deacon brodie
The real story behind Edinburgh's most enduring legend
Copies of two letters, on one sheet of paper, from William Brodie to Michael Henderson
10 April 1788
The letters of Deacon Brodie are a unique view on Brodie’s personality and mentalities. As taken as we are with the “bad Brodie” who skulked around Edinburgh thieving, we often forget there was also the day-to-day public face of Deacon Brodie. Glimmers of that Brodie come through in this collection of letters. We see a man who is concerned about his financial affairs and his children. We also see a man coming to terms with the duality of his personality. The “good Brodie” in denial of what the “bad Brodie” had done. Much like Dr. Jekyll waking to realize what Mr. Hyde had done the night before.
The next two letters in Brodie’s correspondence while on the run address his flight from Edinburgh to London and his time in England’s grand metropolis. Fear and pride tinge Deacon Brodie’s account of hiding out in London. His unnamed “old female friend”apparently lived within 500 yards of Bow Street. This is where the precursors to the London Metropolitan Police Service, the Bow Street Runners, headquartered. The Bow Street Runners were somewhat of an extension to the Bow Street magistrates’ office and were paid by the government to serve writs and arrest criminals on the magistrates’ authority. If there was a place in London Deacon Brodie wished to be furthest from, it would be Bow Street.
There is also a hint that Deacon Brodie’s “old female friend” has at least a nodding acquaintance with the criminal underworld. In the second paragraph, The mention in Brodie’s letter of being introduced to a “flash man” means, in the parlance of the time, a criminal. Once again, the identity of the flash man, and his usefulness to Brodie, is an impenetrable enigma.
Finally, in the second letter written to Michael Henderson, we see that Deacon Brodie viewed himself as a good father to his three illegitimate children by Anne Grant. “They will miss me more than any in Scotland,” says Brodie of his children by Grant. Whether this is the case or not, Deacon Brodie fears for his children’s future without his guidance and financial support. Deacon Brodie also, in a round about manner, asks that Henderson collect a debt of one pound from a Mr. Balmano. “Acquaint him I glimed the scrive I had of him,” in the slang of the time means that Brodie wants Henderson to remind Balmano Brodie is owed a one pound note and furthermore Brodie knows Balmano has the cash to repay the debt.
Thursday, 10th April, 1788
Dear Michael,
I embrace this opportunity of writing you, and I make no doubt but it will give you, Mrs. Henderson, and a few others satisfaction to hear that I am well.
Were I to write you all that has happened to me, and the hairbreadth escapes I made from a well-scented pack of bloodhounds, it would make a small volume.
I left Edinburgh Sunday, the 9th, and arrived in London Wednesday, the 12th, where I remained snug and safe in the house of an old female friend until Sunday, 23rd March (whose care for me I shall never forget, and only wish I may ever have it in my power to reward her sufficiently), within 500 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 rapt to me. I saw Mr. Williamson twice; but, although countrymen commonly shake hands when they meet from home, yet I did not choose to make so free with him, notwithstanding he brought a letter to me ; he is a clever man, and I give him credit for his conduct.
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 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 left London on Sunday, 23rd March, and from that day to this present moment, that I am now writing, have lived on board a ship, which life agrees vastly well with me. It is impossible for me at present to give you my address, but I beg you will write me, or dictate a letter to Thom, and let it be a very long one, giving me an account of what is likely to become of poor Ainslie, Smith, and his wife ; I hope that neither you, nor any of your connections, has been innocently involved by those unfortunate men, or by that designing villain Brown; I make no doubt but he is now in high favour with Mr. Cockbum, for I can see some strokes of his pencil in my portrait. May God forgive him for all his crimes and falsehoods. I hope in a short time to be in Edinburgh, and confute personally many false aspersions made against me by him and others. Write me how the main went; how you came on in it; if my black cock fought and gained, etc, etc. As I can give you no directions how to write me, you'll please seal your letter, give it to Robert Smith, and he will deliver it to my sister, who will take care that it be conveyed safe to me wherever I may happen to be at the time, for I will give such directions that everything that is sent to me shall be forwarded from place to place until it come to my hand. I have lived now eighteen days on board of ship, and in good health and spirits, although very bad when I came on board, having my tongue and throat in one ulcer, not a bit of skin upon either, and the medicines I took in my friend's and by her direction (for she is one of experience), just beginning to operate ; but I found it necessary, at all events, to remove, so I underwent a complete salivation on board ship. During all my trials since I left Edinburgh, my spirits nor my presence of mind never once forsook me, for which I have reason to be thankful. My best compliments to Mrs. Henderson, and I will order payment of the two guineas as soon as I have accounts from the gentleman I have intrusted with my affairs; let her not be anxious about it, for, if I live, it shall be paid.
Dear Michael,
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 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.
[Addressed] Mr. Michael Henderson, Grassmarket, Stabler, Edinburgh.
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