The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1869-08-03 00:00:00

trat4 af t alisinal•

Tim long illness of Dr. Hamilton, the Bishop of
this diocese, terminated in his lordship's death, on
8110da7 morning, at lialf.past or o'clock, at the
episoopal palace, at Salisbury; and this roe of the
Bishop's malady, though generally capered, has
created a wideepread feeling of regret, for the
kindly nature of his lordship and him consideration
for the feelings of all around him, had rendered him
generally beloved throughout his direr
The Right Rev. Walter Kerr Hamliton,D.D., was
the eldest son of the Venerable Anthony Hamilton,
P.D., Archdeacon of Tanntoe, and be was born in
November, 160 S. He was educated at Eton, where
be was the contemporary of Mr. Gladstone, the
premed Premier, and at ChM* Church, Oxford, and
took his degrees., B. A., as first ohm in Classics,
1831; MA., r Fellow of Merton College, 1833;
and D.D., 1884. His promotion in the church was
rapid. In 1837 be was appointed Vicar of fit.
Peter'sindr-irest, Oxiload I In 1841, Canon sod'
Treasurer of Salisbury Cathedral; and in 1842, Pre-
centor. On the death of Dr. Denier, Bishop of
Salisbury, in 1664, be was nominated to the see by
Lord Aberdeen, and was consecrated 91st Bishop of
Salisbury on May 14, IRK He was Provincial
Primento of Canterbury, and Patron of 53 livings,
the Preoentorship, Chancellorship. Treasurership,
Sub-Desnory, Sub-Chantership, and all the Pre-
bends in Salisbury Cathedral, and the three Arch-
dale-caries of Sarum, Don= and Wilts.
In 1845 his lordship married the eldest daughter
of the Very Rev. Prune Leer, 8.D., Dean of
Salisbury, and has Wu, living, three sews and five
datteon
Bishop was first seised with the illner which
bee issued Wally In the unison of last year, as he
ine about completing his triennial confirmation tour
through his diocese. Puddletorrn, we believe, was
the last lariak in which he bald • confirmation, and
that time symptoms of inners were exhibited, in
rnin ludo of body and • failing of the memory. His
lordship was too unwell to visit Bomberger,
and the car was performed by the Bishop of &dor
and Mu. Soon afterwards the Bishop was found
to be suffering from heart disease of an alarming
character, which subsequently developed dropsy,
and he was tree to London for advice. There be
remained, suffering greatly and being =bigoted to
'various painful °vendor. each as bleeding of the
feet, be., natal Thursday laid During all this time
his mind was unaffected, and he continued taking
the greatest interest in the spiritual oonoerns of his
diocese. But, during the last few weeks, as he be-
came more and more feeble in body, be manifested
much anxiety touching the controversy which pre-
Tailed in the diocese before his anal as to asosrdota-
lies ritualism, and frequently spoke of it with
touching emotion to those who visited him.
On Thursday evening inln his lordship was brought
from London to the palace at Salisbury, and he bore
the journey better than could have been expected;
but, it was evident be had come home to die, and
his prostration gradually increased till Sunday morn-
ing, when he calmly breathed his last, in the flit
yer of his age.
The Time.. says "lb. late Bishop was perhaps the
highest churchman of all the prelates who have sat
upon the episcopal bench in England daring the
present century. Ilia theology WY cast in the
dogmatic type of the leaders of the Tractarian
movement, and his belief in the highest sacerdotal
theory that could be reconciled with allegiseco to
the Anglican communion was publicly and pro-
innerly evinced in the last charge which he
delivered to his clergy. It will be remembered that
the delivery of that charge caused very real die-
adishiction among the clergy of the diocese. The
late Bishop took an active part in the proceedinks of ,
the Upper Hinge of Convocation' and ocossionally
spoke in the Hors of Lords. Bet be was not much
of a politician, nor • very effective speaker. Though
• learned theologian, and a great reader, he wrote
but little, and if we except a volume or two of
famiiy prayers, and some periodical charges, and
occasional sermons—among which we should mention
that preached by him in the chapel of Merton
College, Oxford, on the frith anniverssry of the
incorporation of the Scholares de Merton—his most
important work is • letter on Cathedral Reform,
which he addressed to the members of the church in
his diocese • year or two after is consecration."
On information of the melancholy event being
received in Dorchester this (Monday) morning, the
bells at the several churches were tolled.