Star.
London, England, 1823-07-23 00:00:00

AIR. OWEN'S LETTE. ON
ND. THE- DISTRESS
IN IRELA

TO THE NOBILrfY, GENTRY, PROFESSIONS, BANKERS,
AtERCIIIANTS, AND _MASTER MANUFACTURERS.
The state of Ireland has been discussed, night after
night, in Parliament, during the greater part of . die
Session which has just terminated. The distress of
its nuaiefous populatibn has been proclaimed by
parties ; yet-no measure has been adopted that can,
is the mind'of any practical man, give hope of relief.
No one now attempts to palliate the extent of that dis-
tress, nor, the danger which it creates; and, in conse-
quence, all anxiously seek a remedy.
The remedy required is to employ and to unite 'the
population. The Government, the Legislature, and
the most enlightened and best disposed indivalor
have sought for the means of accomplishinvid h
g bot
even one of these objects ; they have, however, ex-
erted all their powers in vain, and Parliament, fotlod
in its efforts, separates for the year, leaving the evils
with which Ireland is aMicted, to go on Wending in
every direction.
Why is Ireland thus abandoned, as if the laws of
Nature had doomed her to perpetual misery ?
Has the Government refused to interest itself in her
behalf ? Has Parliament declined to investigate the
cause of her grievances ? Have individuals or asso-
ciations withheld from her their assistance. or is the
British Empire destitute of capital, or of any other
means requisite to afford her relief ? No ; none of
these causes of complaint exist. There has been, I
believe, a sincere and honest desire on the part of
Administration, Parliament, and People, to diminish
the sufferings of Ireland to the utmost extent in their
power, consistently with the preservation of the pre
sent system of Government in that Island; but, under
the present system, they find it impracticable to afford
her relief.
For this result I was well prepared long before
Parliament commenced the business of the past Ses-
sion. I wa.:, hooves et, anxious to see the mind of
Parliament fully engaged, and exerting all its powers
in this cause, that it might demonstrate to itself and
to the Public, how utterly unavailing all
.such efforts
must prove.
'The British empire possesses industry, skill, science,
capital, and land far mole than sufficient. if properly
applied, to support, in high comfort, fourfold its pre-,
sent population.
At this moment, one-third of our actual population
is in the lowest state of poverty and degradation.
Ought such an anomaly longer to exist among the
most wealthy and intelligent people that perhaps
have ever yet inhabited the world?
But can this state of things be altered ?—Can a be-
neficial change be effected, without producing any
.evil in its progress? Is it possible to introduce another
and a better system, without creating violence; irritaa.
tinn, or anger, or without injury to the private into=
rest of ally one?
After the most calm and deliberate consideration
which I can give the subject,•l state my conviction'
that all this is practicable, and that the most ample
means are now at our disposal; to employ and to
unite the population of Ireland.
Those who take au interest in this subject I invite
to meet me at the City of. London Tavern, Bishops-
gate, on Tuesday the :19th inaaut, when I will en-
deavour to explain in what manner these objects may
be attained.
Bidford-square, July 22,1823. ROBERT OWEN.

INSOLVENT DEBTORS' COURT.

