The New Hampshire Gazette

BANK BILLS.

The business of counterfeiting Bank Bills has for some time been going on swimmingly; and notwithstanding the vigilance of the civil officers and the exertions of several active citizens, the seat of mischief has long lain concealed, and the credit of the banks, and the property of individuals threatened with ruin. Some important information having been obtained during the two last weeks arrangements were made for the apprehension of the villains, and a little before sunset on Sunday evening last, the important blow was struck, which we hope will suspend, at least for a time, this new kind of Banking business.—Four men were arrested, by surprise, at the house of Mr. John Lynch, in New-Boston, in the very act of striking off the bills, and just before they had finished their Sunday's work! They had with them between fifteen and twenty thousand dollars! in bills of different descriptions, and the plates, on which they were impressed. The plates and bills were, "Beverly Bank" 30 dollars; "New-Hampshire Bank" payable in Philadelphia, 10 Dollars; Boston "Union Bank," 10 Dollars; "Essex Bank," Salem, 8 Dollars; and "Portsmouth Bank," 4 dollars. The plates were extremely well executed, and the best judges of bills have declared, they should have had no hesitancy in receiving any of them, had they been signed, and the blanks filled. Yesterday morning one other person was arrested, and brought to town, who had 80 10 dollar bills of the New-Hampshire bank, payable in Philadelphia, 40 of which were signed, and is supposed to be the person, who has been the principal hand in signing the bills. Several have been committed to jail, and others laid under heavy bonds for their appearance at the Superior court to be holden at Hopkinton the 1st Tuesday of the next month.

To provide a more suitable punishment for this crime seems to have become absolutely necessary; and we hope soon to see it exciting legislative attention.— Until this is the case, our citizens must be continually exposed to the impositions of the basest of mankind.