The Sun.
London, England, 1840-06-12 00:00:00

ATTEMPT TO ASSASSINATE THE
QUEEN AND PRINCE ALBERT.

(From the Globe.)
The West-end of the town has been quite in a state of
excitement during the day, and the only topic of conversa-
tion has been the attempt of yesterday evening upon her
Majesty's life.
Numbers of ladies and gentlemen on horseback, as well
as pedestrians of all classes, have visited Constitution hill,
to inspect the garden wall, which bears marks of the balls,
as does also a tree standing about midway between the
roadside and the wall.
A diligent search for the balls was instituted this morn-
ing by some of the servants of the Palace, but, as we un-
derstand, without success. It is supposed that striking
against the hard brick wall they rebounded into the read
and have been trodden into the earth. Some persons con-
jecture, however, that the marks pointed out are not those
of the balls, and that the latter must have gone too high to
touch the wall at all.
When the miscreant was taken to the Gardener's-lane
statien-house, be said, " I am very sorry I did not kill the
pair of them."
The prisoner is a dogged and determined sort of fellow,
and appears rather to rejoice in his atrocious act than to
experience any remorseful feelings.
Shortly after the prisoner was brought to the station_
house the Hon. Augustus Murray, and other gentlemen
connected with the Government, arrived, and had a consul-
tation with Mr. Superintendent May and the inspectors on
duty.
The prisoner in the course of the evening asked to be
accommodated with a pillow, which was supplied him by
Inspector Partridge. A police-constable was placed in
the cell with him. He (the prisoner) however betrayed not
the slightest emotion, and between 11 and 12 o'clock fell
into a sound sleep, and continued so till between 7 and 8
o'clock this morning; he then requested to be furnished
with breakfast and coffee and bread and butter, and made a
very hearty meal.
In the course of the morning he said to Inspector Part-
ridge, that if all the cells in the different station-houses
were as comfortable as the one in which he slept, the
papers had stated very falsely as to the want of accommo-
dation and comfort.
At an early hour a crowd of persons assembled in front
of tee station-house, which, by half-past nine, became
very dense, and it required great exertion on the part of
the police to prevent parties from forcing an admission.
Shortly after 10 o'clock the sister of the prisoner, a
very interesting female, respectably attired, and apparently
about 18 years of age, came to the station-house, accom-
panied by a gentleman, but whether he was a relative or
a friend our reporter was unable to learn; she was instant-
ly admitted, but was not allowed to see her brother.
A gentleman named Wright, of Hemel Hempstcd, who
is on a visit in town, and never having seen her Majesty,
was very anxious to obtain a sight of her, was walking in
the Park for that purpose, and saw the prisoner fire both
pistols ; a lapse of three or four seconds having intervened.
Immediately after the first was discharged, Prince Albert
rose and was much flushed in the face. Her Majesty
(notwithstanding the report to the contrary) appeared
much alarmed, and turned very pale ; after the dis-
charge of the second, Mr. \Sri ight, who was on the oppo-
site side of tae road, crossed over for the purpose of
seizi ,g the prisoner; but on his (the prisoner) placing
his arms across and holding out both the weapons, he
became alarmed, and while pausing as to what step he
should pursue, the ruffian was seized from behind
by another gentleman, who wrested one of the
pistols from his grasp, and on several other
persons coining up, he (the gentleman) was seized, as it
was thought he was the person who had made the attempt
at assassination, and he was also conveyed to the station-
house, but it scarcely need be mentioned that, cn an ex-
planation of the facts, he was instantly set at liberty, and
will, as a matter of course, form one of the principal wit-
nesses. Mr. Wright further stated, that after the royal
carriage had proceeded a short distance, it stopped for a
few seconds, and then proceeded at a quick rate.
The prisoner seemed greatly disappointed at the first
pistol missing her Majesty, and before firing the second he
advanced two paces, and seemed to take a more determined

Shortly before eleven o'clock the prisoner was removed
from his cell, and conveyed on fuet to the Home-office,
accompanied by Mr. Superintendent May, Inspector Par-
tridge (who carried the pistols), and a posse of police con-
stables. He was dressed in a blue frock coat and black
trousers, and appeared to be perfectly collected.
As the prisoner passed through the station-house, the
sister exclaimed, " There he is," and almost fainted.
It was foolishly reported that the prisoner had inade a
confession to Inspector Partridge that he (the prisoner)
had been promised 10,000/. if he succeeded in killing her
Majesty ; this, however, turned out to be totally untrue,
no such communication haring been made—in fact, the
prisoner has been quite silent on the subject.
TWELVE o'Ceocx.—Among other rumours was one that
the prisoner is one of the Birmingham Chartists, and be-
longed to one of the London Committees; this is merely,
however, conjecture, and no intelligence could be obtained
as to the truth or falsehood of the statement.
The prisoner is slightly made, good looking, and about
five feet six inches in height.
It is scarcely possible to suppose that one so young, and
without apparent motive influencing him, would, if sane,
have attempted so sanguinary and foul a deed ; indeed, on
the%contrary, on cooler reflection than the excitement of
the occurrence would allow, many circumstances appear
which may be humanely construed into acts of insanity on
the part of the prisoner, and it is to be hoped that such will
prove the case. The letters found on the prisoner arc not
allowed to be read through, but there are ono or two addi-
tional facts relating to them which have not been pub-
lished. In one of the notes, " Harrow " is appointed
as the place of meeting ; but it is conjectured that that
word is only a by-word, and that the real place of
meeting was to be elsewhere. It is signed "J. Smith."
A further search of the prisoner's apartment ook place
early this morning, to discover, if possible, any other
papers secreted; but the search was not attended with
success. It is generally stated that the house in which
be lived is No. 6, West-street, West-square, Lambeth,
and a great many persons sought the place last night, but
could not find it, as the other numbers, as they are
called, are mere doors, and five in number, next
to which is a narrow pathway leading to a cottage
behind. From the circumstance, however, of a public-
house being in front, it was fully believed by those who
had only heard it rumoured that the prisoner was a pot-
boy, that that was the house, and they would scarcely
believe to the contrary. An unavailing search has
been followed up to discover the bullets. On the exa-
mination of the pistols there was demonstrative
evidence of their having been loaded with ball. Hundreds
of per: ens have visited the spot this morning, and the oc-
currence Corms the general theme of conversation in all
companies. It appears that the evil intelligence was con-
veyed to the country with the most alarming exaggerations,
and the military and civilians of Woolwich were astounded
on hearing, at eight o'clock, that his Royal Highness had
been shot at and seriously wounded ; great consternation
and dismay were excited as, so few hours before, he had
been amongst them. Great crowds of persons were as-
sembled round the station-house and Home-office, to catch
a glimpse cf the prisoner on his being conveyed to the
latter piece for examination, which was fixed to take place
at a►even o'clock. The demeanour of the prisoner re-
mains unchanged.
The prisoner throughout the night slept very soundly,
and was frequently visited by Inspector Partridge, who
was on duty. Mr. 'M'Cann, the surgeon, had a conversa-
tion with him this morning, but he still obstinately re-
fuses to give any explanation of the motive that led to the
committal of so fiendish an act, or the object it was in
tended to serve.

