Social England under the Regency, Vol. 1 (of 2)Ashton, John
History
Social England under the Regency, Vol. 1 (of 2)
Ashton, John
England -- Social life and customs -- 19th century; Regency -- England
"A very fine collection of pictures which the Commissioners had
permitted a gentleman to leave in deposit, till it would be
convenient for him to pay the duties, amounting to £1,500, were
destroyed. A very genteel young man, in appearance, was stopped by
some police officers in Thames Street, and, on searching him, his
pockets and breeches were found to be stuffed with coral beads, silk
handkerchiefs, and other valuables of small bulk. It appeared that
his boldness in venturing nearer the gunpowder than even the firemen
dared to do, had enabled him to obtain this booty."
This month is remarkable for one of the most daring attempted
frauds on the Stock Exchange ever perpetrated. It was executed by
one Charles Random de Berenger, a French refugee, and an officer in
one of the foreign regiments. It was alleged that with him were
associated Lord Cochrane, the Hon. Andrew Cochrane Johnstone, and
several others. It appears from the evidence on the trial, that early
on the morning of the 21st of February, a gentleman, dressed in a
grey great-coat over a scarlet uniform, on which was a star, knocked
at the door of the Ship Inn at Dover, and said that he was the bearer
of very important despatches from France. This gentleman, all the
Witnesses swore, was Berenger.
He sent a letter signed R. Du Bourg, Lieut.-Colonel, and Aide-de-Camp
to Lord Cathcart, to Admiral Foley, the Port Admiral at Dover,
advising him that he had just arrived from Calais with the news of a
great victory obtained by the Allies over Bonaparte, who was slain
in his flight by the Cossacks, and that the Allied Sovereigns were
in Paris. Berenger posted up to London, which he entered, having his
horses decked with laurels, in order to make a stir. It was felt
on the Stock Exchange. _Omnium_, which opened at 27-1/2, rose to
33; but as the day wore on, and no confirmation came of the news,
they receded to 28-1/2. Business in that Stock was done that day to
the tune of half a million of money. Lord Cochrane and others had
previously given instructions to several Stockbrokers to sell Omniums
for them on the 21st of February to an enormous amount. One deposed
that on that date he sold--
For Lord Cochrane, £139,000 Omnium.
" Cochrane Johnstone, £120,000 do.
For Cochrane Johnstone, £100,000 Consols.
" Mr. Butt, £124,000 Omnium.
Do. £168,000 Consols.
And he further deposed that he always considered that any business he
did for Mr. Butt was to be placed to Lord Cochrane's account.
Another Stockbroker sold for the same three gentlemen, about £565,000
Omnium. Another had sold £80,000 on their account; and yet another
had had instructions to sell a very large sum for the same parties,
but had refused.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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