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

MAY iv. (Mr. Whitbread) never carried political animosity beyond the door of that House, but towards Mr. Perceval it was irvipossible to feel it even for a moment. Both Mr. Ponsonhy and Mr. Whitbread were so much affected, that they could scarcely articulate. l'he motion was then agreed to nem. con. I,:,rd CASTLE" EAGH then moved, that the Address should be pre— sented by such Members as were of his Majesty's Privy Council. Mr. WYNNE suggested, that it should be presented by the whole House, which proposition was received with unanimous approbation.— Adjourned. THE NATIONAL REGISTER• WEDNEIDAY, MAY 13. Lord CASTLEREAGH moved that it should be referred to a Committee to prepare an Address to the Prince Regent, pursuant to the resolutions passed yesterday_. Sir FRANCIS BURDETT rose, and observed, that not being present yesterdry, he had no opportunity of expressing those sentiments of in dignation and abhorrence which he felt, in common with the rest, at the atrocious assassination of Mr. Perceval. On such occasions there was but one rule—one guide for feeling ; and it was to be wished that the Address to be presented to the Prince Regent should be entirely un alloyed by any base mixture of personalities or politics—(Hear, hear! ) It was a subject which, for a time, should put an end to all other consi derations. But while he concurred in lamentations, and in abhorrence, of the atrocious act committed, he should not feel precluded, when the subject of the grant came before the Committee, from offering any op position which his duty might dictate; a duty, however so painful, he hoped, he should not be called upon by circumstances to exercise.— (Hear ' hear !) A Committee was then appointed to prepare the Address, of which the Report was brought up, and was a mere echo of the Resolution.— 'lle Address was then ageed to. The House then went into a Committee on the Regent's Message, as to the grant to Mr. Perceval's family. Lord CASTLER EACH began by observing, that it was unnecessary for him to say much on the present occasion, after the general expression of feeling that had been manifested by the House on the preceding day.— He would merely mention the circumstances in which the family of Mr. Perceval were now placed. The number of children he had left behind him was twelve; and it was necessary that such provision should now he made as might enable the persons charged with their education to complete the same in the most effectual manner. For this purpose he should propose a substantive grant of a sum of money to the family ; with a provision in the shape of an annuity to Mrs. Perceval. It was not his intention to propose any extravagant sum ; for he could assure the House, that the first wish of the family was, that the provision should be such as no person would object to, and such as would conci liate all parties. What he had to propose was merely that which would preserve the character of the nation from the reproach that would at tach to it, if this act of justice was not done. It was, to grant the sum of 50,0001. to the children, and an annuity of 20001. to Mrs: Perceval during her life. He could assure the House, that the provision which Mr. Perceval left his family was not sufficient to maintain them. It consisted of the property his wife had brought him. He had laid up no part of the money earned by him in the colas, of his laborious avocati ons. His Lordship •then moved the two following resolutions :—That a sum of 50,0001. be granted to his Majesty, to be vested in the hands of trustees, for the use of twelve children of the late Right Hon. Spencer Perceval; and that an annuity of 20001. be granted to the widow of the late Mr. Perceval during her life. Mr. Hoesaz Susan ER thought the proposed grant was utterly unwor thy of the liberality of the !louse of Commons, and inadequate to the rink and situation of Mr. Perceval's family. le therefore moved as an Amendment, that the annuity of 20001. per annum to Mrs. Perceval, should, at her death, fall to the Eldest son for his life also; and on a di vision it was agreed to by 136 to 23. The House then went into a Committee on the Orders in Council.— Several witnesses were examined at the Bar, after which the House ad journed. THURSDAY, MAY 14. The House met at two, and proceeded to Carlton House with their Address.—On their return, the Speaker read the Prince Regent's answer. Lord Ct ivz gave notice that he should to-morrow move that a Monu ment bit erected at the Public expence, in the Cathedral Church of St. Peter, Westniinster, to the memory Of the late Right Hon. Spencer Per ceval. On the motion of Lord CA sTLeRrAGH, for taking into further consi deration the R eso l ut i ons o f t h e C omm i ttee on t h e P r i nce Regent's Mes sage, the Resolution, granting 50,0001. to Mr. Perceval's children, and the Resolution, granting 20001. per annum to Mrs. Perceval, were both agreed to, nem. con.—On the third Resolution, for continuing the grant ol the anonity of 20001. to the eldest son, after Mrs. Percevar s decease, Mr. flusiassoN proposed that the Resolution be re-committed, and th - rein to grant instead, 10001. a-year to the eldest son on his coming to the age of 21; and the other 10n:11. per annum ro descend to hint at the death . of his m ot h er. O n t hi s propos i t i on, a cons id era b le diff erence of opinion and discu ss i on arose; i t was, h owever, u l t i mate l y acce d e d to vvktho , it a - iivisirry, and the third resolution was oi‘lered w be re-com mited to iner FRIDAY, MAT 15. MONUMEN 1 - I'o MR. PERCEVAL. 