellent speeches were made in returning thanks, and the
evening went off with the greatest harmony. The-Senior
Mate, us President, was supported by Captain. Eden and
Commander Worsfold.
Admiralthe
crew of the
ooreG.e B. G.C.M.G. in-
specteddaledonia, 100, on
oSffiircoGrsraahnadm
re
Thursday last, previous to resigning the *command at
this port.
H.ALS. Caledonia will be paid off on the 2Gth instant,
and recommissioned immediately for the flag of Rear-
Admiral Sir David Milne, K.C.8., the successor of Sir
Graham Moore. G.C.B.
lI.M. troop-ship Resistance, Corn. Patey, was paid
advance of wages- on Monday last, and sailed the next
day for Portsmouth, to embark troops for India.
H.M. brig Wizard, 10, Lieut. J. IS. Somerville, will be
paid off to-day (Saturday).
H.M. steamer Tartarus, 2, Lieut. George W. Smith
(Commander), arrived on Thursday from the West In-
dies in 37 days, bringing a mail, which was landed at this
port the same day. he is to proceed to Woolwich,
where she will be paid off.
H.M. steamer Avon,.,Lieut. Jenkins, sailed on Wed-
nesday for Woolwich, to be repaired.
H.M. steamer Pluto, Lieut. W. S. Blount (Corn.) is
daily expected at this port, from Sierra Leone.