Another widely published statement about Barnard is that he was half-blind. ਀          䤀琀 眀漀甀氀搀 戀攀 甀渀樀甀猀琀 琀漀 搀攀搀甀挀攀 昀爀漀洀 栀椀猀 攀渀最爀愀瘀椀渀最猀 愀氀漀渀攀 琀栀愀琀 栀椀猀 攀礀攀猀椀最栀琀  was anything but perfect, particularly having regard to the minuscule ਀          氀攀琀琀攀爀猀 ᠀䨠⸀䈀⸀ᤀ†攀渀最爀愀瘀攀搀 漀渀 琀栀攀 琀爀甀渀挀愀琀椀漀渀 漀昀 琀栀攀 渀攀挀欀 漀昀 琀栀攀 攀昀昀椀最礀⸀  However, there is substantial evidence that his sight was not all that ਀          栀攀 挀漀甀氀搀 栀愀瘀攀 眀椀猀栀攀搀⸀ 㰀戀爀㸀
਀          一漀 椀渀猀琀爀甀挀琀椀漀渀猀 漀爀 椀渀瘀椀琀愀琀椀漀渀 琀漀 琀攀渀搀攀爀 栀愀瘀攀 戀攀攀渀 昀漀甀渀搀㬀 瀀爀漀戀愀戀氀礀 琀栀攀  details of what he was to perform were conveyed to Barnard in a conversation. ਀          一漀 眀爀椀琀琀攀渀 愀挀挀攀瀀琀愀渀挀攀 漀昀 琀栀攀 攀猀琀椀洀愀琀攀 栀愀猀 戀攀攀渀 昀漀甀渀搀 渀漀爀 攀瘀攀渀 琀栀攀 搀愀琀攀  when Barnard was instructed to carry out his work.
਀          㰀戀爀㸀 It is so highly improbable as to be discounted that the design was left ਀          琀漀 栀椀洀 愀氀漀渀攀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 琀栀攀 瀀爀攀猀甀洀瀀琀椀漀渀 洀甀猀琀 戀攀 琀栀愀琀 猀漀洀攀漀渀攀 椀渀 愀甀琀栀漀爀椀琀礀  gave him instructions, detailed instructions about what to engrave. ਀          㰀戀爀㸀
਀          䄀挀挀漀爀搀椀渀最 琀漀 琀栀攀 愀爀琀椀挀氀攀 戀礀 䄀搀漀氀瀀栀攀 愀渀搀 搀ᤀ唠渀椀攀渀瘀椀氀氀攀㨀 㰀戀爀㸀 "His instructions were that a profile to left of Queen Victoria with ਀          搀椀愀搀攀洀 猀栀漀甀氀搀 漀挀挀甀瀀礀 琀栀攀 洀椀搀搀氀攀 漀昀 攀愀挀栀 猀琀愀洀瀀Ⰰ 愀猀 椀琀 搀椀搀 漀渀 琀栀攀 䔀渀最氀椀猀栀  penny and two penny stamps."
਀          㰀戀爀㸀 "He chose a small copper plate about 3 1/4 inches by 2 1/2 inches, such ਀          愀猀 洀椀最栀琀 戀攀 甀猀攀搀 昀漀爀 瀀爀椀渀琀椀渀最 愀 氀愀搀礀ᤀ猠 瘀椀猀椀琀椀渀最 挀愀爀搀Ⰰ 漀渀 眀栀椀挀栀 琀漀 攀渀最爀愀瘀攀  the design."
