PERCEVAL (Spencer, 1762-1812, from 1809 Prime Minister, Assassinated)

Autograph Formal Letter in the third person presenting his “compliments to Dr Burney and begs he will have the goodness to transmit to Mr Perceval, in writing, the Representation of the Society of Schoolmasters respecting the hardships under which they conceive themselves to labour in the collection of the Assessed Taxes...”, 2 sides 4to., Downing Street, 25th May

The country had been plunged into political crisis in the summer of 1809 as Canning schemed against Castlereagh, and the Duke of Portland resigned following a stroke. Negotiations began to find a new prime minister: Canning wanted to be either prime minister or nothing, Perceval was prepared to serve under a third person, but not Canning. The remnants of the cabinet decided to invite Lord Grey and Lord Grenville to form "an extended and combined administration" in which Perceval was hoping for the home secretaryship. But Grenville and Grey refused to enter into negotiations, and the King accepted the Cabinet's recommendation of Perceval for his new prime minister. Perceval took the post on 4th October and set about forming his Cabinet, a task made more difficult by the fact that Castlereagh and Canning had ruled themselves out of consideration by fighting a duel (which Perceval had tried to prevent). Having received five refusals for the office, he had to serve as his own Chancellor of the Exchequer – characteristically declining to accept the salary.
Spencer Perceval was assassinated on 11th May 1812 by a bankrupt, John Bellingham, with a grievance against the government who he felt should have paid him compensation for being unjustly imprisoned in Russia. Perceval left a widow and twelve children aged between three and twenty, and there were soon rumours that he had not left them well provided for. He had just £106 5s 1d in the bank when he died. A few days after his death, Parliament voted to settle £50,000 on Perceval's children, with additional annuities for his widow and eldest son.

Item Date:  1810

Stock No:  41527