The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1842-07-22 00:00:00

WESTMINSTER LOAN COMPANY

On Wednesday, at the Guildhall, London, Sir Peter
Laurie attended to investigate the rights and the wrongs of a
society termed the Westminster Loan and Investment Com-
pany. After a little explanation from a gentleman, whose
name has been mentioned in connection with the society,
Sir Peter Laurie said, now let us get into the thick of it. I
can sec Mr. Nicholls here (the soi-disani managing director)
though I do not see such gentlemen when they call at my
private residence.
Mr. Samuel Wells said that he appeared for Mr. Nicholls
as counsel, and chiefly to explain the inconsistency of his
being known by the name of Whittaker at a previous hearing
of the case.
Sir P. Laurie—Ay, thereby hangs a tale; and I should
like to hear it.
Nicholls—And you shall hear it. I am, as you may per-
ceive a most respectable man, and I did not change my name
without royal authority.
Sir Peter Laurie—Yon changed your name, then, by no
less than royal authority. (The dour davil ye did, murmur-
ed Sir Peter, as if he was asking himself a question on the
Carse of Gourie). Come, Wells, explain this mystery of the
alias between Whittaker and Nicholls. Out with it, as if
you was speaking in common council assembled.
Mr.Wells—Out with it ! Why here is the sign manual
(pointing to a deed) of no less person than William IV.,
attested by the Clarenceux King at Arms, authorising one
Whittaker thenceforth to bear the name of Nicholls.
Nicholls—ls not that enough, Sir Peter?
Sir Peter Laurie—Not for me? ten pounds will transmog-
rify a man at any time. How many Whittakers were there
on the establishment ?
Nicholls—Only three of us.

And the man in the green spectacles, the representative
manager, was your fathr ?—I was the directing manager ;
but you are asking questions which I may be called upon to
answer in another court.

Sir P. Laurie.—Upon my soul I believe you. I think
nothing more likely ; for this is a swindling matter more
barefaced than even the West Middlesex concern. I have
plenty of letters to satisfy me of that. But now let some of
the complainants speak.
George Parr proved (as they would say in bankruptcy) for
£57 ; John Lipscomb, for £56 ; a medical gentleman, (whose
name is withheld at his own request,) for £lOO ; and William
Wright, for £lO.
James Pringle then stepped forward to prove for £5O, and
Mr. Wells elicited the following facts in cross examination.
Pringle said that he was a journeyman mechanic, and having
deposited £5O, he was induced to become a shareholder by
the offer of one Williams to make him an auditor. His
shares amounted to £ll2 more. Williams, the clerk to the
company, persuaded him into this in the tap of a public-
house, called the Star and Garter, in St. Martin's-lane.
Sir P. Laurie.—Why, Mr. Wells, you are doing the best
part of my work, and I will do the rest.
The witness stated that he had been induced to part with
his money on the strength of a circular from Liverpool, ap-
parently signed by a respectable party.
Sir P. Laurie.—Oh, yes ; here is the copy of the circular,
and I place it in the hands of the reporters.
This circular is as follows :

" London, April 15, 1832.
"TO THE DIRECTORS OF THE WESTMINSTER LOAN AND
INVESTMENT JOINT STOCK COMPANY.
.. - _

" Gentlemen,—Having at your request coine to London
to satisfy myself as to the character of your institution, I
have much pleasure in conveying to you my sense of the
open and candid manner in which Mr. C. K. Nicholls, the
president director, Mr. Williams, the actuary and account-
ant, Mr. Simpson, the secretary, and other gentlemen con-
nected with the management, or being depositors of the com-
pany, have answered my inquiries, and exhibited to me the
books, papers, deed of settlement, &c.
" The society may now rely on my cordial co-operation in
Liverpool to promote its best interests. And I have only to
suggest a rigid compliance with the conditions of the deed of
settlement, and the use of the most strenuous efforts to in-
crease the proprietary and the number of the shares sub-
scribed for, so that the company may be placed on a most
perfectly secure basis.—l have the honor to be, gentlemen,
your obedient humble servant,
" H. WALKER LUCAS,
_ Stock and Sharebroker, Liverpool."
_ _ _

Sir P. Laurie—Without saying anything about this Mr.
Lucas, the whole affair strikes me as a conspiracy to defraud,
and I wish that I could reach it in that way. And I will
make a remark now, which I wish the press to notice. I have
letters before me respecting this company from Guernsey,
Jersey, Ireland, and indeed from too many other parts. It
is impossible for me to answer them all, and, therefore,
aggrieved parties must apply to me personally here. I will
' hear this case again on this day week. There is possibly
some mistake as to time ; but I was certainly led to expect
the attendance here of some gentlemen interested for the
reputation of the more responsible characters. Mr. O'Brien
for instance. Here is a letter which 1 have received from
Mr. Steele, who is well known as not averse to a little agi-
tation.
The nate was handed to our reporter, and ran as follows :
" Mr. Steele, a county Clare gentleman► and a member of
the University of Cambridge, presents his respectful compli-
ments to Sir Peter Laurie.
" Deeming that the wish expressed by Sir Peter Laurie last
Friday was an invitation to all persons capable of giving im-
portant information with respect to the proceedings of that
flagitious confederacy, the Managers of the Westminster In-
vestment Society, and their accomplices, Mr. Steel considers
it his duty to attend to-morrow.
" Mr. Dawes, the friend and solicitor of Mr. Cornelius
O'Brien, who is one of those whom, after deceiving him, the
gang is trying to plunder, has kindly consented to accompany
Mr. Steele to-morrow, when he will have the honour of
waiting on Sir Peter Laurie."
" Now," said Sir P. Laurie, " I like people to keep their
engagements." _

