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not duplicates of the fame notes come in, and given the alarm. By comparing these one with another, there was found fo material a difference, that the clerks could inftantly tell the counterfeit from the real, though their orders were to pay both without hesitation, provided they came through any houfe of credit, or other unfufpected channel.

To ftrengthen this conjecture, the writer of this account recol'lects to have heard, that, while Matthieson was at the Bank to exchange a real note, one of his own forged notes came in for payment at the fame time; and that this furnished the teller, to whom thofe notes were prefented, with an occafion to challenge Maxwell (for that was the name he went by) pretty roundly with having fome knowledge of thefe forgeries, feveral of which had appeared, though no notice had been taken of them, left it should give a check to the circulation of the real notes. This he fteadily denied; yet there appeared fome alteration in his countenance which denoted guilt, but nothing that could juftify a detainer, and he was fuffered to escape. Alarmed, however, by this, he knew he could no longer carry on his fraud with fafety in England; and he was preparing to leave the kingdom, when next day [April 11], pretty early in the morning, the teller was told that his friend Maxwell (for fo he was now ftyled iro

nically) was feen with a bundle paffing along Cornhill.

Whether the teller had discovered more of thofe notes in the mean time, or had received particular inftructions from his fuperiors to detain Maxwell if he should come again, is not material; but certain it is, that he inftantly posted after him, and, having come up with him, under pretence of having committed a mistake in the tale of the money he had paid him the day before, perfuaded him to return with him to the Bank to have that mistake rectified. Being afked what the mistake was, the other replied, that he believed, he had paid half a guinea too much: on which Maxwell made light of the matter, and, putting his hand in his pocket, pulled out a guinea, and offered him that. The clerk faid, that would not do; the miftake muft be rectified by the books, or he must lofe his place. This had the defired effect: he confented to return, and in his way back left his bundle at a particular fhop. As foon as he entered the Bank, he was told that he muft ftay till the Directors met; and he was fhewn into a room, where the porters paffing to and fro might fee and oblerve his motions.

What paffed between him and the Directors, the writer does not pretend to know; all that appear ed was, his bundle was fent for and examined, but there was nothing exceptionable found in that *.

The contents of the bundle were, fome linen and clothes, a pair of piftols, 200 guineas in gold, fome real Bank notes, fome gravers, and watch-making tools, but nothing that had the appearance of any inftrument to fabricate a Bank note.

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Yet, notwithstanding this harmlefs appearance, it was thought neceflary, in a cafe of fo much confequence, to take him before Sir John Fielding, where, though he had eluded the questions that had been put to him by the Directors, he perhaps might not be able to evade thofe put to him by the experience and fagacity of that magiftrate; by whom he was particularly afked as to his family, his friends, his connections, his place of abode, his pursuits, and his profeffions; to all which queftions, he faid, he had reafons for declining to answer. He was a citizen of the world, he faid, and knew not how he came into it, nor how he fhould go out of it. No. thing, therefore, appearing against him, the Solicitor of the Bank fent him to a public house, attended by proper officers, while he should confult the magiftrates about reftoring to him his bundle, and fetting him at large. Being placed in the infide of the box next. the window, he had not fat long before he, lifting up the fafh as if to let in air, gave a fudden fpring, and jumped out; but, being immediately purfaed, was taken and brought back. This confirmed the Solicitor in his fufpicions that he was the man; otherwife why fhould he fly, and leave his money and effects behind him? Being aked his motive, his anfwer was, It was his humour. It was, however, determined not to let him go till he had undergone a fecond examination by Sir John Fielding, who, before he was brought up, extended his enquiries to all his

intelligence offices, and had col lected all the information poffible concerning him; when, to his utter confufion, the advertisement of the Darlington bank was produced, and he was found to answer the defcription of Matthiefon, who was fufpected to have forged the notes that had been counterfeited of that bank. This being read to him, and being asked if his name was not Matthiefon, inftead of Maxwell, he all at once loft his refolution, turned pale, burst into tears, and, after faying he found he was a dead man, he added, "And now I will confefs all." He accordingly owned that he fabricated the notes in the manner already related; that the moment he had completed the number of notes he thought proper, he deftroyed the plates and every implement which he had made use of in the fabrication; that his next bufinefs was to negociate those notes, and then return and make out more; that he had an astonifhing facility in doing all this, fo that he could accomplish the whole in lefs than a fingle day. By what appeared upon the trial, it fhould feem that he difcovered to the Solicitor of the Bank his method of counterfeiting the water-mark; but, upon enquiry, there is reason to doubt whether he made any particular discovery, only, in general, that he himself was the fole fabricator.

Thus much we have been able to collect of a man, whofe powers of imitation never were equalled, and, we hope, for the good of this country, never will in future.

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The following authentic Extracts from the Corn-Register, are derived from Accounts collected from the Cultom-Houfe Boks, and delivered to Mr. John James Catherwood, by Authority of Parliament.

An Account of the Quantities of all Corn and Grain exported from, and imported into England and Scotland, with the Bounties and Drawbacks paid, and the Duties received thereon, for one Year, ended the 5th of January 1780.

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The following is an account of the average prices of corn in England and Wales, by the ftandard Winchester bushel, for the year 1779.

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N. B. The prices of the finest and coarseft forts of grain generally exceed and reduce the average price as follows, viz.

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SUPPLIES granted by Parliament, for the Year 1779.

NAVY.
DECEMBER 3, 1778.

1.Tfervice, for the year 1779, including 17,389

HAT 70,000 men be employed for the fea

marines.

2. That a fum, not exceeding 41. per month per man, be allowed for maintaining the faid 70,000 men, for 13 months, including ordnance for fea fervice

DECEMBER 17.

1. For the ordinary of the navy, including half pay to the fea and marine officers, for the year 1779

2. Towards building, rebuilding, and repairs of fhips of war in his Majefty's yards, and other extraworks, over and above what are proposed to be done upon the heads of wear and tear in ordinary, for the year 1779

3,640,000 o o

369,882 6 1

579,187 o o

4,589,069 6 I

ARMY.
DECEMBER 15.

1. That a number of land forces, including 3,213 invalids, amounting to 30,346 effective men, commiffioned and non-commiffioned officers included, be employed for the fervice of the year 1779.

2. For defraying the charge of 30.346 effective men for guards, garrifons, and other his Majeĥy's forces in Great Britain, Jersey, and Guernsey, for the year 1779

3. For the pay of the general and general staff officers in Great Britain, for the year 1779

4. For maintaining his Majefty's forces and garrifons in the plantations and Africa, including thofe in garrifon in Minorca and Gibraltar; and for provi. fions for the forces in North America, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, Gibraltar, the Ceded Iflands, and Africa, for the year 1779

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833,911 18 6

37,206 8 6

1,103,118 11 O 5. For

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