minal 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 transaction. He also stated, that in order that the prisoner might be less able to attempt an escape, or a rescue be effected by accomplices, it would be fit that he should be conducted to the place of confinement, not through the lobby where the murder had been perpetrated, but through the private avenues round the House. This proposal was highly approved, and the Speaker further said, that it might render the detention of the criminal more secure if Members would precede, in order to see that all the passages were clear. A great many gentlemen immediately rose to comply with the request, when

Mr. Whitbread, in a tone of voice which betrayed the difficulty he felt in commanding his feelings, observed, that to prevent confusion it would be 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 execution.

The Speaker added, that it would be right that the utmost precaution should be used, not only lest the criminal should injure others, but should attempt violence on Limself(Hear, hear!) He then named Mr. Whitbread, Mr. Long, and Mr. Boothe, who directly left the House to clear the avenues to the prison-room. The assistance of several other messengers was called in, who followed with Bellingham in their custody, and they were succeeded by Lord Ossulston, Mr. Villiers, Mr. Manning, Mr. Wharton, Mr. Pole, and about ten others.

The Speaker also directed that all Members who were Magistrates of Middlesex, as well as all persons who had witnessed any part of the transaction, should attend the Committee, to examine and give evidence.

Sir C. Burrell produced the loaded pistol taken from the prisoner, and another Member the bundle of papers found in his coat pocket.

The House was then adjourned.

HOUSE OF LORDS.

TUESDAY, MAY 12.

About a quarter before three o'clock prayers were read. Lord Ellenborough acting as Speaker in the absence of the Lord Chancellor.

When strangers were admitted after prayers, Earl Bathurst was moving that the House should adjourn during pleasure, which was agreed to.

A few minutes before five the Lord Chancellor entered the House, and the House resumed. A great number of Lords were present.

EAST INDIA TRADE.

The Marquis of Lansdowne said, he held in his hand an important Petition from the Corporation of London, praying for a continuance of the exclusive Trade to India hitherto confined to the Metropolis. His Majesty's Ministers had declined to press the consideration of tais subject during the present session, and he was desirous to decline pledging himself to any opinion relative to it. The sentiments expressed by those who represented this Metropolis upon so important a question, were however undoubtedly entitled to the deliberate attention and consideration of the House. The Petition stated the vast capital vested in warehouses for the purpose of carrying on the East India Trade, which would be lost, and the vast number of persons employed in different avocations connected with this trade, who would be thrown out of employ, if the trade was to be thrown open to the Out-ports. His lordship moved that the Petition be read, which having been done, it was discovered to be informal for the want of the common seal, and was withdrawn, his lordship stating that the Petition had just been handed to him, and he had not observed the informality.

ASSASSINATION OF MR. PERCEVAL.

The Duke of York read the answer of his royal highness the Prince Regent, to the Address of the House, stating, that measures had been taken for the apprehension of the offenders. The Address and the Answer were ordered to be forthwith printed and published.

The Earl of Liverpool presented a Message from his royal highness the Prince Regent.

The Lord Chancellor was so overpowered by his feelings that he could not read the Message audibly, and it was with great difficulty his lordship got through it. The Message was then read by the Clerk at the table, stating his Royal Highness's affliction at the public and private loss sustained by the murder of Mr. Perceval, his Royal Highness's desire to make a provision for the widow and the numerous family of that gentle man, and desiring the concurrence of the House in enabling him to make such provision.

The Earl of Liverpool said, he was about to do that which was not strictly according to the regular course of their lordships' proceedings; but under the circumstances of this melancholy event, he thought it right fo move an immediate Address, concurring in the object of his Royal Highness's Message. He should not do injustice to the subject by saying one word upon any topic of political difference: he was satisfied that there was but one feeling in the House upon this horrid event, and he had no doubt that their lordships' feelings would lead them to an unanimous concurrence in the Address. Certain he was that no man had a larger share of public and private virtues than him whose loss they had now to lament; that no man was better entitled to regard and esteem for his numerous private and personal virtues; that no man had less guile in him than his unfortunate deceased friend. His lordship con cluded by moving an Address of concurrence.

