CHAPTER IV.
The Diary of a Resurrectionist is written on 16 leaves, but is, unfortunately, imperfect. The first entry is November 28th, 1811, and the last December 5th, 1812. There are no entries in May, June, and July; during these months there would be little demand for subjects, as the sessions of the Anatomical Schools ran from October to May. Besides this, the light nights would interfere with the work of the men. The entry under the date February 25th refers to this: "the moon at the full, could not go." The state of the moon was of great importance to these men in their work; the writer of the Diary has on one of the pages copied out the "Rules for finding the moon on any given day," and has set out the epact for 1812 and 1813.
There is no clue in the Diary itself as to the name of the writer, and, unfortunately, Sir Thomas Longmore[22] was quite unable to remember the name of the individual from whom he received it. Feeling was very strong against the men who had been engaged in the resurrection business, and therefore, when information was required from them, every effort was made to keep their names secret. As late as 1843, when the _Life of Sir Astley Cooper_ was published, the name of this man was carefully concealed, though most of the other members of the gang were freely spoken of under their full names. Bransby Cooper[23] quotes a written statement made by this man to the effect that he was in Maidstone Gaol in October, 1813. Enquiry at the gaol has, however, failed to find any mention of him; the original document is not forthcoming, and it is very probable that there is a mistake as regards the date. In this statement he is called Josh. N----, and Bransby Cooper speaks of him as N. There is a letter on "Body-snatchers" in the _Medical Times_, 1883, vol. i. p. 343, signed, "Your Old Correspondent"; the writer of the letter was, in all probability, Mr. T. Madden Stone, who had been a correspondent of the journal in question from the time of its foundation. Mr. Stone had a valuable collection of papers and autographs, and his letter is really a reprint of a paper in his possession relating to payments made to the resurrection-men. In it occurs the following passage: "N.B., Sir Astley Cooper great friend to Naples." Mr. Stone presented a large number of papers and letters to the Royal College of Surgeons, but this particular one is not in the collection. It is curious that Bransby Cooper makes no special mention of Naples in his book, although he gives an account of all the other men with whom Sir Astley had any dealings. He gives a long notice of "N.," and mentions that he wrote the Diary from which quotations are made; this is the document now under consideration.
The witness "C. D.," who was examined before the Committee on Anatomy in 1828, was, in all probability, Naples; he gave statistics to show the number of bodies obtained, and stated that the figures were taken "from my book." The letters "C. D." are not given as initials; the three resurrection-men who gave evidence were distinguished as "A. B.," "C. D.," and "F. G." The testimony was probably given on the condition that no names were revealed, and, therefore, definite information cannot be obtained as to "C. D.'s" real name from the House of Commons.
On one page of the Diary is written "Miss Naples." This does not prove much, as the names of several other females are mentioned; not, however, in any connection with the business. The entries look as though the writer had amused himself by scribbling them down, and then crossing them out again. "Miss Naples" is the only one not crossed through.
It is known that the man described as N---- by Bransby Cooper was on board the _Excellent_ in the action off Cape St. Vincent. In the muster-book of the _Excellent_ for 1797 Josh. Naples is down as an A.B.: he is there stated to have been born at Deptford, and to have been 21 years of age in 1795. This seems conclusively to prove that Naples was the man who wrote the Diary.
The men who composed the gang at the time the Diary was written are, in that document, nearly always spoken of by their Christian names. Their names are Ben [Crouch], Bill [Harnett], Jack [Harnett], Daniel,[24] Butler, Tom [Light], and Holliss. This gang, whose doings are recorded in the Diary, was the chief one in the Metropolis in the early part of the present century. The account, therefore, of the proceedings of these men gives a good idea of the work of the body-snatchers in general. Honour amongst thieves was not the motto of the resurrection-men; they seem to have been ever ready to sell or cheat their comrades, if a favourable opportunity presented itself.
For the accompanying biographical notes of the men mentioned in the Diary the writer is indebted chiefly to the account given of them by Bransby Cooper.[25]
Ben Crouch, the leader of the gang, was the son of a carpenter, who worked at Guy's Hospital. He was a tall, powerful, athletic man, with coarse features, marked with the small-pox, and was well known as a prize-fighter. He used to dress in very good clothes, and wore a profusion of gold rings, and had a large bunch of seals dangling at his fob. He was tried for stealing cloth from Watling Street, but was able to successfully prove an _alibi_. Bransby Cooper states that Crouch was seldom drunk, but when he was in that state he was most abusive and domineering; the Diary shows him in more than one of these attacks. He was sharp enough to be always sober on settling-up nights, and so had a distinct advantage over his comrades; by this means he generally managed to get more than his proper share of the proceeds of their horrible work. About 1817 he gave up the resurrection business, and occupied himself chiefly in dealing in teeth; in this he was joined by Jack Harnett. They obtained licences as sutlers, so that they might be allowed as camp-followers, both in France and Spain. A large supply of teeth was thus obtained by them, their plan being to draw the sound teeth of as many dead men as possible on the night after a battle. They did not limit their attention to teeth, but made large sums of money by stealing valuables from the persons of those who had fallen in battle--proceedings which were even more brutal than their former resurrectionist practices. With the money he had thus made, Crouch built a large hotel at Margate, which at first looked like being a paying concern. The nature of his former occupation, however, leaked out, and ruined his business; he then parted with the property at a great sacrifice. Subsequently he became very poor, and, whilst Harnett was away in France, Crouch appropriated some of his property; for this he was sentenced to twelve months' imprisonment. After this he lived in London, in great poverty, and was ultimately found dead in the top room of a public-house near Tower Hill. It is very probable that at one time he made money by lending to the medical students. In his "Confessions of a Dissecting-room Porter," before alluded to, Albert Smith says, "I beg you will look at your watches, if you have not already lent them to Uncle Crouch."
* * * * *
Bill Harnett was a favourite with Astley Cooper and Henry Cline. With the exception of a fondness for gin, he seems to have been a more respectable man than one would have expected to find in such company. He was very obliging, and could generally be trusted to carry out his promises. Bransby Cooper states that Bill Harnett and "N." objected to Crouch, and often worked against him; in the Diary they will be all found working together, though there is recorded at least one "row" with Crouch. Bill Harnett was a good boxer, and fought Ben Crouch at Wimbledon; he had previously received an injury to his jaw, and Crouch hit him a severe blow on this part, which decided the fight in Crouch's favour. Harnett died in St. Thomas' Hospital of consumption. Like Southey's "Surgeon," he had a great horror of being dissected, and on his death-bed he obtained a promise from Mr. Joseph Henry Green that his body should not be opened.
* * * * *
Jack Harnett was a nephew of Bill; he is described as a stout, red-haired, ill-looking fellow, uncouth in his address and manner of speech. Like his partner, Crouch, he seems to have been fond of display in the matter of jewellery. But, unlike Crouch, he did not lose the money he had made, and at his death left nearly £6,000 to his family.
* * * * *
Butler was originally a porter in the dissecting-room at St. Thomas'. Bransby Cooper describes him as "a short, stout, good-tempered man, with a laughing eye and Sancho-Panza sort of expression." He was a clever articulator, and dealt largely in bones and teeth. Afterwards he set up as a dentist in Liverpool; but his dissolute habits were his ruin, and he was obliged to fly from his creditors. Butler was sentenced to death for robbing the Edinburgh mail, but his execution was postponed. During this delay he obtained the skeleton of a horse, and articulated it in the prison. The Austrian Archdukes John and Lewis were at that time in this kingdom, and, on visiting the prison in Edinburgh, were shown this skeleton; they were so pleased with the man's handiwork that they obtained his pardon from the Prince Regent. After his release, Butler was never heard of again by any of his old comrades or employers.
* * * * *
Tom Light is not mentioned by Bransby Cooper by name; he gives an account of a resurrection-man whom he calls "L----," but whether this notice refers to Light or not cannot be definitely determined. In all probability L---- and Light are identical; Cooper speaks of the former as being so unreliable that his comrades could never trust him. Tom Light seems to have had a happy knack of escaping justice; on p. 92 will be found an account of his being acquitted, even when taken with the bodies in his possession. He does not seem to have worked regularly with Crouch's gang; at Hatton Garden Police Court he appeared as T. Light, _alias_ John Jones, _alias_ Thomas Knight, in October, 1812, and it was stated against him that he had lately been convicted at the Middlesex Sessions of stealing dead bodies for dissection, but he had evaded standing his trial, in consequence of which the Bench issued a warrant against him. The particular charge on which he was now brought before the magistrates was that, with Patrick Harnell,[26] one of his bail, he had been found in the act of stealing three dead bodies from the parish burial-ground of St. Pancras, or St. Giles, which were separated only by a wall. The men were apprehended by the horse patrol of the Hampstead and Highgate district. There was some difficulty in carrying on the case, as, until it was determined from which burial-ground the bodies had been taken, it could not be said which parish was the real prosecutor. Light attempted to escape, but was secured. The newspaper adds, "and, from the frequency of such offences, strong indignation was excited in the neighbourhood, from whence a crowd attended at the office."
