The Journal of Mr. Groves, who was despatched from London to Amsterdam to take charge of Brodie.

On Tuesday, the 1st July, I left London, and arrived at Harwich at three o’clock the next morning.

Wednesday, waited on Mr Coxe, the agent for the packet, with Mr Fraser’s letter, and also on the Captain, who dined with me. At half-past four in the afternoon sailed out of the harbour, and lost sight of land at nine.

Thursday, got sight of Helvoetsluys at twelve next day,—dead calm four leagues from shore,—rowed into the harbour in the long boat, with Captain Hearne, and Carpmeal, (Sir S. Wright’s officer), with the mail, and a woman going as Lady’s maid to Sir James Harris’s Lady,—drove back by tide, and almost out to sea again,—landed on sand, walked to several farmhouses, leaving the mail and baggage on the sand, guarded, in quest of a waggon,—refused;—a boor, at last, went at an extravagant price; we had walked seven miles on hot sands, and parched with thirst; at eight o’clock waggon came with the mail, &c.—set out for the Brill, but, within two miles, waggon broke down, and obliged to procure boors to carry mail, &c. arrived at the Brill at half past nine;—Brooks, the messenger, came from Helvoetsluys to meet us, where he had been waiting,—had heard nothing of any person (Englishman) being in custody at Amsterdam, which much alarmed me, nor had Hutchinson, the collector of the passports,—more alarmed;—delivered Mr Fraser’s letter to Brooks;—at ten set off with Brooks for Maslinsluys, arrived there at half-past eleven, got to Delft at three-quarters past twelve;—arrived at the Hague at three in the morning in an open post waggon, with heavy rain, thunder and lightning.

Friday, waited on Sir James Harris at ten in the morning,—introduced to Brooks,—treated with great affability, and received a letter from Sir James, which he had already wrote, directed to Mr Rich, the consul, Sir James having first informed me that Brodie was safe in the Stadthouse,—consulted Sir James on the mode of obtaining him,—informed that, if the magistrates of Amsterdam required an official application to the States General, to come back immediately to him, and he would obviate all difficulties; but he did not think it would be necessary:—it was Sir James’s opinion the magistrates would give him up without, if not, was certain they would detain him till an answer to Sir James’s application to the States could be obtained;—set off for Amsterdam, and arrived there the same evening; waited on Mr Rich,—politely received; and we consulted on measures,—Mr Rich to wait on one of the magistrates that evening, and to send to me early next morning.—Waited on Mr Duncan, a Scots gentleman, and father-in-law to Mr Gerard, a minister at Amsterdam, with Mr Langlands’s letter;—Mr Duncan seemed willing to identify Brodie; but on being called out into another room by Mr Gerard and his wife, on his return, Mr D. said as far as his word of honour as a gentleman would go, and his belief, he would say he was the man; but, if an oath was required he would not,—Saw then a manifest reluctance in Mr D. and had no doubt his daughter and the parson would endeavour to persuade him to decline troubling himself in the matter; but judged he could not go back from what he had said to Mr Rich.

N.B. No mischief but a woman or a priest in it,—here both.

Saturday morning, received a message from Mr Rich,—most of the magistrates gone to their country-houses,—nothing could be done till Monday;—Mr Rich entertained no doubt, but said a magistrate had informed him, that a formal requisition must be made by him, in writing, to the magistrates;—he produced the copy of one, requiring the person of William Brodie to be delivered up; I corrected it, by inserting “otherwise John Dixon,” as the magistrates of Amsterdam knew of no William Brodie; Mr Rich agreed it was proper;—informed him of my suspicions respecting Mr Duncan, and the steps that would be taken by his family to make him, if possible, recant;—my fears further increased, as Mr Duncan lodged in the same tavern with me, I had frequent opportunities of conversation with him, and could plainly see a sorrow for what he had said, and a wish to retract.

Monday, waited on Mr Rich,—found, by a mistake in not inserting “otherwise John Dixon “ in the requisition, that the business must be delayed till the next day ten o’clock, when a general meeting of the magistrates, with the grand schout, (high sheriff), to consider on the application;—mistake corrected, and requisition presented.

