it plainly appears that the Murder of Mr. Blandy had been consulted
some Time: and that it must be supposed that the Powders had been
attempted, if not absolutely given him in his Victuals, or Liquor,
before the Time they were put into his Gruel, as was discovered by
the Maid-Servant, and which proved the Cause of his Death.
Also by these Letters it is most reasonable to believe that what was
meant in the last by the words, "Tho' I suffer more Horrors of Mind
than I do at this Time, I will pursue": that it came from the
unfortunate and infatuated Miss Blandy, and that poisoning her
Father was then fully resolved on by her: which reasonable
Supposition is much strengthened by the subsequent Words in the same
Letter, viz., "I hope in my next to inform you that the Business is
compleated." And I really think it can admit of no Doubt, as the
administring the Powders to him in his Water-Gruel, which was the
Cause of his Death, was but four days after the Date of this Letter,
for it appears by its Date to be sent on Thursday the first of
August, and Monday the fifth of the same Month, she acknowledged she
put the Powders into the Gruel: which was proved by Dr. Addington
and Dr. Lewis, on her Trial, to be the Cause of Mr. Blandy's Death,
who languished till the 14th of the same Month, when he expired.
That other Part of the same Letter, where 'tis said, "I am going
forward with, all convenient Speed in the Business, and have not
only a fatiguing Time of it, but am sometimes in the greatest
Fright: there being so many constantly about me, to be kept
insensible of the Affair," is plain enough meant that when she
thought of the wicked Deed she was about to perform, it brought her
Conscience to fly in her Face, as she advanced: and that the
Servants of the House were the great Obstacles in her Way.
I shall not takes up the Reader's Time any longer, in making
Observations on the Letters, only observe in general that they all
shew that the Writer was sensibly touched, at such Times as they
were endeavouring to practice the hellish Device, to destroy the old
Gentleman; and also, that sometimes their Consciences led them to
think of what the Consequences of such an enormous Crime must be.
I shall now return to Mr. Cranstoun. While he was at Furnes he was
very thoughtful, and was never observed to be once in a merry
Humour: frequently staying in his Room all Day, except Meal-Times:
and praying very devoutly.
On his finding himself once very ill, tho' it was six Weeks before
he died (for he recovered and went abroad after that Illness), he
made a Will, all which he wrote with his own Hand: in which he left,
after paying his Debts, at Furnes, to M. Malsot, where he lived, and
his Funeral Charges, all his paternal Fortune, of £1500, to his
Daughter by his Wife, who lives with her Relations, at Hexham, in
Northumberland.
This £1500 which he left in his Will to his Child, was what was left
him on the Death of his Father: and the Estate of his elder Brother,
the Lord Cranstoun, was charged with the Payment of it: and he
received £75 per Annum, in Lieu of the Principal Sum, £50 per Annum
of which was settled by Order of the Lords of Sessions, in Scotland,
on his Wife, at the Time when he had Villainy sufficient to bring a
Cause before the Court of Sessions, to set aside his Marriage: and
from that Time she has received it, for the Support of her and her
Child.
The Gentlewoman he had married, and was wicked enough to deny,[33]
was the Daughter of the late Sir David Murray, Baronet, and Sister
of the present Sir David Murray, who is now in the Service of the
King of France, in the East Indies: This young Gentleman was
unfortunate enough to take Part with the young Pretender in the late
Rebellion, being Nephew to Mr. Murray, of Broughton, the Pretender's
then Secretary: and after the Battle of Culloden was taken Prisoner,
and tried at Carlisle, where he received Sentence of Death as a
Rebel: but for his Youth, not being then above eighteen Years of
Age, he was reprieved and transported.
One Circumstance that appeared on the Trial of the Legality of his
Marriage with Miss Murray was very particular, as he had the Folly,
as well as the Wickedness, to deny the same: and that was, a
Marriage-Settlement of £50 per Annum, which he had made on her in
his own Hand-Writing, was produced and proved: which was confirmed
by the Lords of Sessions.
