288 LON 
Generally, he (aid, the leading fteps would be, firfi, grant¬ 
ing to copyholders the right to vote ; fecondly, more fairly 
to proportion the number of reprefentatives to the popu¬ 
lation of each place reprefented. Having opened and en¬ 
forced his plan by various other obfervations, he concluded 
with moving, “That leave be given to bring in a bill to 
repeal the aft 31 Geo. II. c. 14.. 'for further explaining the 
laws touching the electors of knights of the (hire to ferve 
in parliament for that part of Great Britain called Eng¬ 
land, and to entitle copyholders to vote for knights of the 
(hire.” The motion was feconded by the marquis of Ta- 
viftock; who declared his intention, fliould it be carried, 
of moving the repeal of the feptennial aft. 
In the copious debate which enfued, all the ufual to¬ 
pics on both (ides refpefting reform of parliament were 
gone over; and every meafure which had a tendency to 
that end was decidedly condemned, not only by the par- 
tifans of the aftual miniftry, but by feveral of the oppo- 
(itionifts who wanted to get in : it was contended by thefe 
fpeakers, that all change in the mode of reprefentation 
would be dangerous, ineffeftual to cure any of the pub¬ 
lic evils, and was very little defired by the nation. The 
friends of reform, on the other hand, dwelt upon the ob¬ 
vious inadequacy of the reprefentation, and the never- 
failing fupport given by the houfe of commons to every 
minifter; a proof of the influence regularly exerted over 
the majority. The particular merits of the meafure pro- 
pofed were fcarcely at all touched upon ; and the ground 
taken by its oppofers was that of refiftance in the outfet 
to every attempt at alteration. The houfe at length di¬ 
vided on the motion; ayes 88, noes 215, majority 12.7. 
We are now arrived at a period when the hiftorian re¬ 
coils from his records, and (brinks at the fubjeft he is 
called upon to tranfmit to pofterity. Of duels, of fuicides, 
of other crimes, he has been forced to take occafional no¬ 
tice in the courfe of his annals ; but the aflaffination of a 
prime minifter, at his entrance into the fanftuary of the 
national legiflature, on the threfliold of the fenate, and at 
the foot of the bench wherefrom his voice had fo often 
claimed and deferved the attention of the venerable aflem- 
bly, is one of thofe extraordinary deeds which require the 
whole of a virtuous century to efface, or make amends 
for them.—As Mr. Perceval, on the nth of May, was en¬ 
tering the lobby of the houfe of commons at a quarter 
pad five o’clock, a perfon of the name of Bellingham, 
who had placed himfelf at the fide of the door for that 
purpofe, fired a piftol at him, the ball of which entered 
his left bread. Mr. Perceval immediately daggered and 
fell. He was taken up by Mr. W. Smith, and with the af- 
fiflance of other members was conveyed to the Speaker’s 
apartments; but, before he reached them, all figns of life 
were gone. The aflaffin had taken fo fure an aim, that 
the ball palled through his heart at the centre. 
As foon as the horror occafioned by this catadrophe 
had fomewhat fubfided, a perfon exclaimed, “ Where is 
the villain who fired?” Bellingham dept forward, and 
coolly replied, “ I am the unfortunate man.” He made 
no attempt to efcape ; and, being interrogated as to his 
motive for the deed, he faid, “My name is Bellingham ; 
it is a private injury—I know what I have done—it was 
a denial of juflice on the part of government.” He was 
then learched, and carried to the bar of the houfe, which 
had been fitting in committee on the orders in council. 
The Speaker reluming the jchair, general Gafcoyne faid, 
“ I think I know the villain ;” and, on flepping up, called 
him by his name. The Speaker then propofed that he 
fliould be committed to the prifon-room, not leading him 
back through the lobby, left a refcue fhould be attempted 
by accomplices; for the fir(t idea naturally feems to have 
been, that the murder was perpetrated on a public ground, 
and in confequence of a confpiracy. All proper precau¬ 
tions being taken, both to prevent injury to others, and 
that the criminal might not deftroy himfelf, and a com¬ 
mittee being appointed to examine and give evidence on 
the taels, the houle adjourned. 
D O N. 
