date

nd [wm 1798] 12 Mr. Bentham
nd [wm 1798]

12

Mr. Bentham’s Plan for preventing Forgery of Paper Money.

[marginal heading:] depending on resemblance to an individual pattern and to word

the description accordingly.

Note, that the instrument or production, thus taken for the subject of

prohibition, must in each instance be of such a sort, as after the warning so

given by the law, or rather (if possible) without any such warning, it will be

morally impossible that a man should set about producing, with any other

intention than a criminal one: viz: the intention of producing the mischievous

imitation, which it is the object of the plan to prevent. To apply this to the

cases of a Bank Note, framed and worded as at present. –

[marginal heading:] Application of these two principles on the in the present

plan.

The indication that would be afforded by a plate, fabricated in imitation of a

Bank Note of the present form, answers this purpose, as far as it goes, as

effectually as can be wished. Nothing but the very words employed in a genuine

Note could afford the Forgerer any the smallest hope of succeding in the

fabrication of a spurious one: and, supposing a plate, with these words upon it,

to be found in the possession of any uncommissioned individual, no evidence

could be more perfectly conclusive of the existence of the criminal intention in

question, on the part of the individual at least by whom the plate was made to

exhibit these words, whatsoever possible circumstances might be adducible, in

exculpation of him in whose possession the plate was found.

[marginal heading:] 7. - in the proposed plan

But in addition to the one source of obstruction and detection thus afforded by

the existing plan, the proposed plan affords eight other impediments of the same

sort, all which however are comprizable under two heads: viz: those which regard

the Portraits, and those which regard the Types. The business is, so to order

both these articles, as that for the purpose of prohibition and punishment, and

that without peril
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  • Title: [nd [wm 1798] D + To the Bank]
    Description: nd [wm 1798]

    D +

    To the Bank

    § III. Application Principles

    4 Verbal Description

    Portraits

    13*[?]

    §.{3} /4/. Of Forgery in the way of Fabrication – Application of the Principles.

    [Folio 003-317b was formerly pinned here]

    { 4. The fourth of the {difficulty above mentioned} circumstances above-mentioned

    as capable of being made to enter into the composition of the instrument in

    question (a Bank note) and therein of affording the means of throwing

    obstruction in the way of an enterprize of forgery is the being capable of being

    marked out to a degree of precision adequate to the purpose of prohibition and

    punishment, by a purely verbal description, conceived in general terms without

    the necessity of a reference to any individual object, to be referred to as the

    object, the imitation of which is forbidden.

    On this head it must farther be observed, that the act which the verbal

    description is for the present purpose employd to characterize, must be such an

    act as, with, or rather if possible even without, the warning given by the law

    it will be morally impossible that a man should engage in the exercise of, with

    any other intention than the very identical criminal intention marked out by the

    law for prohibition and punishment. }

    To apply this to the case of a Bank Note, framed and worded as at present –

    The indication that would be afforded by a plate, fabricated in imitation of a

    Bank Note of the present form, answers this purpose as far as it goes, as

    effectually as can be wished. Nothing but the very words employd in a genuine

    Note could afford the Forgerer any the smallest hope of succeeding in the

    fabrication of a spurious one: and supposing a plate with these words upon it to

    be found in the possession of any uncommissioned individual, no evidence could

    be more perfectly conclusive of the existence of the criminal intention in

    question on the part of the individual at least by whom the plate was made to

    exhibit

    those
  • 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]

    25

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

    [marginal heading:] 1. General Plan for a Bank Note &c according to

    the above indications –

    Upon the whole, the Plan of construction suggested by the above principles for

    the matter of a Bank Note would, be distributed into four paragraphs or

    compartments.(a) –

    [marginal heading:] 1. Tenor

    1. In the upper compartment, the words of the engagement itself as worded at

    present, with the dates and signatures employed at present, from an engraving on

    Copper Plate as at present; but accompanied by a Portrait of the Governor, also

    from an engraving on Copper as proposed, with the legend as proposed - The

    situation of the Portrait, either at the left hand corner of the Paper, at the

    beginning of the line, as at present, or in the center of the compartment.

    [marginal heading:] 2 – Warning against Forgery.

    2. In the second compartment from the top, the warning against Forgery, expressed

    in letter-press as above: with the Portrait of the Cashier; situated, as before,

    either on the left hand or in the center.

    [marginal heading:] 3. Classes distinguished.

    3. In the third compartment from the top, a notification of the different classes

    of Notes; as above proposed, expressive of their several characteristic

    differences in point of appearance.

    [marginal heading:] 4. Indication of cutting.

    4. Lastly, in a fourth compartment might be exhibited, a notice descriptive of

    the method to be observed in cutting a Note in two, for the purpose of

    conveyance: for which purpose a line marking the track for the knife or

    scissors, together with ten or twelve words to point out the use of the line,

    would be sufficient.(b)

    Note.

    (a) In case of such a division the course of the lines might instead of running

    parallel to the longer side of the Paper, as at present, run parallel to the

    shorter side.

    (b) That the form of the Note has been modified for this purpose

    and
  • 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]

    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.