The Press.
London, England, 1855-03-03 00:00:00

TEIE PIIESS.

THE LATE MR. HUME.
Lord PALMERSTON, on Monday, moved himself for
the new writ for Montrose, purposely to pass a rare
eulogium on the deceased father of the house. He
spoke thus :
I think that I should not be doing justice to the feelings
of this house if I were not, however feebly, to express the
regret and respect which 1 feel assured I share with all
who now hear me towards the member whose loss we are
now going to replace. ( Hear, hear.) It was said of an
eminent man in former times, that he
" To party gave up what was meant for mankind."
Now the very reverse of that might be said of our late
colleague, for the party to which he devoted the labour of
his life was his country; and, that served, his study was
the general interests of mankind. (Cheers.) Many
men have gained for themselves an eminent position in
this house by placing themselves at the head of faithful
bands of friends whose object was to acquire political
power for the purpose of governing the country, but Mr.
Hume was a remarkable instance of a man who gained
an eminent position not only in this house but in the
country—who established a name and reputation not only
throughout Europe, but far beyond the limits of that part
of the globe, by exertions wholly disinterested, as regarded
himself individually, and equally without the motive of
securing political power for his friends. He was a man,
in short, of whom it may be said that be took the lead
in promoting every measure of improvement which has of
late years been carried into practical operation, as his
exertions were spread over the whole range of matters
which concern the interests of this country ; and he pursued
them with a perseverance which defeat could not bathe, an
energy which no obstruction could abate. (Cheers.) But
Mr. Hume had still another claim on the grateful recollec-
tion of this house. Although in the long course of his
struggles to carry out his opinions to success he was fre
quently opposed to more than one party in this house, he
passed through those rough conflicts without leaving any
unpleasant reminiscence of the strife. He met obstacles
as every man should meet them who means honestly to
enforce his opinions in this house, but nothing ever passed
between him and those who were most opposed to him
which left one trace of resentment, one particle of bitter-
ness behind. (Loud cheers.) And whereas I remember
it to have been said of a person who held a high position
in this house that whatever acrimony might be generated
in party conflicts he never carried it beyond the door of the
house, I may say of our deceased friend that with him
the remembrance of party conflicts never went even so far
as the door. A man of greater industry, a man who more
perseveringly devoted his whole life to what he considered
to be the good of the country, never sat within these
walls—(loud cries of "Hear, hear")—and I am per-
suaded that those who most differed from him in opinion
respecting matters which he felt it to be his duty to bring
before the house must do him the justice of admitting that
he acted from that purest of all motives, a sincere desire to
advance the welfare of his country. (Cheers.) Those who
differed from him will be foremost in doing justice to his
integrity ; and those who agree, as well as those who differ,
will admit that a man possessing his ability, industry,
and disinterested character, must, on passing away from
amongst us, be deplored as a heavy loss to this house.
He was a man peculiarly belonging to the age in which
he lived. He had his party feelings—that is, he asso-
ciated with those who agreed with him in principle ; but,
without any notion of political ascendancy, he endeavoured
to do what was good for the whole country. (Cheers.) In
conclusion, he was a man on whom we must all look back
with admiration and regret ; and no man feels more sincerely
than I do the sorrow with which any one must propose the
motion which is now before the house. (" Hear, hear,"
and cheers.)
Sir J. WALMESLEY and Mr. BROTHERTON, as Mr.
Hume's particular friends, added their testimony to
his private worth.