Earl Grey said he trusted their lordships would give him credit in declaring that he sincerely participated in all those feelings to which this melancholy and horrid event had naturally given rise. He, equally with the noble earl, deprecated any allusion to political differences, and whilst he participated in those feelings upon this occasion, common he trusted to every Englishman, he most cordially concurred in the proposed Address. The circumstance of a public servant murdered in the midst of his public services, leaving a numerous family without any provision, which had he lived he might have been enabled to make for them, undoubtedly entitled the family of such a person to a provision from the public. Upon this ground the Address had his most cordial concurrence. Might he, however, be permitted to say, that he thought it would have been more desirable not to have departed from the usual forms of the House, and to have come to the subject with somewhat more deliberation ? He was also anxious to state, for the sake of his own honour

and consistency, that he concurred in the Address, with the express understanding that he did not concur in any words (if any such there were) that might be construed into an approbation of those measures respecting the policy of which he had the misfortune to differ in opinion. In the praise of Mr. Perceval's public virtues, and of his disinterestedness, he most heartily joined; with his private virtues he was not so much acquainted as others, but so far as he could judge from a slight knowledge of the former, he was disposed to join in the warmest eulogy. His lordship concluded by again stating his concurrence in the Address, with the qualification he had already mentioned. The Address was agreed to nemine dissentiente, and ordered to be presented by the whole House; and the Lords with white staves were directed to wait upon the Prince Regent, to know when his Royal Highness would be pleased to receive the same.

ORDERS IN COUNCIL-STATE OF THE COUNTRY.

The Earl of Liverpool observed, that there were some private Bills which it would be necessary to forward, but that it would be desirable, under present circumstances, not to press any matter that was likely to create any difference of opinion.

Earl Grey agreed in the propriety of not pressing any subject that was likely to create any difference of opinion, but suggested the expediency of continuing the examination of witnesses on the Orders in Council, particularly with reference to the situation of the witnesses now in attendance, who must be put to great inconvenience if they were under the necessity of remaining in town, and the presence of several of whom was actually required in the country.

The Earl of Liverpool, while he felt the inconvenience to which some of the witnesses might be exposed, felt at the same time that the public and private inconvenience of continuing the examination under present circumstances would be so great as to preclude any arrangement for that purpose. Earl Grey declined to press the subject any further, although he could have wished that the great inconvenience to which some of the witnesses would be exposed could have been avoided.

The Lord Chancellor trusted the noble Earl (Grey) and every other noble Lord in the House would give him credit, when he declared that the state of the country was such, that it was necessary the House should sit from day, in order to be ready to take such steps as circumstances might

require, for it was impossible to say what might happen in the course of a few days. It was his firm conviction, that such was the state of the country, that rendered it impossible for him to assent to any proposition for placing the House in any other situation than that of sitting from day to day, whilst at the same time the public inconvenience that would arise from it, rendered it impossible that the examination of witnesses on the Orders in Council could at present go on.-Adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

TUESDAY, MAY 12.

The House met at the usual hour, and shortly after four o'clock a very great number of Members had taken their places.

ASSASSINATION OF MR. PERCEVAL.

Lord Castlereagh brought up a Message from the Prince Regent, which is as follows:

"GEORGE P. R.

"The Prince Regent, deeply impressed with the severe loss his Royal Highness and the country have sustained, in consequence of the murder of the Right Hon. Spencer Perceval, and being desirous of marking his sense of the public and private virtues of Mr. Perceval, and of affording relief and assistance to his numerous and afflicted family, recommends to the House of Commons to enable his Royal Highness, in the name and on behalf of his Majesty, to make such provision for the widow and family of the Right Hon. Spencer Perceval, as to the justice and liberality of the House may seem proper."

The Message being read by the Speaker,

Lord Castlereagh rose and said, he was sure he only anticipated the feelings of the House, and of the empire, in stating, that never had any transaction so painful to the feelings of every man of common humanity, occurred in that House. Whatever proposition, arising out of this transaction, originated in that House, he was aware would have been made with much better effect by his right hon. friend (Mr. Ryder). His right hon. friend's feelings, however, being too painfully affected at present to enable him to address the House, he hoped it would not be deemed