Letters, nos 501-600

Letters, nos 501-600

501. [F25/8/69] Thomas Simcox, Horsemonger Lane gaol, 30 July 1820 to J. H Scutts, cooper, corner of Albany Yard, Old Kent Road, Surrey

Sir I have taken the liberty to wright few lines to you hoping you will not be offended I have heard as you are a gentleman of feelings towards poor prisoners as you was so kind as to interfere with Friends in the Neighbourhood for Betsy Usher & Rachael Biddulph [both acquitted Kent summer ass. 1820] I hope you will do the same for me I am ashamed to beg such a favour from you as I am an entire stranger to you but your goodness been as such I will open my mind to you and any Friend you will appoint to come with you as I can give the Bank of England such information as will Astonish them if you and your Friend will interfere for me with the Bank of England I shall ever be bound to Pray

I am Sir Your Most Obedient servant Thos Simcox

[written after 347, before 348.]

502. [F25/8/70] J. Appleton, Kings Bench prison, 23 May 1820

Appleton who conducts the Bake House in the Kings Bench prison has been given a forged note by a debtor appearing in bankruptcy hearings and wants Bank to look after his interests.

503. [F25/8/71] Printed pro-forma made out 26 September 1820 in the name of John Paulin Coats or Pullein Coates, tanner, [see also 397] prisoner in Kings Bench prison, claiming discharge as insolvent debtor.

504. [F25/9/1–2] Lists from Bank solicitors to W. H. Brown, keeper of Newgate, of prisoners to be arraigned at OB, May and June Sessions 1821.

505. [F25/9/3] Martha Lucas, Newgate, 1 January 1822

Sir Relying on your Goodness and Humanity to Pardon this Intrusion As My feelings in my Present truly Unhappy Situation Urges Me to Request you will be Pleased to lay this Statement for the Inspection of the Honble Bank Committee – To Whom With the Most Profound Respect and Gratitude I beg Leave to return My Sincere thanks for the lenity that has been Hitherto Shewn Me And the Charity that has been Extended, And Humbly hope A Continuance of the same May be Granted being Solely Dependant upon the Humanity of the Honble Gentlemen of the Bank for the Means of support for My Child Who in being Deprived of Father and Mother is now left quite Destitute, having Now No Friend whatever to Render Me the Least Assistance having Recently lost two of My Brothers by Death and have Also An Aged Mother lying Dangerous Ill in St Barthalamews Hospital Under the Distressing Circumstances I trust the Honble Gentlemen of the Bank will be Pleased to Take My Case into their Most Serious Consideration And Not Withdraw that Charitable Aid they have so Humanely Extended And as in duty Bound I will ever Pray their Most Humble And Submissive Sert Martha Lucas

[BECLS: 9 Jan. 1822, refused continuance; felt it was government's fault that ships were taking so long to be prepared and did not wish to grant any more relief to those waiting in prison.]

506. [F25/9/4] Sarah Paley, Newgate, 2 January 1822

Sir I hope you will Pardon the Liberty I Take in Requesting you Will be Pleased to Present these few Lines to the Honble Bank Committee to Whom I beg leave to Return My Sincere thanks for the Lenity that has been Hitherto shown Me And the Charitable Assistance Received but Humbly hope a Continuance of the Same May be granted As I have A Fatherless Child solely Dependant Upon Me for support And No Friends whatever to Render Me Any Assistance. Should the Honble Gentlemen of the Bank of their known goodness and Humanity be disposed to Extend Any Further Pecuniary Aid they will Not Only Confer a Lasting Obligation but greatly Alleviate the Distress of their Most Humble Sert who as in Duty Bound will ever Pray Sarah Paley

[BECLS: 9 Jan. 1822, refused continuance; see note to 505.]

507. [F25/9/5] Elizabeth Brown, Newgate, 2 January 1822

Most Respectfull Sir I hope you will Not Consider My Second Intrusion Presumptuous as Necesity Again Compels Me to Request you Will be Pleased to lay these few lines before the Honble Gentlemen of the Bank Committee Humbly Trusting they may be Pleased of their Known Goodness and Humanity to Take My Deplorable Case into their Consideration And be Disposed to Extend their Charity By Granting A Further Continuance of that Pecuniary Aid they have so Humanely Hitherto been Pleased to Allow Me (and for which with Humble Gratitude I beg Leave to Return My Sincere thanks) As I am very Much Distressed And in an Incapacitated State with two small Children to support having Now No Other Dependance but the Allowance of the Prison. My Husband being out of Employment Under these Circumstances I hope the Honble Gentlemen of the Bank will be Pleas'd to Grant that Assistance they have

Now Withheld and as in Duty Bound will ever Pray your Honors Most Humble Sert Elizth Brown

508. [F25/9/6] Sarah Carter, Newgate, 24 September 1821

Hond Sir Relying on your Goodness to Pardon this Intrusion As Necessity Urges me to Solicit Your Interference with the Honble Gentlemen of the Bank humbly hoping they may of their Known Goodness And Humanity be Disposed to Render Me a Small Portion of that Charitable Assistance they have been known to Extend to others in a Similar Situation As I Am Very Much Distress'd Not having Any Friends to Whom I Can Apply And have A Child to Look Up to Me for support And Am Quite Destitute of the Means of Procuring these Necessaries Requisite for Myself And Child Preparatory to our Voyage Should the Honble Gentlemen of the Bank be Pleased to Assist Me With ever so Trifling an Aid it will be Most Gratefully Rd and as in Duty Bound will ever Pray Sarah Carter

509. [F25/9/7] Elizabeth Smith and Elizabeth Webster, Newgate, 24 September 1821

Hond Sir Elizth Smith and Elizth Webster begs your interference with the Honble Gentlemen of the Bank in their behalf humbly hoping they will of their known goodness and Humanity be dispos'd to assist them with A small portion of the charity they have been known humanely to extend to others in A like situation as they are very much distress'd and not having any assistance since their long confinement and likewise quite bare of those necessaries so requisite for them Preparatory to their Voyage Elizth Smith has got A child to look to and Elizth Webster being in an Afflicted State and standing in need of more Nourishment than the Prison affords wich is not in her power to Procure humbly hopes the Honble Gentlemen of the Bank will kindly Assist them with A little Pecunary Aid wich if ever so small will be thankfully Receivd by Elizth Smith Elizth Webster

510. [F25/9/8] Catherine Taylor, Newgate, 11 July 1821

Sir I Humbly beg Pardon for this Intrusion As Necessity Urges Me to Solicit your Interference with the Honble Gentlemen of the Bank Humbly hoping they will of their known Goodness be disposd to assist Me with a Small Portion of the Charity they have been known Humanely to Extend to Others in A Similar Situation I would not have presumed to Trouble them were I Not Very Much Distress'd and in want of cloaths and have got no Means whatever of Procuring any Unless the Honble Gentlemen of the Bank will Humanely Assist Me And as in duty Bound will ever Pray Catherine Taylor

511. [F25/9/9] Sarah Redding, Newgate, 5 July 1821

Sir I humbly hope you will Pardon this Intrusion As Necessity Urges Me to Solicit your Interference with the Honble Gentlemen of the Bank in My behalf humbly hoping they may of their known Goodness be Disposed to Render me a small Portion of the Charity they have been known humanely to extend to others in a Like situation as I am quite Destitute of Friends of

Money and My Cloathes being in Pledge Must Remain so Unless Kindly Assisted by the Honble Gentlemen of the Bank as it will not Otherwise be in my Power to redeem them should they be disposed to Extend their Charity in ever so Trifling a Manner it will be Gratefully Received by your Most Hble Svt Sarah Redding

[BECLS: 11 July 1821, request not complied with.]

512. [F25/9/10] Frances Grey, Newgate, 5 July 1821

Sir Relying on your Goodness to Pardon the Liberty I take in Requesting you will be Pleased to Lay My Case before the Honble Gentlemen of the Bank (as I am quite Destitute of Friends or Money) Humbly praying they will of their known Goodness be Dispos'd to Extend a Small Portion of the Charity they have Humanely to Extend to Others in A Similar situation As I am rather Bare of Cloaths and have no Means whatever of Procuring Any Unless Assistance by the Honble Gentlemen of the Bank who I hope will in Consideration of my Distressed Situation grant me some trifling Aid and as in duty Bound will ever Pray Frances Grey

[BECLS: 11 July 1821, request not complied with.]

513. [F25/9/11–14] Josiah Cadman, Newgate, 28 October 1821

Gentlemen, The awful situation in which I am placed has induced me once more to address you, and the knowledge that my fate is in your hands encouraged the hope that mercy may yet be extended to me.

When I learnt that it was not consistent with that resolution which you have taken, with respect to such offenders as myself, to suffer the plea of Guilty to the minor offence to be made, I preferred acknowledging my Crime to vainly contradicting it, [guilty plea to cap. ch.] and undergoing the form of a trial which could not have made my guilt more apparent or more hateful to me – I have in consequence received the appalling sentence of death, and now, standing on the brink of eternity, I make once more, an appeal for Mercy, to you, upon whose breath depends my existence, coupled, as my fate is, with that of a confiding heartbroken Wife [Ann Smith, alias Sarah Cadman, cap. con.] I have every inducement to beseech that you will spare our lives to give us an opportunity of amending them. That I have the stronger desire to do so, the confession I have made to one of your Officers, and my conduct since my apprehension, I humbly submit are sufficient evidences. I am moreover willing to do every thing in my power to detect and bring to Justice the hidden contrivers of the nefarious system which has been perfected by the blood of so many victims to whose number, unless your clemency shall avert my impending fate, I may soon be added. There is nothing that can be suggested that I will not assay, no enterprise however dangerous that I will not gladly undertake, to accomplish this object. I have no pledge to give for this, but the solemn assurance of a wretched man in too perilous a case to be insincere in word or thought.

The only ground (beyond those I have before mentioned) upon which I can lay any claim to your indulgence, is that my Case, guilty as I am, is not worse than any, not a tithe so bad as some of those which have received the Mercy I now implore; – None of them, I believe, had to bear the pangs of famine and the agony of seeing a Wife perishing for want of the necessaries of life. Those only who have felt such Misery can tell how hard it is to suffer – upon this subject I hardly dare touch, but I beg humbly to remind you that the long continued practice of suffering offenders to plead to the minor offence, and the recent cases of Ross, Beresford, Smith and many others convince me that you have been merciful, and induce me to believe that you will be no less to me. I know that upon your Representation to the Government depends my Life or Death.

Gentlemen, I implore you by that forbearance you have so often displayed to other Criminals, and the recollection of which stands now like the Angel of Hope, between me and the Grave which is open at my feet – by those charitable feelings to which the discharge of your public duty does violence, by your domestic happiness, – by the reward promised to those who emulate the first attribute of Heaven, – Mercy! – by that Great and Good God on whose clemency all Men rely, and 'who desireth not the death of a sinner, but rather that he may turn from his wickedness and live', to weigh the awful condition in which I stand and when you consider the temptations to which I have been exposed and the misery I have borne to let the balance of pity incline in my favor – recollect I beseech you that I am not hackneyed in the practices for which I stand condemned, that the papers I annex prove that at no very distant period I enjoyed the approbation of Gentlemen whose praise could only be obtained by deserving it, and believe the solemn assurance which perhaps may be uttered with my dying breath, that if your Mercy should be extended to me, all that may be spared to me of existence shall be devoted to such worthy purposes as may evince my gratitude for your interposition. I am Gentlemen in the deepest affliction your obedient servant Josiah Cadman

Attached: letter, 23 Aug. 1821, from James Bacon, magistrate, Clerkenwell, informing Bank that Cadman had information to give; set of five testimonials for Cadman from high ranking naval officers praising his service as marine on HMS Censor 1815–16, and as clerk to lieutenant quarter master in Chatham division of royal marines 1813–15 & 1817–19; copy letter from Bank solicitors stating Bank would not interfere to prevent execution; letter from J. H. Capper, home office, 15 Nov. 1821, requesting briefs on Cadman and his wife to be sent to Lord Sidmouth.

