DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.70301#0465
LIFE AND TRIAL OF BELLINGHAM*
423
il Sirs,
I much regret its being my lot to have to apply to your
worships under most peculiar and novel circumstances. For
the particulars of the case, I refer to the enclosed letter from
Mr. Secretary Ryder, the notification from Mr. Perceval, and
my petition to Parliament, together with the printed papers
herewith. The affair requires no farther remark, than that I
consider his Majesty’s government to have completely en-
deavoured to close the door of justice, in declining to have,
or even to permit my grievances to be brought before parlia-
ment for redress, which privilege is the birthright of every
individual. The purport of the present is, therefore, once
more, to solicit his Majesty’s ministers, through your medium,
to let what is right and proper be done in my instance, which
is all I require. Should this reasonable request be finally
denied, I shall then feel justified in executing justice myself,
in which case I shall be ready to argue the merits of so re-
luctant a measure with his Majesty’s attorney-general, wher-
ever and whenever I may be called upon so to do. In the
hopes of averting so abhorrent, but compulsive an alterna-
tive,
I have the honour to be,
Sirs,
Your very humble and obedient servant,
“ JOHN BELLINGHAM.”
“ No. Q, New Millman Street,
“ March 23, 1812.”
After his condemnation, this infatuated man still continued
to evince the same firmness and composure as he had exhi-
bited from the moment of committing the fatal crime; and
to the very last hour of his life he seemed to be thoroughly
impressed with the notion, that the horrid step which he had
taken was perfectly justifiable.
The following is a literal copy of a letter to his wife, which
he wrote in the night preceding his execution:
423
il Sirs,
I much regret its being my lot to have to apply to your
worships under most peculiar and novel circumstances. For
the particulars of the case, I refer to the enclosed letter from
Mr. Secretary Ryder, the notification from Mr. Perceval, and
my petition to Parliament, together with the printed papers
herewith. The affair requires no farther remark, than that I
consider his Majesty’s government to have completely en-
deavoured to close the door of justice, in declining to have,
or even to permit my grievances to be brought before parlia-
ment for redress, which privilege is the birthright of every
individual. The purport of the present is, therefore, once
more, to solicit his Majesty’s ministers, through your medium,
to let what is right and proper be done in my instance, which
is all I require. Should this reasonable request be finally
denied, I shall then feel justified in executing justice myself,
in which case I shall be ready to argue the merits of so re-
luctant a measure with his Majesty’s attorney-general, wher-
ever and whenever I may be called upon so to do. In the
hopes of averting so abhorrent, but compulsive an alterna-
tive,
I have the honour to be,
Sirs,
Your very humble and obedient servant,
“ JOHN BELLINGHAM.”
“ No. Q, New Millman Street,
“ March 23, 1812.”
After his condemnation, this infatuated man still continued
to evince the same firmness and composure as he had exhi-
bited from the moment of committing the fatal crime; and
to the very last hour of his life he seemed to be thoroughly
impressed with the notion, that the horrid step which he had
taken was perfectly justifiable.
The following is a literal copy of a letter to his wife, which
he wrote in the night preceding his execution: