ive
les Bourbons_;--which in the expectation of his attending to this young
man, (this was in the Jamaica Coffee-house) I gave him.

_Q._ Did you give him any other?

_A._ None other to my knowledge.

_Q._ Was that the letter you received from M'Rae? (_shewing a letter to
the witness._)

_A._ That is it.

_Q._ Is that M'Rae's writing?

_A._ It is.

(_The Letter was read as follows:_)

_February 14, 1814._

Mr. Vinn,

Please to meet me at the Carolina Coffee-house, Birchin-lane,
about eleven to-morrow, upon very particular interesting
business.

Yours, very respectfully,
ALEXANDER M'RAE.

_Cross-examined by Mr. Alley._

_Q._ As I have not the pleasure of knowing you, what is your business?

_A._ I am an accountant.

_Q._ Have you been acquainted for any length of time with Mr. M'Rae?

_A._ I believe five years and a half, or nearly six years.

_Q._ Have you been concerned in any business in the Stock Exchange?

_A._ No.

_Q._ You were not in the habit of buying and selling as a Broker?

_A._ No.

_Q._ It was an odd thing that Mr. M'Rae should resort to you in such a
base transaction, you being in the business of an Accountant?

_A._ I have been in business and have been unfortunate, and since have
been an Accountant.

_Q._ Not to lose your character I take for granted?

_A._ I hope not.

_Q._ There was no other person present to hear this conversation?

_A._ He was talking with a gentleman when I entered.

_Q._ This rests upon your own testimony?

_A._ We afterwards joined a party, but no person heard the conversation
but ourselves, except that any person might hear me when I became
vociferous.

_Q._ You quite met my approbation when you told me that you considered
this as base as if he had asked you to go on the highway--how came you
to propose a friend of yours after that?

_A._ It was merely for the purpose of having a witness to the offer to
me, because if not, and this took place what I had said would have been
of no effect had it been rendered completely abortive by this failing
with me.

_Q._ Then am I to understand you thought it better to let this
wickedness be practised in order that it might afterwards be proved?

_A._ I am sorry I am so misunderstood, I only wished it should not be
promulgated to the world merely on my _ipse dixit_, but on the testimony
of another.

_Q._ You did