Papers of John Adams, volume 19
I think it requisite to inform you that we have in our town Mr. Waller Mowbray, a printer, in rather a confined way of business, but of fair & honest character, to the utmost of my knowledge. An unknown person applied to him abt. two days ago for his assistance to work off some counterfit notes of several of the American States, and put into his hands extreme well-executed box blocks, & other materials for that purpose. Mowbray apparently, but reluctantly & in part only, consented, & gave information of this to Mr. Goldstone an eminent surgeon, and to Willm. Carter Esq a justice of the Peace here,2 with whom I have the honour of an intimacy, and who advised the sending off an express to your Excellency on this occasion. I proposed writing by this evenings post, but as the unknown person is to come for some notes on Sunday noon, Mr. Carter earnestly recommended the express. Mr. Mowbray incloses a letter giving a better account of this matter than I could on so short notice. Mr. Carter says he shall detain the man if he comes for his notes, before your answer arrives, but wishes for it as speedily as is convenient. Mr. Carter apprehends that it will rest with your Excellency to procure for him power to act, any farther than mere detention.—
Your Excellencys reply may be directed either to William Carter Esq or to me, in Portsmouth—
You will, sir, be a better judge how far this matter deserves your attention than we can possibly be.3 If there are any particulars of information, which I can obtain for you, You may, sir, most freely command your most obliged / and humble Servant
RC (Adams Papers); internal address: “To His Excellency John Adams Esqr &c. &c. &c.”
Rev. Thomas Wren (1725–1787), a dissenting minister in Portsmouth, England, had assisted American sailors held in Forton Prison and received an honorary degree from Princeton College in 1783 (
AFC
, 4:201).
William Carter (d. 1798) was the brother of Sir John Carter (1745–1808), former mayor of Portsmouth (Richard J. Murrell and Robert East, Extracts from Records in the Possession of the Municipal Corporation of the Borough of Portsmouth; and from Other Documents Relating thereto, Portsmouth, Eng., 1884, p. 374; Sheldon S. Cohen, British Supporters of the American Revolution 1775–1783: The Role of the ‘Middling-Level’ Activists, Rochester, N.Y., 2004, p. 67).
For JA’s representations to the British government regarding the counterfeiting scheme, see his 21 April 1787 reply to Wren and his 30 April letter to John Jay, both below.
r.Sir—
r.sq
r.
st.1787
Your Letter of Yesterday 2 °Clock by express was delivered to me this morning— I waited on the secretary of State, at eleven & communicated the Papers to Mr. Fraser—Lord Carmarthen not being there— Mr. Fraser was desirous of doing whatever could be legally done, to detect & punish such infamous Practices, Mr. Mowbray’s Letter & his whole conduct on this occasion does him honor— They shew him to be a man of honor & integrity as well as sense & Prudence, Mr. Fraser advised me to consult with Sir sampson Wright—1 I went to his office but he was not at home & I shall see him this evening— The Worthy Justice of the Peace Mr. Carter I hope will detain the Box blocks & other materials as well as the Bills struck off if there are any—
it is of importance if possible to discover, who is the Rogue & who are his accomplices, If any evidence appears of his passing any Bills counterfieted he might be prosecuted as a criminal— But without that I am afraid, nothing further can be done than detain the Tools & Bills— whatever expences is incurred or may be incurred by you in this Business, I will pay in behalf of the United states—
with great esteem &c
LbC in WSS’s hand (Adams Papers); internal address: “The Rev’d. Dr. Thos. Wren / Portsmouth”; APM Reel 113.
William Fraser, British undersecretary of state, recommended to JA that he meet with Sir Sampson Wright, chief magistrate of London’s Bow Street Magistrates Court since 1782 (vol. 18:231;
AFC
, 8:37).