The Statesman.
London, England, 1821-08-01 00:00:00

made to puzzle a gentleman who had given an opi-
nion of the identity of the bands, by showing him
other h.utd writings assimilated to that of Bod-
kin, and which he was n, t able to distinguish with-
out more time than could be allowed daring a rico
ruwe examination: as if the identity of the hands
which he had been allowed to exaruine leisurely, and
which he most confidently attested, was thereby al-
tered ; and upon the whole we must observe, that our
chain of complete connected evidence was not shaken,
or attempted to be shaken, but by the testimony of
this single person, Poole, who only said that Bodkin
did not commit the forgery; hut would not aoy whit
dill—whether himself or another. It will be observed,
that if he had taken the forgery upon himself, his
wracitv might have been put to the test by asking
Lint to write a similar hand. At the close of these ex-
aminations Bodkin or Poole offered to produce in con-
ti fence, a certain letter which Bodkiu had twelve('
last February. We declined hearing any thing of a
confidential nature from him ; but we understand
that he did afterwards produce a letter, containing an
invitation from a Mr. James Harper, and professing to
he written at the reque-t of a gentleman in the city,
to Mr. Bodkin, to inert a party of " hole-and-corner
gentlemen" to applaud the 'King at the theatre; awl
this leaer lying about in his °Gee, Bodkin meant it
to be inferred that Poole bail sent it there, and from
thence taken the information which be conunnuicated
to The Timer under a false signature. I t would be
tedious to descend intt more minute particulars; we
can only say that the tentinittee determined that the
charge was it. 4 substantiated'--a determination
which we apprehend will strike every one with sur-
prise who take" the trouble to read this narrative, and
must have made the authors of the fraud themselves
snide at the temporary success (for it is nu more) of
their own contrivance.
The Mervin:4v Society being one of the many esta-
blishments in this city, tile success and utility of which
must depend entirely upon the disinterestedness, ta-
leots, and ititeoltv of those who conduct its concerns,
w. hare thought it our ditty to lay this statement be-
fore die vululic at lar.,e, the munificent supporters of
the institution, in order that they may judge whether
the character of those whose conduct we have exposed
is worthy of confidence. The gentlemen whom we
Nzuv at Mr. 'l•o:ke's chambers conducted themselves in a
o :inner !scouting their station in life and general
cha.arter. The Sarni* remark may be made of all the
l':.airinert, who presided at the different meetings we
attended ; but unfortunately such men are not usually
the :most active. The real management seems to have
fallen into other hands ; and so far from evincing a
proper disposition to assist us in an investigation by
which the character of the most efficient agent in the
Society was to be elucidated, the desire en the part
of several of the managers seemed only to be to quash
the complaint. We shall just subjoin one or two in-
stances in proof of the unfairness of these individuals.
r. Bodkin having in the course of the inquiry most
• cetifidently asserted that lie had always been the per-
sou solicited to attend the ultra-loyal parties, we, in
order to show the falsehood of this assertion, pro-
vase.' to ask him whether he never volunteered his
ss, vices. One of his partisans immediately started
and bugged Mr. Bodkin would not answer the
uestiun ; though nron that answer Mr. Bodkin's,
1.-racily must stand or fall. The Treasurer bere-
t( aon ohs wee.", that Mr. Bodkin bad invited the
qacstion by his assertion, and the qnestion was accord-
b.:oy rut, when Bodkin vehemently declared that he
ti:tter had acted as a volunteer. We received his an-
swer in silence, being at that time under an engage-
PI lit ant to expose its falsehood. What will the pub-
: say when we inform them, that even so recently
a, May, when his Majesty last visited the tl e ore,
Bodkin made a direct application by letter, to be al-
lowed to join a party of " loyal: ?" This fact we
as: cow nut restrained from proving.
Among other singularities that struck us, and from
n hick the secret conaciousuess of the parties of
tt twat we are treating may be justly estimated, was
the dread which several of them entertained of pub- ,
I city. One member seemed to be absolutely horror-
a
: ruck at the idea of any of their proceedings getting
wind; though we think we have given in the course
of this week a pretty convincing specimen that they
Live no objection to the society, or its agents, being
I;:aised. Whether their fears of publicity were pru-
d •ct and well judged, will not, we think, be doubted,
tt hen one gentleman bad the simplicity to propose the
tii;sappli,..utien of the public funds to the indettinifiea-
t...ii of Bodkin flout the expenses attendiug the im-
p, a.ihnient of his conduct, and another was found
üble of seconding such a proposition.
tVe beliuve that we have now given the whole of
this transaction as accurately as possible. The pro-
ccedings from first to last occupied seven or eight
weeks, though they might have been brought to a
c.nensiun at two or three meetings at the most. We
still not indeed charge that it was intended to protect
the accused by wearing out the patience of the accu-
sers ; but we know that the conduct adopted, the re-
peated delays, adjournments, and unnecessary ob-
stac!es interposed, hail all that tendency. We were
ceitainly obliged by the politeness and attention of
dividual members: our remarks apply to the general
pr. ceedings of the body. How is it possible that they
can invest:gate the numerous cases which they profess
to investigate, undsr their present management, when
City could not despatch a clear case in less time than
we have above mentioned ? A eociety so managed may
have the effect of giving Mat to certain undeserving
agents, but must be materially altered before it can
cease to be an object of just suspicion, or can do effec-
tive service to the metropolis.
A St:escalate TO THE DlE:eutcur SocieTe.
The Subscriber to the Mendicity Society" who
makes the above statement, will attend at the office of
this paper from Monday evening till Wednesday even-
ing, in order to attest its truth, if necessary, or to give
any explanation on the subject. After that time, be
shall decline imposing on himself any further trouble.

(tItCI3I Tlll 2411 w TIMES or JULY 31.)

TO THE EDITOR OF THE NEW TIMES.
Mendl(44 Mee, Red ;Jon-square. July M. Ifel.
• Sta—Upon reading an article in The Times news-
paper of Saturday. under the head of " Imposition
practised on The 'Times," I judged 1 could not do
better than request a gentleman well acquainted with
the whole of the facts therein referred to, to favour
as with a plain statement of the circumstances as
they really occurred.