After the Burial of Mr. Cranstoun, at Furnes, a Letter was sent to
his Wife, at Hexham, to inform her of it, and another was sent to
the Lady Dowager Cranstoun, his Mother: to the last of which an
Answer was soon returned, which was to desire, that all his Papers
and Will might be sealed up, and sent to his Brother, Lord
Cranstoun, in Scotland, with an Account of what was owing, and to
whom, in Order for their being paid, but his Cloaths, which
consisted of some very rich Waistcoats, were desired to be sold at
Furnes: which was done accordingly.
He frequently declared his Life was a Burthen to him, and in his
Death he suffered great Torments: for his body was so much swoln,
that it was expected he would have bursted for several Days before
he died.
As Miss Blandy had given an Account in her Narrative, that it was
him who first proposed a private Marriage with each other, he
solemnly declared, just before he died, that he could not be
positive which of them proposed it first: but that he was certain,
that it was Miss Blandy that desired and insisted it should be so,
and was very pressing till it was done: And he often called upon God
Almighty to forgive both his Crimes, and those of Miss Blandy,
particularly, he said hers, as she had died with asserting so many
enormous Falsities contained in that Account, said to be published
by her Orders and Inspection.
APPENDIX X.
EXTRACT FROM A LETTER FROM DUNKIRK ANENT THE DEATH OF CRANSTOUN.
(From the _London Magazine_, February, 1753.)
On Dec. 2 last died at the sign of the Burgundy-cross in Furness, a
town belonging to the Queen of Hungary, about 15 English miles East of
this place, Capt. William Henry Cranstoun, aged forty-six. His illness
did not continue above 9 days, but the last three his pains were so
very great, and he was swelled to such a degree, that it was thought
by the physician and apothecary that attended him, that he would have
burst, and by the great agonies he expired in, he was thought to be
raving mad. As he had just before his death embraced the Roman
Catholick religion, he was buried in great solemnity, the corporation
attending the funeral, and a grand mass was said over the corpse in
the cathedral church, which was finely illuminated, and in which he
was buried. Some little time before he died he made a will, which was
sealed up in the presence of one Mrs. Ross (whose maiden name was
Dunbar, and which name he went by) and two other persons who were also
his acquaintance. The will he signed with his own name, and gave all
his fortune which was in his brother's hands to his child, who is now
living at Hexham in Northumberland, with her mother, to whom he had so
villainously denied being married, and for which he often said, a
curse had attended him for injuring the character of so good a wife.
When he was asked concerning Mr. Blandy's murder, he often reflected
on himself greatly, yet said, that Miss Blandy ought not to have
blamed him so much as she did, but the particulars of which he said
should never be known till his death. He first made his escape out of
England the latter end of last February to Bologne; but as soon as he
was known to be there, was obliged to be kept concealed by Mrs. Ross,
some relations of his wife's, who were in that country, threatening
revenge for his base usage to her; so that Miss Ross and he were
obliged at last to fly from Bologne by night, which was on the 26th of
July last, and lived in Furnes from that time. The fortune in his
Brother's hands, which he has left to his child, by his will, is
£1500, his patrimony which he formerly received 5 per cent. for, but
on his being cast before the Lords of Session in Scotland, in the
cause concerning the validity of his marriage, which was confirmed,
£50 out of the £75 was ordered by their lordships to be paid the wife
annually for the support of her and the child, which she received, and
has lived ever since with some of her relations in Hexham
aforementioned. It was further said that before he died he declared
that he and Miss Blandy were privately married before the death of her
mother, which was near two years before Mr. Blandy was poisoned.
APPENDIX XI.
LETTER FROM JOHN RIDDELL, THE SCOTS GENEALOGIST, TO JAMES MAIDMENT,
REGARDING THE DESCENDANTS OF CRANSTOUN.
(From the original MS. in the possession of Mr. John A. Fairley.)
Edinburgh, April 16th, 1843. 57 Melville Street,
My Dear Sir,--I herewith return your Blandy and Cranstoun
collections, with many thanks.
