The Sun.
London, England, 1840-06-11 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY. JUNE: 11, IA4O.

whether the youth be smitten with any pAtical
madness, whether he falsely regard her MAJESTY
as the JEZABEL of the day, and the enemy of the
Protestant Church, or as the enemy of liberty--whe-
ther his blood have been inflamed by the harangues
of the Exeter Hall and the Canterbury fanatics, or
by the harangues of any Chartist leaders, we cannot
' tell. But such kind of viliany or madness is generally
the result of some doctrines, and whatever follies
the Chartists may have been guilty of, they have
never spoken disrespectfully of her MAJESTY per
sonally. Time will, we hope, unravel the mystery.
We shall content ourselves with remarking, that
the monomania which attacks a youthful and a
popular Sovereign's life, must be regarded as the
most poisonous result of some virulent principles.

E is report Ai that the youth is a foreigner, but
we know not that there is any founlation for the

statement.

HALF-PAST SEVEN O'CLOCK

Her Majesty and Prince Albert have just re-
turned to the Palace from their ride. Thousands
were congregated in the Park and its neighbour-
hood to see them. Her Majesty and the Prince
looked exceedingly pale but very cheerful, and
returned the enthusiastic chee rings of the assem-
bled multitudes almost as if nothing had oc-
curred. Every one seemed anxious to express their
loyalty to their Queen, and their detestation of the
diabolical attempt that had been made to take
away the life of their beloved Sovereign. Lord
Melbourne and the Marchioness- of Normanby
arrived at the Palace almost immediately after her
Majesty entered it. It is really wonderful that the
attempt of the miscreant was not attended with loss
of life, as hundreds were assembled to see her
Majesty, and some gentlemen were thrown from
their horses, who were alarmed at the firing
of the pistols. The pistols appear to have been
fired in a slanting direction, as the carriage
was approaching, from the appearance of the
marks on the wall on the opposite side
of the road. The excitement this diabolical attempt
has occasioned appears unexampled; hundreds
of all grades and conditions are now flocking into
the Park, and making anxious inquiries as to the
safety of their beloved Queen.

If her MAJESTY were for the moment alarmed,
and we do not know that she was, for the carriage
drove on as if nothing had occurred, she must have
experienced a high gratification from witness-
ing the subsequent overflowing loyalty of mul-
titudes of her people. Crowds of horsemen and
footmen flocked round her carriage, and testified, in
every possible respectful way their enthusiastic joy
at her safety. Perhaps no art can always protect
a life at which another aims, but the best rampart
is the affections of a people. We shall now insert
from our Second and Third Editions the particulars
as they reached us.
Just now (about half-past six), we happened
to walk down near St. James's Park, and saw a great
crowd of persons following a policeman in charge of
a man, all in the greatest excitement, which we soon
learnt was caused by a horrible attempt to
murder her Majesty, by firing two pistols at her,
one after the other. Happily neither of them took
effect. We can learn no more at present.

the Pig in the Pound, MarYlehonc-ane, facing Oxford- object it was intended to serve. The police have
street, this was all the information which could at this I made a further search of the prisoner's lodgiugs, No. 6,
period obtained from hint. The two Constables, West-street, West-qquare, but blee riot discoc.s.red
Brown and Smith were then rsamined, and from their . anything luril.er iike!y to throw aii3 light- upon the sub-
stateu cuts, it appeared that they were on duty in the i.ct. It appears that he resided- with his sister, Mrs.
Park, near to the Palace. Shoetiy after her Majesty Phelps, whose husband is a baker, but who made a
and Prince Albert had left, they were alarmed by successful application to the Commissioners to be ad-
hearing the report of a pistol which was speedily milted into the police a few days ago, and who was to
followed by the report of a second, Police Constable commence duty on Monday next. The prisoner's =-
Smith instantly jumped over the pailings of St. James's ther is at present in Birminghem, staying with some
Park, and, in so doing, cut his bands, and ran to the highly-respectable friends, and she has been there for
spot, from whence the sound proceeded, when he found the last month.
a female who was inside of the railings of the Green I He left home about three o'clock yesterday afternoon,
Park, holding a young man by the skirt of his coat, but the officer has been unable to trace his steps until
who was standing on the foot-path of the carriage road, the time he attempted to take the Queen and Prince
and within eight yards of the spot where her Majesty Albert's lives ; and he maintains a sullen silence in re-
had passed, and from whom he took two pistols. Terence to his connections, and the manner in which he
William Clayton, of No. 52, Prince's street, Lei-
has been engaged during the last mouth, when he
cester-square, artist, stated that he was in the Green
quitted the Hog in-the-Pound public-house. in Oxford-
P4rk al out a quarter past six o'clock last night, when
street.
his attention was drawn by hearing the report of a pis- 'lle letters referring to Hanover, and a Secret So-
tol, which was instantly succeeded by a second ; on
turning round he saw the prisoner, who appeared to cloy, advising the members to provide themselves with
have taken the pistols from the inside of his coat, and at arms, is signed with the name of " Smith," .but they
the time he appeared to be perfectly collected. bear no date, either as to time or place, which tends
Albert Low, of Copthall-court, Throgmorton-street, to throw greater suspicion on them, and to confirm the
' City, spectacle-maker, stated that he was in the Park, opinion that I.x.sts, that the prisoner has been made the
and upon hearing the report of the first pistol, he turned tool of some secret and unlawful society.
round and saw the prisoner take a second one from the
inside of his coat, and fire at her Maj,sty.
Sir Augustus Murray, who was in attendance at the
station-house, as well as Mr. Gregoric, the Magistrate,
observed that Irom what he could collect it was evident
that the pistols were aimed at her Majesty's head, and
that it was only from the Prince altering his speed, that
the bullets did not take the desired effact.

