The Sun.
London, England, 1850-06-28 00:00:00

ATROCIOUS ASSAULT

UPON

HER MAJESTY.

EXAMINATION OF THE PRISONER AT THE

HOME-OFFICE.—(THIS DAY.)
At 12 o'clock this day the man, Robert Pate, who was
taken into custody yesterday evening for an atrocious
assault on her Majesty the Queen, as she was leaving
Cambridge House, Piccadilly, after a visit to her illus-
trious uncle, the Duke of Cambridge, aas brought up
for examination before the authorities at the Home-
office. The examination was taken before Mr. Hall, the
chief magistrate at Bow-street, and in the presence of
Sir George Grey, Lord Fitzroy Somerset, Mr. Corne-
wall Lewis and of hers.

At a quarter-past 12 the prisoner arrived at the
Home-office, in the custody of Superintendent
Otway, and was conducted into an ante-room,
in which the representatives of the public press were as-
sembled. Here he remained for a few minutes, pre-
viously to his being taken before the authorities, who
had assembled in an adjoining apartment, and an oppor-
tunity was thus afforded of closely inspecting his person
and demeanour. He is an exceedingly gentlemanly-
looking person, apparently a little above 40 years of age,
with a light delicate complexion, and very light and soft
brown hair. A premature baldness over the crown of
his head gives him an older appearance than he would
otherwise have had. His features, which are by no
means. unprepossessing, are set off by an elegant mous-
tache, the colour of his hair, and his forehead,
which' is high and well-developed, is charac-
terised by several horizontal wrinkles, and a
certain peculiar twitching indicating restlessness, of
mind. The first look at the man evoked our extreme pity
that ho should have so utterly forgot himself as to
commit an act so thoroughly atrocious and cowardly
upon the person of our beloved Queen, whose youth
and gentle sex, not to mention her supreme position
in this realm, might have commended her to the pro-
tection and kindly offices of every bosom which throbs
with manly emotion. The prisoner was dressed with
the greatest neatness in a blue frock coat, a white double-
breasted waistcoat buttoned closely up to the throat, a
blue neckerchief, and a pair of checked Tweed trousers,
with boots buttoned half way up the leg. He was accom-
modated with a seat on his entrance to the anti-room,
and as he was submitted to the half•averted gaze of the
persons present he betrayed no emotion of displeasure,
or otherwise. There was no sign of sorrow on his
countenance for what he had done, but a certain restless
anxiety was visible as to the fate that awaited him. On
being summoned before the authorities in the adjoining
apartment, he took up his hat and walked forward to
the door with a careless and somewhat lounging gait.
An application was made by the representatives of the
press to Sir George Grey to be present an the examina-
tion, but before it commenced Mr. Hall entered the
room in which they were waiting, and intimated to them
he was sorry that he could not comply with their re-
quest; that it was contrary to the invariable practice on
all such occasions; but that, after the examination was
over, he should be happy to give the gentlemen of the
press the result.
The examination, which was conducted with closed
doors, did not last longer than half an hour.
At its conclusion, the prisoner was conducted by In-
spector Otway from the Council-room to a waiting-room
and from thence conveyed in a cab to prison.
Our reporter, who, in company with the other repre-
sentatives of the press, was kindly allowed to remai❑ in
an ante-room adjoining the apartment of Sir George
Grey, was courteously informed by Mr. Hall, the
Chief Magistrate, at the close of the examination
what had transpired. Mr. James Silver, inspector of po-
lice, A 8, who took the prisoner intocustody, and Samuel
Cowling, of 18, Norwich-court, Fetter-Jane, who seized
the prisoner immediately after the assault, and one or
two other witnesses were examined, for the purpose of
simply proving that the blow on her Majesty's person
was inflicted by the hands of the prisoner.
The Attorney-General, who was also present, then
applied, for various reasons which he stated, and which
Mr. Hall thought were well-founded, for the postpone-
ment of the further examination of the prisoner till
Tuesday next.
Mr. Huddlestone, who appeared as counsel for the
prisoner, hoped the Attorney-General would extend to
the prisoner the indulgence of a longer remand, and
suggested that Friday next should be fixed for his re-
examination.

The Attorney-General consented to that course, and
Mr. HALL then intimated that the prisoner stood re,
manded until Friday next at 12 o'clock.

We wore informed by Inspector Field, of the Detec-
tive Force, .that he had known the prisoner for about a
year and a half, during which time he had been in the
constant habit of meeting him in the neighbourhood of
the Westend, and he attracted the particular attention
of pedestrians by the peculiar way in which he swung
his arm while walking. The general impression of per-
sons who have become acquainted with his appearance
and manner through meeting with him in this cursory
way in the streets is, that he is not insane; but we have
been iuformed, though we cannot state it as a fact, that
at times he was subject to slight attacks of mental ex-
citement. We have also been given to understand that
for some time he has not been on good terms with his
father, who is a wealthy corn factor at Wisbeach.

