The Statesman.
London, England, 1812-05-12 00:00:00

TIT E STATESMAN.

ASSASSINATION OF MR. PER-
CEVAL.

sengers was called in, who followed with BeLt.tmo-
HAM in their custody, and they were succeeded by
Lord OiitILSTON, Mr. VILLILIVI, Mr. Mamatad,
Mr. %Vl'Aims, Mr. PULL, and about ten others.
The Sew sa also directed that all Members who
were Magistrates of Middlesex, as well as all per-
sons who had witnessed any part of the transaction,
should attend the Committee, to examine and to give
evidence.
Sir C. Bement: produced the loaded pistol taken
from the Prisoner, and another Member the bundle
of papers found in his co it pocket,
' The House was then adjourned,

List night we had the painful task imposed upon
43 of being the first to announce to the Public, in a
l'hitd Edition, the above dreadful occurrence. We
now lay before our Readers the whole particulars
which have come to our knowledge respecting this
awful catastrophe.
Yesterday afternoon, at about a quarter past five,
as Mr. Pt•tcrrar, was entering the Lobby of the
House of Commons, he was shot by a person of the
name of Bettrstanus, who had placed himself for
that purpose at the side of the door leading from the
stone staircase. Mr. PLRCEVAL was in company with
Lord F. Osnoasx, and immediately on receiving
the ball, which entered the left breast, he staggered
and fell at the feet of MOV.SIII2II, who was standing
refer thesecond pillar. The only words he uttered
were, 4' Oh! I am murdered," and the latter was
inarticulate, the sound dying between his lips. He
was instantly taken up by Mr. SMrrn, who did not
recognize him until be had looked in his face. The
report of the pistol immediately drew great numbers
to the spot, who assisted Mr. SMITH in conveying
the body of Mr. PERCEVAL into the Speaker's
aparhneuts, but before he reached them, all signs of
life had deputed. Mr. Pant-tam.% corpse was
placed upon a bed, and Mr. LYNN, of Great
George-street, who had been sent for, arrived, hut
too late even to witness the last symptoms of expir-
ing existence. He found that the ball, which was of
an unuenaliy large size, had penetrated the heart
near its centre, and had passed completely through
it. From thence the body was removed to the
Speaker's drawing-room, by Mr. LvriN and several
Members, and it was laid on a sofa.
The horror and dismay occasioned by the assassi-
nation of Mr. Pracevat. prevented any attention
from being paid to other persous, and it was not un-
til the Right Hon. Gentleman was raised from the
door that a person belonging to the Vote Office ex-
Maimed, C 6 Where is the rascal that fired?" when a
person of the name of BELLINGMAX, who had bees
unobserved, stepped up to him and coolly observed,
" I am the unfortunate man." He did not make any
attempt to escape, though be had thrown away the
pistol by which he had perpetrated the horrid deed,
but resigned himself quietly into the hands of some
of the bye-standers. They placed him upon a bench
near the Ire. plate, where they kepe hits, and all the
doors were closed, and the egress of any persons-
prevented. When the assassin was interrogated as
.15 his motive for this dreadful act, he replied, " My 1
name is Bruastosiewi it a private injury—l I
know whet I have done—lt was a denial of jus.;
dee on the part of Government." At this time i
the Pthelllif Was in DO legal custody, but was
summed.' by Assay Members, vibe insiatied diet
he should be taken Into the body of the Home. The
trinsimal was, however, previously seerched,lowhich
he made no resistance, and upon his peries were'
found a steel piped, loaded, about seven inches.ln
length (the fellow to that with which he had effected
his fatal purpose, which had been secured) with a
short screw barrel, and a bundle of papers faded
like letters. Two Messengers, WRTOMT and Sart.
ton, then conveyed the Prisoner to the bar of the
House of Commons, where the utmost confusion and
anxiety prevailed. The Speaker had quitted the
Chair, the-House having resolved itself into the Com-
mittee on the Orders in Council, but on hearing the,
afflicting intelligence, he returned and resumed his
seat. Order having been restored, General GAR.
COIGNE said in an audible voice, " I think I know
the villain," and walking up to the assassin, and
looking in his face enquired, " Is not your name
BLLLINGNAId?" Ile returned no answer, but by.
shaking his head, and stood afterwards motionless,
and apparently composed, resting his hands upon the I
13ar, and looking directly forwards to the Chair.
The SPEAKER then proposed in a firm voice, that
the criminal should be conveyed to the prison-room,
and that a Magistrate should be sent for to receive
the examination of the witnesses of the shocking
,rkisactiou.,;--[Hear, hear ?] He also stated, that
in order that the Prisoner might be less able tp at.
tempt an escaee, or a rescue be effected by accom.
plices, it would be fie that he should be conducted to
The place of confinement, not through the lobby
where the murder had been perpetrated, but through
tap private avenues rouud the House.
This proposal was highly approved, and the
SPrAKER further said, that it might render the do-
.ention of the criminal moresecure if Members would
precede, in order to see that all the passages were
-!tar.

