THE SUBSTANCE OF A CONVERSATION WITH JOHN BELLINGHAM, THE ASSASSIN OF THE LATE RIGHT HON. SPENCER PERCEVAL ON Sunday, May 17, 1812. THE DAY PREVIOUS TO HIS EXECUTION: TOGETHER WITH SOME GENERAL REMARKS. FOURTH EDITION. PREFACE. THE Conversation contained in the following pages is submitted to the public at the request of several friends of the Author, who conceived that, in addition to the interest with which any circumstances calculated to throw light on so dreadful a character might be received, some real benefit might, by the blessing of God, result from the publication. With the design of promoting still further such beneficial effect, he has ventured to offer some observations on what appears to him to have been the progress of sin in the criminal's mind; as well as to suggest some remarks of a practical nature, on the whole of the extraordinary and melancholy case. The interview took place at the suggestion of a distinguished member of Parliament, a friend of the late deeply lamented Chancellor of the Exchequer, who, having condescended to visit the prisoner on the morning of that day, on a purely benevolent purpose, inquired of him, whether a conference with the Author (who was at the time entirely ignorant of the 188 communication) would be agreeable to him. The criminal having expressed his full consent, an order for the Author's admission to the prison was given by the Sheriff. Permission was, at the same time, granted for a gentleman to accompany him, who was accidentally present on a similar benevolent design, and was obliging enough to undertake the office. The Author has endeavoured to preserve the utmost accuracy in the detail of the conversation. He cannot, however, hope that he has retained every thing that was said in an interview of about two hours, and under the peculiar agitation of his own mind; but he thinks he may assure the public, that he has reported all the main sentiments which were delivered, and that, in many cases, he has been able to recal the very expressions which were used. London, CONVERSATION WITH JOHN BELLINGHAM, &c. WHEN we entered his cell, Bellingham arose from the bed on which he was reclining, and received us with great civility. I began the conversation by observing, that I was come to him, a perfect stranger, with no other motive whatever than his real benefit. He replied, he was convinced of that. I then remarked, that his great concern, as he was within a few hours of an eternal state, was to prepare for meeting God; and asked him, if he would allow me to enter upon that important subject. "Undoubtedly," said he; "no topic can be more interesting to me. I had been cautioned by my friends not to begin with the last dreadful crime of the prisoner, lest I should at once irritate his mind, |