The Statesman.
London, England, 1823-11-25 00:00:00

THE REV. C, C. COLTON.

(The following statement says the Courier, has been I
communicated to us from a quarter upon which we can
rely. There certainly does appear to be some mystery in
the disappearance of Mr. Colton.)
The Gazette of the beginning of this month, announced
amongst the Bankrupts. " the Rev. Charles Caleb Coltou,
late of Princes Street, Soho, wine merchant;" and the
second meetiug of his creditors has taken place without
the. Bankrupt appearing, or any information respecting
him being forwarded to the Commissioners. Previously
to the declaration of such Bankruptcy, Mr. Colton, had
been entirely lost sight of by his friends in town. since
May 29. He was neither to be found at his residence, nor
to be seen at a tavern near St. Martin's Lane, where he
was accustomed to meet some select friends, nor even to
be beard of any where among his acquaintance. Though
this occasioned some surprise and enquiry, it did not
excite alarm, on account of Mr. Colton's eccentric
habits, and as he had been frequently known to leave
hontion, for a short period, without any particular prepare-
Gone far his journeys. Nor did his absence produce any
particular notice, till the Bankruptcy. to the surprise of
all who had any knowledge of Mr. Colton, appeared in the
Gazette. Though Mr. C. bad speculated, and largely too,
at times, in the Funds, in purchasing wines, bullion,
paintiegs. &c., he was never viewed as other than a man
of ample means. He was, what may be termed an ostenta-
tious man, for be frequently displayed on his fingers
diamond rings worth 2 or 3001.. or wore each I a thick and
long gold chain from his waistcoat pocket, passing over a,
portion of the coat to his watch; and if he wanted a note
he would select it from a bundle, sir a sovereign he would
draw a handful out of his pocket. These peculiarities he
would observe frequently ia the course of one evening.
He was an ostentatious man, entering company for the
sake of conversation; but he had 'always much money
about him (and in this peculiarity be was like the late
Mr. Wear.. with whom Mr. Colton was acquainted.)
For some time it was supposed, and given out, that Mr.
Colton bad gone to Calais; but what was the authority
or the motive for such statement cannot now be ascertained;
but it answered its object, if it resulted from design, as if
put an end to the enquiries of his friends about him. Time
continuing to elapse, anal then the banktiptcy being pro-
claimed, bet still witboat bringing tidings of Mr. Colton,
some anxiety was felt by his wore intimate friends ; and
this anxiett became the stronger after the murder of Mr.
Wears lio last time Mr. Colton was seen, he was at
Epsom Races in company with Mr. Weare; enquiries
lead to the belief, that Mr. Colton had been in the gam-
bling room In which Weare was interested, and which was
frequented by the Tburtell party. it is known he bad been
in such company. Besides Mr. Colton's 'knowledge of
many of the gamblers' doings, his constant practice of
having much money and property about bin person,
reedited him an object on who'd such men as those who
conspired to murder Mr. Weare might base bad and ex-
ecuted dreadful designs.
On Saturday last, the second meeting of the creditors of
Mr. Colton thole place before the Commissioners of Bank-
rapte, at Guildhall. Assignees were to have been chosen,
sad Mr. Colton was to have surrendered himself ; bet nei•
Chet proceedlog took place. Many interestiovircumatances
were related' in the coarse of the examioations, but, as far
as they support particulars above stated, especially regard-
log Me. C.'s habits of generally appearing with much pro-
perty mad money about him, they need act be repeated.—
There were also some curious statements as to the manner
in which Mr. C. had engaged in various concerns ; .such as
to his being an extensive wine dealer, the proprietor of a
celebrated "wine mart," the proprietor of part proprietor
of several coffee homes. especially of one in Cornbill; the
real owner of an extensive shot mart at the west end of
the town, &c. &c. _ _

