The Sun.
London, England, 1844-05-20 00:00:00

vial and Government schemes already propounded for supply-
ing the British colonies with labourers, admit the wisdom
and necessity, so long as the present plan is permitted to
exist, of confining emigration from Africa to the West India
colonies strictly to the British settlements under the control
of Government. That this meeting, however, offer their de-
cided protest against the regulation which authorises the
shipment of male labourers alone to these colonies, as mani-
festly injurious to the moral elevation and religious culture
both of the emigrants themselves and the emancipated
classes among whom, for a time, they will be settled. That
whilst this meeting loudly protests against this permission in
reference to Africans imported into the West India colonies,
they would especially reprobate it in its application to the
export of coolies to the Mauritius, and the contemplated
elingLation of Chinese labourers to the British colonies gene-
rally, as fraught with the most melancholy consequences,
and would earnestly call on the Imperial Legislature to inter-
pose its authority to prevent the further occurrence of so
great a social evil."
The Rev. G. EVANS seconded the resolution, which was
also supported by Mr. ELIJAH WRIGHT, of Boston, who took
occasion to defend his countrymen from the attacks of Mr.
O'Connell.
Mr. O'CONNELL said he had been evidently misunderstood
by Mr. Wright. Ills censure was upon the American slave-
holders and those who countenanced slave holding in Ame-
rica, and he thought he had made a distinction between them
and the abolitionist party in America. The abolitionist in
America was to be highly esteemed, because he took part
against the prejudices of his countrymen, and against their
supposed interest.—(Cheers.)
On the motion of Mr. G. CArtrastz, a Dissenting minister,
seconded by Mr. SCOBLE, a vote of thanks was passed to the
Chairman for his kindness in presiding, which was briefly ac-
knowledged, and the meeting separated.

THE WILL FORGERS.
CONFESSION OF MRS. DOREY.

On the first indictment against the prisoners Barber
and Fletcher, the confession of Mrs. Dorey was put
in evidence, but upon objection being taken by the
counsel for the prisoners, only that portion of it was
read which applied to the case of Stewart. We are
now enabled to lay before our readers the remainder
of this extraordinary statement, in which Mrs.
Dorey details all the particulars connected with these
enormous frauds, but it is thought better that certain
names mentioned should be omitted, as inquires are
still going on, and their publication might tend to
defeat the ends of justice. After detailing the parti-
culars connected with the Stewart case, Mrs. Dorey
proceeds as follows :—" About this time I went with
Fletcher and his wife to the Bank of England.
Fletcher went there to see his friend, and while we
were in the Rotunda Mr. Chritmas passed us, and
stopped to speak to Fletcher a moment. Fletcher
left us to go and have some conversation with him,
and after Fletcher returned to us, he said that
Mr. Christmas and himself avoided as much as
possible being seen conversing together. I asked
him why. He replied, he did not wish persons em-
ployed in the Bank of England to know from whom
he got information. Soon after this Fletcher said,
from the information he had received from his friend
he thought he could do some good for me, provided I
would do as he instructed me. After some conversa-
tion with him, I said I would do so. Soon after this
I was living in Dean-street. lie brought to me a
will of Eliza Burchard, of Westminster, and several
other places, written by himself, and wished me to
copy it. I did so. There was only one name written
on it. He told me to disguise my hand, and write
closer than usual, or I should not have room. He
brought some ink of a peculiar description, in a small
phial, to write it with, and also a strip of paper, with
the name Eliza Burchard written upon it. Fletcher
said he had received it that same morning from his
friend in the Bank of England, and that he (the clerk)
had copied it from the original handwriting of the de-
ceased in the bank books, and to which it bore as
close a resemblance as possible. After I had copied
the will, Fletcher, in my presence, made a fac
simile of the same handwriting as that sent to him
on the slip of paper by the Bank clerk, at the foot of
the will, observing it was what he should do
to the will that would render it useful, and not what I
had done. In thinking deeply on the past occurrences
since I related them to my solicitor, I perfectly recol-
lect that Fletcher made an impression on the will,
with, I think, red wax, and probably with my seal, at
the same time he wrote the names of Eliza Burchard,
and William Saunders. He took it away with him
and would not stop to dine with me, because lie
wished to be in time to show it to Barber the same
day. I expostulated with Fletcher for writing the
name of William Saunders, that being the name of
my brother-in-law. lie assured me nothing could
ever come of it, and said he intended to see IVilliam
Saunders and talk to him, for he was quite sure that
he could do better for him than ever he would be able
to do in his own business. Fletcher said I must take
a lodging, and told me what I should say to the land-
lady in case she required a reference. I was to say
my name was Eliza Burchard, and that I had come
from the country to stay a short time in London, and
that if she pleased I would pay her rent in advance.
