ten thousand Poundsworth of Goods at a Time, and always took Care to pay for the said Goods at the Time appointed by the Company. But as he sustained every now and then considerable great Losses upon the Goods bought at these Sales, at last his Fortune was greatly diminish'd, and in a Manner lost; which (unfortunately for him) induc'd him to make use of the unhappy Methods for which he has suffer'd, to raise Money, only to supply present Purposes, without direct Intention to have defrauded any Person whatever, but on the contrary, in Hopes to have had some lucky Chance or other, in his large Undertakings, to have redeem'd his past Losses; and his real Intentions, he declar'd, was to have paid the Gentleman in full of whom he borrow'd the Money; his flattering Hopes gave him strong Presumption so to think. He was a Man that never was addicted to drinking, gaming, &c. the Vices of the Age, nor given to any Extravagancy whatever. He was a Man that bore an exceeding good Character in the World, which did appear from the Character given him by several worthy Gentlemen, and some of the most eminent Merchants of this great Metropolis, who appear'd on his Behalf upon the Trial; so that had his Intention been really inclin'd to have defrauded, he might have got many Thousands of Pounds of Money and Effects into his Hands, of other People's, and gone off with the same, without the least Suspicion from any Person whatever.

N.B. As he used to buy such large Quantities of Goods at these Sales, he was obliged to borrow large Sums upon Interest, to make good his Payments; for which Sums he has, upon an Average, paid above four hundred Pounds per Ann. for Interest, for upwards of these eight Years past, and had continually great Losses upon these Goods likewise.

He, with the utmost Sense of the Badness of the Practice, acknowledged his having been but too much concerned in handing about bad India Warrants. He was content to be made an Example to the Justice of his Country, and wish'd it might have the Effect intended, viz to prevent any one for the future from attempting to make use of such unwarrantable Measures, as by serving their own present Purposes may impose upon, and defraud any Individual, or Body of Men.

The following is a Note of Hand given by Mr. Baker, and a particular Account of the Affair relating to it, also under his own Hand.

174

LONDON,

I Promise to pay Mr. John Barnes< no role > , or order, nine hundred twenty-two Pounds ten Shillings on Demand, for Value receiv'd.

922 10

Per

As in all Probability an Affair of me, William Baker< no role > , concerning the Bankruptcy of William Sandys< no role > , Tea-Man (about nine Years since) may at this Time be mentioned to my Prejudice, the Case is as follows: Mr. John Barnes< no role > , an eminent Tea-Broker , came to me, and desired I would give him Cash for a Note of Mr. Sandys's Hand, payable to the said Mr. John Barnes< no role > , or order, for nine hundred twenty-two Pounds ten Shillings, but I had not so much Cash by me; he desired I would give him my Note of Hand for the same, which I did in Form, as above. He told me he would indorse Mr. Sandys's Note to me, which I took. I was satisfied with his Indorsement, knowing him sufficient to answer the Sum to me. After this Mr. Barnes desired me to prove Mr. Sandys's Note of Hand under the Commission, as he was become a Bankrupt; upon which I ask'd him, How I could prove it, as having no Concern with the Bankrupt? He told me, as he had my Note of Hand for the same Value, I might prove it, and say, it was for a valuable Consideration. Upon this I went to prove the Note, but in my Hurry, as having never proved a Debt before under a Commission, and there being great Debates and Quarrelling at the Meeting, I inadvertently proved the Note for Goods sold and