* * * * *
Holliss was originally a sexton, and, like so many of his class, came into the pay of the Resurrectionists; at last his demands became so exorbitant that the resurrection-men refused to pay him, and informed his employers of what had been taking place. He was at once dismissed, and, having no other means of livelihood, he joined the resurrection-men. He saved money, and afterwards purchased a hackney coach, which he himself drove. Like most of his companions, Holliss came to a bad end. Harnett, the younger, had been to France, and had brought away with him a large number of teeth, which he valued at £700; these he entrusted to his daughter, who left them in a hackney carriage. The driver found the teeth, and, not knowing how to dispose of them, consulted his friend, Holliss. Holliss offered £5 for the teeth, and promised an extra sum if they sold well. Harnett had made known his loss to Holliss, so that he knew perfectly well to whom the teeth belonged. Thinking that he could make more money by selling them privately than by trusting to a reward from Harnett, he began to dispose of the teeth to dentists. Harnett made enquiries of some of his customers as to whether they had lately been offered teeth for sale, and was shown some lately purchased from Holliss; these he was able to identify. Holliss was at once given into custody, and was tried at Croydon; he escaped transportation through a flaw in the indictment. Whilst he was in gaol awaiting his trial, Harnett seized Holliss' house and all his household furniture for a debt of £83. Holliss was afterwards mixed up in a horse-stealing case, and ultimately died in great poverty and wretchedness.
* * * * *
"N." or Joseph Naples, the writer of the Diary, is described by Bransby Cooper as "a civil and well conducted man, slight in person, with a pleasing expression of countenance, and of respectful manners." He was the son of a respectable stationer and bookbinder, and in early life went as a sailor into the King's service. He was for some time on board the _Excellent_, and served in that vessel in the engagement off Cape St. Vincent.[27] Then he returned to England, and, having spent all his prize-money, went on a vessel cruising about the Channel. From this he ran away and came back to London; here he obtained a situation as grave-digger to the Spa Fields burial-ground. A man named White enticed Naples into the resurrectionist business; this soon caused him to lose his situation. White was stopped by the patrols, and a body was found in his possession. He managed to escape, but it was proved that the body had been taken from Spa Fields, and Naples was sentenced to two years' imprisonment. He escaped, with another prisoner, from the House of Correction by making an opening through a skylight in the roof, and afterwards scaling the outer walls of the prison by means of a rope.
He was retaken through information given against him by Crouch, and it was only by the mediation of Sir Astley Cooper with the Secretary of State that Naples escaped additional punishment. In the list of prisoners written out by himself, and printed by Bransby Cooper (_Life_, vol. 1. p. 423), Naples thus describes himself: "Jos{h}. N----[28] 'Resurgam Hommo,' for trial."
The writing and spelling in the Diary show him to have been a man of superior education to most of his class. He continued in the resurrectionist business up to the time of the passing of the Anatomy Act, when he was taken on as a servant in the dissecting-room of St. Thomas' Hospital.
* * * * *
There is considerable difficulty in identifying many of the burial-grounds from which bodies are said in the Diary to have been stolen. Many of these were private, and the name mentioned is probably either that of the proprietor or of the care-taker. No doubt, too, some of the names are slang terms which are quite forgotten at the present day.[29]
THE DIARY
[The spelling of the Diary has been preserved in the reprint, but as there is no attempt at punctuation in the original, stops have here been added to make some of the entries more intelligible. The writer's capital letters, too, have not been strictly followed in the reprint.]
1811 NOVEMBER.
_Thursday 28th._ At night went out and got 3, Jack & me Hospital Crib,[30] Benj{n}, Danl & Bill to Harpers,[31] Jack & me 1 big Gates,[32] sold 1 Taunton D{o} S{t} Thomas's.
_Friday 29th._ At night went out and got 3, Jack, Ben & me got 2, Bethnall Green, Bill & Dan{l}. 1 Bartholo{w}. Crib opened;[33] whole at Barth{w}.
_Saturday 30th._ At night went and got 3 Bunhill Row, sold to Mr. Cline, S{t}. Thomas's Hospital.
REMARKS, &C., DECEMBER, 1811.
_Sunday 1st._ We all look{d}. out,[34] at Home all night.
_Monday 2nd._ Met at S{t}. Thomas's, Got paid for the 3 adults & settled; met and settled with Mordecei,[35] made Him up £2 5s. 6d. and Receipt of all demands. At Home all night.
_Tuesday 3rd._ Went to look out and brought the Shovils from Barthol{w}., Met early in the evening at Mr. Vickers,[36] did not go out that night, Butler and me came home intoxsicated.
_Wednesday 4th._ At night went out and got 10, whole[37] went to Green[38] and got 4, Black Crib 1, Bunner[39] fields 5.
_Thursday 5th._ The whole at home all night.
_Friday 6th._ Removed 1 from Barthol. to Carpue.[40] At night went out and got 8, Dan{l}. at home all night. 6 Back S{t}. Lukes & 2 Big Gates: went 5 Barthol. 1 Frampton[41] 3 S{t}. Thomas's, 3 Wilson.[42]
_Saturday 7th._ At night went out & got 3 at Bunhill Row. 1 S{t}. Thomas's, 2 Brookes.[43]
_Sunday 8th._ At home all night.
_Monday 9th._ At night went out and got 4 at Bethnall Green.
_Tuesday 10th._ Intoxsicated all day: at night went out & got 5 Bunhill Row. Jack all most buried.
_Wednesday 11th._ Tom & Bill and me removed[44] 5 from S{t}. Barthol{w}., 2 Wilson, 2 Brookes, 1 Bell[45]; in the evening got 1 Harps,[46] went to S{t}. Thomas', at home all night.
_Thursday 12th._ I went up to Brookes and Wilson, afterwards me Bill and Daniel went to Bethnall Green, got 2; Jack, Ben went got 2 large & 1 large small back S{t}. Luke's,[47] came home, afterwards met again & went to Bunhill row got 6, 1 of them with ----[48] named Mary Rolph, aged 46, Died 5{th} Dec. 1811.
_Friday 13th._ At Home all day & night.
_Saturday 14th._ Went to Bartholomew took{d}. two Brookes: Pack{d} 4 and sent them to Edinborough, came Home to Ben{n}., settled £14 6s. 2-1/2d. each man, came home, got up at 2 me Jack & Bill went to Bunhill Row and got 3. Ben & Daniel staid at home.
_Sunday 15th._ At home all day, Got up at 3 a.m. The whole party went to Harps, got 3, Went to S{t}. Thomas's.
_Monday 16th._ At home all day & night Ill.
_Tuesday 17th._ At home all day & do. night.
_Wednesday 18th._ At Home all day & do. night.
Remember me when far away
[This line is written in the same way as the names mentioned on p. 127.]
_Thursday 19th._ Went to Bartholomew, At home all night.
_Friday 20th_. Went to S{t}. Thomas's, came home and went to the play, came home: at 3 A.M. got up and went to the Hospital Crib got 5 large.
_Saturday 21st._ Went to S{t}. Thomas's sent 1 to Mr. Taunton,[49] 2 to Edinburgh, S{t}. Thomas's took 6 of the above this week, came home and stopt at home all night.
_Sunday 22nd._ Went and look'd out, at 4 o'clock, got up, party went to Harps got 3 large and 2 small, the whole went to Barth{m}.
_Monday 23rd._ Went for orders to Wilson and Brookes, Met Bill, Brought one to Carpue, Sent him back to bring 2 from Barthol{w}. 1 for Brookes, 1 for Bell, Ben{n} and Jack got 5 small at Harpers.
_Tuesday 24th._ At twelve at midnight a party went to Wygate got 3 small, came back and got 2 large at Newington, Came home then settled at Ben{n}, Each man's share £8 16s. 8d., at home all night.
_Wednesday 25th._ At Home all day and night.
_Thursday 26th._ At Home all day and night.
_Friday 27th._ Went to look out, Came home met Ben and Dan{l} at 5 o'clock, went to Harps, got 1 large and took it to Jack's house, Jack, Bill and Tom not with us, Geting drunk.
_Saturday 28th._ At 4 o'clock in the morning got up, with the whole party to Guy's and S{t}. Thomas's Crib, got 6 took them to S{t}. Thomas's. Came home and met at Thomas's again, pack{d}. up 3 for Edinbro, took one over to Guys.
_Sunday 29th._ At home all day and night.
_Monday 30th._ Butler and Dan{l}, took 1 large to Framton, large small to Hornig.
_Tuesday 31st._ Met at the Harty Choak,[50] had dispute about the horse.
REMARKS, &C., JANUARY, 1812.
_Wednesday 1st._ Got up at 3 in the morning, the whole party went to Guys and S{t}. Thomas', got 3 adults, 1 from Guy's and 2 from S{t}. Thomas', took them to S{t}. Thomas', came home and met again, took one of the above to Guy's, settled for the Horse £24. At home all night. Miss Naples.[51]
_Thursday 2nd._ Went down to S{t}. Thomas's, got paid £7 17 6 for one adult open D{o} not. Came home, met by agreement at S{t}. Thomas's, did not go out, Bill not there, Came home again, at home all night.
_Friday 3rd._ Went to S{t}. Thomas's, took the Foetus to the London, Rec{d}. 10s. 6d. Came back to S{t}. Thomas's Rec{d}. £4 4s. 0d., Went home, Met by agreement, Went to the Green got 5, Jack, Ben{n} and me; Dan{l}. and Bill at home, took the above 5 to Barthol{w}. at home all night.
_Saturday 4th._ Met at Bartholo{w}., they took 4 of the above, 1 sent to Edinburgh, 1 went to Brookes, Carpue and Wilson for orders, Came back, at home all night.
