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58 ANNUAL REGISTER

was accordingly done, and then B. desired Mr. L. to endorse it to him, having previously made Mr. G. observe, he should have a few guineas in his pocket, after debt and costs were paid. In consequence of this hint the note was drawn for 30l. and B. gave him his note for the difference. Mr. G. now obtained his liberty, when B. desired both the gentlemen to favour him with their company to drink a bottle, and not be afraid to come and see him because they had been there before. In consequence of this civility they both called upon him to drink a friendly glass, about a fortnight after this transaction; when B. informed them the note had been returned from Ireland unpaid: however, the glass went round chearfully, but when they proposed going, Mr. B. very amicably acquainted them that he had writs against them both, and they were compelled to remain his involuntary guests for that night. The next day Mr. L. considering that it was vain to remonstrate, procured a 30l. and took up the note, after which he reminded Mr. B. that had a counter note of his for 13l. "What note," said B. in his usual manner, "I never gave you a note, you mistake." "Here, Sir, it is in your own hand-writing." "Aye, aye, let's see it." Upon which L. presenting him with it, B. tore it in pieces, still persisting in its being all a mistake.

The barbarous treatment of Mrs. G. under pretence of debt (though a married woman) should not be suppressed. She owed a small sum, for which B. was employed to arrest her, which he effectually did, and having secured her at his house in Shire-lane, as usual, he temporized, and upon her paying him five guineas, and some other douceurs in the table wat, she obtained her temporary liberty, but this was of very short date, and her second release was attended with much greater expence, besides a bond and judgment upon her household goods. In consequence of these credentials, he took possession of her furniture. In this situation, with an execution in her house, she was so affected that she lost her reason so far as to set fire to her dwelling. The fire was, however, soon extinguished, and little damage done to the effects, which were soon transplanted to Bolland's, and Mrs. G. was committed to Newgate. She was tried, convicted, and respited, upon the face of the affair appearing so uncommonly aggravating. Soon after Mr. G. came home,and in order to distress him, and prevent his commencing a prosecution for damages, B. contrived to have him arrested for a considerable sum, whereby B. gained time, by Mr. G. being unable to obtain bail.

Mr. H-y, it seems, had been privy to, if not concerned in many of these transactions; but not meeting with sufficient recompence for his pains, he commenced writer against B. and exposed many of his villainies in the pnblic papers. To revenge this attack, B. renewed a former claim upon him, being one of his prisoners at large, and seized his furniture at his chambers: but B. almost ever too cunning for himself, made some egregious mistake in this business, and a prosecution hung over his head
for

For the YEAR 1772 59

for it at the time of his execution.

Upon the demise of Mr. Mendez, the Jew broker, in Bow-street, B. was acquainted with a lady that this son of Israel supported, at the same time that he entertained another female in his own house. This acquaintance of B. thinking that she had a right to supersede her rival in the possession of her late lover's effects, proposed to Bolland to eject her, which he did very concisely, for his mirmydons broke in at the window, and carried off all the goods upon the premises, in despite of the fair inmate. This stroke is said to have been for the time worth 1500l. to B. But a certain justice in the neighbourhood, hearing of the transaction, took cognizance of it; and at the time of his apprehension for forgery, it was amongst the number of prosecutions hovering round him.

We need not be surprised at Mr. Bolland's perseverance in these knavish pursuits, as he did not even lay claim to any probity; for, whenever his integrity was called in question by any of his employers, he would reply with great coolness, "Look ye, Sir, you know I do not pretend to be honest- but, by G-d, I'll never tell you a lie." Another sentiment of this extraordinary man should not be omitted, as it carries with it an appearance of being prophetic: whenever he was asked for a toast in company, the first he gave always was, "May hemp bind those whom honour won't." We well know, from all his transactions, how little HONOUR bound him; we also know that at last hemp bound him fast.

We now approach the period when he had nearly appeared in a very conspicuous point of light as a city officer. He had, by some means, collected a sum sufficient to purchase the place of city marshall, and actually had paid the money into the office of chamberlain of the city. But his general scandalous character being reported to the court of aldermen, they interfered; and he was informed, that unless he withdrew his money, upon the very first complaint of his ill behaviour, he would not only lose his place, but the purchase-money. This hint was not thrown away upon B. and he accordingly agreed to recede from his pretensions to this place; but before he had time to withdraw his money, his creditors attached the sum of 2400l. in the chamberlain's office: this his false ambition cost him nearly all his property.

This transaction led him to the affair which proved fatal to him. He had discounted a note of fifty guineas with Mr. Jesson, who keeps a lottery-office under the piazzas, Covent-garden. This person meeting him in October last, at the George and Vulture tavern in Cornhill, enquired when B. would settle that note; whereupon B. produced a note of 100l. drawn by Bradshaw on Pritchard, which was endorsed by Bolland, when Jesson told him that his name being on the back of it, he could not negotiate it. B. then said he could take his name off, and Mr. Lilburne (a person present) took up a table knife with a design of erasing the name. When he had erased all but the letter B. Bolland said, "Don't scratch it all out, for it may disguise it, or can-
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