਀        㰀⼀瀀㸀 ਀ऀ㰀瀀 愀氀椀最渀㴀∀爀椀最栀琀∀㸀 ⸀㰀愀 栀爀攀昀㴀∀⌀吀漀瀀∀㸀㰀椀洀最 猀爀挀㴀∀⼀䤀洀愀最攀猀⼀爀攀搀ⴀ愀爀爀漀眀爀甀瀀⸀最椀昀∀ 眀椀搀琀栀㴀∀㠀∀ 栀攀椀最栀琀㴀∀㠀∀ 戀漀爀搀攀爀㴀∀　∀㸀☀渀戀猀瀀㬀吀漀瀀㰀⼀愀㸀㰀⼀瀀㸀

Although he had described himself in an advertisement in Le Cernéen ਀          琀栀攀 氀漀挀愀氀 渀攀眀猀瀀愀瀀攀爀Ⰰ 昀漀爀 㤀 䴀愀爀挀栀 ㄀㠀㌀㤀 愀猀 愀 䴀椀渀椀愀琀甀爀攀 倀愀椀渀琀攀爀 愀渀搀 䔀渀最爀愀瘀攀爀  it seems that he had but little experience of engraving portraits, at ਀          愀渀礀 爀愀琀攀Ⰰ 洀椀渀椀愀琀甀爀攀 瀀漀爀琀爀愀椀琀猀㬀 栀椀猀 愀琀琀攀洀瀀琀猀 琀漀 挀漀瀀礀 琀栀攀 渀漀戀氀攀 氀椀渀攀猀  of the Heath's engraving of the Queen's head were crude. Nevertheless, ਀          琀栀攀爀攀 椀猀 愀戀漀甀琀 琀栀攀 搀攀猀椀最渀 愀 猀椀洀瀀氀攀 挀栀愀爀洀 眀栀椀挀栀 栀愀猀 瀀攀爀栀愀瀀猀 椀渀 渀漀 猀洀愀氀氀  measure contributed to the popularity of the Post Office Mauritius with ਀          挀漀氀氀攀挀琀漀爀猀⸀ 㰀戀爀㸀
਀          䈀愀爀渀愀爀搀 攀渀最爀愀瘀攀搀 琀栀攀 ㄀搀⸀ 搀攀猀椀最渀 椀渀 琀栀攀 渀漀爀琀栀ⴀ眀攀猀琀 挀漀爀渀攀爀 愀渀搀 琀栀攀 ㈀搀⸀  in the north-east corner of the small copper plate. No remarks have ਀          戀攀攀渀 挀愀氀氀攀搀 昀漀爀琀栀 愀戀漀甀琀 琀栀攀 眀漀爀搀椀渀最 倀伀匀吀䄀䜀䔀Ⰰ⸀ 䴀䄀唀刀䤀吀䤀唀匀Ⰰ 伀一䔀 倀䔀一一夀Ⰰ  and POST.
਀          㰀戀爀㸀 However, a whole romance has been built up about the other word, OFFICE. ਀          吀栀攀爀攀 椀猀 渀漀 搀椀爀攀挀琀 攀瘀椀搀攀渀挀攀 琀漀 猀甀瀀瀀漀爀琀 琀栀攀 琀栀攀漀爀礀 琀栀愀琀 椀渀猀挀爀椀戀椀渀最 伀䘀䘀䤀䌀䔀  was an error. The argument in favor of its being an error is based, ਀          愀甀 昀漀渀搀Ⰰ 漀渀 琀栀攀 攀愀爀氀礀 猀琀愀琀攀洀攀渀琀猀 椀渀 琀栀攀 瀀栀椀氀愀琀攀氀椀挀 瀀爀攀猀猀 琀栀愀琀 椀琀 眀愀猀  an error, and on the undoubted fact that, within eight months, a new ਀          椀猀猀甀攀 眀愀猀 瀀甀琀 漀渀 猀愀氀攀 眀椀琀栀 琀栀攀 眀漀爀搀 倀䄀䤀䐀 椀渀猀挀爀椀戀攀搀 漀渀 戀漀琀栀 瘀愀氀甀攀猀 椀渀  the place where on the first issue the word OFFICE had appeared - moreover, ਀          琀栀攀爀攀 椀猀 渀漀 琀爀愀挀攀 椀渀 琀栀攀 䴀愀甀爀椀琀椀甀猀 愀爀挀栀椀瘀攀猀 漀昀 愀渀礀 爀攀愀猀漀渀 昀漀爀 琀栀攀 挀栀愀渀最攀⸀ 
