5. Anecdotes | and other | Curious Informations | concerning_Trial of Deacon Brodie

Brodie and George Smith; | also, of | James Falconer and Peter Bruce, |

For Breaking into and Robbing the Dundee Banking | Company’s Office, in

Dundee, | With other Occurrences, since they received their Sentence

till their | Execution. | Edinburgh: | Printed by A. Robertson, Foot of

the Horse Wynd. | MDCCLXXXVIII. | Where may be had, the Trial in three

Numbers, price 9d. | Also, | a striking likeness of William Brodie,

price 3d.

Octavo, pp. 16.

Published on 2nd October, 1788, the day after the execution. It consists

of two of Creech’s appendices, together with some additional particulars

concerning the prisoners not given by Creech.

6. An | Account of the Trial | of | William Brodie and George Smith, |

Before the High Court of Justiciary, | On the 27th and 28th days of

August, 1788; | For Breaking Into, and Robbing, | The General Excise

Office of Scotland, on the 5th day of March last. | Illustrated with

Notes and Anecdotes; | and the Portraits of Brodie and Smith. | To which

is added, | An Appendix, | Containing several Curious Papers relative to

the Trial; | and the Persons Tried. | By William Creech, | One of the

Jury. | _Read this, and tremble! ye who ‘scape the laws._ | Pope. |

Second Edition. | Edinburgh: | Printed by and for the Author; | and sold

in London by | T. Cadell in the Strand. | M,DCC,LXXXVIII.

Octavo, pp. xxii.+ 288.

This second edition of Creech’s report, revised and corrected, was

published on 3rd October 1788. The paragraphs in Smith’s declarations,

omitted in the former edition as having no immediate relation to the

trial, were here given in full, and three further appendices were added

to those contained in the first edition. The volume included the

portrait of Deacon Brodie, already published, and an additional

portrait, entitled “Smith at the Bar,” also by Kay. The publication of

this edition was delayed some days in order to give an account of the

behaviour of the criminals at their execution.

7. The | Edinburgh Magazine, | or | Literary Miscellany. | Volume VIII.

| [Quotation.] | Edinburgh: | Printed for J. Sibbald:--And sold by J.

Murray, | London. | 1788. 8vo.

Report of the Trial--Monthly Register for August,

pp. 114-120. Other references--pp. 101, 146-148.

Edinburgh: | Printed by Murray & Cochrane. 8vo.

Report of the Trial--August, pp. 365-372; September,

pp. 429-437. Other references--pp. 358-359, 514-516.

9. The | Gentleman’s Magazine: and | Historical Chronicle. | Volume

LVIII. | For the Year MDCCLXXXVIII. | Part the Second. | [Quotation.] |

By Sylvanus Urban, Gent. | London: | Printed by John Nichols, for David

Henry, late of St. John’s | Gate; and sold by Eliz. Newbery, the corner

of St. Paul’s | Church-yard, Ludgate-street. 1788. 8vo.

References--pp. 648, 829, 925.

and Literature, | for the Year 1788. | [Device.] | London: | Printed for

J. Dodsley, in Pall Mall. 1790. 8vo.

References--Vol. xxx., pp. 207, 214-215.

| Edinburgh: | Printed for W. & C. Tait, Princes Street. | MDCCCXXV.

Post 8vo.

References--Vol. i., pp. 194-195.

Edinburgh: | Robert Buchanan, 26, George Street; | William Hunter, 23,

Hanover Street; And | Longman, Rees, Orme, Brown, and Green, | London. |

MDCCCXXX. 8vo.

References--pp. 327-328.

13. Minor Antiquities | of | Edinburgh. | By the Author of | “Traditions

of Edinburgh,” &c. | Edinburgh: | William and Robert Chambers, |

Waterloo Place. | MDCCCXXXIII. Post 8vo.

References--pp. 165-168.

Peter Mackenzie. | Vol. I. [II., III.] | Glasgow: | John Tweed, 11 St.

Enoch Square. | MDCCCLXVI. 8vo.

References--Vol. ii., pp. 60-113.

15. A Series | of | Original Portraits | and | Caricature Etchings | By

the late | John Kay, | Miniature Painter, Edinburgh | with |

Biographical Sketches and Illustrative Anecdotes | In two volumes | Vol.

