date

[Copyist’s hand: part of a booklet, comprising
[Copyist’s hand: part of a booklet, comprising folios 341 to 357]

nd [wm 1798]

1

Mr B is not quite certain with regard to the correctness of the copy, not having

examined it himself.

Thoughts

On the means of preventing Forgery, in the case of Paper Money: particularly Bank

of England Notes. –

§.1 Of Forgery in the way of Fabrication: - particular Safeguards proposed. –

[marginal heading:] 1 Forgery is either by 1. Fabrication, or 2 Alteration.

Forgery in general, and of Bank Paper in particular, is committed either in the

way of Fabrication, or in the way of Alteration.(a)

The distinction is a fundamental one: the plan of operation, to be pursued in

combating the criminal enterprize, being altogether different in the two cases.

[marginal heading:] 2. Safeguards against Fabrication. –

I Particular Expedients

1. Real Portrait from Copper-Plate

To begin with the case of Fabrication: being the case which in my view of the

matter presents the greatest difficulty. I will state in the first place the

particular expedients that have occurred to me: by this means, the general

principles, by which those expedients were suggested, will place themselves in

the clearer point of view.

1. In the room of the Emblematical figure, exhibit the head of some real person:

– some Officer of the Corporation: - either temporary such as the Governor; or

permanent, such as the Cashier: the Engraving to be executed by the most skilful

Artist whose services can be engaged.+

[marginal note:] For the use of this additament, see § 3 p. 9, 10, 11, 12, 13.

[marginal heading:] 3

2. Plates multiplied

by

2. As a means of reducing the expence (resulting from the

want

(a) Fabrication where a Paper Note which never passed through the hands of the

Bank, is made to assume the appearance of a Bank Note: alteration, or (as it may

be termed) falsification, where, in a real Bank Note, a fictitious larger sum is

contrived to be substituted to a genuine smaller sum.
Similar Items
  • Title: [[Copyist’s hand: part of a booklet, comprising]
    Description: [Copyist’s hand: part of a booklet, comprising folios 341 to 357]

    nd [wm 1798]

    Contents.

    § 1. Of Forgery in the way of Fabrication: particular Safeguards proposed. p.1.

    §. 2. Sequel – General Principles relative to the framing of Safeguards against

    this branch of Forgery. p.3.

    §.3. Sequel – Application of the above Principles to the particular expedients

    above indicated. p.7.

    §.4. Of Forgery in the way of Alteration – General Principles p.18.

    §.5. Plan for a Bank Note, with a view to both branches of Forgery. p.23.

    §.6. Limits to compleat success, as against Forgery of Bank Notes {&c.

    p.25.}
  • Title: [[Copyist’s hand: part of a booklet, comprising]
    Description: [Copyist’s hand: part of a booklet, comprising folios 341 to 357]

    nd [wm 1798]

    19

    §.4. Of Forgery in the way of Alteration

    §.4. Of Forgery in the way of Alteration – General Principles.

    [marginal heading:] 1. The ground of attack and defence is here much narrower,

    and altogether different.

    In this department of Forgery, the field of attack being, in comparison of the

    other, so extremely narrow, so accordingly will be the field of defence. The

    subject matter of operation being, by the supposition, a genuine Note, the

    imposition confines itself to that part of the paper which bears the words

    expressive of the sums promised by the Note.

    The plan of attack being moreover so extremely different in the two cases, so

    accordingly will be the plan of defence.

    In the former case, the leading principle is complication. In the present case,

    the principles of defence are as simple as they will be found effective.

    [marginal heading:] 2. Principles of security as against Alteration

    1. Make the difference pervade the whole

    Note.

    1. In Notes of different classes (the class being constituted by the sum) the

    difference in point of general appearance as between class and class should be

    as conspicuous and striking as possible: and the obstruction thus afforded to

    falsification will be the greater, if the diversity can be made to extend over

    the whole, or the greatest part, of the matter contained in the Note.

    [marginal heading:] 2. be describable by words

    2. These differences should moreover (according to the rule already given) be of

    such a nature as to be capable of being sufficiently described by words.

    [marginal heading:] 3. and indicated on each Note for all the Notes.

    3. The Plan of description should be so simple, and the number of words,

    requisite for the expression of the whole system of difference, consequently (if

    possible) be so small, as that each individual Bank
  • Title: [[Copyist’s hand: part of a booklet, comprising]
    Description: [Copyist’s hand: part of a booklet, comprising folios 341 to 357]

    nd [wm 1798]

    5

    §.2. Of Forgery in the way of Fabrication – General Principles.

    §.2. Sequel – General Principles relative to the framing of Safeguards against

    this branch of Forgery. -

    [marginal heading:] 1

    1. Obstructive Safeguards, are preferable to ensnaring ones. –

    1. Methods, which have for their object the prevention, or at least the

    obstruction, of the attempt (viz by taking away all prospect, or diminishing at

    least the probability, of making it with success) are preferable to those, in

    which the aim is confined to the detection of the crime. In a word, expedients

    of the preventive or obstructive kind (as they may be termed) are preferable to

    those of the detective or ensnaring kind. –

    [marginal heading:] 2.

    2. Secret marks (being ensnaring) are inadequate.

    2. Secret marks, (being expedients of the ensnaring kind) are essentially

    inadequate: and even the more so, the greater the subtlety of the contrivance.

    In these the aim is – that they shall escape the eye, of a person engaged in the

    commission of the crime.. - But, if the mark relied on be so unapparent, and

    consequently the variance between the genuine Note (on which it stands

    impressed) and the spurious Note (in which it is supposed it will be omitted to

    be impressed) be to such a degree proof against observation, as to escape the

    eye of an artist, and of an artist too, whose life is at stake upon the

    discovery, much more certainly will this be the case, in regard to the

    unpracticed and incurious multitude.(a)

    3. The

    Note. –

    (a) Expedients, here spoken of as being of the ensnaring kind, may well be termed

    so, since, by leaving the appearance of facility, to the result which their aim

    is to render difficult, the tendency of them is rather to invite, than to

    discourage, the attempt. - In the eagerness of the pursuit after detection, they

    shut the door against the more eligible object prevention. Expedients of the

    preventive kind, on the other hand, embrace both objects at once: prevention, to

    a superior degree of certainty: detection, to a degree superior still:

    prevention, in the instance of the multitude of ingenious profligates, who, but

    for this bar,

    might