on behalf of the general body of creditors' assignee, and the Court confirmed his appointment. Edward Banting, a barrister, who held the lease of Abbey and Park farms, said he was unable to state the value within £5,000, but his claim on the lease was for money lent. He declined to give up possession. A meeting at his house had taken place, at which Tilden Smith, Monk Smith and Mr. Elliott were present. The bankrupt's affairs were then gone into, but as the matter was confidential, witness declined to answer any questions. - The bankrupt applied for an allowance, and was granted £5 per week from the 22nd of June when the bankruptcy took place. He was also granted protection till the next meeting on the 7th of August. It was intimated that the debts were not less than £40,00, whilst the assets were only £12,000. The sum of £17,000 was due to the Old Bank, of which his brother Tilden was a partner.
Tilden Smith's Separate Estate, at Vinehall near Hurst Green was bought in at £16,000. The auctioneer regretted the haste with which the sale had been urged on to get an early dividend for the creditors of the Bank. The estate consisted of farming stock, a family mansion, which cost £6,000, out-buildings, pleasure-ground, 36 cottages, a public-house and 578 acres of land. The mansion in Wellington square, known as Montague House, the property of Francis Smith, was also bought in, there being two bidders, the highest of which was for £2,000. Richard Smith farming stock at Swale's Green was also offered for sale and realised good prices. It may be here stated that the late Bank house in Pelham Place was bought by Mr. E. Stubbs for £2,800.
The First of the Bank Dividends was 10s in the £. The separate estates of Messrs. Smith raised £1800 and £1700 respectively, whilst that of Mr. Scrivens (who had not overdrawn his account at the Bank) was enough to pay the creditors in full and left a surplus of £5,000 for the joint estate. The settlement of Mr. Hilder's property on his son John in 1852, appeared likely to lead to serious litigation. The balance-sheets for the preparation of which Messrs. Turquand and Young charged £683, were 297 in number. They showed the following items: Creditors on deposits £33,629; creditors on drawing a/cs £90,744; notes in circulation £25,185; partners credit balances - Jas. Hilder, £2,42; George Scrivens, £5,288; profits £44,497; cash balance handed over to official assignees £6,592; stock in Reduced Three per cents, £4,625; debtors £122,182 (estimated to produce £1,00); bank furniture £200; partners' credit balances - Tilden -
