The Statesman.
London, England, 1823-11-21 00:00:00

BANKRUPTCY OF THOMAS THURTELL.

At a meeting of the Commissioners is the ease of the above
bankrupt, which took place yesterday in Quality•court, Chan-
cery Lane, Mr. Stedman, the proprietor of the house, No. 4,
Cumberleod Street, New Road, in which some furniture was
deposited, supposed by John Thurtell and Heat, and which
the Commissioners claim as belonging to the bankrupt, under-
went a long examination, and several threats were held out to
him of committal to prison, Ac., unless he gave immediate ad-
mittance to the messenger of the commission, and dered
up all the property thus left in his possessioo.
Mr. Stedman positively refused to do either one or the other,
until they gave him sufficient proof that the property belonged
to the bankrupt, and an indemnity against any future claim
from coy other party—for Instance, the Crown, or perhaps the
very persons who gave him charge of the furniture in the name
of Brown.
Ballard, an officer of Marlborough Street. who resides in
the next house to Mr. Stedman, was also strictly examined ad
to his having given any advice to resist the interference of Inc
Commissioners' messenger; but there appeared to be no
grounds whatever for such suspicion, and in the end both were
discharged, without any step being taken, as was threatenedi
against Mr. Stedman, who, when he got home, found that
Bally, a man who got into the house on Tuesiay night by stra-
tagem on the part of the Commission, and had been ever slime
locked up in the passage. being regularly starved into submis-
sion, cried for mercy, and had been suffered to depart several
pounds lighter in weight than when be entered the house, It
is not supposed that Mr. Stedman will be again interfered
with.

MR. OWEN AND THE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND,

Letter Seventh.
..—.0.,...
TO TIIIL EDITOR.

Std—The success, t;Ofarsiirpas---singMy expeetatiod, of the
measures which bare been hitherto pursued, for promoting
the great cause of truth and of human happiness, supplies
the strongest possible motive to persevere withifirmness and
increased order in the same course; and, in reference to
my future efforts for the advancement of the New System,
it is my intention, generally, to employ all the means I can
t 3 bring into action for enabling the puhlic to acquire, not a
mere general notion, but a distinct understanding of all
the principles on which it is founded, and a full conviction
of their extraordinary practical importance, in the whole
busineis and concerns of human life.
By many this undertaking Int), still be deemed visionary;
and the great and beneficial change which it contemplates,
in all the arrangements of society, may be pronounced im-
possible ; or, at least, attainable only at a vastly distant
period.
But why is the enterprize visionary, or why Must lbe
change from error and discord to rationality and union—
from vice and misery to virtue and happiness, be necessa-
rily reserved for an age, so remote frum that ►n which we
live?

Is it visionary to advocate a system, which is proved to
be in accordance with the laws of Nature and of God ?

It is visionary to believe that man will prefer living in
happiness to existing in misery?
Is it visonary.to conclude, that, as sopn as mankind shall
distinctly perceive the most superabuodaut means of err-
, tain happiness to be within their reach, they will instantly
proceed to avail themselves of these means?
Or, when the causes which have heretofore produce(' evil
among men, are at length discovered, and when it is de.
monstrated, not only that they are not beyond our controul,
but that' society possesses ample means to remove and
exclude them, is it visionary to anticipate, nay, confidently
to expect, an extraordinary change, at no distant period,
in the condition of mankind?
Already have the new principles taken deep root in
Ithe minds of a considerable nisnOrr of interligent indivie
not only in Ureat.Prilain and Ireland, but oo the
Continent of Europe and in America: And, having the
elostiberfouroimotios of t►rir tzathi u..well as of ihtir