The Trial of Charles Random de Berenger, Sir Thomas Cochrane Part 23

_Q._ What sort of a person was it that came in the chaise?

_A._ It was a tall person rather thin than otherwise.

_Q._ Dressed how?

_A._ He was dressed in a pepper and salt great coat, with a scarlet coat under it, a Military scarlet coat; the upper coat was nearer the color of that coat I think than any thing I could state, (_pointing to the coat before produced_), the scarlet Military coat he had under that was very much trimmed with gold lace, it appeared by the candle light to be gold lace trimmed down the front; he had on also a cap, a Military cap with a broad gold lace round it--a band.

_Q._ What was the cap apparently made of?

_A._ The cap appeared to me to be made of cloth; I am not certain whether it was of cloth or fur, but it appeared to be nearly of the color of the great coat.

_Q._ Was there any thing particular about his Military coat?

_A._ On the Military coat was a star, and something suspended either from the neck or the b.u.t.ton, I do not know which, something which he told me was some honor of a Military order of Russia.

_Q._ Was that thing at all like this? (_shewing the star to the witness._)

_A._ Yes, it had very much the appearance of that sort of thing.

_Q._ Did the person stay any time at your house?

_A._ I should suppose I was in conversation with him about ten minutes in the parlour.

_Lord Ellenborough._ At what time in the morning was this?

_A._ The time the chaise drove into the yard I suppose was about half-past 5 o'clock; it was not earlier than that, and I suppose very little later.

_Mr. Adolphus._ What were you and he doing during these ten minutes?

_A._ I was getting some chicken for him, and cutting that chicken up and some round of beef.

_Q._ In what room were you?

_A._ In our bar parlour; I took him there, the house not being open, that being warmer than the rest of the rooms.

_Q._ What pa.s.sed in that conversation you had with him?

_A._ I was first of all called up by a post-boy of my brother's at Dover, he told me he was to go forward with some letter to London, and that there was a Messenger.

_Q._ You must not state what pa.s.sed with your brother's boy, but in consequence of what that boy told you what did you say to the gentleman?

_A._ I went into the yard and found the gentleman looking out at the front window of the chaise and he said he was very hungry, and could he have any thing to eat, for he had had nothing since he left Calais; I told him that he could get any thing he pleased, and should I bring him any thing by way of a sandwich, as I supposed he would not get out of the chaise, he said he would get out, and he did get out, and I took him into our bar parlour; when he got there I said "I am led to suppose you are the bearer of some very good news for this Country," he said he was, that the business was all done, that the thing was settled. I asked him if I might be allowed to ask him, what was the nature of his dispatches, and he said "he is dead!" I said "who do you mean Sir?" He said "The Tyrant Bonaparte!" or words to that effect; I believe those were the exact words. I said "is that really true Sir?" Upon that observation he said, "if you doubt my word you had better not ask me any more questions." I then made an apology for presuming to doubt his word, and requested he would be kind enough to say, as the Country was very anxious, and our town in particular, what were the dispatches; he then went on that there had been a very general battle between the French and the whole of the Allied Powers, commanded by Schwartzenberg in person; that the French had been completely defeated and Bonaparte had fled for safety. That he had been overtaken at a village, to the best of my recollection he said it was Rushaw, six leagues from Paris, by the Cossacks, to the best of my recollection that was the name of the place and the distance. That the Cossacks had there come up with him, and that they had literally torn him into pieces. That he had come from the field of battle from the Emperor Alexander himself; that he either was an Aid-de-Camp of the Emperor or of one of his princ.i.p.al Generals he told me, but which I am not able to say, but one I know he told me was the case, that the Allies were invited by the Parisians to Paris, and the Bourbons to the throne of France, that was pretty well all the conversation that pa.s.sed. He eat very little, if he did any thing, he said he was very cold; I asked him if he would take any brandy, he said no he would not, for he had some wine in the carriage. He enquired what he had to pay, I told him what he had had had been in so uncomfortable a manner, that I should not wish to take any thing for what he had had. He did not accept of that, he threw down a Napoleon on the table and desired me to take that for what he had himself taken, and to give the servants something out of it; he meant the whole of the servants, for when he got into the chaise the ostler asked him for something, and he said he had left something with his master.

_Q._ Did he go away in the chaise that brought him, or in another chaise?

_A._ In the same chaise.

_Q._ With four horses?

_A._ Yes, with four horses.

_Q._ What were the names of the lads that drove him?

_A._ James Overy and Thomas Todd, I believe were the boys. I am not quite positive as to the names of the boys.

_Q._ Should you know the person again that you saw that morning if you were to see him?

_A._ I think I should, he was very much disguised at that time.

_Q._ Look about, and tell me whether you see him any where?

_A._ I do not immediately see any face that I should know again, that I at this moment recollect.

_Q._ Look with care round about?

_A._ That is the gentleman, (_pointing to De Berenger_.)

_Q._ Do you believe that to be the person?

_A._ Yes, I do think that is the person--really when I see the face it is the same.

_Q._ Looking again, have you any doubt of it?

_A._ I think I can swear that is the gentleman. I have no doubt of it--that certainly is the gentleman.

_Cross Examined by Mr. Richardson._

_Q._ Had you ever seen the gentleman before?

_A._ No.

_Q._ Nor since?

_A._ No not till to-day, not to my knowledge.

_Q._ The first thing he said was that he was very hungry; and you went to get him something to eat?

_A._ Yes; and he got out of the chaise, and I got him something. We crossed the yard together.

_Q._ During all the time you were with him he was getting something to eat?

_A._ No; he was sitting in the room part of the time.

_Q._ You were busy getting him something at the time?

_A._ He was standing while I was getting it, and then he sat down; I staid to wait upon him.