I. [II.] | [Device.] | Edinburgh: Adam and Charles Black | MDCCCLXXVII.

References--Vol. i., pp. 96, 119, 141, 256-265, 399;

vol. ii., pp. 8, 120-121, 286.

16. Edinburgh | Picturesque Notes | By | Robert Louis Stevenson | Author

of “An Inland Voyage.” | With Etchings by A. Brunet-Debaines | From

Drawings by S. Bough, R.S.A., and W. E. Lockhart, R.S.A. | And Vignettes

by Hector Chalmers and R. Kent Thomas. | Seeley, Jackson, and Halliday,

54 Fleet Street, | London. MDCCCLXXIX. Folio.

References--pp. 14, 35.

17. Cassell’s | Old and New Edinburgh: | Its History, its People, and

its Places. | By | James Grant, | author of “Memorials of the Castle of

Edinburgh,” “British Battles on Land and Sea,” etc. | Illustrated by

numerous Engravings. | Vol. I. [II., III.] | Cassell & Company, Limited:

4to.

References--Vol. i., pp. 112-116, 217; vol. ii., 23;

vol. iii., 367.

18. Etchings | Illustrative of | Scottish Character | and Scenery | By

the late | Walter Geikie, R.S.A. | Sir Thomas Dick Lauder’s Edition |

with | Additional Plates and Letterpress | Edinburgh William Paterson |

1885 4to.

References--pp. 113-119.

19. Memorials of Edinburgh | In The Olden Time. | By | Sir Daniel

Wilson, LL.D., F.R.S.E., | President of The University of Toronto,|

Author of “Prehistoric Annals of Scotland,” etc. | Second edition|

[Device.] | Volume I. [II.] | Edinburgh and London: Adam & Charles

Black, | 1891. | 4to.

References--Vol. i., p. 222; vol. ii., 23.

20. Deacon Brodie | or the Double Life | a Melodrama | In Five Acts and

| Eight Tableaux. | By W. E. Henley | and R. L. Stevenson. | London:

William Heinemann. | MDCCCXCVII.

Square 16mo, pp. viii.+182.

This play, of which Stevenson had prepared various drafts--the earliest

in 1864--was first privately printed in 1880. A revised edition was

printed “For Private Circulation Only” in 1888. The play was first

published in “Three Plays by W. E. Henley and R. L. Stevenson,” 1892;

afterwards in “Four Plays,” 1896, and separately, as above, in 1897, as

volume i. of “The Plays of W. E. Henley and R. L. Stevenson.”

The play was first produced at Pullan’s Theatre of Varieties, Bradford,

on 28th December, 1882. The subsequent occasions on which it was

performed were as follows:--At Her Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen, in

March, 1883; at the Prince’s Theatre, London, on 2nd July, 1884; at

Montreal, on 26th September, 1887; followed by a series of

representations at Quebec, Toronto, Boston Philadelphia and other

cities; and at the Star Theatre, New York, on 1st December, 1887. The

cast of the play as performed in London and at Montreal is given in

“Three Plays,” 1892, and in subsequent editions.

12 Burleigh Street, Strand, W.C. | 1900. Crown 8vo.

References--pp. 22, 52, 69, 70, 106, 161.

22. Deacon Brodie | or | Behind The Mask | By Dick Donovan,| Author of

“A Detective’s Triumphs” [etc.] | [Device.] | London| Chatto & Windus |

1901 | (Rights of Translation reserved).

Crown octavo, pp. vi. + 258.

A novel founded upon the career of Deacon Brodie, and, so far as

ascertained, his only appearance in fiction.

London: J. M. Dent & Co. | New York: The Macmillan Co. 4to.

References--pp. 171, 224.

Reports of and comments upon the trial appeared in the three

contemporary Edinburgh newspapers, viz., _The Caledonian Mercury_, _The

Edinburgh Advertiser_, and _The Edinburgh Evening Courant_.

APPENDIX IV.

THE BRODIE FAMILY BIBLE.

