The Sun.
London, England, 1803-08-20 00:00:00

7'1ii.14 0? 1147'fillalli

[CeNAkird atir P.:ter ef Yr:wifely.]
•
Mr. Jos. Skelton, of Rochliffe, Comberlaor,
said, he ptsseSses an estate at Loweswater, where
he occasionally resided. He there became ac-
quainted with the Prisoner, in September tBo2,
who then lived at Buttermere, a few miles distant ;
supposed the Prisoner to be Colonel Hop, brother
to Lord Huperoun ; the first opportunity he had of
knowing this, was when in company with the, Rev.
Mr. Nicholson, at a public-house in the neighbour.
hood. Tlse-Prisone r pulled a letter from his pocket,
addressed " The Hon. Colonel Hope." On the
6th of September, 1802, the Witness recolleds
walking with the Prisoner to view,an_estate which
the Prisoner proposed to purchase. In the`Course of
conversation the Prisoner told his reasons why he ap-
peared so shy in letting his name be known. He
said, it was merely to avoid ceremony ; but he ob.
served, as the witness was a gentleman, he might
with propriety inform him that his name was Hope,
that he was brother to Lord-Hopetoun, and a Colo_
nel in a Regiment of Dragoons; but requested the
witness not to make public this information, which
he obeyed, till he found his name through the coup.
try; has frequently heard the Prisoner speak of his
estates in Herefordshire; he had a cot at Castle
Douglas, on the other side of Dumfries; has re-
peatedly heard him speak of his campaign in Egypt,
and spewed the wounds which he received, partieu-
hrly one upon his chin, and another upon his finger.
Mr. George NVood, of Keswick, Inn-keeper, had
seen- the Prisoner at his house frequently, with a Col.
Moore and Mr. Crump, in the summer of 18oz ; he
travelled in his own carriage, and passed for Col,
Hope ; parcels came diteded for him, " The Hon..
A. A. Hope, M. P. Wood's Hotel, Keswick." He
knew the Prisoner had drawn a Bill for 301. on Mr.
Crump, Liverpool, in favour of Col. Moore, which
bill was sent, and accepted, and paid ; and Col.
Moore, on receiving the money, paid Witness's bill
upon the Prisoner, out of it. On 13th October, 1802,
Witness cane in from hii farm, and met the Prisoner
and Rev. Mr. Nicholson at breakfast, at Witness's
house; when the Prisoner inquired if his bill upon Mr.
Crump, in favour of Col. Moore, had been paid, to
which he answered in the affirmative. He then
said, Mr. Crump is my fiiend, my attorney, and my
agent ; I wish you to give me cash for another bill
upon bins. The witness agreed toitccept the draft
for 291. ; did not see the Prisoner draw the bid,
but believes it was drawn in the parlour in the pre.
sence of the Rev. Mr. Nicholson; knows the bill
now produced to be the same as delivered to him by
the Prisoner; he spoke as to the meeting between
the Prisoner and Mr. Justice Hardinge ; it took
place at his house in Oauber last [as the circum-
stances of this meeting have been detailed in Mr.
Nicholson's evidence, it is unnecessary to repeat it] ;
it was after this interview that he advanced the
money upon the draft, so he had no idea of the sue.
picions entertained.

John Gregory Crump was at Gresmere the latter
end of July, itioz; he met the Prisoner there ;
he had no knowledge of him before that time ; he
heard his name to be Alexander Augustus Hope ;
did not know Colonel Hope personally, yet knew
there was such person ; he had frequent conversa.
'tions'with the Prisoner respeding his family,
but the latter wished to travel incog. ; had much
conversation with the Prisoner respeaing the
ol►jetl of his tour to the Lakes ; Prisoner spoke of
his fortune, said he had an estate near Stockport,
and others; lie did not hear the Prisoner metrtion
his having any estate in Scotland ; witness left
Gresmere and returned to Liverpool, cashed a bill
for the Prisoner at Liverpool, for 301. but had no
connexinii 'with him before about business. Qir
cross-examination, the Witness said, Prisoner men.
tioned a Mr. Newton, his Attorney, who had re.
covered an estate for him. The Prisoner advised
Witness to draw upon him.