_Sunday 5th._ At home all day. Met at 5, whole went to Newin.[52] got 3. Jack and me took them to Wilson, Came home, met at 12, got 5 & 2 small at Harps, afterwards went to the Big Gates, got 3 adults, left Dan{l}. at home, took the whole to Bartho{m}.
_Monday 6th._ Went to Barth{w}., took 1 to the London, Jack & Tom 1 to Harnige, D{o} 1 to S{t}. Thomas's. Came home, in all night.
_Tuesday 7th._ At home all day, Tom removed 1 from the borough to Bartholom{w}. fetched £2., from there took 2 to Mr. Wilson, D{o} to Brookes.
_Wednesday 8th._ At 2 A.M. got up, the Party went to Harps, got 4 adults and 1 small, took 4 to S{t}. Thomas's, Came home went to Mr. Wilson & Brookes, Dan{l}. got paid £8 8 0 from Mr. Wilson I rec{d}. 9 9 0 from Mr. Brookes, Came over to the borough, sold small for £1 10 0, Rec{d}. £4 4 0 for adult, At home all night.
_Thursday 9th._ Went down to S{t}. Thomas's, got paid £8 8 0, 2 adults: at home all night.
_Friday 10th._ Met at S{t}. Thomas's, settled each man's share £12 12 0, 3 things[53] on hand.
_Saturday 11th._ At 4 A.M. got up & went to the Hospital Crib, got 2 adults, met at Barthol{w}., packed up 2 for the Country, sold 1 at S{t}. Thomas's: at home all night.
_Sunday 12th._ At Home all day, at 11 p.m. met & the whole went to Wygate, got 2 adults & 2 small, afterwards went to the Green, got 2 large & 1 large small,[54] Took them to Barthol{w}.
_Monday 13th._ Took 2 of the above to Mr. Brookes & 1 large & 1 small to Mr. Bell, Foetus to Mr. Carpue, small to Mr. Framton, Large small to Mr. Cline. Met at 5, the party went to Newington, 2 adults. Took them to S{t}. Thomas's.
_Tuesday 14th._ At 1 A.M. got up, Ben{n}., Bill & me went to S{t}. Luke's, 2 adults; Jack, Dan{l}. Big Gates, 1 large & 1 small, took them to Barthol{w}., Came home & went to S{t}. Thomas's, afterwards went to the other end of the town for orders. At home all night.
_Wednesday 15th._ Went to S{t}. Thomas's, Came back, pack'd up 2 large & 1 small for Edinburgh. At home all night.
_Thursday 16th._ The party met at the Hartichoak. Settled the above, Each man's share £8 4s. 7-1/2d. At home all night.
_Friday 17th._ Went & look out: came home met at 11, party except Dan{l}., Went to the Hospital Crib & got 4, was stopt by the patrols, Butler, Horse & Cart were taken.
_Saturday 18th._ Went to the White horse, Butler bailed: at home all night.
_Sunday 19th._ Went & look'd out, at home all night, Could not get the horse out of the Stable.
_Monday 20th._ At home all day & night, Butler & Jack got drunk.
_Tuesday 21st._ Look'd out, Jack & Butler drunk as before, hindred us of going out. At Home.
_Wednesday 22nd._ At 4 o'clock in the morning got up, Bill & me went to the Hospital Crib and 1 for Mr. Cooper's[55] Lectures, had a dispute with the party, at home all night. Ben got drunk.
_Thursday 23rd._ Met at 10 at night, went to Wygate, got 4 large and 1 small, went to the Green got 3 large. Dan{l}, not with us.
_Friday 24th._ Met at 11 at night. Met the patrols. Got one Hospital Crib and 6 at Bermondsey, took them to Barthol{w}., sent 3 to the Country.
_Saturday 25th._ Met at Bartholomew. Took 1 to Mr. Carpue; S{t}. Barthol{w}. took 2: at home all night.
_Sunday 26th._ Went to Big Gates to Look out, came home, at home all night.
_Monday 27th._ At 2 o'clock in the morning got up, met the party except Dan{l}., Went to the Big gates, got 4 Took them to Barthol{w}., Afterwards met, took 1 to Mr. Cline, 2 to Mr. Wilson, came home. Tom & Bill got drunk, did not go out.
_Tuesday 28th._ Went to Barthol{w}., could not sell, came back to the Borough & came home, at home all night.
_Wednesday 29th._ Went to Bartho{w}. brought remaining 2 to S{t}. Thomas's, at home all night.
_Thursday 30th._ Went to S{t}. Thomas's, at home all night.
_Friday 31st._ Went to look out, at night went out, got 2 Guys & Thomas's, same night 3 Harps 2 small: same night the Cart broke down, took 2 to Guys.
REMARKS, &C., FEB., 1812.
_Saturday 1st._ Went to Barthol{w}., did not settle, at home all night.
_Sunday 2nd._ Went to look out, met at 5 in the evening, went to the Green, got 7 large & 3 small and 3 foetus. Same night went to Wygate 4 large & 2 small. Took them to Bartholomew.
_Monday 3rd._ Went to Bartholomew, at home all night.
_Tuesday 4th._ Met at Bartholomew, settled each man's share £21 9s. 4d., Met at night, went to Guy's got 3 adults. Took them to Bartholomew: at home all night.
_Wednesday 5th._ Went to Barthol{w}. Met at night. Got 5 at Newington.
_Thursday 6th._ Went to St. Thomas's: at home all night.
_Friday 7th._ Met together me & Butler went to Newington, thing bad.[56] Jack & Bill went to Goswell St.[57] got 1. Came home met again. Danl. Bill & me went to St. Johns got 2 adults. Ben{n} and Jack went to Flemish[58] got nothing, took 2 St. Thomas's.
_Saturday 8th._ Went to St. Thomas's, at home all night.
_Sunday 9th._ Went to Look out, at home all night.
_Monday 10th._ Met. Went to St. James's. Got 9 large & 4 small, took them to Barthol{w}.
_Tuesday 11th._ Went to Barthol{w}. Moved the things. At home all night.
_Wednesday 12th._ Went to Look out, Met at night, went to St. Olives. Got 2 adults and 1 Do Bermondsey, Took them to St. Thomas's.
_Thursday 13th._ Met at St. Thomas's. At home all night.
_Friday 14th._ Met by appointment, me & Jack went to Big gate got 4, the rest went to St. Luke's got 2, took them to Barthol{w}.
_Saturday 15th._ Met at Barthol{w}. At home all night.
_Sunday 16th._ Went to Look out, at home all night.
_Monday 17th._ Met & went to Wiegate. Got 8 large & 1 small. Took them to St. Thomas's.
_Tuesday 18th._ Met at St. Thomas's. Took 2 over to Guy's. Came home & settled each man's share £23 6s. 9d. On hand 2 open'd Large, 3 small & 3 foetus not paid, at home all night.
_Wednesday 19th._ At Home all day sick. John Harnet and Butler got drunk, at home all night.
_Thursday 20th._ Met and went to Pancress[59] got 15 large & 1 small took them to Barthol{w}.
_Friday 21st._ Met at Barthol{w}. Sold part, came home. Met at 2 a.m. went to St. Thomas's Crib. Got 3 large, met the Patrols, took 1 to St. Thomas's and 2 to Barthol{w}.
_Saturday 22nd._ Met at Barthol{w}. Sent 7 into the Country, distributed the rest about town. At home all night.
_Sunday 23rd._ At Home all day and night.
_Monday 24th._ Bill Jack Tom and Ben{n} with Nat Ure Getting drunk oblige to Come Home in a Coach which prevented us going out to Harps.
_Tuesday 25th._ At home all day, at Night met at Jack to go to Harps. the moon at the full, could not go.[60]
_Wednesday 26th._ Went to look out. Could not go out Jack and Tom got drunk. Ben{n}. taken very ill.
_Thursday 27th._ Went to St. Thomas's, sold the extremities. At night Tom & Bill got drunk at the Rockingham Arms, at Home all night.
_Friday 28th._ Met at Jacks Got 4 large 1 Small and 1 Foetus, Harps. Took them to the London.
_Saturday 29th._ Met at St. Thomas's at home all night.
MARCH 1812.
_Sunday 1st._ Met & went to the Big gates got 3. Took them to St. Thomas's, not settled.
_Monday 2nd._ Met at Mr. Vickers, Jack & Tom went to the fight, at home all night.
_Tuesday 3rd._ Went to St. Thomas's, at night went to Pencress got 8 adults, 2 small and 2 foetus.
_Wednesday 4th._ Met at Jack's & settled, at home all night.
_Thursday 5th._ Went to St. Thomas's; at night early, went out & got 1 St. Thomas's Crib: at home all night.
_Friday 6th._ Went to look out Big gates Green, at night got 1 Big gates.
_Saturday 7th._ At Home all day and night.
_Sunday 8th._ Met at Night, Jack, Tom & Dan{l}. went to Harps got 5 Large, Bill and me went to the Big gates, miss{d}.[61]
_Monday 9th._ At Home all day and night.
_Tuesday 10th._ Went to St. Thomas's & settled.
_Wednesday 11th._ Went to the Big Gates to Look out, at night the party went to the above Place and again miss{d}., all got drunk.
_Thursday 12th._ At Home all day & night.
_Friday 13th._ Went to look out, met at night and went to Wiegate got 5 large, also went to the Green got 8 large took them Bartholomew.
