§ Look at that signature (R. B. Sheridan); it appeals to be blotted, does, not it? Yes.—Were you present when that blotting took place? I do not know.—When first that letter was delivered to you, was there any blotting on the name of R. B. Sheridan? I cannot say whether there was or not.—Was there any blotting upon the name there, after you came to town? That I cannot answer. When I was served with a warrant I took and locked it in a trunk of mine in the same piece of paper it is in now, and I took it and kept it at home, and never had it out of doors since.—Do you mean to say you cannot tell whether that blot on the name of R. B. Sheridan took place before or after you 53 came to town? I do mean to say so, do not know.—Do you mean to say that blot did not arise from ink thrown upon it by Mr. S. in your presence? I cannot say that, because I know nothing at all about it.—Did not you deliver that letter after you came to town into the hands of Mr. S.? Not our of my sight.—Did you deliver it into his hands? I let him have it into his hand, and take out a copy of it.—Was there an ink-stand near, when he had it? It was in my sight, and if any person had touched it I should have seen it; I saw no person touch it.—Will you venture to swear, that at the time you delivered it to Mr. S. the blot was on his name? I cannot say any thing about that, for I took no notice of it.—Had not you been in the habit of using that letter day by day at Portsmouth, for above 2 ,months before you came to town? No.—Where were you when you Were served with the Speaker's summons to attend before the committee? In Mr. Boswell's house at Gosport.—You have stated that Mr. Boswell asked you if you wanted money? Yes.—What did he ask you if you wanted money for? I do not know; he asked me if I would let him have the letter for 24 hours, that he would give me bank-security if I would, 10 or 20l. That I can bring proof of by respectable persons, Mr. Joseph of Gosport.—Was the bank-security for the return of the letter, or for his not keeping it beyond the 24 hours? I would not let him have it on any conditions.—What did he offer you bank-security for? For returning the letter.—You have stated the names of different persons whose letters you have seen used? I have not seen them; I have heard of their being used.—You have stated that you went to the magistrate voluntarily to give your evidence; at whose desire did you go? My own, because I wanted to have it advertised in the paper; I was not satisfied with having a forgery in my possession.—When was that? I have marked the date upon the letter, it is the 9th of Feb.—The letter, I think, you stated to be dated the 3d of Nov.? Yes.—When did you first discover it was a forgery, and think it necessary to go and make your complaint to the magistrate? When I was told of it.—When was that? When I applied to Mr. S.—When did you first apply to Mr. S.? When I first came to town, the 5th Feb. that night.—Had you not been using that letter for the purpose of selling your slops, till you saw Mr. S. on the 5th Feb. at night? I had not, because I locked it up, and would 54 not make any use of it, after I was served with the Speaker's, warrant. I had been in the habit of delivering letters into men of war, where they have taken them, and torn them, and thrown them overboard, and I was afraid of their serving this letter the same.—When were you served with the Speaker's warrant? The 12th Jan. is the date here; I cannot exactly state whether that was the day.—I believe it was the 20th? It might be.—Did you ever suggest to Mr. S. any doubt of the signature till you had been served with the Speaker's warrant? I never applied to Mr. S. till the 5th of Feb. and then he told me so; and I said it was better to advertise Mr. Drake if I could not find him.—How came you not to apply to Mr. S. if you thought this a forgery, till you were served with the Speaker's warrant? I did not think it was a forgery till the 5th of Feb.—Who told you so then? Mr. S.—How came you to go to Mr. S. to ask him about it? Because I was served with the Speaker's warrant; and these people applying to me for the letter, I went and asked him whether I might give it up or not.—When Mr. Boswell served you with the Speaker's ,warrant, did he not tell you that you were to be called to support the petition of Mr. Paull? He told me I was to apply to the house of commons on the 24th of Feb.; and he asked me if I had not a letter in my possession, signed by R. B. Sheridan, Treasurer of the Navy, I said, yes; and he said, would I let him look at it? I Said, I had no objection. He asked whether I would let him take a copy, and I did.—Did not you know, from Mr. Boswell, that it was on the behalf of Mr. Paull that you were summoned? Yes.—How came you to go to Mr. S.? Because, several times they applied to me for the letter, and that was the only reason I went to Mr. S. I live at Portsea, and Mr. Boswell at Gosport; and every now and then they sent over to me, and asked me for the letter. I did not think it proper to give it them; I told them I should go up to town, and have advice upon it: I would not act upon my own opinion.—When were those applications first made to you by those persons? Several times after I was served with the precept.