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

INLAY 24.

went for the loss of her had been in consequence resisted. No satisfac-
tory proof was adduced against Bellingham, and he was acquitted of
this charge. But before the termination of this suit, he attempted to
quit Archangel, and being stopped by the Police, who he resisted, he
was taken to prison : but was soon after liberated, in consequence, I
believe, of a second application to the Governor from Sir Stepben
Shairp.
About this period I quitted Russia, and I have no r collection of hear-
ing any thing more of John Bellingham, till after my arrival at St. Pe-
tersburgh upon my second embassy. He came running into my house
one evening, and solicited me to allow him to remain all night, in order
to avoid being re-taken into custody by' the Police, from whom he bad
escaped. I complied with this request, though I could not upon any
-round
assume to myself the power of protecting him from legal ar-
rest. It appeared that the award of the arbitrators of Archangel had
been confirmed by the Senate, to which body Belliagliain had appealed ;
and he was in consequence delivered over to the custody of the College
of Commerce (a Tribunal established for the special purpose of taking
cognizance of commercial matters relating to British subjects, and
whose authority was recognized in the Commercial Treaty between
the two countries) there to remain till he discharged the debt of the
two thousand roubles. The custody was not very strict, fur he was
allowed to walk wherever he pleased, attended by a Police officer be-
longing to the College. He came frequently to my house, and a: various
times, received from my private secretary small sums of money, to sup-
port him through his confinement. Confined as he was by the legal
authorities of the country, I could, on no pretence, make an application
for his release; but I rememher well, in conversation with the Niinister
for Foreign Affairs, expressing sely personal wish that the Russian Go-
vernment, seeing no prospect of recovering the sum of money required
from him, would liberate him from prison, on condition of his imme-
diate returning to litigious'.
Very soon after this conversation, all diplomatic intercourse ceased
between the two Courts; and the cours;: of public events necessitated
my quitting Russia in the abrupt manner with which your Lordship is
well acquainted.
I am, my Lord, with great respect,
Your Lordship's most obedient humble servant,
(Signed) GRANVILLE LLVESON GOWIR.
The Viscount Castlereagh, &c.

BELLINGIIAM THE ASSASIN.

FURTHER PARI ICUL ARS.

The more we contemplate the charatter of the atrocious assassin Bel-
lingham, the more are we confounded, and perplexed to discover by
what strange combination of ideas he could have worked up his mind
to the commission of such a detestable and horrid deed. Surely never
before was the human mind so strangely, so diabolically perverted !
Should there be a doubt as to the truth of this remark—let the follow-
ing facts bring the question to the test. The public have already been
informed that on the very morning of the day upon which this dreadful
murder was committed, the assassin accompanied his landlady and her
young daughter to the European Museum. After some time contem-
plating one of the pictures with the deepest attention, he called the
young girl to him, that he might explain to her the nature of the sub-
ject. "'[his, my dear," continued he, " is a picture which you wlll not
he able to comprehend without explanation. Observe it well. It. is a
representation of the Day of Judgment. That figure which you see in
the centre floating in the air, is our Saviour Jesus Christ, the only Sou
of God, who came into the world fo save sinners. Those persons that
you see upon his right hand are good persons, such, as by their faith,
and good works in this world, have insured to themselves eternal hap-
piness; on the contrary, the miserable and wretched persons which
you observe upon his left hand, are the wicked of this world, such, as
by their atrocious actions have drawn upon themselves just condemna-
tion and everlasting punishment." Sometime after, the party quitted
the room together, when he accompanied the mother and daughter as
far as Cranbourn-alley, he then said, with great coolness, " Madam,
you will now be enabled to find your way home without any difficulty,
I must take my leave of you, as I have business to do at Westminster,"
ending with this speech, the monster departed with the fatal weapon,
ready loaded in his bosom.
Such is the rotten fruit of religion when learnt only by rote in cur ri-
per years. Let us indulge a hope, then, that our regenerated and new
Schools, as now carried on according to the principles qf the Established
Church, will give an entirely new form to the rising generation; when,
instead of that ignorance and vice which now so universally prevail
among the lower orders, we shall, in due time, behold religion and vir-
tue shine forth conspicuous, to the hononr and happiness of our coun-
try, and to the salvation of souls innumerable.
Bellingham, after his condemnation, was allowed only bread and wa-
ter. All means of suicide were removed—he was not permitted to be
shaved. He complained seriously ut this last prohibition, as he thus
could not be able to appear as a Gentleman ! The Ordinary of New-
gate, and two other Clergymen, visited him several times in the course
of Saturday and Sunday. He appeared naturally depte ssed by his situa-
tion, but persisted in defending what he bad done. l'here was no con-
temned sermon on Sunday. The Ordinary attended at his cell between
eight and nine. :Bellingham seemed considerably thjected : but on be-