The Man Who Was Jekyll and Hyde (15 page)

I am very uneasy on account of Mrs. Grant and my three children by her; they will miss me more 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 the smallest 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. I beg you will order the inclosed to be delivered into her own hand; and I will take it kind if Mrs. Henderson will send for her and give her good advice. I wish she may be enabled to keep what little furniture she has together.

I think she should endeavour to get her youngest daughter Jean sent to Aberdeen to her friends, where she will be well brought up, and I will order an yearly board to be paid for her, perhaps six pounds per annum; it will be an ease to Mrs Grant, and better for the child. My eldest daughter Cecill should be put apprentice to the milliner or mantua-making business; but I wish she could learn a little writing and arithmetic first. I wish to God some of my friends would take some charge of Cecill; she is a fine, sensible girl, considering the little opportunity she has had for improvement. I have been now eighteen days on board, and I expect to land somewhere to-morrow. The ship rolls a good deal, and it is with some difficulty I get this wrote, and my paper being exhausted I shall conclude this epistle. Please make my compliments to Mr Clark, and a few other friends, and in particular, to Mr Balmano, and acquaint him I glimed the scrive [burned the letter] I had of him. He is a gentleman I have a great regard for. Pray do not forget writing me a long letter.

I am, Dear Michael,

For ever your’s.

W. B.

Pray do not show this scroll to any but your wife.

After Brodie’s arrest and arrival back in London, one of his two trunks was opened to reveal a bundle of papers that included two draft letters or (as they were then described) ‘unsigned scrolls’, which were also unaddressed but obviously intended for friends in Edinburgh. They contained comments that author William Roughead (
Trial of Deacon Brodie
) called ‘compromising’, adding, ‘it is difficult to see why he had preserved such documents.’ The most important slip-up can be seen in the letter below, when its writer says: ‘Whatever these men may say, I had no hand in any of their depredations, excepting the last, which I shall ever repent …’ It is a clear admission of involvement in the key crime that was being considered by the court and, as such, hugely incriminating. It was merely required to establish that it was in Brodie’s handwriting, and this was duly done.

My dear Sir,

By short instructions sent me when I left London, which I think were drawn up in my cousin Milton’s hand, I was forbid writing to any one in Britain, Mr Walker excepted, for a year or two; but this order, if necessary, I find it not easy for me to comply with, for I must correspond with my friends in whatever part of the globe I am, and I hope they will do so with me, and write them when an opportunity offers. I have gone through much, in every sense of the word.
–
J. D. and M.

I wrote Mr Walker from this the 12th current. I received an answer the 18th, and wrote again the 23rd current, and upon receiving his next I hope to be enabled to embark in the first ship for America, to whatever port she is bound, which will probably be Charlestown, South Carolina, as there is a ship lying-to for that port; and notwithstanding the climate is very hot, and not so salutary to British constitutions, especially at the time I will arrive, which will be about the dog days. I will settle there if I think I can do better than at Philadelphia or New York. Longevity to me is now no object; but, at any rate, I will be at New York, and I hope to find there letters, and, if possible, some clothes and tools, otherwise I will be badly off indeed.

It grieves me to hear my creditors were so rigorous hasty, but well pleased on hearing the deed and conveyance had the proper effect. I hope all my creditors will be paid, and a reversion, which can be no object to the Crown. Were an application made to the Solicitor, and, if needful, a supplication in my name to his mother, and uncle the Treasurer, perhaps it might be a means either of quieting or getting easier through the threatened suit with the Crown; but this is only my idea.

At any rate, if my clothes and tools must go to sale, a proper assortment of tools, put into my best chest, might be put up in one lot, and my wearing apparel and linens in another lot. They are worth more to me than any one, and I think few in Edinburgh will bid for them if known they are designed for me; but if any one bids their value, in God’s name let them have them, otherwise I hope they will be bought for me. I wish it were possible for me to know, before I left this, if I might expect them at New York; if otherwise, I will be under an absolute necessity of laying out what little money may remain, after paying my passage and clearing my board and lodging here, to my last shilling, and buying a few necessaries, otherwise I will land almost naked; and, if possible, to reach a few tools, both of which, I am informed, are £50 per cent, dearer in America than here.

I received from Mr Walker, in all, £12 16s., and he would pay something for three days I slept in Mr Rose’s, though I am at present three guineas in debt to my landlord, and not a stiver in my pocket for four days past. This is the dearest place I was ever in.

I beg I may hear from you when at New York, and, if directed to Mr John Dixon, to the care of the Reverend Dr. Mason, I will certainly receive it (as I know no other name there to desire you to direct it to), for I will certainly call there, whatever part I land or settle in, in expectation of letters, &c., and, in particular, a long letter from you, in which please answer the following questions without reserve. I am prepared to hear the worst: – How does my dear sisters keep their health? I hope the shock of my departure, and what followed, has not injured either of them in health. How did they stand it? Where does my sister Jeany live? I hope there is no alteration in Mr Sheriff’s friends to my dear Jamie. If money is an object, it is all in his favour. How is Mr and Mrs Grant, and Mr William, to whom I am for ever much obliged for settling my passage. It was a deep cut, but the more I am obliged to him and shall never forget it. He is a feeling and a generous gentleman.

I am sorry I cannot say so much of my cousin Milton, although he, too, was anxious for my off-going. How does my uncle and Mrs. Rintoull keep their health? From his conduct and repeated expressions, I never had much reason to expect anything from him, but now far less, although I be more needful. I believe few at my age ever went out more so. At present I am destitute of everything. I can put every article I have upon my back, and in my pocket. How does Mrs Campbell and her son’s family?

