The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1885-01-29
hiladelphiAp Pre-,

| Inuau0ApulA tr066s
When Artemus Ward said TINT 'shext to q
man who can tell real good story is the Teller
who esnt 30 caught by no conundrum," he
had in mind such . man as Gen. E. A Merritt.
Consul General TO London. The General has
had as many foolish questions asked him az
any man living, and he invariably produces
the right solution to the prcbiehs MI. Mer-
rift is now the guest 5f Dr.. John Swinburne.
The late a ". Carver, of this city, made him,
self famous ~ an antiquarian, and stirred ne
dozen good families by studying into the
Lawrence family's expectations, and leading
every second or third Albanian to fancy that
they are missing heirs" to vast estates in
Great Britain, the proceeds Of which are lying
IN the Bank Of England merely awaiting the
claims Of the "heirs" to be forthwith paid
llns CT these much-expecting chaps took ad-
vantage of the Consuls visit to sound him on
the subject but he found Mr.. Merritt prepared
for the conundrum and ready to give an in
side view OF II that he had not counted on.
periodically this mania breaks OUT" said
the CONSUL, land the absurdity Of these pre-
tensions are such that it seems. folly to prick
another bubble Of the kind. Many letters are
addressed to the Consulate General asking that
snch and such claims be investigated Among
others l received at one time such . number
Of letters from the heirs of William Bradford,
hrst Governor of Plymouth colony, that I can
not, refrain from saving that no one of the
Pilgrim fathers has left behind him SO numer-
Gus progeny as Governor Bradford. They
imagined themselves entitled to 100000, O0O,
principal and interest of his estate! Though
knew this Bradford estate was like scores
of Others l addressed the Bank of England ON
the subject and received letter in reply
which gives such full information of the posi-
ton of the bank in the matter of unclaimed
O q ia th<Hr NvtI To- H.
nave the letter here, and am willing that you
should copy and circulate, 1t as its contents, if
we'll known in the United States, might be OF
some service in putting check to this ever
recurring Inheritance folly"
ahc inquirer after expectations was handed
pen and ink, and the letter referred to was
placed before him to copy. That it may be
seen how unexpectedly the conundrum Of
great expectations" was answered, and that it
may Be known how foolish tits to hope for some
estate or other to come out of the bank of Eng
land, we give it entire.
CHIEF ACCOUNTANTS OFEcE, BANK OF ENG
LAND.-E A. Merritt, ESQ.,, United States Con-
sui General-Dear Sir: | beg to acknowledge
the receipt CT your letter of the 9th inst and
to inform you that there is no unclaimed stock
or money recorded in the bank in the name OF
Ecr. William Bradford, nor is there, SO far as
am aware, any foundation for the assertion
that there is The only unclaimed property of
which the bank has cognizance is such as is in
vested IN government stock and annulties,
and Of this they have no knowledge
Beyond the actual name or names in
which it is inscribed in their books. Stocks
and annuities, the dividends on which are
unclaimed for ten years, and isolated divI-
dends similarly unclaimed, are transferred to
the commissioners for the reduction of the
national debt, but Immediately on such trans
fer notice is sent to the stakeholder at the ad-
dress registered in the bank book, and pains
are taken to discover him or his representa-
uves, who can at any time. on furnishing
proof of their title, reclaim the
stock, annuities or dividends SO transferred
There is no limitation of the time when such
reclaim can be made. The bank receives very
numerous applications for unclaimed money
from America, only fractional percentage of
which refer to funds in existence. These in
quiries are always answered, and any means
that you can take to spare the supposed claim
ants the trouble, anxiety and expense into
which they are led by designing persons would,
at the same time, confer boon on them and
spare the bank much unnecessary trouble.
am, etc s. R. GRAY, Chief Accountant