Who fired a pistol at his late Majesty at the theatre; committed to Old
Bethlem on the 26th June 1800, from whence he was conveyed hither on
the opening of this establishment.
The first alarming symptoms of this man’s insanity broke forth in an
attempt to assassinate his late Majesty King George III., by publicly
firing at his Majesty a loaded pistol, as he entered the royal box at
Drury-lane Theatre, on the 16th of May 1800.
The following account we have extracted from the authentic records of
that period:
Hatfield served his time to a working silversmith, but enlisted very
young in the 15th Dragoons, in which regiment he had seen some hard
service, and received several severe wounds. He was taken prisoner at
the battle of Lincelles, after having received several sabre wounds in
the head, and his arm broken by a musket ball. On being discharged from
the army he married, and worked at his trade for some time with Mr.
Hougham, the silversmith, of Aldersgate-street. A few days before the
attack on his Majesty, he purchased a pair of pistols of a neighbouring
broker, and having tried them, he left one at home, considering it
good for nothing. In his business he had occasion to use lead, and
having cast a couple of slugs, he repaired to Drury-lane Theatre on
the 16th of May 1800. His Majesty had scarcely entered his box, when
in the act of bowing with his usual condescension to the audience, a
pistol was fired by Hatfield, who sat in the pit on the second row from
the orchestra. The ball struck the roof of the royal box, just at the
moment the queen and princesses were entering. His Majesty, with great
presence of mind, waved his hand as a signal to dissuade the Royal
party from making their immediate appearance, and instantly standing
erect, raised his right hand to his breast, and continued bowing for
some minutes to his loyal subjects. Shortly after her Majesty and the
Princesses entered the box; but on learning what had happened, the
Princesses Augusta and Mary fainted.
After the first moments of astonishment had subsided, some musicians
from the orchestra seized Hatfield, and dragged him over the
pallisadoes into the music-room. He was afterwards examined before Sir
Wm. Addington, in the presence of the Dukes of York, Clarence, and
Cumberland, who were also at the theatre, Mr. Sheridan, and several
other persons of distinction, and was that evening committed to the
House of Correction in Cold Bath Fields. Next day he was examined at
the Duke of Portland’s office, before the Privy Council, and in the
afternoon was committed to Newgate to take his trial for high treason.
Although, on the trial of Hatfield, it was evident the act was that of
a madman, yet from a circumstance that occurred the day before in Hyde
Park, it was generally considered that such a coincidence must have
been the result of an organized plan to assassinate his Majesty. On
the previous day there was a review of the 1st Battalion of Guards in
Hyde Park, in the presence of the King, Lords Chatham, Chesterfield,
and a number of distinguished officers, when after the commencement
of the evolutions, a gentleman of the name of Ongley, who was about
twenty yards from his Majesty, received a musket ball through the
upper part of his thigh, and fell. This accident, it was ascertained,
proceeded from neglect in one of the soldiers, who had unintentionally
left a ball cartridge in his cartouch: but the event of the succeeding
evening at the theatre caused the greatest inquietude and alarm among
all the well-disposed subjects of his Majesty. On the 26th of June
Hatfield was tried for high treason, before Lord Kenyon and three
other Judges, at the Court of King’s Bench. Mr. Abbott, the present
Lord Chief Justice, opened the pleadings: evidence was detailed of the
firing at his Majesty, and Hatfield acknowledging the fact, because he
was tired of his life. His defence was conducted by the present Lord
Erskine, when after several witnesses were called to prove the insanity
of the prisoner, Lord Kenyon interrupted the proceedings, and thought
the inquiry should not proceed farther.--A verdict was passed of Not
Guilty, and he was ordered to be confined as a maniac in Old Bethlem,
where, during his stay, he killed a poor maniac named Benjamin Swain,
by a stroke on his head, which tumbled him over a form, and he died
instantly.
He contrived to make his escape from Old Bethlem, but was apprehended
at Dover; and for his better security, was sent to Newgate, where he
remained until the 8th of November 1816, whence he was brought here,
and has since remained.
The first symptoms of this man’s insanity are thus reported. He was
one day, shortly previous to the attempt on his late Majesty, in
White-Conduit Fields, when he was accosted by a religious fanatic
named Bannister Truelock (now confined in Bethlem), and after both had
conversed for some time on religious topics, Truelock told him, “that a
great change of things in this world was about to take place; that the
Messiah was to come out of his mouth, and that if the King was removed,
all obstacles to the completion of their wishes would be removed also.”
By ravings of this sort he so completely influenced the mind of
Hatfield, that the desperate attempt was resolved, and the day fixed
for its perpetration.
Truelock was apprehended, and, upon examination, was found to be
deranged in his mind: he was sent to Old Bethlem, whence he was removed
hither.
Hatfield has made from time to time several applications to be removed,
or allowed further indulgences. He petitioned the House of Commons for
the purpose, in the last session of Parliament, and his petition was
presented by one of the Governors, Mr. Williams, and ordered to lie
on the table. Although for a long time past this man has evinced no
symptoms of actual insanity, yet his impatience of confinement sours
his temper, in spite of all the indulgences allowed him. He is ever
grumbling and discontented without cause, and finds fault with every
thing. Though his manners and language are those of a vulgar, low-bred
fellow, he is cleanly in his person and regular in his habits; knacky
and ingenious in his amusements. He makes handsome straw baskets, which
he is permitted to sell to visitors, and for which he obtains from 3s.
6d. to 7s. 6d. each. He receives a pension from Government of 6d. per
day, in consideration of his former military services.