303 LordCetve rose, and moved, " That an humble Address be presented to the Prince Regent, praying that he will be pleased to give direc tions for the erection of a Monument in the Cathedral of St. Peter's, Westminster, to the memory of the Right Hon. Spencer Perceval, one of the Commissioners of his Majesty's 'Treasury, and Chancellor of the Exchequer, who was assassinated within the walls of Parliament, as a mark of admiration for his public and private virtues, and of their abhorrence of the act by which he fell."—(Hear, hear, hear . 1 ) Admiral HARVEY seconded the motion. He approved of it because something was required to mark their abhorrence of the act ; for w ith out some monument, a record of the assassination of a virtuous man--• of the First Minister of the country, would only be found in the pages of History. He trusted that unanimity would mark the vote. Mr. ',Amite had hoped, that the vote which had already pased respecting the provision fur the family, would have been the last; and it was with pain that lie felt compelled to oppose the present Motion on public grounds. lie did not see any thing in the death of Mr. PercevM that entitled him to that mask of a nation's gratitude, and of a nation's praise for great national services, which had been refused the memories of a Godolphus--of a Harley—of a Burke—a Fox—and of a Windham. (Hear ! ) Mr. FULLER maintained, that had any of those persons who had just been mentioned lost their lives in the way in which Perceval had been deprived of his, monuments would not have been refused them by the Parliaments of their times.—( Hear ! ) It was no matter of what party Mr. Perceval was, a monument ought to he raised to his memory', to carry down to posterity their abhorrence of the act by which he fell, when in the discharge of public ditties. Ar to the Apt•nse, the matter of 4POOI. was nothing; therefore, let Mr. Noll( kens, the most able statuary of our country, he engaged to carry our wi'hes into effect. Others might make fine speeches on the occasion—his was unlettered oratory. His speech came from his feelings, and he could assure the House, that nothing would be more grateful to a heart exquisio ly alive to the character and virtue of the man, and to the honour of the courts try, darn to 5 , .2e the object of the motion fulfilled.—( Hear, hear ! ) .r.,•;1%.1 CASTLEREAGH supported the Motion. Mr. WHITBREAD opposed the motion, contending, that by approving it, he should approve the political services of Mr. Perceval. Mr. CANNING supported the Motion. The monument now required, would record the virtues of the man, and would consecrate the nation cl sense of abhorence of the act by whi.:ll Mr.Petceval had been deprived of his life. • Mr. W. WY NN* cQttld not give his support to any motion of this kind, except upon the ground of great and public services. He was therefore disposed nut to proceed by further on the business, and moved, that the other orders of the day he now read. After some further observati,tis from several members, the House then divided on the amendment of Mr. Wynne—For the Amendment, 26—For the original motion, 199—Majority for the original siotion,l73. Adjourned to Wednesday next. I'IIOI'INCIALS. DISTURBANCie S'IN THE COUNTRY. A letter from Nottingham communicates the following most disgrace ful circumstances, which we hope for the honour of the English Cha racter, are not correctly stated : Nottingham, Tuesday, 12 P. M.— " No sootier had the news of Mr. Perceval's murder been received, than the most ewhusiastic demonstrations of joy were evinced. The bells were rung, bonfires lighted up, and a crowd of people assembled in front of the guard-room, with urns beating, flags flying, &c. Here they stood kitzzaing and expressing their savage joy. In ti.is threatening state, the military drums heat to arms, the Riot Act w..s read, and the most energetic measures adopted to preserve the public peace. Th , se measures have been eff'ctual; it is now half-past twelve o'clock, and all is quiet." At Leeds, on the Bth of May, the family of Colonel Campbell, coin manding officer of the Leeds district, was thrown into serious alarm : between ten and eleven o'clock at night, two men, whose voices were distinctly heard, placed themselves in a plantation behind the Colonel's house, at Woodhouse, about a mile from Leeds, and discharged two muskets in the direction of the guard room. just at the moment when two hussars entered the court, but the trees intercepted the shots. "lire sentinels went in pursu . t of the offenders, but they escaped under the cover of nil;ht. In the absence of the guard, and just as the Coloc..l's son, accompanied by a soldier, was lu mint' the south-east •urner of the house, four or tive men were observed to collect in from, and one of them discharged another musket, but the shot passed wit, lut-doing any mischief. Soon after the firing, the Colonel, who had been on military duties, drove into the Court, and having strengthened the guard, the night passed without further moleAtation. By letters from Manchester we learn, that the rioters, not daring any longer to proceed in their outrages openly, have had recourse to s• mischiefs. On Sunday night last they murdered a Ser be!. the Local Militia, and a temale who was in company t:e: • threw their b dies unto camd. .A.t Huddersfield the Luddites were very active last week, and have been too NI cc ei,iu 1. •1 hey p