1753. June 7. Dr. Archibald Cameron, condemned for high treason for being concerned “in the late rebellion,” and not surrendering in time. It might have been expected that vengeance would have been satiated by the numerous executions that had already taken place: then, too, “the late rebellion” was eight years old. Dr. Cameron was nevertheless sentenced to be drawn, hanged, and quartered. The quartering was omitted. He was, moreover, suffered to hang for twenty minutes, so that the burning of his bowels was done before eyes closed in death. Dr. Cameron met death, not so much with fortitude, which implies, in a way, an effort, as with perfect equanimity.
1754. February 4. Twelve executed at Tyburn.
1757. October 5. Twelve executed at Tyburn.
1758. December 18. Some surgeons attempting to carry off the body of a man executed at Tyburn, the mob opposed, a riot ensued, in which several persons were wounded. In the end the mob was victorious, and carried off the body in triumph.
1759. Between June 18 and October 3 in this year the old triangular gallows, in use for nearly two hundred years, was removed, and the new “movable” gallows took its place (see pp. 69, 70).
1760. May 5. Earl Ferrers had more than one relative of unsound mind: he himself had given many proofs of madness. Without any cause, he shot his steward, who had been for thirty years in his service. He was undoubtedly a homicidal lunatic who would to-day be confined in an asylum. On his trial by the House of Lords he produced witnesses to prove his insanity, but “his lordship managed this defence himself in such a manner as showed perfect recollection of mind, and an uncommon understanding.” The plea was not accepted, the earl was sentenced to death. Under the ferocious Act of 1752 the execution should have taken place the next day but one, but, in consideration of the earl’s rank, the execution was deferred to May 5. The sentence, however, bore that the body should be anatomised.
On the appointed day the earl rejected the mourning coach provided by his friends, and obtained permission to make the journey from the Tower to Tyburn in his own landau, drawn by six horses. He was dressed in a suit of light-coloured clothes, embroidered with silver, said to be his wedding suit. To the sheriff he said: “You may perhaps, sir, think it strange to see me in this dress, but I have my particular reasons for it.”
The procession was the grandest that had ever made that fatal journey. First came a very large body of Middlesex constables, preceded by one of the high constables: then a party of horse grenadiers, and a party of foot soldiers.
Mr. Sheriff Errington in his chariot, accompanied by his under-sheriff.
The landau, escorted by two other parties of soldiers.