Tuesday, sent for by the magistrates to the Stadthouse;—from their manner, judged Brodie’s delivery as predetermined;—Mr Duncan sent for.

Mr. Duncan’s Account to the Magistrates.

That he was not a native of Edinburgh, but of Aberdeen; that he frequently came to Edinburgh on business; and that eight ten, or twelve years ago, he could not say which, the man who now called himself John Dixon was pointed out to him as Deacon Brodie, having asked a gentleman who he was.

That he had seen him several times after, and always understood him to be Deacon Brodie, but did not know his Christian name; had no doubt, and verily believed he was the same man; but would not swear he had no doubt and verily believed him to be the same.

Brodie Ordered to be brought in.
Substance of Examination.

Q. What is your name?

A. John Dixon.

Q. That is the name you go by here—but is not your real name William Brodie?

A. My Lords, I stand here and claim the protection of the laws of this country, which require two witnesses, on oath, to prove me William Brodie.

You shall have the protection of the laws of this country, but they do not require two oaths to identify you; it requires that the magistrates shall be satisfied you are the same man.

Mr. Groves—I beg leave he may be asked, if he is not a native of Edinburgh?

Question put—the answer, I have been at Edinburgh.

Mr Groves—Is he a Deacon of Edinburgh?

A. I claim the protection of the laws.

Mr Groves—Does he know Mr William Walker, Attorney at law, of the Adelphi, London?

A. I know such a man.

Mr Groves—Then that William Walker procured the escape of this William Brodie from London, which I can prove by extracts of letters now in my pocket, the originals of which are here in the hands of your officers. I can swear to Mr Walker’s writing.

Prisoner ordered to withdraw.

Here the Magistrates asked me if I was ready to swear that, from the pointed description of him and all said circumstances, he was, to the best of my belief, the man required to be given up?—I told them I was.

Mr Duncan was then asked if, from what he knew and what he had heard, he would swear he had no doubt, and believed him to be the man.

Mr Duncan’s reply.—I am only a visitor here; and being called on such an occasion, it might, in my own country where I am a Magistrate, have the appearance of forwardness if I was to swear. I am a man of honour and a gentleman, and my word ought to be taken. I do believe, and I have no doubt, that he is the same man; but I decline to swear it; I’ll take no oath.

The Magistrates expostulated, but unsuccessfully, on the absurd idea of saying, “I have no manner of doubt, and verily believe,” and refusing to swear, “I have no manner of doubt!” &c.

As I had previously drawn up an information for Mr Duncan and myself to that effect, he was asked if he would sign it without swearing?—when Mr Duncan said he would.

The Magistrates then said that they should pay the same compliment to me they did to Mr Duncan, and take my signature to the certificate, without an oath, even to my belief.—Certificate signed.

The prisoner was then ordered in, and the certificate read to him, and asked, If he had not a father?—he replied,—None.

But you had a father, said the Judge—was not his name Brodie?

To this Mr Brodie replied,—“There are more Brodies than one.”

Then by that, said the Judge, you confess your name is Brodie?

A.—A lapsus linguae, my Lord.

Brodie again insisted upon the oaths; but the Judge told him that all they wanted was to be satisfied, which they were from what Mr Duncan and Mr Groves had signed, and partly from a confession of his own.

He was told he should set off as that day; and it was settled at four in the afternoon.

The Judge told me I should have a guide, who would procure the means of conveyance, &c. I took my leave of them with thanks, &c.; waited on Mr Rich; at four was sent for to the Stadthouse, where there was a prodigious crowd; two carriages and four guides, with four horses in each carriage; and the prisoner, being properly secured, we put him into one, and got to Helvoet without much interruption next day at one o’clock; packet sailed at five.

N.B. I had wrote a letter to Sir James Harris on the Saturday, requesting the packet to be detained, who informed me by Mr. Rich, with whom I dined on the Monday, that it should be detained to the last moment.

Brodie was watched two hours alternately on board by the ship’s crew; his hands and arms confined, and his meat cut for him, &c.

On Thursday night, eleven o’clock, we arrived at Harwich—supped—set off immediately, and arrived next day at noon at Sir Sampson Wright’s, before whom, and Mr Langlands, Brodie confessed he was the person advertised.