Sarah Aspinel, an opera-dancer, was opposed by
Thomas Riley, a linen-draper, in Orford-street; wha
stated that she came to his shop, No. 118,. Oxford-
street, on the 18th of June, 1818, and representing
herself to have a salary of four guineas a week from
the Opera, and an income of £6 a month from Liver-
pool, asked for some dresses and furniture print to
furnish her lodgings. She said she was 24 years of
age. He gave her goods to the amount of 1:80, for
which she gave him a check at 40 days' sight on a
person in Liverpool, whom die described as a guar-
dian of her property. She signed het name " Caro-
line Aspinall." Before it was due she came to him,l
and offered to give him her warrant of attorney to
secure the debt, which offer he accepted, and accom-
panied her at her own request to his attorney's,where
*the warrant was executed, she representing herself to
bq of age. When he afterwards proceeded to execs.
tion upon it, it was set aside by an order of the Court
of Common Pleas.
On his cross-examination, he denied having been in
the habit of constantly visiting her; of being at balls
with her except once by accident, at the Crown and
Anchor, last year; or of writing to her to Liverpool,
except to come to town to pay her debt. He did not
know tliat her name was Sarah until fter the warrant
of attorney was set aside in the ComYnen Pleas. He
did not know it for a year or two after his first ac-
quaintance. He knew it. when she gave the warrant
. of attorney. She told it then to avoid the conse-
quences of the fraud she had practised; that was
about thirty-five days after he first saw her. He did
riot swear just now that he did not know it for a year
or two after he knew her. He might have said " a
year or two afterwards," because he did not recollect.
(The witness was here admonished by the Court, to
remember that he was on his oath.) She might have
given another warrant of attorney, for she was very
capable of it.
Mr. lir-ass—We all perceive, Sir, what people are capable of.
'Witness proceeded.—Qe gave no other to him. He threat-
ened her with being sent to NOwpte for having signed awroos
name. In consetiuenee of that she gave the warrant of Worm".
lie visited her afterwards, but net for any improper purpose.
. Mr. Heat"-1 will not give you the credit, Sir, to .suppoip
what you would wish to insinuate.
Witness continued—Leaver visited her every day, or took bori
out in my gig. I might have let her ride once or so.
Mr. HXATU—Why did you achiress her a while ago in the fa-
miliar words, " Now, Sarah."--I really did not know her name.
I was going to call her Ann.
Mr. Ibuln—Do you suppose that one wordnfirbitt you are
swearing is believed ?—I trust it is all betieved.
li&sin—Which pjirt?—The whole of it.
Mr. lisasst=Contradictions and all ?-1 ant' matt of. no
contradictions.
Hy the Coar—When toot her out in my gig, I ilietwot
ll
drive her home • I believe I left her at the (liperi, anise celeste
of the Haymarket. Ido not recollect driying her atiny othti
time.
Mr. BAUM then called several witnesses, ont of whole wall
the insolvent's sister;vtliose exattiinatioh he commenced by ask-
ing her if she had been married? Being answered in the nega-
.

