The Trial of Charles Random de Berenger, Sir Thomas Cochrane Part 43

_Q._ There was no other person present to hear this conversation?

_A._ He was talking with a gentleman when I entered.

_Q._ This rests upon your own testimony?

_A._ We afterwards joined a party, but no person heard the conversation but ourselves, except that any person might hear me when I became vociferous.

_Q._ You quite met my approbation when you told me that you considered this as base as if he had asked you to go on the highway--how came you to propose a friend of yours after that?

_A._ It was merely for the purpose of having a witness to the offer to me, because if not, and this took place what I had said would have been of no effect had it been rendered completely abortive by this failing with me.

_Q._ Then am I to understand you thought it better to let this wickedness be practised in order that it might afterwards be proved?

_A._ I am sorry I am so misunderstood, I only wished it should not be promulgated to the world merely on my _ipse dixit_, but on the testimony of another.

_Q._ You did introduce him to your friend?

_A._ No, I did not, he would not be introduced. I had communicated to my friend the business in question before he came.

_Q._ How soon did you communicate this to the Stock Exchange?

_A._ I communicated it within ten minutes afterwards on that day.

_Q._ After the thing had been publicly known?

_A._ No, I went immediately on this application being made and promulgated it to Mr. Rothery, of the Atlas Printing-Office, in Houndsditch; I afterwards went to a house in Clement's lane, where I promulgated it to thirteen or fourteen different persons, and I made it public daily in all the companies I went into.

_Q._ Was that before this happened?

_A._ It was on the 15th I made public, not the name of M'Rae, but that such a thing had been offered to me, which I refused with indignity.

_Q._ Some of these gentlemen are here as witnesses to-day I suppose?

_A._ I did not think it necessary, but I am perfectly willing that they should be called, I have seen two of them in Court and probably they may be so now.

_Lord Ellenborough._ This is merely a meditated something if you think it worth while to pursue it you may.

_Mr. Alley._ He only says that it rests upon his testimony, that was all I wanted to know--you gave him two bits of French to a.s.sist him however?

_A._ After I had agreed to take him to another friend, in order to get him to that business, I certainly did mention the name of _Vive le Roi_--_Vive le Bourbons_.

_Q._ Would not you have thought it quite as honest and as much to your purpose to have omitted that?

_A._ You will see that that was done for the purpose I have mentioned.

_Mr. Gurney._ Was it done in order to get a conformatory witness?

_A._ It was done with that intent and that only.

_Sarah Alexander sworn._

_Examined by Mr. Bolland._

_Q._ You live at No. 61, Fetter-lane, do you not?

_A._ Yes, I do.

_Q._ How long have you lived there?

_A._ I have lived there ever since last September.

_Q._ Do you know Mr. M'Rae?

_A._ Yes.

_Q._ Did he lodge with you?

_A._ Not with me--he lodged on the same floor that I did.

_Q._ Is he a married or single man?

_A._ A married man; he had his wife with him.

_Q._ Do you recollect any thing pa.s.sing in February last, with regard to Mr. M'Rae?

_A._ Yes, on a Sat.u.r.day night.

_Q._ What Sat.u.r.day night?

_A._ The 19th of February.

_Q._ Where were you at that time?

_A._ In my own room; he came into my room and brought it and gave it to his wife.

_Q._ His wife was in your room?

_A._ Yes.

_Q._ What did he bring home and give to his wife?

_A._ A small parcel; he gave it to his wife and told her it was of value and to take care of it.

_Q._ Did he say any thing else to her?

_A._ Nothing else.

_Q._ Did you see any thing more of that parcel on that night?