[“Mr. Tomlinson in Bankruptcy Court”] — illustration for G. W. M. Reynolds’s “The Mysteries of London” by G. Stiff

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Mr. Tomlinson in Bankruptcy Court

G. Stiff

c. 1843

Wood engraving

Source: The Hathi Trust version of G. W. M. Reynolds’s The Mysteries of London 1.249

The illustration depicts a passage in Chapter 127.

Click on image to enlarge it and see passage illustrated below,

[You may use this image without prior permission for any scholarly or educational purpose as long as you (1) credit Project Gutenberg and (2) link your document to this URL in a web document or cite the Victorian Web in a print one. — George P. Landow]

Passage illustrated

FORTY-two days after the appearance of Mr. Tomlinson's name in the Gazette, among the category of Bankrupts, the second examination of this gentleman took place at the Bankruptcy Court in Basinghall Street.

In an arm-chair, behind a desk raised upon a species of dais, sate the commissioner, embellished with a wig and gown. Close under the desk was placed the registrar, also with wig and gown; and two or three barristers, who were retained in the case, were similarly adorned. In a sort of pew on the right of the commissioner sate the official assignee, with a pile of books and papers before him. About two hundred persons thronged the room—most of whom, by their sullen and sinister looks, might be easily recognised as the creditors of the bankrupt. At a distance from the box in which witnesses were placed during examination, stood Count Alteroni, with folded arms and severe countenance. — Chapter 84, “The Second Examination — Count Alteroni,” 1.250

Commentary

Driven by Greenwood, Tomlinson proceeds to blame Michael Martin, his faithful senior clerk, with embezzlement to cover his own bad investments, declare a blameless bankruptcy, and return to the world of finance unscathed. In one of the many unexpected turns in this novel, the old man is in on the plan and insists on taking the blame because he has no family to support — or disgrace. So at the same time that Reynolds shows yet another means by which the wealthy escape justice, he also employs an almost feudal devotion in action. — George P. Landow

Bibliography

Reynolds, George W. M. The Mysteries of London. vol 1. London: George Vickers, 1846. Hathi Trust Digital Library. Web. 6 October 2016.

Last modified 7 October 2016