Who were the most forward of my creditors to attach? How does my affairs turn out in the whole? If Robert Smith [his foreman] is employed, has he been active and attentive? He would need to be looked after, although he may be useful; and any news or alterations relating to my friends that may have happened.

What has been done, or likely to be done, with the two unfortunate men, Smith and Ainslie, and the greater villain, John Brown alias Humphry Moore? Was John Murray alias Jack Tasker [the Chesterfield fence] brought from England? Whatever these men may say, I had no hand in any of their depredations, excepting the last, which I shall ever repent, and the keeping such company, although I doubt not but all will be laid to me. But let me drop this dreadful subject. S. W., T. L., R. S., J. M., J. S.

In the following draft letter, the second from his trunk, he said it again, in slightly different words: ‘I had no direct concern in any of their depredations, excepting the last fatal one, by which I lost ten pounds in cash.’ Unlike the general, damning admission, the word ‘direct’ had obviously been thought about – and scored out. And there seemed to be another general confession of bad behaviour in his statement that ‘I often went in retregard’. His handwriting was also established in this case, and it seems ironic that – as a man who was to be historically notorious for his double life – here he caustically commented that his foreman ‘is double and would need looking after’.

Pray write me what is become of Anne Grant, and how is her children disposed of. Cecill [their elder daughter] is a sensible, clever girl, considering the little opportunity she has had of improving. My dear little Willie [their son] will be, if I can judge, a brave and hardy boy.

Jean [their younger daughter] is her mother’s picture, and too young to form any opinion of. What has become of Jean Watt? She is a devil and I can form no opinion of Frank or his young brother; but pray write me how they are disposed of.

If you please, write me what is become of the two unhappy men, Smith, and his wife, and Ainslie. Are they yet? Is their trial come on? and the greater villain John Brown alias Humphry Moore? I shall ever repent keeping such company, and whatever they may allege, I had no direct concern in any of their depredations, excepting the last fatal one, by which I lost ten pounds in cash; but I doubt not but all will be laid to my charge, and some that I never heard of.

The following is written at the foot of the page:

I often went in a retregard. I have been all my life in a reteregard motion.

And what follows is written on the other side:

Does Mr [William] Martin stand his bargain? Is any of my late property sold? Who is making out my accounts? Has Robert Smith been useful and active in my affairs? He is double and would need looking after.

Perhaps, in the course of making out and settling my accounts, some questions may occur that I may solve. If there is any such, please write them down, and I will answer them in course. Has any settlement taken place with Mr Little? I am afraid my affairs will be a laborious task to you; but I hope all my creditors will be paid, and a reversion.

If all my moveables are not yet sold, I beg my clothes and linen, and a set of useful tools may be preserved for me; they are worth more to me than another.

I wrote more fully some time ago to Mr Walker on this head, and also Mr Sheriff, the 8th April; but I know not if he received it. Pray let me know if he did, and how he stands affected towards me. Whatever be his sentiments, I shall always esteem him and regard him as my brother, but I shall never write another friend until I hear from you, and have your opinion how they will take it.

Pray, did Captain Dent ever make any discovery who I was when he arrived at Leith.

[Signed]: ??????????

There were also, of course, the less contentious and less personal letters he managed to write from his prison cell to old acquaintances rather than friends or relatives, and one of them – written shortly before his trial but showing his sense of humour to be still intact – was addressed to his one-time fellow town councillor, ‘Don. Smith Esq.’ …

Edinburgh, 17th August, 1788

Dear Sir,

The nails of my toes and fingers are not quite so long as Nebuchadnezzar’s are said to have been, although long enough for a Mandarine, and much longer than I find convenient. I have tried several experiments to remove this evil without effect, which no doubt you’ll think says little for your Ward’s ingenuity; and I have the mortifications to perceive the evil daily increasing.

Dear Sir, as I intend seeing company abroad in a few days, I beg as soon as convenient you’ll take this matter under consideration, and only, if necessary, consult my Guardian and Tutor sine qua non; and I doubt not but you’ll devise some safe and easy method of operation that may give me a temporary relief. Perhaps the faculty may prescribe a more radical cure.

Dear sir, if not disagreeable to you, I’ll be happy to see you. You’ll be sure to find me at home, and all hours are equally convenient.

Believe me to be, with great esteem,

Your most affectionate Ward and very humble servant

WILL. BRODIE

As the hour of his ‘dissolution’ drew near – indeed, on the very morning of his execution – Deacon Brodie wrote to Edinburgh’s Lord Provost [Mayor] asking that his body be delivered to his friends to be ‘decently dressed and interred’. This was readily granted – unlike his earlier last-minute pleas for help to the Right Hon Henry Dundas (Viscount Melville) and the Duchess of Buccleuch. All three letters appear in the final chapter of this book.

For most people, the writing of a last will and testament is surely a matter of serious reflection and balanced intent, ‘being of sound mind and body’. Perhaps that time-honoured phrase is brought into sharp focus on a reading of the sardonic will of William Brodie written in the Tolbooth prison, a month after he was sentenced to death and five days before he stepped up to the gallows:

I, William Brodie, late Deacon of the Wrights in Edinburgh, and sometime member of the Town council of said burgh, considering the certainty of my death and the propriety and expediency of recommending my memory by some good offices to my friends when I am no more, do hereby execute my last will and testament in manner following, that is to say –

1. Having a Royal Successor to my means and estates, an nothing else to dispose of but my good and bad qualifications, I dispose of these as follows:–

To the Right Honourable, (for a few days to come), John Grieve, Esq., I give and bequeath all my political knowledge in securing magistrates and packing corporations, hoping he will use the same in effecting a seat for himself at a certain board, to which he has long had an eye, on the first vacancy.