The Statesman.
London, England, 1822-12-03 00:00:00

~.

r.Iui.FENT DEBT
SOLVE OR";
NATS.LT-FRAUDULENT
IN

--e---
(Firther Particulars of the Meeting bellk at the Hotel,
Bridge Si reet, Blaclifriars, uu Wednesday last.)
A nnmerous and highly respectable hteeting of Mer-
chants. Tradesmen, and ethers, was held on ?lode's-,
day evening last at Cooper's (late Walker's) Hotel,
Bridge Street. Riackfriars, to consider of the propriety
et forming a Societ for the pnrpose of opposing cad
prosecuting Fraudulent Insolvent Debtors.
Mr. James Barbidge, of FleeSstreet, was called to
the Chair.
The worthy Chairman shortly addressed the Meeting.
They had now met for the pnrpose of considering the
Ferrier), of establishing a Society for prosecuting
Fraudulent Debtors. It was now so easy to get into
Debt,so little punishment to get into prison, and so very
easy to get out again, that it was considered as no die.
grace to have been an Insolvent.
As to opposing the discharge of an insolvent Debtor,
he had found it so witless that he had utterly abandon-
ed it, and bad set his face completely against any one
adopting that course, at his own hazard. The object of
the present Meeting would be to establish a Society
which might render such opposition more effective, aid
more conclusive to forwarding the ends of Justice.—
/feeble stated thee mach, he should leave it to some
thstleman more capable than himself to go more at
Mere into the subject.
Mr. liourtield, of Chatham Place, Blackfriars, solicl34
ad the attention of the Meeting for a few moments.-1
The ides of forming such a Society as that sow gate&
plated, originated with him; be bad ling been impressed
with an opinion of its necessity. The present lushest
Aet serge from the old one. and no one could read it.
or the report founded upon it, recently published, with.
out seeing in every page strong proof of the necessity
there was for forming snob a Society as that now pro-
posed. In 1817. (as appeared by. the Report in tresttes)l
there were Assignees appointed in 296 Cases—in 196 of
these Cases the return of the Assignees' " was as effects
"Mt/serer, in the peeseesion of the Debtor." la ISIS. the
number of Cases were 346—0 f these 319 here the sage
setern. The Cases here noticed were most probably the
best which could be ',elected oat of the whole number
enervate discharged is those two years, sad which
Sight fairly be stated at 6000. This was a proof beyond•
centradirtioa in hie' opinion that either the Assignees
Here remiss in the discharge of their duty, or that there
Ass no protection for the honest Creditor. If a poor
wretch, urged by hunger and wain, stopped another on
the highway, and robhed him of a few shillings, his life
was forfeited ; whilst an individual, pursuing a system
of fraud, by which an honest Tradesman and his Family
(sight erhaps be reduced to rein and beggary, might
apply for his discharge under the provisions of the In-
soirees Debtors Art ; and eves if fraud was proved
finis! bins, the extreme of pnoishmellt to which he
weld be liable, would be imprisonment for three years
ft wet sot for there to say the Act ought not to have
pissed, bet they were boson to do all they legally could
're counteract the evils resulting from it. The Act was
amended by that of August Ise;, bet still the evils of
eilAdt they had to gavials were mot done away—with-
in little mitre than two years, (the petiod during which
this Act had been in operation) sio fewer than 7300 la-
divides!, had pr-see,ted Petitions to be discharged; this
peeved the *steel of the relief given, and the evil result-
iOg to the fair trader. It was said indeed that this Act
agog to be permanent, but it was reported that a
bowel woe to be bui it,se Lich rath al ndicated permanency.
+dim great evils of the present system were, the faci-
lity with *blob Debtors obtained their discharge, the
heavy expense attending opposing such discharge, sod
the reiuisseess of the Assignees it, enquiring after the
property of such Debtors as wefe ditOarged. No mg-
" Mon koala be attempted' at Ices aspege than
eight or tea pounds —earl' if the gee were
euferred to the Egotism It would Iregeogly egged IC,
vied ha all cases, whether the Imieleent wasremaged
et dlochergsd the expenses came our of the pocket of the
killytdual who irstltuted enquiry, however used Oho Ind-
. years estate might be benetned by sock enquiry. The was
gloat ihd tattir, and operated to deter opposition from
creditors, however injored. He was ;of opinion that there
meet always be an act for the retie( of lesolesat Dableres
lot Is whatever shape it might be gamed, be had es dealt
*ere would always be room for the operations of lush a
Society. From the ob tions he had /111411 he *toil*
that one or allot three things might be fatly &geed ; lest,
that the set affordel great (agility to the discharge of frau.
driest Itenivenu;—second, that by reason of Me trouble
and expense of opposition, creditors rarely opposed; sod,
tag, that wiles once an Insolvent was discharged, seam*
gyms. thought it worth his while to look after the presses
se Were properly : and, if either of these positiess wore
*drained, he thought the necessity of sect' a Society es the
in proposed could not be denied, asks objects weeM he
to appose the discharge of improper persons. SUS SA NA.
odesl creditor of the expenses of as opposition by sharing
teem with him, and subsequently attending to the elects is
possession, as well as subsequently acquired, and in-
suring as equal division amongst the creditors entitled
thereto. lie should now propose that a society, unarm
p!oper regulations, to be called " The Metropolitan
&)elety, for the opposition and prosecution of Fraudu-
lent Insolvent Debtors," should be established, and he
would also suggest that the objects of the sociel would
he greatly furthered if, so soon as their funds would ad
mit of it, they were to extend their. investigations to
rases of fraudulent Bankrupts. The worthy tired/men
concluded by moving a aeries of Resolutions declaratory
of the necessity there was for the establishment of each
a society as that proposed, which were agreed to.
wil!ir. flousrteLowt moved the appoieuent of a Com-
ter, to draw upeoles sod regulation for the mete-
lees of the Society. This resolution was agreed to, and
it:omit/Wee constable of 1 et the Gentleman
present. and others erre appointed.
Mr. liousnsa said, there was one circumstance which
he bad forgotten to mention. He held i• his band a list
010 individuals who hail recently been discharged ender
the act,whose united debts exceeded 100,0001. in amount.
The worthy Oeotiemao read the 0•01•11 of the individ•-
Ills in question. The united estate, of these persons aid
slot exceed tit, out of which sum the estate of one in-
dividual was 151 ; another whose debts amounted to up•
wards of 101011. returned property to the amount of
131 ; a third had assets to the angora of 61.; and a
certain City Knight whose debts amounted to upwards
of 14,0091. had no ts at all. These things he thoeght
could out possibly have bees. had it not been owing
to some neglect on the part of the Assignees, appointed
to investigate the property of each individual. .
Mr: Wtmtams (of Cloth Fair) said, there was see
thing more for the meeting to de, and that was to sp.
Pais' a Solicitor and Secretary to the Society, and be
tagght they sould out any where select an individual
better qoalibed to 611 that situation than the Gentleman
olio hied lest addressed Mein ' • he should therefore pro-
• that Mr. William Cheek Botuedeld be appointed Se-
Leiter led Secretary to the Society. This proposition
tees seconded and agreed to unanimously.
Mr. Beetristai acknowledged the honour conferrid
on him, and pledged himself to devote his time and at•
tootles to the conscientious discharge of the trust' thus
reposed in him.
Messrs. Pees:mead Cm were then named as Bankers
and Treeenetes to the &Misty.
ilk
Visas were Mod le*, Champ. and the died.
wt adjoatied.

