The National Register. — London, England, 1812-05-17 00:00:00

MAY 17. be was apprehensive his arm would be broken, and that he then said, " you need not press me, I submit myself to justice." A bundle of papers, brought from the prisoner's lodgings, were con signed to the charge of Lord Castlereagh, to be submitted to the Privy Council. The witnesses were then bound over to give •lieir evidence before the ' Grand Jury and thereafter at the Old Bailey. in the event of a true bill being found against the prisoner " Fur the wilful murder of the Right Spencer Prrceval.' 'The prisoner was asked, what he had to say against the fact with which he was charged ? He answered to the fol:owing effict :—" I have admitted the fact, hut, wish to state something in my justi fication. I have been domed the redress of my grit vatices by Oaeern silent ; I have been ill-treated. 'They all know who I sin, what I am, through the Secretary of State and M. Beckett, with v hem I have had frequent colnmunications. They knew of tins 'act six weeks ago, through the Magistrates of Bow-street. I was accused most wrot gtully by a Governor-Genera! in Russia, in a litter front Archangel to Riga, and have sought redress in vain. I am a most unfortunate man, and feel here (placing his hand on his breast) sufficient justification for what I have done." Lord Castlereagh informed him, that he was not then called on for his defence, but merely for what he had to urge in centradiction to the charge. Any thing he migh' feel desirous of stating, in extenuation of his crime, he had better rt serve for his trial. The prisoner said, " Since it seems best to yon that I should not now explain the causes of my conduct, 1 will leave it until the day of my trial, when my country will have an opportunity of judging whether 1 am right or wrong." Upon being again questioned, he repeated," I admit the fact;" which admission was accordingly entered on the record. The Bow-street officers were called in, and the prisoner having been permitted to dress, was handcuffed by Vickery and Adkins. lie applied for his money, which having been left in the possessiou of Mr. Burgess, who had with drawn, Mr. Whitbread assured him he should have it returned to him in the morning. He also asked wbether he should be allowed an At torney and Counsel ? when Mr. Whitbread signified to him that Mr. Combe would take care that every necessary indulgence should he allowed him, consistent with his situation. In no part of the proceed ing did he betray extreme agitation; but at the moment one of the witnesses said, " I supported Mr. Perceval into the Secretary's room; and in a few minutes he died in my arms," the prisoner sheu tears, and seemed much affected. Before the arrival of the Life Guards he was re. conducted to the prison room, where he found much fault with Vickery, the officer, for having inquired from sonic female something relative to his private affairs. He calmly said, he knew the consequence of the act he committed, which he did not consider of a private nature. On Vickery's answering, that he had only spoken in general terms to the female, and she told him she bad in her possession a memorandum or 2.01. dee by a Mr. Wilson to him, the prisoner, in the most uncon cerned manner, replied, he knew what it was; it was a bill that he ex pected would have been paid next day, at half past nine o'clock. He was conveyed to the Secretary of State's Office for the Home Department, where he was placed in a room, in which he walked nearly the whole time. On the breaking up of the Council he was sent to Newgate. His commitment was signed by Michael Angelo Taylor, Esq. M. I'. who accompanied hint in the coach to Newgate where he was double ironed. On a question being put to Bellingham on Monday night in the lobby, ' by Sir W. Curtis, relative to Mr. Yerceval's assassination, he coujly an swered, I have'been fourteen days in making my mind up to the deed, but never could accomplish it till this very moment." It is difficult to account for the composure and serenity in which this unhappy criminal has passed his time since his confinement. If the worm of conscience were gnaleing him within, he could not sleep with such regularity and soundness, nor demean himself with such ease, if not cheerfulness, as he appears to• do. He has frequently declared, most solemnly, since he has been in Newgate, that he had nu malice to Mr. Perceval, and that if Lord G. L. Gower or Mr. Ryder had first appeared before him, he would have fixed upon either. Nay, so little does he admit himself to have been actuated by any personal feeling against the victim of his diabolical deed, that he asserts, that lie to lk no mortal aim at him, and that lie would have been better pleased if the ball had not penetrated hut merely grazed his body, because that would equally have brought his case under the consideration of Par liament. With respect to the manner in which he passed the previous part of the day on which he committed the murder, he states, that he went with a I.ady to the European Museum, where he was detained till past four o'clock. He parted from the Lady at the extremity of Sydney's