These two men were in a high state of exultation. The consultations held upon their case had led to the conclusion that they could not legally be punished, and there was no alternative but to set them at liberty. It was not to be expected that under the circumstances they would let slip the opportunity of making capital out of their arrest, and they promptly commenced an action for false imprisonment against the Secretary of the Post-Office, laying the damages at the modest sum of £5000 each. In order to obtain the funds necessary for the preliminary steps in the matter they issued an appeal at Falmouth. It was headed, “To the Friends and Advocates of Justice,” and described in feeling terms the sufferings endured by the delegates during their confinement of three days “in a dreadful gaol, having nothing to make use of, not even straw to lie on.” It does not appear what response this appeal met with.
The mayor and his companions passed many days in London, and at last returned to Cornwall without having obtained any pledge concerning the return of the Packets to Falmouth. In fact, a strong effort was made at this time by persons interested in the port of Fowey to persuade the Post-Office that that harbour was better suited for a Packet station than Falmouth. There was never any great prospect that this contention would prevail, but it deserved consideration, and it was thought desirable to have a full report upon Fowey made by a competent engineer.
That report when received was unfavourable, and by the end of the year there was no longer any doubt in the minds of the Government that no harbour existed which combined so many advantages for the purposes of a Packet station as Falmouth. It was not thought, however, that the town had been sufficiently punished, and only at the end of January, 1811, did the Treasury sanction the return of the Packets. Long before that time the action threatened by Pascoe and Parker had been dropped. Pressure was applied to them by the townspeople, who rightly judged that it was their interest to conciliate the Post-Office rather than to fight it. The first result of this pressure applied is shown in the following curious letter addressed apparently to the attorney who had charge of the case:—
“Mr. Andrew Young,
“Sir,
“Having maturely considered our discourse this morning relative to the Packets, and being ever anxious and desirous, as far as lie in my power and compatible with the true feelings of a man, to render every assistance to mankind in general, but more particularly to our Friends, Relatives, and the Inhabitants of Falmouth, have well weighed and thereby fixed unalterably (like the Laws of the Medes and Persians) the Rule and Criterion whereon and whereby we fix the Basis on which we make this Declaration, and offer terms, which when we consider the damages we have laid, namely Five Thousand Pound each, are not nominal, but such as we have reason to expect will be allowed by Lord Ellingboro’ and an Impartial Jury of our countrymen. By which means it will appear we are ready to sacrifice a large sum; and like Brutus and Manlius, altho’ not offering up our children for a total sacrifice, offer up that patrimony they for the unhappy moments have suffered thro’ their fathers and only friends being unlawfully detained in a dreadful gaol, and which they are lawfully and justly entitled to. But to return to the Question, we are of opinion, and that not a vague one formed in a hasty moment, that the town of Falmouth is in a ruined state unless the Packets return; and well knowing that the Inhabitants (those principal ones we mean) are deprived of their lucrative trade and great rents unless the Packets can be restored to their former channel, and which we learn and anticipate cannot be done without our sacrificing our private feelings, which although difficult to do, we will do provided we receive the pecuniary satisfaction we demand, which is when considered, a trivial sum, one thousand pounds each. Now, Sir, far be it from us to beg or desire a settlement of the Business in this way, but for the good of the town, and we leave you to make, according to your judgment, whatever use you think proper of this our Final determination.
“Richard Pascoe.
“John Parker.
“Falmouth, Sunday, Nov. 25, 1810.”
This document breathes such an elevated spirit that it is painful to have to relate that the moderation of these two estimable men did not serve them. The action was not compromised on these or any other terms, but was dropped unconditionally.