514. [F25/9/15–16] Sarah Stewart, Newgate, 11 July 1821

Sir I Humbly beg Pardon for this intrusion I beg you will lay my case before the Honourable Gentlemen of the bank I am greatly distressed for wearing Apareel and totaly without friends having no one to asist me whatever I hope you will have the goodness to allow me whatever you may think proper if it is ever so small a trifle I will be truly thankfull on atending to this request you will highly Oblidge your humble Servent Sarah Stewart Attached: note from Bank investigator, 26 July 1821, Sarah Stewart has no Freinds who call upon her. Sarah Johnson [515] ditto. Jane Carter [516] has Friends who call upon her. She cohabited with John Smith and was prosd with him for selling forged Notes. T. Glover; further letter from Stewart, 5 Sept. 1821, identical with 514; note from Bank investigator, C. Christmas, Sarah Stewart has One Son who was transported and she has no Person that relieves her. She is an old woman & was an old offender

[BECLS: 8 Aug. & 19 Sept. 1821, refused relief.]

515. [F25/9/18] Sarah Johnson, Newgate, 26 July 1821

Relying on Your Goodness to Pardon this Intrusion I have Presumed to Solicit Your Interference with the Honble Gentlemen of the Bank in My Behalf – Humbly Hoping they will of their Known Goodness be Disposd Humanely to Assist Me with a Small Portion of the Charity they have been Pleased to Extend to others in a Like Situation As I am very much Distressed for Cloaths &c and I am Quite destitute of Any meanes whatever of Procuring any not having any Friends to Render me the Least Assistance Under the Present Circumstances I hope the Honble Gentlemen of the Bank will be Pleased to take My Case into Consideration And as in duty Bound will ever Pray Sarah Johnson

[BECLS: 8 Aug. 1821, refused relief.]

516. [F25/9/19] Jane Carter, Newgate, 8 July 1821

Sir I humbly Beg your Pardon for taken this liberty I hope the Gentleman of the bank will take my case into consideration I am greatly distressed having no friends and unfourtunately all my Cloaths are in pladge and I have a Child four years old intirly depending on the jail allowance I hope you will have the goodness to allow me a triefele to help maintan the Child and in so doing you will for ever Oblige your Humble Servent Jane Carter [BECLS: 8 Aug. 1821, refused relief, noting she was a notorious bad character, husband convicted five yrs before, two men with whom she since cohabited executed for Bank forgeries, and current accomplice was a housebreaker and seller of forged notes.]

517. [F25/9/20a & b] John (alias George) Ellis, Newgate, undated 1821, [probably August]. Formal petition requesting to plead to lesser offence; attached note, 10 Aug. 1821, to Mr Maynard, Bank solicitors' clerk, to say examination of Ellis by magistrate to take place at noon next day; BECLS decided, 22 Aug. 1821, to prefer cap. ch. only as known as common utterer.

518. [F25/9/21–2] Edward Stamford, 10 Alfred Place, Kent Road, on behalf of John Wilkinson, prisoner in Horsemonger Lane gaol, 5 April 1821

Respected Sir The inclosed will prove that my intentions are correct – John Wilkinson who by accident I heard was confined under sentence of fourteen yrs transportation for uttering forged notes – purporting to be of your Company – in fact by my serious requiring of him the manner he obtained them – his respectability formerly – being related to most respected connexions – induces me to believe the inclosed – it may I trust be of some service – at all events I think I am doing justice to the police – and hope I do not intrude upon your time, your immediate answer will oblige Yours respectfully Edward Stamford

Marked on outside: Sir immediate enquiry is necessary. Pay the Porter One Shilling ES

Attached: note from John Wilkinson, same date, promising to inform Stamford of every particular relating to his prosecution.

519. [F25/9/23] Lydia Hogan, Giltspur Street compter, May 1821, formal petition

That your Petitioner was in May Session 1819 convicted of the minor offence at the Old Bailey but mitigated in April 1820 to two years farther imprisonment as above, since which time, until within these last two months, your Petitioner most thankfully received from your Bounty and kindness the sum of 5/- weekly, which has greatly contributed to the support and comfort of five children in a great measure dependant on said releif – Your Petitioner therefore humbly entreats that the same may be continued to her, and will as in Duty bound ever pray Lydia Hogan

Annotated: Refused

520. [F25/9/24] Lydia Hogan, Giltspur Street compter, 20 May 1821

Sir i humbley bag to be Pardond for the Liberty i hav Took in adresing this Letter to You as i am much distressed i have Four Children out an one in Iv not a frend to Look to me But Gal an myself without your Goodness will pleas to alow me some Small triefeel to suscport Me an i have 11 munths to be confined yet i have a very bad State of hulth an thrust you will be pleas to sand me a triefeel of money I shall be ever thankfull to you For it I remain your Humbel Sirveant Prisoner Ledy Orgin

521. [F25/9/25] Lydia Hogan, Giltspur Street compter, 19 September 1821

Sir I hope you will pardon the Liberty i have taken in addressing myself to your notice for it is the height of distress that oblidges me to Solicit your favour be it Ever so small i have got a very sickly Child with me and have had a great deal of sickness myself and Child to Since last Christmas and i have nothing at all but the bare gaol allowance having no friends to Come to assist me with any thing only my poor Children and it is not in there power to do any thing for me humbly hopeing you will take my Case into Consideration and i will in duty bound to ever pray your most Humble & Distressed Prisoner Lydia Organ

522. [F25/9/26–7] John Lomas, Coldbath Fields prison, 11 March 1822

Hond Sir Under the Present circumstancese [facing two cap. chs] you can have no Objection to Return me the tickets of Several of my Cloaths as I am in great distress and would Be Glad of any little assistance in my Present dreadful Situation and I may Be able to turn Several of my things into money and great Part of them are not my Own

By so doing you will greatly Oblige your most Obedient Humbl Servant J. Lomas

Attached: letter from his father, 4 Mar. 1822, to Mr Christmas, Bank investigator, at Dog Lane [Row?], Mile End, asking for interview next day with Mr Maynard, Bank solicitor's clerk, as he has important information to give.

523. [F25/9/28] John Lomas, Coldbath Fields prison, 14 March 1822

Gentlemen In consequence of my not having been called on this day as I had reason to expect I must most respectfully beg the favor of your sending to me my pocket book with the duplicates &c which Mr Maynard took from the officer on the 7th inst – and which he promised to return to me today

I am Gentlemen your most Obt and most humble Sert J Lomas

524. [F25/9/29–31] John Lomas, Coldbath Fields prison, 20 March 1822

Sir I beg to acknowledge the receipt of the things through Mr Christmas junr and I cannot omit this opportunity to express my heartfelt gratitude for your politeness to Mrs Lomas and your consideration in having given her permission to have access to me. I have further to hope when I appear again before Sir Richard Bernie you will allow me to be sent to this place untill such time I go up to take my trial

I am Sir with great respect your most obet and Most humble Sert John Lomas

Attached: cover letter and letter, 1 July 1822, from Thomas Butts Aveling, manager of Truman's brewery, Spitalfields, to Bank on behalf of daughters of late Mr and Mrs Boreman, defrauded of £8 by Lomas [by this time executed], asking for relief to be sent to them; copy reply from Bank solicitors, 5 July 1822, directed to pay them £10 out of commiseration for their destitute situation, emphasising that this is not payment for loss since Bank never make such payments.

525. [F25/9/32] William Connell, Coldbath Fields prison, 23 March 1821, held for non-payment of fine; Bank wish to take him to Warwick as witness in one of their cases, but he says if he comes out of prison to help he does not wish to be sent back there.

526. [F25/9/33–4] Charles Shearer, debtor, Kings Bench prison, 3 April 1821 to William Mellish Esq., [director of Bank] offering information in exchange for money. Attached: visiting card of Anderson & Shearer, commission agents, New York & 15, Little St Thomas Apostle Street London; Bank solicitors refuse offer 5 Apr. 1821.

527. [F25/9/35] William Morris, Justitia hulk, Woolwich, 3 May 1821 to Mr Oswell Milne, New Bayley, Manchester [Salford]

Sir In a letter I Reseved from my wife She informes me that She as bean at You Respecting my time Being Migitead and She saise that if I will Tell the truth you will be afrind to me the truth I heave tould and am willing to Tell it againe I Reseved the two notes of aman at the Signe of the Blue Bell High Street Manchester on 14th March for Guingham But Did not know the man but he had Stockings to Sell and that is as true as I Can Speak But Mr Milln It is all Becase I went to York against the Radecills they heave done all that as Lead in there Power befor to Ingure me but it never was in there power nor it is not posoble for aney neighbour that I heave to give me One ill word in Reguard of Honsty nor neaver had anething of the Cind Lead to my Charge in all my Life so I think it is hard to teare me from my Wife and fore Small Children as Insent as I am But it is all Middleton Reformers and they heav Rejoiced So much at me being transported they heave Publiched it in the Londen Peapers and it as Been in bord this Ship and I am thredned with Dearth before I get to the Bay as they are detrmend to heave none But good men they will not heave traters there – Mr Milln if Cornell taylor had been Living I should not heave Been heare I was youst to take all my Intelengence to Collen taylor it was me that Informed Mr Taylor of the Burning of Manchester and Bamford Healy Plant Lancashire and Kent was Impresned for the saime – I am Very Badley thought of in Middleton for Being against the Reformers But if Ever it be my Lot to Com back you Shall Heave more Intelange at new bayley then Ever you heave had and you may Depend there will be Occeagon as soon as they get settled thay will be wars then Ever I heave spent plinty of money with them on purpos for news and it wood be the same again

Mr Milln if you will heave the Goodness to writ to Lord Sidmouth there is no Doubt But it wood be Done as it is the firs offence and as Insent as adove I Beg that you will Aply as Soon as you Reseve this as there is aship Expected here every Day and all that Lays in my power shall not be wanting In that Busness Onst I humbley beg that you will Keep me in Ingland as it is in Your Power and anething that I Can feavour you with Shall not be wanting Dont feale as soon as you heave Resevd this From your Humble servant William Morris

I should Like your answer as soon as posable

Front of letter marked: With speed

528. [F25/9/36] James Holman, Justitia hulk, Woolwich, 6 May 1821

Gentlemen Could you but witness my wretched and deplorable situation I feel confident you would Interest yourselves in promoting my wishes namely of my being removed from here to the Penitentiary where I trust from an unexampled course of life and a knowledge of my unworthiness I might again become an Honourable and useful member to society and at a future period (which, I trust, would not be distant) be enable to provide for a Young and Unprotected Wife who without your generous and humane interference will be inevitably left destitute and unprovided for – I have given Mr Christmas every information respecting Smith and female associate and would feel happy at all times in rendering every service to your most Honble Company. My former communication has been founded on a sure and firm basis – Truth – and in the case of Smith and companion part is verified.

I therefore again humbly presume to throw myself upon your most gracious mercy sincerely praying you may yet be pleased to grant my earnest request, anxiously awaiting the opportunity wherein (by your sanction) you shall see all my former proposals both verified and accomplished. On the contrary Gentlemen should you imagine from my knowledge of such characters that I am an unfit Object to Remain in this Country (which I [hope] you will not) I must fervently pray that your Philanthropy and Benevolence will induce you to assist me at this most melancholy crisis it has to enable me in a distant Land to support my dearest Wife (with your assistance and Industry Combined) and retrieve that Character which I have lost thro' my late and Unfortunate misconduct and folly – I make this appeal to your feelings under the grateful Impression that you will pardon the intrusion. I remain Gentlemen with the purest motives for your Most Honble Companys Welfare James Holman

529. [F25/9/37–8] James Holman, Malabar transport ship, 14 June 1821 to Mr Christmas, Bank investigator

Sir It is not without sanguine hopes of success that I make this appeal to your Benevolence – A few days now must terminate my sufferings in England – the heart rending Pangs of bidding Adieu to Wife – Friends – Country – and everyone dear to me – is now swiftly approaching to my Lot – I leave my Native Land destitute of common necessarys – I am not even provided with my exterior Clothing to make a Respectable appearance on my landing in New South Wales – It would be an act of real charity if the Honble Company of the Bank of England would remunerate my services (for so I may term them) with a trifle so that I may be enabled to furnish myself with such Apparel as would be most suitable to my views it might be the means of paving the way to my promotion and it would at all events confer an everlasting – grateful – and most essential – obligation on Sir, your Humble, Obt Servant James Holman

To Mr Christmas PS I have taken the liberty of writing to Messrs Kay – Freshfield & Kay upon the same trusting real distress will plead for the presumptious liberty I have here taken. I beg leave to state that Saturday 16 Inst as the date appointed to sail. C. Later [sentenced to fourteen yrs trspn, Kent ass., spring 1821] has been draughted on board the Malabar with me – but has returned on board the Justitia. I really thought Sir, that myself would have had a much better chance of a mitigation from the communications I made than Mr C Later

Attached: letter, same date, from Holman to Bank solicitors, containing same information as 529, annotated: rec'd 16 June Spring assizes Maidstone minor offence

[BECLS: 20 June 1821, relief refused.]

