The Sun.
London, England, 1842-05-31 00:00:00

(FROM A CORRESPONDENT.)

Yesterday evening, the metropolis was involved in
a state of considerable excitement and agitation in
consequence of a report that another attempt at the
assassination of her Majesty, which was fortunately
not attended with the slightest injury to her Royal
person, had been perpetrated in the ride known
as Constitution Hill, the attempt having been
made, at a short distance from the spot which the mis-
creant Oxford chose for his murderous purpose.
The report, upon inquiry; proved to be too true, and,
it was also ascertained that the circumstances con-
nected with the atrocious act, were nearly similar to
those which were undertaken by the last would-be
regicide. From the information obtained by our
informant, it appeared that her Majesty, who
was in her barouche, accompanied by his Royal
highness Prince Albert, was. on her, return
to Buckinghain Palace at about a quarter past six
o'clock, with outriders. The vehicle was proceeding
at the usual pace, when at the spot above alluded to,
a person who was on the foot-path on the off side of
the carriage, and at the distance of about three yards
from it, he being on the same side, discharged a pistol,
with which he took a deliberate aim at her Majesty,
which, however, fortunately did not take effect, Prince
Albert rose from his seat and having made an intima-
tion to one of the outriders immediately resumed his
place. The outrider instantly got from his
horse and there being a policeman muld a sol-
dier close' at hand, the wretch was taken
into custody. He was conveyed to Buckingham Palace,
followed by a crowd of gentlemen on horseback, and
pedestrians, but he was soon afterwards taken to
Gardener's-lane, where he was placed under the sur-
veillance of the police, through whom no information
was allowed to be publicly communicated. Informa-
tion was forwarded to the Home-office, when Sir
James Graham, Burt., and Sir Robert, Peel, Bart.,
had a report of the regicidal act made known to them
at the House of Commons, subsequent to which the
prisoner underwent an examination, the particulars
of which have been as much as possible kept in secrecy.
As far as reports of the evidence adduced have
transpired, our informant is able to give the following
particulars :—As soon as the individual was appre-
hended, he -was searched by the policeman,. who was
assisted by Sergeant Laitgley, A 11, but there was
nothing found upon him to lead to his identification.
He was asked his name, which he refused to state.

Had he any parent ?—Yes, a father and mother.
Where do they live ?-1V ithin two miles of that
place.
Is there any other of the family ?—Yes, a brother
and two sisters.

'What trade do you follow ?-17arious occupations,
adding that he would tell what he had to state to
others.

He made no attempt to escape, and no objection to
the interrogatories, and showed no symptoms
of insanity. There was only one pistol on
him, and which had not' been discharged. ", A per-
son, Whose name is Mark Russell, who is occa-
sionally employed at Covent-garden Theatre, was
in the rice at the time that the attempt was made
on her Majesty's life, and who, upon the apprehension
of the man, was of opinion that he had a knowledge
of him. Russell, and a gentleman who gave the report
of what took 'place to our informant, also expressed a
belief that the individual was the person in question,
whose name was stated to be John Francis,
the son of Mr. Francis, foreman of the machinery
department of Covent-garden Theatre, which si-
tuation he has occupied for about twenty years, being
most highly respected in the establishment. In the
course of the evening Mr. Francis, • who was at the
Theatre, was sent for, to attend at the Home-office,
where he saw his unfortunate son, who did not deny,
his guilt. He is about 22 years of age, and from his
youth, till about a year and a half since, was em-
ployed under his father at the Theatre.
Shortly after her Majesty's arrival at Buckingham
Palace, the Duchess of Kent, the Duke and Duchess
of Cambridge,: Prince George of Cambridge, the Duke
of Wellington, with various of the Nobility, called at
the Palace.