I certainly understood from the late James Rutherford, Esqr., of the
Customs, Edinburgh, a cadet of the Rutherfords of Edgerston, and
through his mother, a female descendant--one of the nearest--of the
Edmonstones of Corehouse, that it was in consequence of the great
exertions of an Edmonstone of Corehouse that the guilty Cranston was
first concealed, and afterwards enabled to escape abroad. I think he
said that the Edmonstones of Corehouse were descended, or relatives,
of the Cranstons, but that the latter were not descended of the
former, or could be in any respect their heirs.
A greater intimacy, however, subsequently arose between the two
families, owing to the friendly exertions of the Edmonstone as
above, that ended in a superannuated lady, the late Miss Edmonstone
of Corehouse, entailing or settling her estate upon the present
George Cranstoun of Corehouse,[34] nephew of the poisoner, to the
exclusion of the late Roger Ayton, and her other heirs at law. In
this manner the Cranston family may be said to have benefitted by
his atrocity, and advantage to have resulted from evil; the
friendship or kindness of the Edmonstones having been rivetted and
increased towards the relatives of him they had rescued, and whom,
on that account, they additionally cherished--this I learnt from the
previous authority referred to. Nay, the old lady wished above all
things that the _ci-devant_ judge should marry and continue his
line, a thing that for some special reason he did not desire, and
found it difficult to stave off to her. This also from the same
authority. Though very old, no legal ground could be found on
enquiry by which her settlement could be voided.
The following excerpt from the Statement of the Evidence submitted
to the jury, on the occasion of the present Admiral Sir Thomas
Livingstone of Westquarter, Baronet, being served heir-male of
James, first Earl of Calender in 1821, in which I was professionally
engaged, shews what became of the issue of William Henry Cranstoun,
the poisoner. Alexander (Livingstone) of Bedlormie and Ogilface,
afterwards Sir Alexander Livingstone, Bart., having succeeded to the
Scottish Baronetage of Westquarter and to the estates of that branch
of the house of Livingstone, was twice married; first to Anne
Atkinson, daughter of John Atkinson of London, and secondly to Jane
Cranston, daughter of the Honourable William Henry Cranston, fifth
son of the Lord Cranston. By his first marriage he had seven sons,
Alexander, William, Thomas, the claimant (still alive), John,
Thurstanus, James and George, and one daughter, Anne, married to the
Rev. John Fenton of Torpenhow, in the County of Cumberland. By his
second marriage he had two sons, Francis and David, both dead
unmarried, and one daughter, Elizabeth, married to James Kirsopp,
Esquire, of the Spital, Northumberland.
I remain,
Yours sincerely,
JOHN RIDDELL.
APPENDIX XII.
BIBLIOGRAPHY OF THE BLANDY CASE.
(Compiled by Mr. Horace Bleackley.)
I. CONTEMPORARY TRACTS.
1. _An Authentic Narrative of that most Horrid Parricide_. (Printed in
the year 1751. Name of publisher in second edition, M. Cooper.)
2. _A Genuine and full Account of the Parricide_ committed by Mary
Blandy. Oxford: Printed for and sold by C. Goddard in the High St.,
and sold by R. Walker in the little Old Bailey, and by all booksellers
and pamphlet Shops. (Published November 9, 1751.)
3. _A Letter from a Clergyman to Miss Mary Blandy with her answer
thereto_. ... As also Miss Blandy's Own Narrative. London; Printed for
M. Cooper at the Globe in Paternoster Row. 1752. Price Six-pence.
Brit. Mus. (March 20, 1752.)
4. _An Answer to Miss Blandy's Narrative_. London; Printed for W.
Owen, near Temple Bar. 1752. Price 3d. Brit. Mus. (March 27, 1752.)
5. _The Case of Miss Blandy considered_ as a Daughter, as a
Gentlewoman, and as a Christian. Oxford; Printed for R. Baldwin, at
the Rose in Paternoster Row. Brit. Mus. (April 6, 1752.)
6. _Original Letters to and from Miss Blandy and C---- C----_, London.
Printed for S. Johnson, near the Haymarket, Charing Cross. 1752. Brit.
Mus. (April 8, 1752.)
7. _A Genuine and impartial Account of the Life of Miss M. Blandy_. W.
Jackson and R. Walker. (April 9, 1752.)
