pointment, the girl went to bed, and Rann, not being able to obtain admittance at the door, attempted to get in at the window on the first floor, and had nearly accomplished his purpose, when he was taken into custody by the watchman.

For this burglarious attempt he was examined at Bow Street on the 27th of July, when the girl, whose apartments he had attempted to break open, declared that he could not have had any felonious intention, as he knew that he would have been a welcome guest, and have been readily admitted, if she had not fallen asleep. On this he was dismissed, after Sir John Fielding had cautioned him to leave his dangerous profession, and seek for some more honest means of support.

On the Sunday following Rann appeared at Bagnigge Wells, dressed in a scarlet coat, tambour waistcoat, white silk stockings, laced hat, &c. and publicly declared himself to be a highwayman. Having indulged pretty freely, he became extremely quarrelsome, and several scuffles ensued, in one of which he lost a ring from his finger, and, when he discovered his loss, he said it was but a hundred guineas gone, which one evening's work would replace. He became at length so troublesome that part of the company agreed to turn him out of the house: but they met with so obstinate a resistance that they were obliged to give up their design; when a number of young fellows, possessed of more spirit than discretion, attacked this magnanimous hero, and actually forced him through the window into the road. Rann was not much injured by this severe treatment; but he complained bitterly against those who could so affront a gentleman of nis character.

Rann, being arrested for a debt of

fifty pounds, which he was unable to pay, was confined in the Marshalsea prison, where he was visited by number of men and women of ban character, some of whom paid his debt, and procured his discharge.

At another time, Rann being with two companions at an alehouse in Tottenham Court Road, two sheriff's officers arrested Rann, who, not having money to pay the debt, deposited his watch in the hands of the bailiffs, and his associates advanced three guineas, which together made more than the amount of the debt; and, as a balance was to be returned to Rann when the watch should be redeemed, he told the bailiffs that, if they would lend him five shillings, he would treat them with a crown bowl of punch. This they readily did; and, while they were drinking, Rann said to the officers, You have not treated me like a gentleman. When Sir John Fielding's people come after me they use me genteelly; they only hold up a finger, beckon me, and I follow them as quietly as a lamb.'

When the bailiffs were gone, Rann and his companions rode off; but our hero, soon returning, stopped at the turnpike, and asked if he had been wanted. No,' said the tollman. Why,' replied the other, ' I am Sixteen-string Jack, the famous highwayman-have any of Sir John Fielding's people been this way!

y?'

Yes,' said the man, some of them are but just gone through.' Rann replied, If you see them again, tell them I am gone towards London;' and then rode off with the utmost unconcern.

Soon afterwards Rann appeared at Barnet races, dressed in a most elegant sporting style, his waistcoat being blue satin, trimmed with silver, and he was followed by hundreds of people, who were eager to gratify

their curiosity by the sight of a man who had been so much the subject of public conversation.

A very short time before Rann was capitally convicted he attended a public execution at Tyburn, and, getting within the ring formed by he constables round the gallows, lesired that he might be permitted to stand there, for,' said he, 'perhaps it is very proper that I should be a spectator on this occasion'

On the 26th of September, 1774, Rann and William Collier went on the Uxbridge road, with a view to commit robberies on the highway; and on the Wednesday following they were examined at the public office in Bow Street, when Dr. William Bell, chaplain to the Princess Amelia, deposed that, between three and four o'clock in the afternoon of Monday, the 26th of September, as he was riding near Ealing, he ob served two men of rather mean appearance, who rode past him; and that he remarked they had suspicious looks; yet neither at that time, nor for some little time afterwards, had he any idea of being robbed that soon afterwards one of them, which he believed was Rann, crossed the head of his horse, and, demanding his money, said Give it to me, and take no notice, or I'll blow your brains out.' On this the doctor gave him one shilling and sixpence, which was all the silver he had, and likewise a common watch in a tortoise-shell case.

On the evening of the day on which the robbery was committed Eleanor Roche, who was kept by Rann, and her maid-servant, carried a watch to pledge with Mr. Cordy, pawnbroker, in Oxford Road, who, suspecting that it had not been honestly acquired, stopped it, and apPaed to Mr. Grignion, watchmaker, in ussell Street, Covent Garden,

who had made the watch for Dr Bell.

Mr. Clarke swore that, on going to Miss Roche's lodgings on the Monday night, he found two pair of boots wet and dirty, which had evidently been worn that day; and Mr.

Haliburton swore that he waited at Miss Roche's lodgings till Rann and Collier came thither; in consequence of which they were taken into custody.

On the 5th of October, John Rann, William Collier, Eleanor Roche, and Christian Stewart (servant to Roche), were brought to Bow Street; when Dr. Bell deposed in substance as he had done the preceding week: and William Hills, servant to the Princess Amelia, swore that he saw Rann, whom he well knew, ascend the hill at Acton about twenty minutes before the robbery was committed-a circumstance which perfectly agreed with Dr. Bell's account of the time that he was robbed.

John Raun and William Collier were therefore committed to Now. gate, to take their trials for the highway robbery; Miss Roche was sent to Clerkenwell Bridewell, and Christian Stewart, her servant, to Tothill Fields' Bridewell, to be tried as accessories after the fact.

The evidence given on this trial was, in substance, the same as that which had been given at Bow Street; but, some favorable circumstances appearing in behalf of Collier, he was recommended to mercy, and afterwards respited during the king's pleasure. Miss Roche was sentenced to be transported for fourteen years; her servant was acquitted; and Raun was left for execution.

