The Sun.
London, England, 1857-02-12 00:00:00

ME FRAUDS ON THE CITY BANKS.

The Dead Bridal. A Venetian Tale of the Fourteenth
Century. Ry Jonathan Freke Slingsby. Ward
and Lock.
A historical romance, this is, which may be de-
scribed correctly, we believe, as a cheap reprint
from a cheap periodical. Yet a reprint though it
is, it is one entitled, we conceive, to some particu-
lar notice of this kind, if only in consideration cif
the abilities displayed elsewhere by its writer, as
well as in consideration, also, in a very especial
manner, of the new field that writer has here, by
one bold venture, opened up to the English imagi-
nation. In Jonathan Freke Slingsby will be re-
cognised at once the gay and sparkling writer,
until very recently the assiduous and accomplished
editor, of the Dublin University Magazine. An
editor who occupied in that position, with honour I
to himself and credit to his organ, the post once
held by the vivacious and vigorous hand of our
delightful friend Harry Lorrequer ! A writer,
moreover (J. F. Slingsby, to wit), who has for a
long while past shone refulgently among the con-
tributors to the Dublin, University Magazine as a
sort of a North-Ingoldsby-Feuilletonist ! Equally
clever in prose and verse, in mingled lyrics and
criticisms—riant and sunshiny throughout. Here
i this Venetian romance of the 14th Century,
called " The Dead Bridal" a glaringly mis-
nomer, by the way, as the story proves—
the quondam editor, the perennial contri-
butor to the Dublin University Magazine, comes
before us, as it were, under the light of a new
phase of his manifold and multifarious intellectual
accomplishments. He evidences, in the tale before
us, a remarkable familiarity with the old Italian
Chronicles. He shows himself to be eminently
well read in a somewhat recondite branch of Eu-
ropean literature. He evinces a ready sympathy
for the times of which he writes, and an intimate
acquaintance with its customs and costumee its
picturesque aspect, and its peculiarly medieval
associations. Yet, as a romaucist, we cannot induce
ourselves to believe that, in this, his Venetian story
of the "Dead Bridal," its author has in any
way done himself justice. As a historical romancist
—as a Creator of Life under the ribs of Death--
we cannot but feel that the writer of these twenty-
one chapters, has been somehow trammelled,
that his fancy hag, in its restricted compass,
been, in a measure, " cabined, cribbed, con-
fined." We prefer to regard the tale less as a
work done, than as the forerunner of a much
better work to be done. An historical romance
—(let us suppose, relating to the same epoch,
an epoch to English Story Tellers perf.ctly new
and unhackneyed)—a novel born from the Italian
annals, having an ampler scope ani a wider signifi-
cance. We cannot for an instant accept the " Dead
Bridal" as a token 0f..a1l that the gay and gifted
Slingsby can do in the way of historically romanc-
ng. We are fain to look upon it, now t Jat we
have carefully read it through from Preface to Con-
clusion, as the predecessor of some other production
(kindred in design), evidencing more ripened powers
and a more mellowed imagination. Scattered up
and down the work, here immediately under our
notice, are various descriptions, however, entitled to
considerable praise, if only by reason of their very
animated completeness. Take, for example, the
passage, picturesquely delineative of the
" The Venetians did.not fail to secure, like the other
followingCondottieri : -
states of Italy, the services of the Condottieri, one band
of which, consisting of a hundred lances, and four hun-
dred infantry, were commanded by Roberto Recanati,
and another, chiefly English, by an English knight of
the name of Choke. Groups of these soldiers were now
to be seen from every quarter of Europe ; English
archers, with their long bows ; Germans, with their
ponderous and unwieldy arblasts and bolts tipped with
heads of square steel ; and with them were men with the
huge shield called the pavison, which was held before
the archer to protect him while he discharged his mis-
sile ; there, too, were the men-at-arms, with the lance
and the sword, clothed partially in plate armour, which
was just then superseding the chain mail. Most of
these were whiling away the tediousness of this period
of inaction by playing at dice and more, and various
other games, or chatting over the adventures of the wars
in which they had been engaged, with all the gay non-
chalance of men whose trade is arms, and whose country
is the land that for the time hires their services."
The particular crisis of Venetian History described
in "The Dead Bridal" is that known to the readers
of Italian History as the period of the War of the
Chioggia. The belligerents being the Genoese and
the Venetians. The Doge of the Hour being old
Andrea Contarini. The warriors of Genoa fighting
successively under Luciano Doria and Pietro Doria

Chatterton : an Essay. By the Rev. S. R. Maitland,
D.D., F.R.S. and F.S.A. Fp. 110. London ; Rivixg.
tone; 1857.