tire, his next question was, " Have you any family'"—here
the Court interfered, and strongly reprobated his conduct ID
putting such a question. When he had concluded his case, ..
The insolvent was examined by Mr. HEATH, and ,
stated that when she came to town she took lodgings
at Mrs. Blake's, who introduced her to Mr. Riley as
a person with whom to deal. She met him on the
following Sunday, at a party at Mrs. Blake's, where
he paid her attention, and continued afterwards to
visit her. He used to take her to Willis's-rooms, and
to almost every ball at the_ Argyle rooms, coming
for her himself, and lending her sh awls for the occasion.
Mr. Riley.—" And you now blame me for theac-
commodatioe
The insolvent added, that it was under pretence of
taking her to the City to make some wholesale par- I,
chases, .that he contrived to get her to his attorney's,
where she executed the warrant of attorney at his in-
stance, without knowing what it was for. And it.
was upon his assuring her afterwards that he had de-
stroyed it, that she consented to renew her acquaint-
ance with him. She denied that she had said she
had a monthly income from Liverpool. She had a
salary at the time of 4;150 from the Opera ; but the
ballet-master drew half of it, in consequence of giv-
ing her lessons to advance her in her profession.
' Mr. Riley apologised for the irregular manner
in which lie bad conducted his case, in consequence
of being unaccustomed to Courts of Justice, and
not being prepared. He recapitulated the instances
in which he contended the insolvent had conducted'
herself fraudulently towards him, perjured herself in,
the examination, and concluded by trusting that the
Court would remand her under the 17th and 18th
sections of the Act. - -
Mr. HEATH said, that Mr. Riley need not have
apologized for want of preparation ; for his brief, re-
gularly drawn out by himself, and his list of wit-
nesses, etc. proved that he had taken no ma* pains
to prepare himself. He was sure everybody in Court
felt as he did, that his (Mr. Riley's) conduct upon
this occasion was most disgraceful to himself. The
Learned Counsel then animadverted on the evidence,
and pointed out various contradictions in Mr. Riley's
statement. He could not account for his persecu-
tion of this girl, unless a feeling of disappointed love
had been converted into hate. He believed there
was not a man in existence, but the.one, who could
bring himself to come forward after along courtship,
dancing with her, and driving hei about, Etc. to op-
pose her discharge for such a paltry debt as this.
But, he thanked GOD, he had making to do with
his feelings.
The Coosa, in pronouncing judgment, observed.
that they were bound not only to look at the con-
duct of the insolvent, but also at that of the creditor,
at whose suit they were asked to refuse her her dis-
charge. It would have been wise on the part of the
insolvent if she had told the whole truth upon this
occasion ; but it was clear, from the evidence of Mr.
Day, the Solicitor, that she had not done so. Still,
howeve,r, the testimony of the opposing creditor was
more at variance with the truth, and most contra-
dictory in many of its parts. His conduct through-
out evinced the most persevering and heartless vindic-
tiveness. Whether or not his disappointment at not
etting the furniture which had been returned to Mr:'
Lamer, or some other disappointed feeling, had raised
his mind to that pitch of persecuting hatred, the,
Court knew not ; but there was evidently some secret
motive behind, which this spruce, gay, dancing, Ar-
gyll-frequenting linendraper of Oxford-street, thought
proper to keep back. It was monstrous to suppose
that the Court would- confine any person for one hour
upon such a statement as he had made that day ; and
therefore, upon his demerits, rather than her merits,
the Court declared her entitled to the benefit of the
Act, and ordered her to be discharged forthwith,.
This decision was received with loud applause, by 1
a crowded Court. • 1
Mr. Riley then stepped forward, and asked to be
appointed assignee. ..
The COURT.—Certainly not. (At which the ap-.
plauses were redoubled.) The case lasted until past
five o'clock.
Robert Docker was opposed by Mr. PoLr.ocx, on.
behalf of Messrs. Day and Davis, clothiers, at Nails-
worth, in Gloucestershire. It appeared by the evi-
dence of Mr. Davis, that in August last the insolvent
engaged with them as a town agent for which he
was to receive £lOO for the first six months ; at the
expiration of which the stock was taken, when a con-
siderable deficiency was manifest, and the insolvent
appeared to be in arrears about $.300.
The insolvent took a warehouse in Basinghalt-
street, and having. been engaged previously, he sug-1
gested the propriety of opening, an account with
tailors, as they would then get the intermediate profit
between therm and the warehousemen. In order that
the warehousemen might not know that they were so
serving the trade, it was arranged that cloth so sold
,should be in the name of the insolvent, who was to
keep a separate account. _ ,
At the time the. stock was.. taken.witness expostu-
lated with him op the deficiency, and threatened to
take him before the Lard Mayor, on which part of
the goods were returned, and, some bills. were, paid
over, which reduced the account to about £lB9,,the
sum now claimed by the firm of witness's house. ;
would swear that be never asked; the insolvent to
accept bills for hins. ; the cloth now, deficlegt had
never been accounted for.
The insolvent. being examined, stated, that. the
transaction, so far as related to the private.trade, w,as
cinhis•own account ; and it was digioctly Underst9od
so on the first agreement. The warehouN.was ill
his own name, and, his (inscilvent's) namawat. put
over the door. When the stock was taken:Mr. Davis
'aid—" Docker, your account is very helivy ; you
mug reduce.g, 9r Day will be apary. .
Mr. Davis was recalled, and denied thgt such con-
ser.satign tiver. took place.
Mr. lotg.s.ocs. addressed the Court, and *tended
ttab
at a cleat proof. oo('erzsbezzleinent hid been este-
bed agaiast the insolvent. The evidence raa con-
tradictory, butt. the Court would judge on wbich side
priabalaility and truth lay. .He implered the Court,
to remand the insolvent under,thglktth see. of the Act.
blii MAUI, for.the insolvent, contended, that the'
private traagaction, was. a mere matter of debit. and
ntatof fraud. For it appeared by the account put io
by. Ow opposing creditor, that all the charges con-.
nected with,themsolvent's private trade were debited.
against hiwpersonally, in like manger as entries were
made against those perst.ns to whom, he had sold as!
an agent. lie contended that there WAS no pretence

•
to charge the young man with having embezzled the
property. of his employers.
The Cnirs. Costsitsstonvn, in pronouncing the
judgment of the Court. observed, that of all the cases
which came before it there was none of a more seri-
ous magnitude than a charge of embezzlement ;hence
it was necessary that the evidence and ail the circum-
stances of thetase should be narrowly watched, and
if fraud was brought home, the Court would visit
the accused with a severe punishment ; because it
would be a breach of that confidence' so necessary v
be reposed between man and man in a commercial
country like this. The question here was--Where
had a specific act of embezzlement been proved? Tile
cordnct of the defendant had been highly culpable,
yet the charge of fraud had not been proved.
The COURT then remanded the insolvent for six
months within the walls of the pt ison.