19 FEBRUARY 1916, Page 15

FORGED NOTES IN WAR.

[TO'THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR."' SIR,—Your correspondent " E. S. J. M." asserts .it to be an " absurd accusation " and an " exploded calumny " to say that, in our war with the French a century .ago, our Govern- ment tried to shake the financial stability of Franoe by dis- seminating forgeries of her paper currency. Probably he will write less positively on this subject if he-refers to-Espinasse's Reports (I., 388). There he will find the ease of " Strongitharm v. Lukyn," decided in 1795. That aotion was brought upon a promissory-note given to an engraver for making copperplates for forging French assignats, which he was told would be used by the Duke of York's army. Lord Kenyon, the presiding Judge, declined to decide the question ".whether the issuing of these notes, for the purpose of distressing the enemy, is lawful in carrying on war."—I am, Sir, &c.,