his acknowledgments, and assuring him of liberal
dealing, the several items of the borrowed plate were examined and
dilated upon, the price of each article, after much higgling, was
ultimately fixed, the sum total ascertained, and an early clay appointed
for a final settlement of the accompt. It never was the intention of the
borrower to return the plate, but he now had achieved a great object,
by entirely changing the whole complexion of the business; he had now
converted fraud into debt, and happen what might, the silversmith could
only sue him on a civil process, which against a limb of the law, and
as such, privileged from arrest, must be tedious and uncertain, whereas,
had he made away with the plate, without accomplishing the object of
this last manouvre, (such is the indiscriminating severity of English
law,) that he might have been amenable to the punishment of felony!

"Now comes the reckoning when the banquet's o'er! the parties met
for final settlement, when behold! the accepted purchaser offers the
silversmith a bill at a month; he refuses it indignantly, and consults
his solicitor as to the possibility of compelling the restoration of the
plate; but the lawyer told him, that on his own shewing this could not
be done. The silversmith had now no other resource than that of taking
the ~188~~ proposed bill, and waiting the expiration of the month, for
payment. In the meanwhile, the debtor exhibiting the talent of an able
conveyancer, transmuted the silver into gold, and now laughs at the
credulity of London tradesmen, and sets the silversmith at defiance!"{1}

1 This incident, as related by Dash all, actually and very
recently occurred.

An interesting and useful volume might be compiled on the
subject of frauds practised on London tradesmen. Many of
these tricks have been highly characteristic of ingenuity.
The following is a ludicrous instance of female stratagem.
We give the article literally, as it occurred.

A few days ago, a female, apparently a person of rank,
visited in her carriage, towards the evening, a Silk
Mercer's Shop, westward of Temple Bar, where she made
choice, for purchase, of silks and other rich articles of
feminine dress and decoration, to the value of above fifty
pounds. Her manner was that of a perfectly well-bred
gentlewoman, and her person displayed no small portion of
attractive and elegant accomplishme