All the memorials published by Tort are ordered to be erased, fuppreffed, and cancelled, with a ftrict admonition to Mr. F. his advocate, never to publifh any fuch memorials on fuch pains as fhall appertain. Tort, Roger and Delpech, are not cleared from the accufation made by Count de Guines against them, of having abused his name and dispatches, and for other minifterial objects; they are only put out of the Court by the Chate. let upon these points.

Some Account of the apprehending and trying of Robert Perreau, of Golden Square, Apothecary; Daniel Perreau, of Harley-freet, and Margaret Caroline Rudd, for divers Forgeries, &c.

ON

N Saturday evening, March the 11th, a gentleman came to the Public Office, in Bow-ftreet, in company with a woman elegantly dreffed, and inquired for one of the Magiftrates. William Addington, Efq; being then in the parlour, the parties were introduced, when the man, after a fhort preface, in which he acquainted the Juftice, that his name was Robert Perreau, and that he had lived as an apothecary, for fome time in Golden-fquare, in great reputation, faid he was come to do himfelf juftice, by producing the perfon, who had given him a bond for 7500l. which was a forgery. The woman denying the circumftance, and the parties mutually upbraiding each other, Mr. Addington thought proper, as there was great appearance of an iniquitous combination, to commit them

both to Tothill-fields Bridewell, for further examination.

On the next day, from a variety of circumftances, there being a ftrong foundation to believe Robert Perreau's brother Daniel was alfo concerned in the forgery, he was detained in Tothill-fields Bridewell. upon his going to pay Robert a vifit.

The Wednesday following, they 'were all three examined before the bench of Magiftrates at Guildhall, Westminster; but nothing material appeared at this, or any of the fubfequent examinations previous to their trials, but what appeared again at the trials in a more fatisfactory light; except fome few facts, which have been fince found to be falfe; and fome others, the truth of which there is, on that, and many other accounts, all the reafon in the world to difbelieve: we fhall therefore proceed to the trials, juft taking notice, that,, at the above-mentioned examination at Guildhall, Mrs. Rudd was, on making the ufual declarations, admitted an evidence for the crown.

Robert's trial firft came on, on Thurfday, the firft of June, at eight in the morning, before Mr. Justice Afton, Barons Burland and Hotham, &c. at the Seffions-house, in the Old-Bailey. He was indicted for uttering a bond of 7500l. under four counts, the firft with an intent to defraud William Adair, Efq; the fecond to defraud Henry and Robert Drummond, Efqrs. and the other two for uttering and publishing it, knowing it to be forged.

Mr. Howarth, counsel for the profecution, opened the trial, by barely recounting the charges laid in the indictment; he was followed by Mr. Lee, on the fame fide,

who

who expatiated more fully on the nature and circumstances of the of fence; at the fame time remarking to the Jury, that as public juftice was alone the object of the profecution, they were entirely to be guided as the favourable or unfavourable circumstances appeared to them.

Mr. Henry Drummond was the first witness called, who depofed, that about the 15th or 16th of laft January, the prifoner at the bar, whom he had known from being apothecaryin feveral families hewas connected with, came to him to borrow 1500l. to affil him in perfecting a purchase, he had just made, which would come to 14 or 15,000l. that he offered to give him as fecurity the bond of a man, whom he would hereafter name, who was very refponfible. To this Mr. Drummond made anfwer, that the title deeds of fuch an estate would alone be ample fecurity; but this the prifoner objected to, as the bufinefs was to be tranfacted in the country. However, as he wanted the money but for ten days, he would give him as fecurity the leafe of a houfe in Harley-freet, Cavendish-fquare, with his own note for the proper execution of the afGgnment. This Mr. Drummond accepted of.