8. _Miss Mary Blandy's Own Account_. London: Printed for A. Millar in
the Strand. 1752 (price one shilling and sixpence). N.B. The Original
Account authenticated by Miss Blandy in a proper manner may be seen at
the above A. Millar's. Brit. Mus. (April 10, 1752. The most famous
apologia in criminal literature.)
9. _A Candid Appeal to the Public, by a Gentleman of Oxford_. London.
Printed for J. Clifford in the Old Bailey, and sold at the Pamphleteer
Shops. 1752. Price 6d. Brit. Mus. (April 15, 1752.)
10. _The Tryal of Mary Blandy_. Published by Permission of the Judges.
London: Printed for John and James Rivington at the Bible and Crown
and in St. Paul's Churchyard. 1752. In folio price two shillings. 8vo.
one shilling. Brit. Mus. (April 24, 1752.)
11. _The Genuine Histories_ of the Life and Transactions of John Swan
and Eliz Jeffries, ... and Miss Mary Blandy. London: Printed and sold
by T. Bailey opposite the Pewter-Pot-Inn in Leadenhall Street.
(Published after April 10, 1752.)
12. _An Authentic and full History of all the Circumstances of the
Cruel Poisoning of Mr. Francis Blandy_, printed only for Mr. Wm. Owen,
Bookseller at Temple Bar, London, and R. Goadby in Sherborne. Brit.
Mus. (Without date. From pp. 113-132 the pamphlet resembles the
"Answer to Miss Blandy's Narrative," published also by Wm. Owen.)
13. _The Authentic Trials of John Swan and Elizabeth Jeffryes_....
With the Tryal of Miss Mary Blandy. London: Printed by R. Walker for
W. Richards, near the East Gate, Oxford. 1752. Brit. Mus. (Published
later than the "Candid Appeal.")
14. _The Fair Parricide_. A Tragedy in three Acts. Founded on a late
melancholy event. London. Printed for T. Waller, opposite Fetter Lane.
Fleet Street (price 1/-). Brit. Mus. (May 5, 1752.)
15. _The Genuine Speech of the Hon Mr. ----_, at the late trial of
Miss Blandy. London: Printed for J. Roberts in Warwick Lane. 1752.
(Price sixpence.) Brit. Mus. (May 15, 1752.)
16. _The x x x x Packet Broke open_, or a letter from Miss Blandy in
the Shades below to Capt. Cranstoun in his exile above. London.
Printed for M. Cooper at the Globe in Paternoster Row. 1752. Price 6d.
Brit. Mus. (May 16, 1752.)
17. _The Secret History of Miss Blandy_. London. Printed for Henry
Williams, and sold by the booksellers at the Exchange, in Ludgate St.,
at Charing Cross, and St. James. Price 1s. 6d. Brit. Mus. (June 11,
1752. A sane and well-written account of the whole story.)
18. _Memories of the Life of Wm. Henry Cranstoun, Esqre_. London.
Printed for J. Bouquet, at the White Hart, in Paternoster Row. 1752.
Price one shilling. Brit. Mus. (June 18, 1752.)
19. _The Genuine Lives of Capt. Cranstoun and Miss Mary Blandy_.
London. Printed for M. Cooper, Paternoster Row, and C. Sympson at the
Bible Warehouse, Chancery Lane. 1753. Price one shilling. Brit. Mus.
20. _Capt. Cranstoun's Account of the Poisoning of the Late Mr.
Francis Blandy_. London: Printed for R. Richards, the Corner of
Bernard's-Inn, near the Black Swan, Holborn. Brit. Mus. (March 1-3,
1753.)
21. _Memories of the life and most remarkable transactions of Capt.
William Henry Cranstoun_. Containing an account of his conduct in his
younger years. His letter to his wife to persuade her to disown him as
her husband. His trial in Scotland, and the Court's decree thereto.
His courtship of Miss Blandy; his success therein, and the tragical
issue of that affair. His voluntary exile abroad with the several
accidents that befel him from his flight to his death. His
reconciliation to the Church of Rome, with the Conversation he had
with a Rev. Father of the Church at the time of his conversion. His
miserable death, and pompous funeral. Printed for M. Cooper in
Paternoster Row; W. Reeve in Fleet Street; and C. Sympson in Chancery
Lane. Price 6d. With a curious print of Capt. Cranstoun. Brit. Mus.