530. [F25/9/39] Bridget Slater, Newgate, 5 April 1821

Honoured Gentlemen I hope and trust you will Pardon the Libberty I take In Addresing you I wrote to you once before, but received no Answer I hope you will take Compassion on my destressed situation and Grant me Some releif I have been In Confinment this seven Months to describe my suffering I cannott I have not A Freind In the world to render me the smallest Assistance my Parents being very Much destressed Could you have the goodness to grant me my request I shall Ever be in Duty bound to pray for you Your Most Humble Servant Bridgett Slater

Annotated: Refused

531. [F25/9/40] Richard Burbidge, Newgate, 7 April 1821

Sir being giving to understand by my brother who had some conversation with you upon the unfortunate situation I am placed in he informed me if I sent a note by my friend you would do me the favour of getting a ticket of a Watch & seals that was was taken from me at the time I was taken into custody hoping you will be so good as to give it to the bearer of this note I Remain Your Humble Servt R Burbidge

Annotated: Delivd it to Mr Corigan 7 April 1821

532. [F25/9/41a] Fifteen 'out of London' women, Mary Ann transport ship, November 1821

To the Humane and Honble Gentlemen Of the Bank The unfortunate women whose names are undersigned Humbey prayeth that the Directors of the Bank of England will generously and Humanely extend their Clemency towards them as before now they have done kindly towards others Jemima Burton, Hannah Whiteley, Mary Pimblott, Catherine Hilton, Jane Bridge, Isabella Hammill, Catherine Quinn, Maria Stevenson, Ann Williams, Clementina Rebecca Miares, Prudence Davies, Mary Wilson Wright, Elizabeth Montagu, Louisa Thompson, Sarah Prince

533. [F25/9/41b] Twelve 'London' women, Mary Ann transport ship, November 1821

We the Undersigned Prisoners of the Bank beg Leave to Present Our Most Grateful Acknowledgements for the Lenity That has been Shewn to Us And Humbly hope the Honble Gentlemen of the Bank Will of their known Goodness and Humanity As We are Now About to Leave Our Country be Pleased to Aid Us With that Charitable Assistance They have been Known Humanely to Extend to Others in a Like Situation And As In Duty Bound Will ever Pray, their Most Humble Petitioners Elizabeth Smith, Jane Carter, Sarah Johnson, Sarah Redding, Sarah Stewart, Frances Grey, Elizabeth Webster, Elizabeth Pascoe, Sarah Appleton, Catherine Taylor, Mary Stalker, Charlotte Thorn

Annotated; £75 Country £55 London £130 Elizh Smith was ordered to be pd 2d June 1821 – which has been resd for her

[BECLS : 12 Dec. 1821, realized they had granted £5 short, mistaking Elizabeth Smith in London list for an Elizabeth Smith previously paid; they had £5 each in hand for Sarah Paley and Martha Lucas who could not sail, so one £5 to be paid to E. Smith on current list and other £5 to be used to pay a witness.]

534. [F25/9/42–3] William Jervis, Horsemonger Lane gaol, 9 April 1821 Formal petition submitted on his behalf by twenty well-placed citizens of Camberwell, begging that his life be saved. [BECLS: 11 & 18 Apr. 1821, refused to interfere].

535. [F25/9/44–6] Lists of prisoners to be arraigned at OB sent by Bank solicitors to W. H. Brown, keeper of Newgate, 6 December 1820, 10 January 1821, 4 February 1821

536. [F25/9/47–8] Mary Ann Platt, unspecified house of correction, 7 November 1820

Sir, May I solicit your kind attention to the information I am about to give assuring you it is Honest – I have been innocently ensnared into this unhappy offence by Mary Ann Kelly who is the sole cause of the approximating misery which must overwhelm me if you do not kindly extend your Lenity towards me – the young woman who was acquitted last week was ensnared in the same way that I have been – trusting to your humane interference in my behalf – and submitting my case to your kind consideration I am Sir Respectfully Your Obedient Servant Mary Anne Platt

Attached: letter from Mary Kelly to William Scrubbs at Black Horse, Vine Street warning him and friends to be careful since Mary Ann Platt had given information to Bank solicitor; annotated: 5 St Helens Place 7 Sept. 1818. [Kelly and Platt indicted jointly.]

537. [F25/9/49] Phillis Johns, Newgate, 1 November 1820

(Hond Sirs) I beg Pardon for the Liberty I take In Troubling you tis Necessity has compell'd Me to Request you will be Pleas'd to present My Case to the Honble Gentlemen of the Bank, to whom I Return My Most Grateful thanks for the Sum of 2 Pounds by the Hands of Mr Teague – at the same time I Most Humbly hope they will of their Known Goodness and Humanity be Pleas'd to Extend their Charity to Myself And three Helpless Children As I Am Quite Destitute of Friends or Money And have No Means Whatever of Procuring those Necessarys Requisite for our Voyage and a Great Part of Our Wearing Apparral &c being in Pledge which Must be Forfeited unless the Honble Gentleman of the Bank will Humanely assist Me in this My Distress'd Situation And As in Duty Bound Will Ever Pray Phillis Johns

[BECLS: 11 Oct. 1820, £2 awarded as she had given birth pre-trial in Giltspur Street compter; 8 Nov. 1820, granted 7s. 6d. a week.]

538. [F25/9/50] Elizabeth Denham, Newgate, 13 November 1820

Hond Sir I should consider My self Much Indebted to your goodness if you will condescend to call on Me Any time Most convenient As I wish to Speak with you Respecting the Unpleasant Situation I Am Placed in And should be glad to a Little of Your advice on the Subject I beg Leave to say I am at Present Waiting to take My Tryal at the Ensuing Sessions on a Charge of having A Uttered a Forged one Pound Note in so doing You will Sir Much Oblige Your Humle Svt Elizth Dent

539. [F25/9/51a & b] Elizabeth Gould, Newgate, 8 November 1820

Honoured Sir relying on your generosity to Pardon the Libberty I take In addressing you but extreme distress tempts me to solicit your kind Atention I have been extremlly Ill this two Months and have not one Freind In the world to render me the smalest Assistance I am Doomed to Leave my Country for fourteen years and am now wholy relying on your benovlence for relife should I be so fortunate as to meet the honourable approbation of the honourable Gentlemen I should be ever bound to Pray for you with heart felt gratitude

Your Most humble Servant Elizabeth Gold

Attached: note from Charles Procter, Bank investigator, stating he found her in great distress.

[BECLS: 15 Nov. 1820, rejected request; but next day, after report from Glover, Bank investigator, agreed to send £2 to Glover who should judge how best to use for her relief.]

540. [F25/9/52a & b] Sarah Carter, Newgate, 14 November 1820

Honoured Sir relying on your generosity to Parden the Libberty I take In writeing a second time to you fearing you had forgot me tempts me once More to solicit your Kind Attention believe me Sir my distress Is greater than I can Describe I have not one Freind In this world to render me the smalest Assistance I am sentance to Leave my Country for fourteen years my feate is hard Indeed I hope and trust you will have the goodness to take Compassion on my Misserable Situation and grant me some releif honord Sir I have been in Confinment this seven Months without the Comforts of life Should you be so kind as to grant me my request I should ever be in Duty bound to Pray for you from your Most humble Servant Sarah Carter Annotated: I believe the former application of this Prisr was rejected by the Committee

Attached: note from Glover, Bank investigator, same date, saying no husband, child or friend visit her. [BECLS: 22 Nov. 1820, refuse relief until she embarks.]

541. [F25/9/53] Sarah Carter, Newgate, 28 November 1820

Identical letter to 540, believing Bank solicitors had not received it.

542. [F25/9/54a & b] Ann Prince, Newgate, 15 November 1820

Sir I beg Pardon for thus Tresspassing on your Goodness As Necessity Obligers Me to Solicit Your Interferrence with the Honble Gentlemen of the Bank in My Behalf – Humbly hoping they will be pleased to take my Case into Consideration And be disposed to Assist Me with A Little of That Charity They have been known Humanely to Extend to Others in A Similor Situation – I Have No Friends to Render me the Least Assistance And have got one Child to Provide for Who With Myself is Quite Bare of Cloaths As I have been cruelly taken the advantage of During My Confinement by A Person who I Entrusted with the Care of them And Unless the Honble Gentlemen Of the Bank be Pleased to Extend their Charity Myself and Child will be Debased of the Means of Procuring there Necessaries Which are so requisite for us During our Voyage And Several Articles of Apparal which are Now pledged will be Forfeited it Not being in My Power to Redeem them – And I Remain with the Most Profound Respect Your Most Hble Svt Ann Prince

Attached: investigator's note: Ann Prince a Prisoner in Newgate She has a Female Child about 4 Months & is in great distress. Sarah Ewster [Hewster][543] has no Friends or Family is in great distress. T. Glover 22 Novr; also annotated: Jane Cartwright [Sarah Carter] is in great distress – no Friends

[BECLS: 22 Nov. 1820, granted 5s. a week.]

543. [F25/9/55] Sarah Hewster, Newgate, 21 November 1820

Hond Sir I beg Pardon for troubling you again as I am so very Distressd I am induced to beg you will in Pity to my years Present My Case to the Honble Gentlemen of the Bank humbly Hoping they will be Pleased to Extend their Charity to Me As there is No Object Stands More in Need of it than Myself – I have been in Confinement for five Months Past and have Not had any Person to give Me the Least Assistance during that time And have only had the Jail Allowance to Live on I would Not be so Intruding if I had wherewith to procure Me A Few Articles Necessary for My Voyage And to Redeem my Cloaths I Should feel truly grateful for the Smallest Act of Charity Bestowd Me by the Honble Gentlemen of the Bank Who I Trust Will be Pleasd to Grant Me some Pecuniary Aid As they in their goodness May think Proper And As in Duty Bound will ever Pray Your Most Hble Svt Sarah Ewster

Annotated: See ltr fm Ann Prince dated 15 Novr 1820

[BECLS: 22 Nov. 1820, rejected request until she embarked.]

544. [F25/9/56] Harriett Treemer, Newgate, 10 October 1820

Honnored Sir I hope and trust you will pardon the Libberty I take In writeing to you but Extrem Distress temps me to solicit your favour I am Domed to Leave my Country for fourteen years and I have not one kind Freind In the world to releive me I hope your goodness will take Compassion on my unhappy situation and grant me some Releife If you will be so kind to send me A trifle of Money I shall Ever be In Duty bound to Pray for you I have been In Prisson five Months and have not had A Penny from Any one but the Prisson Allowance

from your Most humble Servant Harriett Tremer

[BECLS: 18 Oct. 1820, refused request; investigator said she was not distressed.]

545. [F25/9/57] Rachel Herbert, Newgate, 28 November 1820

Honoured Sir relying on your gennerosity to Pardon me for writeing to you but Extreme Distress tempts me to solicit your kind Attention I have been robbed of all I had since I have been In Confinement I have Nothing Left not so Much as a thing to my back but what I have on what to do I know not unless you will have the goodness to Lay my Miserable situation before the Committee I have not one Friend In the world to render me the smalest Assistance my situation Is truly Distressing being under the Sentence of Leaveing my Country for fourteen years have no other Dependance than the honourable gentlemen of the Bank

from your most humble Servant Rachel Herbert

[BECLS: 6 Dec. 1820, investigator, Glover, reported she was not a fit object for mercy, request refused.]

