1779.
on the ſame 4th day of February, in the year aforeſaid, at the city of Philadelphia, in the county aforeſaid, having in his cuſtody and poſſeſſion a certain bill of parcels or account, with a certificate and receipt, all in writing, for a parcel or quantity of flannel cloth, by him purchaſed of one Margaret Duncan, for the uſe of the Laboratory of the ſame armies, and which ſaid writing was in the words, figures, cyphers and letters following; that iſ to ſay:
United States of America
To Margaret Duncan Dr. 1778, Feb. 4th To 57 & a qr, yard Flannel 32ſ6d £ 83 5 7 To 9 yds Do. 35ſ 15 15 0 To 107 & 3 qr. yds Do. 52ſ6 282 16 10 381 17 5 I do certify that the above was purchaſed and delivered to me for the uſe of the Laboratory at Carliſle.
Iſaac Coran, Captain of the Artillery.
and on the back ſide of which ſaid writing is indorſed and written the words following; that iſ to ſay: Received the within contents in full Margaret Duncan: He the ſaid Cornelius Sweers aſterwards, to wit, on the ſame day and year aforeſaid, at Philadelphia aforeſaid, in the country aforeſaid, with force and arms, the ſaid bill of parcels or writing, falſely, fraudulently, and deceitfully, did alter, and cauſe to be altered, by falſely making, forging and adding the figure 4 to and before the figure 9, in the ſecond item of the ſaid bill of parcels or writing, which figures and letters did, before ſuch laſt mentioned forgery, import and ſignify nine yards, but by reaſon and means of ſuch laſt mentioned forgery and addition, did become, import, and ſignify forty nine yards; and alſo by forging and altering the figure 1, in the ſum of the ſaid ſecond item in the bill of parcels or writing aforesaid, to the figure 8; which figures did, before ſuch laſt mentioned alteration and forgery, import and ſignify fifteen pounds, and fifteen ſhillings, but, by reaſon and means of ſuch laſt mentioned alteration and forgery, did become, import and ſignify eighty five pounds and fifteen ſhillings; and alſo by falſely forging and altering the figure 3 to the figure 4, and the figure 8 to the figure 5, in the ſum total or amount of the ſaid bill of parcels or writing; which figures did, before ſuch laſt mentioned forgery and alteration, import and ſignify three hundred and eighty one pounds, ſeventeen ſhillings and five peace, but, by reaſon and means of ſuch laſt mentioned forgery and alteration, did become, import and ſignify four hundred and fifty one pounds, ſeventeen ſhillings and five pence, with intention to defraud the United States of America aforeſaid, of ſeventy pounds, of lawful money of Pennſylvania, to the evil example of all others, in like caſe offending, to the great damage of the ſaid United States, and againſt the peace and dignity of the Commonwealth of Pennſylvania.”
The
