The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1881-04-23 00:00:00

DEATH OF LORD BEACONSFIELD.

It was with a feeling of deep sorrow that the public
heard of the death of Lord Beaconsfield, which took
place at half-past four o'clock on Tuesday morning,
at his residence in Curzon-street, Mayfair, London,
after a protracted illness. His Lordship was con-
scious to the last. It is a melancholy coincidence that
Lord Beaconsfield died on the anniversary of the
day on which, twelve months before, he had left
Windsor Castle after tendering to Her Majesty his
resignation as Prime Minister of England.

The Erening Standard of Tuesday, in noticing the
death of Lord Beaconsfield, says :
The exhaustion which follows such a severe illness, which
had entered upon the third week of its existence, and the
advanced age of his Lordship, prevented any sanguine hopes
being formed of his ultimate recovery. The physicians,
as may have been surmised from their close at-
tendance, regarded the case as critical from the
first, and even 'when more favourable bulletins
were issued, still warned the public against
forming too sanguine expectations of his Lordship's recovery.
Nevertheless the bulletins of Saturday and Sunday induced
anticipations of a favourable character—the regain of
strength, and the absence of further attacks, together with
the setting -in of genial weather, being all set down
as points in the patient's favour. On Monday,
however, although the morning opened bright and spring-
like, a return of the east wind later in the-day, developing
into a gale in the evening, made matters unpleasant,
even for those who were hale and hearty. Coupled with
this, the morning bulletin stating that his Lordship had re-
gained no strength during the past 24 hours, it Will be seen
that ample ground existed for the anxiety which prevailed.
During the at to:noon his Lordship suffered considerable
uneasiness and restlessness, and towards evening an inCreas-
ing feebleness led to the issue of the following bulletin :

"Lord Beaconsfield's condition has not been satisfactory
during the day. He has been free from urgent symptoms
and taken more nourishment, yet he rather loses strength."
This notice was taken as indicating that the life of the
great s atesman was fast ebbing away, and although by
exercise of his imperious will, strength might be called
forth for another rally, yet it was all too evident to
those in attendance that the close was near. The rest-
lessness during the night gave place to the feeble
exhaustion which precedes death. At a quarter to tutur a
return of one of the spasmodic attacks hastened the in-
evitable end. Drs. Kidd and Bruce sent at once for Dr.
Quain, who speedily arrived, and was present at his Lord-
ship's bedside at the time of his death. Lord Rowton,
Lord Barrington, and Sir Philip Rose were also in
the room at the time. The attack soon passed
away, but there was no power to rally, and all
was quiet and peaceful. The noble Earl lay
calm and still, perfectly conscious, surrounded by his
physicians and friends, until at half-past four lie quietly
passed away, almost before those around knew that the
great spirit had fled. The physicians, as we have said,
were never sanguine of his recovery, although by the
mere exercise of will power he was able to throw off
the effects of some of his more severe attacks, yet
this very strength of disposition occasioned his
medical advisers considerable trouble. One of his most
severe relapses was brought about by his insisting on sitting
up in bed, and the refusal to take sufficient nourishment
at the last gave both physicians and nurses the utmost
difficulty and Concern. On certain days, moreover, he
would insist on reading the bulletins before they
were issued, and freely criticised any points which were
not in accordance with his own opinions. In spite
of this, however, Lord Beaconsfield believed he was taken
for death almost at the commencement of his serious illness,
and on mere than one occasion expressed himself to that
effect. It is worthy of note that nearly all of Lord Beacons-
field's most serious attacks have taken place in the early
morning, between one and four o'clock.