We have given in another column an account of
the dinner held yesterday at the Freemasons'
Tavern, in aid of that excellent institution, the
Greville Street Free Hospital. To Dr. MARS-
DEN great m?rit is due for his persevering exer-
tions to establish in a crowded neighbourhood,
abounding with poverty and &stress, a hospital, for
admittance into which (as Lord ROBERT GROS-
VENOR justly remarked) only two conditions are
requisite—poverty and disease. Great success has
blessed Dr. MARSDEN'S humane endeavours, and
what with the liberal assistance of the Corporation
of London, and of some influential Noblemen and
Gentlemen, there is every reason to believe that the
institution will he completely successful. Among
the generous contributors to its support the name
of the Marquis of WESTMINSTER stands emi-
nently conspicuous. He has supported it almost
from the commencement, and, in addition to the
sums already subscribed, his Lordship since the last
anniversary has subscribed 100/., and last night
sent one hundred guineas more. Alderman HA It-
MER has also been of much service, and we trust
he will render greater service still. From the
position he holds in the Corporation of Lon-
don, he must have great influence, and it
could not be better exerted than in recommending
the city of London to contribute out of their vast
funds still more liberally, and also to furnish a site
for an hospital on a larger scale, in the street about
to he formed in that populous district. He could
not better celebrate his accession to the Mayoralty,
and the large subscriptions from the city companies,
announced last evening, prove that he would be
supported.

The most important statement was that of a Mr.
Pecks, and was as follows :-1 have been in Landon
about a week from Dorsetbhire, and having never
seen the Queen, I was anxious to see her, and ac-
cordingly I went to the Park, and placed myseli
near to the Palace. After being there for a few
minutes 1 saw her ntjesty and Prince Albert come:
out of the Palace, but not obtaining a good view, 1 ran
on to the Green Park, turning round by the angle to
the westward. I placed myself about 40 yards on the
road towards Hyde Park. The prisoner was standing
near me. He had his hands folded across, and in his
coat. As the carriage came within a few yards of him
I saw him take his right arm from the left side of his
coat, and, pulling out a pistol, he fired it. He held it
as if he was fighting a duel, or point blank. I thought
it was an act of rejoicing, but instantly afterwards he
drew a second pistol out from his breast. He then
crossed his arms, and stooped as if he took aim, and
then fired. The instant he did so Prince Albert looked
flushed, but the Queen appeared to me not to change
countenance, for she leant forward and spoke to Prince
Albert, and he then drove tepidly towards Hyde Park.
I became alar:ned, and not knowing what was meant.
ran away ; on my reaching Covett•garden, I told a
comtable what I had seen, who took me to his inspec-
tor, and came with me here.

'',The House of Commons met again last night, after
its short adjournment for the Whitsuntide holidays.
Mr. TOMLINE, the new Member for Sudbury, took

Mr. Pecks afterwards said the Queen appeared to
be by no means alarmed when the pistols were fired.
The prisoner, who maintained as considerable degree
of sullenness, inquired it the Queen was injured.
The pistols were here produced; they arc rather
larger than those in use by the police, but of Birmiq-
ham make.

his scat.

