The Trial of Charles Random de Berenger, Sir Thomas Cochrane Part 27

_A._ Not that I heard.

_Q._ When he came to Bexley Heath what did he say to you?

_A._ He told me not to hurry my horses, for his business was not so particular now, since the telegraph could not work he thought.

_Q._ Were you in sight of a telegraph then?

_A._ No.

_Q._ What sort of a morning was it?

_A._ Rather a thick morning; very frosty.

_Lord Ellenborough._ Did it appear to you to be so thick a morning that the telegraphs could not work?

_A._ It did.

_Mr. Adolphus._ What did you say to him?

_A._ I told him I thought the telegraphs could not work, for I knew almost every telegraph between Deal and London. He then said, Post-boy, don't take any notice of the news as you go along; I told him I would not unless he wished; he said I might tell any of my friends as I returned, for he dar'st to say they would be glad to hear it. He then said that he had sent a letter to the Port-Admiral at Deal, for he was ordered to do so, or he was obliged to do so, I will not be certain which.

_Lord Ellenborough._ You are sure he said so?

_A._ I am sure he said so. He said that he had to walk two miles after he came ash.o.r.e before he got to the s.h.i.+p at Dover. He said the Frenchmen were afraid of coming so near to Dover, for fear of being stopped, the Frenchmen that brought him; then we drove on till we came to Shooter's Hill.

_Mr. Adolphus._ Did he tell you why he had sent to the Port-Admiral at Deal?

_A._ To have the telegraphs worked, that he said was the reason.

_Q._ Did any thing further pa.s.s between you at the time?

_A._ Not any thing that I recollect.

_Q._ Had you any subsequent conversation at any other part of the stage?

_A._ Not till I got to Shooter's Hill; when I came there I alighted from my horse, and so did my fellow-servant; the gentleman then looked out of the window, and gave us part of a bottle of wine; he said we might drink that, because he was afraid the bottle should break, and some cakes with it.

_Q._ What sort of cakes?

_A._ Little round cakes; I chucked the bottle away, and handed the gla.s.s again into the chaise; he told me I might keep it, that I might have it.

He then said, "Post-boy, you have had a great deal of snow here, I understand?" I said, "Yes, Sir, we have." He then said, "Here is a delightful morning, post-boy; I have not seen old England a long while before." Then he asked me, "which was the first hackney coach stand?" I told him, at the Bricklayer's Arms, was the first.

_Q._ Did he say why he asked that question?

_A._ Not a word; he said that would not do, for that was too public; he was afraid some body would cast some reflections, and he should not like that. I told him, I did not think any body would do that, that they would be so glad to hear of the news. Then he asked me, if there was not a hackney coach stand in Lambeth Road? I told him yes. Then he said, "Drive me there, post-boy, for your chaise will go faster than a hackney coach will, and so you may drive me there." I drove him to the Lambeth Road, and when I came there, there was no coach on the stand.

_Q._ Where about is the Lambeth Road?

_A._ I went from the Dog and Duck by the Asylum; this coach-stand was at the Three Stags, there was no hackney coach there. I ordered my fellow-servant to stop, and I looked round and told the gentleman there was no hackney coach there; but that there was a coach-stand at the Marsh Gate, and if he liked to get in there, I dared to say n.o.body would take any notice of him--I drove him up along side of a coach.

_Q._ Did he do any thing upon that?

_A._ I think he pulled up the side-blind as I came round the corner.

_Q._ Was the side-blind up?

_A._ Yes, it was up when I came there; I saw it up, but I did not see when he pulled it up.

_Lord Ellenborough._ Having been down before, it was up when you got there?

_A._ Yes, when I got there I pulled up alongside of a hackney coach.

_Mr. Adolphus._ How many hackney coaches were there?

_A._ Only one; I called the coachman, and the waterman opened the coach door, and I opened the chaise door.

_Q._ Did the gentleman go into the coach?

_A._ Yes, he did.

_Q._ How?

_A._ He stepped off my step on to that, for he stepped on the body of the coach, or on the step of the coach; I cannot say he never stepped on the ground, the coach and the chaise were too nigh together.

_Q._ Did he make you any present for your trouble?

_A._ He then held his hand down, and gave me two Napoleons; I have them here now; he did not say one was for my fellow-servant and the other for myself, but I supposed it was so (the witness produced the Napoleons.)

_Q._ Did you hear him tell the coachman where to drive to?

_A._ I did not.

_Q._ Do you know the name of the coachman or the waterman?

_A._ Yes, I do.

_Q._ What is the name of the coachman?

_A._ Crane.

_Q._ Do you know the waterman's name?

_A._ I am not rightly sure; I think they call him Bob. I know his person very well.

_Q._ How was this gentleman dressed, that you drove to town?

_A._ He was dressed with a dark fur cap--a round cap, and with white lace, of some sort, round it; whether it was gold or silver, I cannot say; he had a red coat on underneath his outer coat.

_Q._ What sort of a coat was his outer coat?