• Colonel Parke sworn. Witness is well acquaint.
ed with Colonel Hope ; he is brother to the Earl of
Hopetoun, a General in the Army, and Colonel of
the 17th Regiment of. Dragoons. He had been in
Ireland abo4tt three years. He said the Prisoner at
the bar is not Colonel Hope ; he ditinot know
ther the Regiment was in Egypt ornot.r4lere the
Evidence for the Prosecution closed. • ,
The Prisoner then addressed himself to the Jury.
He said he felt some degree of satiskttion in being
able to have his sufferings terminated, as they must
of course be by their verdict. Fur the space .of nine
monti:s he had been dragged from prison to prison,
and torn from place to place, subjed to all the
"misrepresentations of calumny. ,s Whatever will be
my fate," said he, " I am content ; it is the award
of justice, impartially and virtuously administered.
But I will solemnly declare, that in all my •transac.
tions, I never intended to defraud or injure the per.
sons whore names have appeared in the Prosecution.
This, I will maintain to the last ofmylifc.,"
The Prisoner called in his defence,

- Newton, Attorney at Chester; .IV3B employ.
ed by the Prisoner in the Summer Assizes in re.
covering au Estate in the County of Kent. He un.
derstuud the Prisoner's father to be a respectable
man ; some of the family were opulent. Believes
the Prisoner has a mOther.in.law ; says thst Prisoner
married ; never knew him to bear any other name
than John Hatfield; he married a Lady of the name
of Nation. His Assignees have sold the Estate in
question. Witness knows nothing of his circum-
stances previous to the recovery of the Estate. It
Was rented at tool. per 'annum. Dues not know
why the Prisoner quitted Devonshire. Did not
then travel in his own carriage, but formerly kept
a carriage. _ _ _

After the evidence was gone through, ,his Laid-
ship,Sir A. TH0N11,5014, with a great 4eAl.of per-
epiculty and force, summed up the whole of the
evidence, and commented upon such parts as pecu.
lady airefted the fate of the Prisoner. "Nothing,"
his Lordship said, " could be more clearly proved
than that the Prisoner did make the Bill or Bills in
question under the assumed name of Alex. Augustus
Hope, with an intention to,defraud. That the Pri-
soner used the additional name of Augustus, was of
no consequence in this question. The evidence
proved_cleiirly that the Prisoner meant to represent
bimielf to be mother cheratleri And under that as.

sumecl charm? r, he drew the Nils in question. If
any ring should appeal. in• mitigation wf the offences
with which the Prisoher Was chptged, they flit t
give qhrtn a full consideration; and though his cha-
rgterhad. been long shaded with obloquy, yet they
must not let this ip the least influence the verdil
they wire sworn to give,"

_ •
The Jury consulted about ten minutes, and then
returned a verdift--Guilty of Forgery.
.The Prisoner's behaviour in Court was proper and
dignified, and he supported his situation from first
to last with unshaken fortitude. He has a hand.
Some face, blue eyes, and fair complexion ; the shape
of his face has beertoyab but that and his person
arc altered from the progress of years. His age
seems to be about fotty.five. After the verdia of
the Jury was given, he discovered no relaxation of
his accustomed deMeanour. The crowd was im-
meose; he was allowed to have a post.chaisc from
the Town-hall to the Gaol.
At eight o'clock next morning (Tuesday), the
Court met, when John Hatfield, the Prisoner, ap-
peared at the Bar, to receive his sentence. Numbers
of people gathered, to witness the perf‘trmance of
this painful duty.
After proceeding in the Usual form, the Judge
addressed the Prisoner in the followitt impressive
terms:

" John Ilarfteld—after a long and serious inves.
tigarion of the charges which have been preferred
against you, you have been found guilty by a Jury
of your Country. You'llave'been distinguished. for
crimes of such magnitude as have seldom, if ever,
received any mitigation of capital pUnishment, and
in your case it is impossible it can be remitted.
Assuming the person, name, and charaaer of a
worthy and respectable Officer, of a Noble Family
in 014 Country, you have perpetrated and commit-
ted.the most enormous crimes. The long impri-
sonment which you have undergone, has afforded
time for your serious reflection, and an opportunity
of your being deeply impressed with a sense of the
enormity of your guilt, and the justice of that son.
tence which must be inflined upon you I wish you
to be seriously impressed with the awfulness of your
situation, and to rtflect with anxious care and deep
concern on your approaching end, concerning which,
much remains to be done ; lay aside new your de-
lusion and imposition, and employ properly, the
short space of time you have to live. I beseech
you to employ the remaining part of your time for
eternity, that you maynfind mercy at the hour of
death, and in the day of judgment. Hear now the
Sentence of the Law."

His Lordship then pronounced Sentence of Death
upon the Prisoner, in the usual form.

The Prisoner heard it with firmness, bowed re.
speelfully, and was taken away from the Dock, and
thence to the Gaol.

