Autograph Manuscript Signed, giving accounts of three cases in which he was involved: 'Mistaken Identity', 'The Missing Cheque' and 'A Narrow Escape'.

At the Old Bailey Sessions of 16 May 1833 Peacock stated 'I am brother to the solicitor of the Post-office. I assist him in his business'. Thirty-four pages, quarto. Unbound and crudely stitched. Grubby and with stains to first and last leaves. Apparently unpublished, but with a few pencil emendations. Each item initialed at the end by Peacock. First account begins 'Mrs. Rawlinson, the wife of a Merchant in the City, resided at Brixton in the County of Surry - She had in her employ a Servant Girl named Mary Burton, [...]', and ends 'Mrs. Rawlinson looked first at me, and then at the other, and then exclaimed "Well I will never be positive again, so long as I live" '. Second account begins 'Some years ago a Benevolent Lady residing in Bedfordshire, established in the Village of Sibsoe, a shop or store for supplying the Poor with genuine grocery &c at moderate prices', and ends 'It may be satisfactory to know that it has since been ascertained the Revd Mr. A was not in Holy Orders, but had forged Licences to make it appear that he was so, and also various Testimonials from Clergymen certifying as to his respectability.' The third account begins 'Mr. Roberts an Attorney and Clerk to the Board of Guardians at Southampton complained to the Secretary of the Post Office of the loss of a Letter Containing a 5£ Country Note addressed to a person at Alton in Hampshire' and ends 'had not the suspicion been so clearly removed from Mr. C, he would no doubt have been dismissed the Service -'. Summary: Item One "Mistaken idnetity" about the theft by a Post Office messenger of a letter containing a soverign and the amusing confusion of Mr Peacock and his brother by one of the witnesses. Item Two "The Missing Cheque" - an intriguing tale of deceit and detection about a man posing as a clergyman who misappropriated a cheque for £18. Item Three " A Narrow Escape" concerns a clerk employed by the Board of Guardians at Southampton who alleged he had posted a letter on behalf of his employers containing £5 but who in fact stole it.