32 MR. TUCK'S FILE OF LETTERS. 



Addressed to 



"Rufus G. Amory, Esq., 

 or William Sullivan, Esq., 



Boston." 



Amherst, March 29, 1805. 

 GENT*: 



I have this day received from Geo. Woodward Esq of Haverhill, N. 

 H. (an agent of y e N. H. Bank whom I have occasionally mentioned 

 to you) a letter, enclosing the correspondence of Lewis Lyman of 

 Montreal to him on the subject of counterfeit bills. He writes, " In 

 consequence of my representation the Governor of this Province 

 called a privy council : present ye Attr General & Chief Justice the 

 latter Gentleman gave it his opinion that the criminal laws of the 

 Realm would effectually take cognizance of any person having coun- 

 terfeit bills in possession or materials and implements for their man- 

 ufacture, & the Atty Gen 1 , M r Sewall, was directed to make every 

 inquiry into the business & prosecute every offender in this province." 



He observes that "from the frequency of counterfeit bills offered 

 from Stanstead" 1 (the residence of y e celebrated Stephen Burroughs & 

 colleagues) it is more than probable that " a search warrant will be 

 granted to that place" and adds "If you are in possession of any 

 information on the subject you will be doing a service by communi- 

 cating the same. Bailiffs in this county are some of the lower class 

 of people, & the apprehension of these fellows might be a little dan- 

 gerous & it would be necessary, to ensure the faithful performance of 

 their duty, to give them a douceur; it will be also attended with a 

 good deal of trouble & expence, to prove y e Bills to be counterfeit, 

 which no individual is willing to pay. A few weeks since a man from 

 Stanstead offered me several Bills, one of $20, U. S. Bank, payable in 

 Philadelphia; one of $5 D N. Y. Branch Bank, and one d d d, 

 Boston Branch Bank, & I have one now in possession of the latter de- 

 scription which he passed in this city ; the counterfeiters, believing 

 themselves secure, are off their guard, & now is the time to make a gen- 

 eral sweep with them. You will see I am still warm in the cause of 

 detection, altho' I have been treated with such neglect by those who 

 are more interested than myself; Yours &c. Lewis Lyman." 



M r Woodward writes that not less than 20 counterfeit bills have 

 been offered at their (Coos) Bank within 60 days past. He is Cashier 

 of that Bank, & adds his persuasion that the principal part of the 

 Banks (meaning, I presume, in this State) will contribute their propor- 

 tion of the expence. M r Woodward has been vigilant in his agency in 



1 A little Canadian village, near Hock Island, just over the Vermont border. 



