The National Register.
London, England, 1812-05-24 00:00:00

HIS DYING DECLARA noN.

Mr. Sheriff Birch addre,.sed Bellingham in a very appropriate manner
upon his awful situation, and after some previous r marls applicable
to it, said,—" The public mind, IVIr. Bellingham, requires to be satis-
fied upon a most important point, whether any other person was in
any degree connected with you in this dreadful deed, and whether it
was perpetrated on any public ground?'
Belihighalt, who stood very firmly, and who with an unaltered coun-
ttnanct attentively and respectfully listened to what was said, replied
in a firm tone of voice, " Certainly not."
Sheriff HLYGATE.—.66 Then it was your own affair—it was from
per.%opai resentment."—BellinLharn appeared hurt at the latter expres-
ni,:n ~f ter repeating the words—" personal resentment," with an
rather dignified tone, said," I bore no resentment to Mr.
rt.e5...,1 a- a maii—and as a man I am sorry for his fate. I w..s te7-. Ted
fr:rrnls.'liui.ter to Minister, from Office to Oface, and at length reftfsed

*redre s tc.r nly grievances. It was my awn sufferings that caused the
mclanchly event, and I hope it will be a warning to future Ministers
to attend io the onlications and prayers of those who suffer by oppres-
sion. !IA my Petition been brought into Parliament, this catastrophe
wou!d not have happened. I am sorry for the sufferings I have
caused to Mr. Perceval',. family and friends."
S!,eriff FI!::vors-re.—" It would be right they should know you feel
so much regret."
BE LLI m.—" You may communicate it—l wi h them to know it.
Sheriff H cIrGATE." I hope you feel deep contrition for the deed."
Upon which the prisoner (assuming an attitude of considerable dig-
nity) said—" I hope, Sir, I feel as a man ought to do."
Sheriff HEY GA re.—" You know, that to take away the life of a man
tmlawfully is a heinous crime." •
13F.LerNutinm.—" The Scriptures, you know, Sir, say that."
Sheriff YGATE.—" I hope you have made your peace with Gon,
and that by your repentance you will meet the ALMIGHTY with
a pure soul."
BELLINGHAM.—" No one can presume to do that, Sir. No mortal
can be pure in his sight, only our SAviouß went from this world into
his presence with a pure spirit." Here he seemed desirous of quit-
ting the room to meet his fate, and turning to the Sheriffi, with a
mild but firm tone, said," Gentlemen, 1 am quite ready ;" upon which
the Ordinary of Newgate looked at his watch, and said, we have ten
minutes more." The executioners then proceeded to bind his hands and
pinion his arms, during which he turned to one of them and said, st do
every thing properly, that I may not suff:r more than necessary."
To which the man answered, he would tako care to do so. After his
hands and arms had been fastened about a minute or two, Bellingham
observed that he was not fastened tight enr•ugh, and beggcd the execu-
tioner to draw the cords tigl; ter, id serving, " I wish not to have the
power of offering any resistance." The executioner then looetied his
cravat a little, to expedite the final removal of it whets he should
reach the scaffold, the cause of which being explaint_d, he said, " Cer-
tainly do so, it is perfectly right."
Throughout this awful and most impressive scene, hls deportment was
/Alm and ruauly, but unfeeling.