THIS unique volume was recently acquired in the course of business by

Mr. Richard Cameron, bookseller, Edinburgh. On finding it to be the

family Bible of Convener Francis Brodie, father of the notorious Deacon

Brodie, Mr. Cameron communicated his discovery to the Town Council, by

whom it was purchased for the city on 28th June, 1904, and placed in the

Edinburgh Municipal Museum, where it now finds a fitting resting-place

among many other interesting memorials of the old burghal life.

This volume is valuable as throwing light upon the antecedents of Deacon

Brodie, as to which little was previously known. It is a fine copy of

the folio edition of the Holy Bible, printed by James Watson, the famous

Edinburgh printer, in 1722, and comprises the Old Testament, the

Apocrypha, the New Testament, and King James’ version of the metrical

Psalms. The book-plate of Francis Brodie appears within the front board

of the book.

Francis Brodie has inserted between the Old and New Testaments a

manuscript register of births, baptisms, and deaths occurring in his

family, beginning with his own birth in 1708, and that of his wife,

Cicel Grant, in 1718, their marriage in 1740 the births of their eleven

children, most of whom died in infancy, and the deaths of other

relatives.

It is noteworthy that the entry relating to the birth of his eldest

child, William, has been cut out of the register, and the vacant space

filled with blank paper. This was probably done in 1788, at the time of

the Deacon’s trial and execution, which took place six years after the

death of his father. There still, however, remains in the register a

record of William’s birth. An entry appears with reference to the change

of the calendar by Act of Parliament in 1752, whereby the Gregorian was

adopted in place of the Julian calendar. In view of this, the events

previously entered are repeated in accordance with the altered dates,

each being eleven days later. In this new list the birth of the eldest

son, William, is noted as occurring on 10th October, 1741.

The death of Francis Brodie on 1st June, 1782, is recorded by his

daughter, Jean Brodie. Various later entries appear relating to members

of the family, terminating in 1839 with the funeral letter of Jacobina

Brodie (Mrs. Sheriff). Jean Brodie was the sister who kept house for the

Deacon; and Jacobina Brodie was the wife of Matthew Sheriff, upholsterer

in Edinburgh, who gave evidence at the trial in defence of his

brother-in-law. Deacon Brodie refers to both sisters in his letters,

which were produced in evidence against him.

The following is a copy of the entries above referred to, the original

orthography being preserved throughout:--

* * * * *

Edinburgh, the 24 June 1708, was born I Francis Brodie, now Wright and

Glass: Grinder in Edinburgh, Son to Ludovick Brodie, Writer to the

Signet, and Hellen Grant his Spouse, was baptised by the Reverend Mr.

Innes, in presence off

* * * * *

Edinburgh, the 17 August 1718, was born betwixt 11 and 12 att night,

Cicel Grant (now my Spouse) Daughter to William Grant,

[Illustration: Facsimile of first page of MS. Register in the Brodie

Family Bible.

(From the original in the Edinburgh Municipal Museum.)]

Writer, and Jean Broun, his 2d spouse, and was baptised nixt day by the

Reverend Mr. Freebairn, in presence of the above Ludovick Brodie, John

Grant and Allexander Gordon, Writers &c., named after Mrs. Cicel

Rentoun, Sister to the Laird of Lamerton.

* * * * *

Edinburgh, the 20th October 1740, We the above Francis Brodie and Cicel

Grant was maried in Her Father’s house by the Reverend Mr. Wallace,

Minister in Edg. before these witnesses, viz., our two fathers, John,

Joseph, and Hellen Brodie’s my Brother’s and Sister, Ludovick

Allexander, and Jean Grant’s her Brother’s and Sister, and John Grant,

Writer to the Signet, my Uncle and her Cousin.

* * * * *

[Here followed the entry of the Deacon’s birth, which has been cut out

of the page, as above mentioned.]

* * * * *

Edinburgh, the 22 September, 1742, was born att 6 in the morning being

Wednesday, our Second Son and deied about 11 oclock that Forenoon and

was buried that evening in the Greyfriars Church Yard, two double paces

to the West side of the narrow road opposite to Harley’s Tomb, where a

Great many of his Relations are interred.

* * * * *

Edinburgh, the 18 October 1745, was born betwixt 7 and 8 in the morning,

being Friday, Hellen Brodie, our third child, and was baptised that same

afternoon by the aforesaid the Reverend Mr. Mathieson, Minister in Edg.,

in presence of her two Grand Fathers, Hellen Brodie her Aunt, Ludovick

Grant her Uncle, and John Grant, Writer, her granduncle, named after

Hellen Brodie, her Grand Mother by her Father (who died the 15 December

1725).