Without making a detailed reference to the debate
of last night, there is one speech which it would be unpar-
donable to pass over in silence. We know not whether the
surprise or the indignation of our readers will be the greatest,
when they peruse the speech of Sir William Molesworth.
The Hon. Gentleman not only proclaimed his intention of
voting against the motion of Mr. Roebuck, but did all he
could—which, happily, was not much—to damage and de-
stroy Lord Palmerston. What, we are curious to know, will
the electors of Southwark say to this? Does Sir William
Molesworth, in this instance, fairly represent their sen-
timents? If he does, we have grievously mistaken
their character. Does he not, rather, grossly mis •
represent them? And will they tamely submit to be
thus grossly misrepresented on a question of such vast
importance? Are they willing to have the finger of scorn
pointed at them by the country, as men who are prepared to
sacrifice an English Minister, and to see a Russian Minister
substituted for him? If they do not, without a moment's
delay, raise their indignant voice against the conduct of
their Member, and follow up the expression of their indigna-
tion by calling on him to resign, they will be considered by
the country as sharing in his sentiments, and as approving
of the course which he has thought proper to pursue. For
their own sakes—for the sake of constitutional principles
abroad—and for the sake of the English character, we trust
the electors of Southwark will immediately assemble in
public meeting, and adopt a resolution calling on Sir
William Molesworth to resign a trust which he has so deli-
berately and so grossly betrayed.—Advertiser.

- -
FRIGHTFUL OCCURRENCE.— Yesterday morning,
about 10 o'clock, the passengers on board the Bee, halfpenny
steam-boat, were distressed by a frightful accident which
happened to a young man named Samuel Barnett, aged 21,
whose friends are of the Jewish persuasion, and reside in
Middlesex-street, Commercial-road East. It appears that
at the time above-named, the Bee steam-boat was taking
passengers on board from the pier at Dyers'.hall-wharf,
Upper Thames-street, City, when Barnett took his seat by
the gangway, placing his feet upon a coil of rope, one end
of which was made fast to the usual part of the dumb lighter.
The captain, not seeing any danger, gave orders to "go
ahead;" but at the same instant it was discovered that
Barnett's right leg had become firmly secured by the rope,
at which time the full strain of the vessel was upon it, and
before he could be released the right foot was completely
severed near the ankle-joint. The captain and crew ren-
dered every possible assistance, and having taken the un-
fortunate sufferer ashore, he was at once examined by
a medical gentleman who happened to be present, and con-
veyed to St. Thomas's Hospital, where it was fonnd ne-
cessary to amputate the limb at the knee. The removal
of the leg was borne with much fortitude, and last
evening Barnett was going on as favourably as could be
expected.

TIIE NEEDLEWOMAN EMIGRATION SOCIETY.-A
large party—amounting to 61—of the young females being
sent out to Australia under the auspices of Mr. Sidney
Herbert's society, embarked on Wednesday on board the fine
ship Northumberland, a teak-built Indiaman, forming one of
Mr. Green's fleet, and bound on the present occasion for
Port Philip. The party was organised under the active
superintendence of the Hon. Mrs. Stuart Wortley, who was
unremitting yesterday in attentions to her grateful proteges.
The party who proceeded along with the emigrants to
Gravesend included the usual active working members of the
committee. Mr. Arthur Kinnaird took general charge of the
expedition in the absence of Mr. Sidney Herbert. Besides
Mrs. Stuart Wortley, there were present the Marquis and
Marchioness of Drogheda, Lady Wenlock, Lord Wharn-
cliffe, Mr. Henry Tufnell, the Rev. Mr. Quekett, the Rev.
Dr. Brown, Rev. Mr. Sanger, and the Rev. Mr. Shearman,
Mr. and Miss Dee, and Mrs. Zetterquest. Dr. Sparke, the
Government Emigration Inspector, was also one of the party.
After the berths had been taken possession of, Mr. Kinnaird
addressed the emigrants in a few words of affectionate ex-
hortation, and farewell; and the Rev. Mr. Quekett im-
pressed upon them the necessity of order, cheerfulness, com-
mand of temper, and general amiability of demeanour. Most
of the girls were vividly and deeply affected, but they soon
recovered their cheerfulness, smiles succeeding very speedily
to tears. A singular fact came to light during the muster.
One girl was absent, and on her name being repeatedly
called, a companion of hers, also an emigrant, came forward
and informed the committee that although her friend had
quite made up her mind to go, and although she had herself
provided and packed her outfit, yet that at Blackwell she
had changed her mind, because—the noise of the steamer
frightened her 1

OXFORD, WORCESTER, AND WOLVERHAMPTON
RAILWAY. -On Thursday (yesterday, June 27) a special
meeting of the above company was held at the Guildhall,
Worcester, for the purpose of submitting to the proprietors a
Bill, now before Parliament, to authorise the sale to the
Birmingham and Oxford Junction Railway Company of the
Stratford-on-Avon Canal Navigation. Mr. Rufford, M.P.,
chairman of the company, presided, and the business of the
day occupied but a very short period of time. After the
usual preliminaries the chairman briefly addressed the
proprietors, and the solicitor of the company, Mr. Charles
Bedfird, read an abstract of the provisions of the Bill. The
chairman then moved a formal resolution approving of the
Bill, which has already been read a third time and passed in
the House of Commons, and is now before the House of
Lords. The resolution was carried unanimously.

ATTEMPTED SUICIDE. - Yesterday, about one
o'clock, a man named Donaldson, residing in Stockbridge,
and clerk to a respectable firm in George-street, deliberately
and in presence of his wife, took a razor and made a deep
gash in his throat, almost severing the windpipe. Hii wife
rushed forward to frustrate the attempt, but finding it too
late, she immediately called in medical assistance, when it
was found the infatuated man had inflicted a very dangerous
wound upon himself. He was carried to the Royal Infir-
mary, where he remains in a precarious state.— Caledonian
Mercury of Thursday.