546. [F25/9/58–9] Henry Harris, Newgate, 1 December 1820

Dear Sirs I take the liberty of Forwarding you the following lines being given to understand that their has been A Man Describing himself a Coachman and stating that he never had a note till I sold him one – but I solemnly declare to that Almighty God befor whos presence I shortly have to appear that I never in my life saw that man nor ever attempted aneything of the kind and I should esteem it as an extreme favour if I could be permitted to see that man and then I should Die in peace I do assure you Sirs that this unhappy catastrophy has come quite unexpected being allowed to plead to the Minor Offence having but two against me I most humbly lay my unhappy case before you Gentlemen and earnestly crave your kind consideration in my favour trusting that if their should be slightest possibility of my life being spared and being banished the country during the remainder of my Days I should be in duty ever bound to pray that God of his Infinite Goodness and Mercy would shower down his choisest blessings on your devoted heads Consider Sirs my undeserving Parents that quickly must drop with sorrow to the Grave and may your compassionate hearts feel but one pang For an Unfortunate Sufferer H. Harris

Attached: note from Mr Sheriff Williams, Smithfield, to Bank, 2 Dec. 1820:

Mr Sheriff Williams with Compliments to the Govr & Compy of Bank of England feels it His Duty to convey the accompanying letter. Note annotated: Vide ltr from Henry Harris to the Govs & Compy dated 1 Dec 1820 and: Note the Evice wanting

547. [F25/9/60] Mary Ann Smith, Newgate, 11 December 1820

Honoured Sir I hope and trust you will Pardon the Libberty I take In Writeing to you A second time but Extreme Distress tempts me once More to Solicit your kind Attention I received A one Pound Note four Months back witch I Ever shall be gratefull for I have been in Confinement Ever Since May and have not A Freind In the World to render me the smalest Assistance I am Doomed to Leave my Country for fourteen years I have Lost all my Cloaths what to do I know not I hope and trust you will take Compassion on my Miserable Situation and grant me my request and I shal be In duty bound to Pray for you from your most humble Servant Mary Ann Smith Annotated: Rejected

548. [F25/9/61] Mary Lambert, Newgate, 17 December 1820

I hope and trust you will Pardon me for taking the Libberty of writeing to you but Extreme Distress tempts me to Solicit your kind Attention I have been in Confinement Ever since September and have not A Freind In the world to render me the smalest Assistance witch is so very hard for God Sake Let me beg of you to take Compassion on my Miserable Situation and grant some relief believe me Gentlemen to describe my distress I cannot should you be so kind as to grant my request I shall be In duty bound to Pray for you as it Is uncertain when the Ship will Sail I am Doomed to leave my Country for fourteen years from your Ever humble Servant Mary Lambert Annotated: Rejected

549. [F25/9/62] Mary Jones, Newgate, 27 December 1820

honoured Sir I hope and trust you will Pardon the Libberty I take In Writeing to you but Extreme Distress tempts me to Solicit your kind Attention I have not A Freind In the world to grant me the smallest releif my sufferings Is More than I can describe to be confined In A Prison without the Comforts of Life I hope you will take Compassion on my destressed Situation and Grant me my request I am Sentance for fourteen years transportation and have parted with all my Cloths beleive me Sir I shal Ever be gratefull for the smallest releif and be In Duty bound to Pray for you your Most humble Servant Mary Jonce

Attached note: Mary Jones is not a proper object of Charity T. Glover 28 Decr; further annotated in another hand: How much £69

550. [F25/9/63] Elizabeth Denham, Newgate, 11 December 1820

Honourd Gentlemen relying on your gennrosity to Pardon me for the Libberty I take In Addresing you but Extreme distress tempts me to solicit your kind Attention my distress Is more than I can describe my husband suffered hear witch Left me unprotected on the wide world with two small Children Without A Freind In the world to render me the smallest Assistance I hope and trust you will take Compassion on my Miserable situation and Grant me some releife I am Doomed to Leave my Country for fourteen years Could you be so kind as to grant my request I shall Ever be In Duty bound to Pray for you from your Most Humble Servant Elizebth Dennam Annotated: To be allowed 7/6 pr Week during her Stay in Newgate

[BECLS: 20 Dec. 1820, noted she had 2 children with her.]

551. [F25/9/64] Elizabeth Denham, Newgate, 3 January 1821

Honoured Sir relying on your genrerosity to Pardon the Libberty I take In Writeing to you but being very Much Distresed So Much I know not what to do I have young baby sucking att my breast my triall Is More then I can bear I have Partted with my Cloths to help to support my dear Child I have not one Freind In the world to give me the smallest releif honoured Sir If you will take Compassion in my Miserable situation and Alow me A trifle of Money to releiv my destresed Mind to describe my destress I Cannott I hope and trust you grant me my Request and I Shall ever be In duty bound to Pray for you from your Most humble Servant Elizebth Denham

I have one Child att Nurse witch Makes me two Children and I owe A Sum of Money to the Nurse

Annotated: For Glover's report See Ltr fm Sarah Wright of same date. Not complied with [BECLS: 10 Jan. 1821, noted a weekly allowance already granted.]

552. [F25/9/65–6] Elizabeth Denham, Newgate, 31 January 1821

Honoured Sir I am truly Sorrey to be Under the painfull Nessasity of writing to You again but I am quite Destitute of Every Nessary of Life for my two poor Helpless Children only trusting on the know goodness of the worthy Gentlemen and you Honoured Sir I wold for Ever Acnolledge my thanks to you if you wold be Graciously pleased to Lay My Destressed

Case before the Committee As I am Entirely Destitute and Distress beyond discribing Having Nothing but the bear Allowance of the Geoal to subsist on which is scarce Enough to keep life within me My poor Child is very ill And Has been for this week past owing to the whant of Nourishment and it is oute of My power to obtain the least Comphorts for Eather of them only depending on Your goodness and Compassion I parted with the last thing I Had Before I wold trouble you but being Now Destitute again I wold Ever Acknolled my thanks to you if you wold take In to Consideration my Pitifull Case and I will be in Duty Bound Ever to pray Elizabeth Denham Attached note: Mr Brown of Newgate says that neither of the Parties are Distressed, Bridget Slater, Elizabeth Denham, Mary Howard, C. Procter [Bank investigator] 1 Feb 1821

[BECLS: 7 Feb. 1821, confirms weekly allowance.]

553. [F25/9/67–8] Elizabeth Pryor, (member of association for the improvement of the female prisoners in Newgate) re: Elizabeth Denham and other matters, 20 Gracechurch Street, 6 February 1821

The Gentlemen Bank of England directors are respectfully informd that Elizth Denham, a Bank Prisoner in Newgate begs her case may be taken into consideration for a weekly allowance towards the support of herself and two Infant Children. E. Pryor has taken this liberty on the behalf of E Denham and at her request.

E.P. begs leave to call the attention of the Gentlemen to the consideration also, of the gratuitious allowance of the £5 which has been usually presented to them on board the Ship when about to be transported. From the observations E.P. has been capable of making she is apprehensive this act of great kindness is attended with no real benefit to them Individually in the way it is intended, because they presume upon it, and they will expect it; the consequence is, they lavish their weekly allowance whilst in Prison, still in debt, their cloaths in pawn, and they generally in a worse state than if they were not in expectation of the addition of the £5.

In stateing the above remarks, E.P. begs further to observe, that on board the female Convict Ships, she has felt peculiar interest for the better regulating the Convicts by Classification, Employment and organizeing a School for the Children in order measurably to prevent those disgraceful scenes which have too commonly prevail'd. These regulations are attended with considerable Expence, and the Bank Convicts share in common with the other women, in all the privileges which are thus dispensed among them.

E.P. does not ask for the £5 to be with held altogether, but if they could see no impropriety of throwing their gift into the general fund for the express purpose above stated, it would be put to a good and beneficial account, and prevent those perplexities which never fails to occur on those occasions.

E. Pryor hopes the Gentlemen of the Bank of England will excuse this liberty, more especially as it may appear premature, but she engaged to apply on behalf of E. Denham, and thought it right to throw the whole subject before them, in hopes it may have due place in their consideration.

Attached: copy letter, 15 Feb. 1821, from Joseph Kaye, Bank solicitor to Mrs Pryor: Madam, I submitted your Letter to the Govrs and Directors of the Bank, who have complied with your recommendation in favour of Elizth Denham. With respect to what is given by the Governors & Directors to Female Convicts previous to their departure for New South Wales, they think it is right to retain the Application of it under their own immediate control. I am &c J. K., NBB, 15 Feb 1821

554. [F25/9/69] Sarah Wright, Newgate, 3 January 1821

Hond Sir I humbly hope the Liberty I Take in Troubling you a Second time will not be considered Intruding as Necessity Compels Me to Solicit your Interference In my Behalf with the Honble Gentlemen of the Bank Praying that they will of their Known Goodness be Disposed to Extend their Charity by Assisting me a Little as I am very much Distressed And have got No Friends whatever to Render Me the Least Assistance And it is Not in My Power to earn Any Thing at Needle Work having a Young Baby to attend to

I Feel truly grateful for two Pounds sent Me Whilst Confin'd in Childbed and Were I Not so Embarrassed I would Not have been so Troublesom I am Quite Bare of necessary for Myself And Child And have got Several Articles in Pledge which I Can't redeem Unless the Honble Gentlemen of the Bank will kindly Undertake to have Pity on Me And as in duty Bound will ever Pray your most Hble St Sarah Wright

Annotated: Not complied with

555. [F25/9/70] Bridget Slater, Newgate, 31 January 1821

Honnored Sir I hope and trust you will Pardon the Libberty I take In Addesing you but Extreme Distress tempts me to solicit your kind Attention hopeing you will take Compassion on my Miserable Situation I have been in Confinment five months and have been Extremly Ill for this last two Months and have not A Freind In the world to render me the Smalest Assistance haveing no other hope to depend on then your honnor I hope and trust you will grant me my request & beleive me sir I shall Ever be In Duty bound to Pray for you – should you think me worthy of your Attention & Send me A trifle of Money I shall Ever be gratefull for the Same from your Most Humble Servant Bridgett Slatter

Attached note [F25/9/71 double numbered, see below] 31 Jan. 1821: Vide ltr fr Elizabeth Denham (for Character) Petns Elizh Denham Sarah Wright These Two women are in the same Situation as those before transported T. Glover 8 Jan 1821

556. [F25/9/71] Mary Howard, Newgate, 30 January 1821

Honoured Sir relying on your goodness to Pardon the Libberty I take In Adresing you but Extreme distress oblidge me to solicit your kind Attention and knowing your general Character and your sincere wish to do good beleive me Sir my triall is very Great more than I Can bear. I have been in Confinement Ever since the 1 of June and have Lost Every thing I had in the world. My husband is on board the Leviathan att Portsmouth and is

Extremly Ill and have been so Ever since he Left this Prison. My dear Child Left to the wide world deprived of both Father and Mother honoured Sir think for A Moment what I Must suffer to be robberd of my husband and Child and house and home all in one Fatal Day for God Sake Let me Intreat you to take Compassion on my sufferings and render me what releif you think proper as I am Intirely Friendless and deprived of Every Comfort witch renders my situation Miserable honnered Sir I hope and trust you will have the goodness to Intercede for me to be kept in my Country as my husband is very Ill and never Can bear so Long A voyage and beleiv me Sir Any information I can give you I will with the greatest of Pleasuar humbly Praying your honour will render us this kindness as I hope and trust In god you will and Crown your endeavours with success and I pray to God you will meet your reward sir in Heaven for your goodness. I have just received A Letter from my Afflicted husband he informs me the dockter of the Bay Ship tels him he is sure not to go to the Bay he has Lost the use of his side his suffering is More then I Can Describe honoured Sir Let me once More Intreat you Grant me my request and keep me in my Country for my poor husbands and Child sake and I shall ever be In duty bound to Pray for you Your Most Humble Servant Mary Howard

Annotated: Vide ltr fm Elizth Denham 31 Jany

[BECLS: 7 Feb. 1821, notes she has child with her but is supported by friend.]