_Saturday 14th._ Met at Barthol. sent 5 to Edinburgh, Mr. Wilson 3, Brookes 2, Barthol. 1. Settled each man's share £3 6 8. 2 on hand.[62]
_Sunday 15th._ Went to Look out, at night went to St. John's, Got 1 Large and 1 Large Small, Burnt. Took the Large to Wilson, small to St. Thomas's. Paid Hollis £11 11 0 at the order of Miss Kay.
_Monday 16th._ At Home all day went to Harps got 3 Large and 1 Large Small, 1 Small, and 1 Foetus, took 2 Large to St. Thomas's, 1 Large to Guy's, Large Small to Mr. Frampton and 1 small to Mr. Taunton. Mr. Frampton called at 7 in the evening.
_Tuesday 17th._ Went to the Borough: at Night met at 6 in the evening, went to the Flemish, Jack, Ben{n}. & myself. Got 2 adults, Bill not with us, took the above 2 to St. Thomas's. Big gate for time is very well.
_Wednesday 18th._ Went to the Big gates to Look out. came home, at home all night which was a very bad thing for us as we wanted some money to pay our debts to several persons who were importunate.
_Thursday 19th._ Met at Jack and settled each man's share £6 18 4: at 6 in the evening went to the Meeting Crib[63], 1 Large and 1 small, afterwards went to the Big gates got 2 Large took them to Barth{w}.
_Friday 20th._ Went to St. Thomas's, at home all night.
_Saturday 21st._ Jack and Tom got 2 Large small, 1 Frampton 1 Taunton. Rec{d}. for the above £3 13 6 D{o}. £4 4 0: at home all night.
_Sunday 22nd._ Went to the Green, at Home all night.
_Monday 23rd._ At home all night.
_Tuesday 24th._ D{o}.
_Wednesday 25th._ Went to Pancress got 5 adult, Took them to Bartholomew.
_Thursday 26th._ Went to Look out, Jack got 2 Large small. 1 D{o}. Frampton £3 13 6 1 D{o}. Mr. Taunton £4 4 0.
_Friday 27th._ Went to Look out, at Home all night.
_Saturday 28th._ Jack got 1 large small for Mr. Cline £4 4 0, at Home all night.
_Sunday 29th._ Went to the Green; at home all night.
_Monday 30th._ At Home all day & night.
_Tuesday 31st._ Went to Pancress got 5 adults Ben Bill & me. Dan'l Jack and Tom went to Harps, missed.
_Wednesday_ APRIL _1st._ Party went to the Green got 4 adults; being the 1st of April the man left us a new Hat.[64]
_Thursday 2nd._ Went Bill & me to the Big Gates 2 adults and 1 small, Jack, Ben and Dan'l got 4 adults, Harps.
_Friday 3rd._ Went to look out and distribute the above, met at Jack's at night, Ben being Drunk disappoint'd the party.
_Saturday 4th._ Met and settled £108 13s. 7d. each man's share £18 2s. 3d., at Home all night.
_Sunday 5th._ Went to look out met at Jack's at 10, not coming home in time did not go out.
[_No date put._] Tom & me went to Olives,[65] did not succeed.
[At this point the diary leaves off abruptly: the entries from Friday 7th to Saturday 29th are in a different handwriting from the rest of the MS.]
[1812, AUGUST]
_Friday 7th._ Went to look out Hollis & myself could not find Bill, went to St Johns, then to White Chappell returned at night, went to White Chappel did not succeed, came back went to St. Johns, the other party had got the adult, coming back with the ladder, Bill got taken unto the Watchhouse,[66] with the ladder, came home.
_Saturday 8th._ canines 11 shillings: went to union hall[67] Bill got clear the party went to Bartholomew. At Night went to W{e}. Chappel got 4 adults, one small, took 2 to Barthol{m}. 2 & 1 Small to St. Thomas's. Horse & Cart.
_Sunday 9th._ at home all day & night, Wortley came concerning horse & cart.
_Monday 10th._ went to St. Tho{s}. got paid for 1 adult £4 4s. 0d. went to Barthol{m}. got paid £4. 4s. 0d. row'd with Ben did not settle each man had £2 2s. 0d, left with Hollis £2 2s. 0d. for Expences, at home all night.
_Tuesday 11th._ had information Crouch had cut the subjects[68] went to St. Thom{s}, had not cut them, Barthol{m}. they had, went to differ{t}. parts of the Town for orders, settled our Expence & what we had Rec{d}. each man's share £3 1s. 2-1/2d. one adult St Thom{s}. 1 London D{o} unpaid 1/2 D{o} Barthol{n}. unpaid; at night went to Hoxton, 1 Large Yellow Jaundice sold at Brooks.
_Wednesday 12th._ Went to look out, at night went to Barthol{m}. Crib. cut off the extremitys took to Barthol{m}.--Rec{d}. £1 0s. 0d.
_Thursday 13th._ Went to St Thomas's Crib could not succeed came back to the White horse, Bill got arrested,[69] Millard[70] pd. the Debt I got drunk would not go out, Bill & Hollis went to Weigate got 1 adult male, took to the Boro, Rec{d}. £2 0s. 0d.
_Friday 14th._ Went to Barthol swagg{d}. the Extra{s}[71] to St. Thos. at night went to Weigate got 1 male took them to Brooks Dan -- --[72] Rec{d}. £1 1 0
_Saturday 15th._ Went to different places, at Night went to panc{s}.[73] Miss{d}. Rec{d}. £1 0 0
_Sunday 16th._ Went to look out, at Night went to Harp's got 1 adult male took to Wilson 1 Small D{o}, took to Bartho{w}: a Porter carried the large. Hollis did not go in.
_Monday 17th._ went & got paid for the above, small fetched three guineas, at night went to Connell{s}. got 1 adult M.[74] Dan{l}, carried to St Tho{s}. Hollis did not go in, Rec{d}. £1 0 0.
_Tuesday 18th._ Went to different places, at night went to the play. Rec{d}. £1 10 0.
_Wednesday 19th._ Went as above at night Flemish 1 ad{t}. male, took to St Thomas's got paid; likewise head, Millard gave £1 1 0 for it.
_Thursday 20th._ As above, at night went to Flemish 1 adult male, took to St Tho{s}. Rec{d} £1 12 0.
_Friday 21st._ Went to different places, settled our quarrell by agreeing with Mr. Stanley[75] to bring in a subject for Lecture, removed the above from St. Thom{s} at night, went to Harp's got 1 adult M. underneath took to St. Thos{s}.
_Saturday 22nd._ Went to look out me & Hollis, Bill staid in the Boro, got paid £4 4 0 for the above a very queer one, received but two Guineas for the one at Barth{l}. would not do for Lecture, Sett{d}. each man's share £1 16s. 6d., at night the party went to Weigate, the thing bad.
_Sunday 23rd._ Went to look out at different places. Holliss met with Ben at St. George's agreed to meet at Lamberts with the seperate partys: met, look{d} at each other nothing transpired concerning the Business, our party went to Harp's could not get in the private[76] door being shut, came home.
_Monday 24th._ Our party went to Barthol{m}. met with Ben and Daniel partly agreed me & Ben went in the Cart to different places to look out coming back by Charing Cross met the Jews[77] Drag touted till Dark and lost scent came home did not go out that night.
_Tuesday 25th._ Understood the Jew had brought a Male to Barthol{m}. Met by appointment at the above place, had a row, came home after looking out, met by agreement at 4 p.m. (Crouch having over slept himself two hours) went to St J{ns} work{d}. three places only got two adults M. and F. on account of not having time, took the above to Mr Frampton.
_Wednesday 26th._ Seperated to look out. Holliss got paid in part £6 from Mr. F. I took from the above £1. the party met at night, Ben Bill & Tom Light went to St Geo{s} got 2 adults M. & F. took 1 Willson M. & F. Barthol{m} me Jack and Hollis went to Isl{n}. could not succeed the dogs flew at us, afterwards went to Pancr{s} found a watch[78] planted, came home.
_Thursday 27th._ Went to look out, Hollis got paid the remainder at Frampton £2 8 0. Met at night at St. Thos.--very light could not go out (came home).
_Friday 28th._ Seperated to look out, brought the F. from Barthol{n}. to St. Thomas, having not settled took from Hollis £1 0 0, afterwards met at St. Thos. & went to St. Jns, Ben not with us work'd two holes one bad, drew the C.{ns}[79] & took the above to St. Thos.
_Saturday 29th._ Met at St Thos. could not get P{d} for either. Borrowed £2 of Jack, at home all night.
_Sunday 30th._ Went to look out, at night went to H. got two large M{s}. went to St Thos. removed 1 to Wilson, 1 adult came from St Jns.
_Monday 31st._ Went to look out ---- ---- ----[80] old small £1 10 0 got p{d} one do Wilson's at Night met except Bill went to Conn{n} got 2 adults M. & F. took to Barthol{m}. one small do.
1812 SEPTEMBER.
_Tuesday 1st._ Went to Barthol{m} Got Paid for 2 adults £8 8 0, at night met, me and Light went to Connelly got 2 adults M. and one large size small F., Jack Bill & Hollis went to Weigate, got 1 large & 2 small, took 2 the above to Frampton 1 M. & D{o}. F. 1 large & 2 small to St Thos. 1 small to Wilson.