, •

LONDON:
TUESDAY /YINING. Dic[Y•U 3, 1922.

STOCK Ezra *woe, 12 o'CLocK.— In consequence of the
warlike information received from France this morning
the Stock Exchange was in a bustle, and Consols opened
at 79 and rose immediately to 790 j. There still ate
different opinions on Change, on regard to the question
of War between France end Spain, owing to the resole-
tioe of this country not to interfere; and it is assert-
ed that the Duke of Wellington was otit-mancenvered at
Verona. In the first instance be was most cordially re-
ceived by all the e Wed pat►on, and after they bad heard
all his arguments on the affair of Spain, they home•
dime!), turned short round, and *minced together. It
is farther added that some high words took plum oath,
subject between Lis Lordship and the Remiss Minister.
Another report prevails, that we are on the eve asend-
ing a sees of observation to the blediterrasean, in
case hostilities should take place. Consols at remit
are at .791.
Foaeia FUNDI.—New Spanish Bands opened this
morning, at SO. Six thousand were done at that pride.
Afterwards, they went up to fed, 54, 531. There is very
little business doing, except ie the above Bonds. All
other securities are nominal. We are informed, that
the Committee of the Stock Exchange have invited se-
veral brokors of the foreign Market, to dine with them,
..at the London Tavern, wishing*, connect the two houses
Se ether.
HALF-PAST 18 o'ctatm.—New Spanish Bonds are
wed Id sellers. •
_. •

IMPORTANT INFoRmATioN FROM PARIS.
A letter i■ said to be in town, received by GI Raptwa
which arrived this morning, stating that t►e Preach Go-
vernment have called ont the Conscripts of the year
IS!!, to the number of 75,0110 meo, and all the sailors
are being collected, sad immediately sent off to Brest
and Toulon. The greatest melon are Buskin in
France preparatory to a war.