One of Lord Beaconsfield's medical attendants has fur-
nished the following particulars of the Earl's last
moments :—The Earl's drowsiness, which had been apparent
in the later part of Monday night, gradually deepened to-
wards midnight into a stupor, from which his lordship was with
difficulty arwused. He still, however, took nourishment up to
half-past one on Tuesday morning. About two o'clock the stupor
deepened into coma, or complete insensibility, and towards
the hour of three the breathing became very much em-
barrassed. Dr. Kidd and Dr. Bruce at once applied all the usual
restoratives for the breathing, but for the first time during his
Ilness there was no response. Seeing the approach of death
Dr. Kidd immediately despatched messengers to Lord Barring-
ton, Sir Philip Rose, and Dr. 3 caner. Lord Barrington
was the first to arrive, and upon entering the sick room he
found Lord Rowton closely grasping the right hand of the
distinguished patient, in which grasp Lord Barrington
joined. The two noble lords continued to clasp the right
hand of Lord Beaconsfield 'mail the last moment, his left
being all the time held in that of Dr. Kidd. About
five minutes before the breathing ceased Sir Philip
Rose and Dr. Quain arrived. Then a most placid
appearance came over his Lordship's face, which
deeply moved all in the room. The distressing breathing
ceased, and for about five minutes slow, gentle inspiration
took its place, and all seemed over; but even after the
breathing had stopped for four or tive minutes, the
heart's action had kept up, and the pulse continued per-
fectly perceptible at the wrist. It was a most touch-
ing scene. As Lord Rowton, Lord Barrington, the three
physicians, Mr. Baum, the young servant James, and the
two nurses watched round the bed for a further period of
ten minutes, perfect silence was kept, save for the weeping
of some who were present, because, even when the pulse
ceased, it was difficult to realise that he was dead. Thus,
without suffering, without a struggle, Lord Beaconsfield's
life slowly passed away.
Immediately after his death telegrams were forwarded to
her Majesty, the Prince of Wales, and other members of the
Royal Family, the noble Earl's colleagues, and to many of
the foreign Courts. A notification was also sent to the Em-
bassies in Loudon.

We take the following brief sketch of Lord Beacon-
field's political career from the Evening Standard
of Tuesday :

Benjamin Disraeli was born in 1805, in Bloomsbury-
square, London. tie was the eldest son of Isaac Disraeli,
Esq., the celebrated author of "The Curiosities of Litera-
ture." In his early years he was apprenticed to the law,
but the scholarly atmosphere in which he was born exercised
its influence upon him, and he soon devoted himself exclu-
sively to literary pursuits. He had hardly attained
his twentieth year when he, in the hackneyed phrase,
took the "town by storm" by his novel " Vivian
Grey" Having achieved this brilliant debut in literature
the young author vo3a;ed for a time on the Continent and
on the south-eastern shores of the Mediterranean. During
his absence important political changes were at work in
England, and divining that his chance had arrived, he re-
turned home and firing himself into the whirl of that peli-
tical life in which he was destined to make so distin-
guished a mark. In the autumn of 1832 he issued
an address to the electors of itigh Wycombe in
otTposition to the Whig candidate. but failed to he returned
by a few votes. On the dismissal of the Melbourne Ministry
in 1834 he again appealed to the constituency which had
rejected him; but it was not until the general election of
1837 that his ambition was rewarded, and he was called to
the House of Commons as the representative of the
borough of Maidstone. This was at the period of
her present most Gracious Majesty's accession to the
throne. Even at that time the younger Disraeli
was a remarkable man, and gave proofs of those
gifts of culture and shrewdness, and of that bril-
liant eloquence, which have since lifted him to such an
exalted grade in the political wend and in the councils of
his Sovereign. His ..quarrel with O'Connell, and his caustic
criticisms of the Whigs in the Runnymede letters, had
brought him into conspicuous n"tice. His first attempt at
oratory in the House was a signal failure; he was received
with derisive shouts; but, undismayed by his discomfiture,
he used the prescient words, that one day lie would be
heard. His first successful speech was on the Char-
tist Riot of 1839, and was characterised by vigour
and common sense. He had a passing quarrel with
Sir Robert Peel, who recognised in him a formidable op-
ponent. In 1844 and 1845 his celebrated satires " Coningsby "
and " Sybil " appeared and elicited extraordinary interest,
both for the admirable style in which they were written and
the doctrines they prepounded. The ideas in English his-
tory which were printed in these two successful novels had
been anticipated by himself in his vindication of the
British Constitution, and which was published some ten
years previously. In 1841 he changed Maidstone for
another constituency—that of Shrewsbury, and in 1847
he was returned for the county of Buckingham, in
which Hughenden Manor is situate He had been faithful
to the party of Sir Robert Peel until that Minister became
an apostle of Free Trade, and then 51r. Disraeli allied himself
to the Conservative Party, and after the death of Lord George
Bentick became its adopted leader in the Lower House. In
Lord Derby's first Administration he was appointed Chan-
cellor of the Exchequer, a position which he held in the two
subsequent Administrations ; and on the resignatien of that
nobleman in the beginning of 1868, he was appointed Prime
Minister. This office he resigned at the end of the same year.
Mr. Gladstone again succeeded to office, but was defeated
on the kish tniversity Question in the middle of March,
1873, and resigned; but Mr. Disraeli, though requested, de-
clined to take office at the time. Mr. Gladstone then re-
constructdd his Cabinet, and managed to continue in office
until the beginning of 1874, when to the surprise of all
parties, and in the hope of strengthening his party, he ap-
pealed to the country. The result was a most unmistakable
call to the Conservatives.

