presented a Petition from the journeymen potters and others employed in the manufacture of china and earthenware in the Staffordshire potteries; setting forth,

"That, previous to the issuing of the Orders in Council, the increasing demand for these manufactures for the American market, enabled the petitioners to provide a comfortable subsistence for their families; and that, since the suspension of all commercial intercourse with the United States of America, the business of the petitioners has gradually declined, a considerable proportion of hands are now out of employ, and dependent for subsistence on parochial relief, and great numbers of those, who are at present employed, are restricted in the amount of their weekly wages, so as to be unable to support themselves and families; and praying for relief."

Ordered to lie upon the table.

moved the order of the day for going into a committee on the Orders in Council. The House then went into a committee, Mr. Babington in the chair. The first witness called was Mr. Robert Hamilton, manufacturer of earthenware in Staffordshire—

had closed his examination of Mr. Hamilton, and Mr. Stephen was in the course of his cross-examination of the same witness, when at about a quarter past five o'clock the report of a pistol shot was heard in the House and Gallery; it did not at first interrupt the business of the House—a rush was heard between the door and the bar, and cries of Order. It was immediately discovered that Mr. Perceval, on entering the lobby of the House, was shot by a person of the name of Bellingham, who had placed himself for that purpose at the side of the door leading from the stone staircase. Mr. Perceval, immediately on receiving the hall, which entered the left breast, staggered and fell at the feet of Mr. William Smith, who was standing near the second pillar. He was instantly taken up by Mr. Smith, who did not recognize him until he 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 into the Speaker's apartments, but before he reached them, all signs of life had departed. Mr. Perceval's corpse was placed upon a bed, and Mr. Lynn, of Great George street, who had been sent for, arrived, but too late even to witness the last symptoms of expiring existence. He found that the ball, which was of an unusually 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. Lynn and several members, and it was laid on a sopha.

The horror and dismay occasioned by the Assassination of Mr. Perceval prevented any attention from being paid to other persons, and it was not until the right honourable gentleman was raised from the floor that a person belonging to the Vote Office exclaimed, "Where is the villain that fired?" when a person of the name of Bellingham, who had been unobserved, stepped up to him and coolly observed," I am the unfortunate man." He did not make any attempt to escape, but resigned himself quietly into the hands of some of the by-standers. They placed him upon a bench near the fire-place, where they kept him, and all the doors were closed, and the egress of any persons prevented. When the assassin was interrogated as to his motive for this dreadful act, he replied, "My name is Bellingham; it is a private injury—I know what I have done—it was a denial of justice on the part of government." At this time the prisoner was in no legal custody, but was surrounded by many members, who insisted that he should be taken into the body of the House. The criminal was however previously searched, to which he made no resistance, and upon his person were found a steel pistol, loaded, about seven inches in 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 folded like letters. Two messengers, Wright and Skelton, 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 committee on the Orders in Council, but on hearing the afflicting intelligence, he returned and resumed his seat. Order having been restored, general Gascoyne said in an audible voice, "I think I know the villain," and walking up to the assas- sin, and looking in his face, enquired, "Is not your name Bellingham?" He returned no answer, but by shaking his head, and stood afterwards motionless, and apparently composed, resting his hands upon the bar, and looking directly forwards to the chair.

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 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

, 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, otherwise the eagerness of all to fulfil the undertaking might prevent its due execution.

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 himself. He then named Mr. Whitbread, Mr. Long, and Mr. Bootle, 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 for Middlesex, as well as all persons who had witnessed any part of the transaction, should attend the committee to examine and to give evidence.

The House was then adjourned,