Nicholls—Why, that is the Tom Steele, notorious for Irish
agitation.
Sir P. Laurie--I care nothing about his Irish agitation, if
he will only help me to get these poor people their money
back again. Mr. Steele's Irish politics have nothing to do
with swindling in England.
[Mr. Steele and Mr. Dawes were in the court about half-
an.hour after Sir P. Laurie was called away elsewhere.
There was evidently a mistake as to the time of Sir Peter
Laurie's sitting].
Sir P. Laurie adjourned the case till next Wednesday,
when an interesting exposure may be expected.

A memorial, which received 30,000 signatures in one day,
has been forwarded by the people of Manchester to M.
Philips, and M. Gibson, Esqrs., members for that borough,
for presentation, in common with all the liberals of the
House of Commons, to stop all supplies to Government.

ELOPEMENT.—The following case of elopement has caused
no small degree of excitement in some of the fashionable
circles of society at the west-end. The facts of the affair are
briefly these :—On Monday morning a young lady, of great
personal attractions, and between 18 and 19 years of age,
only daughter of a wealthy baronet in Portland-place, was
missed from the mansion, and it was immediately discovered
that she had taken with her the whole of her jewellery,
which was of considerable value. Every possible inquiry
was promptly instituted, with a view of finding out the
retreat of the fair fugitive, but no tidings could be gained
respecting her by any of those members of the family whose
anxious solicitude for her welfare prompted them on the
alert. The " mystery," however, was in the course of a few
hours cleared up by the arrival of the lady, who returned to
her parental roof (which she had so unceremoniously fled
from) in a handsome carriage, and by her side was seated a
dashing young Irish gentleman of fortune, to whom she had
on the same morning been united in bonds indissoluble at a
church not far distant. The " happy couple" alighted, and
entered the dwelling, when the lady acquainted her papa
with the fact that she was married, and that she and her
husband were about to quit London for the Emerald Isle.
Whether a renonciliation took place between the baronet
and his daughter we are unable to say with any degree of
certainty ; but we believe that the " error" has been
forgiven.—Globe.

(,)I)tppllig imelltgenrr.

TUESDAY, JULY Ig.—Wind S.E fresh,

ARRlVED.—Columbus, Green, from Pernambuco and Maeeio—
Seraphina. , from Cadiz—Mary Muir, Payne, and Airey,
Nicholson, from Montreal—Mumac, Bell, from Monte Video—
Triumphante, from Bremen—Princess Victoria, Guilbert,
from Guernsey—Allison, Brown, from Marseilles—and Panope,
Pipon, from Civita Vecchia.
SAILED.—Anna Mary, Stephens, for Almeira—La Marie Angela,
Rolland, for Havre and Rouen—Sarah, Russell, for Leghorn—Le
Trois Freres, Mahr, for Bourdeaux—Ritson, Johnston, for St.
Thomas—Mischief, Downes, for Genoa and Leghorn—Europe,
Barker, for New York—Tamerlane, Theobald, for Wiscasset—and
Anna Maria, Sanderfeldt, for Bremen.

Rising Sun, Howell, from Laguna, at this port; sailed 24th May.
The Storm King was to sail on the 26th for this port
Devereux, hence st Quebec
Johanna, Wulff; Auguste, Lencke ; Clyde, Simpson; Colum-
bine, Cape, and Guide, Bartlett, hence at St. Petersburg
Horatio, -, hence at Malta
Herman, Lucken, and Alida, Harding, hence at Helvoet
Jenne Louise, Vries, hence at Antwerp
James Gibson, Stewart, hence at Alexandria
Minalta, TregartTen, sailed from Smyrna 24th ultimo, and Leila,
Orfeur, 26th, both for this port

GASPEE, June 12.—The Nameless, from Jersey, was spoken in
the Gulf of St. Lawrence, having on board 15 passengers taken
from a wreck at sea.

HALIFAX, July 3.—The Isabella, Thorns, from Greenock to Pic-
tou, which ran on shore on Cape North 10th May, was got off the
14th, and taken into Sydney, C.B.

KINSALR, July 17.—The Ruby, Graves, from Liverpool to Kings-
town, is on shore near the Old Head, and it is feared will be a
wreck.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 20.—Wind E.S.E. moderate.
ARRIVED.—CIyde, Shanks, from Tampico; sailed 27th May;
Britannia, Proctor, from Ancona—Wave, Prigsley, from Marseilles
—Johanna, —, and Diana, —, from Embden—Mountbar,
Oliver, from Nantes—Julia, —, from Antwerp—Nyverheid,
Lievens, and Providentia, Cornelia, from Ostend—and Commo-
dore, from Leghorn and Dublin.

