Henry Fauntleroy, English Banker & Forger. 1p ALS (Autograph Letter Signed) dated March 10, 1814, addressed to Mr Holl (possibly William Holl the Elder?). Letter reads:

‘My Dear Mr Holl,
Mr Griffiths has been here & wants much to see you tomorrow about eleven o’clock. He is at No 42 Conduit Street’
Signed H Fauntleroy

Google tells me a ‘Griffiths‘ was an individual or establishment associated with 42 Conduit Street, Hanover Square, London, frequently mentioned in the context of portraiture, exhibitions, and prints. Therefore, ‘Holl‘ could be William Holl the Elder who was a celebrated English engraver

PROVENANCE:

One of c.2,500+ items once from the collection or dealer stock of Winifred A Myers (Autographs) Ltd, St Martins Lane, London, evidenced by the quantity of Myers pre-printed envelopes and paper folders and the general ‘presentation’ of the items, many having Myers identification notes in pencil. 

Winifred Alice Myers (1909 – 1985) served as ABA (Antiquarian Booksellers Assoc) president, 1950-1952. See the ABA website for an extended article on Myers. Myers left her business, in 1985, to Ruth Shepherd, who traded from home until 2004.  

Henry Fauntleroy (Oct 1784 – Nov 1824) was an English banker and forger. After seven years as a clerk in the London bank of Marsh, Sibbald & Co., he was taken into partnership, and the whole business of the firm was left in his hands. In 1824, the bank suspended payment. Fauntleroy was arrested on the charge of appropriating trust funds by forging the trustees’ signatures and was committed for trial. It was freely rumoured that he had appropriated £250,000, which he had squandered in debauchery. He was tried at the Old Bailey, and, the case against him having been proved, he admitted his guilt but pleaded that he had used the misappropriated funds to pay his firm’s debts. He was found guilty and sentenced to be hanged. Seventeen merchants and bankers gave evidence as to his general integrity at the trial. After his conviction, powerful influence was brought to bear on his behalf, and his case was twice argued before judges on points of law. The efforts of his many friends were, however, unavailing, and he was hanged in November 1824. The Times estimated that 100,000 persons gathered to watch Fauntleroy be hanged

William Holl the Elder (1771 – Dec 1838) was a British engraver, who was believed to be of a German background, and a political radical.