Quebec papers arrived this morning to tie ffilttk of
October, from which we give the following sztraste 1—
HausAl. Ode. 10.—Wi are happy to lean that
orders have hide receive 4 from the Navy Tortli'bto beep
sll tie warehouse*. wharf., buildings, stores, sad
offices, is his Majetty's Dockyards Imre is peeper rn
pair, sod by so means to suffer soy of them to fall late
a (state, of decay. In rations parts of the states of
Louisan' sod Missipippi the ravages committed es the
cotton by the rot and caterpillar, are se great that the
loos is estimated on an average at one half of the mop.
Sic tea AT MARCELLA.—A lamestable state of at.
fliction exists at the above place (io Ohio). Three boa-
deed cases of fever were reported by the Visiting Cora
mittee shoot the 211th Sept.

DECISION OF THE CONGRESS.
The Paris papers of Sunday last have arrived this
morning.. By these the weasel of the decision of Coe
grass, which tree spired here last night, is eeefiresed.—
Tite following is the style in which this eventful step is
anuoueeed in the 41fo ;titter
" His Excelleaey Viscount Moutoserency arrived here
yesterday (Saturday), on his return from the COO.
tress of Verona, and had the honour of an interred►
with the King.
" Questions of Foreign politics have this peculiarity—
that being combined with distant interests, their march
proceeds out of the circle of habitual speculation.—
I The. personsseest.practised in these speculatioes find
themselvis la 4. situation disadvantageous for correct
reasoning; they rennet lay bold of say decided point'
per argue os a certain basis ; theysre sound' the more
etposed_to be carried away in discussion far from the
course of &Wes, inasmuch as these affairs are, from their
very nature, subject to more extensive ramifications, and
eottsequently.demand longer time for decision. It
would, therefore, be of some advantage to know the pro.
gems of these questions, at least is proportion as they
ere accomplished. Thus, after such contradiefoiy en.
moors as have been current on the state of our relations
with Spain—after the discussions which have takes
place on tbisiiezhaustible subject during the conf
at heroes-wafter the indecision which so manyopposite
opinions must have every where produced, we should
Sod, perhaps; a sufficiently solid basis for new con-
jectures in the assurance that France has occupied et
the Cocgress of Verona the place which belongs to her
song the monarchies of Europe ; sad that the Conti-
nental Pow ern fence to her the end and termination of the
affairs of Spain, with the intention of euneurring a ith all
their force io such plans of stecution as France shall be
is a situatiou to adopt.

"In taking this resolution the high Continental
Powers must have acted on an idea so simple and so
just, that it will strike all reasonable persons ; they
most have confided, for the decision of a question
which interested them all, on that power whose interest
in this question was the most immediate. This mark
of confidence, so important for France, she own to her
own wisdom, to the power she bad recovered since ideas
of order have *triumphed over those dimensions and
mom which have too long disturbed bet; she owes
it, aboi•e all, to the virtues of her king, to the measures
erbioi be has taken for placing be country in a imitable
attitude to alarm the serious evens of the Peaiitsula

AN

. 4 . t',..a -•, . .4.,

finally, she owes it to that unanimity of wishes SIN 0
sentiments by which a whole people has recently tes•
tined the confidence which it places in the Government.
Doubtless this important resell toast be to all the In-
terests engaged its this question a pledge of security
with respect to the rawificatlons which it may
assume." _ .

