The Trial of Charles Random de Berenger, Sir Thomas Cochrane Part 62

_Q._ At what price did Omnium commence on the Monday following?

_A._ 26-1/2.

_Q._ That is the money price?

_A._ The money price.

_Q._ Therefore the time price was 27-1/2?

_A._ I did not take the time price.

_Q._ After this news arrived what did it get up to?

_A._ As high as 30-1/4.

_Q._ At what time was that?

_A._ That is impossible for me to say.

_Q._ How soon did it get up to 30-1/4?

_A._ I cannot say; it did rise to that by degrees.

_Q._ Did it stand at that, or rise or fall?

_A._ It fell by degrees to 30, and from that to 28.

_Lord Ellenborough._ So that the rumour had a continuing effect to the close of the day?

_A._ Yes.

_Mr. Gurney._ Did it fall back so low by one and a half as it began in the morning?

_A._ No.

_Cross-examined by Mr. Serjeant Pell._

_Q._ Do you remember at what time in the course of the day the report came to the Stock Exchange, of a chaise coming through the city?

_A._ I cannot say at what time it was.

_Q._ Then perhaps you cannot tell whether or not the Stocks rose again upon any report of that kind arriving there?

_A._ According to my recollection the Stocks rose a second time; they rose at first, then they fell, and then they rose again.

_Q._ But you cannot tell at what time that was, or to what cause it was attributable?

_A._ It was attributable to a chaise arriving.

_Q._ You remember that?

_A._ Yes.

_Q._ See whether you cannot remember how long it was after the opening of the business of the day that they so rose; might it be three hours afterwards?

_A._ It was in less than three hours, I think.

_Q._ It was less than three hours that they rose the second time you mean?

_A._ Yes; the second time.

_Q._ Have you a distinct recollection of this. Though you cannot remember the precise point of time at which it took place, have you distinct recollection that they rose at first, then fell, and then rose again.

_A._ Yes; I have a perfect recollection of that, but I cannot tell the time.

_Cross-examined by Mr. Park._

_Q._ How often in the course of the day do you take that account?

_A._ Not at any particular stated times.

_Q._ You have nothing to do with buying or selling stock, I presume.

_A._ Not on my own account.

_Q._ But you are a Stock Broker?

_A._ I am.

_Q._ Then when you are not otherwise employed you fill up that paper from time to time?

_A._ No; if I perceive there are any particular fluctuations, I then make it my business to collect the prices.

_Q._ Do you mean to represent that the Stocks had not risen from what they ended at on Sat.u.r.day before any news came to the Stock Exchange; had not they risen considerably that morning?

_A._ I think not, because if I recollect, there were reports in the morning that news had arrived.

_Q._ We have heard from some gentlemen that they sold stock as soon as the Stock Exchange opened; now I ask whether stock had not been sold at a rise before the news arrived?

_A._ Yes.

_Mr. Gurney._ But you say before the market opened there were some reports of a Messenger having arrived?

_A._ Yes.