This was the first election which had taken place under
the Ballot, and the returns were-351 Conservatives and 302
Liberals. There could be no doubt that Mr. Disraeli's dream
was true that the Conservative Party was the popular con-
federation of the country. Sectional party interests had
contributed a little to bringing about such a result; but the
unanimous feeling of the country would have overborne any
hostile feeling which they might have combined to prevent.
The succession to power was an unmistakeable triumph
for Mr. Disraeli ; but when Parliament met he found himself
face to face with questions directly affecting the most funda-
mental principles of the Constitution. First, the Army
clamoured for a redress of grievances under which
they had for a long time suffered, and which
Mr. Cardwell's Army Bill had rather increased than
amended. The licensed victuallers believed themselves
deeply injured by Mr. Bruce's Licensing Act ; and the
Church was far from satisfied with her treatment under
Mr. Forster's Education Act. In the country generally
there was a hope that the grievances of local ratepayers
would be redressed ; the operatives wanted the Labour Laws '
altet ed, and the Factory Acts amended ; while the tenant
farmers insisted that the Land Tenure system should be
revised, and preventive measures taken to exclude the im-
p'ortation of cattle disease.
Nor were these the sum total of the demands made upon
the Premier; a host of other questions too long deferred
required attention. Amongst others the state of our prisons,
the condition of our mercantile marine, the system of
county administration, burials, and the bankruptcy laws.
The Ministers faced these questions boldly, and there fol-
lowed in quick succession a Factory Bill, an Employers and
Workmen Bill, the Artisans' Dwellings Bill, the Enclosure
of Commons Bill, the Friendly Societies Bill, the Public
Health Bill, and the Factory Consolidation Bill. But
this was not all. A Licensing Amendment Act
satisfied the licensed victuallers; an Education Amendment
Act protected denominational schools; a Regimental Ex-
changes Bill gratified the Army; the Agricultural Holdings
Act pleased the farmers ; while a Rating Act, Highways Act,
Poor Law Amendment Act, and Prisons Act showed how
comprehensive were the measures brought in to satisfy the
urgent demands of the country for social reforms.
In August, 1876, Mr. Disraeli was honoured by his
Sovereign with the title of Earl of Beaconsfleld—a mark
of favour which was approved of throughout the country.
The policy of the noble Earl on the Eastern Question led
to a Congress at Berlin, at which his Lordship and the
Marquis of Salisbury were present as the representatives of
Great B 1 Hain. What took place at the Congress is well
known now. The final sitting was held on July 13, 1878 ;
and on the return of our plenipotentiaries they were received
with marked public favour. Her Majesty invested the Earl
with the Order of the Garter soon after his return.

The policy of the Berlin Treaty led to a debate in the
House of Commons, which resulted in a large Government
majority; and on the following day, August 2, 1678, the
Earl and the Marquis of Salisbury were presented with the
freedom of the City of London, and were entertained at it
banquet in the Mansion House.
In the closing months lof 1878 difficulties began in Af-
ghanistan ; a short war followed, and in th,; end a scientific
frontier was won, and a treaty conclude d with the new
Anieer, Yakoob Khan, in May, 1879. In the beginning of
1879 troubles began at the Cape with the Zulu tribe. Sir
Bartle Frere was informed that he was moving faster than
the Government approved; but troops we'll. sent out and
great disasters followed. At the same timEr public atten-
tion Was much disturbed by the unfulfilled contracts
,of the Berlin Treaty and the still unset led condition of
AL;hanistan : but a temporary revival followed when it was
known that the evacualion of Rounielia had commenced,
that Yakoob Khan had submitted, and that the Zulu King
was captured. A depressed condition of trade, and a suc-
cession of bad harvests gave rise to public discontent, and
this feeling was greatly irritated by an inopportune cry
for peace at any price in every quarter of her Majesty's
dominions.
- - - -

.
Political parties became disorganised in view of the natural
termination of Parliament, and on the afternoon of Monday,
March 8, the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced that
the dissolution would take place onalarch 23.

At that time another question of national importance was
pressing itself on public attention, and this was discussed in
a manifesto issued by the late Earl.
[The Standard then gives the letter of Lord Beaconsfield
to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, and which our readers
will doubtless remember.]