BELLI NGH AM was conducted without the slightest
resistance to a large room beyond the termination of
the upper lobby, where the Magistrate (Mr. W tr.
soy, Serjeant at Arms of the House of Lords), who
had been sent for, attended ; Mr. Alderman COMAE,
Mr. ANGELO TAYLOR, and other Magistrates, as.
sisted at the examination.

The following are Minutes of the Rumination :
• EVIDENCE.
Mr. BunGess, the first witness examined, stated,
that he secured the prisoner after the pistol had been
fired. The prisoner did not attempt to escape.
General GASCOtes c, M. P. said, he was acquainted
with the person of the prisoner, and he remembered
his name, but not kis Christian name. Witness knew
him from the circumstance of his calling on him to
present a Petition to Parliament. The Ceneral re-
lated, that he was cooling out of the house when Mr.
PERCEVAL was shot. lie seized the prisoner, and
took from him a pistol, w hich he produced. (The
pistol was a small pocket size, with the name of
• Locke on it.)
Mr. Sxxrom stated, that he was standing in the
Lobby : witness saw Mr. PERCEVAL fall. The pri-
souer at the same time came close to the witness,
touched him on the shoulder, and exclaimed, " I am
the unfortunate man who did it." After Mr. PER-
I CEVAL had been shot in the left breast, he advanced
• half up the Lobby, and sunk down, audsaid, " I am
murdered !" He sunk on his knees, and was carried
in thearms of Mr. BRADiIIAW and Mr. GUMMING to
the Speaker's room. .While Mr. PERCETAL was
falling, the prisoner repeated the words before stated,
and immediately sat down on a teat on the left side
of the Lobby, saying, " So much for the Orders in
Council." In the course of ten minutes be was
secured, and carried to the Bar of the House, from
thence to the Strong Room, and afterwards to the
Private Committee-room, where he was then under
leivamination. The prisoner was secured by General
GAscoicNz and Mr. IkßUess. lie had two pistols.
l Mr. HOME SUMNER took some printed papers from
,the prisoner. On searching the prisoner, a 11.
I note, a guinea, and some silver, were found io his
'pocket.
Laid Ossta.svow said, he heard the report of a
pistol ; but could not swear who tired it. Ile saw
the Prisoner by the side of M.r. PERCEVAL. lie was
I •
igorog out of the House at the time.
Lord FAANCIS G. OSIIORNE deposed to the
same affect.

Mr. GVIWING deposed, that he raised up Mr.
Peaccras, and wiled him to the Speaker's room.
lle saw Mr. PEnctv.t.t. fall, and he never left him
till he died.

- -
FRANCIa RoMILLY, nephew to Sir S. Ro-
mILLY said, he was behind Mr. PERCIVAL coming
up the steps to the Lobby. The witness heard the
report of a pistol; but could not tell who had fired
it.

The Prisoner, after each witness had been inter.
rogated, was asked, what he had to say ? and re.
turned for answer, that he should know what he had
to say at another place, but he did not deny that he
had said the words which Mr. SAXTON had men•
tioned.

General TARLETON said, he knew the Prisoner by
calling on him six weeks ago. On that occasion he
could hardly get him out of his house. He formed an
opinion, at that time, that the Prisoner was insane.
The Magistrates considered the evidence sufficient
to warrant the committal of the Prisoner, and he ac.
tordingly stood committed. The examination then
closed, and the witnesses were bound over to prose.
cute. Lord Carrttaracit, Mr. CvmwzNo, Mr.
Wnivaaxxo, and other Members were present at
the euminatiou.

The facts stated, seem to discountenance altoge-
ther the idea that any accomplices were concerned
with BLLLINIIHAM I; this inhuman deed.

A great many Gentlemen immediately rose to corn.
ply with the request, when

Mr. INutrasE.to, in a tone of voice which be-1
frayed the difficult) he felt in commanding his feel- '1
logs, observed, that to prevent confusion it would
he better if those Members who should go before for
the purpose of seeing that the passages were clear
were named from the Chair, or the eagerness of all
to fulfil the undertaking would prevent its proper
ciecotiort.—[Hear !] •

'the SPZAKIM added, that it would be right that
the ohnott precaution should be used, not only lest
tae criminal should injure other!, but should attempt
violence o:i bitasulf [Hear, hcw' I—He then named
Mr. WILITBRI;AO, Mr. and Mr. Booms* who
iireely left Ow llouse to clear the avenues to the
;r:so. o-toom. • The...as" sistai.ce of several other Mes-

,I , •

Daring the whole of the examination the assgssiti
mainttined the utmost composure. Ile said he had
for more than a fortnight watched for a fayourable
opportunity of effecting his purpose; that he had im-
plored for justice in vain that fie had Made applica-
tion to every person likely to procure him redress ;
and that he had been at length driven to despair, by
bei'ig told at the public offices that he might do his
worst.—" I have obeyed them—l have done my
worst, and I rejoice In my deed." Not the slightest
Ayttiptom cif remorse appeared in the wretch, notwith-
standing the universal horror which his atrocity had
produced on all that surrounded him.