On the 7th of March following, the prifoner came to him, and after apologizing to him for not being punctual to his time of payment, told him he had a further favour to beg of him, which was to borrow the fum of 75001. more on a bond of William Adair, Efq; out of which he would pay Mr. Drummond his first demand of 1500l. Mr. Drummond defired to fee the bond, which the prifoner produced,

On Mr. Drummond's inspection of it, he expreffed his doubts of its being Mr. Adair's fignature; the prifoner replied, there could not be the leaft doubt of it, for that it was witnessed by two of Mr. Adair's domeftics, Jones and Stark; that he then talked much of Mr. Adair's friendship for him, and he believed, he faid, that this bond was given him by Mr. Adair as the balance of his account. Mr. Drummond's brother and partner coming in on this converfation, was fhewn the bond, who likewife believed it not to be Mr. Adair's; they therefore told the prifoner to call the next day, and they would confider of it. The prifoner at the bar then went away, but returned about two hours afterwards, who faid he faw Mr. Adair juft going out airing; that he told him the circumftance, and that Mr. Adair observed the only reason he could account for Mr. Drummond's thinking it not to be his hand-writing, was the difference of twenty years (much about the time Mr. Drummond had last feen his fignature). This, however, did not fatisfy Meffrs. Drummonds; they fill doubted, and defired he would call next day. In the evening of that day, however, Meffrs. Drummond being refolved to be fatisfied, waited on a friend of Mr. Adair, who affured them it was not his hand-writing.

About eleven o'clock next day the prifoner called; and, as a confirmation of the fignature's being genuine, produced a leiter from Mr. Adair, figned only with the initials W. A. to that purpofe. This, however, would not fatisfy Meffrs. Drummonds; they there, fore propofed to the prifoner going

down

down to Mr. Adair's to put an end to their doubts; to this he, at first, made a flight objection, by saying, Perhaps he is gone out; but the others afking it a fecond time, he very chearfully confented, and Mr. H. Drummond and he flept into the latter's carriage, and drove to Mr. Adair's. When they arrived, Mr. Adair not only denied the whole circumftance, but even knowing any of the name of Perreau. This feemed to aftonish the prifoner, as well as the rest of the parties, which made the former reply, Surely, Sir, you are jocular." However, on Mr. Adair's perfifting in the contrary, the prifoner feemed to be agitated, and faid, "Send for Mrs. D. Perreau, and he will explain this matter.' Mrs. D. Perreau (Mrs. Rudd) was accordingly fent for; who, upon being prefled to tell what the knew about it, confeffed herself to be the perfon who forged the bond, and that the made this difcovery fooner than let an innocent man, with a large family fuffer. Mr. Drummond then faid, he did not fee her till the Saturday following at Sir John Fielding's, along with the prifoner and his brother.

Mr. G. Wheatly (Clerk to Meff. Drummonds bank) circumftantially corroborated the above evidence, as did Mr. Drummond's brother, with this further circumftance; that when the latter doubted Mrs. Rudd's powers to forge Mr. Adair's name, fhe took up a flip of paper, and wrote the name in every refpect fimilar to that at the bottom of the bond.

Sir Thomas Frankland depofed, that the prifoner was his apothecary for fifteen years; he always believed him to be an honeft man,

and had lent him, at different times, feveral fums of money on bonds, particularly one of Mr. Adair's, for 4000l. on the 24th December, 1774, which was to be paid the 29th March laft..

Mr. R. Wilfon depofed, he filled the bond attempted to be paffed to Meffrs. Drummond; that he had it from the prifoner at the bar, with a minute in his own handwriting, directing him to fill it up as a debt due from W. Adair, Efq; to R. Perreau, Efq; which minute he afterwards defired him to burn, the prifoner at the bar first croffing it with a pen.

Mr. Oglevie depofed, that he was in a familiar acquaintance with Mr. Adair's hand-writing, and that That at the bottom of the bond was no way like it.

Mr. J. Adair depofed the fame; and Mr. Jones, one of the fuppofed fubfcribing witnesses, declared his name to be a forgery.

Thefe evidences being all gone through, the prifoner entered on his defence, which he read from his notes, Mr. Justice Afton having previously pointed out to him where it was neceffary for him to be particular. The prifoner was an hour and twenty minutes reading it, which principally confifted in a detail of the many artifices made use of by Mrs. Rudd to engage him to get thofe bonds difcounted. That he was conftantly converfing about the intereft fhe had with Mr. William Adair.-That, among other things, Mr. Adair had, by his intereft with his majesty, obtained a promife of a baronetage for Mr. Daniel Perreau, and was about procuring him a feat in parliament.That Mr. Adair had promifed to open a bank, and to take the two

Perreaus