The prisoner called upon Mr. Lenton, butcher. of the
Waterloo.road, on Tuesday, night, and in a conversation
with the reporter that person said, in reference to Oxford,
that he wasia good boy, and his ( Mr. Lenton's) impression
was that be had formed a bad connexion, and was the dupe
o` some depraved party. The police, under the directions
of Mr. Superintendent May, are most active in endea-
vouring to .race cut the author of the treasonable letters
but they refuse to disclose the result of their activity for
obvious reasons, and they state their belief that the signa.
ture Smith is an assumed one.

Soon after ten o'clock, Mr. Lowe, of Copthall-court ;
Mr. Wm. Clayton, of Princes-street, Soho; Mr. J. Clay-
ton ; Mr. Pecks; Mr. George Skearce; and the police
consables, besides a number of other witnesses, who vo;un-
teercd to give evidence, assembled at the Station-house in
Gardener's-lane, which was at this time (as well as the
Home-office) surrounded by a dense crowd of persons
anxiously waiting to catch a glimpse of the prisoner.
In consequence of the crowds round the station-house,
it was arranged that the prisoner should pass out as quickly
as possible, turn to the left, and proceed the back way
through Duwniaz-street passage to the Home-office ; and
this was so excellently managed, that scarcely those
who were admitted inside the station-house saw him

pass along. He did not wear handcuffs, and as
soon as he got into Gardener's-lane, he took to his

hcels as fast as he could, and was followed, as was

preconcerted, by Inspectors Pierce and Hughes.
These arrangements prevented any confusion in :he
public streets, and the prisoner reached the Home-office
immediately before the clock struck eleven.
At that hour the follow ing noblemen and gentlemen
had arrived to conduct the investigation. Lord Normanby,
the Hon. Fox Manic, Mr. Phillips, the Under-Secretary,
Mr. Hall, the Chief Magistrate of Bow-street, and Mr.
Barnaby, the clerk of the same police court. There were
also present Lord Uxbridge, Lord Cardigan, and other
noble personages, where names did not transpire.
Several reporters to the public press were waitirg to be
admitted into the Council Chamber, hut it was understood
that the examination, as in Capt. Good's ca.e (whe was
charged with threatening her Majesty), would be strictly
private.

The Gazetted 3 e Tribttneaus states that John
Irving, an Irishman
been two years confined in the
prison of the Rue de wholCch bad
obtain li
y, for debts to upwards of 60,000
francs, having
received et the necessary certificates that hi s
health was sutferin.
removed to the .llai'sonj.e permission, not long since, to be
of Dr. Beddet, in the Rue
Notre Dame des Champs, A few days
ysasble ago
ohe on make his escape, leaving thelDieoicst7r efocraltlrbi:edowet(oi
to his detaining. creditors.
in his own country, and to hays
been
to be highly connected
incar-
ceration by several persons of distinction.visited during his
with the Gazette der Tribunaux in reprobating We perfectly concur probating this most dis-
honourable act, which not only throws a heavy liability
none ought to exist, but must be detrimental to in where
hereafter really require the indulgence which any who ma
was granted to
Irving.— Galignani.
RAILWAY TUNNELS.—THEIR USE.--A lad
the
,
carriages on the Brandling Junction Railway, between Ne
nforms us, that being the other day a passenger in one of '
castle and this town, she had for her opposite companions%
loving couple, whose interchange of looks pretty plainly inch_
cateethe state of their hearts. When the carriage arrived
about the middle of the darksome tunnel at Heyworth, amidst
all the re-echoed rumbling, yelling, and rearing of the iron
dragon and his tail, the quick ear of our informant detected the
light chirrip of a kiss ! Another moment, and the train once
more visited the " warm precincts of the cheerful day." The
gentleman looked a little foolish,- but his fair companion, with
the most demure simplicity, innocently asked :—" Are there
any more tunnels between this and Sunderland?"--- Sunderland
IT raid