_Wednesday 2nd._ Went to the London Hollis got Canines £8 8 0, Bill got paid for 1 large M. £4 4 0. I rec{d}. £4 4 0 for 1 large size small, Bill Rec{d}. £1 0 0 for the F. that come from St George 1 Small came Wiegate went to Wilson. Rec{d}. £2 0 0 for 1 large Small came from Wiegate, went to St Thomas' not sold being putrid: at night the party met & divided, me & Hollis went to Harp's work{d}. the thing, proved to be bad, Jack Bill & Tom{s}. Light went to Westminster
1812 OCTOBER.
_Monday 5th._ Went to look out at different places, at night party went to Lamb{h} got 2 adults and 9 small took the whole to the Borough. Mr. Cline took the about [above], 2 adults £8 8 0 from Lamb{h}. & 1 small from D{o} £3 13 6.
_Tuesday 6th._ At Night did not go out.
_Wednesday 7th._ Went to look out Jack & Ben had a Row at the White Horse: did not go out.
_Thursday 8th._ Party went to see the fight did not go out.
_Friday 9th._ Went to look out at different places. At night went to St. Olave, got 2 adults M. & F. M. was opened took them to St. Thomas's; again met, I got drunk, I miss{d}. going with the party.
They seperated, part went to Lambeth got 1 adult F. They missed, one took that to the Boro the others (Except Ben who was getting drunk) went to Connolly got 1 adult F., took that to Bartholomew, & removed the other same place.
_Saturday 10th._ Met at Barthol{m}. Mr. Stanley took three of the above 2 F. £8 8 0 one adult M. being opened £3 13 6d, left one on hand, came home, in all night
[The above entry finishes a page: the back of this page is occupied by a table for finding the moon's age on any given day: this was most useful to the resurrection-men, as they could not work undisturbed on moonlight nights.]
_Sunday 11th._ Went to look out at Night the whole party went to the Black (Jack with us for the first time going out) got three ad{t}. M., then to Connolly two ad{t}. M. & F. took the whole to St. Thos. came home.
_Monday 12th._ Went to St. Thos. Cline had taken the above, went to Lamb{h}. in the evening met by appointment, at home, Drew up an Account but did not settle Jack & Bill not being present and others having over drawn met again at twelve, the whole excepting Butler went to Lambeth got 5 ad{ts}. 1 Small, Took 2 of the above & 1 small to Wilson 1 do Carpue, 2 do Brooks, came home.
_Tuesday 13th._ Went to Barthol{m}. me Ben Jack & Butler could not find the others, myself came to the Boro sold 1 small that was on hand for £1. Came home afterwards went to Tomlight[81] understood he had rec{d}. the money got £5 from him, came home, at home all night
_Wednesday 14th._ Went to Lamb{h}. look out, at home all night on account of Ben getting out of the way, did not go out, had a dispute at Hollis's House Child's dance.
_Thursday 15th._ Went to look out, came home went to the play, afterward met at the White horse, the party excepting Ben had a row with Hollis; seperated me, Light & Butler went Lam{b}. 2 adts, Jack, Bill & Mr. Hollis went to Connelly 5 adults, also went to St. Geo{e}. 4 adts. on account of the Boy deceiving us at Lamb{h}. lost the above 4 at St. Geo{e}. Ben[82] went to France.
_Friday 16th._ Met and went Wiegate got three adults 2 F. 1 M. took to Barthol{m}. Jack & Tom brought the cart, came home.
_Saturday 17th._ Met at Barthol{w}. rec{d}. £2 0 0 went to Lamb{h}. P{d}. the man £1 1 0 came home, at home all night.
_Sunday 18th._ Went to look out, nothing done, at home all night.
_Monday 19th._ Went to Lamb{h}. got 1 Adult M. [opened another whole but bad with the small pox][83] took the above M. to Barth{m}. came home, Butler not with us.
_Tuesday 20th._ Went to Barthol{w}. Bill had got P{d}. for the above Male I borrowed of him £1 10 0, went to Lamb{h}. came home at night met at the White [Horse] Hollis myself Jack & Tom Light, Bill not with us could not find his clothes[84]: went to Lamb{h}. two adults M. took to Barthol{w}. Butler again not with us came home.
_Wednesday 21st._ Went to Barthol{m} got P{d}. the above 2 adt. gave Light & Hollis 4s. 2d. gave Jack £2 0 0 kept £2 2 0 myself, came home, but Hollis & Light went to the Hospital Crib got 1 adult male took to St Thos. shared the money betwixt them: likewise 1 Pound for a small, at home all night.
_Thursday 22nd._ went to look out, followed a black[85] from Tower hill, came home and met at W{e}. horse, the party except Butler went to Lamb{h}. got 3 adults 2 M. 1 F. (left one behind us) 1 small & 1 Foetus, took them to the Boro.
NOVEMBER 1812.
_Monday 16th._ the party went to Tottenham got 4 adults, Wilson 2. Abernethy 1. 1 on hand
_Tuesday 17th._ At home.
_Wednesday 18th._ At home.
_Thursday 19th._ Met with Hutton at Smithfield, Bill me & Ben went to St T{s} got 2 ad. Jack remained with Hutton, the party went Barthol{m}. C{b}. got 2 ad. the whole Abernethy. Gave one to Hutton for information.
_Friday 20th._ Butler got drunk in the morning, the party except him met at Barthol{m}. Me Jack & Ben went to St T{s}. got 4 adt. sent Bill again after Tom to bring the Cart, took them to Barthol{m}. Me Jack & Ben went to Blue Lion got 1 adt. sent Bill to bring Tom with the Cart, took that to Barthol{m}. came over the water got 2 adt. Guys C{b}. & 1 at Tho{s}. Crib. pack up 4 for Edinbro on the Saturday: settled our money at home all night.
_Sunday 22nd._ Look{d}. out at St T{s}. B.--L{n}[86]--and Tott{n} at home all night.
_Monday 23rd._ Met at Barth{m}. went to St T{s}. got 3 took them to Wilson, Bill took 1 ad. to Frampton.
_Tuesday 24th._ Went & mov{d}. one of the above to Carpue, got p{d}. came home met at Jack at 5, Bill not at home, did not go out till morning. Jack sold the Canines to Mr. Thomson for 5 Guineas.
_Wednesday 25th._ Met at Jack at 2 p.m. Butler & myself went to the B. L{n}. got 1 adt. Jack, Ben & Bill went Panc{s}. got 5 adt. & 1 small, took them to Barthol{w}. Removed 3 to Cline, got 2 sets of can{s}.[87]
_Thursday 26th._ Met at Barthol{m}, me & Jack went to Tottenh{m}. got 1 adt. Ben & Bill went to St Ths. D{o} 3 large came home me & Jack got 1 Tottenh{m} Bill & Ben 1 large 2 small.
_Friday 27th._ Met at Plough, went to St T{s}. 6 adt. 1 small. Met the man with the lanthorn[88]: took them Barthol{m}. went to Golden Lane 1 adt. 1 small gave Jack Hutton £1 as a share, took to the above place.
_Saturday 28th._ Met at Barthol. disposed of the above except 1 adt. opened, 3 small, sent three to Edinboro. Drew up our Account, came home Met at Jack, did not settle, at home all night.
_Sunday 29th._ Went Look out at Blue L{n}. &c did not go out Jack Bill & Tom Drunk the reason as Ben said for not going out.
_Monday 30th._ Settled our Account up to Sat{y}. on hand 1 adt. Op{d}. & Small three; met at Barthol{n}. me Bill & Jack Hutton went to B. Lyon got 1 adt. got up at four in the morning Tuesday, Butler Bill & me brought the above to St Thos'.
DECEMBER, 1812.
_Tuesday 1st._ Met at Tottenham Court Road had a dispute in St. Ts Crib. Came home did not do anything. came to the Rockingham Arms, got Drunk
_Wednesday 2nd._ Met at Vickers rectify{d}. our last account, the party sent out me & Ben to St Thos. C{b}. got 1 adt., Bill & Jack Guys Crib 2 adt but one of them opd. Butler look out for us, took them to St. Thos. came home Met at St Thos., me & Jack went to Tott{m}. got 4 adts Ben & Bill got ad/6 s/1 f/1. at Pancrass took Totten{m} to Wilson, Pan{s}. to Barthol.[89]
_Thursday 3rd._ Met at Wind{ll}. St. disposed of 2 of the above to Wilson, went to Barthol{w}. came home for the night.
_Friday 4th._ Met at Vickers pack{d}. up one for Shute, afterwards went to St Thos. got 6 adt. took them to Barth{m}. left Ben & Jack Hutton to pack up for Edinbro, afterwards Jack me & Bill went to Tott{m}. got 3 adt. took them to Barthol{m}.
_Saturday 5th._ Remain'd at Barth{m}. packing up for Edinboro, sent 12 to the wharf for the above place, at home all night.
_The following list contains some of the chief sources of information on the history of the Resurrectionists._
SMITH, SOUTHWOOD. "Use of the Dead to the Living." _Westminster Review_, ii., 1824, p. 59.
This was afterwards reprinted as a pamphlet. One of the editions was issued with the title of _Body-snatching_.
MACKENZIE, W. _An Appeal to the Public and to the Legislature, on the necessity of affording dead bodies to the Schools of Anatomy by legislative enactment_. 8vo. Glasgow, 1824.
GREEN, JOSEPH HENRY. _A letter to Sir Astley Cooper, on certain proceedings connected with the establishment of an Anatomical Surgical School at Guy's Hospital_. 8vo. London, 1825.
