The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-09-20

RRoGREss BANK NOTE FoRGERY.-We have
without exception, the best bank-note engraving in
the world, and we have also more counterfeit bank
notes than any other country with paper eurren-
ey. Theingenuity of our engravers is taxed and
tasked to produce bank-notes which the counterfeit
cannot initiate and yet forgeries are exceedingly
flush. For example, as we learn from Peterson s
Counterfeit Deector of yesterday, many as fifty
eight new counterfets have been put into circula-
tiOn within the last fortnight. There is not single
imitation of a bank in this state this city in this
tremendous list
The Bank of England notes. which are now very
rarely initiated are distinguished in their eXecu-
tion by the utmost simplicity of design and work
Had the bank directors belonged to the Society of
Friends, by whom vain adornment is repudated,
they could scarcely have agreed upon more sim
ple and plain bank note. Yet, with all this sim
plicity and plainness, a forgery of it is seldom
made, and, when made, is readily detected. The
protection lies in the simplicity. Instead of being
covered with many and beautiful decorations and
drawings, including gems oflandscape by Darey
or portraits of individuals, "reminiscences of the
Grecian mythology, the note of the Bank of Eng
land is little more than promise to pay duly dated
and numbered, with signature of cashier, or one of
his assistants the right sde and the signature of
an entering clerk on the left. The chief popularity
Is different ink employed on the mechanical num-
bering of each note, and Mathematical exactness
and harmony ON the whole engraving; There are
o few secret marks-five in all-consisting of
dots placed with apparent carelessness on
and other initiated persons can Immediately
ascertain. We shall be happy to point them out
20 the possessor of Bank of England note who
VIII present us with the same in payment for the
lesson Above all, the paper, with its peculiar
Water-m mark, IS difficult to be made. To initiate it
Moutu pc as teonious as to forge the handwritings
on the note itself This paper Is ade by process
known only to few confidential persons in the
bank, ana even We're the mystery laid open, would
require such costly plan of intricate machinery
that persons possessed of the pecuniarv means 10
establish it for this purpose would be 70 far aho3e
the usual inducements to crime that tbav wonid
scarcely be induced to the risk. This noner
possesses such remarkable toughness that If Rant
of England note be twisted, with a weight of two
hundred and twenty-four pounds suspended to it.
the twist will sustain it without yielding or break
Ing.
1t appears utterly improbable that counterfeiting
cannot be prevented here as it is in London and
Paris. Suppose that some bank should try the ex-
pertinent OF Issuing notes, the very perfection of
cunning art employed to produce the most beauti.
full simplicity OF design and execution Philadel
phia Press September l6.
Daniel McClarin, of Chesterfield county, Va,
has commenced suit against the Petersburg Press
for $5, 900 damages, for having published an item
derogatory to the character Of his wife.