B I0 GR AP €I I GAL S H ET C H E S. 263
by order of the guard, placed it in a cart, and drove at a furious rate round
the back of the castle.” The object of this order was probably an idea that
the jolting motion of the cart might be the means of resuscitation, as had once
actually happened in the case of the celebrated “ half-hangit Maggie Dickson.” ‘
The body was afterwards conveyed to one of Brodie’s own workshops in the
Lawnmarket, where Degravers was in attendance. He attempted bleeding, etc.,
but all would not do ; Brodie “ was fairly gone.”
Before closing our memoir of Deacon Brodie, it may not be uninteresting
to give one or two extracts from those letters which proved the means of his
discovery. In one addressed to his relative, Mr. Sherriff, he says, -“ My stock
is seven guineas, but by the time I reach Ostend it will be reduced to six. My
wardrobe is all on my back, excepting two check shirts and two white ones.
My coat out at the arms and elbows.” In another addressed to Henderson,
dated April 10, he writes-“ I arrived in London on the 13th March, where I
remained until the 23d, snug and safe in the house of an old female friend,
within five hundred yards of Bow Street, I did not keep the house all this time,
but so altered, excepting the scar under my eye, I think you could not have Tapt
(swore) to me. I saw Mr. Williamson twice ; but although countrymen usually
shake hands when they meet from home, yet I did not choose to make so free
with him, notwithstanding he brought n letter to me. My female gave me great
uneasiness by introducing a flash man to me, but she assured me he was a true
man; and he proved himself so, notwithstanding the great reward, and was
useful to me. I saw my picture (his description in the newspapers) six hours
before, exhibited to public view ; and my intelligence of what was doing at Bow
Street Office was as good as ever I had in Edinburgh. I make no doubt but
that designing villain Brown is in high favour with Mr. Cockburn (the Sheriff),
for I can see some strokes of his pencil in my portrait. Write me how the main
went*-how you came on in it-if my black cock fought and gained,” etc.
Here we have the mind of Brodie strongly imbued with his ruling passion for
gambling. Immediately the recollection of his unhappy situation conjures up
matter of serious reflection. He feelingly alludes to his children-“They will
miss me more,” says he, “than any other in Scotland. May God in His infinite
goodness stir up some friendly aid for their support, for it is not in my power
at present to give them any assistance. Yet I think they will not absolutely
starve in a Christian land, where their father once had friends, and who was
always liberal to the distressed.” He then states his intention of proceeding to
some part of North America, probably to Philadelphia or New ‘York, and
desires that his working tools might be purchased for him, and forwarded to
either of these places, adding, that although it is hard to begin labour at my ,
This woman had been executed for child-murder, and her body delivered to her relatives for
interment, who put it in a cart to transport it a few miles out of town. Strange to say, half the
journey was not accomplished, when, to the consternation of those present, the poor woman revived.
she lived afterwads several years, and bore two children to her husband.
2 He was passionately fond of cock-fighting.