By another paper, of Sunday, (the Journal dee Delors)
aro learn that Viscount Montmorency arrived from Ye.
eons on Saturday night at half-past eight o'clock, and,
'CO minutes past nine waited upon the King. When he
left •Verona all the Sovereigns were still there. The
King of Prussia was to lea!, the same day (Nov. 22)
for Berlin. The Duke of Wellington was to leave for
London on the 24th. His Grace was expected at Paris in
two days. Al. Puzzo di Borgo is expected on the 3rd ofl
December. The papers of Friday and Saturday corro.l
borate the accounts of the success of the Constitutiow
slims over the Royalist forces in Spain, and afford ad-
ditional evidence of the hostile views of France towards
that country. A Royal ordinance, dated the 20th, orders
the calling out of 40,00 d men of the claws 1822. The
period of potting them in active service set
their distribution among the corps of the army.,
will be hereafter determined. The military preps.
rations are hastening with great activity at
lllwyonna A large hospital is about to be established
st St. Jess Pied de Port and at Socoa. Munitions et
war continue to be disemiaarkedt at Bayonne. Letters
from Mets state that 200 waggons and 100 draught
horses are to be forwarded from that town to Bayonse,l
The number of Spanish Refugees at Toulouse daily
becomes mere considerable. Among others of varioas
ranks, has arrived General Equis, with his wife :and
.children, The Trappist is still there, but dues not ap-
pear is public. The.last letters from the frontiers of that
department announce that the Baron d'Eroles' army
presented themselves to the advanced posts and solicited
asylum and protection, which was conceded to them
after they Lad laid down their arms on the Spanish
unitary. They brought with them 200 Constitution-
*lists prisoners, who were immediately set st liberty.—
The Correctional Tribunal has rejected the preliwitmer
objections which the bookseller Niogret bad pleaded le
ijustification of his republication of " The Social Systems.
by the late Baron d'Holbach." Sentence was Outages
presteeneed against him of three months' laspriseenest.
end of 300 francs fine. The copies of the work are or,
dared to be seized. M. Olivier, lambast at Mancini',
was arrested a few days' ago, sad was still is sweet
eenlinement on the 23d. The reasons of this ?tweedier
are not known.
Femmes Pewee on Fame, Nov. 39.—Flve per Leese
opened at ; and closed at 87f. Mk.; Bea
Shares, 1,610 f.; Neapolitan Stook opened at ;Calomel
at P.
.SATCIDAT, Nov. 30.—Five per Cents. opened at 87f.
80c.; rose to $7 f. 90c. t and closed at 87f. 75c.; Beak
Shares, 1,020 f. ; 'Neapolitan Stock, 733 f. ; Exchanges.
Load**, one month, 25f. 30c. ; three/eoliths, W., lie.

FRANCE AND SPAIN.
,Ilse Pails mien spree to be very fad to
that Os AVIA Government can be enema ho as
nsion of Spain by Fraser. Well they may, fee this
Oovernmetst has beggared England, has mortgaged all
the land for more than it Is worth, to get the moose of
pottiog down freedom in France. It would, therefore,
sow be very inconsistent, if it were opposed to the
potting dotes of liberty in Spain. To be sore It I. set
to be pot down there by any means other than those
which would put the Spanish sea.perts and Seats isto
the hands of the French Bourisons, to be, in due time,
employed against England. But. what Is that, cow
pared with the horrid evil of Spain being free. sad
making the world laogh at Garton and Old Samar—
la short (aad this is the pinch,) Gattoo and Old Sarum
cannot be preserved without letting France do what she
pleases. For, do what she pleases she must as long es
the Debt retold., and to get rid of the Debt, we mug
destroy Gaeta* aid Old Sarum; and without them Mr.
CANNING cannot live: in these he " must live, or bear
"ao life!" What shall we do then? Why, we owe
have Mr. CANNING weeanoot live without him; so that
the Bourbons most (for us), have the Spanish ports and
Beets.—We several times put it to the Morning Chro-
nicle to say, whether it thought it possible fur oar
Government to p to war without blowing up the
Debt.--lt has wee ~wed us by so mach as
a siogleorord.—lt did, indeed, observe, the other day.
•• Alas! if we had only left the Barba* to flair fate,
"instead of cherishing thesegvipers at so great as a
" peace, to be afterwards bit by them, what a lourishing
" oatiee we might bare been at this day."—This would
seem to say, that we are not in a very flourishing state
new, a thing. indeed, that might be boldly asserted with.
mit much risk of contradiction.—Let as do the liorasoss
pastier, however; and, if we do, we most confess. that
they wort. sever “ chariwbed" by as for their sakes.
ire, at last, " 0-ricked" them oat of their frontier
towns and their museums, and out of a pretty thumpiog
tribute in wooer. And, we thought that we bad "eke.
" risked" them out of the Negroes necessary to their
sugar and
.coffeeplsotatioos.—They recoiled, that, at
o,speed:of Amiens, we " cherished" them away to the
onewinent.—And. that, when we began war again, we
• eirtirrisAed " them back to England.—lo fact, they
Wow, that we " cherished" them, in order to destroy
hoodoos in France ; and we, in England, know, that that
fresillio was bated here, because it was thought to be
hostile to oar Tither and our Boroughs.--The debt was
set, of bottom. contracted for the purpose of restoring
the Bocasoss. That restoration was a means; but, the
ultimate object war, the preservation of the 71thes and
the Boroughs.—This is the fact ; and, therefore, the
Bovanotes owe us no more gratitude than the hound
owes the hunted, whop e Lien and give him sport.
that the).- may have their sport to enjoy.
The landlords and pot-goes mast COMO to a struggle ;
and, it is r °riots to see the say, in which It is begin.
Msg. We have just heard of a parish in Saute, the
tithes or which were worth about 90511. a year. The
parish rated the puma upon the No.folk principle, sod
took a large dip into the 9001. The parson appealed
against tbe rate, and it was quashed. nut, there is
more than one troy of killing a cat." The occupier.

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