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 Ship 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?