viewed it, and gave it to the next, and so it passed from one to the other, 'till the judge perceiving them very busy, called to them.-Gentlemen, what are you doing? What book is that? They told him it was the writer's book, and they were observing how the same ink appeared pale in one place, and black in another. You ought not, gentlemen,' says he, to take notice of any thing, but what is produced in evidence.' And then turning to me, demanded what I meant by shewing that to the jury. I answered, that I could not fix upon the persons, for the gentlemen near me were all strangers to me, and I was far from imagining I should have any such occasion for taking particular notice of them.-His Lordship then re assumed his charge to the Jury, which, being ended, they withdrew to consider of their verdict."

After staying out about an hour, the jury returned into court without agreeing on a verdict, saying they could not be convinced that Fuller's receipt was not genuine, merely on account of the different colours of the ink. Hereupon the court intimated ,how many witnesses had sworn that Hawkins was absent from London; to tontradict all of whom there was only the evidence of Fuller, which was at least rendered doubtful by the ink appearing of two colours and it was submitted whether Fuller's testimony ought to be held of equal validity with that of all the opposing parties. Hereupon the jury went out of court, and, on their return, gave a verdict of Guilty against both the prisoners. At the place of execution Hawkins addressed the surrounding multitude, acknowledging his sins, professing to die in charity with all mankind, and begging the prayers of those who were witnesses of his melancholy

203

choly exit. He died with great difficulty; but Simpson was out of his pain almost without a struggle. They suffered at Tyburn, on the 21st of May, 1722, and were hung in chains on Hounslow-Heath.

HAWKINS, THOMAS JAMES, alias HENRY (SWINDLER) whose chief livelihood was obtaining goods and money under false pretences, in conjunction with his brother, Edward Underwood, as he called himself; the elder of whom was not more than twenty when, in 1800, they were both tried at the Old Bailey for imposing upon Mary Marner, who lived at No. 2, Ranelagh-walk, Chelsea, where she had kept a house upwards of seven years, ever since her husband left her: the furniture being her own. On the 21st of January, 1800, as she was walking through Great George-street, Westminster, she was accosted by Hawkins; she could not recollect what he first said to her, but believed it was something about the weather, such as, “this is a fine day. He walked with her, and held her in conversation on some trifling subjects; as she was in haste she wanted to get rid of him; she could not recollect what led to it, but she told him she was going on business to a gentleman's in Tuftonstreet, Westminster: he said he would accompany her, as her manners and conversation were so engaging; she still wanted to get rid of him; he wanted her to come through Westminster College, where he said he was educated, and where he would shew her his name in letters of gold; she refused to go that way. Having transacted her business in Tufton-street, he waited for her till she came out, and renewed the conversation; he began to profess a great attachment to her, ashe said she resembled a lady he once passionately admired. She told him that

that

she had to call in Oxford-road, and that she wished to go through Parliament-street; he said, "No; for if I am seen with you by the officers, who are my acquaintances, as I have a brother in the guards, they'll quiz me;" in consequence of which he persuaded her to turn down Great George-street. As they walked along he told her he was the son of General Hawkins, that he lived in Spring-Gardens, and that his uncle, Sir Cæsar Hawkins, lived in Sackville-street; that he had been a little gay, but that he had 500l. a year, independent of his father, on whose death he was heir to a considerable property. He also added, that he had expectations from an uncle in the East-Indies, a general, who was at the taking of Seringapatam, and whose wife in this country was allowed 500ol. a year. He amused her with these stories (the truth of which she did not suspect) till they came to Saville-Row, where he proposed to meet her the next day (Wed. nesday) in Spring-gardens, near his father's house; she said she was invited to a wedding the next day, so that of course she could not meet him; be then named Thursday (the day after) about one o'clock, to which she consented; he then told her that his father lived at No. 14, in Spring-Gardens, (the house in which Mr. Drummond lives) and that he should be looking out of the window at that hour. He wished, however, to have some pledge that she would not disappoint him, as he would be quite im patient till he saw her again, he desired her to give him any thing she set a value on she pulled off her glove to give him, but as the day was cold, he said he would not deprive her of it; she had two rings, the one of little value, and the other of more she gave him the one of little value: he desired to look at the other, and then put it in his pocket,

pocket, and refused to return it, saying, “that ladies had sometimes given him rings, nay, even pictures of more value, and did not afterwards keep their appointments." He also took a fancy to her ear-rings, and said, that his sister had exactly such a pair. She told the court he was dressed slovenly genteel, just as he was at that time at the bar, in black, with boots. On Thursday, as she promised, she passed by the house, which he called his father's, in Spring-Gardens, looked up at the window, but saw no one. He met her in the street, and apologized for not looking out at the window as he had promised, but he was closely watched by his father, in consequence of an attachment to a lady some time since; so that he was obliged to act with prudence for a while, but that in a short time every thing would be as it ought to be: a gentleman knocked at No. 14, at the time they were talking, "that is my brother," said he, he has an estate at Hampstead, and he was sure if she would come with him to his father's house, in the absence of the general, that his brother would be very glad to see her, as he was a very polite well-bred gentleman, adding, that his sister lived at her uncle's Sir Cæsar Hawkins, in Sackville street. As they walked along, he said, in order to be a little more at liberty, he had taken chambers at Clifford'sinn, for which he paid 400l. and he asked her if she would accompany him, and see them, as his servant was waiting for him; she consented, and on the way he made great professions of attachment to her, and told her, as he said he wished to be candid at once, that he would settle 500l. a year on her, and in addition to that, he would do something handsome for her, on the death of his father; as all this came with the greatest appearance of

sincerity

sincerity, she told him it was a very tempting offer, but was more than he could spare; to which he answered, never mind that, you don't know my expectation; I have been extravagant, but that's all over. In short she consented to live with him; the chambers were on the second floor of Clifford'sInn, No. 14; he remarked how extraordinary it was, that his chambers and father's house should be the same number. She thought the chambers looked very shabby, and yet it did not raise any suspicion in her mind, that he was not what he represented himself to be. He let himself in with a key, and declared he was very much surprized that his servant should be out of the way, as he desired him to stay till he returned. She saw a hat in the window seat, which she supposed belonged to the servant. He insisted she should stay at dinner, as he expected some company; she consented; he renewed the subject of his circumstances, and told her he had goool. in the Bank. She saw no company, nor even the servant. She pressed him to return her rings, as he could not say she had forfeited them; he said he had forgot them among some trinkets at his father's, but that he would certainly give them to her the next day. Underwood (who was also on his trial at the same time) dined with them. Hawkins, in the absence of Underwood, said, that he was the son of Doctor Underwood, of Broad street, that he had procured him a commission in the army, and hinted as much as that he was a dependent. He asked if she had any silver, on which she pulled out her purse, which contained a guinea and four shillings, he put the money in his pocket, and threw the purse into the fire, saying, that it was a shabby one. She was anxious as the night approached, to return to her house; a coach

was