I was also to say that as I had friends liv-
ing a short distance out of town, perhaps I
should not sleep often at the lodging, but if any let-
ters were brought she was to be particular in taking
care of them. I accordingly took a lodging in Great
Russell-street, Bloomsbury, consisting of one back
room on the first floor, for which I paid eight or ten
shillings per week. I only slept there one night. I
was disguised when I took the lodging, therefore I
do not think the, person I took it from would be able
to identify me. It was Fletcher's wish that I should
disguise myself. He said he had a particular reason
for my so doing, which he would hereafter make me
acquainted with; for the present I was to leave it to
him. He bought me a pair of spectacles, and desired
me to wear a light hair front, with curls, so as to con-
ceal my face as much as possible, and to represent an
old maid ; and I did in all things as he directed. Some
few days after I had taken the lodging I went to Flet-
cher's house, in Southampton-place. My mother was at ;
this time alarmingly ill. I was in a dreadful frightabobt
fulfilling the promise I had made to him, and I was very
uneasy in consequence of having to disguise myself.' Qn
expressing my alarm to Fletcher; and my,'anxi4y
to do nothing more in the matter, ''he assured me ill
was right ; that he had heard from his fllend in the
Bank. He showed me a note he had received frUm
him, on which there was a good deal' orfiguring.
saw the name of Xmas' written on',the foot 'of
the note. Fletcher also showed me an unclaimed
dividend book, in which several names were written
against in the margin; he said his friend in the Bank
had marked them as dead' cases. I asked him
what that meant. He replied, They are dead in
law, and arethe cases we seek (here he mentioned the
names of— and —), who he said transacted
business at the Bank in the same way he did.' Fletcher
said there was no law to prevent individuals having
the money if they knew how to proceed to get it ;
and that if any obstacle was thrown in his way I
should see that he would immediately carry it into the
Court of Chancery. He here observed that he had
done so in one case ; that an objection had been
raised to his obtaining the money, but they were
afterwards obliged to give it up. After this informa-
tion, I acted with confidence. Fletcher told me he
had shown the will to. Barber, who said it was all right.
As the time drew near, when I was to go to
the Bank, Fletcher said I must be identified. I asked,
Are you goinc, to identify me ?' He replied, No ;
he should not be seen with me, but Mr. Barber would
do all that might be required ; he knew all about the
business, therefore, he would answer all questions.'
Mr. Fletcher then gave me Barber's address, and said
he would take me to him on the following morning.