The docket for the Commission Of Bankruptcy was
struck on the application of Mr. Pratt, a paper dealer,
who of course is the petitioning creditor. The debt, which
is considerable, was for paper supplied for Lacon." The
act of Bankruptcy is, in disappearing from his lodging'
in Princes Street, on arid after the 29th May last. He left
home that day to go to Epsom Races; be was seen .at
those races arm;in.arm with Weare, the Thurtells (accord-
ing to the statement of another person).being also of the
party; but though his trunks, property, &c. were lift at
his lodgings since that period, the landlady down to the
present hour declates that all enquiries to learn any thing
about Mr. Colton, have been vain. The lame Was stated
to be the ease with his mother, sister, &c. t• sod in the
course of the day a Mr. Wrightson was mentioned as
having seen Mr. C. in October lot ; but Mr. W. did not
appear before the Commissioners. According to the state-
ment related from Mr. W. Mr. Colton was then en his
way to Paris via Calais; but had this been the case. as
Gentleman who knew Mr. C. observed, would the enquiries
of his relations and friends have been akogether vain, as
Mr Colton's brother-in-law, a Clergyman,is now resident
in Paris, famine lived there and at Versailles for a long
time past? No relation, no friend, it was stated before
the Commissioners, could give any account of Mr. Colton
after his appearance with Mr. Wcare on the Epanin (Lace
Course on the 29th May last; and yet enquiries had been
Instituted in every. direction; bat as Mr. Wrightsbn had
been mentioned, the Hon. Mr. Law (one Of the Commis.
*loners) suggested the propriety of the Solicitor to
,the
Commission calling on that individual, to aearrtaio %%heat
he knew about Mr: Colton.

Among the erelitor; were a wine merchant, whose de.
maul W 33 tar OpMINS of tuettl. ; bat, as Le said. he

considered Mr. C. to have bought the wine to . sell again
(which a Clergyman could not do) hat was pot then a!-
lowed to prove. Mr. Delafons was admitted to prove for
MI. for diamonds close, which Mr. D. considered, cal-
culating Coro the prices charged, nit to have been bonghe
for sale, but for use or presents. Mr. Hawley proved to
the amount of upwards of 8001. for jewellery' seal-
boxes, trinkets, Etc. Mr. Valpy proved for 181. for thee
printiog of a Poem entitled "Napoleon." Severe: other
debts, Bic. were proved, some of them on Rills of Exchanie
that became due in Jane last ; but neither Solicitors nor
Notaries could in endeavouring to get them psid, aacertais
any tiding* of Mr. A.:oho°. .It was stated, soon after May:,
tkat Mr. Colton had taken lodgings in the Edgeware rod".
what lodgings they were, never could be ascertained, or
whether he took any such lodging.
The ruminations lasted (tom eleven till after twoietts.
Saturday, the How Mr: Law paying great attention to
them. '
• THE PRISONEAS I. HEREFORD GAOL.
•
HiCRTPoRD, Noy. 24.—The nes,. Mr. Lloyd vi4tel the
gaol this morning according to his daily cusiom, anal, in a a
interview with the prisoners, stated that any communica-
tion which they wished to make by letter to their respectie•
solicitors should be conveyed without underguing the usual
inspection, provided the letters were sealed in the presence
of the gaoler, and that communications, on the other bent
from the solicitors to the prisoners should be treated in at
slime way, On Sunday night Probert sent an open parcel
t ► the gaoler for the purpose of being transmitted to M:•-
Harmer. The gaoler, very properly, returned the papt•ra having caused them to be sealed in the presents of
Probert, they were sent to their destination. Tue clamoa: c
against the Rev, Magistrate seems new to have been land
denly checked, and, no doub', its cessation is to be atte'-
bated to the cordial approval which the bench of Magii-
trates expressed of his conduct on Saturday last. The Rev.
Gentleman having consulted Counsel on the mode of pro-
ceeding against the newspaper in which the strictures ca
his conduct appeared, was advised to prefer a bill of in-
dictment instead of filing a criminal information, and is
undertaking this proceeding he ban not only the concur-
rence of the Mag•strates, but an offer, on their-part, to pn
the egpeneeito which lie may be put in the attempt to obt-..tiia
justice tag inst his accus jrs •
[Mr. Loyd, it appears, has prepared a narrative, contale-
jog au account of all the intercourse which he has n.aa
with the prisoners since their committal. It is undercoo,i
to be a complete vindication of the Rev. Magistrate 'a
conduct.)
INSOLVENT VMS LA's, ca.—Ho:spur.
. •
Richard Billie was opposett, on the ground of beetle •
by means of false representations respecting his property,
obtained goods on credit, to the a•nount of 811, fears
Messrs. Jackson, of Preston, in Lancashire. Ha be
carried on the Business of a linenelraper and grocer ita.ttif
country. In the month of June I Ist lie wrote a letter
Messrs. Jackson, setting forth that he had rectivel.sl4::
by Ids wife, which he expended in fornituree but 'tie
expected shortly after to receive odl. on her aecitri• ;
that besides sale had an annuity of LIM a yoar ; Abel
that at the death of his wile lie have six acres et
pasture land. This letter was put in and real. Tao
opposing crctli'ors set forth, in an alh lavit, that it was tin
the strength of sacts representations they ha I given hies
credit. The insolvent being ex amined by Mr. Polloott;
declared dial he had not received any property with ore
wife; but tha', ber •re marriage, she bad represented to lains
that she was entitled to Wel. and an run airy of IOW.; bet
that, after being married upwards of two years, she C.) :A.
fesseJ to him her representation was untrue. He had been
'liven to understand that the furniture was worth 5031.,
bat last year it was sold for about 701. He did not enter
the pasture land in his schedule, because he uriderstotet
that at his mother's death his sister was to ehare it wit's
him.

