agistrate 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
circumstances 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 assure 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 exclus