Gazette Of The United States And Daily Evening Advertiser

LONDON, Aug 1.

To the CONDUCTOR of the TIMES,

SIR,

I have long noticed with a mixture of indignation and surprise the too general and glaring instances of imposition practiced by a set of harpies, who take houses or parts of houses and set up as Auctioneers, for the purpose only of imposing on the credulous. These practices are well known by most of the inhabitants of London and Westminster under the name of sham auctions. It is unnecessary to point out to you the number of those who have been dupes to these frauds. My sole object is to apprise the unwary, of a practice which loudly calls for a check.

I have been into these houses for half a minute together, and have immediately been called on to bid, or leave the room. Generally six or seven persons procured for the purpose, attend these auctions, and alternately bid for the article put up; if an accidental passenger steps in, the article is presently run up to a great price, and the cry of bid, bid, from the auctioneer, perhaps draws a nod from the stranger, who is persuaded the bargain is good, from the number of advances in the bidding, and it is knocked down to him generally at triple its value. If he threatens to seek redress after paying his money, it is not to be had,for the auctioneer is gone the next day, and his place supplied by another.

I am Your's, &c.

PERAMBULATOR.

July 26, 1794.

Quere, Is our Country free from this species of Fraud?