557. [F25/9/72] Samuel Evans, Newgate (Master's Side), 15 January 1821

Sir I have been unhappyly the dupe of others without ever having the most distant intention of using the practice with which I changed to my own Emolument. Unfortunately my own trade of Boot maker made me the lodger of Mr Burns and consequently put me in the way of acquaintances which I should otherwise not have known. If in your better judgement & kindness any communication can be attended to from Me which may opperate in my favour I will most unreservedly make it if You will give Me the opportunity YTS Respectfully Saml Evans

558. [F25/9/73] George King, Horsemonger Lane gaol, 26 March 1821

In custody for seven months prior to trial for uttering, asks to plead to lesser offence; BECLS already decided, 9 Aug. 1820.

559. [F25/9/74–5] Jane Gould, Horsemonger Lane gaol, 18 December 1820

honerd Sir your humble pertikiner Jane Gould the Wife of Staven Gould how is a transport [sentenced to fourteen yrs trspn OB, Mar. 1820] now laying in horse monger Lane prison and I have bean hear a long time I was cometed in march last and I ham in great want at this time having no frands to do heney thing for me as my husband is gaown to the bay I hope your honer will have the goodness to asstist me I would not have troubled you if I was not in want but laying hear so lone and I do not know how long I have to Stop longer I hope your honer will take it in to considerrashen and sand me something to halp me as I have bean hear So long I ham vary bad of from your vary humble sirvant Jane Gould

Attached: note from Bank investigator: Jane Gould a prisoner in HorseMonger Lane Goal, is no worse off than other Women, who are in the same Prison for the same offence T. Glover, 22 Decr 1820

560. [F25/9/76] Charles Carnegy, New Prison, Clerkenwell, 24 November 1820

Gentln I most humbly beg pardon for the liberty I take in intruding myself upon your indulgence and merciful consideration of my distressed and unhappy situation in which I am unfortunately place. But Gentlemen if you would be pleased to allow me, I can satisfy you that I was completely drawn into the Snare while the Authors abetters and planers are suffered to remain at large and who I can inform you of provided you allow me when I am sure you will see that I am the dupe and Victim of the real Culprits I am Gentln Your Most Obdient and distressed Servant Charles Carnegy

561. [F25/9/77] John Arnold, keeper of New Prison, Clerkenwell, 30 December 1820 requests remuneration of incidental expenses, including twice hiring coaches to transport Bank prisoners from Hatton Garden to Newgate.

562. [F25/9/78–81] William Hill, Newgate, 24 January 1824, to Mr Lees, Bank investigator

Sir, In consequence of Death occurring in my family I have been prevented fullfilling my engagement with you this occurrence taking place rather suddenly.

As I purpose of Postponing my Trial (if possible) until the March Sessions every thing will be done on my part which I think will prove satisfactory to those who are humane to interest themselves I Remain sir Most Respectfully Your very Obedt Humble St W. Hill

Attached: statement addressed from OB, Dec. 1823, unsigned, explaining that Hill wished to postpone trial until next sessions so he could discover real culprit; this annotated to request Hill to send information to Bank solicitors, who would send investigator to him; note on Hill's behalf, 31 Dec. 1823, from Newgate, requesting Bank solicitors send someone to him [presumably the appointment which Hill postponed by 562]; copy letter from Bank solicitors, 16 Feb. 1824, to Mr Foy, West India Dock police office, requesting information on Hill, due for trial in two days' time; they were desirous to negative his claim to be employed by the West India Dock company in Oct./Nov. 1823, and wish Foy to send evidence in the course of tomorrow.

563. [F25/9/82–3] John Smith, Newgate, 16 September 1823

Sir, I have considered it my Duty to inform you that I have just heard that the person, Fidler & his two companions stand committed for trial at Hicks

Hall [Mdx quarter sessions] this Sessions for passing bad money, three of the most desperate characters in the Circulation of Forged Notes, two of whom are in feigned names, Sulbrook' name is Gust, Williams is Nash & Fidler [cap. con. OB Sept 1821] in his proper name.

Now having laid this before you I humbly trust you will have the goodness to endeavour to have as much lenity & mercy shewn me as will prevent the awful Sentence of the law being carried into Execution, I trust in Consideration of my Confession of this Circumstance my pleading guilty at the Bar also the Distress with which my Family & Connexions are plunged into will I trust have a consideration & excite a Sympathy in your Breast for the Sufferings of a poor fellow creature, trusting this will meet with attention I remain Sir Yr Mo: Hle Sert John Smith

Attached: copy note from Bank solicitors, 24 Sept. 1823, stating his letter laid before governors of Bank who cannot consistent with their duty to the Public interfere.

564. [F25/9/84] John Smith, Newgate, 24 September 1823

Gentn Your Letter I received yesterday & altho' you express therein that the Govr & Directors of the Bank of England will not interfere in my Behalf I trust they may not be induced to add anything against me than what is allegedly done, so as to prevent my Friends interesting themselves to save my Life & as I have endeavored to disclose everything I knew I have in addn to say that conversing with one of the Prisoners here, I have learnt that Black Harry, the Person who Fidler [see 563] obtains the Notes, lodges in No. 15 Vine St. Chandos St Covent Garden & further that He has been always living by the Sale of them, & keeps them in the front Cellar I cannot myself vouch for the exact Truth of this but am led to understand that it is correct and trust this will be an additional appeal to save me from a disgraceful End – & prevent others from falling into the same perilous situation, I am Sir, YT Hle J. Smith

[BECLS: 1 Oct. 1823, read letter; noted no point in replying.]

565. [F25/9/85] Ann Layshaw and others, Mary Ann transport ship, Woolwich, 25 May 1823

Honble Gentlemen We the undersigned Petitioners now on board the Mary Female Convict Ship having been unfortunate enough to be convicted for Uttering Forged Notes, as set forth in the enclosed statement taken from the Government Report, most humbly beg you will be pleased to grant your petitioners the same Donation you so very Humanely have done to others who have been placed in the like unfortunate situation. And your Petitioners as in duty bound will ever pray Elizabeh Webb, Elizth Trindle, Ann Rummer [these sign by mark] anna Lasaw [own signature]

Annotated. See Minutes of the Committee 30th May. Ann Layshaw was convicted at the Summer Assizes 1822 of uttering forged Bank Notes for £5 – in the County of Essex. The other three Prisoners were not prosecuted by the Bank & with respect to two of them Trindle & Rummer it appears they were Not prosecuted for uttering Bank of England Notes – but Notes of the Norwich Bank as to Eliza Webb we have no information

566. [F25/9/86 a & b] Maria Williams, Newgate, 20 August 1824

Sir I beg pardon for this intrusion but I trust you will take me your humbel petitioner into your kind considderation haveing been a prisoner in this prison upwards of ten months and Laying for some time under the awfull Sentance of death but the Royal mercy was extended towards me for which I am unfeignedly thankfull, but as I am to leave my Country for life and much distressed haveing no Freinds whatever to assist me I hope your kindness will extend towards me and lett me have the bank money as I understand that Some have had it Sence it as been stopt and if it is allowed me it will be most thankfully received and be of the Greatest Help to me your Humbel Servent whome will ever be in duty bound to Pray trusting you will forgive every liberty you may think me Guilty of beg leave to subscribe Myself yours moste obedient Maria Williams

Annotated: frm the Prisoner with a recommendation from the Govr of Newgate

Attached: note, 28 Aug. 1824: The Governor of Newgate has been seen regarding Maria Williams who was convicted in January last for uttering Forged Notes, and he considers her a fit object for Pecuniary Relief on account of her having Conducted herself with so much propriety since her Trial. She has no Children, having never been Married. The Vessel in which she is to embark will sail this week. £5-0-0 [sum in red ink], Maria Williams with her mark 4 Sep 1824 and witness signature.

567. [F25/9/87] Maria Williams, Newgate, 31 August 1824

Respectfull Sir By your condecension in coming to make inquiries after me who confesses the unfortunate conduct I have pursu'd – feeling true thankfullness for the Mercy & compassion that has been extended towards me in sparing me from an ignominious death – likewise my gratefull acknowledgements to the worthy and every respectfull superiors of this prison for the lenity extended while under the awfull sentence of death. As the Honourable gentlemen have taken into consideration my destitute state, and your humanity in taking the trouble, trusting you will forgive this liberty in addressing you – may I presume to crave your interest in procuring me an assistance being utterly destitute to embark on such a voyage, having no relations to assist me & having a number of articles in pledge – which would require some repair, and little I had, could lay it out to some advantage than when in the prison. Humbly soliciting the Generosity of the Honourable Gentlemen in behalf of an ignorant and misguided Female will ever pray in their behalf – and with due respect remain your unfortunate Obliged Humble Servant Maria Williams The ship is expected soon to sail

568. [F25/9/88–9] Completed insolvent debtors' relief pro-forma, 18 October 1827. summonsing to court, on 8 Nov. 1827, prisoner in Fleet prison, Thomas Claughton Esq., of Haydock Lodge, Lancs., also of Parliament Street, Westminster, and Bloomsbury Square, Mdx, with copy letter from Bank solicitors forwarding pro-forma to royal mint solicitors, Amory & Coles.

569. [F25/10/1] Joseph Ball, Warwick gaol, 27 February 1801

Ball, a bankrupt, asks Bank for temporary relief and names and addresses of people who might assist him.

570. [F25/10/2–6] John Hollins, Fortune transport ship, Portsmouth, 26 February 1801.

Set of letters from Hollins, not Bank prisoner, addressed to Sir John Carter, Portsmouth, passed by Carter to Bank solicitors. Hollins, pardoned for his crime, wishes to offer information gleaned from friend on Fortune about forgers. Attached: note of several names, made by Bank solicitors; copy letter from Bank solicitors to William Penrose, treasury official, stating they have received many letters from Hollins via Sir John Carter but Hollins never comes up with information.

571. [F25/10/7–9] John Pasmore, Fortune transport ship, Langstone harbour, Portsmouth, 1 September 1801 & 6 May 1802. Pasmore, friend of Hollins [570], not Bank prisoner, addresses letter to Sir John Carter to forward to Bank, offering information on forgers; attached: note from Bank declining offer; second letter from Pasmore showing he is keen to inform on certain gentry.

572. [F25/10/10–12] John Green, Ruthin gaol, Denbys., 4 January 1804

Honored Gentlemen With great submission I take the present liberty of presenting my needfull address to the humane consideration of your Hond persons, which I hope you will remember in mercy; I have great reason to praise the Lord for his past mercys and also to return you my most Humble thanks for the interfusion that hath been made by your worthy person, in behalf of having my life spared when it was so near a point. I still trust in your Goodness that you will remember how I was led from my original path of virtue to the punishment I now suffer by those that ought to have suffer'd in my stead; but the Lord is Gratious and mercifull; but he can bring the guilty to suffer. But now it remains on the contrary, that the innocent suffers and the guilty is set free; but the time will come when we shall all be Judged aright; which gives me hopes that I shall have Happyness for all my sufferings which are very great at this present I have this two months bore great afflictions in one leg that hath broke out with being so confined, which hath caused me to suffer much in such a Dreadful place; and being separated from a tender Wife and seven small Children, that are brought to the brink of ruin by this fatal seperation; which hath took place almost this two years past; I being the offspring of a reputable Family in all Circumstances, which makes my fate still harder; may the Lord incline the hearts of your Hond persons to intercede in the behalf of me receiving Pardon for my past offences; which thing I hope will be a warning to many; I most Humbly beg you will except my thanks for what is past, and still trust in your Goodness & mercy for what is to come, for which your poor petitioner remains in duty bound to pray; J. Green

Attached: two letters to Bank from Humphrey Jones, keeper of Ruthin gaol; 23 Oct. 1803 and 7 Mar. 1804, asking for Green's sentence to be mitigated further since his good character warrants restoration to his family.

