Star.
London, England, 1825-11-22 00:00:00

AUCTION-PUFFERS.

Mr. HaALD stated to the Vice-Chancellor, that his
clients, the plaintiffs, a Mr. Munkhouse and his wife,
being entitled to 100 acres of .and near Appleby, deter-
mined to sell it by auction, and it was purchased by a
Dr. Adamthwaite, for 10001. The Doctor refused to
complete the bargain, alleging that he had been led to
form erroneous ideas of the value of the land by pi: IS,
who were employed at the auction to raise the biudings.'
It appeared to be the custom of the place to employ
puffers at auctions, to bid up tql the price which the
owner would take, and then the auctioneer declared it
was a sale, and the property would be sold without
reierve. This was J. ne with the knowledge of the
Doctor, who, however, declared, that the auctioneer
had pronsusced it a sale at 8001. but nevertheless, the
puffers had run it up to 1,0001. So far from this being
the case, 'Monkhouse had ordered a person named
Riggs, to bid so that the property should fetch its
value, and that the auctioneer never pronounced it a
sale until the bindings amounted to 1,0001. It further apt
peared, that while the salepi Ad been going on, Dr.Adains
thwaite being in an aujoining room, employed a Mr.
Bradley to bid far him to the extent of 6001. and after-
wei ds extended that authority fer bidding to the amount
of 8001. Riggs and Bradley were then bidding against
each other, and Bradley having bid 7901. Riggs bid
8001. In that stage Dr. Adauithwaite came antostf.e
room himself, and iota ediately bid 800 guitieas.—
Previously the bidders had been moderate, and had only
sdvanced by ten pounds at a time, but the Doctor
being disposed to she w that he was a man of consequence,
who did not care for these small lifts of ten pounds,
advanced upon the last bidding forty pounds at once,
and made it guineas. The bidding then went on until
it came to 1,0001. when the estate vas knot ke.i down
to the Doctor. The Doctor now said that he had dia.
coveted the estate was not worth 'so much, and he h.d
examined some witnesses, who stated that it was only'
wor.h about twenty shillings an acie Another wound
of objection to the sale was, that Riggs was not content
with i•uffing Init got another person, one Capt.
flastimond, to bid also for the plaintiff, and it being
eon:l.2ly to the custom of kpleby to have twa puffers,
'the sale was had on that ground. But upon that point
the Leaded Counsel stated, that the evidence of Cap-
ta'n Hammond strewed that, lie being next to II ggs,
Riggs told him not to let the estate go under six or
evisii hundred pounds, and Captain Hammond did not
go beyond that ; so that his bfdding could not affect
the rise beyond 8001. Besides this, it appeared, that
when Dr. Adamdisvaize came into the rimin to bid for
himself, lie was in that tort of state, which, as the
witness stated, evidently :hewed that his learned head
was highly citarged with nine, or with what was better
known and liked in that part of :he country, commonly
called Tosidy. Comfortably exhilarated as he was, and
determined .o be Lord el t;.e Manor, as it would seem,
he immediately gave a fi.lip to the biddings, by jump-
ing from humble iiounsfs to more exalted guineas; and
so the biddings went on, until the estate was knocked
down to him. W.ll, atter the thing was all over, and
a dispute atn:st the matter arose. trends on both sides
interfered, and ,aiJ, .• Why, Tel Iv it is a feolish thing
to go t r the Cnut to: Chaser: y about this business. 11
you really have given a I urrd ed or two too much fin
the thing, you whi soon find ti c advantage of it ; for as
I cu are in the habit of keepi •g a school, arid advertising
in the p.osera for young men to come down to you, to
finish their education, it will be a considerable induce-
ment for you to add, that t!.ey can have the privilege
rf sporting over your manor." The friends of the
vendor and purchaser tried to reconcile the difference
between thew : but a ANiirth country solicitor pet suaLled
the Doctor to throw the affair into Chancery. Mr.
Heald rested his bill to compel the Doctor to complete
his purchase, solely en the fact, that the sale was not
declared at 800/. if it we:e, his bill must fail.
Mr. SUGDEN and Mr. LOVATT, for the defendant,
contended that this was a save of which a Court of
Equity could not decree the coMpletion. Mr. Sugden
argiied at great is ngth upon the ii:egAlity of ice o puffers
ha vilig been exployed, aid contended that t!.e excuse
offered by the pla;ntif, of h .viag done this for the pro•
rection of his proiserty, could not beheld good, bccaase
that object won'd he as easily at: ained by one a, by
two puffers. ' The evidence Was :esti on both sides
The VICE Cum:cannon decreed, that the case should
be referred to the master, to assertsin what were the
several biddings of Hammond at the sale, with leave to
state any special circumstances.

The vessel thit was reported some days ago to have
been lost off the Cape of Good Hooe, turns out to he the
Mulgrave Castle, East Indiaman;horneward hound.—
The whole oldie crew and pasfengers were saved.
It may not be generally known tha• no cart or waggon
travelling on a turnpike-road, is allowed to be drivep
by children under 13 years of age, under 41 penalty of
10s. on the owner.