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.

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