After the private business, and the presentation of
numerous petitions, were over, Mr. PLEMPTRE gave no-
tice that, rn 23,1 inst., he will move that after this year
no grant shall he made to Maynooth. Sir C. D. NOIMEYS
'gave notice that he would move on the Committee on
the Irish Registration Bill that the qualification be in-
dependent of the beneficial interest. Mr. MACLEAN
gave notice that he means this day to ask. a question
relative to Buenos Ayres.
Mr. MACKINNON asked a question about the duties
on Foreign wines, which the President of the Board of
Trade declined to answer,
In answer to Sir R. PEEL, Mr. ELLts stated that
he did not know whether he should divide on the dis-
trict council clauses of the Canada Bill. Ile hoped
Lord JOIN RUSSELL would withdraw them.

At a late hour last night we ascertained that the
assassin is a native of Birmingham, which place he
left when only nine years of age ; that he had left his
last place during the last month. They at length as-
certained his residence, which was No. 6, \Vest-street,
West-square. On searching his room they found a
sword and a black crape cap, made to fit the face, be-
sides a list of names, which may lead to most important
results. Ou his person was found a half-crown, a knife,
and a key. There was also found at his lodgings a ball
and powder flask, the bullet fitting the pistols. From
the time of the horrid attempt, until eleven o'clock
4bout twenty of the police were engaged in sifting the
earth before the wall against which the ball is supposed
to have bounded, but at the above . hour no bullet was
found. Ilnring the whole of the night, repeated mes-
sages came front the House of Commons, to ascertain
if the assassin had ;?nado any statement ; he, however,
remained silent, with the exception of inquiring whet
thcr he had shot the Queen. This question he put
several times during the course of the night.

Mr. MILL's Seduction Bill was read a second time,
after a short debate, by the narrow majority of one.
The House was occupied during the who!e evening
afterwards, with Mr. PAKINGTON'S Beer Bill in Com-
mittee, on the clauses of which there were several
divisions. •

Mr. Sergeant TALFOURD'S CApyright Bill, which
was expected to come on last night, was postponed.

Government is said to be established for the good
of the whole community, and it is therefore
surprising that so few should have part in it. The
persons directly concerned in electing the House of
Commons (To not amount to one-twentieth of the
European community, and the distant colonies are
governed for their advantage by persons who have
never seen them, and know little or nothing of their
wants. Of that twentieth part not a twentieth part,
perhaps, occupies itself much with Government.
Every one knows that the bulk of the elections are
regulated and settled by some small junta or some
single topping elector who undertakes to Select and
think for the whole electoral body. Moreover, it
is only at particular periods that this little party is
called on to act ; so that, if we take the two ele-
ments of time and number into consideration, only a
very small portion of society exercises any direct
influence over, or has any part in, that Government
which is for the good of the whole.
This, however, is not all. We have hitherto
considered only the electoral body----4he body they
choose is a still smaller section of the whole. If
we estimate the two Houses of Parliament at 1,000
persons, we shall find that they are about one
twenty-five-thousandth part of the whole. If we
assume that of them one-fifth take an ac-
tive part in the management of public affairs,
we shall not. be far wrong, which will make about
the one hundred and twenty-five-thousandth part
of society, which give an impetus to the Govern-
ment. What a very small portion to regulate
the whole I But it is well known that of this small
number, only a small part is active, and governs
and directs the rest. Ultimately, then, it comes to
this, that public affairs arc really directed by a
very small number of persons, who do not much
exceed in number the celebrated Venice Council of
Ten. Though we boast of our representative Go-
-1 vernment and our freedom, it would be difficult to
point out in what our Government essentially differs
from a despotism, for that is worked net by one
man, but by about ten or a dozen active men—
about the same number as work the British Go-
vernment and all that depends on it.
It may be said that these few, by being respon-
sible to the whole, really do the bidding of the
whole. We have already shown that the consti-
tuency is composed of a very small junta in every
district. So far as the apprehension of the anger
of the constituer.cy, or the wish to preserve their
good will, may operate on the elected body, it
' may be said to be responsible to the electors ; but
how little that realty amounts to with septennial
elections, a very slight consideration will suffice
to show. It is a responsibility after action, and that
responsibility is practically very remote. Unless
the sense of it happen to be present to the mind of
the acting person at the time he is acting, which
will only batmen in a few instances, it really can
have no influence whatever on his actions.
What he does cannot be undone, though he
may be punished for having done it. Now, the
examples of punishment of any Ministers, or any
members of the governing body, are inconceiv-
ably rare in En&nd, and their influence must be
proportionally small. Take for illustration the
conduct of the Foreign Minister ; it is a principle
that while negotiations are in progress they are not
to be questioned. The Foreign Minister, there-
fore, in fact, acts without any control ; and we
apprehend that no human being will suppose, tak-
ing experience for his guide, that any Foreign Mi-
nister can have the leaA apprehension of any kind
of punishment, further than a mere loss of popula-
rity, for whatever he may do. In fact, therefore,