Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1854-05-25
a Romantic History.

The New York Sunday Times Las most
agreeable correspondent at London, who fur
nishes to that journal vast amount Of reada-
bic matter. In his last letter there is a highly
interesting and romantic account of Lord
Cochrane, which will be read with interest
The personal vicissitudes of Lord COchranes
career have been very eventful. In the war
with Napoleon he was distinguished by his
chivalrous gallantry, which caused his being
sent to Parliament, at the general election af-
ter the death of Fox, in 1906. The city of
Westminster elected him by majority Of
I,000 votes over Sheridan. He was the
staunch friend of progress, as a legislator, and
thus gave offence to the tory ministry, who,
however, could not refuse him the reward of
his naval services, and made him Knight Of
the Bath after his defeat Of the French fleet
in the Basque Roads. A few years after, he
was degraded from this rank, in a public and
remarkable manner.
/ He was indicted and brought to trial with
nine others, in June, 1914, on charge Of cir
culating false news, to raise the price Of funds,
1t appeared that, in February, 1914, person
went from Dover to London, with news of
Bonaparte's death, and reached the stock ex-
change with his intelligence. Shortly after,
two other couriers came up and confirmed it.
The price Of stocks rose at once, and the par
ties implicated with Lord Cochrane sold out
stock TO the amount of nearly a million ster-
ling, and cleared ElG0, ,000-which covered
what they would have lost by previous specu-
lations. The only thing actually against
Lord Cochrane, was that the first messenger
from Dover had gone to Lord C.'s house, and
changed his dress. Cochrane, it should be
stated, had never bought or sold stock in Len-
don. There was a verdict of gully against
Lord G. who was sentenced to pay fine of
e 900, to be imprisoned for twelve months,
and to stand in the pillory for an hour, oppo-
site the Royal Exchange.
Every effort was made, but unsuccessfully,
to obtain new trial. When the House Of
Commons, set on to it by the tory ministry
whom he had opposed, carried motion for
his expulsion, he attended the debate, and
earnestly asserted his innocence. Ten days
after, when a new election came of for West
minister, he was reelected without opposition.
This 50 concusively showed the public opin-
ion Of his innocence, that Lord Castlereagh
remitted that part of the sentence which re-
quired him to be placed in the pillory. But
he was turned out of the navy, and at a chap
ter of the Order of the Bath, it was agreed
that he should be deprived Of his knghtly hon
ors. The king-at-arms (from the Herald's
College) removed Lord Cochrane's insignia
from his stall in Henry the Sevenths chapel,
in Westminster Abbey, and, with all due So
lemnity, kicked his banner out into the street.
Had he been present, the full degradation
would have been completed by butcher hew-
ing of his knightly spurs with such an axe or
hatchet as oxen are killed with
All this time, Lord Cochrane was in COR
fnement in the Kings Bench Prison. But
escaping thence on March 13, 1915, he went
down to Westminster, entered the House Of
Commons, and actually took the oaths as MEN,
Dor Of Parliament. The warden Of the phi ison,
with posse of police officers, recaptured him,
and he completed the full term Of his impris-
onment. The very hour he was liberated he
hastened to the House of Commons-just in
time So nearly were the forces balanced, to
defeat, by his single vote, an intended increase
of co, 900 year to the Duke Of Cumberland,
who had been very prominent in the proceed
ings against him. Thus was signally carried
out the morale Of Byrons lines
:" If we do but watch the hour,
There never yet was human power
Which could evade. if unforgiven,
The patient search ami vigil long
Of him who treasures up wrong.
The fine of Gl 900 was betrayed by means
of penny subscription among his Westmln-
ster constituents. There is now shown, III
the Bank of England, the identical thousand
mound note with which the fine was paid. 1t
hears this endorsoment-' My health having
suffered from long and close confinement, and