"On the Pleasures of Body-snatching." _Monthly Mag._, iii., 1827, p. 355.
_Report from the Select Committee [House of Commons] on Anatomy_. Fol., London, 1828.
This is, perhaps, the best source of information respecting the Resurrectionists. Many important documents are printed in this volume, in addition to the evidence and the report.
"Importance of Dissection in Anatomy." _Westminster Review_, x., 1828, p. 116.
_An Address to the members of both Houses of Parliament, on the legislative measures necessary for providing an adequate supply of human bodies for the purpose of anatomical instruction. [By a friend of science and of man.]_ 8vo. Bath. n.d.
The debates in the Houses of Parliament on the Anatomy Bills will be found in _Hansard_.
There is also much information in the pages of the _Lancet_ for the period during which the Bills were before Parliament. Mr. Wakley, the editor, took a great interest in the question, and wrote many vigorous articles, pointing out defects in the Bills whilst they were under discussion.
"Supply of Subjects for Anatomy." _London Mag._, xxiii., 1829, p. 121.
Article in _Blackwood_ for March, 1829, by "Christopher North," on "Robert Knox."
_The Trial of Bishop, Williams, and May, at the Old Bailey, December 2nd, 1831, for the murder of the Italian Boy_. 8vo. London, 1831.
There were many Reports of this trial published, both as broadsides and as pamphlets.
"Regulation of Anatomy." _Westminster Review_, xvi., 1831, p. 482.
"Obstructions to Science of Anatomy." _Monthly Review_, cxxvii., 1831, p. 91.
HANSON, N. _A Letter addressed to the Government and the Royal College of Surgeons, founded on the diabolical and horrible practice of Burking; setting forth the necessity of placing Anatomical Schools on a different footing_. 8vo. London, 1831.
GUTHRIE, G. J. _Remarks on the Anatomy Bill now before Parliament, in a letter addressed to the Right Hon. the Lord Althorp_. 8vo. London, 1832.
_An Act for regulating Schools of Anatomy_ (2 and 3 Guil. IV. cap. 75). Fol. London, 1832.
DERMOTT, G. D. _A Lecture introductory to a course of Lectures on Anatomy, Physiology, and Surgery, delivered at the School of Medicine and Surgery, Gerrard Street, Soho_. 8vo. London, 1833.
COOPER, BRANSBY B. _The Life of Sir Astley Cooper_. 2 vols. 8vo. London, 1843.
"The Resurrectionists." _Chambers' Journal_, xxxix., 1862, p. 100.
"Body-snatching and Burking." _Once a Week_, x., 1863, p. 261.
"Burke and Hare." _All the Year Round_, xvii., 1866, p. 282.
LONSDALE, H. _A Sketch of the Life and Writings of Robert Knox, the Anatomist_. 8vo. London, 1870.
"Body-snatchers." _Every Saturday_, ix., 1870, p. 166.
FELTOE, C. L. _Memorials of John Flint South_. 12mo. London, 1884.
MACGREGOR, GEORGE. _The History of Burke and Hare, and of the Resurrectionist Times_. 8vo. Glasgow, 1884.
There is a large mass of literature relating to Burke and Hare and their trial and execution: this is well summed up in Mr. MacGregor's book.
CAMERON, SIR C. A. _History of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, and of the Irish Schools of Medicine_. 8vo. Dublin, 1886.
INDEX
Abernethy (John), body sold to, 173.
Advertisements of Lectures on Anatomy, 41-42.
America, supply of bodies in, 122.
Anatomical Schools, establishment of, 41. history of, by D'Arcy Power, referred to, 43.
Anatomists, charges against, of receiving murdered bodies, 56. fined for teaching, 18. form an Anatomical Club, 50.
Anatomy, Committee on, appointment of, 30. evidence before, 15. report of, 102. referred to, vii. inspectors of, appointed, 116. knowledge of, necessary for surgeons, 14. lectures on, advertisements of, 41-42. teaching of, confined to Company of Barbers and Surgeons, 17.
Anatomy Act, passing and provisions of, 113-117.
Anatomy Bill, 1829, introduction of, 103. opposition to, 105.
Arnold (Will.), execution of, 23.
Arnot (W.) at Hatton Garden, for body-snatching, 92.
Arsenic, poisoning by, ix.
"Artichoke" public-house, mentioned. See Diary, _passim_.
Austria, supply of bodies in, 120.
Austrian Archdukes obtain Butler's release, 132.
Barber-Surgeons. See Company of Barbers and Surgeons.
Beaman, _post mortem_ of the Italian boy, 57.
Bell, Sir Charles, body sold to, 142.
Bellingham, drawing of head of, referred to, 26.
Bentham, Jeremy, left his body for dissection, 33. oration by Mr. Grainger over his body, 33.
Bermondsey, bodies obtained from. See Diary, _passim_.
Bethnal Green, bodies obtained from. See Diary, _passim_.
Bibliography of subject, 177.
Big Gates, bodies obtained from. See Diary, _passim_.
Bishop and Williams, arrest and trial of, 107. disposal of bodies of, 27. drawings of heads of, 112. execution of, 110.
"Black," a, 173.
Black Crib, 140.
"Blue Lion" public-house. See Diary, _passim_.
Blundell (William), trial of, at Warrington, 95.
Bodies, difficulties of obtaining, 44. dissection of, in public, 100. fatal effect of, 39. for dissection supplied by students, 15. left for anatomical purposes, 33-40. offered for dissection after death, 39. possession of stolen, decided to be felony, 98. prices of, 71. raised by competition of different schools, 47. scarcity of, 13. stolen by Resurrectionists from houses, 50. from dead-house at Guy's Hospital, 53. whilst awaiting coroner's inquest, 53. supply of, in foreign countries, 118. from provinces, 81. from workhouses, 31. suggestions in newspapers, 31. See also _Country_; _Edinburgh_. temporary shelter for, 65. of malefactors given to Company of Barbers and Surgeons, 19. difficulty of obtaining from Tyburn, 20. of murderers to be given up to Surgeons' Company, 21. dissected at College of Surgeons, 22. account of proceedings at dissection, by T. M. Stone, 28. conveyed through streets, 23. dissection of, an obstacle to passing the Anatomy Act, 30.
Boys (Mr.) wishes his body to be made into "essential salts," 38.
Bridgman's patent coffin, 76. illustration of, 78.
Brookes (Joshua), advertisement of Lectures, 42. badly treated by resurrection-men, 45. bodies sold to. See Diary, _passim_.
Bunhill Row, bodies obtained from. See Diary, _passim_.
Burial-grounds, custodians of, bribed by Resurrectionists, 58. precautions for watching, 72. protection of, 75.
Burke and Hare, referred to, v., viii.
Burking, by means of snuff, ix. meaning of, viii. panic from fear of, vii.
Butler, biographical notice of, 132. See also Diary, _passim_.
Cameron (Sir C.) History of Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, referred to, 87.
Carpue (J. C.), caricature of, 98. mentioned in Diary, 141. refuses to buy body of Italian boy, 109.
Chandler (George), provides building for dissecting murderers, 24.
Chapman (Israel), Jew Resurrectionist, 166.
Cheselden (William) summoned before Court of Barber-Surgeons for teaching anatomy, 18.
Chiene (Prof.), referred to, xii.
Clarke (--), imprisoned for stealing body of child, 51.
Clarke (J. F.), on post mortem of the Italian boy, 56.
Clift (W. and W. H.). Drawings of heads of murderers, 26.
Cline (H.), mentioned in Diary, 139.
Coffins, Bridgman's patent, 76. illustrations of, 78. mentioned by Southey, 78.
Coke (Lord), on property in a dead body, 90.
Committee on Anatomy. See _Anatomy_.
Company of Barbers and Surgeons to have bodies of malefactors, 19. advertisement of dissection, 21. anatomical teaching by, 17.
Connolly, mentioned in Diary. See Diary, _passim_.
Cooper (Sir Astley), evidence before Anatomy Committee, 15. payments to Resurrectionists, 48, 49. purchase of bodies, 40, 149. life of. See _Cooper (B. B.)_.
Cooper (Bransby B.), life of Sir Astley Cooper, referred to, vi., vii., 125. notices of Resurrectionists, 128.
Corporation of Surgeons, required knowledge of anatomy in students, 14. to have bodies of murderers, 21. end of, 22.
Country, bodies sent to, 148, 150, 154.
Craigie (Dr.), Inspector of Anatomy, 117.
Crail, house for securing the dead, 80.
Crouch (Ben), biographical notice of, 128. See also Diary, _passim_.
Crowe (Mrs.). _Light and Darkness_, resurrection-man in, 17.
Cundick (George). See Rex _v._ Cundick.
Deane (John), fined for teaching anatomy, 18.
Dermott (G. D.), proposal by, for raising fund to purchase bodies, 32.
_Diary of a Resurrectionist_, description and authorship of, 124. _fac-simile_ of page of, 138. history of, v. reprinted, 139.
Dickens (Charles). Mr. Cruncher in _Tale of Two Cities_, 17.
Dissection. See _Bodies_.
Dublin, burial-grounds of, 87.
Dundee, protection of grave at, 79.
Dunn (Francis), execution of, 23.
Edinburgh, bodies sent to, 142, 143, 145, 148, 175, 176. Greyfriars Churchyard, mortsafes in, 76. illustrations of, 41, 74, 76.