After Sir. Herrn was heard in behalf of lhe insolvent,
and in mitigation of punishment.
The Chief Comnissioriza said he had seldom witnessed
in that Court a case of such deliberate misrepresentati4u_
and fraud as that which the insolvent was proved, nus
only by the evidence of others, bot by his own confession,
to have practised. It was a lamentable thing to see ar
young man, jast enteripg into life, and carrying no
a respectable business, conduct himself its such A
' manner. He then sentenced the insolvent to be con-
fined within the walls of the prison fur twelve calendar
months. e •

On Friday, the ligot—ou_e, eu were on the elan,
and eased the breeches pocket of a tattle dealer, of about
nor did he perceive his loss until he was going to pay h.s
reckoning at the inn • and while Mr. ThomaeCumberianel.
of Sbeepshead, stood in the market place, the same ,!a:,
Some adept in that diabolical art, picked his pocket ut
guinea and some silver unperceived. •
In the night of Friday last, the shop of Mr. Edward
Prior, grocer and draper, of Barrow upon Soar, near 4o
Loughbro', in Leicestershire, teal broken open, and a con.
sidetable quantity of linen drapery, and other articles.
Stolen tbereout. It is believed the goods were planted its
the neighbourhood, fOr, on Sonday night a bay mare was •
Stolen out of a stable id. Prestwolds-on which it is auppowl
the goods were conveyed to Nottingham. and again planted
eddy on Monday morning, in a manure heap, near Mill
Mono Lane. In the course of the day, some children a..
play, discovered the things, and the matter was kept tie
still as possible, until the evening. whets Abrm. Smith, the
watchman, and another person, were appointed to ivat.o
the place. At about two o'clock on Tuesday morning, 11,
.•
Observed three men apprOach- the congealed goofs, a,so
begin to remove them, when the watchman and his coil-
endeavoured to *secure theist Two of the
beidiately made their escape • the third, with an hors)
tenth, swore he would not be taken, and pulling a pistol oat
of his pocket, presented it to the breast of the watchnes
dad pulled the trigger, but fortunately, it only dashed 14
the pan. The fellow still resisted, and it was not till 1.4
was severely beaten, that he submitted to his fate. He sae
taken to the House of Correction, where for some time. fin
was considered id a precarious state. The pistol which'
bad been dropped in the fight, was found about the in thei
morning. loaded with s stone! and the man, who calls
himself John Smith, a joiner, of Derby, is now in custo ,
On the.bighly crinnnal charge, of attempting to murder the ,
watchman. When he was searched, a bullet was faena i.t
his waistcoat pocket, which bad been cut down in order :4
make it k the pistol. •
Deeraucrtra Free. On the flight betweed Tamils".
ann Wednesday last, a dreadful fee accidentally broke oa,t
on the pretuises of Mr, Joseph Fell, Bardrend. near Mar,—
port, which consumed the barn, byer, stable, and a thrtai
log machine, together with a large quantity of corn at"!
hay. Most of tile out buildings were Mirned down;
the cattle were preserved, its endearodtang to pare Sri
Mr. Fell had his feet severely burned. .The doe.
house escape I the co .62 ratios). ;
On the lith WU ins!, ' caught near
O Marypoit, a
holden or tanner, weigkiog upwards 41.4 wotif,, Incas
ip length 6 leer, bre& ttlt 3 feet, kud near nine inc.'s
thickness, an was soli fat 4.1. per pound; it was u)
kind the largest ever caught so toot coast.

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