James Anderson and James Townsend Saward,
who have been repeatedly examined upon charges
of extensive forgery upon many of the first bank-
ing houses of the City, were brought before the
Lord Mayor for final examination.
Mr.' Muliens, solicitor to the Committee of
Bankers for Protection from Forgeries and Frauds,
again attended for the prosecution. Mr. Giffard
appeared for Saward ; Anderson was not repre-
sented by a legal adviser.
Mr. Goodman, the chief clerk, proceeded to read
the voluminous depositions of nearly 60 witnesses,
which consumed nearly the whole of the day, at
the conclusion of which Atwell, one of the appro-
vers, and who has recently been sentenced to
transportation for life upon a charge of forgery,
was called into the witness-box, and upon cross-
examination by Mr. Giffard said—Previous to my
present sentence of transportation for life I was in
business in Booth-street, Spitalfields. That was
about three years ago. I never forged in my life.
I was in the "public line" in Booth-street ; that is
I was a licensed victualler.

Mr. Giffard—Tn your examination in chief you
use the word " business." To what business did
you allude ?
Witness—To forge and get money. Saward was
to forge ;he was a professor of forgery. The word
"business" meant forging.
Mr. Giffard—When did you first begin the busi-
ness of forging ?—I never began it all, not my own
Bell*.

Mr. Giffard—You mein that you never traced
the forged instrument with your own pen l—No.
Mr. Giffard—You are now under sentence of
transportation for life, are you not ?—Yes.
Mr. Giffard-r-Were you innocent or guilty of the
crime laid to your charge ?
Witness—l was innocent of the charge brought
against me. I was charged with forging and ut-
tering.
Mr. Giffard--You were not guilty of either
charge ?
Witness—l was guilty as being an accessory.
Mr. Giffard—Do you remember Markham being
tried ?

Witness—Yes.
Mr. Giffard—You knew that he was innocent,
did you not ?_

Witness--Yes, I did. (Sensation.)
Mr. Giffard—Was he tried with a brother of
yours ?

- Witness—Yes he was.
Mr. Gitrard—You knew that your brother was
guilty.
Witness-=Yes I knew my brother was guilty.
Mr. Gifford—When did you take to dishonesty
as a means of livelihood ?
Witness-1 don't know that I have taken to that
at all ?

Mr. Giffard—Were you ever committed upon
any other charge than that one for which you are
now undegoing a sentence of transportation for
life ?

Witne3s—Yes, that was about three years back ;
since I came out of business.
Mr. Giffard—Was that the first criminal offence
of which you had been guilty ?
Witness—Ob, I don't know about that. It was
the first time I was found out. "No catchy, no
havy." (Laughter.)
Examination continued—l was for a time in the
fur trade. I first met Hardwicke in Farringdon-
market about seven or eight months back. I did
not know that Hardwicke was going to make dis-
closures to the Bank authorities till I was spoken
to upon the subject by Mr. Mullens. I went by
the 'name of Hawkes when I was a publican. I
have known Hardwicke pass by the name of Ralph
in the country. In London he passed as Thomas
Hardwicke, and also as Thomas Salt Hardwicke.
Re-examined by Mr. Mullens—l went by the
name of Atwood at Yarmouth. When I employed
Mr. Turner, the solicitor, I used the name of
Hunter. Mr. Lewis was my attorney at my trial,
and I first ccanmunicated to him the transactions of
which I hive given evidence. You (Mr. Mullens)
and Mr. Lewis afterwards called to see me. I
never had anything to do with forged cheques be-
fore I became acquainted with Saward.