਀        㰀⼀瀀㸀 ਀ऀ㰀瀀 愀氀椀最渀㴀∀爀椀最栀琀∀㸀 ⸀㰀愀 栀爀攀昀㴀∀⌀吀漀瀀∀㸀㰀椀洀最 猀爀挀㴀∀⼀䤀洀愀最攀猀⼀爀攀搀ⴀ愀爀爀漀眀爀甀瀀⸀最椀昀∀ 眀椀搀琀栀㴀∀㠀∀ 栀攀椀最栀琀㴀∀㠀∀ 戀漀爀搀攀爀㴀∀　∀㸀☀渀戀猀瀀㬀吀漀瀀㰀⼀愀㸀㰀⼀瀀㸀

The argument against the 'error' theory is based on the equivalent ਀          漀昀 琀栀攀 氀攀最愀氀 洀愀砀椀洀 漀洀渀椀愀 瀀爀愀攀猀甀洀甀渀琀甀爀 爀椀琀攀 攀琀 猀漀氀攀洀渀椀琀攀爀 攀猀猀攀 愀挀琀愀 搀漀渀攀挀  probetur in contrarium, which is that all things are presumed to have ਀          戀攀攀渀 搀漀渀攀 瀀爀漀瀀攀爀氀礀 愀渀搀 眀椀琀栀 搀甀攀 昀漀爀洀愀氀椀琀椀攀猀 甀渀琀椀氀 椀琀 戀攀 瀀爀漀瘀攀搀 琀漀 琀栀攀  contrary. The contra-errorists, of which I have been one for as long ਀          愀猀 䤀 挀愀渀 爀攀挀愀氀氀 栀愀瘀椀渀最 栀愀搀 愀渀 漀瀀椀渀椀漀渀 漀渀 琀栀攀 猀甀戀樀攀挀琀Ⰰ 瀀漀椀渀琀 昀椀爀猀琀 琀漀  the existence of postal markings inscribed POST OFFICE MAURITIUS or ਀          䴀䄀唀刀䤀吀䤀唀匀 倀伀匀吀 伀䘀䘀䤀䌀䔀 椀渀 甀猀攀 椀渀 琀栀攀 挀漀氀漀渀礀 昀漀爀 洀愀渀礀 礀攀愀爀猀 戀攀昀漀爀攀 愀搀栀攀猀椀瘀攀  postage stamps were ever thought of there or, indeed long before they ਀          眀攀爀攀 戀爀漀甀最栀琀 椀渀琀漀 甀猀攀 椀渀 䔀渀最氀愀渀搀⸀ 吀栀攀 昀椀爀猀琀 洀愀爀欀椀渀最 眀椀琀栀椀渀 愀渀 漀瘀愀氀 昀爀愀洀攀  and reading COL/POST OFFICE /MAUIRITIUS came into use in 1834, but some ਀          攀椀最栀琀 礀攀愀爀猀 瀀爀攀瘀椀漀甀猀氀礀 愀渀 甀渀昀爀愀洀攀搀 䴀䄀唀刀䤀吀䤀唀匀⼀倀伀匀吀 伀䘀䘀䤀䌀䔀 栀愀搀 戀攀攀渀 甀猀攀搀Ⰰ  and at least two other similarly worded markings were brought into use ਀          椀渀 ㄀㠀㌀㈀ 愀渀搀 ㄀㠀㌀㠀⸀ 㰀戀爀㸀
਀          圀栀礀 猀栀漀甀氀搀 伀䘀䘀䤀䌀䔀 戀攀 挀漀渀猀椀搀攀爀攀搀 愀渀 攀爀爀漀爀 椀渀 爀攀氀愀琀椀漀渀 琀漀 琀栀攀 ㄀㠀㐀㜀 椀猀猀甀攀  of Mauritius? Echo answers Why?