He told me to disguise myself as I had done before,
and to get into an omnibus that would put me down
at the corner of Farringdon-street, about eleven
o'clock. I did so, and passed Fletcher, who was wait-
ing for me, several times, and he did not recognise
me until I went up and spoke to him, and he then took
me to Mr. Barber's office in Bridge-street. Fletcher
introduced me to Barber as Miss Burchard, and I sat
down in the office for some time. Fletcher and Barber,
after conversing, left the office together, and after a short
time both returned. After a few minutes, Fletcher left,
and Barber took me to a Proctor, in Doctors' Commons
where the will of Eliza Burchard was produced, to the
best of my recollection by Barber. The proctor, on
reading the will, observed that it must have been a
clever woman to write it. Barber replied, " Oh, co-
pied, copied, I dare say.' I was then taken before
some gentlemen, and had to make an affidavit. I was
not aware I should have to do so before I went. Some
questions were asked, and Mr. Barber answered them
all. I returned with Mr. Barber to his office. He
said he should want me again. and would write to let
me know when. Fletcher and Barber seemed to un-
derstand each other very well, and it was quite ob-
vious that all the papers it was necessary to have were
in readiness before my arrival at Barber's office. I
went subsequently to the Bank of England with Mr.
Barber, and wrote the name of Eliza Burchard in
several books. Barber identified me as Miss Burchard
He was the only person who accompanied me, either
to the Commons or the Bank, through the whole busi-
ness. The money was obtained. It was paid over
in my assumed name of Eliza Burchard to Barber. I
cannot say what he did with the money. When I re-
ceived it from him, Fletcher was waiting for me. I gave
um the money, and he went to my home with me. He
hcoandsai4peeredn adnudeiitok,inaen.d mAadfteeradceadluccutliantgiontheofewxpheantsleies
and five per cent, for the Bankdd clerk, he gave me be-
tween six and seven
fhtun re pounds, which he said
his. Barber's account was was half the sum I
paid me the money. The other half he said was
as made out at the time he
Fletcher previously slyitoladet mee on
him 5/. more than the amount
pay Barber, and give
of his bill for hastening the b
everything as Fletcher directed me. A few days
after the settlement, Fletcher told me that Barber had
kept more money than was sufficient to pay t
and as it was proposed that Mrs. Fletcher should
accompany me to Bristol, Fletcher said I had .better
write to Barber from there about it, which I did, and
he (Barber) remitted the difference of amount by
post-office order. It was about 4/. I gave Fletcher
two sovereigns. I have never had any communica-
tion with Barber since, nor ever seen him until
I was at the Mansion-house. I think it was

previously to my going to Bristol Fletcher
changed some Bank notes for me at the Bank ofl
England, and brought me gold for them in a small
canvass bag. Ile brought it to me on London-bridge,
where I was waiting for him. I put the money into
my own bag with some sovereigns I had in it, and
took it all to the London and Westminster Bank,
near the bridge, where I invested it in my own name.
The money was in a velvet bag, and the clerk ob-
served it was not many ladies' bags were so rich. I
cannot speak with accuracy as to dates, but to the
best of my recollection this occurred three years ago.
I afterwards withdrew the money from the London
and Westminster Bank, and placed it in the Bank of
England, where I had previously purchased stock to
the amount of 3501., in the New Three-and-a-Half
Reduced Annuities. Philpots was the name of the
broker employed by me. Fletcher introduced me to
him. Some time after my mother's death my sister
from Bristol visited me while I was living in Dean-
street. She visited the Fletchers, for, I think, the first
time. Mr. Fletcher came to my lodgings to see
her, and at his request I took a lodging in
Museum-street, for a Miss Cole. He said she was
a lady coming from the country that he was going to
do business for at the Bank. I was to charge
particularly the person who let me the lodgings to be
careful of all letters that might be brought there for
Miss Cole. The same day I took the lodging my
sister and myself met Fletcher, by appointment, in St.
Paul's Church-yard. 'We went into an office near
there, where I signed the name of Jane Blake, ac-
cording as Fletcher told me to do. Ido not remem-
ber or not whether my sister wrote. This is all, to
the best of my recollection, that I know or did know
concerning anything that might have been done.
