Saint or Scoundrel 9

The news that my father had to convey to Mr. Wakefield the next year must have been very hard for him to write. Ellen Legh became pregnant again within months of her little girl’s birth, and again had a still born son, in January of 1831, but this time she also paid with her life.

Because of the information I received from her daughter, Ellen Lowther, I can be quite sure of my details. Ellen Legh died at her husband’s London house in Berkeley Square.

Mr. Wakefield will most likely have already heard about her death as it was written up in the newspapers. The clipping I copied is from Bell’s Life in London who reported that on 23rd of
January “Mrs. Legh, the lady of T. Legh, Esq. MP Died last week. This was the lady about whom so much interest was excited four years since, in consequence of her abduction by Mr. Wakefield.”

I’m sure he was saddened, as were her husband and parents, at having the adventure called up yet again after her death.

I’ve copied out the death notice.

‘She was laid in a lead-lined coffin, with her stillborn son in the crook of her arm. Accompanied by a small party of undertakers, led by the featherman and drawn by four horses, their black ostrich plumes signalling their solemn task, Ellen’s hearse made its slow progress north in the bitter cold: the sombre procession halting at turnpikes, stopping every twenty miles for refreshment and rest overnight.

On the morning of 27 January, Ellen’s funeral procession left Newton. The Legh tenants, 110 in
number, wearing hatbands and gloves, rode two abreast, followed closely by six plumed mules and then the hearse, drawn by six black horses. Two mourning coaches preceded the carriages of her husband, Thomas Legh: her father, William Turner; Her Uncle Henry Critchley and those of Mr. Orford and J.S Wilson Patten MP. Six other carriages, two chaises and eight gigs completed the cortège. A heavy fall of snow, accompanied by a short frost severely hampered their progress as the hearse, bearing mother and son, was hauled up the steep snow-covered hill to the church.

Finally Ellen’s coffin, clad in crimson velvet and richly ornamented, its pall supported by six
clergymen, was borne into St. Oswald’s Church, Winwick: above the portal was a hatchment bearing the Legh coat of arms. There, within the fourteenth century Legh chapel, Ellen and her infant son were laid to rest.

She was buried in the Legh family vault, and on her gravestone is carved the following:

IN THE VAULT OF THIS CHAPEL

ARE DEPOSITED THE REMAINS OF

ELLEN

THE DEARLY BELOVED

AND MOST DEEPLY LAMENTED WIFE

TO THOMAS LEGH ESQ.

OF LYME HALL, CHESHIRE.

AND DAUGHTER OF

WILLIAM TURNER ESQ.

OF SHRIGLEY PARK

IN THE SAME COUNTY

BORN 12 FEBRUARY 1811

DIED 17TH JANUARY 1831.

LEAVING AN ONLY SURVIVING CHILD

ELLEN JANE LEGH

BORN 20TH FEBRUARY 1830.

March 1, 1931

My dear friend Daniel,

It grieves me more than I can say to read your letter. She didn’t
deserve what life threw at her. And I have a heavy heart over the
grief she bore because of my actions those years ago. Please keep me
informed, if you can, of how her daughter progresses.

It seems selfish at these times to talk of my successes. I have now had
two books published. The first, The Punishment of Death, is based on
my studies of my fellow inmates here in the prison. I have been
called to give evidence to a Parliamentary Select Committee enquiring
into prison conditions. I expect to become involved in various
schemes for social improvement.

My book, Letters from Sydney, does seem to be well accepted. My ideas
are counter to the highly respected views of people you may have
heard of - Jeremy Bentham and Adam Smith.

I want to transplant British society without the many social evils
evident at home. Colonial land sold at a high, uniform price would
produce revenue to pay for the immigration of free settlers.
Newcomers unable to afford land would constitute a labouring class.
Economic growth would result, and by concentrating settlement, a
civilized society capable of self-government would evolve.

The undeveloped state of New South Wales is due to lack of labour arising
from indiscriminate land grants. I suggest that in future land be
sold, not granted, at a price sufficient to prevent labourers from becoming
landowners too soon and that the proceeds, with a tax on rent, be
used to finance the emigration of labourers, preference being given
to young persons of both sexes in equal numbers. The book has become
well known and has made important converts. I have persuaded the
Colonial Office, or to be specific, Lord Howick, the under-Secretary
for the Colonies, to abolish free land grants in New South Wales. I
cannot help but be pleased that I have made such an important
contribution to this country and our colonies.

I remain faithfully yours,

Edward Gibbon