ABSTRACT
Precisely what led to Dudley's downfall cannot be determined from official records, as detailed day-to-day accounts of bankruptcy proceedings of this period have survived in only a small proportion of cases, and his is not amongst them. Nevertheless, a significant amount of information can be derived from the registers, enrolment books, official announcements in the London Gazette, and advertisements in other newspapers for auction sales of his various assets. The bankruptcy of Dudley Adams of Fleet Street, 'optician and mathematical instrument maker, dealer and chapman', was first made public by an announcement in the London Gazette on Saturday 24 May 1817, and repeated in abbreviated form in all the other papers a few days later. The bankrupt's assets, when identified, had to be realized by the assignees and distributed to the creditors by way of dividends, for which further meetings would be arranged in due course.
