[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