(March 10-13, 1753. As the title-page of this pamphlet is torn out of
the copy in the Brit. Mus., it is given in full. From pp. 3-21 the
tract is identical with "The Genuine Lives," also published by M.
Cooper.)
22. _Parricides!_ The trial of Philip Stansfield, Gt., for the murder
of his father in Scotland, 1688. Also the trial of Miss Mary Blandy,
for the murder of her Father, at Oxford, 1752. London (1810). Printed
by J. Dean, 57 Wardour St., Soho for T. Brown, 154 Drury Lane and W.
Evans, 14 Market St., St. James's. Brit. Mus.
23. _The Female Parricide_, or the History of Mary-Margaret d'Aubray,
Marchioness of Brinvillier.... In which a parallel is drawn between
the Marchioness and Miss Blandy. C. Micklewright, Reading. Sold by J.
Newbery. Price 1/-. (March 5, 1752.)
Lowndes mentions also:--
24. _An Impartial Inquiry into the Case of Miss Blandy_. With
reflections on her Trial, Defence, Bepentance, Denial, Death. 1753.
8vo.
25. _The Female Parricide_. A Tragedy, by Edward Crane, of Manchester.
1761. 8vo.
26. _A Letter from a Gentleman to Miss Blandy_ with her answer
thereto. 1752. 8vo. (Possibly the same as "A Letter from a
Clergyman.")
The two following are advertised in the newspapers of the day:--
27. _Case of Miss Blandy and Miss Jeffries_ fairly stated, and
compared.... R. Robinson, Golden Lion, Ludgate Street. (March 26,
1752.)
28. _Genuine Letters between Miss Blandy and Miss Jeffries_ before and
after their Conviction. J. Scott, Exchange Alley; W. Owen, Temple Bar;
G. Woodfall, Charing Cross. (April 21, 1752.)
29. Broadside. _Execution of Miss Blandy_. Pitts, Printer, Toy and
Marble Warehouse, 6 Great St. Andrew's St., Seven Dials. Brit. Mus.
30. _The Addl. MSS._, 15930. Manuscript Department in the Brit. Mus.
II. CONTEMPORARY NEWSPAPERS AND MAGAZINES.
1. _Read's Weekly Journal_, March and April (1752), February 3 (1753).
2. _The General Advertiser_, August-November (1751), March and April
(1752).
3. _The London Evening Post_, March and April (1752).
4. _The Covent Garden Journal_ (Sir Alexander Drawcansir), February,
March, and April (1752).
5. _The London Morning Penny Post_, August and September (1751).
6. _Gentleman's Magazine_, pp. 396, 486-88 (1751), pp. 108-17, 152,
188, 195 (1752), pp. 47, 151 (1753), p. 803, pt. II (1783).
7. _Universal Magazine_, pp 114-124, 187, 281 (1752).
8. _London Magazine_, pp. 379, 475, 512 (1751), pp. 127, 180, 189
(1752), p. 89 (1753).
[In addition to the two London editions of the authorised report of
the trial specified in No. 10 of the Bibliography, it may be noted
that the trial was reprinted at length in the same year at Dublin, and
in an abridged form at London and Edinburgh, all 8vo.--ED.]
[Illustration: The Scotch Triumvirate
(_From a satirical Print in the Collection of Mr. Horace Bleackley_.)]
APPENDIX XIII.
DESCRIPTION OF SATIRICAL PRINT, "THE SCOTCH TRIUMVIRATE."
(From Catalogue of Prints and Drawings in the British Museum, Vol.
III., Part ii., p. 847.)
"THE SCOTCH TRIUMVIRATE."
Sr ***g sc. (? Strange, W.) Ram**y Pix'd.* [1752].
*These signatures were, doubtless, used with a satirical intention.
