The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1821-1823, 1822-10-02

LOn0ondefryS pea room, / observed
that the door of the latter was open,
and could perceive that his Lordship
was not in it. In an instant Mrs. Robin
son said to me, His Lordship has gone
into his dressing ROOM lstepped into
his dressing room, and saw him in his
dressing gown, standing with his front
towards the window, which was oppo-
site TO the door at which | entered.-
His face was in an elevated position d.
rected towards the ceiling. Without
turning bis head, on the instant he heard
my step he exclaimed, 'Bankhead, let
me fall upon your arm It's all over
''As quickly as possible ran to him,
thinking he was fainting and going TO
fall; | caught him in my arms as he
was falling, and perceived that he had
a knife in his right hand, very firmly
clenched, and all over blood. did not
see him use it he must have used it
before | came into the room. In fall
ing he declined upon one side, and the
blood burst from him like torrent
from watering-pot | was unable to
support him, and he fell out of my arms.
| think the wound must have been in
tlicted as soon as put my foot on the
threshold Of the door, as its nature was
such that the extinction Of life must
have followed it in the twinkling of an
eye. | think that not less than two
quarts Of blood flowed from him in one
minute. | am satisfied that minute
did not elapse from the moment of my
first entering the room until he died :;
and during that time he said not word
except that which have already men
toned. have not the least hesitation,
having known him for upwards of thirty
years, in saying that he was perfectly
deranged, and in state of complete in
sanity. | had observed a great decline
in his general health for three weeks
past; but | was not aware of any mental
delusion until within four days of his
decease."
"No further evidence being required
by the Jury, 10 half an hour they drew
out verdict as follows: .'That on Mon
day, Aug. IL, and for some time preyi-
ously, the Most Noble Robert, Marquis
of Londonderry, under greiyous disor-
der did labour and anguish, and became
in consequence delirious and Of insane
| mind and that whilst in that state, with
a knife of iron and steel, he did i2tict
on himself on the left side of his neck,
{ and of the carotid artery, wound Of
one inch in length, and half and inch in
depth, of which he instantly died; and
that no other person except himself
was the cause of his death.''
1t is said that the king was the first to
communicate the fear that his Lordship's
mind was disordered, and recommended
caution and medical aid. He is also
said to have written to Lord Liverpool,
and his communication led 10 the calling
In OF medical aid, and to the adoption of
precautions in the removal of pistols, ra-
zors, &c. out of the apartments; but
the deed was perpetrated with a knife
contained in his pocket-book, which had
not been removed.
The deceased, shortly before the
awful event, told his confidential valet
that he was sure there was a design
on his life: he knew he was beset by
assassins."
The insanity which gave rise TO this
event is attributed to the extraordinary
tatigues which attended the high and
various concerns of his office, both as
Minister at home, and as foreign Score
tary. Towards the end of the session,
as the labour grew lighter, his mind,
which had hitherto been kept up by
the very excitement, began to show
symptoms Of that lassitude which always
follows over-exertion and considerable
anxiety was felt by his particular friends
that he should, as soon as possible, by a
change of scene and occupation, be re-
lieVed from the depression of spirits un-
der which he evidently began to la
bour. 1t had been arranged that his
Lordship was again to represent his
country at continental congress; and
his departure even was fixed for the
end of the week, which terminated his
existence.
1t is singular fact in the history of
the English ministry, that Pitt and Fox
severally died after short illnesses, Per-
cival by the hand of an assassin, and
Lord Londonderry by his own,
Sir Samuel Romilly and Mr.. Whit
bread, two leading members of the OPP
position, also destroyed their own lives.