Edwards (D.). _Post mortem_ of the Italian boy, 57.
Fairclough (Jane), prosecution of Davies and others for stealing her body, 95.
Fat, graves rifled for, 88.
Ferrari (Carlo), murder of, 109. _post mortem_ of, 56.
Ferrers (Earl), execution of, 27.
Fiction, body-snatchers in, 17.
Finishing money, 48.
Flemish, the, bodies obtained from. See Diary, _passim_.
Forster (Mr.), _post mortem_ on Messenger Monsey, 37.
Frampton (Dr.), bodies sold to. See Diary, _passim_.
France, supply of bodies in, 119.
Germany, supply of bodies in, 120.
Glasnevin Churchyard, riot in, 73.
Glennon, the police officer, presented with silver staff, 46. recovered stolen bodies, 50.
Goswell Street, bodies obtained from, 152.
Grainger (R. D.), payments to resurrection-men, 48. oration over body of Jeremy Bentham, 33. refuses to buy body of Italian boy, 109.
Graves, protection of, 75, 79, 80. See also _Burial-grounds_.
Green Churchyard, 140.
Guthrie, referred to, 14.
Guy's Hospital, bodies stolen from dead-house, 53. mentioned in Diary. See Diary, _passim_.
Hall (Edward), trial of, at Warrington, 95.
Harnell (P.), a Resurrectionist, 133.
Harnett (Bill), biographical notice of, 130. See also Diary, _passim_.
Harnett (Jack), biographical notice of, 131. See also Diary, _passim_.
Harnige. See Hornig.
Harpers. See Diary, _passim_.
Hawkins (Cæsar), advertisement of Lectures, 42.
Head. See _Bishop and Williams_.
Henderson, of Greenock, punished for shipping bodies from Liverpool, 87.
Hill, porter at King's College, 108.
Holland, supply of bodies in, 122.
Holliss, biographical notice of, 134.
Holmes (Mrs. Basil). _Burial-grounds of London_, quoted, 138, 140.
Holmes (John) and Peter Williams, convicted of robbery from grave, 59.
Hornig, or Harnige, mentioned in Diary, 145, 147.
Hullock (Baron), summing up in trial of Davies and others, 97.
Hutton (Jack) mentioned. See Diary, _passim_.
Inspectors of Anatomy, appointment, 116.
Ireland, supply of bodies from, 87.
Iron coffin, 76. illustration of, 78.
Italian boy, the. See _Ferrari (Carlo)_.
Italy, supply of bodies in, 121.
Lambert, mentioned in Diary, 165.
_Lancet_, the, and the Anatomy Bill, 105.
Large small, meaning of, 71.
Law relating to body-snatching, 90.
Lawrence (Sir W.), on anatomical teaching abroad, 118.
Lee (Edward), execution, &c., of, 93.
Light (Tom), biographical notice of, 132. at Hatton Garden, for body-snatching, 92. See also Diary, _passim_.
Lincoln's Inn Fields, bodies of murderers conveyed to, 23.
Liverpool, bodies shipped as "bitter salts," 82.
London Hospital, mentioned in Diary. See Diary, _passim_.
Longmore (Sir Thomas), obtained Diary, and presented it to Royal College of Surgeons, vi., 124.
Lynn. See Rex _v._ Lynn.
Lytton (Lord). _Lucretia_, resurrection-man in, 17.
Macaulay, Alderman, extract from diary of, 23.
Macintire (John) buried alive, and rescued by resurrection-men, 65.
May (James), arrest and trial of, 107. respite and death of, 110. verse by, 110. biographical notice of, 112.
Mayo (H.), _post mortem_ of the Italian boy, 57.
Millard (W.), account of, 162, 163.
Mills (Mr.), buys teeth of Italian boy, 109.
Moir (D. M.). _Mansie Wauch_, refers to body-snatching, 17.
Monsey (Messenger), _post mortem_ on, 36.
Moon, full, interfered with Resurrectionists, 124.
Mordecai, the Jew, 72, 140.
Mortsafes in Greyfriars Churchyard, Edinburgh, 76. illustrations of, 41, 74, 76.
Moss (Dr.) of Warrington, 96.
"Muddle (Jasper), Confessions of" (by Albert Smith), 17.
Murderers, dissection of, agitation against, 99. repealed, 115. drawings of heads of, 26.
Murphy, stealing teeth, 71.
Murray (Sir James), Inspector of Anatomy, 117.
Naples (Joseph), biographical notice of, 136. method of working, 64. writer of Diary, 127.
Newington, bodies obtained from. See Diary, _passim_.
Nicholls (Fr.), advertisement of Lectures, 42.
Nourse (Edward), advertisement of Lectures, 41.
Paris, supply of bodies in, 119.
Partridge (Richard), arrest of Bishop and Williams, 108. body of Bishop given to, 28. _post mortem_ of the Italian boy, 57.
Patrick, a Resurrectionist, 133.
Patterson (G. S.) referred to, 15.
Pigburn (Fanny), murder of, by Bishop and Williams, 109.
"Plough" public-house, 175.
Portugal, supply of bodies in, 122.
Pott (Percivall), Lectures on Surgery, 42.
Power (D'Arcy), History of Anatomical Schools, referred to, 43. See _South (J. F.)_.
Prosecutions for Body-snatching, 90.
Provincial schools, supply of, 81.
Redmond, Luke, murder of, 87.
Resurrectionists, biographical notices of, 128. cost of keeping families of, whilst the men were in gaol, 48. damage done to subjects purchased from rivals, 45, 49. demand finishing money, 48. earnings of, 71, 72. end of, 117. first appearance of, 13. in fiction, 16. _modus operandi_ of, 61. as described in _Memoir_ of Thomas Wakley, 61. improbability of this method, 63. _modus operandi_ of Naples, 64. number of bodies obtained by, 60, 69. origin of, 44. popular feeling against, 69, 113. sources of information respecting, vii. See also _Diary, Prosecutions_.
Rex _v._ Cundick, 93.
Rex _v._ Lynn, 90.
"Rockingham Arms" public-house. See Diary, _passim_.
Rolph (Mary), body of, exhumed, 142.
Ross, Elizabeth, the "Burker," viii.
Rowlandson's "Dissecting-room." _Frontispiece_.
Royal College of Surgeons, examinations of, 15. foundation of, 22. obliged to dissect bodies of murderers, 22, 26. opposition to Bill of, on account of distance of new building from Newgate, 23. proceedings for obtaining premises near Newgate, 24.
St. Bartholomew's Hospital, mentioned. See Diary, _passim_.
St. George's, Bloomsbury, robbery from graveyard of, 59. See also Diary, _passim_.
St. James', bodies obtained from. See Diary, _passim_.
St. John's, bodies obtained from. See Diary, _passim_.
St. Luke's burial-ground, bodies obtained from. See Diary, _passim_.
St. Olave and St. John, Southwark, burial-ground, 152.
St. Pancras, bodies obtained from. See Diary, _passim_.
St. Thomas', Charterhouse, 152.
St. Thomas' Hospital, mentioned. See Diary, _passim_.
Sergeant, Miss, _Dr. Endicott's Experiment_, refers to body-snatching, 17.
Sheriffs of London, letter from, as to bodies of Bishop and Williams, 28.
Shields, porter to Bishop and Williams, 113.
Smalls, meaning of, 71.
Smith (Albert), "Confessions of Jasper Muddle, Dissecting-room Porter," 17, 130.
Society of Apothecaries, did not require attendance at dissection, 14.
Somerville (James C.), effects on students of want of subjects, 48. Inspector of Anatomy, 117.
South (J. F.) and D'Arcy Power, Memorials of the Craft of Surgery, quoted, 19.
Southey (R.), _The Surgeon's Warning_, 78, 88.
Spelling (--), at Hatton Garden for body-snatching, 92.
Stanley (E.), bodies sold to. See Diary, _passim_.
Stone (T. Madden), account of dissection at College of Surgeons, 28. letter on body-snatchers, 125.
Students, knowledge of anatomy necessary for. See _Anatomy_.
Subjects for dissection. See _Bodies_.
Taunton (Mr.), bodies sold to. See Diary, _passim_.
Teeth, trade in, by Resurrectionists, 71, 167.
Tottenham, bodies obtained from. See Diary, _passim_.
Trance, man buried during, and rescued by resurrection-men, 65.
Trials for body-snatching. See _Prosecutions_.
Tuson, refuses to buy body of Italian boy, 109.
Twyford (Mr.), statement as to number of prosecutions at Worship St., 92.
Tyburn, bodies taken from, 20.
Ure (Nat.), mentioned, 154.
Veitch (A. D.), on Wilson's supposed Burking, viii.
Vickers (Mr.), mentioned in Diary, _passim_.
Walsh, Catherine, murder of, viii.
Warburton's Act. See _Anatomy Bill_ and _Anatomy Act_.
Warren (Samuel), _Diary of a late Physician_, quoted, 15.
Warrington, prosecution of John Davies and others at, 95.
Wetherfield (Mr.), _post mortem_ of the Italian boy, 57.
"White Horse" public-house. See Diary, _passim_.
Whitechapel, bodies obtained from. See Diary, _passim_.
Williams, and illicit trade in glass, 112. See also _Bishop and Williams_.
Williams (Peter). See Holmes (John).
Wilson (James), bodies sold to. See Diary, _passim_.
Wilson (John), "Burking by means of snuff," ix.