Mrs. PERCEVAL was on a visit to the Hon. Mrs.
Rirortt, Ludy of the Right Hon. the Secretary of
State for the Home Department, at his house in
Great George.street, Westminster, when the sad ca-
tastrophe bappenod, and was apprised of it en her
return at five o'clock, to Downing-street. Mrs. Pm-
MAL and his children, 12 in number, are plunged
into inexpressible grief, as is Lord ARDEN, his bro-
ther. Every window of the house was immediately
closed, but the street was thronged with the populace
till midnight.

The environs of Parliament-street and Palace-yard
were rendered almost impassable by the pressure of
the crowd, notwithstanding the vigilance of the Po-
be Moms.

IA Cabinet Council was summoned, and the de-
! pansy, of the Post was delayed, till dispatches could
be made out, and instructions prepared for die Civil
land Military Authorities in every part of the United
Kingdom, in order that seasonable steps may be
taken for prsreerring the peace throughout the coun-
try—and particularly in these districts where an in-
flamed and infatuated multitude have committed the
most savage barbarities. We have every reason to
belie►e that the measures taken will be effectual ; as
the military power in the disturbed counties is en-
trusted to a most rigorous and yet humane Officer,
the Hon. General MAITLAND, in whose sagacity,
firmness, and exertions, the public may have the most
entire confidence. The Earl of DERBY and Earl of
STAMFORD have also left town for their respective
counties, to exert VA,. authority as Lords Lieute-
slants, to restore tranquillity.
The Committee concluded their examination of
the assatain at half after nine o'clock ; and a notice
was sent to Mr. NEWMAN, the Keeper of Newgate,
to prepare for the reception of the delinquent. Mr.
Sheriff lieyovre went himself to Newgate, and gave
particular directions, that the murderer, when re-
ceived into the gaol, should be watched in such a way
as to prevent the possibility of his perpetrating sui-
cide.

The Cabinet Council sat to a late boor, and be-
tween twelve and one o'clock this morning he was
conveyed under a strong escort of Dragoon Guards,
in a coach, to Newgate.
The commitment was signed by MICHAEL A xcelo
TAYLOR, Esq. who accompanied him in the coach to
Newgate, attended by Mr. Russ, one of his Majesty's
Messengers, and two Officers of the Police. The
troop of horse was under the command of Colonel
BARTON: the cavalcade did not arrive at Newgate
till one o'clock, and by orders of the Cabinet Coun-
cil two men were ordered to sit up in the cell with
him.

To prevent any disturbances from the advantage
which the ill-disposed might take of the general agi-
tation, a number of constables were ordered out.
In the city, the Loan Mayoa adopted similar pre-
cautions, by issuing his precepts through the Mar-
shalmen and Beadles, to compel the attendance of
all the constables at the watch-houses, and ordering
them to pay special attention to their duties.
The nature of the man's claims we understand to
be no other than that he imputes to our Ministers in
Russia the want of protection, or of interference iu
a dispute which he had with the Consul of Archangels
by which he incurred a loss of 7 or 80001. hut ink-
which the British Government had nothing to do.
He was imprisoned in Russia, in consequence of his
violence; and on his arrival here, he applied to ail
the Public Offices, even those which had nothing to
do wills auy sack bunions; and was told by ail of
them, that they could not take cognizance of his
private affairs. He says that he was driven to des-
pair; be three weeks ago, bought the pistols for the
horrid deed, which he has at last perpetrated.
BELLINGMAX is a tall, large-boned man, about 40
years of age, with a thin, long visage and aquiline
nose ; his eyes are sunken, and his complexion, at
The dreadful intelligence spread with amazing ra- the time we saw him jest after the assassination, of a
pidity, and before six o'clock, the crowd collected ghastly, pallied hoe. lie wore a drab coat, light
on the outside was so great, that it was deemed pru-
striped waistcoat, breeches and boots, and is of gen-
dent to close the doors of Westminster Hall, as well
teel appearance. After committing the horrid deed
as to plant constables at all the entrances, to prevent he quietly sat himself down on the bench near the fire
a concourse within the passages of the House. In-
in the lobby ; but before he was taken into the House,
gress was denied to all persons but Members and wit- he
appeared greatly agitated and clasped his hands,
nesses. The multitude kept augmenting every
'although he was far from supplicating pity. His
mute, and a... length it was resolved, that in order to .
principal anxiety seemed to be, to persuade the won-
ensure traoquillity, and to produce a dispersion of
dering spectators that the act was justifiable from the
the mob, that the Horse Guards should be called
provocation he had received.
out. They accordingly left their quarters, and pa-
A new writ will be moved this day for the election
raded in Old and New Palace-yard) and in St. Mar-
of a Member for Northampton, in the room of Mr.'
gavot and Parliament-streets until a late hour. The
gates of St. James's Park were closed about eight .Psacas tt.; after which, it is supposed a short ad.
o'clock, where the Foot Guards were drawn out, journment (at least of public, business) will take
place, to give the Panics FiIiGENT time to arrange a
and the City Militia, as well as several bodies of vo-
lunteers, were called on to'preserve the peace of the new AAlmiuistmtion.
Metropolis; and they all mastered with an. alacrity The inquest on the body will be taken before Lord
that did them thebighest bonen. t ELLexueaoven, the Grand Corouer of England.