HARRISON, JOHN, (FORGERY,) was brought up in a merchant's counting house, and soon after the expiration of his apprenticeship he began business on his own account, and had a lime and a coal wharf at Limehouse, where he carried on an extensive trade; but failing in that business, he engaged himself as clerk to Mr. Smithen, previous to that gentleman's undertaking to construct the Eddystone light-house, and was entrusted with the care and management of all the money employed in that important work. His conduct under Mr. Smithen was in every respect unexceptionable, and through the interest of that gentleman and other respectable characters he became accomptant to the London Assurance corporation; and it was his peculiar misfortune to be acquainted with a Mr. Angus Mackey, a merchant in the city, in an extensive way of trade, who, by urgent solicitations, prevailed upon the unsuspecting and good-natured man to lend him several sums belonging to the company, solemnly promising to return the money before he would have occasion to make up his accounts. When the time appointed for the first payment arrived, instead of returning what he had already got into his possession, Mackey urged Harrison for a further supply, assuring him that he was in daily expectation of remittances, on the receipt of which he would return the whole sum that Harrison was deficient in his account with the company; adding that, if he met with a refusal he must inevitably stop payment, which would necessarily occasion an exposure of Harrison's violation of the trust reposed in him by the company. In this manner was the unfortunate man amused for several months, during which time he supplied Mackey with different sums, amounting in the whole to 7550l. and, to prevent

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detection, he inserted figures in the book containing the account between the bank of England and the London Assurance Company, so that the bank appeared to be debtor for seven thousand five hundred and fifty pounds more than had been paid there. He sent a clerk with zrol. to the bank; and when the book was returned to him, he put a figure of 3 before the 2, which made the sum appear 3000l. more than was really paid; and similar alterations were made in other parts of the book. A committee of that company being appointed to meet on Wednesday the 9th of July, 1777, Mr. Harrison mentioned the circumstance to Mackey, and told him that he must be utterly ruined unless the deficiency in the company's cash was made good before that day but, notwithstanding the life and reputation of his generous and imprudent friend were at stake, he neglected to return the money. About eleven in the forenoon, of the day on which the committee was to be held, Harrison placed several account-books on the table of the committee-room, and had some conversation with Alexander Aubert, Esq. the Deputy governor. When the committee was about to be opened, Harrison absconded; and, in about ten minutes after, the following letter was received by Mr. George Hall, secretary to the company :

"Dear Sir,

"I am distressed beyond expression, having forfeited every thing that is dear to me, by an act of kindness to a friend who has deceived me: inclosed is a state of my account with the company, which tortures my very soul to think of it. I know the company will not forgive me, therefore don't care what becomes of me, as I dare not see them any

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more. God Almighty knows what will become of me, or where I shall fly for 'succour: indeed, Mr. Hall, I am one of the most miserable wretches living, but I have betrayed my trust, for which I never can forgive myself. When I parted with the money, it was but for a few days, or I would sooner have died than have parted with it; but, alas! I shall now severely pay by suffering myself to be drawn in to serve a friend, who knew it was not my own, and saw the distress of mind it cost me when I did it. Please to present my humble duty to the gentlemen; tell them I can meet any death after this, sooner than I can see them again, and am determined not to survive the shame: I am, dear sir, a lost, unhappy being; I am so bewildered, that I scarce know what I am doing, but believe the inclosed account is not right, as I don't recollect that I am any way short of cash; but in truth I am not myself.

J. H."

When Harrison absconded, he left upwards of one thousand nine hundred pounds in his desk, and among his papers were found securities on behalf of the company to a great amount, besides a bond given to him by Mackey, for seven thousand five hundred and fifty pounds. Notice being given at the office, that Harrison was at a friend's house at Wapping, Mr. Aubert went there in the evening, and found him in a state of mind little short of distraction. Mackey's bond was produced by Mr. Aubert, and Harrison assigned it over to him as a security on behalf of the company. He accompa. nied Mr. Aubert to the office, where two persons were ordered to attend him, and prevent his putting an end to his life, which there was sufficient reason 2 L 2

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to suppose he would attempt: and the next morning he was taken before Sir John Fielding, who committed him to Tothill-fields bridewell. He was re-examined the following Wednesday, and committed to Newgate in preparation for his trial, which came on at the Old Bailey, in September sessions, 1777: the indictment consisted of twentyfour counts, on twelve of which the jury pronounced him guilty. The prisoner's counsel objected to judgment being passed, on account of a supposed inaccuracy in the indictment, and the matter was left to be argued by the judges. Having remained in Newgate some months after his trial, Mr. Harrison petitioned for the judges to meet, and that he might be heard by counsel. He was advised by an illustrious personage to wave the plea on which his petition was founded, and in consequence thereof the petition was immediately withdrawn. In a few days a messenger came to Newgate, and delivered Mr. Harrison the agreeable news, that his Majesty had been graciously pleased to grant him an unconditional *pardon; and the same evening an order was delivered to Mr. Akerman for his immediate enlargement. Harrison had been accomptant to the London Assurance Company nineteen years and a half, when it was discovered that he had betrayed the confidence reposed in him and till that period his character was without a blemish, and he was held in the highest esteem by all his acquaintance.

In consequence of a note, which the reader will find by reverting to the case of Dr. Dodd, we have thought proper to insert the present case.

EDITOR.

HARTLEY, JOHN, (MURDERER,) was a private in the third regiment of guards, who was tried for the wilful murder of George Scott, another soldier. Henry Kendrick, also a soldier, swore that he, the deceased, and another, of the name of Rudkin, with Davis, a higler, were together at the Black Lion at Bayswater, on the 29th of January, 1800, in the afternoon; that about six o'clock, the prisoner and his brother-in-law James Bull came in, they had some ale, and at near eight o'clock Bull went away. The prisoner then wished to join their company, and wanted to drink with them, but to this the witness objected, telling him, he had better keep his own company: the deceased then interfered in his favour, answering, that they were all soldiers, and that his pot was as good as another's. The prisoner then joined them. They remained till they had four pots together, when Rudkin, considering it was time to return to his barracks, they paid the reckoning, agreeing at the same time to have a parting pot. This the witness fetched, and observed, that as it was only pence a piece it had better be paid for at once, for short reckonings made long friends. The prisoner immediately said, "I'll see you d-d before I'll give you a penny." "Nay (returned the witness), there is no occasion to see one d-d, but you ought to pay if you drink among us.' On this the deceased started up and said, that as he had been the cause of introducing the prisoner into their company, sooner than there should be any words, he would pay the penny for him, as soon as he came back from the door, to which he wanted to go; and then approaching the door, the prisoner thrust his sword into him, and which the witness saw him draw out of the belly of the deceased, who cried out, “"I'm a dead man.

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