The Trial of Charles Random de Berenger, Sir Thomas Cochrane Part 4

_A._ He wanted an express horse and a man to send to the Admiral at Deal.

_Q._ Did all this pa.s.s in the pa.s.sage, or had you proceeded further?

_A._ It pa.s.sed in the pa.s.sage.

_Q._ Did he proceed into the house?

_A._ I asked him where he came from, and he told me he was the bearer of the most important dispatches that had been brought to this country for these twenty years; I asked him where he came from; he told me from France. I asked him where he landed, he told me on the Beach, and he begged of me to get a post chaise and four for him; and then I went and called Mr. Wright of the Ship Inn; after I came down from calling Mr.

Wright, he wanted pen, ink, and paper.

_Lord Ellenborough._ He went into the Ship Inn, did he?

_A._ I shewed him into a room of the Ship Inn. As soon as Mr. Wright came down stairs, Mr. Wright gave me a sheet of paper, and pen and ink, which I carried into the room. I gave it to him, and he began to write upon it.

_Q._ You saw him write upon it?

_A._ I did. He called for a bottle of Madeira, and something to eat. I asked him whether I should call the collector of the port; I told him that it was his business to see such people when they landed; he made answer to me, that his business did not lie with the collectors; then Mr. Wright came to him, and I had no more conversation with him.

_Mr. Bolland._ You say two candles were brought to you?

_A._ Yes.

_Q._ Where were those candles placed?

_A._ On the table where he was writing, one on each side of him.

_Q._ Had you an opportunity from the situation of them of observing his person and face?

_A._ Yes, I think that is the person, (_pointing out Mr. De Berenger_.)

_Mr. Gurney._ I will thank Mr. De Berenger to stand up.

_Mr. Park._ Not unless his Lordship desires it he need not stand up.

_Lord Ellenborough._ He will make his election whether he will stand up or not.

_Mr. Park._ He is not to be shewn about like a wild beast as he has been.

_Mr. Bolland._ Who else was there?

_A._ A gentleman of the name of Gourley, and another of the name of Edis.

_Q._ Did you see another person there of the name of St. John?

_A._ I did not know him, they say there was such a person there.

_Q._ Was there another gentleman in the house?

_A._ Yes there was.

_Q._ Did you go away or remain with him?

_A._ I went to get the horses ready for him with all possible dispatch.

_Q._ Did you see him get into the chaise?

_A._ I saw him after he was in.

_Q._ Did any thing more pa.s.s in your presence?

_A._ No more than that he told the two postboys he would give them a Napoleon each.

_Q._ Did you observe how his head was dressed?

_A._ He had a German cap on with a gold fringe on it or silver; I did not pay that attention to it to say which, it had gold lace round the bottom part of it.

_Q._ Was it such a coat as that, (_shewing a grey coat to the witness_.)

_A._ Yes, such a color as that.

_Q._ And such a cap as that, (_shewing a fur cap to the witness_?)

_A._ Such a cap; but whether that was the cap I did not pay attention.

_Q._ Have you told his Lordship all that you saw and heard?

_A._ Yes.

_Q._ Did he tell you how he got to the beach?

_A._ No, he told me he landed on the beach.

_Cross-examined by Mr. Park._

_Q._ What are you to this Ship Inn, I do not quite understand?

_A._ I live opposite.

_Q._ Are you any way connected with the Ship Inn?

_A._ Not in the least.

_Q._ How came you, hearing a knocking at Mr. Wright's Ship Inn, particularly to get up?

_A._ I was up.

_Q._ What had you to do with the Ship Inn, that because a man is knocking at the Ship Inn door you light candles at your house and carry over?