When Raun was brought down to take his trial he was dressed in a new suit of pea-green clothes; his hat was bound round with silver

Adair; and it was even insinu. ted that she was his natural daughter: but Mr. Drummond, to whon Mr. Adair's writing was familiar, had no sooner looked at the signature than he doubted its authenticity, and very politely asked Robert Perreau if he had seen Mr. Adair sign it. The latter said he had not, but had no doubt but that it was authentic, from the nature of the connexion that subsisted.

To this Mr. Drummond replied that he could not advance such a sum without consulting his brother, and desired Perreau to leave the bond, promising to return it the next morning, or advance on it the sum required.

Mr. Perreau made no scruple to leave the boud, aud call in the morning. In the interim Mr. Drummond examined the bond with greater attention; and Mr. Stephens, secretary of the Admiralty, happeuing to call, his opinion was demanded; when, comparing the signature of the bond with letters he had lately received from Mr. Adair, he was firmly convinced that it was forged.

When Perreau came Mr. Drummond spoke more freely than he had done before, and told him that he imagined he had been imposed on; but begged that, to remove all doubt, he would go with him to Mr. Adair, and get that gentleman to acknowledge the validity of the bond; on which the money should be advanced.

Perreau made not the least objection. They went together, and Mr. Adair was asked if the bond was his. Ile declared it was not; but Perreau smiled, and said he jested.

Mr. Adair told him that it was no jesting inatter, and that it was his duty to clear up the affair. Perreau said, if that was the case, he

had been sent on a fine errand!' He desired to have the bond, and said he would make the necessary inquiries; but this was refused, and it was thought a point of prudence to watch the motions of Robert Per reau till Daniel and his pretended wife were produced.

Soon after he returned home the three parties went into a coach; and, if Mrs. Rudd's testimony may be credited, she took with her what money and valuables she could conveniently carry; and said that the brothers had taken her money, gold watch, and jewels, into their possession; but no reason was assigned for their doing so.

Their escape, however, if such was intended, was prevented; for, on information being laid against them, they were apprehended, carried before Sir John Fielding, and examined at the Guildhall, Westminster, as above related. The facts already mentioned were attested by Mr. Adair, Mr. Drummond, and other persons; and Sir Thomas Frankland charged them with obtaining from him four thousand pounds on the first application, which they honestly repaid before the money became due; afterwards five thousand pounds, and then four thousand pounds, on similar bonds, all signed with the name of Mr. Adair.

Mr. Watson, a money-scrivener, said that he had drawn eight bonds, all of them ordered by one or other of the brothers; but he hesitated to fix on either, on account of their great personal resemblance; and, being pressed to make a positive declaration, he fixed on Daniel as his employer.

Dr. Brooke charged the brothers with obtaining from him fifteen bonds of the bank of Air, each of the value of one hundred pounds, upon the security of a forged bond

for three thousand one hundred pounds.

On the strength of this evidence the brothers were committed, the one to New Prison, and the other to Clerkenwell Bridewell; and Mrs. Rudd was admitted an evidence for the crown.

On her future examination she declared that she was the daughter of a nobleman in Scotland; that, when young, she married an officer in the army, named Rudd, against the consent of her friends; that her fortune was considerable; that, on a disagreement with her husband, they resolved to part; that she made a reserve of money, jewels, and effects, to the amount of thirteen housand pounds, all of which she gave to Daniel Perreau, whom she said she loved with the tenderness of a wife; that she had three childreu by him; that he had returned her kindness in every respect till lately, when, having been unfortunate in gaming in the alley, he had become uneasy, peevish, and much altered to her; that he cruelly constrained her to sign the bond now in question, by holding a knife to her throat, and swearing that he would murder her if she did not comply; that, being struck with remorse, she had acquainted Mr. Adair with what she had done; and that she was now willing to declare every transaction with which she was acquainted, whenever she should be called upon by law so to do.'

At the sessions held at the Old Bailey in June, 1775, Robert Perreau, Esq. was indicted for forging a bond for the payment of seven thousand five hundred pounds, in the name of William Adair, Esq. and also for feloniously uttering and publishing the said bond, knowing it to be forged, with intention to defraud Robert and Henry DrumRiond, Esqrs.

After what we have mentioned above, respecting this transaction, we shall be as concise as possible in the recital of the evidence.Henry Drummond, Esq. deposed that Robert Perreau requested the loan of one thousand four hundred pounds, having made a purchase in Suffolk or Norfolk to the amount of twelve thousand pounds. He said he had a house in Harley Street, Cavendish Square, which cost four thousand pounds, the deeds of which house he would leave as a security. These he did leave, and, promising to return in ten days, the money was paid him. He came some time afterwards, and apologized for not having kept his appointment; and said he then came to borrow five thousand pounds on the bond, out of which he would pay the one thousand four hundred pounds above mentioned.

Mr. Drummond and his brother doubting the validity of the bond, Perreau said there were family connexions between him and Mr. Adair, who had money of his in his hands, for which he paid interest.

A great part of what Mr. Drummond delivered in evidence has been already given in the former part of this narrative. Mr. Drummond going with the prisoner to Mr. Adair's, Mrs. Daniel Perreau (Mrs. Rudd) was sent for, when Ro ert asked her if she had not given the bond to him. She owned that she had, took the whole on herself, and acknowledged that she had forged the bond.

The counsel for the prisoner asking Mr. Drummond if he was certain that the prisoner said it was his money that Mr. Adair paid interest for, he answered in the affirmative. He likewise declared that Mr. Perreau did not make the least objection to leaving the bond with him, nor showed any reluc