William Salt Hardwicke, who was convicted with
Atwell, and who is also under sentence of transpor-
tation for life, was then called into the box and
cross-examined.
Mr. Giffard—ls William Salt Hardwicke the
only name by which you have gone ?
Witness—To the best of my knowledge at the
present time it is. My position has been such, as
you must be aware, that I have been obliged to
change my name. I have gone by the name of
William Salt. I was married in that name.
Mr Giffard—Did you ever go by the name of
Parish ?
Witness—Never.
Mr. Giffard—ls this the first time that you have
turned Queen's evidence ?
Witness—Yes. I never transported a man nor
was the cause of his being transported ; but if you
look at this li>t you will find the names of 11
men who have been transported by your client,
Mr. Saward.
The witness handed a paper to the learned coun-
sel of which the following is a copy :
" James Allen, life ; John Douglas, 20 years ; Henry
Bradbury, 21 years; Thomas Ford, 1 year ; William
Wilkinson, 10 years ; Nash, 10 years ; Agar, life ;
William Hardwicke, life ; Henry Atwell, life ; J.
Anderson, for trial ; Markham, 4 years (the last man
innocent)."
Mr. Giffard—Do you know Mr. Thomas Cooper
Witness—l do not.
[Mr. Cooper was a witness who described himself
as a retired trade man with no settled place of
abode, and who said he was at the King's Arms
public-house, in Bishopsgate churchyard, on a cer-
tain day in June last, when he saw Hardwicke
there ; and he added that he had known Saward
years ago as a "man about town." When Mr.
Cooper was called to-day he did not answer.]
Mr. Giffard—Did not Mr. Cooper converse with
you upon the subject of what you bad for dinner
on the day when he said he saw you ?
Witness—l recollect a man being brought to me
in an adjoining room for the purpose of kientifying
me, but I did not know his name. He did tell me
what I had for dinner at the King's Arms, and I
told him it was all right. He had a black eye, and
appeared to me when he was here to be in a state
of intoxication. He certainly mustihave been drink-
ing ; he was talking very wild.
Mr. Giffard—You say you never went by the
name of Parish ?—No ; I should consider that too
beggarly a name to go by. (Laughter.)
Mr. Giffard—Now, tell me the names by which
you have gone.—l have already answered that
question.
Mr. Giffard—Answer it again.—William salt
Hardwicke.
Mr. Giffard—Any other ?—I do not recollect.
Mr. Giffard—Will you swear that ?
Witness—l now recollect that I have passed in
he name of Jenkins. I saved a girl's life at Hull,

and on that occasion gave the name of Jenkins.
The girl fell into the Humber, and I saved her from
drowning.
Mr. Giffard—Now, was it as Jenkins ar as Hard-
wicke that you were under a charge of burglary at
Brecon ?—No, it was Salt.
Mr. Giffard—ln what name were you trans-
ported at Plymouth
Witness—William Salt, alias Hardwicke. When
I was ordered to be transported and made my
escape from Brecon (Gaol, Saward was perfectly
aware that I was innocent, although I suffered
for it.
saward—l didn't know you at that time.
Witness—Yes you .did. I had nothing to 1
with the burglary which I was charged with - having
committed. The stolen property was found on
my
.premises. I went down [there by Saward's
advice. _

Mr. Giffard—Then, of that offence of which you
were found guilty you were innocent ?
Witness—l went down by the advice of Saward
and a man named Alexander Fraser, to see that a
person named Walter White had proper profes-
sional assistance to defend him upon a charge of
burglary. White was tried and acquitted. On.
our road home he stopped at a tree, from a hole in
which he took the produce of the burgl4o3.r which
he he had been tried for. The property consisted of
watches and silver plate. He wished
101. of me upon the produce
I declined to let him have it.
me to show him some place i!
deposit the property.
take it to a strange place, . n_
'llion I allowed him to put it
\
warehouse of which I meld p tolary
of the buergt_r9d of
He e Vogl, a 'l' ~1,1
saidi in:did not
he co.--
like to
borrow
He fter some per.sua-
a "citoa an iron safe in a
into On the