alley, and went down immediately to the Houk of Commons without having dined, and with his pistols loaded. He was so anxious not to he disppointed by the failure of his weapon, that, after he had bought his pistols, for which he gave four guineas, he went to Primrose-hill to try how they would go off, and, when he had ascertained their teli cacy, loaded them for his purpose. lids is the third time that England has been disgraced, in these latter ages, by horrid attempts at assassination. The Duke of Buckingham (in the reign of Charles I.) was, the last Minister that was murdered by Felton. The life of Lord Oxford was likewise attempted (in the reign ai Queen Anne) by Guiscard, but the assassin Niel 309 JOHN BELLL\GHAM, 71IE ASSASSIN. v., On V, the no efe l cerne( pectec He Depai the w Newg I was d On ' by Sii swere but n It this u worn with ease, decla mall( had f so litt feelin to lk if the woul harm Wi the d with four alley, havir he di his pi to tr) racy, ages, the ri Pelto g 9, l' Ilt liltit,., , ~, 11,0. ir 1 ~,,(, oh, ;11\lilit 11 , . illiri 1 _ . . i \; 1 1 i l li 1 r 1,1111 I'll 11 1 - ~ )1 ( r .H,jl l 1 i , I s •-;,, ~.. \,;, ‘4 .,,., I il i q!! i I t , , ! i , I \ f 1 ; •, ". 11 I II I k 1 i t, -11 11 irHiri P_ P i Aio., 1 11, - 4- - --, , \ • THE NATIONAL •REGISTER. SKETCH OF HIS LIFE. This wretched man is statel to be a native of St. N'eot's, in Hunting donshire, aged 42 years. It is added, that he was Lrought up in a count ing -house in London; and some years ago went to Archangel, whrtrefie lived with a Russian merchant, in whose employment clerk he conti nued three years. Having formed a connexion with a Mr. Borbecku2r, in the timber line, he returned to England in order to seek a cont.ract for the supply of timber • and entered into considerable engagements with the merchants of Hull. Ships were in consequence sent out to Archangel to bring home cargoes; but Mr. Illorbeckner having mean while become a bankrupt, the vessels returned in ballast. Bellingham, who still remained at Hun, was arrested, and thrown into prison, II the disappointed merchants, for the noel-fulfilment of the contract ; and during his confinement, or soon afterwards, lie wrote a pamphlet with the intent of ridiculing the merchants of Hull. On the recovery of l• liberty he" proceeded again to Archangel, where he entered into van is speculations, which ended in his involving himself in still more nutnt.- rous diSculties.—He was there very troublesome to the Government, sending to them memorial after memorial, on subjects relative to his private concerns; and he, moreover, generally cotetacted himself with so much passion, that at length he was stilt to prison, where he re mained a considerable time ; claiming, in vain, the protection of the British Minister, who, indeed, could render him no assistance. The term of his confinement having expired, Bellingham repaired to England full of complaints against the Russian Government. He married in London, but took up his abode in Liverpool. He commenced the bu siness of an insurance-broker, whilst his wife pursued that of a milliner. He continued at intervals to present memorials to the British Govern ment on the subject of his claims ; but these were concerns with which Government had nothing to do. It is said, that his last application to Government on his affairs, was made on Monday morning, when he received a repulsive answer, which is supposed to have confirmed him in that dark and bloody 'purpose, which he has since been able to carry into effect. The following letter was sent on Tuesday by Mr. Bellingham, from his cell in Newgate, to Mrs. Roberts, No. 9, New Milman-street, thia lady at whose house he lodged : " Tuesday Morning, Old Bailey. " DEAR MA on hi—Yesterday midnight I was escorted to this neigh bourhood by a noble troop of Light Horse, and delivered into the care of Mr. Newman (hy Mr. Taylor, the Magistrate, and M. P ) as a State Prisoner of the first class. For eight years 4 have never found my mind bo tranquil as since this melancholy but necessary catastrop!ie; as the merits or denaerits of my peculiar case must he regularly un folded in a Criminal Court of Justice to ascertain the guilty party. by a Jury of my country, I have to request the fayskur of you to send me three or four shirts, ionic cravats, handkerchiefs, night-caps, stock ings, &c. out of my drawers, together with comb, soap, tooth-brush, with any other trifle that prtsents itself, which you think I may have occasion for, and enclose thtin in my leather trunk, and the key please to send sealed, per bearer ; also my great-coat, flannel gown, and black waistcoat, which will much oblige, "Dear Madam, your very obedient servant, " JOHN BELLINGHAM. " To the above please to add the Prayer-book. " To Mrs. Roberti." Circular Ictter to the Menibers of Parliament (enetnsing copies of a petition, intende to be pre 3eutc-il to tile House of Cqmtnona), and of two letters `rani Mr. Beckett, under Secretary of State for the Hume • Department, relating to the sane. Six—Having starred i❑ a most unprecedented manner, I,r a period of us years in Russia—on my return iNVO years ago, i made a reple•