BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES, &c. &c. ALEXAN LEXANDER, MOSES, (FORGERY,) was a native of the city of Glasgow, in North Britain. He was scarcely arrived to manhood when he travelled to London; and for several years he carried a pack about the country, retailing different sorts of goods, but linen was the principal article in which he dealt. He was naturally of an industrious disposition; and his industry procured him success. He made overtures of marriage to a young woman, who had two uncles possessed of considerable property; and knowing that they intended to give her a marriage-portion, and to make her their heir, he gained credit for a large assortment of linen-drapery goods, and opened a warehouse on Fish-street-hill; accordingly the young woman's relations, believing him to be in flourishing circumstances, gave their consent to the marriage, which was in a short time solemnized; soon afterwards he connected himself in partnership with a linen-draper in Holborn, named Nicol, who was a man of unblemished integrity, but encumbered with a numerous family, which occasion.d some pecuniary embarrassments. This man being perfectly conversant in the whole VOL. I. sale sale branch of the linen trade, it was agreed that he should travel to Manchester, Glasgow, and other places, for the purpose of purchasing goods. Alexander kept the eircumstances of his partnership a profound secret from his wife's relations; but one of her uncles happened to be in Alexander's counting house, when a bill was brought for acceptance, payable by Alexander and Nicol. Hereupon the gentleman upbraided theformer for concealing from him so material a circumstance as that of his being connected in partnership; the other declared, that no partnership subsisted; that Nicol was no more than his servant, and had inserted his own name in the draft either through mistake or villainy. On Nicol's return to London in about two months, Alexander denied his having a right to part of the business; and said he would submit the decision of the case to the court of chancery. Though articles of co-partnership had been regularly executed, Nicol, on account of his embarrassed circumstances, declined entering into an expensive suit of law; and about eight months after this difference, which took place in the summer of 1765, Alexander having quitted his house on Fish-street-hill, and opened a warehouse in Tooley street, Southwark, failed to the amount of about sixty thousand pounds: hereupon it was publicly known, that he was the principal of a great number of retail shops established in different parts of the town, under a variety of Dames; and it was considered as an extraordinary circumstance, that, with a capital so very inadequate to the extensive trade into which he had launched, he should be able to support his credit for so long a period: but the public surprize abated when it was discovered, that he had chiefly depended on the circulation of notes of hand and bills of exchange. After After some time he engaged again in business, and a second failure took place; though for a sim greatly inferior to the claims of his former creditors. Having now no expectation of assistance from his wife's relations, he contrived means for establishing himself again in business, which he was better enabled to carry on by means of notes of hand being frequently lent him by a man named Brown. This Brown was in France towards the end of the year 1768; and about that time he became connected with one Aked, of Leeds, in Yorkshire, whose notes he passed for the support of his droop ng credit, in the manner that he had formerly negociated those of Brown. Having borrowed eighty pounds on a note of Aked's, endorsed in the name of Brown, for ninety-eight pounds, six shillings, and it not being paid when due, he gave Mr. Fryar, who had advanced the money, another note, as a collateral secu, rity, assuring him that in a few days the notes should be redeemed. At length Fryar accused Alexander of forgery: and he was committed to Newgate. He was acquitted on indictments found against him for two other offences of a similar nature; but though several witnesses swore the writing was not the prisoner's, he was convicted of forging the indorsement on the bill for ninety-eight pounds, six shillings. Brown would have proved the most material witness; and, had he been in England, the prisoner would, perhaps, have derived great advantage from his evidence. His behaviour, while in Newgate, was suitable to his unhappy circumstances; but he entertained strong hopes of being considered as an object of the royal mercy. Indeed from a variety of circumstances great numher of people believed him to be innocent of the fact; and very powerful interest was made for preserving B 2 |