Copy4of Letters front Mr. lIATF lEL P, under the
.Naure of Col. .11UP 6, to the' Rev. Mr. Nt c tlO L.
sox, alluded to in Mr. SCAR L Er's Speeth. (Ste
Sun of Yesterdaj).
I,eviown. liftudey Evening, 4th ariarr.
V EU DSAft AND RSV. 5111,

We arrived bete on Saturday evening About eight, went to
the church on Sunday, anti Mr. Graham, the brother of Sir
"antes, gave one of the finest ledures 1 ever heard. We at-
tended his evening discourse, at' the end of which he ad-
begging I would not return to my quarters with.
and his footman stood really with one. All this,
dear Mary a little, but nothing can be more pila_
light,
my dear
manner she at all times possesses. To-mor-
proceed further; but Mrs.
od6tiriouruncfcchlvening, we may perhiti;
Hope likes the quietude of this place much, and her wishes
arc illy laws. to the church-yard we found the following
inicription, which I copiedo*purpose to send you, thinking
4'014 amuse some °four friends; pray read it to Dr. .1.1c.1,
and present him my best respetts:
our life is but a winter's day ;
Some only breakfast and away.
Others, to dinner stay, and are Nil fed ;
• • • The oldest man, but sups, and goes to bed.
• Large is his debt who lingers out the day ;
Who gots the soonest, has the least to pay.

Be pleased to say for us both, whatever you will be
acceptable to those, who, from kilt! utotives, may Inquire
after us ; and at Buttermstre, Miry M.sires you will tender to
father and mother, the most atrectiostate duty, and the trio 4
lively assurances of our mutual liaTtpincss. I find Itappine;s
isnot very loquacious, so this will be a short Letter; ler us
have a long, one as soon as possible, addiessed for *. Colonel
Hope, M. P. Post-Office, Longtown, Cumberland, arid you
w'al greatly oblige,
Very dear and Rev. Sir,
Yours mast truly,
A. 1101'1:,
_ _ _

Longtown, 061. ath, Iso2.
Key Mr.isikhoihOliql.owes.
water, tleor Cockeratoutli.
• Free, A. dope.

Another Letter, from the same to the same, dated
Stenday Night, Joth Oth

VERY DEAR AND ply. Alai

'Anxious that ply dear Mary might hear from her parents as
soon as possible, we returned from SLotland to this town ou
Friday evening, and shall mast probably proceed for Carlisle
•ro.morrow ; indeed your letter received this afternoon makes
rna very desirous of returning to Buttermere, that 1 may pro-
perly answer all such pi.-rsons as assume the privilege ul ec„.
suring my conduct, and are mean enough to disturb the peace
-of our parents.
We are. thank God ! very well,. and happy as our friends
can wish us. The Colonel has. given himself much unner
cessary trouble, and 1 am sorry. for it, because in -this he
will be sorrito. J wrote to him on Wednesday last, and this
day find his hand-writing on the tuperseription ofa letter, for-
warded to me from Keswick. tf I had ever expressed tollim
any atardion for Miss D. except such as youliave witnessed';
if 1 had ever dropped a word on the subject to him, he micht
have had some plea for complaint. But (;od -knows, and he
knows, 1 never did. He has my free leave to write to all the
world. if lie finds any pleasure in such rocerclings ; but no
person, who really knows rue, will believe, that Miss D.
lias been deceived by me.
. _

1 wish 1 couid 1:; certain where this will reach you. but
fearing it may not be at Cockurmouth soon enough hir you
to get it by the market people on the morrow, it is 4101 in
my power to city where Of when WO Cali meet previous to nay.
arrival at ltuttermere, which will very pralably be before the
otithUeof this week.

Be {Teasel! to present my.best re spc ds to Mrs. and Miss
wwtf. I will remember with permanent gratitude their
goodness on this oixasioti. ;Ind antickt the strAlige vicissitudes
of this very eventful life, perhaps I may be blessed with
some opportunities lit, shewing how truly sensible 1 Alll of
every kindness doriu to me
on this occasion.
With the truest reseed, esteem; and gratitude to all my
wclt.wialiers, Ism,
Very Dear and Rev. Sir, yours ever, _

A. IIOPE.
. .
Love and duty attend those to whom they
.are due; and
beg you wilt tett them not to make any preparations tin our
return, tor 1 shalt have to move about almost as sows as I ar-
rive, and my Mary will love quietness. •

The ivaiitut trees, which have stood above a cen.
Wry in Hyde PArk, ate now ordered to be cut down.
week by an eminent gun.
They were plirChaScd la"
smith. who injends convertingthem into gan.stocks.
The 2urchase tikoacjt w3i. Five litintimi round*.