The Sun.
London, England, 1836-09-14 00:00:00

MARLBOROUGH-STREET.

Just as the business of the office was about to close on
Monday afternoon, a person of gentlemanly appearance
was brought up in custody, and placed before Mr. CHAM-
BERS, on the charge of being concerned with other persons
in defrauding M. le Comte de Regina, the Secretary to the
Neapolitan Embassy, of an acceptance to a bill of ex-
change for the sum of one thousand pounds.
The prisoner, who had previously refused to give his
name, in answer to a question from the magistrate, replied
that it was Thomas Monk.

The Count stated that a short time since a person who
stated his name to be Drummond called upon him and
told him that he would get him three hundred pounds if he
would give him his acceptance for that amount. He agreed
to do so, and this person then produced a blank stamp,
across which witness wrote his acceptance, and be then
took it away and said he would go to his brother and get
the money, and return immediately. The Count, however,
never saw him again. On that morning the prisoner called
at his house and asked to see him, and he then said that he
had just met a friend of his in the City, who had informed
him that a bill of exchange for a thousand pounds was in
the market, accepted by the Count, and he wished to know
whether the acceptance was• genuine or not ; the Count
upon this asked the prisoner several questions, and believing
him to be concerned with the other party in committing
the fraud, he gave him into custody.'
Mr. CHAMBERS asked the prisoner whether he wished to
give any explanation upon the subject ? The prisoner
knew nothing whatever of the fraud in question. All that
he knew was, that that morning be met a gentleman in
the City, who told him that he had seen a bill for a thou-
sand pounds, bearing the acceptance of the Count ; and
he wished him to inquire whether it was a good bill or no.
Mr. CHAMBERS asked what the name of this gentleman
was ? Monk said that he must decline answering that
question.
Mr. CHAMBERS thought it would be as well to allow
time for further inquiries to be made, and he would take his
(Monk's), own recognizance, to appear at the Office the
next day.
Yesterday. accordingly, the parties came again to the
Office, and Mr. CHAMBERS, addressing Monk, the defen-
dant, asked him whether he still refused to give up the
name of the gentleman who he represented had given him
the first information of the bill in question ? Monk said he
should persist in declining to give his name. At the same
time he was most anxious to give the Count every assis-
tance and information in his power to discover the person
who had defrauded him.
The Count said that when Monk called upon him, and
after he had told him of the fact of the bill being in the
market, he asked him what his name was, and he refused to
give either that or his address, and this induced him to be-
lieve that he was a party, concerned in the fraud, and he
then gave him into custody.
Mr. CHAMBERS said it was very evident he had been
made a dupe of ; but he did not think that the parties who
had obtained the acceptance would be able to negociate a
bill for so large an amount without inquiries being made as
to the genuineness of the acceptance, and then the fraud
would be discovered. He added that he should not be
warranted upon the evidence in detaining Monk, who was
then ordered to be discharged.

A young man, of a shabby-genteel appearance, presented
himself yesterday before the Magistrate, to state that he
was in great distress, and wished, as he could not get em-
ployment in London, to be passed over to Ireland.
On Mr. CHAMBERS making an inquiry as to his mode of
life, the young man said that he was a landscape painter by
profession, and an Irishman by birth. He had come to
England about five weeks ago, hoping to find employment,
and at the same time improvement in his art, but he found
it impossible to do anything—pictures were at a discount,
and artists were neglected. He had been in England before
about four years ago, under the patronage of the Mar-
chioness of Ormond. He had then studied regularly at the
National Gallery in Pall-mall, and had received instructions
from Mr. Jacob Allen, of Pimlico. The Marchioness had
gone abroad, and he was obliged to vacate the room which
he occupied in her mansion. He returned to Ireland, and
had supported himself until he started for England. He
would be glad to accept any employment ; or, in failure of
his wishes in that respect, requested the Magistrate to help
him to get back to Ireland.
Mr. CHAMBERS inquired whether he had any specimens
of what he could do in his profession ? The artist replied,
that want had forced him to part with all—nay, his very
brushes, trifling as they were in value, had been disposed of.
A Mr. Clarke, a grocer, in Weymouth-street, however, had
a few pictures of his ; one he recollected was a landscape
from nature, and another a copy of a piece by a Dutch
master. These the Magistrate could see.
Mr. CHAMBERS said that it was a pity, if talent existed,
that something should not be done. He had a son exceed-
ingly fond of drawing, and the young man could have a
fortnight's employment in giving him instruction, until
something should be done for him. He would see the pic-
tures, and if they evinced proofs of ability, he would pro-
cure him employment for a time.
The young man expressed his gratitude in warm terms
for the Magistrate's kindness, and seemed well pleased at
the prospect of having something to do. The Magistrate
gave him a shilling, and desired him to be at Mr. Clarke's
at half-past three yesterday, when he would go and view the
pictures.