Some time after this, Fletcher having observed that a
young gentleman was paying his addresses to me,
spoke to me on the subject. Mrs. Fletcher had then
been dead some thirteen months. Three months
after her decease, he intimated a partiality he felt for
me, and had for many years. Soon after this he met
the gentlemax he was fearful I liked at my house,
and the following' day wrote me a strong letter
on the subject (I having told Fletcher previously
that the gentleman was only a friend, and that I was
anxious to retain his friendship, as we had known
each other for many years, and he had been a favourite
of my mother's), in which letter he said it was useless
for me to say the gentleman in question, whom he
saw at my house, was only a friend, for it was well
known that when a young gentleman frequently visits
a young lady, it must be for some purpose, either ho-
nourable or dishonourable. If the first, why did I
deny it ? If the second, the sooner such visits were
discontinued the better. I mention here the contents
of this letter sent to me by Fletcher, because I gave
it to three or four of my acquaintances to read, and
it being sealed with the same impression as that found
by Forrester at my house, they might probably re-
member it. The letter, with others, I unfortunately
destroyed previous to my marriage with Mr. Dorey.
During the time my sister was in business at the
Pantheon, Mrs. Fletcher went with me to see her
there, and purchased two seals precisely the same.
She kept one herself, and gave the other to me.
Fletcher was at variance with me because I
expressed such indignance at the letter he had
sent me. Some time after this my brother-in-
law, Mr. Saunders, came from Bristol ; he was
angry with me for refusing to accept Mr. Fletcher.
Mr. Saunders visited Fletcher, and talked to hint on
the subject, saying it was injudicious of him to pro-
pose to me at a time when I was so grievously
afflicted by the loss of my mother, and he having so
recently lost his wife; therefore, Fletcher came again
to see me. It must have been about this time that
Mr. Saunders said he should like to see Miss -, an
acquaintance of mine. He saw her two or three
times, and talked to her. He did not sleep at my
house, as was his usual custom, but was lodging near
Hungerford Market. I met him one day, and he
told me he was thinking of calling on Miss --, to
get her to sign the paper he had in his hand. I
looked at it, and found it to be the will of Mary Hunt.
I talked to Miss -- about the gentleman, my friend
(meaning Fletcher), and said it was very likely he
might be able to get some money for her. She
signed the will. I took it after she had done so, and
looked at what she had written, and commented on
her not having written her own name, but that of
Mary Hunt. She replied, she dared say that would
do as well. I returned it again to Saunders,
and never heard anything more about it. What I
state here is all the knowledge I have, or ever had,
in the matter. I lent Mr. Saunders 401. or 50/.
when he first came up from Bristol, and he repaid
me before he went home. Both he and Fletcher
were angry with me, therefore they'were not commu-
nicative with me as to what they were doing.
Fletcher again urged his suit, and I repulsed him,
upon which he said he must know, once for all, whe-
ther I would receive him as my future husband or
not. On my determined refusal of him, he said he
would never again be on terms of friendship with
me, nor give me his advice, as he had hitherto done.
From that time, up to January, 1843, I neither saw
nor heard anything of him, only that he was married,
and had visited Mr. and Mrs. Saunders at Bristol.
I was married to Mr. Dorey in the month of Fe-
bruary following, and living at No. 45, Oxford-street.
At that time my sister was visiting me. I
think about March (I cannot speak with certainty
to the exact time) Mr. Fletcher called at my
residence to see my sister. He came, I think, twice.
On one occasion of his coming I remained in the
room with him and my sister some minutes. He said
to my sister, " I hope you will soon get it done."
My sister replied, she did not know what to do
about it, as she was such a bad hand at writing.
Fletcher said, " Perhaps your sister will do it for
you." I asked what it was, and he said, " Some
writing." I immediately replied, " I would do all
she required," and then left the room. The same
evening my sister gave me a will that Fletcher had
brought• her, written in his own handwriting, and
asked me. to copy it, which I did, and signed one name
as Flefeher had written it. I then took a lodging in
Francis-street for Miss Slack. I do not know what
other proceedings were taken in the matter, because
my sister was fearful I should relate anything about
it to Mr. Dorey. She did not tell me any thing about it.