SAILED.-City of Waterford, M'Grath, for Quebec—Ellen Ger-
man, Cuming, for Laguira and Puerto Cabello—Norval, Brown,
for Newfoundland—Aurelius, Foster, for Boston—South America,
Bailey, for New York—and Hercules, Davidson, for Cronstadtand
St. Petersburg—and L'Engine. Laureatz, for Nantes.

Oxford, Rathbone, from New York, for this port, off Kinsale
Ceres, Vernes, from Dordt, for this port, off Deal
Arnette Hage, Gamst, hence for Naskov, ditto
James Duncan, Ritchie, from Civitta Vecchia, at Cove
Novel Whitfield, from Dragomestre, ditto
Empress, Hodgson, from Alexandria, ditto
Richmond Lass, Leisk, from Odessa, ditto
Binet, Armstrong, from Marseilles, ditto
Fortune, Tassin, hence at ditto
Emma, , hence at Port-au-Prince
Pearl, Bond, sailed from Honduras, for this port, 28th May
Huron, Cameron, hence at Le Havre, N.S. for New York, with
loss of wheel and sails

Airone, Cuvaceirch, and Conservative, Lind, sailed from Trieste,
for this port, 4th instant
Trajano, Antonia, sailed from Ancona, for this port, 6th instant
Celt, Crock et, sailed from Malta, for this port, Ist instant
Freedom, Brough, sailed from Palermo for this port 18th ultimo

THURSDAY, JULY 21.—Wind N.N.W.
ARRIVED .—Hebe. Sharland, from Monte Video—Duna, Sander-
son, from Moptreal—John, Heselton, from Quebec—Medea, Plubk-
ert, from Danzic—Anja, Hazenwinkle, from Dordt—Leopold, Zoet •
1 off, from Antwcrp—Courier, Smith, from Barletta—Swift, Davies,
from Guernsey—Mary Marsden, Williams, from Milford—Oxford,
Rathbone, from New York—Napoleon, ~1 Bayonne—
Zeelust, Mick, from Zurick Zee—Mary, Scott, Africa and
Demerara—Horsburg, Askew, from Valparaiso—Ernesto,
from St. Antonio—Begeno, —, from Ilambro'—Leesing, New-
man, and Pomerania, —, from Dansic—Eclipse, Cook, from
Ipswich—Major Vaney, Edwards, ditto—Lady Ellen, Williams,
from Poole—Adventure, Jones, from Swansea—and Latona,
Walker, from Leith,
SA' LED.—lsabella, Briggs, for Baltimore—Holywood, Louthean,
for !Monte Video and Buenos Ayres—Columbia, Blayney, for.Ja-
marca—and Georgina, Stafford, for Trieste.

Alessandro, Caner°, from Barletta, at Crookhaven, and sailed
18th instant for Liverpool
Planter, Fox, hence at Islay, and sailed 15th instant for Santa
Martha
H.M.S. Wellesley, (72) from China, at Plymouth
Shannon, Stevenson, from Marseilles, at Cove. On 23rd June,
oft Cadiz, spoke the Chamcook, of Liverpool. On 12th instant, off
Cape Finisterre, the Vixen, hence to Ancona
Robert Cleaves, Davies, and Ann, Morrison, from Ancona, at
Cove

Velocity, hence for Malaga 20th June
North Pole, -, from Bonny to Liverpool, was spoken 6'
June, in lat. 3 N, long. 22 W
Ann, Hughes, hence at Constantinople
Tipular, Mortimer, hence and Syra, at Salonica
Cassandra, Schultz, and Helen Scott, Scotland, hence at Loni
hope, and sailed 10th instant, for Stettin

WARRINGTON CORN MARKET, JULY 19.
Total quantities. Total amount. Price per quarter
Wheat, qrs. 18
.tsg se. Od
Oats, „ 98

LIVERPOOL COTTON MARKET, JULY 18.
The demand tor Cotton to-day is only to a moderate ex-
tent—say 2000 bales, all to the trade at yesterday's prices.

COTTON MARKET, JULY 21.
Although there was more business doing in Manchester on
Tuesday, and consequently a better demand for Cotton yesterday,
yet the feeling and tone is far from buoyant. Buyers purchase very
languidly as though they must do it. Yesterday, 7000 bales were
sold, and to-day, from 40;00 to 5,0u0 at previous prices, with but
a barely supplied market.

SALFORD CATTLE MARKET, JULY 21.
There was a better show of stock to-day than of late, especially
Sheep and Lambs, and as the suppy exceeded the demand, prices of
all kinds of meat were decidedly lower, and some quantity unsold
at the close of the market. Best Beef 6d to (lad, middling .sid to
6d, and Mutton 6d ; o 6i, Lamb aid to 64d.