| ‘As witness our hands, | |||
| John Harris, M.C. | £1 | 0 | 0 |
| James Flood, J.P. | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Capt. W. Hope, R.N., J.P. | 1 | 10 | 0 |
‘Given at Portsmouth, this 10th day of October, 1850.
‘God save the Queen.
| Rev. W. Wilkins | £1 | 0 | 0 |
| An Officer’s Widow | 0 | 10 | 0 |
| An Old Sailor | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| A Friend | 0 | 2 | 6’ |
“I have already hinted at the character and description of the persons by whom these forgeries are framed. It would seem, from the example given, that such documents are available in every sea-port or other considerable town; but this is not the case. It is true that certain kinds of documents, especially sham hawkers’ licenses, may be had in the provinces, at prices suited to the importance of their contents, or to the probable gains of their circulation; but all the ‘regular bang-up fakes’ are manufactured in the ‘Start’ (metropolis), and sent into the country to order, carefully packed up, and free from observation. The following note, sent to ‘Carotty Poll, at Mrs. Finder’s Login-ouse facin the orse and trumpet bere shop han street Westminster London with spede,’ may tend to illuminate the uninitiated as to how such ‘fakements’ are obtained:
‘Dere pol—I ope this will find yu an george in good helth and spirits—things is very bad ere, yure sister Lizer has been konfined an got a fine strappin boye, they was very bad off wen it happend. they say in mi country it never ranes but it pores and so it was pol, for mi William as got a month along with Cockny Harry for a glim lurk and they kum out nex Mundie and i av porned my new shift and every indivigual thing to get them a brekfust and a drop a rum the mornin they kums out. They wont hav no paper to work and I dont know what they will do. Tayler Tom lent me a shillin wish I send inklosed and yu must porn sumthing for anuther shilling and get Joe the Loryer to rite a fake for William not a glim’ (loss by fire) ‘but a brake say as e ad a hors fell downe with the mad staggurs an broke all is plates and dishes an we are starvin you can sa that the children is got the mesuls—they av ben ill thats no lie—an we want to rase a little munney to git anuther hanimul to dror the kart put a fu monekurs’ (names) ‘tu it and make it durty and date it sum time bak do not neglect and dont fale to pay the post no more at preasant from yure luvin sister Jane N—— at Mister John H—— the Sweep—nex dore to the five Bels grinsted Colchester Essex. good by.’
“The person from whom the above letter was obtained, was in the lodging-house when it arrived, and had it given him to read and retain for reference. Lawyer Joe was soon sent for; and the following is an outline of the scene that occurred, given in my informant’s own words:
“I had called at the house whither the above letter had been addressed, to inquire for a man whom I had known in his and my own better days. The kitchen-door, or rather cellar-door, was thrust open, and in came Carrotty Poll herself.
“‘Well, Poll,’ asked the deputy, ‘how does the world use you?’
“‘B— bad,’ was the reply, ‘where’s Lawyer Joe?’