"Bad shillings are sold to chandlers shops, turnpike men, and waiters at coffee-houses and taverns, at the rate of twenty shillings for five and sixpence. No wonder they are in such general circulation."—(Times, Nov. 29, 1794.)
"At this season the Jew fruitmen should be particularly guarded against. They care not at how small a price they sell, so the quantum reaches to silver. In that case it is their custom 'to hope you will give them good silver, as the gardeners are very particular.' They then rub it with both thumbs, dexterously contriving to fillip up your shilling, and drop down another, which they beg you to change, protesting that they believed it good but are not certain. Serving you the same a second or third time, and you are induced through an appearance of great civility, and apparent ignorance, to indulge them. The silver you receive as your own is speciously good: but it changes black in a few hours. The writer of this bought his experience at the price of three succeeding shillings."—(Times, July, 30, 1795.)
"BAD HALFPENCE.
"To the Master of the Mint—
"The Petition of more than Ten Millions of bad Halfpence,
"Most humbly showeth,
"That your Petitioners, for a number of years, have given bread to thousands of his Majesty's subjects, called Coiners: and that they have been long in uncontrouled circulation:
"That your Petitioners have enabled Waiters at Taverns, and other houses, to wear hair-powder, to the manifest increase of his Majesty's Stamp-duties.
"That your Petitioners have been the means of the Turnpike Tolls increasing in value, on account of the Toll-takers being obliged to put off a certain quantity of your Petitioners, each week, at a stipulated price from the Renters.
"That your Petitioners have long been a fine bonus to the Paymaster Serjeants of the different Regiments, who bought your Petitioners at the rate of 30s. for 20s., thereby making those brave fellows to live more comfortably, than their regular pay would allow them to do: