The Letters of Queen Victoria Volume I Part 114

Sir Robert Peel begs leave to mention to your Majesty a fact _which has not hitherto transpired_--and of which he was not aware until he had an interview this morning with Sir James Graham.

On the Inspector Tierney going into the cell of MacNaghten this morning, he said to MacNaghten: "I suppose you are aware who is the person whom you have shot?"

He (MacNaghten) said: "Yes--Sir Robert Peel."

From this it would appear that he had mistaken Mr Drummond for Sir Robert Peel.

The Magistrate thought it better not to have this evidence at present placed on record.

[Pageheading: DEATH OF MR DRUMMOND]

_Sir Robert Peel to Queen Victoria._

WHITEHALL, _25th January 1843._

Sir Robert Peel presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and has the very painful duty to report to your Majesty the fatal consequences of the attack on Mr Drummond.

He breathed his last this morning about half-past ten o'clock.

A very unfavourable change took place last night, and no hopes were entertained after seven o'clock in the evening.

This sad event has had such an effect on Lady Peel, and all the circ.u.mstances attending it are so distressing to Sir Robert Peel, that relying upon your Majesty's great kindness, he ventures to express a hope that your Majesty will have the goodness to permit Sir Robert and Lady Peel to remain for the present in London, or should your Majesty desire to see Sir Robert Peel before Wednesday next, to allow him to wait upon your Majesty in the morning of any day which your Majesty may be pleased to name.

He need scarcely a.s.sure your Majesty that nothing but such a sad event as that which has occurred would induce him to prefer this request to your Majesty.

Sir Robert Peel encloses such further information as has reached him respecting MacNaghten.

He does not hesitate to send to your Majesty every word of information of the least importance which he receives....

The evidence of his mental delusion is strong, but it must be borne in mind that he was exactly the instrument which others would employ.

Sir Robert Peel has no reason for surmising this to be the case, but the possibility of it ought not and shall not be overlooked.

[Pageheading: DEMEANOUR OF MACNAGHTEN]

_Sir Robert Peel to Queen Victoria._

WHITEHALL, _25th January 1843._

Sir Robert Peel presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and makes no apology for frequently writing to your Majesty on the painful subject in respect to which your Majesty has manifested so deep an interest.

Sir Robert Peel humbly thinks that your Majesty's observations with respect to the clear distinctions in the cases of insanity are most just. It will be most unfortunate indeed if the Law does not attach its severest penalty to a crime so premeditated and so deliberately and savagely perpetrated, as that of MacNaghten.

The Jury are, however, the sole judges on this point, that is to say, it rests with them exclusively, either to find an absolute verdict of guilty of murder, or to acquit on the ground of insanity.

MacNaghten will be charged with the offence of murder, and every effort will be made to bring him to condign punishment.

His counsel will probably endeavour to establish his insanity.

Nothing can be more collected and intelligent in many respects than his conduct in prison. He was conversing with the gaoler, and seemed not disinclined to unburden his mind, when he suddenly stopped and enquired from the gaoler whether such conversations as that which he was holding went beyond the prison walls.

On being informed that no security could be given that they would remain secret, he said he should hold his tongue, but that all would come out by and by.

Sir Robert Peel takes the liberty of enclosing for your Majesty's perusal a note which he has just received from Miss Emily Eden, sister of Lord Auckland, and of Mrs Charles Drummond.

If it should be in your Majesty's power to a.s.sign apartments at some future period to Miss Drummond, who lived with her brother Edward, and was mainly dependent upon him, it would be a very great comfort to a lady of the most unexceptionable conduct, and most deeply attached to her poor brother.

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._

BROCKET HALL, _25th January 1843._

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty. He has been much gratified this morning by receiving your Majesty's letter of the 23rd; he has determined upon following your Majesty's advice, and upon not hazarding the throwing himself back by coming up to London and attempting to attend the House of Lords at the commencement of the Session. The a.s.sa.s.sination of Mr Drummond, for Lord Melbourne fears it must be called so, is indeed a dreadful thing. Lord Melbourne is not surprised, for people are very apt to turn all their wrath and indignation upon the man from whom they actually receive an answer which they do not like, without in the least considering whether he is really responsible for it. Lord Melbourne used often to be himself a.s.sailed with threats of personal violence. Sometimes he took notice of them by swearing the peace against those who used them, and having them bound over in sureties. Sometimes he disregarded them, but he does not think it either prudent or justifiable entirely to neglect such intimations. Lord Melbourne does not wonder that this event brings to your Majesty's recollection what has taken place in your own case.

Hallam is, in Lord Melbourne's opinion, right about Ireland. Her advocates are very loud in their outcry, but she has not really much to complain of.

Lord Melbourne was very glad to hear of the marriage of Prince Augustus of Coburg with the Princess Clementine, as he apprehends that the connection must be very agreeable to your Majesty.

Lord Melbourne begs to be respectfully and affectionately remembered to His Royal Highness.

[Pageheading: COMMITTAL OF MACNAGHTEN]

_Sir James Graham to Queen Victoria._

WHITEHALL, _28th January 1843._

Sir James Graham, with humble duty, begs to inform your Majesty, that the prisoner Daniel MacNaghten was fully committed for trial this afternoon. He was not defended before the Magistrates; but in his manner he was quite cool, intelligent, and collected; he asked no questions, but he expressed a wish to have copies of the Depositions.

His trial will probably commence on Friday or Sat.u.r.day next, and there is reason to believe that, at the request of his relatives in Glasgow, counsel will be retained, and that the plea of insanity will be raised in his defence.[8]

Every preparation is in progress to meet this vague and dangerous excuse. It will turn out that the pistols were bought at Paisley by MacNaghten on the 6th of August last; and information has reached Sir James Graham, which, he thinks, will prove that MacNaghten is a Chartist, that he has attended political meetings at Glasgow, and that he has taken a violent part in politics. He yesterday saw a Presbyterian clergyman, who prayed with him; who pointed out the atrocity of his crime, the innocence of his victim, the pangs of sorrowing relatives, and who exhorted him to contrition and repentance. Some impression was made at the moment; but his general demeanour is marked by cold reserve and hardness of heart.

[Footnote 8: He was defended by four counsel, including Mr c.o.c.kburn, afterwards Lord Chief Justice.]