The above Hellen Brodie contracted a sore throat, which in a few days

occasioned her death on the 13th of August 1746 att 11 oclock forenoon,

being Weddnesday, and was buried the nixt day in the evening att the

above place beside her Brother. She was 9 months and 20 days old and a

very agreeable Child.

* * * * *

Edinburgh, the 1st November 1747, was born 10 minutes after 5 in the

morning, being Sunday, Ludovick Brodie, our Fourth Child and was

Baptised that same afternoon by the Reverend Mr Glen, Minister in Edinr.

in presence of his two Grand Fathers, Hellen Brodie his Aunt, and

Ludovick Grant his Uncle, named after Ludovick Brodie his Grandfather.

The above Ludovick Brodie took a Chincouch, which in six weeks

occasioned his death on the 14th of August 1748 att 12 oclock Forenoon,

being Sunday, and was buried the nixt day in the evening att the above

place beside his Brother and Sister. He was 9 month and 14 days old and

a very agreeable, Strong Child.

* * * * *

Edinburgh, the 16th Jully 1749, was born half an hour after six in the

morning, being Sunday, Francis Brodie, our Fifth and was Baptised that

same afternoon by the Reverend Mr Glen, Glen, Minister in Eding., in

presence of his Grandfather Ludovick Brodie, Hellen Brodie his Aunt,

Ludovick Grant and John Brodie his Uncles, &c. Named after myself.

* * * * *

Edinburgh, the 16th October 1750 was born half an hour after Twelve in

the morning, being Tuesday, Ludovick Brodie, our sixt Child and was

baptised that same afternoon by the Reverend Mr Wallace, Minister in

Eding, in presence of his two Grand Fathers, Hellen Brodie his Aunt,

Mrs. Grant his Aunt, and Mrs. Grant his half Aunt, John Grant his grand

Uncle, and John Brodie his Uncle, named after Ludovick Brodie his Grand

Father.

* * * * *

By Act of the British Parliament, the Gregorian Kallender was introduced

in Place of the Jullian, and in consequence of this, the day after the

2d of September (by leaving out eleven days) was the 14th of September,

which makes the forementioned events to fall on the following days.

viz.--

* * * * *

Francis Brodie (above designed) was born upon the 6 Jully 1708.

Cicel Grant, my Wife, was born the 28 August 1718.

We were married the 1st November, 1740.

Our First Child, William, was born, the 10 of October 1741.

Our Second Child was born and he died the 4 of October 1742.

Our third Child, Hellen, was born the 30 October, 1745 (her Grand Mother

by the Father, whom she was named after died the 27 December, 1725) and

she died the 25 August 1746.

Our Fourth Child, Ludovick, was born the 13 November 1747, and died the

26 of August 1748.

Our Fifth Child, Francis, was born the 28 Jully 1749.

Our Sixt Child, Ludovick, was born the 28 October, 1750.

* * * * *

Edinburgh, the 7th November 1752, betwixt 12 and 1 in the morning (being

Tuesday) was born our Sevenths Child, and that same forenoon was

baptised by the forementioned Mr. William Wallace, in presence of his

two Grand Fathers, Mr. John Grant his Grand Uncle, Mr John and Mr James

Brodie’s his Uncles by the Father, Mr. William and Mr. Ludovick Grant’s

his Uncles by the Mother, and Mrs. Hellen Brodie his Aunt by his Father,

named after John Brodie his Uncle.

The above John Brodie, upon the 15th January, 1753, (being Monday) took

a Sudden illness and deied betwixt 6 and 7 in the morning and was buried

in the before mentioned place. He was a very lively, well proportioned,

well loock’d and thriving Child, to appearance, and was 9 weeks and 6

days old.

* * * * *

Edinburgh, the 28 February 1754, betwixt 2 and 3 in the morning (being

Thursday) was born our Eight child, and that same day was baptised by

the forementioned Mr. William Wallace in the presence of her two Grand

Fathers, Mr John Grant her Grand Uncle, Mr James Brodie her Uncle by the

Father, Mr William and Mr Ludovick Grant’s her Uncles by the Mother, and

Mrs. Hellen Brodie (now Mrs. Rintoul) her Aunt by the Father, named

Cicel after her Mother.

* * * * *

Edinburgh, the 26 May 1756, ten minutes after two in the morning (being

Wednesday) was born our ninth Child, and that same day was baptised by

the Reverend Mr David Rintoul, one of the Ministers in Kirkcaldie, in

presence of her two Grand Fathers, Mr John Grant her Grand Uncle, Mr

James Brodie her Uncle by the Father, Mrs. Rintoul her Aunt by the

Father, &c., named Margaret after her Aunt in Law Mrs Grant, spouse to

Mr Ludovick Grant her Uncle by the Mother.

* * * * *

The above Ludovick Brodie, our Sixt Child, died the 3d of June 1756

(being Thursday) att four o clock in the morning of the Small Pox, aged

5 years 7 months and 6 days, and was buried in the above mentioned

place; he was a beautyfull, genteel boy, had more prudence than most of

his age, which, joined to a great deal of vivacity, benevolence, and

kindness in his disposition, made him beloved by every one who knew him.

* * * * *

Mr Ludovick Brodie, Clerk to the Signet, my Worthy Father, died of a

Fever, att his own house in Edinburgh, the 16 June 1758 att 1 o clock

afternoon, aged 86, he was a very long time in business (and before he

died was the oldest Clerk to the Signet) and bore a very fair character,

being honest in his transactions and benevolent in his disposition,

embracing every opportunity of doing good and charitable Actions to

mankind in generall and to his Relations and Acquaintances in

particular; Religious without ostentation, an affectionate Husband (to

my Mother, Hellen Grant, his only wife, who died likewise of a Fever the

27 December 1725. She was a pious woman, a dutifull Wife and an

affectionate Mother,) and he was likewise a kind Parent and a constant

and sincere Friend. As to his person, of a midle stature, strong,

robust, and well proportioned, had an open and manly countenance, was

burried the 19th Curt. in the above mentioned place.

* * * * *

Edinburgh, the 2d. February 1759, being Friday att ---- was born our tenth

Child and that same day was baptised by the above reverend Doctr.

William Wallace, in presence of her Grand Father Mr William Grant, Mr.

James Brodie her Uncle by the Father, Mr. Ludovick Grant and Mrs Grant

her Uncle and Aunt by the Mother, Mr. William and Hellen Grant’s’ her 2d

Cousins by the Father, and named Jean after her Grand Mother and her

Aunt by the Mother.

* * * * *

Edinburgh, the 31 of Jully 1760, being Saturday, att 1 in the morning,

was born our eleventh Child and that same day was baptised by Doctr.

Patrick Cumming, Minister in Edinburgh, in presence of her Grand Father

Mr Willaim Grant, Mr James Brodie her Uncle by the Father, Mr Ludovick

and Mrs. Grant’s her Uncle and Aunt by the Mother, Mrs Gordon and Mrs

Campbell her Aunts by the Mother, and Mrs Hellen Grant her 2d. Cousin by

the Father, and named Jacobina after the above Mr James Brodie her

Uncle.

* * * * *

Mr William Grant, Writer in Edinburgh, my wife’s worthie Father, died of

old age the 18 of January 1762, att 8 oclock in the morning, in the 100

of his age, he was a very long time in business, had a very fair

character for honesty in all his transactions. Religious without

ostentation, a good Husband, a dutiful Parent, and in his own lifetime

did a great many good and Liberall actions, particularly to his

Children, Grand Children and great Grand Children, who were very

numerous. As to his person, he was of a midle stature, well

Proportioned, of a Fair and comely Countenance, and was buried the 21

curt. in the above place.

* * * * *

On the 19th of February 1768, being Frieday, a little after one in the

morning, died of a lingering illness, my eldest Daughter, Cicel, wanting

9 days to compleat her 14th year and during the long time she was

indisposed, behaved with great Fortitude and Patience, her own distress

never making her neglect nor abate that natural affability and good

manners which she shewed to all, and particularly to her relations; when

in health her person was tall and gentile and her countenance

agreeable, her behaviour modest, polite and sensible, her capasity to

learn was quick, and had a retentive memory, and as she was sincerely

religious (without the least tincture of enthusiesem), there is no doubt

that being both Good and Innocent, she is now extreamly, and will be

eternally happy in the Celestiall Mansions.

* * * * *

On the 6th of March, 1776, being Weddensday, about seven in the evening,

died of a linguring illness my (then) Eldest Daughter, Margaret, being

19 years 9 months and 11 days old, she had a Sollid Understanding, and

without ostentation was firmly attached to the Cause of Truth, Virtue

and Religion, Kind and Affectionate to her acquaintances but more

especially to her Relations, and among her last words expressed her

gratitude for the care they had taken of her, I believe her illness

originated from a severe cold, which she contracted about 8 months

presiding her death. She is now (I hope) enjoying eternall Bliss with

her dear sister Cecil.

* * * * *

On the 22nd September 1777, being Munday night, one quarter after 11

oclock, died of a fever my dear wife, Cicel Grant, aged 59 years and 25

days and married to me 36 years and 325 days (which wants 40 days of 37

years.) She was a Chaste and dutifull Wife, and besides a great many

good Qualities, she was equalled by few in the prudent and skillfull

management of Her House and Family, was Religious without ostentation,

Charitable and good to all, and is buried in the above place (two double

paces west of the narrow road opposite to Harleys Tomb) where a great

number of my and her Relations lyes interred: and there is no doubt she

now enjoys Celestial happiness.

Mr. Francis Brodie, Wright in Edinburgh, my worthy Father, died of the

Palsy att his own house in Edinr., the 1st of June 1782, att 5 oclock

afternoon in the 74th year of his age. His character was that of an

honest man, an affectionate husband, an indulgent parent, a faithful

friend, and a generous master.

JEAN BRODIE.

My sister, Jean Brodie, died at her own house on the 22 of August 1821,

at 10 oclock at night, aged 62 years and seven months, after a long and

severe illness, which she bore with patience. She was a generous and

affectionate sister and Aunt, a Sensible and Correct Woman in every

respect, and is buried in the above mentioned place.

JACOBINA SHERIFF.

My Eldest daughter, Cecilia Sheriff, died at my house on the 30 of June

1831, at 6 oclock morning, aged 42. She was a humble Christian and

dutiful daughter and most affectionate sister, and most faithfull

friend. I trust she is now with the Lord, and is buried in the above

mentioned place.

JACOBINA SHERIFF.

Her Dear and Affectionate Sister. 1831.

Jane Sheriff.

Jacobina Sherriff, my worthy mother, died at my house after three months

illness in the 79 year of her age, she was the most affectionate parent,

kind, indulgent in every respect, unopressive to all, humble in her

opinion of herself, and I now trust she is beyond the reach of all

sorrow.

Jane Sherriff

or Molleson

HANG

March 23

1839

Sir,

The favour of your Company to attend the Funeral of Mrs. Sherriff,

my Mother-in-law from my House here to the Greyfriars Burial

Ground, on Thursday the 28th currt. at 2 oclock afternoon, will

much oblige.

Sir,

Your obedient Servant,

JAMES MOLLESON.

HANG

Edinburgh,

3 Gloucester Place,

March 25th, 1839.

APPENDIX V.

EXCERPTS FROM THE RECORDS OF THE CAPE CLUB, IN THE POSSESSION OF THE

SOCIETY OF ANTIQUARIES OF SCOTLAND.

_Roll of the Knights Companions of The Cape._

Date of Admission.

1775 February 25th.

No. of Diplomas Names of the Knights Titles of Knighthood

232 William Brodie Llhoyd

II.

_Record of Cape Club Petitions, Vol. i._

No. 232.

TO THE SOVEREIGN AND KNIGHTS OF THE CAPE

THE PETITION OF WILLIAM BRODIE WRIGHT IN EDINBURGH

Humbly Sheweth

That your Petitioner is very desirous to be admitted a Member of The

Cape.

May it therefore Please the Sovereign and Knights to

admit your Petitioner and shall ever pray

WILLIAM BRODIE

The Candidate is recommended by

GILB. WAUGH

JAMES SYME

(Written upon the back of the Petition.)

5. Anecdotes | and other | Curious Informations | concerning | William