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"I am instructed by the Right Hon. the Lord Mayor to acquaint you that he is truly sorry that Mr. White should have so long delayed answering the letter you previously wrote to him, the contents of which had been communicated to his Lordship; and as it may possibly forward the design you have kindly suggested, the Lord Mayor will, if necessary, transmit a profile likeness in bronze colour, by Myers, and a most excellent three-quarter mezzotinto engraving that has recently been published for the benefit of the three unfortunate Irishmen. Should either or both of the above be likely to answer your purpose, a line directed to his Lordship, acquainting him to what agent or house in London you would wish them to be sent, that they may be forwarded to you, shall immediately be attended to.

"I remain, Sir,

"Your most humble servant,

Gro. F. Bater.

"Mansion House, 21st Jan., 1817."

"Chaplain.

At this period a Captain Mudie, who, I understood, had accompanied the army of the Duke of Wellington through Spain, called upon me to say that he intended to publish a series of medals commemorative of the late war, calling the series the "National Series;" that their number would be about 30 to 40; and as he was not a manufacturer of medals, he proposed that they should be made at my manufactory. I informed him that two things were essential for their success-a long purse, and

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A Straw Colored transparent imitation Paste, Cut in the True Brilliant Style, and supposed to be the largest and best executed known, done at the Authors Establishment.

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a refined classical taste; and unless that was proved to 1817. me, I must decline the proposal, and continue my own ideas of a more confined series which I had already commenced. He replied that his esteemed friend, Sir Charles Forbes, of Edinglaisse, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, would see him through the expense of the series and, as to the second point, he assured me that the designs would be given to him by the Baron Denon, of Paris, in whose house his daughter resided as Governess of the Baron's children. I acquiesced in his proposal in that great work, and I permitted any of my best artists, die engravers, to give him any occasional assistance, there not being more than about five or six in this country, and it would take some years to complete the dies. It was his intention to have all the reverse dies engraved at Paris, the whole of the French artists of this class being much at liberty. I doubted the policy of this mode, as the public would not think they were done by Englishmen. Captain Mudie did not see it in this light, and repaired to Paris, bringing over each die as completed, so that the series might proceed, and to be delivered as they came out. These medals are called the "National Medals of the late War." The dies cost Captain Mudie, according to the words of his petition to the House of Parliament, £10,000. He obtained a grant of land in New South Wales, where he went to reside; and I purchased the dies.

In June, in this year, a most singular and daring robbery took place in the day time at the establishment of Messrs. Rundell and Bridges, the King's jewellers, in Ludgate Hill, the whole being unique in adroitness and self-possession, and said to be unparalleled of its nature. I take the opportunity to record it here from

1817. drawings and explanations sent to me at the time by this most wealthy and respectable house, and particularly as it may be a caution to the principal jewellers in Birmingham; and also as exhibiting, by the drawings of the diamond brilliant necklace, bracelets, and ear-rings, the character and style of such a splendid suite, with the weight marked on each circle of the quantity of carats that each stone weighed. It must, however, be borne in mind, that the circles are marked in the engraving LARGE, to admit the figures to be inserted of the weights. I believe the necklace was supposed to be valued at £15,000, and the ear-rings at 8,000 guineas; the whole were brilliants.

The manner in which the robbery was committed was as follows:-A foreigner, named Simon Bloum, accompanied by his interpreter, also a foreigner, stated to Messrs. Rundell and Bridges that he required a suite of brilliants for a marriage in the family (it was reported) of the King of Sardinia, and that he was prepared to pay for the same provided they could agree about the price. At length the whole of the articles required were selected; and it was agreed, upon the proposal of Simon Bloum, that they should be placed into a small box which he had brought with him, to be sealed with the respective seals of each party, and to be left until the following morning, when Mr. Simon Bloum was to call with the funds, and take the box away. The whole being carefully (in the presence of Messrs. Rundell) put into the box, a candle was brought with wax, that the seals might be attached, Simon Bloum, on sealing the box, dropped it, from the heat of the wax, and immediately all parties stooped, with every politeness, to pick it up. During this little confusion, and exchanges of

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