573. [F25/10/13] John Sumner, prison keeper, Birmingham, undated in 1804

Sends bills to William Spurrier, solicitor acting for Bank in cases in Warws. and Staffs, for services rendered re Bank prisoners.

574. [F25/10/14] John Baddeley, Stafford prison, 18 April 1808

Hond Sirs, Pardon me if I offend in writing to Your Honours as I now ly under Sentance of Transportation for haveing in my possession a quantity of Notes that was forg'd upon Your most Honourable Bank for which I very much repent not only for myself but the thoughts of many others I fear will come into the same situation or worse by those base Villains the makers of such kind of base Money which Induces many to their ruin and the thoughts of the large quantity of money it takes to prosecute those whom they notes are found upon, I hereby think it my duty to inform Your Houners that it's in my power was I at liberty to take up all the Makers in Birmingham and stop their Proceedings in making of all kinds of Base Money boath Notes Gould and Silver coin so if your Honners should take the above with Consideration and lend me Your assistance I will for Your Honor and the Countrys Good use every endeavour and bring them to Justice even to the hasard of my life which I believe wou'd be the case as they are well Arm'd at that time when they know they are in danger they sign the Notes at a Certin place and then takes them to a House where their Customers meet as they must be took betwixt the two Places when they have the Goods upon them as they are mostly altogether You wou'd be surprised to see the quantitys they send of to all parts of England Ireland Scotland and to all parts of Wales I now am wise to the knowledge of the evil that attends it makes me very willing to have it all destroyed I can tell if I am in any Company if their is one amongst them that trades in the above goods in a few minutes. So if Your Honnors think proper to take me for the Business You may depend upon my Sincerity and I would loose my life in the Action before I would miss taking them as I am now Convinc'd of the evil Consequence of their Business my purposing this in hopes of saving the lives of many besides the vast expense attending – and I have another way I can take them as I dont wish to make publick if Your Honours shoud take it into Consideration it shall be my Study to render all the Assistance I can.

I am Gentlemen Your Most Humble Petitioner John Baddeley

P.S. I should take up a great many Makers of the aforesaid notes & Money and I have something Particular to say if I could see you

[BECLS: 11 May 1808, request rejected.]

575. [F25/10/16] William Phillips, Warwick gaol, 5 April 1808

Mr Kay Sir, I hope you and Mr Spurror [Spurrier, Birmingham solicitor] will have the goodness to take my distressing case in to consideration as I have no frends in the world but you and Mr Spurror as is well nown that is throaw mee that Marsh Gulley [590–1, 593] and Baker was taken as I always suplied Suanah Criss with money to do the Bisness with tham and to go by the notes of them to send to utter at Woodbridge but could not tel witch way the mother sent them to him, witch throw Howell living with Criss thay have turned thair backs upon mee wich is well nown to Mr Spurrer that was don to Seaive mee but if Plase God I should wonce more be restored to my Libberty you may depend that all that I can do to Searve the Bank or the mint I will do to the best that I can wich I mack not the List Doubt but I could Put a nend to Som of the bisness in having B Patrick [notorious forger] at work at a Bank Plate or if you woud wish me to go with Mr Antony [public office, Bow Street, London] or any other Person to Ireland to have Mr Patrick taken at work for hee will do anithing for mee I would do, as I will now were to find him in Dubling or any others Persons that I now, but Sir I only wish I could See you and Mr Spurrer heair I could satisfy you more than I ham Able to rite at this time as I would be Bound in aney sum of monney to you to Purform what I have heair rote as I have no frend now Left as since my confinment heair I have Lost my Wife and my Father and Last Satterday night my mother dyed So you see that I have no frend Left and 5 children but if Plase God I should be at Libberty wonce more I ham Positif I could have Dry taken with the notes uppon him and King and W Foster but if you will plase to ask Mr Antony hee will inform you what I told him but Sir I have this time rote to Mr Spurrer and If I should See him I will Inform him my mind concerning of It Sir I hope you will be my Frend this time and I shall be for Ever bound to Pray for you and to Seairve you in anething at any time, So to conclude with my Prairs to you to be my Frend from your most obedent Humble Searvant Wm Phillips

576. [F25/10/15] William Phillips, Warwick gaol, 17 April 1808

Mr Kay Sir Plase to Excuse mee in takeing this Liberty of riting to you as I have no frend in the world but you to take my Distresing case in to concideration as since my confinment heair I have lost my Wife and Father and the first of this month my mother and now I have no frend Left but my children wich is not in thaire power to Assist mee in it nothing and if Plase God you will Step forward in my bealf this time I shall be in Dueaty bound to seairve you in anething that liese in my power to do for you and the bank and if Plase God that I should Get my Liberty I would go with Mr Antony to Irland to have Mr Patrick as hee would do anething for mee Eather in the notes or make a Plate for them or I would Go Anewere Else to seairve you or to have B Patrick first as I would be bound in aney Amount to you to Perform what I have rite to you as I ham well convinced that there is no other Person in Birmingham wich makes the Plates but him and concerning the Dealers in them I informed Mr Antony when I see him heair Last, Sir. I only wish that I could of seen you at the Asise I could of Satisfide you more then I ham Able to rite to you wich should of bin to your satisfaction Sir I hope you are convinced that throu my Intrest the Peple that was found Giltey at the Asise by Chrissmas [Christmas, Bank investigator] was for my benefict Sir I hope for God Sake you will be my frend this time as I expect the peple to go Soon from heair to the Hulks an I ham verey unesey about it as you must Expect Guley [Gulley, 590–1, 593] not to be frends with mee throw is Wife and Likewise with the rest that is hear Sir I hope you will be my frend this time and if I should Get Liberty I would Eather com up to you or would go with Mr Antony and I ham sure that I could have B Patrick imedley but Mr A will Inform you so to conclude with my Praire to you to be my frend I remain your most obedint and Humble Searvent Wm Phillips

577. [F25/10/17–19] Thomas Cribb, Chelmsford gaol, February, 1808

In prison for horse-stealing, provides information about forgers; list of names written by Thomas Archer, keeper of Chelmsford gaol.

578. [F25/10/20] Joseph Bridge and Michael Hughes, Fortune transport ship, Spithead, 6 January 1806

Gentlemen Permit your unfortunate servants most humbly to take the liberty of intruding on your Wisdom by the brief statement of our unhappy Case and make an Appeal to your Humanity for an Amelioration of the Rigours of our Distress

When on Board the Hulks we voluntarily in conjunction with many of our fellow Sufferers volunteered our services to His Majesty in his Land Forces abroad, underwent Inspection before Justice Graham and the Colonels of HM African Corps wereby these Gentlemen approved and inrolled, but were afterwards informed we had been guilty of Aggressions towards You we could not be accepted and were in Consequence ordered on Board this Ship bound to N. S. Wales. We now in the most humble and respectful Manner implore your Clemency and that you would graciously consider to Permit us to avail ourselves of his Majesty's Army as consistent with our fellow Sufferers who are not yet gone to join there Corps or if this cannot be granted we most humbly intreat you to take our unhappy Case into your consideration and grant us such Amelioration of our Situation as you Gentlemen shall in your Humanity be disposed to grant which Favour will ever be acknowledged with the most heartfelt Gratitude and for your Felicity Hond Gentlemen will be duly offered the Prayer of Your truly respectful unfortunate Servants & humble Petitioners Joseph Bridge Michael Hughes

579. [F25/10/21] John Rimes, Fortune transport ship, Spithead, 5 January 1806

Honoured Sir I humbly take the liberty of addressing You to request your acceptance of my most sincere and thankful Acknowledgements for the Favours you have so generously conferred upon me Permit me to assure you, I shall ever retain the most grateful sense of them

I could also wish to impress, if Possible, on an exalted Mind like Yours this conviction that tho' doomed to Banishment by the Law, I am in effect utterly innocent of the Crime for which I suffer, believe my solemn Parting Assurance that it is so notwithstanding which I now patiently submit to the Dispensations of the Providence and Severity of my destiny nor will the endeavours of those I leave behind be at any Time deficient if by them they can be fortunate enough to render any Service to the Bank. In addition to the Favours already received Permit me Sir once more for the last Time to make an appeal to your Goodness: by every Account in the Country where I am going Letters of Recommendation prove the most signally serviceable had I one to present to the Governor on my Arrival it might prove the means of my being taken off the Hous and by working at my trade might insure A Competency and avoid that laborious Toil so irksome at my Time of Life can I Hond Sir derive this benefit from your Generosity if therefore you will condescend to grant me this Request if sent to me by Post under Cover directed to me on Bd the Fortune B. Bay Ship Captain Shore Spithead or elsewhere Be assured Sir I shall never prove ungrateful for your Goodness but will Pray for your injoyment of every Felicity under heaven whilst life animates

Your highly obliged and truly respectful humble servant Jn Rimes

580. [F25/10/22] Richard Westcoat, High gaol, Exeter, 16 September, 1807

Honoured Sir I hope your Honour will not be offended with me for troubling you as I ham a prisenour and transported for 14 years and my Wife [Jane] Likewise I am a Baker By trade and have Ben enfortunate with the Busness that I have it not in my power to provide for my poor Childern and there wheare forged Notes found in a Saspan belonging to me I Do Declare to God I Never utered one forged Note in my Life to the Best of my knolage thearefor I hope your honours Goodness with your Intrust will Geet my sentence to some Impresenment or Aney other punishment your honours Gooness Could Impose on me so that in some Little time I may be Inabled to Support my Childern and it will be my Dutey to Informe your honours of all the makers of those Bad Notes and the utterers of them and Should I be so fourteneate to Geet my Liberty and should be put In power I will take Every one of them and Bring them to justeis this I hope will be kept as a scerecret or the Busness Cannot Be Done and I should be yoused hill by the Rest of the priseners and as I have No money Left and my Creadeit is Lost on this Sad Busness after I have Done what I have promissed I should be thinkfull to Sarve his majesty on board one of his Ships in the Best manner I Can

I hope your honour will feal for my poor Childern and I shall be in Duty Bound to pray from your humble Sulisutues Richd Westcott

Addressed to Mr Abraham Newland, 'governor' [actually chief cashier] of Bank.

581. [F25/10/23] George Jenkins, Lancaster castle, 30 March 1807 to Joseph Nadin, deputy constable of Manchester to forward to Bank

Sir Acording to your Request I rite to you the judge as Bin most graciously pleased to Repreve me. thearfore I have duly Detirmaned to Make Evrery Restituion that is in my power for the Crime wich I have been Gilty of, and I ham well convinced that I Can Make a full Discovery of the Real Agants and Manufactors of forged Note and by that put a stop to Evrey farther Circulation of them, but that is not the onley things wich thay are Gilty of for thay have the peapel that Makes the Bace half Guineys and Seven Shilings peces and Dolers of wich they Make Great Numbers and the Last time I was at Birmingham thay was going to Make a plate for Pontifract Bank and likewise upon One of the Hull Banks and I belive thear his One maid upon Leeds Bank wich will All Cum from the Same Place in Birmingham and thear his upwards of Twenty of those peopel in the Concarne wich I Could Discover if I Could have Liberty to go to Birmingham with you or any Other person proper to Haperend them I ham Serton I Could Discover them at work on the Said Notes &c but if I might be A Lowed I would Advise you not to Make Aney Search after them at presant so as thay may git to know for you may Be Sheur that as theare his so maney of thare Aquaintances in trubel at presant they will be very much upon thare Guard at presant for fear of Aney One Discovering them and thare procedings and Bringing them to justis. Charles Taylor is the persons name that Ingraves the Plats he Lives in Birmingham but I do not know his place of A Bode – But him and Miller Baker Willans Ernshaw and A person in the name of Kirkman wich is Distributed A Large quantity of Notes in Manchester and Round About it and he is A Great Aquantance of Kershaws and Bethels Likewise of Henery Mileses and Barters that as Long ben in the practis of Circalating forged Notes in Lancashire and if It be posable that I Can have the Liberty to go to Birmingham I have Determand to Make Recompenc for the Linety I have ad Shewn to me and the Injery I have Don to the Cuntrey thearfore if you Lay this my Reselution before the Majestrats of Manchester and thay will Indevour to Git me that Liberty wich is Nessery to Inable me to Discover the Real Agants of the above Evels I will be Bound to Cause them to be put An Intire Stop to thare procedings wich will Be best don in the Corse of the Month or Six weeks then thay will all be at Birmingham again folowing the same practises the Afore Named I Could Easey Cause to be Aperended with your Asistanc unless it is Kershaw for I Never hard of his being theare but James Bethel frequently goeth to Birmingham Amongst the Makers of the Notes to git them for other peopel and I think has done for Sum time thearfore if you think proper I will indeaver to Git Sum Farther Information from a person that is in heare with me that will be of Serves in regard to Aperending the Aforsaid peopel and if you will be so kind as to Ancer this Letter I will git it Every information I can But as I ham a Pore Riter I ham a fraid you will not be Able to Understand it, I have Nothing more at presant

From your Humble and faithful Prisnor Geo Jenkins

582. [F25/10/24] John Hatton, Lancaster castle, 17 October 1806, to John Lloyd, solicitor, Stockport, forwarded to Bank

Sir, I should have answered yours before this But ad sent to Manchester to See if I could get any more knowledge than I was in Possession of In regard to what I have to Say respecting the Interest of the Bank of England Is that I Can Inform them of the Person that I ad them from who ad the Plates for five & one Pounds likewise several persons that is in the abit of Passing them. One of them that was with the man that sels the notes the Same time I got them is in Prison at this time in here and the other at Manchester.

