Person Page - 733

Notice published in the July 1855 edition of "The Gentleman's Magazine":- At Bradford, Everard Calthorpe, esq. second son of the late Richard Calthorpe, esq. of Swinehead Abbey, Linc. to Mary Anne, eldest dau. of the late E. Edmonds, esq. Berryfield House, Wilts.⁶

"Of pictures of fruits and flowers, principally by ..... and Mrs. A Lukis de Guérin, the array is brilliant and abundant ..... The place of the exhibition is the Egyptian Hall, Picadilly."⁶

From the "Salisbury and Winchester Journal" - 24th December 1859 VOLUNTEER RIFLE MOVEMENT. - A public meeting, which was numerously attended, was held in the Town Hall, on Monday evening, for the purpose of promoting the formation a local Rifle Corps, Ezekiel Edmonds, Esq., J.P., presiding, supported by tbe Right Hon. T. S. Estcourt, M.r., R. P. Long, Esq., M.P., and large body of clergy, gentry, and manufacturers of the town. The proceedings were opened, in an eloquent speech, by the Chairman, and appropriate and stirring addresses were delivered by Mr. Estcourt, Mr. Long, Captain Pickwick, the Vicar of Bradford-on-Avon, and other gentlemen. Resolutions in accordance with the object of the meeting were adopted, and, after a vote of thanks to the Chairman, the proceedings closed by singing the National Anthem. Subscriptions to the amount of 80/. were announced, including 50/. from the Earl of Manvers.²

A company has been enrolled, under the designation of "the West of England Woollen Manufacturing Company (limited)," with a capital of £100,000, for the purposes of manufacturing various descriptions of woollen fabrics by the process of felting, at the Staverton Mill, near Holt. Mr. Ezekiel Edmonds and Mr. Marshall Hall are, we observe, two of the Directors; and a profit of at least twenty five per cent is promised to shareholders, after making ample allowance for every exigency. We shall be glad to hear that this tempting promise is realised; and as the Directors "recommend the undertaking with the greatest of confidence as a safe and legitimate investment," and as many of them are gentlemen well known and highly respected in the commercial world, there seems ground for hoping that the project may at all events prove successful.²

In the Matter of Ezekiel Edmonds and William Charles Webb, of Bradford and Staverton, in the county of Wilts,
Cloth Manufacturers and Copartners.
THE Trustees of the assignment executed by the above named for the benefit of their creditors hereby give notice that they will, on Friday, the 14th day of June next, proceed to declare a Dividend under the joint estate of the above named, and will divide the assets thereof among such of the joint creditors only who shall on or before that day have sent in the particulars of their claims to the undersigned, or to Messrs. Ladbury, Collison, and Viney of No. 99, Cheapside, London, Accountants. The Trustees further give notice, that they will not be liable for the assets, or any part thereof, so distributed, or be answerable or accountable to any person or persons of whose claim or demand they shall not then have had notice, and have been substantiated by proof, if required.-Dated this 31st day of May, 1867.
WM. MARDON, No. 99, Newgate-street, London,
Solicitor for the said Trustees.

A new theatrical aspirant to public favour is thus referred to in the "Thames Advertiser" of the 18th. The performance concluded with the farce of the Conjugal Lesson, in which Mrs Alice Allen, known as 'The Mermaid,' sustained the part of Mrs. Lullaby, and Mr Margetts that of Mr Lullaby. The piece took immensely. There were numerous local allusions introduced in the dialogue, which created loud and vociferous applause. Mrs Allen certainly sustained the part in a business-like manner. There was no lack of confidence on her part, and she acted and spoke as if perfectly conversant with stage customs."⁴

..... performers were Miss Neilson, Messrs. Bromley and Margetts, and Mrs. Alice Allen (tho mermaid and chief attraction). The programme was divided into three parts, the first two consisting of songs by Miss Neilson and Messrs. Margetts and Bromley. The third part was the comedietta "The Conjugal Lesson", in which Mrs. Allen appeared as Mrs. Letitia Lullaby, and Mr. Margetts as Mr. Simon Lullaby. With regard to Mr. Margotts acting, we can only express it as our opinion that he appears to more advantage in comic singing than he does in comedy. His proecedings were the reverse of pleasing in many parts, and, as the stage phrase is, he "gagged" throughout the piece, while his recklessness in one part actually caused Mrs. Allen to leave the stage for a brief space. Mrs. Allen's Mrs. Letitia Lullaby was altogether too affected a piece of acting. The actress was letter-perfect, but that natural ease which is so essential on tho stage was wanting. Besides, what lady, when waiting up for her husband till early morning, wears white kid boots? Better actresses have appeared in Auckland, but at the same time worse have been tolerated. The same performers appear again this evening.⁴

H. F. Allen and Alice Allen v H. N. Abbott- This was an action brought by Mrs. Allen- better known as "The Mermaid" - against Mr. H. N. Abbott, to recover £20 salary (in lieu of notice) as barmaid at the City Club Hotel under an agreement. The husband was joined in the action, as a plea of coverture had been put in on a former occasion. Mr. Leary (in the absence of Mr. Rees) appeared for plaintiff, and Mr.Hesketh and Mr. Kissling for the defence. Subsequently Mr. Rees appeared.- The defence to the action was that there was no contract, and, even if there was, that defendant was justified in discharging the lady. - Mr Beckham suggested that the case might be settled out of Court, but this course was not adopted. - Mr Rees said the action would not have been brought if Mr Abbott had not discharged Mrs. Allen at a moment's warning without assigning any reason, which, of course, cast a slur upon her character.
In December last Mrs. Alice Allen came up from Dunedin in pursuance of a telegram engaging her for three months as barmaid, at Mr. Abbott's, at £2 10s. per week, with board and lodging; subsequently the agreement was reduced to writing. Mrs. Allen had a child dependent upon her, her husband being in the Lunatic Asylum, and was anxious to clear her character.- Alice Allen deposed: I am one of the plaintiffs in this action. My husband's name is Henry Fitzgerald Allen. I know the defendant. He was my employer. I received a telegram (produced), in consequence of which I gave up a month's engagement at £3 per week in Dunedin to come up to Auckland. Mr. Abbott and Mr. Gesner met me at the steamer, and took me to the City Club Hotel, where I immediately commenced duties in the bar. About two days afterwards Mr. Gesner gave me the memorandum of agreement produced, signed by Mr. Abbott, engaging me for three months at 50s. per week and board. After three months a week's notice to be given on either side of leaving. [This document was unstamped, and was only signed by Mr. Abbott; therefore it was deemed to be inadmissible as evidence of a contract].
A consultation here took place between the counsel and the parties to the suit as to a compromise. - Mr. Hesketh said his client, Mr. Abbott, had been greatly annoyed by a statement of the case which had appeared in a newspaper, which was calculated to give a false impression; otherwise he was not adverse to settle.- Ultimately the case was withdrawn on Mr. Abbott consenting to pay £5.This concluded tho business before the Court.⁴