On one occasion of Mr. Fletcher visiting my sister at
my house in Oxford-street, I heard him say to her
she must lose no time in going to Bath. She said to
my husband she had occasion to go there on business,
but would return to town again, and that she would
pay my expenses, if he had no objection for me to go
with her. He assented, and we went. We slept in
Bath one night, and the following morning called at
his offices, one near the York House and the other
near the Abbey Church-yard. My sister inquired
something about a register, but I cannot tell what,
after she had remained in the lodging in Francis-
street some time. She returned home with me, and
one morning she gave me a thousand pound note to
look at. It was the first I had ever seen, and I took it
into the shop to show to Mr. Dorey, and afterwards re-
turned it to her again. Soon afterwards my sister
returned to Bristol, and I heard nothing more
of the matter until I saw by the newspapers that
Fletcher and Barber were in custody. I should im-
mediately have given to the prosecutors all the infor-
mation I knew (had it not been that my sister was
implicated, and suffering under severe illness), I felt
so assured that Fletcher had nearly all through my
life been playing on my credulity. I have, in this
statement, given an account of all the money that I
ever received for what I did for Fletcher, or any one
connected with him. I know nothing more of his
transactions, or anything of moment relating to him,
other than a relation called on me in Oxford-street a
few days previous to my being apprehended hy For-
rester, and told me that he came by Fletcher 's wish
to inform me that the officer was coming to ex-
amine me. He also said that Fletcher had been
getting plenty of money, for he had, within the last
day or two, made over property to the amount of
nine or ten thousand pounds belonging to Fletcher,
and if Fletcher was sentenced to transportation, he
should not be sent out of the country, for he would
provide him with some prussic acid. I have never in
my life given the least information to any individual
regarding Fletcher's transactions, or what I had done
from his advice. Mr. Dorey (my husband) was per-
fectly ignorant of all my transactions up to the mo-
ment of Forrester taking me.
Ay mother'sGliltspur-str meent
a‘e' as Susannah
Prison,
GwE OrebG.l2.lBN, A
Cm
1840D4.0b3R: Y.

MODESTY AND PIETY.--The following advertise-
ment appears in a Manahester paper :—" To Drapers, Haber-
dashers, Warehousemen, &c.—Wanted, towards the latter
end of April, by an eminently pious young man, of Scotland,
who has been regularly bred to the above branches, and con-
siderably experienced generally, a:situation as assistant clerk,
manager, salesman, or traveller. The advertiser is twenty-
four years of age, possessed of excellent health, an amiable
disposition, good ability, extensive knowledge of the great
Scriptural doctrines, strictly evangelical, and would be found
of immense advantage in assisting to advance the claims and
reign of the Messiah's kingdom, amidst all the civil and
ecclesiastical opposition so prevalent amongst the nations of
the earth in these latter agitating times. Testimonials and
references to several eminent evangelical dissenting ministers
and members of the Gospel, as well as to the former and pre-
sent employers, of the most strict and satisfactory tendency
as to character and ability, with portrait, may be had on ap-
plication. No objections to town or eountry, and would be
willing to conform to the rules of a liberal Church or dissent-
ing family, holding evangelical principles, and make himself
generally useful. A house favourable to evangelical, pres-
byterian, or independent Church principles, affording per-
manent employment, and progressive advancement of salary,
preferred."

DBATII FROM CONTAMINATION BY A CORPSE.—A
poor woman named Owen, residing in Water-street North,
Colchester, was, a short time since, engaged to " lay out" the
corpse of a man for interment, and on entering the cottage
of the deceased for that purpose, slightly scratched her finger
with the latch. Having performed the required duty, she re-
turned home, and shortly after her hand became painfully in-
flamed, which increased so much that medical aid was ob-
tained. The fatal poison had, however, reached the springs of
life, and, after lingering in great agony for several weeks, she
died a few days ago.--Essex Standard.