This engraving displays a stage, as if erected for an execution. The
above title is inscribed on a gallows, under which is James Lowry,
with a rope about his neck, and in one hand a cudgel, inscribed "The
Royal Oke Fore Mast," see below; a label in his mouth is inscribed,
"_Lowry; the Laird of the Land; Sung by Sr. W----m. Lawther._" At his
feet rises the ghost of Hossack, saying, "_You suffered justly, for
Wipping me to Death. K. Hossack._"
At one side stands Mr. William Henry Cranstoun, with a rope round his
neck, and crossing his body like a riband of knighthood; in his pocket
is "_Powder to Clean Pebbels_" in his mouth a label, "_Jammy will save
me._" Before him rises the ghost of Miss Mary Blandy, saying, "My
Honour, Cra----s ruin'd me." The ghost of her mother rising at the
side of the platform, and wringing her hands in pain, replies, "Child
he's Married!" At Cranstoun's feet is an advertisement of "_Scotch
Powder to cure the Itch._"
At the other side is Major James Macdonald, with a halter round his
neck & crossing his body, as above; in his hand is a paper inscribed
"_S. Sea Anuities D-am my School Master._" In his mouth is a label,
bearing, "_I have Escaped Hanging I own I'm a Highland Villain._"
In front is what is intended for a mock shield of Scotland. The shield
is perforated with holes for eyes and a mouth so as to represent a
mask, and it is charged with a crowned thistle; the supporters are an
ass's head, plaided and wearing a Scotch bonnet, and a peacock. Motto,
"_Impudent, Rebellious, Lazy and Proud._"
Beneath is engraved:--
"Proud Scot, Beggarly Scot, witness keen,
Old England has made you all Gentlemen."
James Lowry, who had commanded the "Molly" merchantman, was tried
February 18, 1752, for the murder of Kenrich Hossack, by whipping him
to death; after a trial of eight hours he was found guilty. "The Royal
Oak Foremast" was the name he gave to a stick used in his manner of
enforcing naval discipline. On the 25th of March he was hanged at
Execution Dock, and his body was hung in chains at Blackball. Other
acts of cruelty involving the deaths of the victims were charged on
him. (See _The Gentleman's Magazine_, 1751, p. 234; 1752, pp. 89, 94,
140.)
The exclamation of Miss Blandy referring to Cranstoun is nearly the
same as that uttered by the speaker, as deposed by Mrs. Lane, a
witness at the trial, when she was arrested during a wandering flight
between the death of her father and the returning of the verdict of
"Wilfull Murder." The witness declared Miss Blandy said "The damned
villain, Cranstoun!--my honour to him will be my ruin," etc. The
exclamation of the ghost of Mrs. Blandy refers to the fact that
Cranstoun had been married in 1745, according to the Scotch process,
to Anne, daughter of Sir David Murray, whom he repudiated two years
after. Cranstoun was brother of James, afterwards sixth Lord
Cranstoun, probably the "Jammy" refered to in his speech as above
quoted.
Footnotes:
[1] Henry Bathurst (1714-1794), Solicitor-General to the Prince of
Wales, 1745; Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, 1751; Lord
Chancellor, 1771; succeeded his father as Earl Bathurst, 1775; and in
the following year presided as Lord High Steward at the trial of the
Duchess of Kingston. He resigned the Seal in 1778.--ED.
[2] This quotation is the only reference made during the trial to this
important letter, which, from the report, does not appear to have been
formally "put in." See Introduction.--ED.
[3] So far as appears from the report of the trial, no proof was
offered that these words were in the handwriting of Cranstoun. See
Introduction.--ED.
[4] The Earl of Macclesfield and Lord Cadogan, the local magistrates
who undertook the preliminary work of getting up the case for the
prosecution.--ED.
[5] Afterwards Sir Richard Aston, and one of the Commissioners of the
Great Seal on the death of Lord Chancellor Yorke in 1770.--ED.
[6] Born, 1713; died, 1790. Practised as a physician at Reading until
1754, when he removed to London. Chatham was one of his patients. As a
specialist in mental diseases he was called in to attend George III.
in 1788. He was the father of Henry Addington, first Viscount
Sidmouth.--ED.
[7] The doctor intended to have excepted the stone found in Mr.
Blandy's gall-bladder.--_Original Note_.