The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1873-07-26 00:00:00

The Ihteg Yew*, in noticing the death of Lord Westbury,
remarks :

At the official ceremony of the opening of the Inter-
national Exhibition of I b 62 Lord Weeibury was a c in-
spienous figure. None of the dignitaries of State who
then walk.ed in plaices-ion filled the part with greater
effect than he did in his gorgeous officials robes of office.
It was the general verdict that he worthily sustained
the dignity of Lord High Chancellor of England in the
pageant ; indeed, so impressive was his appea-
ance, that the distinguished Frenchmen pre-ent
on the occasion were perfecly convinced that he
filled the highest office of State in England, and
that he was the Lord Mayor. In the succeeding year
Lord Westbury attended in his official capacity the
marriage of the Prince of Wales. Twe years after.
wards he was the actor in a ceremony of a very diffe-
rent kind, when he announced his resignation in the
House of Lord... Humours bad for some months been
current relative to ceitaiu appointments made by him,
and the revolt o investigation was to show that he had
either b-en raided or not strict enough when dis-
pensing patronage in specified eases. Though his own
hands were clean, yet 1.14 name had been need in
a way which was most discreditabo ; and this was
felt so strongly that the House of Commons passed
a vote of imested censure upon him. In consequence
he resigned Ghee on the 4th of July, PAS, and on the
following day he intimated what he had done to the
House of Lords in a eon of farewell and explanatory
address. In that address he stated toat it was only
out of deference t, Lord Palmerston that be had
not reeigned earlier, his own opinion being "that
he holder of the Great Seal ought never to be in
the position of an accused person, and much, unfor-
tunately, being the case, for my own part I felt
it due to the great office that I hold that I should
retire from it and meet any accusation in the character
of a privats person. . . With regard to the opinion
which the House of Commons has pronounced, I do
not presume to say a word. lam bound to accept the
dechion. I may, however, express the h ipe that after
an interval of time calmer thoughts will prevail, and
feelings more favourable to myseif be entertained. I
am thankful fir the opportemiry which my tenure of
office has afford.l me to propose and pass measures
which have received the approbation of Parliament, and
which, I believe, nay. I will venture to redice, will be
productive of great benefit to the country. With these
measures I hope my name will he associated. I regret
deeply that • great measure which I had at heart
—I re'er to the f motion of a digest of the whole
law—l have been unable to inaugurate.; for it was not
until this session that she means were afforded by
Parliament for that purpose. That great scheme, my
lords. I bequeath to be prepared by my succesair." It
was allowed at the time that nothing Lord Weethnry
ever did was executed more gracefully than the ad-
dress from which the foregoing extract is taken, and
hat although be fell from • great elevation, yet he fell
with becoming dignity.