Wood (Mr.), death of, from seeing a body dissected, 39.
Workhouses, number of deaths in, 31.
Wortley, mentioned in Diary, 161.
Wygate or Wiegate, bodies obtained from. See Diary, _passim_.
Yarmouth, body-snatching at, 81.
Young (Sidney), _Annals of the Barber-Surgeons_, quoted, 18, 20.
_Plymouth: W. Brendon and Son, Printers._
Footnotes:
[1] See _Sketch of the Life of Robert Knox_, by HENRY LONSDALE (London, 1870); and _The History of Burke and Hare and of the Resurrectionist Times_, by GEORGE MACGREGOR (Glasgow, 1884).
[2] It may be interesting to mention that Albert Smith's remuneration for these papers was five shillings per page of three columns.
[3] _Annals of the Barber Surgeons_, by SIDNEY YOUNG, p. 317.
[4] SOUTH and D'ARCY POWER, _Memorials of the Craft of Surgery_, p. 233, _note_.
[5] YOUNG, _loc. cit._ p. 349.
[6] _Academy_, vol. vi. p. 208, 1874.
[7] For the portraits of Bishop and Williams see p. 112.
[8] _Hospital Gazette_, from Sep. 13, 1890, to March 7, 1891.
[9] This Committee was appointed by the House of Commons in 1828, to take evidence and report on the necessity of obtaining bodies for anatomical purposes. The work of the Committee is referred to at greater length on p. 102.
[10] The letter has no signature.
[11] See also p. 107.
[12] _Autobiographical Recollections of the Medical Profession_, p. 101.
[13] _Lancet_, 1896, vol. i. p. 187.
[14] _Memorials of John Flint South_, by C. T. FELTOE, 1884, p. 100.
[15] _Life of Sir Astley Cooper_, vol. i. p. 354.
[16] See illustration.
[17] See two following illustrations.
[18] CAMERON, _History of Roy. Coll. Surgeons in Ireland_, p. 113.
[19] _Use of the Dead to the Living._
[20] _D. and R. Nisi Prius Repts._ i. 13.
[21] See also page 56.
[22] See page vi.
[23] _Life of Sir Astley Cooper_, vol. i. p. 422.
[24] Cannot find out his surname.
[25] _Loc. cit._ vol. i. _passim_.
[26] B. Cooper gives an account of a Resurrectionist under the name of "Patrick"; this is probably the man referred to. The name is Harnell in the _Sun_ for October 14th, 1812; it may, perhaps, be a misprint for Harnett; two men of this name have already been spoken of.
[27] See also p. 126.
[28] The name is suppressed in the printed copy.
[29] Since the above was written, Mrs. Basil Holmes' interesting volume on _The Burial Grounds of London_ has been published. Reference to this book confirms the statement above made. Mrs. Holmes' account is very carefully done, and the list of the old burial-grounds is probably as complete as it can be, but no light is thrown upon any of the difficult names used in the Diary.
[30] Slang for a burial-ground.
[31] Harper is probably the name of the keeper of a burial-ground.
[32] This occurs often in the Diary, and was evidently a favourite place for meeting. It was, doubtless, the entrance to some burial-ground, but there is no evidence by which the place can be definitely determined.
[33] _i.e._ a body which had had a post mortem performed on it was obtained from the burial-ground attached to St. Bartholomew's Hospital.
[34] Watched to see what funerals were taking place during the day.
[35] Probably Michael Mordecai, who kept an old curiosity-shop in New Alley, and was a noted receiver.
[36] Probably the landlord of a public-house.
[37] _i.e._ all the gang.
[38] The "Green Churchyard" was an addition to the Churchyard of St. Giles, Cripplegate. "Green Churchyard" is a name which we find repeated in other parishes; for instance, it was given to the higher portion of St. James', Piccadilly, and to the little piece by St. Bartholomew the Great, approached through the present south transept. Holmes, _loc. cit._ It is impossible to say which of these is here meant.
[39] Bunhill.
[40] J. C. Carpue, the founder of the Dean Street Anatomical School.
[41] Dr. Frampton, of the London Hospital.
[42] James Wilson, of the Great Windmill Street School.
[43] Joshua Brookes, founder of the Blenheim Street, or Great Marlborough Street, Anatomical School: for references to Brookes, see Index.
[44] See page 65.
[45] Sir Charles Bell, of Great Windmill Street School.
[46] Abbreviation for Harpers. See p. 139.
[47] Either St. Luke's Church or St. Luke's Hospital in Old Street.
[48] Words so crossed out that they cannot be deciphered; in all probability it originally read "with their ---- throat cut."
[49] John Taunton, founder of the City of London Truss Society, a demonstrator at Guy's Hospital under Cline, and at this time principal lecturer to the London Anatomical Society.
[50] Artichoke Public-house.
[51] See page 127.
[52] Newington.
[53] Slang term for bodies.
[54] See page 71.
[55] Afterwards Sir Astley Cooper.
[56] Body putrid, and therefore of no use for anatomical purposes.
[57] Probably Church of St. Thomas, Charterhouse.
[58] The burial-ground for the parishes of St. Olave and St. John, Southwark; it was taken by the "Greenwich Railway Company": part of the approach to the "Flemish" now forms the approach to London Bridge Station.
[59] This is, of course, not the St. Pancras Church in the Euston Road, but the old parish church situated on the north side of the road leading from King's Cross to Kentish Town.
[60] See page 124.
[61] Failed to get a body.
[62] Bodies unsold.
[63] Probably a burial-ground attached to a meeting-house.
[64] The diary is torn at the margin in this place: the word "left" is probably correct, but who "the man" was cannot be determined.
[65] St. Olave's.
[66] Probably from information given to the police by the other party who "had got the adult."
[67] The police court in Union Street, Southwark; it was removed in 1845.
[68] _i.e._ had spoiled them for anatomical purposes; very likely to be done out of spite, as on the previous day they had "row'd with Ben," _i.e._ Crouch; see page 49.
[69] Evidently for debt.
[70] Millard was superintendent of the dissecting-room at St. Thomas'; he was an avaricious man, and lost this situation through dealing in bodies. His plan was to take them in at the hospital from the resurrection-men, and then to sell them at an advanced price in Edinburgh unknown to the men who supplied him, and to the teachers at the hospital. Millard was popular with the pupils, and, after his dismissal, they persuaded him to take an eating-house in the neighbourhood of St. Thomas'. As there was money to be made in the "resurrection" traffic, he did not abandon his connection with the body-snatchers. This came to be known, and created a strong prejudice against him; so much so that his legitimate business fell off to such an extent as to make it necessary for him to relinquish it altogether. Then he took entirely to the resurrection business, and was sentenced to three months' imprisonment for taking a body from the burial-ground attached to the London Hospital. He appealed against the sentence, and found bail. Then he brought an action against the magistrate at Lambeth for false imprisonment; this was set aside, and Millard was sent back to Cold Bath Fields to complete his sentence. He tried hard to get Sir Astley Cooper to solicit a pardon for him, but without avail. This so preyed on his mind that he threatened Sir Astley with bodily injury. Ultimately Millard quite lost his reason, and died in gaol. In 1825 his widow published a pamphlet entitled, "An Account of the circumstances attending the imprisonment and death of the late William Millard, formerly superintendent of the Theatre of Anatomy of St. Thomas' Hospital, Southwark." The pamphlet states that Millard had notice to leave St. Thomas' because it was found that he was supplying Mr. Grainger with bodies, and that Sir Astley Cooper was determined to put an end to the school which Grainger had established. The publication is of a very abusive character; the surgeon of the gaol, Mr. Wakley, of the _Lancet_, and the authorities at the hospital, all come in for severe censure. The whole tone of the pamphlet is so exaggerated that it is impossible to tell whether there is any truth in Mrs. Millard's grievances.
[71] Extremities.
[72] These words are illegible.
[73] St. Pancras.
[74] Male.
[75] Mr. Edward Stanley, Surgeon to St. Bartholomew's Hospital.
[76] Private door into the burial-ground, probably generally left unlocked for them by the custodian; for some special reason it was closed on this particular night.
[77] In all probability Israel Chapman, a Jew, who was in the resurrection trade; the object of following was to try and prevent his doing any business. (See page 49.) The next entry shows that the Jew had sold a body at St. Bartholomew's; there was "a row" at this, and, no doubt, "the regular men" had to be pacified.
[78] Placed there by friends of the deceased, in all probability.
[79] Opened two graves; one body too decomposed to bring away, so they drew the canine teeth and sold them.
[80] Words crossed out and illegible in the MS.
[81] Tom Light.
[82] See also p. 129.
[83] The words in brackets are crossed out in the MS.
[84] _i.e._ The clothes specially used for resurrection work; they would naturally be clay-stained, and if worn during the day would betray their owner's occupation.
[85] Probably slang for a funeral.
[86] Blue Lion.
[87] Canine teeth.
[88] The watchman.
[89] _i.e._ got 6 adults, 1 small, and 1 foetus from St. Pancras: these were taken to S. Bartholomew's: the four from Tottenham went to Mr. Wilson.
Transcriber's Notes:
Passages in italics are indicated by _underscore_.
Superscripted letters are shown in {brackets}.
The following misprints have been corrected: "where" corrected to "were" (page xii) "how tax" corrected to "hot wax" (page 83)
Other than the corrections listed above, printer's inconsistencies in spelling, punctuation, and hyphenation usage have been retained.