rom
Dartford he desired the post boys to drive as fast as possible; they did
so for the first three miles; when they arrived at Bexley Heath, the
road being within sight of the telegraph, he spoke to the post boys, and
told them they need not drive so fast, that his business was not so
pressing, as the telegraphs could not work; they told him they were sure
they could not work, that they knew the telegraphs all along the road.
In coming up Shooter's Hill, the post boys alighted from their horses
and walked by the side of the chaise. They were naturally very desirous
to know distinctly what the news was, and one of them said, "Pray Sir,
what is the news?--Oh it is all over--Bonaparte is killed--the Cossacks
fought for a share of his body; he was literally torn to pieces by the
Cossacks,"--he said, "I landed last night within two miles of Dover, and
the French boat immediately put to sea; I went to the Ship at Dover. I
wrote a letter to Admiral Foley, in order that he might forward the news
by the telegraph; I was obliged to do that--it was my duty;" and then
still more to put them in good humour, he handed out to them some wine,
which he had brought from Dover.--He said to them, do not talk of this
news as you go along--as soon as you have parted with me you may tell
who you please; by and by he said, Pray where can I get a hackney coach?
the first stand, the boy told him, was at the Bricklayer's Arms--"No, I
will not take one there;" then the Marsh Gate--"Very well, I will get
one there". When they crossed Saint George's Fields, the post boy, who
every now and then turned round for the gratification of looking at this
generous bearer of good news, observed that he pulled up the blind, and
seemed to avoid observation. He did not know what his reason might be
for that, and it did not strike him till afterwards. They tried to get a
hackney coach at the Three Stags, they could not, and they went on to
the Marsh Gate, there they found one coach, and one coach only; Colonel
Du Bourg stepped out of the post chaise into the hackney coach. He gave
each of the boys a gold Napoleon; he drove off, and away they went, as
happy as they could be, to spread every where this very glorious news.
This you will find to have been at about nine o'clock in the morning.

Gentlemen, you may very readily suppose that very soon after ten
o'clock, this news reached the Stock Exchange; whether through the post
boys or by the expresses sent up from D