In the houfe of lords, as foon as the rumour of the 
event arrived, the greateft agitation was manifefted. At 
length, their iordftiips refuming their feats, the lord chan¬ 
cellor, addrefiing them, faid, that he felt it his duty to ap- 
prife their lordlhips, that he (hould take care to give or¬ 
ders that none (hould go out of the doors of that houfe 
till their lordfliips were fully fatisfied that they had not 
the means of doing further mifehief. This was under- 
ftood as a determination that all below the bar fliould be 
fearched,to fee that they had no weapons; but, the alarm 
of confpiracy having now probably fubfided, this refolu- 
tion was not perfifted in. The faft of Mr. Perceval’s 
death, and the adjournment of the commons, being then 
afeertained, the earl of Radnor moved, “That an humble 
addrefs be prefented to his royal highnefs the prince- 
regent, Hating, that the houfe had heard with horror of 
the attack made upon, and the aflaflination of, the right 
honourable Spencer Perceval, one of his majefty’s molt ho¬ 
nourable privy council; and praying that his royal high¬ 
nefs would be gracioufly pleafed to direft fucli fteps to 
be taken as he fliould deem expedient for the apprehen- 
fion of the offender or offenders.” This motion was 
agreed to ncm. dijf. and the houfe adjourned. 
The prince-regent ferit a correfpondent anfwer to this 
addrefs ; and on the following day a meffage was received 
from him by both houfes, recommending a provifion for 
the numerous and afflifted family of Mr. Perceval. 
Lord Caftlereagh opened the bufinefs in the houfe of 
commons; and paid a very feeling tribute to the virtues 
and merits of the deceafed minifter. Amidft his diftrefs 
on this occafion, he was, however, happy to mention, that, 
as far as they had been enabled to inveltigate the fubjeft, 
government were of opinion that this was an infulated 
aft, and confined’to the individual by whom it was per¬ 
petrated. With refpeft to the extent of the provifion, he 
doubted not that the houfe would be anxious to proteft 
all who bore the name of his lamented friend from the 
danger of poverty. In conclufion, he moved an humble 
addrefs to the prince-regent, exprefling their participa¬ 
tion in the fevere lofs fuftained by his royal highnefs and 
the public, and their abhorrence of the crime committed, 
and a (faring him of their ready compliance with his re¬ 
commendation.—The addrefs was-agreed to nem. con. and 
ordered to be carried up by the whole houfe. 
After the houfe had delivered its addrefs to the regent 
on May 13, it was refolved into a committee for confider- 
ing the provifion to be made for Mr. Perceval’s family. 
Lord Caftlereagh dated, that the right honourable gentle¬ 
man, befuies a widow, had left twelve children to the 
proteftion of the public; and that the property he had 
been poflefled of was fo moderate as to afford no poflibility 
of their living in a ftyle luited to their rank. With re¬ 
fpeft to the nature of the grant, he thought it would be 
moll eligible to vote a fubltantive fum of money in the 
firft inftance for the children, and afterwards an annuity 
for their mother. The (urns which he propofed were 
50,000k for the firft purpofe, and aoool. per annum for 
the fecond ; and he moved a refolution for the former 
grant.—Some members regarding this as too little for the 
Cervices of the father, and mentioning a larger fum, Mr. 
Wilberforce rofe, and, after making a warm eulogy on the 
charafter of the deceafed, obferved, that, however general 
the fenfe of his claims in account of private merit might 
be, yet that his political opinion-s were known to have had 
many opponents; and, as it was highly deArable that the 
vote (hould be cordial and unanimous, he thought the 
fum mentioned was a proper medium. The lame opi¬ 
nion was held by Mr. Whitbread ; and, the firft refolu¬ 
tion being put, with the addition, by Mr. Bankes, that the 
fum fliould be paid without fee or deduction, it parted 
nem. con. The (econd refolution, for an annuity to Mrs. 
Perceval of aoool. without fee or deduftion, being put 
by lord Caftlereagh, was carried nem. con. 
This unanimity was difturbed, and the debate unfor¬ 
tunately afitimed fomewhat of ^party-afpeft, by Mr, H. 
Sumner’s 
