The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-12-06 00:00:00

DEATH OF MR. ROEBUCK.

The Right Hon. John Arthur Roebuck, the senior
member for Sheffield, died early on Sunday morning at
his residence at Ashley-place, Victoria-street, West-
minster. He had been unwell for some time, but a visit
to the seaside had recruited his health, and he intended
addressing his constituents in the New Year. On Tues-
day in last week he attended a dinner at the Temple. On
the following night he complained of a slight cold, which
grew worse as the night wore on. In the morning Sir
Win. Gull, the family physician, was sent for, but
Mr. Roebuck, who, whilst coughing, had broken a
small bloodvessel, remained in a prostrate condition.
Sir Wm. Gull ou Satuidsy night warned the family
that the right hon. gentleman was dangerously ill,
Miss Roebuck was in the sick room all night until he
breathed his last. Mr. Roebuck suffered a great deal
of pain, but towards the last he felt easier, and passed
away peacefully.

Monday's S7vijield Telegraph says that "since the
last general election Mr. Roebuck has had a strong
presentiment of an early and a sudden death. This
presentiment has not only coloured his confidential
conversations, but has revealed itself in his public
speeches. In one respect he was reconciled to
it, but in another he chafed under his gradually
increasing physical .frailty, for if ever England
had a son who was an ardent lover of his country
John Arthur Roebuck was that son. He was,
as he himself had suid, 'an Imperial English-
man,' fully persuaded in his own mind that on the
whole England had proved herself worthy of the
tremendous responsibilities associated with her in-
comparable empire, and had used her influence in a
way which was at once an example and a blessing to
mankind. It was the dearest wish of his heart that
all Englishmen should know as he knew and
feel as he felt that England's rule of subjectpeoples was
beyond historic precedent a just and a wise rule, great
in itself, and investing the nation with a greatness and
a moral grandeur of which none but a degenerate eon
could be insensible." . . .

The Times (in a leader) believes the news of Mr.
Roebuck's death will be received with very general
feelings of regret. During his long public career he
experienced something more than the ordinary vicissi-
tudes of Er gllsh public life. His Liberalism has been
sometimes questioned; his independence was pre-
served Weer. He was a special type which we can
ill afford to lose. Able, fearless, outspoken, and at
the same time utterly impracticable, he has done some
servico to his country, but always in his own way,
end in r way unlike that f
F;uy one lee. His cosintrl -
men will indulge In the liDoe that the special typo he
repr: Ben Led has not passed away with him. But there
is at least room for one Btleil man as Mr. R.nbuck has
shown himself.

The following autograph letter from the late Mr.
Roebuck, M.P., written A few days before he died,
on the subject of the Rowland Hill Memorial, may be
of touching interest :-
19, Ashley-place, S.W., November 25, IS79.—My dear
Lord Mayor,-1 take a great interest in your efforts to mark
the gratitude of the country to the late Sir Rowland LEH.
He was a very old and much esteemed friend of mine, and
I believe few men have done so much as he for the good of
his nation and his race. With his great scheme 1 was early
much acquainted; indeed, I have a letter somewhere in
which his scheme is explained, with a request that I would
not speak of it, as he was not ready to make it public 'just
yat ' I say all this because my physical condition Is such
as to mike me very unfit and very unwilling to face a great
public meetit g. I hope, then, that you will excuse my
absence. I deem myself greatly honoured by your invita-
tion, and uothb g but absolute necessity keeps me away.
Believe me, my dear Lord Mayor, yours very truly and with
thanks, J. A. ROEBUCK."

The Mansion House Sir Rowland Hill Memorial
Fund now amounts to between £4,000 and £5,C00, in.
eluding £lO received from the Prime Minister.

MR. ROEBUCK ON THE DISSOLUTION

A letter written in April last to one of his constituents by
the late Mr. Roebuck has been publi,hed. In it the right
hoe. gentleman advised his correspondent not to be anxious
without cause, and added:—

" My experience has taught me that it is unwise to
trouble the constituency before an election ; and you
must remember that an election is not at hand. This
Parliament will be kept alive as lung as the law
allows, and addressing the people only harasses them,
troubles them, and puts them in the result out of
humour with those who disturb them. If fortune
favours the Government, if our arms are successful, if
the position of England be prosperous when the
general election comes, the result will be in their
favour; if disaster happen, nothing can save them
(that is, the present Government). Such being my
view, my advice is to be quiet, and let our opponents
talk themselves hoarse."