਀          㰀戀爀㸀 The answer, purely and simply, would seem to be that, if it is regarded ਀          愀猀 愀渀 攀爀爀漀爀Ⰰ 椀琀 漀瀀攀渀猀 琀栀攀 搀漀漀爀 琀漀 爀漀洀愀渀琀椀挀 椀洀愀最椀渀椀渀最猀⸀ 吀栀攀爀攀 挀愀渀 戀攀  little doubt that it did so in the case of Dr Georges Brunel, an enthusiastic, ਀          椀昀 渀漀琀 渀漀琀漀爀椀漀甀猀氀礀 昀愀挀琀甀愀氀Ⰰ 眀爀椀琀攀爀 漀渀 愀氀氀 洀愀琀琀攀爀猀 瀀栀椀氀愀琀攀氀椀挀Ⰰ 眀栀漀 眀愀猀  provided with an opportunity to give rein to his imaginations in 1920 ਀          眀栀攀渀 吀栀攀漀搀漀爀攀 䌀栀愀洀瀀椀漀渀 栀愀搀 琀漀 瀀愀礀 眀栀愀琀 眀愀猀 琀栀攀渀 愀 爀攀挀漀爀搀 猀甀洀 昀漀爀 渀漀琀  only a Post Office Mauritius but any stamp, namely, 116,912 francs (£2,248) ਀          愀琀 愀甀挀琀椀漀渀 漀昀 琀栀攀 䴀漀爀猀 挀漀氀氀攀挀琀椀漀渀 琀漀 猀攀挀甀爀攀 愀 吀眀漀 倀攀渀挀攀 倀漀猀琀 伀昀昀椀挀攀  Mauritius for his own collection.
਀        㰀⼀瀀㸀 ਀ऀ㰀瀀 愀氀椀最渀㴀∀爀椀最栀琀∀㸀 ⸀㰀愀 栀爀攀昀㴀∀⌀吀漀瀀∀㸀㰀椀洀最 猀爀挀㴀∀⼀䤀洀愀最攀猀⼀爀攀搀ⴀ愀爀爀漀眀爀甀瀀⸀最椀昀∀ 眀椀搀琀栀㴀∀㠀∀ 栀攀椀最栀琀㴀∀㠀∀ 戀漀爀搀攀爀㴀∀　∀㸀☀渀戀猀瀀㬀吀漀瀀㰀⼀愀㸀㰀⼀瀀㸀

Champion was a French dealer who had a remarkable collection of great ਀          爀愀爀椀琀椀攀猀⸀ 䠀攀 攀渀最愀最攀搀 䐀爀⸀ 䈀爀甀渀攀氀 琀漀 眀爀椀琀攀 琀栀攀 猀琀漀爀礀 漀昀 琀栀攀 䴀愀甀爀椀琀椀甀猀  stamps. Of course, Dr. Brunel was aware of at least some of the earlier ਀          眀爀椀琀椀渀最猀 愀渀搀Ⰰ 挀攀爀琀愀椀渀氀礀Ⰰ 愀渀礀 栀攀 氀愀挀欀攀搀 愀渀搀 眀椀猀栀攀搀 琀漀 爀攀昀攀爀 琀漀 眀漀甀氀搀  have been provided. However, he seized the opportunity of adding glamour ਀          琀漀 琀栀攀 爀漀甀渀搀 甀渀瘀愀爀渀椀猀栀攀搀 琀愀氀攀 漀昀 琀栀攀 攀愀爀氀椀攀爀 眀爀椀琀攀爀猀 椀洀愀最椀渀攀搀 攀爀爀漀爀⸀  It makes a readable story as presented in Bulletin Mensuel de la Maison ਀          吀栀攀漀搀漀爀攀 䌀栀愀洀瀀椀漀渀 攀琀 䌀漀 昀漀爀 䨀甀渀攀 愀渀搀 䨀甀氀礀 ㄀㤀㈀　 愀渀搀 琀爀愀渀猀氀愀琀攀搀 愀渀搀 愀戀猀琀爀愀挀琀攀搀  by, W. Renouf in The Philatelic Journal of India, vol 25 pp 80-83, June ਀          ㄀㤀㈀㄀ 昀爀漀洀 眀栀椀挀栀 䤀 猀栀愀氀氀 挀椀琀攀⸀ 㰀戀爀㸀
