Messrs. Marsh, Stracey, A...
The Times, 1824-11-30T00:00:00

A Aleeting of Creditors of this firnm took place at the Freemasons' Tavern yesterdayevening, pursuant to advertisement. A demandof 2s. was made upon every person who entered the room. Mlr. PARxeses being called te the chmir, stated that this sumri was collected for the purpose of defraying the expenses of the roonm and advertisem ents. He then bespoke the attention of the meeting for every person who had any thing to say. A Creditor desired to know the object of their present meeting? Mfr. Eiu TCHINS referred to the proceedings of the'former meeutig, and said that they were convened to receive the report of the cornmittee appoiated to choose assignees under the last commiision. But that report had now become unnecessary, In consequence of the decision of the Lord Chancellor, who having amalgamated the two first com- miisions into one, had impounded thc third. The Secretary stated, that in consequence of the exertions of the commnittee, the stun of 9,0001. to 10,0001., which had been taken out of the house, had been paid into it again for the benefit of the credi- tors. They had also ascertained the statement that 20,0001. had been paid to one creditor, to be correct. A Creditor asked if it was true that there were 130,0001. in the house in cash and good bills ? The Secretary said it was; and tha- it was intended to be divided amoongst the creditors in the spring. The object of the petition to the Lord Chancellor, he continued, was not to impound, but to super- sede thecommission; and it was a very unaccountable circumstance that Mr. Seymoar should consent to the sus ending of a commnission whichl he hlimnself had taken out. However, tlhc Lord ChanceUor hav- ing impounded that comrmission, thc object of the meeting ceased, so far as regarded the choice of assignees, But thev might achieve other objects by meeting and discussing their atrairs. It looked very extraordinary that the parrners, when aware of their doperate atute of insolvency, and on the very eve of a stoppage, should select sue creditor to pay 20,tlt1. to; but if this was done in contempla- tion of an act of bankruptcy, even though none were committed, the .reditsrs would be entitled to have tis nmoncy back. With re- sr,ect to the debt of 48.0001. proved under tho comtnission by the European Company, there wvas a question as to whetber it was the debt of Mr. Stracey individually, or that of the house; for it was said, that the money had been only deposited in Mir. Stracey's hands, as a Director of that Company, and not lodged as a sum for which the house was to be responsible. At present the only ques- tion tbr the meeting to conaider was, whether they would continue the meeting, as a body of gentlemen to watch the pioceedings,and to attend to their interests? A Creditor observed that reat thanks tvere due to the committee bv whose means 10,0001. had seen brought into the house-namely, 5,0001. taken out by Aliss Mlarsh, on the I Ith; and nearly 5,0001. by NMr. Stracey. who had spent two years on the coitinent attendinmo which, if true, eaposed great delinquencies, bet of which nLo notice would have been taken, only for the commtittee. MIr. PAstassos pointed out the necessity of thle responsibility* as well as thec respectability of persons tO be chosen assignees. ie then contended, that the present assignees were not the fittest persons, either from vant of sufficient responsibility or from connexion with the bankrtpts, to fill that office. Ele then Awent into a long state- nient of his transactions with the firm>., dowz to the 7eriod of his drawing his property out OF their hands; but he complained that he eould not, down to the present mJmcnt, learn at balance was due to him. A Creditor.-Then J can tell you: it is exact-ly two shillings and ninepence. (Laughter.) Air. PARIUtss.-You are only an auctioneer; therefore your word is not to be taken. (Great La-ughiter.) Creditor.-That mnay do from you; but it would not do frotn any body elst. !\r. PAaEsiNs.-The meanest person in the street is morerespcCt- able tihati an auctioneer; and it is mosst itempudent of vou to imlter. rtipt nie. (Continuted laugihttr.) 'Mlr. Parkins then wer.t on to say that it would be liappy for him if that were all tRat wa.s due to hinm. Thi, led the worthy c airman into a stxtement of his application to the tirn tor bis checks; and this in its tttrn led to a history of the in- dictment at Clerkenwell for conspirdcy, emibracIng an unsparing portion of abuse ot i- the harne.sse ftellows in wvigs and gowns; and one in liarticular, Gurney, whom he looked at vith horror and indlig- nation, for btc asked hin questons which lie knew he could nct an- swer, atitl when tie had paid him he deceived him, for he pretended to be sick, and did not appear." The worthv Chairnarn nextspoke of his surprising agencies, although he lived as he did, because h: chose to do so ;-of his intitnacy witl the Duke of Norfoik, who deated upon him] fromn his chiildhooa, and wlho died in six monthls after le (IMr. Parlins) -plit with him, in costseqtence of his Grace refasing to give him a letter of introduction which he had solicited tbr Graham ;_of itr. Grahanm calling himiiself a l,ieutennnt-Colonel,when, in fact, 1it was lever higlier in the armv thani a Captain, and sold( out in 1705 -of his father's failurein Calcutta ;-of the quiescence of the other partners respecting the sums raised by Fauntleroy's forgeries; and lastly, of the blessingsof capital punishmaent in cawes of torgery, of w-hichl he reconitnendeml the Engrish peop!e never to complain until they could titid out a mnode of punishment sevcrer than death to substitute in its place. Some marks ofidisapprobation being here manifested, the worthy Chairman concluded his harangne. A Creditor remarkel, that it was strange how Mr. Mlarsh could have collectedt dividends which vere not there. After a short discussion, The CH1AiRM.mAtS lhaving again got upon his legs. pronounced an- otler long harangue upon his ovn experience, and the want ot judg- inent in others, and upon the want ot veracity in the Mcortming He- rold, and the venality of the press altogether. He concluded by stating, that he would have nothing to do with the business after that evening. (farks of approbation.) A Creditor moved that the presenit comimittee be continued, which was unaniunously agreed to. One of the cotnmrittce said, that all the credit of the discoveties alluded to did not belong to themn; much of it was due to the as- signees, kwhbo had curtainly done al they could for the creditors. Thanks being voted to the chair, the rneeting separated. It was by no means numserously attended. MESSRS. AMRSH, STRACEY, ANVD CO.