Every Information that I can give that will to the Interest of the Bank will faithfully give if that it will atend to giving my Liberty. This being the only Preis of Transaction I have Ever been concerned In Fighting the Interest of the Bank. I hope in your representing it to the Governors it will excite in there Breasts motives of Humanity to do away the Severity of the Punishment

I am Sir Yours Humble Sert J Hatton

Annotated: 25 Oct Wrote to say he must tell Manchester – J Lloyd.

583. [F25/10/25–6] John Hatton, Lancaster castle, 27 October 1806, to John Lloyd, solicitor, Stockport, forwarded to Bank

Sir, Yours of the 25 Came safe to hand – return you my sincere thanks for all favours but Cannot think of giving anyone Names of any one unless I have a Promis beforeand, then will faithfully give any Assistant that Lies in my power if you Cannot do any thing in this shall apply in a nother manner Myself your favour to this will Oblige yours J. Hatton

P.S. It will be Poor satisfaction for me Providing I should Caus Others to be imured And to be Still in Bondage myself Yours JH

Attached: petition on behalf of Hatton, signed by Charles Prescot and Holland Watson, Lancs. magistrates, marked Rejected by Bank solicitors.

584. [F25/10/27] Mary Burn, County gaol, Surrey, 7 November 1806

Gentelmen Parden the Liberty of my Wrighting to you Gentelmen I return you my Humble thanks for the favours I have received from you had it not have ben for your Bountyfull favours I Must have starved in this Unhappy Place

Gentelmen as I am Going on Board of Ship and have a Shilling to help my Self with and am Greatly neceseated for a few things too take with me Gentelmen Permit me to ask you this one favour to assist me with a trifle to Get me a few things what I Greatly stand in nead of as I have not a friend in the world but you Gentelmen with thankfulness of heart I remain gentelmen your obediant humble Servant Mary Burn

585. [F25/10/26] Mary Burn, Sidney Cove transport ship, Spithead, 20 November 1806

Gentelmen parden me for taken the liberty of riting to you Gentelmen i should have rote to you before to return you many thanks for all the favours i have resieved from you and likewise for the 5 pounds i resieved from Mr Shooter [Suter] But Gentelmen i have been very ill ever since i have Been on Board wich has Been the occasion of my Not riting to you Before and in Great distress i should have Been had it not Been for your Goodnes So no More from Unfortunate Marey Burn

586. [F25/10/28] William Peters, Gloucester City prison, 24 March 1809 Sir As I am now in prison under sentencing of the law for having in my possession Bank of England forged notes and for fear others may fall into the same snare by the arts & Designs of such evil purposed persons. The Author of my presant misfortune which by their unjust practices I now labour under and that such artful and unjust persons should not lead others to become prey to their machinations and so unfortunately have been ensnared and I in order by Contrition to put a stop to their progress am willing to give up the names & places of a band who are the Head of such diabolic practice in order to stop further sacrifices that may be brought in like danger by the violation of our just laws as to bring disgrace as this I have done & being sentanced to fourteen Years transportation to prevent the execution of which as I have a Wife and five Small Children who entirely depends on your distressed Servt for support, provided I may be given my full liberty to My Family, I will impeach the said person as by that meanes it will not only releive my distressed family but stop the progress of further depradation and will be of great benifit to the Kingdom at large as well as to all Banks concerns, and Humbly hoping in further to prove his Majesty most dutiful and loyal subject William Peters alias Walker

587. [F25/10/29–30] Edward Curran, Portland hulk, Langs tone harbour, Portsmouth, 12 March 1810

Curran, not Bank prisoner, writes via hulk Captain Blackman to offer information to Bank on forgers. Bank solicitor's copy reply, 20 Mar. 1819, asks Blackman to collect information but states no favours will be forthcoming.

588. [F25/10/31] James Hickson, Portland hulk, Langstone harbour, Portsmouth, 1 October 1808

Hickson, not Bank prisoner, writes to Joseph Nadin, deputy constable of Manchester, to offer Bank information on forgery and forgers.

589. [F25/10/32] Jonathan Forbes, Captivity hulk, Portsmouth harbour, 23 January 1809

Gentlemen The generous disposition you have ever Evinced towards the Unfortunate in my situation induces Me to hope you will have the Goodness to lay my Case before the Honble Directors of the Bank not doubting that they in their benificence will make some distinction between the hackneyed and the Unhackneyed offender

I am one of the three Unfortunate persons Convicted in feby Sessions 1807 of having uttered a two pound note – purporting to be a bank of England one upon the Evidence of a Man named Thos Kaye who at the time of giving Such evidence before the Magistrate did me the Justice to own he had given me but two of them which was almost a Month before I was apprehended – I do declare most Solemnly Gentlemen I never in my life to my knowledge saw a forged Note untill the aforesaid Thos Kaye persuaded me to take those two aforementioned and after the Unfortunate transaction of having the passed the one for which I now suffer I felt all the horrors of a Man troubled in Mind, followed my business which is that of a Taylor working at Mr Nunn's in Thayer Str Manchester Square untill the Saturdy night when Thos Kaye with the Officer from Bow Str took Me in Custody.

I am a Man going on fifty years of Age of a weakly Constitution and have had an Incurable fistula these ten years

Gentlemen, I most humbly implore your Kind Mediation with the Honble the Directors of the Bank to procure some Mitigation of my sentence that I may not have so long and tedious a Voyage to Make which I am almost sure my poor weak frame would never be able to Acomplish Your Obedt and Hble Sert Jonathan Forbes

590. [F25/10/33–4] Thomas Gulley, Captivity hulk, Portsmouth harbour, 2 October 1808

Sir Pardon me for trespassing on your time but I Conceive my Present Situation Calls Aloud for relief & also that of my Poor forsaken family. I have Six helpless babes the oldest not more than 12 Years & the Youngest not 2 years, which my Unfortunate Wife as with her [Martha Gulley awaiting trspn] Surely this must Excite Pity, when you consider the Distresses of a family – in this awfull Situation they having no friend on Earth to render them the smallest Relief & I there Father and friend Doomd to Suffer for what I am not the Least guilty of – Summers & Fuller Certainly Swore falseley against me – I Can Appeal to Many Persons of Respectability for an Evidence, Even Mr Spurrier [solicitor, Birmingham] who as Been the Occasion of this Prosecution Against me well knows I am Innocent of the Charge – I had not the Smallest Concern Ever in Bills of Bad Money in the whole Cours of my Life or Any Connection with those Men that Suffered – Meredith & Francis. [William Meredith and William Francis executed]. Many Respectable Gentlemen Signd a Letter Sent to the Judge on my Account Saying and Declaring my Innocence in Matters of the Kind – Nor was there Ever any thing of the kind Brought Against me I can Positively Declare before God, Sir if you Recolect Summers Swore I had Francis House to fetch the Bills & when I Came to the Dog Publick House on Horse Back Francis House was in the Stable of Course must be a great falsity – Meredith Solomnly Declared in his Dying Moments that he fetchd the Bills Himself & that I had no part in the Matter with them or Knew any thing of their Transactions no way I am Certain Sir Mr Spurrier Can fully Explain the Whole Business to you if he likes & trust he will make you Sensible this is the truth of the Whole Matter Sir, as this is my Unfortunate Case I hope youll Investigate the Business Thorouly & I am Certain you will Regret I am now Suffering without the Least Offence – I hope you will take my Case Into your humain Consideration & Also that of my Distressd Children Left Fatherless & Motherless who are now Laminting & Suffering on Account of my Misfortune I Could be glad if I might Have the Opportunity of Enjoying them Again – But if you Cannot be truly Convinced of the Truth of what I have Before Observed – I should be Exceeding thankfull you will be so Kind as to Git me Inserted Among the Number of those calld upon to Leave the Kingdom for NS Wales the next Draft that goes – as my Present Situation is so Afflicting to be in this Country & have a Distressed family Laminting in pain the Loss of an Efectionate Father & Mother –

Should be thankfull Sir if you will Condescend to Inform me if their is any probability of being Released – as I am Now concious it all rests with you & Should be glad to Know if you will do me the favour Above Mentioned – to see that I am Among the Number for New South Wales as we are informd a Ship is Preparing & for that Destiney I hope in God it may be So if I cannot have what I so ernesty Intreat for which is Liberty to Assist a Disconsolate family Subscribe Myself Sir Your Unfortuate Servt Thos Gulley

Attached: copy note from Bank solicitors 4 Oct. 1808, stating they will ask sec./state to include him on next draft of transports.

591. [F25/10/35–6] Thomas Gulley, Captivity hulk, Portsmouth harbour, 23 March 1809

Sir I Receivd your Letter date 4th of Octobr – Sorry to find that no Intercession Could be Made for me, have Another favour to request of you which I trust you will comply with as I have Now Been Confind two years & four months I am by this Means Deprivd of Every Shilling of Money I was possd of as trial proving so Expencive having Cost us 60 Pounds – I find that Phillips [575–6] is Liberated from Warwick Goal & he can Inform you of my Innocence in the Business for which I am Convicted for, as he is well Acquainted of Every Circumstance & as to Signing the Notes I Assure you I Never did such a thing in my Whole Life & as to my Wifes Connection I am Unable to Speak to it – However I Conceive it a Preconceited Plan to Draw her into the Trouble – I Humbly Hope Sir you will have the goodness to Appear as a friend in this Distressing Time of Need & Remitt me a Little Money to Provide me a few Articles for a Long & Dreadfull Voyage, which I hope & trust will not be as Long just as you Promised me in your Last I should be sent in the first Ship that sails with Male Convicts

And Should Also be thankfull if you could make Interest at the same time so far to take one or two of the Unfortunate Orphans I have Left Behind may be permitted to go with me, as they are poor things Left Destitute of Any friend in this Country but the Parish, I should be Ever thankfull if you will Condescend to Apply for me – as I am Pursuaded it may be granted through your Interest, with thankfullness and Gratitude Ever Esteem it a favour – Remain Sir your Unfortunate Servt Thos Gulley

PS Sir your Answer will be thankfully Received

Attached: copy note from Bank solicitors, 1 Apr. 1809, refusing application for money, referring him to Mr Graham, magistrate, Bow Street public office, to try to obtain permission to take children to NSW.

