Equitable Loan Company, P...
The Times, 1824-05-19T00:00:00

I AVtERTISEMEN'T.1 TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES. Sir.-I have ju-t been favoured with the perusal of' a pamnphlet, tic contf-rts ^f ,which. for cxcess of virulence and bold extent of fiction. exceed everv thing I havr n. This pamp'hlet. of 37 pages. , evidently put frrth by a party ex- tremelv intere`ted ; for it is given ot gratuitously to every one ap- -plyitin tr it. with the exceptiotn ofipiiwnbrokera, and sucli aictioneers as are in their emplotv front wvhom i: i s m'1St carefullV withheld. I-s obiect is to bring. upon the *pawnbrokers andl their auctioneers, a' this critical nmoment a most inveterate load of opprobrium, with a view to) their entire suppression and thus favouring tite substitu- tian of a joint company (formed promiscuously front1 the public), who are now applying to Parliamtient for an act of incorooration, p ofessedVly for t9e purpose of taking up the business of a pawn. broker, and assuming, as their intentisn, to affbrd rclef to the needy oin a monre equitable plan: bhot avowedly, fromii principle, to rendeZ -canital trnore bentlicial yproductive. These attacks upon the pawnbrokers and auctionCees, which con- v-e- such a lonz series of %illifying chargeo, are so little oteasured pyit the scaie either of 1. ohability or veracity, that no one disin- terested ?erson. having the Iclast tnformation on the subject, can o1- low thtsel to have any foundation in troth. The leading characters in the construction of this intended joint company are undoubtedly (man-y of theni) persons of highi station and rrespectabilitv. but wvho apppear to biave been beguiledI into it by those m.,re t'futtl in the design, for imparting to) the schenme a more imposing influence, and in its effect to obtairn the sanction of Par- liament. Viewinz the list of respectable names proposed for the direction of this new joint company, People are easily deluded into a belief Lttat every good offered by the prospectus will be fully accomplish- ,-d ; but we have heard that some of the subscribers. lured by the temptation of immnediate gain. have, in worldly wisdom, taken tho advantagve of hiatt premiumils on their shares, and sold out. ft is not likelv. at anv rate, that (setting aside the above temp- tation) such htihi characters wouild long remain at the headt of suchi a concern, abotti which thev must be wliollv deicienit of correct in- formation. Thus. the most crafty and cunniingc of this promiscuous eisfciattion lizilt scceed to tPc direction, and render nuqatory all its tair promiseq of reiiu. Tile general fceling upon this business is, that it would become a profitable concern; for profit is, in truth, the irseat incimennetnipromt the ultimate view. I shall not presumert eenter into a vindication ofthe pawnbrokets; thev nre fullv caipibte of decfending themselves. 'hat remalins fo;r-ne to) do. is an eac'. but still a necessary task- 'Just of exposing and refuting most palable falseltoods contained in ,he aII-ve pamrphlet. in its a11usion lo thicsalesoflintreeemted pledlges by auctton. it is crharaed in that pant'hlot " that bv the contrivance of the pawobmroker". witv the cn niivance of the auctionecrs, thc sales are made as trivateie as pot-ible, printins but a fete catalogues. and 6noe give n onob to a tikct parts, by which. and other nefarious aICtS Of cuilo"n. tile pawnbrolsers are enabled. andi do buy in their lots at what price, they ch-ose, bv whicth nro overplui ever reaches tere tio r person' wito had pledgced te articles_that if a stranger at- trc and biv at in.ec salesi he is sure to be cheated-.-liat the pawnbrokers 'ssait cart o'her in tr:cse proceedings t and that if they inctr anv losses bv i'. there ai a utind stubscribed, outi of which each is allow,ed a comrensatiotz; .Now. Sir, T do aver that all these charges, in cverv respect and detree. are abominably untrue. I have had tiie samie auction-roomns which I now orcupy, for upwarils of`31 years. I could bring tor- ward htndr-eds of r5qnectable persons to support nte in the fict.r that no sales can possibly be conil(ucted siitl nmnre publicity, niore can- ;-tur and fair dealing withi the Public. My advertisements for sale ;v-e never in less than three public newspapers oi' the most extensive trCulatrinn, for several precedinz antd successive days. :lvy *oods :sre ':roperlv arnmlecit and lotted for view c.ati'gttcsare distributedi l-v hu,ittis in each dlay's sale, auil every one supplied, wvithout 6lstidnc 'nPo. Dealers in everv article for sale comiie here. as to a ifsfl. Si;r 'I eir lniv; both such and privatc iersons attend the salesraculaei'v, in fuill confidence of strict integrity both as to the conduct of the -!awn, rtk'rCTh ard thie auctioneer. Attentisli is paidl to every one withuit partiality. In short, and in truth, no sales are nior r.&at:ly nor nm ore numerously attended. It is n-rstimmce ; the atutlhor Of' trie above pamphlet ttiorougildy henna-s thor t l-;t I i-ave statell is in every respect true. I ant. Sir. s'etir oinst hlumble servant. JAM1ES HARRIS. Griceceburcl;.strect, .Iany 1vI, ]R24. .FL2UIT.4AR f? O CO.rP N YF r1W I0-VJff.'A P( lJ1 AND Ao-CTION.EFRS.