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

THE NATIONAL. REGISTER.

319

ing spokrn to on religious Subjects, expressed himself in the same vague
and insemible manner as before, -talked of the promises of the gespei.
inquired the hour and place of execution,—said that life hod been a
weary pilgrimage to hint,—the bliss- fleeting and illu.ory, the Misery
real and permanent, and in laying it down he had no vain regrets !o
make. He conversed in this strain for a considerable time, and-closed
by hopes of a blessed immortality, and a resolute denial of any guilt In
his crime !

If it were possible that the manlier of this man's death should excite
any commisseration, it would be done away by all that we have learned
of his earlier life. He aippears to have been a turbulent, untraceable,
profligate adventurer. His expertness in commercial transactions had
early in life procured the confidence of some respectable houses engaged
in the Rtes is trade. He went to Russia, drew bills on, his principals to
the amount of ten thousand pounds, never made any shipments, hut
squandered the money. 1-le was preparing to return to England, when
he was arrested in Russia for private debts. Lord Levison Gower,
who was applied to by him for his liberation, found that the matter was
not within his province, and of course left it to the Russian tribunals.—
Bellingham never had any capital of his own.
In prison he once or twice wished that he had sent for his wife, to
have a parting interview with her : yet his conduct to her had been for
many years neglectful and unaffectionate. They have lived separate for
a considerable length of time, and Bellingham seldom visited her but
fur the purpose of obtaining money, which he spent in London in urg-
ing his foolish claims on Government. Hi 3 wile is a milliner in Liver-
pool, and, we believe, a respectable charactered person.
On Sunday night, about eleven o'clock, Mr. Newman went into the
Celt with Mr. Butterworth, the respectable bookseller of Fleet-street,
whom he was very glad to see. On this occasion he requested of Mr.
Newman to let him have pen, ink, and paper, which Mr. N. promised
to ivies him %yin nhe returned for Mr. Butterworth, in an hour. Dur-
ing the time he spent with Mr. Butterworth, he entered on religious
• conversation, and pointed out two or three places in Scripture, which..
he argued on with great zeal. He said, in a few hours more, he
ghoul(' be in a better country than this—for it was a miserable place.
Mr. Lutterworth then asked him to answer one question; he said, "
tell you any thing you wish to know." " Then, did you or did you not,
have some tatter person or persons concerned- with you in the murder
of Mr. Perci:val ?"--" No: I do most solemnly declare there is not."
" Pray, Sir, in what manner did you procere these pistols ?" "
bought there on Ludgate-hill, at Mr. Beckwith's." Mr. Butterworth
thanked him f• r thi inferreation, and went to prayers. Mr. Beflingkain
thanked hire for his goodie.ss, and said, lam going to write a letter
to my dear svift." Mr. Newman came to the cell for his friend, Mr.
Butterworth, and they parted. He then asked for a crust of bead,
and laid down aed slept about an hour; put hi: hand in his pocket and
gave the last shilling to Mr. Walker ; said he wished it was a guinea for
hi.; kind atteetioe : he then lay down and contbmed dosing till a quarter
before six in the morning. When he was let out of the cells into
the press-yard he requested to have his boots on, and wash himself,
he then chntinued walking, and appeared perfectly resigned to his fate,
He also on Sunday night wrote a letter to his wife, of which the fol.
I.,wing is a literal copy.—
vi R Y —lt rejoiced me beyond measure to hear you
:re IiI:e1y provided fur. I am sure the Public at large will
p;rii,•!pate in, and mitigate your sorrows; I assure you, my love, my
saficer:.st endeavours have ever been directed to your welfare. As we
shell not meet any more in this world, I sincerely hope we shall do so
In the we rld to come.
" blessing to the boys, with kind remembrance to Miss Stevens,
for whom have the greatest regard, in consequence of her uniform
aff,:!ction for them. With the purest of intentions it has always been my
misfortune to he thwarted, misrepresented, and ill-used in life; but,
how:_veit, we feel a Llppy prospect of compensation, io a speedy
translation to life eternal. It's not possible to be more calm or placid
than I feel, and nine hours more wiil waft me to those happy shores
where bliss is without alloy.
44 Yours ever affectionate,
" JOHN BELLINGHAM.

!7•lnday night, 11 o'clock."
Dr. Ford will forward you my watch, prayer-book, with a guinea
and note.—Once more, God be with you, my sweet Mary.—The
public sympathise much for me, but I have been called upon to play
an anxious card in life." _ _ _

Nothing, perhaps, can mark more strongly the frightful distortion of
the man's mind than the following note w•r.tten on Sunday night at 12
o'clock.

64 Twelve o'clock.
lost my suit solely through the improper conduct of my Attorney
and Counsel, Mr. Alley, in not bringing my witnesses forward (of which
there were more than 9.0); in consequence, the Judge took advantage
of the circumstance, and 1 went of Loni the defence, without baying
b: ought forward a single friend—otherwnie I must inevitably have been
acqu►ted. •' J. BELLINGHAM."
THE EXECUTION.

About six o'clock on N'Tett(lay BELLI NOIII. at rose ant dressed
himself with great composure, and read for half an hour in the Prayer-
hook. Dr. Foa b, the Ordinary of Ner:gate, being then Announced, the
prisoner shod: him m 6 qt cordiAily I,y tt:r2 ?.Ai..', and Lett his cell
1-o.3tn ,alluttc,d C )1) Cln ci Cplated i,.e 4:1:.r A.