[“The Resurrection Man and the Cracksman boost Henry Holford”] — illustration for G. W. M. Reynolds’s “The Mysteries of London” by G. Stiff

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The Resurrection Man and the Cracksman boost Henry Holford

G. Stiff

c. 1843

Wood engraving

Source: The Hathi Trust version of G. W. M. Reynolds’s The Mysteries of London 1.177

The illustration depicts a passage in Chapter 108.

Click on image to enlarge it and see passage illustrated below,

“The Queen was the husband, and the Prince the wife”

Henry Holford attempts to assassinate Queen Victoria

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Passage illustrated

"I am ready," said Holford; "there is no use in delay."

"Not a bit," observed the Cracksman. "Tony and me will help you over the wall in a jiffey."

By the aid of the Resurrection Man and the burglar, the youth scaled the wall of the Palace Gardens, and ere he dropped upon the inner side, he said in a low but firm tone, "Good night."

Holford was now within the enclosure of the royal demesne. The evening was very dark; but at a distance the windows of the palace shone with effulgence.— Chapter 58, “New Year’s Day” [1.180]

Commentary

This illustration depicts the first of two times that Henry Holford manages to enter the Royal Palace, observe the palace staff and the Queen from a hiding place, and then leave. The Resurrection Man and his companion want the young man to case the palace for a future robbery or steal valuables if he can, but Holford, who is more interested in adventure than loot, reports that silver and everything of value was locked away when the royal family and servants went to bed. The young man enjoys watching the staff and eavesdropping on Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, but when he is later caught and sent out of the palace, he decides he will make himself famous by assassinating the Queen.

Bibliography

Reynolds, George W. M. The Mysteries of London. vol 1. London: George Vickers, 1846. Hathi Trust Digital Library. Web. 6 October 2016.

Last modified 6 October 2016