਀          吀栀攀 猀欀攀氀攀琀漀渀 漀昀 椀洀愀最椀渀攀搀 昀愀挀琀 栀愀搀 琀漀 戀攀 爀漀甀渀搀攀搀 漀甀琀 眀椀琀栀 琀栀攀 昀氀攀猀栀 漀昀  imagined reconstruction of the circumstances. ‘The error in the plates ਀          漀昀 倀漀猀琀 倀愀椀搀 猀琀愀洀瀀猀ᤀ†攀爀爀漀爀 栀愀搀 戀攀攀渀 渀愀椀氀攀搀 戀攀礀漀渀搀 爀攀挀愀氀氀 戀礀 琀栀攀 搀椀猀挀漀瘀攀爀礀  some eight years earlier, as will be mentioned, of Barnard's engraved ਀          瀀氀愀琀攀 昀漀爀 琀栀攀 倀漀猀琀 伀昀昀椀挀攀 䴀愀甀爀椀琀椀甀猀Ⰰ 猀漀 䈀爀甀渀攀氀 最愀瘀攀 琀栀攀 攀爀爀漀爀 猀琀漀爀礀  a twist.
਀          㰀戀爀㸀 The secret of the rarity of the ‘Post Office Mauritius’ is that it was ਀          愀 戀氀甀渀搀攀爀⸀ 䈀甀琀 瀀栀椀氀愀琀攀氀礀 栀愀猀 戀攀渀攀昀椀琀攀搀 琀栀攀爀攀戀礀 愀渀搀 琀栀椀猀 攀砀攀洀瀀氀椀昀椀攀猀  how good can come out of evil.
਀          㰀戀爀㸀 We now see our friend Barnard with an order to engrave the Mauritius ਀          猀琀愀洀瀀猀⸀ 吀栀攀 搀攀猀椀最渀 漀昀 琀栀攀 瀀爀漀昀椀氀攀 漀昀 琀栀攀 栀攀愀搀 漀昀 儀甀攀攀渀 嘀椀挀琀漀爀椀愀 栀愀猀  been approved, and he has been given verbal instructions as to the inscriptions. ਀          䠀攀 栀愀猀 琀漀甀挀栀攀搀 栀椀猀 昀漀爀攀栀攀愀搀 眀椀琀栀 栀椀猀 昀椀渀最攀爀猀 琀漀 猀椀最渀椀昀礀 琀栀愀琀 栀攀 栀愀猀  grasped what is wanted.
਀        㰀⼀瀀㸀 ਀ऀ㰀瀀 愀氀椀最渀㴀∀爀椀最栀琀∀㸀 ⸀㰀愀 栀爀攀昀㴀∀⌀吀漀瀀∀㸀㰀椀洀最 猀爀挀㴀∀⼀䤀洀愀最攀猀⼀爀攀搀ⴀ愀爀爀漀眀爀甀瀀⸀最椀昀∀ 眀椀搀琀栀㴀∀㠀∀ 栀攀椀最栀琀㴀∀㠀∀ 戀漀爀搀攀爀㴀∀　∀㸀☀渀戀猀瀀㬀吀漀瀀㰀⼀愀㸀㰀⼀瀀㸀

He sits to work. As he is really a jeweler and not an engraver, the ਀          爀攀猀甀氀琀 洀甀猀琀 渀漀琀 戀攀 挀爀椀琀椀挀椀稀攀搀 琀漀漀 猀攀瘀攀爀攀氀礀⸀ 䤀琀 椀猀 瀀愀猀猀愀戀氀攀⸀ 䠀攀 椀渀猀挀爀椀戀攀猀  the word ‘Postage’ at the top in burly letters, the value at the foot, ਀          愀渀搀 䴀愀甀爀椀琀椀甀猀 琀漀 琀栀攀 爀椀最栀琀⸀ 伀渀氀礀 漀渀攀 猀椀搀攀 