The National Register. — 1812-05-17 (London, England)

MONDAY, MAY 11. Their Lordships proceeded to the reading of several Bills on the Table; when on a sudden a tumultuous noise was heard in the lobby of' the House of Commons, and several voices were heard distinctly crying out, " He is shot, he is shot, and murdered !" and instantly the awful and melancholy tidings were spread through the House, that a murder was perpetrated. and that "Mr. Perceval, the Prime Minister of the Country, was assassinated." A simultaneous horror was visible on the face of every person, and after a pause of some time it was agreed upon by their Lordships, that immediately the House should take pulqie. notice of the trans,.ctiou, and accordingly his Royal Highness the: Duke of Cu sa atilt r.AN in his place, stated, that he had just returned from the Speaker's Chamber of the House of Commons, and there beheld the body of the late Right Hon. Spencer Perceval, upon a chair supported by assistants, lying dead from the eff.-cts of a wound. A general murmur and conversation ran through the House; but their Lordships after a few observat,ons front Lord ELLENBOROUGII, agreed as to the necessity of having legal evidence before them that the,wounds were inflicted by violence. On this suggestion their Lordships sent for a witness to prove the fact, and Mr. Taylor, chief door-keeper to the House of Commons, was produced at the bar of the House, and being sworn, testified as follows, viz.—" •I'h.it at about ten minutes past five o'clock. he was in the execution of his duty, he saw Mr. Perceval enter the lobby, and proceeding on his way into the House, when a man pre•sented a pistol ; he saw the fire, and heard the report, and instantly beheld Mr. Perceval fall on the ground, crying out, " I am murdered! I ant murdered !"—The witness was ordered to withdraw. The Earl of Loma pool. then moved, that an humble Address be presented to his Royal Highness the Prince Regent, acquainting his Highness of the horrible assassination and murder of the late Right Ploti.Spencer Perceval, Chancellor of the Exchequer, this evening; and praying that his Royal Highness would graciously please to order such steps to be taken as would bring the perpetrator or perpetrators thereof to condign punishment. On the question bring put, Earl GREY, hi language deeply expressive of his sorrow for the fatal event, and of lamentations for the loss of so valuable and good a man; seconded the motion; adding, that he was certain that be only echoed the 5, use of the whole House in saying that it was a motion that would p.t, !inanintously:—The motion was then put and carried nentine dissentl/2±e. The Earl of LivraPOOL thtll 1110veti that the said Address should he forthwith pr.:sewed to his Rt.% e.l I I clines,, which was also carried. He then moved that the fo!i...).wiz,g Pcvr.i do present the same, viz. the Earl of Radnor, Earl Bathurst, E.,;rl Ciimlen, Earl Grey, the Earl of C' iiehe,ter, the Earl of Westrmi et. And, the. Earl of Rosslyn, "the Earl of Lauderdale, and Lord Mult.,rive; And on the motion of Lord Ellenborough, :!:e Earl of Livervool lu Iseliw:is also added. Their Lordships then instantly proceeded to Carlton house.—Adjourncd.  MAY 17  promptitude in complying with his recommendation to atfoi <l assistance to the widow and family of Mr. Perceval, was ordered to be printed and published.--Adjourned. ••••  "