592. [F25/10/39] Eight males, Captivity hulk, Portsmouth harbour, 5 November 1808

Sir Pardon Us that we have intruded on Yr time by addressing you but our Situation Induced us to Do it hoping you will have the goodness to take care that Our Names are among the Number of those Destined to New South Wales as we are Led to believe a Ship will be Prepared for Male Convicts for that Colony in a Short time & and we having a great Desire to be sent to our Destiny rather than to remain Here – by Oblidging us in this respect which we trust you will Do we shall ever consider you our friend & thankfully receive a few lines in ansr To the Above. We are Sir your Most Obdt & Humble Servts

Simon Boutell was Left Thro indisposition at this Place from the Admiral Gambier

Richd Westcoat, Benjn Maddocks, Richd Jones, Saml Hulbert, Wm Radford, John Johnson, S. Boutell Left as above, John Eastwood; All for Bank of England Notes

593. [F25/10/37] Twelve males, Captivity hulk, Portsmouth harbour, 15 February 1809

Sir, The Philanthropic Character you bear induces Me to hope you will not be offended at the Liberty I take in requesting you to Lay the Situation of Myself & fellow Sufferers before The Honble Company of the Bank of England

Being truly Sensible of the Goodness & Humanity of the Honble Company of the Bank of England We whose Names Are Hereunder Assignd have taken upon us to address You, Hoping you will take our Cases into your Humane Consideration & Grant us a small remittance to Procure us Some Necessaries which we shall stand in need of on our Long & Tedious Passage to New South Wales. The Length of time we have been confind has occasiond us to be without Money So much so that without the Assistance of the Honble Company I am fearful we shall feel much Distress

We therefore humbly implore your Benevolence in Such Distressing circumstances Being Led to believe The Honble Company has been good to many Prisoners of the same Description We trust therefore we may have a share of Their Benevolence as it will Greatly alleviate our Troubles & We shall ever Consider it our Duty to Pray For your Everlasting Prosperity & Subscribe ourselves their Obdt & Humble Servts

P S We are all desirous of being moved to our destiny by the First Conveyance. Therefore Should be thankful you will have the Goodness to notify the same to the Honourable Company

Simon Boutell, Thomas Gulley, Jonathan Forbes, Richd Jones, Benjn Maddocks, Saml Hulbert, John Badeley, Richard Westcoat, John Davis, John Eastwood, John Johnson, John Townsend [with dates and places of trials].

[BECLS: 23 Feb. 1809, request rejected.]

594. [F25/10/38] Richard Westcoat, Captivity hulk, Portsmouth harbour, 4 October 1808

Sir Pardon Me for addressing you but I am Desirous of embracing an Opportunity should the Goodness of the Honble Company of the Bank of England be So gracious as to Permit which is That I May have the favour of going on board One of his Majesty's Ships of war as Baker or Pastrycook which employ I have followed my whole life & I should now willingly extend my services if agreeable to Them I have a wife & Daughter which are Disconsolate & unprovided for at this time should be thankfull to have the Priviledge of Supporting them The Remainder of Life

I have Intreated that my case & Situation May be Laid before our beloved Soveriegn Hoping that I May be favoured with a Share of His Royal Clemency & Mercy, & I trust my future Conduct will be Such as will gain esteem among all Superiours of all Description – I hereby solicit your Kindness & Benevolence in this respect & I shall ever have Occasion To Subscribe Myself Yr Obdt & devoted Servt Rd Westcoat

595. [F25/10/40] George Griffin, keeper, Bath gaol, 3 November 1808 Requests 26 guineas to be paid by Mr Atkins [Adkins?] of Bow Street police office, for board, washing and lodging for Mary Redford from Birmingham, held in Bath gaol as witness in Bank case against Joseph and George Enever in Bath. Griffin had, over twelve months, requested payment from Mr Ridpath, Bank solicitor in Bath, without effect.

596. [F25/10/41–4] William Phillips, Warwick gaol, to Mr Antony, public office, Bow Street, London, 18 June 1808

Sir I receved your letter this Day an to in form you that if Plase god I should get my liberty Mr Tatnall [gaoler at Warwick] and mee will com up to London the same Day and then wee can fix up on the bisness wish I ham quite Sure I can have the under menchond peple apprended with the Notes upon them that is Wm Foster from Bath as hee takes a Larg Quanty of them besides base Silver and Jabis Dry hee lives in Yorkshire but I cannot tel the plase as I told you when I see you but hee always come to Birmingham for them and Robert King lives at the same plase, and Charles McQuinn hee lives in Scotland a very larg Dealer in Silver as well as notes but hee General gose in to Yorkshire with his Goods and there is Wm Bradbery [cap. con., Warws . ass., spring 1811] hee lives in Birmingham hee goese to all the fairs round this part of the Country with his goods and a mainey more People wich Deales in them as well as silver and concerning of the Hinshaws and Hall I think thay would be varry shi up on mee but I could find a man or two as never was in anney prison wich would Do the bisness with them but I now that thay would not with out being paid well for It wich I would soon setle that bisness with them and bring the men up to London to you and I would have B Patrick making a plate and I would Go to Irland with you to Mr Patrick as I ham Quite sure that hee would do anything for mee but posable I could have B Patrick at work with somebodey Eles as hee makes a manny and Sells them to the peple that I have menchined above and to Purform what I have heare rote if that I did not cause them to be taken up with the notes on them as well as Base Silver, I would be bound in aney sum of monney and I will sign a bound for five thousand Pounds to you or anybodey Eles if you will send a Bond down to me I will sign to that a mount to do all and Evereything wich lies in my Power to have them all apprended for notes, as well as silver and Haffey Jacobs in Midle sex street white Chappel London wich I can have him aney time I ham Quite sure in 6 month I could have neareley 80 peple and they would not now Did the bisness for them if things was to be Don Quite Snug and the way that I should Plan the bisness and I would make affey David never to Do anithing more wich is unlafull but if Plase God I should Inform you more Particlars and Go with you to Mr Kay and then wee could setle the bisness but must not be Don in Quite such a urrey must be time for it Sir I hope you will give your self the truble to speck to Mr Kay for mee and at same time I return you manney thanks for the truble you have taken for mee and I make no Doubt but I shall be inabled to Show som of my Goodness towards the bank and the mint to all thair Satisfacsion for what I have Don time Past wich I ham Sure that I can in 12 month Put a stop to the bisness

Sir your anser to this as soon as convent will for Ever oblige your most obedent and Humble Searvant Wm Phillips

Attached: three further letters from Phillips in Warwick gaol, 15 July 1808, introducing himself to Bank solicitors, 25 July, summarizing 596, and 19 Aug. 1808, summarizing both the foregoing.

597. [F25/10/45–7] J. Bullock, unamedprison, probably Newgate, writes two letters dated 19 May 1808 to J. Sanderson Esq. of Brick Lane, London thanking him for his part in gaining him pardon from death sentence which arrived the previous night [unknown crime, not Bank offence], he has information on Bank note forgery and asks what to do about it; 22 May 1818, Bullock writes to Bank to say he is suddenly required to board ship to NSW so cannot compose himself sufficiently to write all that he told their investigator the previous day, but feels he has said enough to be of help.

598. [F25/10/48] John Biggs, Captivity hulk, Portsmouth harbour, to Mr Ridpath, solicitor, Bath, 15 July 1811

In presuming the liberty of addressing you I can only appeal to your kindness trusting you will be pleased to pardon the same

As you are not unacquainted with the nature of my unhappy circumstances I need not state the particulars of the case but humbly beg you will be pleased to take my case into your humane consideration at the same time requesting your kind assistance in extricating me from my present wretched condition

I have already given you every information in my power and that the most disinterested, and sure I am you must perfectly see how innocently and inadvertently I have been drawn into my present unhappy and miserable situation, not knowing the danger and risk I ran emboldens me to hope for success and tis to you Sir that I can only look up too with assurance in hopes of being attended by the desired effect

I am informd application must be made to the Right Hon Richard Ryder His Majestys Principal Secretary of State for the Home Department to whom all Petitions are addressed and sure I am if you Sir would humanely take my unhappy case in to your benevolent consideration I am firmly persuaded a mitigation if not a total release from my present degraded state would be the result as my former character as ever been unimpeachable and since the unhappy affair for which I am confined, I may look forward with certain hopes of being restored to my family and friends and to society and enable me to remember you with gratitude to the latest moment of my life

Resting entirely on your candour and in hopes of your benevolent interfearance towards the accomplishment of a termination of my sufferings in this miserable wretched and unfortunate situation and in hopes of being favord with an answer when convenient remain Sir with profound respect Your &c Jno Biggs

Annotated by Ridpath forwarding letter to Bank solicitors: On the other side I send you a copy of a Letter Received in my absence from Jno Biggs & am, Gentn Your very obt sert J C P Ridpath, Bath 24 July

599. [F25/10/49–50] John Biggs, Captivity hulk, Portsmouth harbour, 1 October 1811

Gentn The many generous Accts of your benevolence towards the unfortunate induce me to trespass on your condecention of interference in my behalf which I hope you will Pardon. I am fully persuaded that you possess those feelings and pleasure in be coming an intercessor for those who have generally conducted themselves in a moral and sentimental manner

That I was innocently and unguardedly drawn into the error for which my sentence was denounced against me I do most solomnly declare The Note that Convicted me I took in the regular course of Trade not knowing it to be a base one and I did all in my power to have the Person who paid it to me brought to justice the truth of which assertion Mr Ridpath of Bath can testify to whom I have address'd a Letter in Answer to which he recommended me to apply to you Gentn who acct as Solrs for the Bank of England My only motive for Trespasing on your goodness his to request your kind consideration in signing a petition in my favor to be presented to the Secretary of State in hopes of procuring me a pardon or such other mitigation of any sentence as may be deemd proper which his a very severe one to one who as conducted himself as a fair Member of Society for 30 years in the Parish of Sisson [?Siston, between Bath and Bristol] regularly attending the Bath & Bristol Markets as a Pork Butcher and supported an infirm wife and 7 children most of them reduced to the utmost poverty and want by my misfortune and who join in solicitations to you Gentlemen hoping you will be pleased to render their unfortunate Father your assistance to endeavour to procure his restoration. I should think myself an happy Man and confident no inducement whatever would prevail on me to deviate from the strict path of Virtue but conduct myself as a good and usefull Member of Society. Your kind compliance with my request and an early Answer would be esteem'd a lasting favor confer'd on your unfortunate and obedt St Jno Biggs

Annotated: Rejected

Attached: copy note from Bank solicitors, 2 Oct. 1811, confirming that governor and directors of Bank decline complying with his application.

600. [F25/10/51] Hugh Pierce, Portland hulk, Langstone harbour, 18 June 1811

Honble Sirs having by my late miscontuct so far incured the Displeasure of your Honors as to amount to a Dreatfull Sentance of Death and Still remain for Life which is a Dreatfull Sentance more than I expected as I have acknowledge my Faults and was inorcent Drawd into the Secret by a person in the nebourwood of Birmingham before I was acquainted with him my charactor was undeneable as I never was guilty of nothing of the Kind before

The Honorable Baron Knight Wood inform'd me that Throught your Honors recomdetion my life was saved therefore I am willing to give you every information that there is in power if your Honors will think proper to order your solicitor to come forward to me I shall give him such information that will give your honors a great satisfaction and sooner is the Beter it may easy put an end to it with very little atention he has agreed with a paper maker to make him for this present year 9600 Blanks for the Bank of England with the water in. He has by him upwards of Thirty Plates beside Dice for Different Coins the Engreaver works for many beside him in Birmingham he tould me that he gain Three Thousand pounds by the Bank of England last year and will gain more this year as he found out where to get the paper with the watter mark in therefore I have considered it to be my Duty to give every informetion and Lickwise the goverment of the mint Therefor I humbly beg leave to represent that I am with sorrow most sencibly affected for my past Fault on mater reflection That I have been the unhappy Instrument of bringin my self into Such unhappy circumstances and most humbly implore your Honors pardon and forgiveness and that it may be your good pleasure and candor to mingle mercy with justice to medicate my Sentance Solemnly Promising that no future time shall find me wanting in assisting your Honors in every respect and shall be in Duty bound will ever pray

I am your Honors most Dutifull and faithfull Servant Hugh Pierce