George Nugent Grenville, second Baron Nugent of Carlanstown (1788-1850)

A letter from the liberal politician Lord Nugent to the physician and mesmerist John Elliotson regarding his request for a cast of the head of the murderer John Tawell, 25 March 1845.

1845

1 bifolium

Purchased from Bernard Quaritch Ltd, May 2016

Nugent entered Parliament for Aylesbury and gained national prominence in the causes of anti-slavery, parliamentary and penal reform, religious liberty, free trade, and popular education. In this letter he refers to his 'forwarding to Sir James Graham a petition, very importantly signed, for the abolition of all Capital Punishments'. The residence from which Nugent wrote this letter, called Lilies, became a popular venue for literary men and politicians of the day. Tawell (1784-1845) was convicted of murdering his mistress, Sarah Hart, with prussic acid on New Year's Day 1845. He was the first person to be arrested as a result of telegraph communication, when a message was sent by police in Slough informing colleagues of Tawell's imminent arrival at Paddington Station. Nugent's letter, written three days before Tawell was publicly hanged at Aylesbury, makes it clear that Elliotson (1791-1868), founder of the London Phrenological Society, had requested a cast of Tawell's head 'for Phrenological purposes'. Having spoken to the governor of the jail where Tawell was imprisoned, 'a most humane and excellent person', Nugent states that no cast will be taken of Tawell's head, out of consideration for the feelings of his wife.