DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.70301#0450
408 kirby’s wonderful museum,
accompanied him. Having formed a connection with Messrs,
Doorbecker and Co. of Archangel, in the timber line, he re-
turned to England to seek a contract for the supply of tim-
ber, and entered into considerable engagements with the mer-
chants of Hull. Ships were in consequence sent out to
bring home cargoes, but the house of Doorbecker having
meanwhile become bankrupt, the vessels returned in ballast.
Bellingham, who still remained at Hull, was arrested and
thrown into prison by the disappointed merchants, for the
non-fulfilment of the contract; and during his confinement,
or soon afterwards, he wrote a pamphlet for the purpose of
ridiculing them. On recovering his liberty he again pro-
ceeded to Archangel, where he entered into various spe-
culations, which ended in his involving himself in still greater
difficulties. It appeared, from the enquiries of Lord George
Levison Gower, at that time the British ambassador to
the court of Russia, and our consul Sir Stephen Shairp,
that Bellingham had been engaged in commercial business
with the house of Doorbecker and Co.; that pecuniary
claims were made by each party against the other, and that
these claims had been referred for decision, to four mer-
chants, two British subjects being appointed on behalf of
Bellingham. By the award of these arbitrators Bellingham
was declared to be indebted to the assignees of Doorbecker,
two thousand rubles. This sum, Bellingham, notwith-
standing their decision, refused to pay. He now became
extremely troublesome to the government, to whom he
transmitted memorial after memorial. He appealed to the
senate, which confirmed the judgment against him: he
moreover conducted himself with much passion, and was
at length sent to prison, claiming in vain the protection of
the British ambassador, who indeed, under the circum-
stances of his case, could render him no assistance. He
was liberated in 1809, on which he returned to England,
and deeply impressed with the notion, that his case was of
such a nature as to require the interference of the British
accompanied him. Having formed a connection with Messrs,
Doorbecker and Co. of Archangel, in the timber line, he re-
turned to England to seek a contract for the supply of tim-
ber, and entered into considerable engagements with the mer-
chants of Hull. Ships were in consequence sent out to
bring home cargoes, but the house of Doorbecker having
meanwhile become bankrupt, the vessels returned in ballast.
Bellingham, who still remained at Hull, was arrested and
thrown into prison by the disappointed merchants, for the
non-fulfilment of the contract; and during his confinement,
or soon afterwards, he wrote a pamphlet for the purpose of
ridiculing them. On recovering his liberty he again pro-
ceeded to Archangel, where he entered into various spe-
culations, which ended in his involving himself in still greater
difficulties. It appeared, from the enquiries of Lord George
Levison Gower, at that time the British ambassador to
the court of Russia, and our consul Sir Stephen Shairp,
that Bellingham had been engaged in commercial business
with the house of Doorbecker and Co.; that pecuniary
claims were made by each party against the other, and that
these claims had been referred for decision, to four mer-
chants, two British subjects being appointed on behalf of
Bellingham. By the award of these arbitrators Bellingham
was declared to be indebted to the assignees of Doorbecker,
two thousand rubles. This sum, Bellingham, notwith-
standing their decision, refused to pay. He now became
extremely troublesome to the government, to whom he
transmitted memorial after memorial. He appealed to the
senate, which confirmed the judgment against him: he
moreover conducted himself with much passion, and was
at length sent to prison, claiming in vain the protection of
the British ambassador, who indeed, under the circum-
stances of his case, could render him no assistance. He
was liberated in 1809, on which he returned to England,
and deeply impressed with the notion, that his case was of
such a nature as to require the interference of the British