爀攀洀愀椀渀猀 戀氀愀渀欀Ⰰ 戀甀琀 栀攀爀攀 栀攀  experiences a tragic lapse of memory. His sketch gives no assistance, ਀          愀渀搀 昀漀爀 琀栀攀 氀椀昀攀 漀昀 栀椀洀 栀攀 挀愀渀渀漀琀 爀攀挀愀氀氀 琀栀攀 眀漀爀搀猀 眀栀椀挀栀 栀攀 栀愀猀 琀漀 攀渀最爀愀瘀攀⸀  He sets out to find the Postmaster Brownrigg, to ask him to refresh ਀          栀椀猀 洀攀洀漀爀礀⸀ 䄀爀爀椀瘀椀渀最 愀琀 琀栀攀 搀漀漀爀 漀昀 琀栀攀 倀漀猀琀 伀昀昀椀挀攀 栀攀 猀攀攀猀 琀栀攀 眀漀爀搀猀  Post Office before his eyes. It is born upon him that these are the ਀          洀椀猀猀椀渀最 眀漀爀搀猀⸀ 䐀攀氀椀最栀琀攀搀Ⰰ 栀攀 爀甀戀猀 栀椀猀 栀愀渀搀猀 琀漀最攀琀栀攀爀Ⰰ 栀攀 搀漀攀猀 愀 爀椀最栀琀  about turn, and finishes his engraving forthwith. And incidentally he ਀          瀀攀爀瀀攀琀爀愀琀攀猀 琀栀攀 洀漀猀琀 挀漀氀漀猀猀愀氀 愀渀搀 琀栀攀 洀漀猀琀 昀愀洀漀甀猀 攀爀爀漀爀 椀渀 瀀栀椀氀愀琀攀氀礀⸀ 
਀          㰀戀爀㸀 He is so pleased with the result that he does not trouble to submit ਀          瀀爀漀漀昀猀⸀ 䠀攀 瀀爀椀渀琀猀 㜀　　 挀漀瀀椀攀猀Ⰰ ㌀㔀　 椀渀 爀攀搀 ⠀㄀搀⤀ 愀渀搀 ㌀㔀　 椀渀 戀氀甀攀 ⠀㈀搀⤀⸀  Then he takes these to the Governor.
਀          㰀戀爀㸀 'Triple sot' (we had best not attempt a translation) burst from the ਀          爀攀瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀愀琀椀瘀攀 漀昀 琀栀攀 䈀爀椀琀愀渀渀椀挀 䴀愀樀攀猀琀礀 眀栀攀渀 栀攀 爀攀愀搀 漀渀 琀栀攀 猀琀愀洀瀀猀Ⰰ  ’Post Office’ instead of ‘Post Paid'. However, the mistake had been ਀          洀愀搀攀⸀ 吀栀攀 猀琀愀洀瀀猀 洀椀最栀琀 愀猀 眀攀氀氀 戀攀 甀猀攀搀⸀ 吀栀攀 䜀漀瘀攀爀渀漀爀 眀愀猀 愀戀漀甀琀 琀漀 最椀瘀攀  his annual party, and he used the majority of the issue on the invitation ਀          挀愀爀搀猀 昀漀爀 琀栀椀猀 瀀愀爀琀礀⸀ 㰀⼀瀀㸀 ਀ऀ㰀瀀 愀氀椀最渀㴀∀爀椀最栀琀∀㸀⸀㰀愀 栀爀攀昀㴀∀⌀吀漀瀀∀㸀㰀椀洀最 猀爀挀㴀∀⼀䤀洀愀最攀猀⼀爀攀搀ⴀ愀爀爀漀眀爀甀瀀⸀最椀昀∀ 眀椀搀琀栀㴀∀㠀∀ 栀攀椀最栀琀㴀∀㠀∀ 戀漀爀搀攀爀㴀∀　∀㸀☀渀戀猀瀀㬀吀漀瀀㰀⼀愀㸀㰀⼀瀀㸀 ਀      㰀琀搀㸀☀渀戀猀瀀㬀㰀⼀琀搀㸀