The election campaign set in vigorously. Addresses were
issued long before the dissolution, ivhi6i was formally
effected on March 24; and thereupon candidates broke out
into speeches all over the country. In illustration of the ex-
citement which prevailed, it may be mentioned that
Mr. Gladstone delivered fifteen important speeches, Lc;ird
Hartington twenty-four, Mr. Bright six, Sir Stafford North-
cote six, Mr. W. H. Smith six, Colonel Stanley nine, and
Sir William Harcourt six. March 31st was the first day of
polling ; and on the last the return was found to show a
majority of Liberals over Conservatives and Home Rulers of
45. The result was undoubted. Her Majesty returned from
the Continent on Saturday, April 17, and next morn-
ing Lord Beaconsfield had, an interview with her. He
left the Castle on Monday morning, April 1901. On the
Wednesday following, there was, a Cabinet Council—the
last held by the Ministry—and at its close Earl Beaconsfield
again proceeded to Windsor to see th% Queen, when the
formal resignation of Ministers took place, and on April 28
the outgoing Ministers delivered up their seals of office.
After the accession of the Liberals to power, Lord Beacons-
field ceased to take any -prominent actiVe part in poli-
tics, permitting the direction of the great party he had
so long controlled, and which, in a sense, he may be
considered to have moulded, to fall into the hands
of Sir Stafford Northcote. But the ruling spirit was
still present, if in the background; and on occasions of
political convulsions it was felt that the counsel and influ-
ence of the pilot who had "weathered the storm," like Pitt,
were still at the service of those whom he had often so
ably and so brilliantly guided.

The deceased Earl married in 1839, Mary Anne, only
daughter of the late John Evans, Esq., of Branceford Park,
Devon, and widow of Wyndham Lewis, Esq., M.P. In
acknowledgment of her husband's official services, Mrs.
Disraeli was raised to the peerage of the United Kingdom, as
Viscountess Beaconsfield, November 28, 1868. She died
December 15, 1872, aged 83, and uas interred in Ilughenden
Church.

Lord Beaconsfield was an honorary D.C.L. of Oxford and
Edinburgh, a Privy Councillor, a trustee of the British
Museum, a governor of Wellington College, an Elder
Brother of the Trinity House, a trustee of the National
Portrait Gallery, and a deputy lieutenant for Bucks; and
was a Royal Commissioner of the Great Exhibition of 1851.
He was installed Lord Rector of the University of Glasgow,
In 1873, and re-elected to that office in 1874.

Among Lord Beaconsfield s publications since his entrance
on political life, are " Coningsby," "SyLil," and " Tancred,"
"A Vindication of the English Constitution," "A Biography
of Lord G. Bentinek ; " "Lothair," a novel, 1870; and " Rudy-
mion," 1831. An early poetical work, entitled "A Revolu-
tionary Epic," was republished in 1864.

Upon the news of the death of Lord Beaconsfield becoming
known manifestations of public respect took place in all
parts of the country. Upon most of the public buildings
flags were hoisted half-mast high; and at.inany of the Con-
servative clubs the usual indications of mourning were
seen.

It is said that the exeentor3 under Lord Beaconsfield's
will are Sir Nathaniel de Rothschild, 31. P., and Sir Philip
Rose.

A cast, stated to be a very successful one, has been taken
of Lord Beaconsdeld's face.

It is announced in the Court Circular that the Queen re
ceived with feelings of the deepest sorrow the :ad intelli-
gence of the death of the Earl of Beaconsfield, in whom Her
Majesty loses a most vaiued and devoted friend and counsel-
lor, and the nation one of its most distinguished statesmen.
Lord Beaconsfield's death was intimated by telegram to
the Queen, the Prince of Wales, and other members of the
Royal Family, his political friends, to the. Prime Minister,
and to many of the foreign Courts. A notification was also
seet to the Embassies in London. In the course of the day
responses expressing deep regret, and in some cases asking
for further particulars, were received from her Majesty,
the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Edinburgh, and
all the other members of the Royal Family. Tele-
grams arrived all day from every quarter of the kingdom.
Lord Barrington remained at Curzon-street to answer the
various enquiries made and messages sent. The Duchess of
Teck called at Curzon-street in the afternoon and saw Lord
Barrington, from whom she learned about the late earl's
last moments. The Premier, on receiving the news of his
great rival's death, immediately made known kis desire that
the interment should be a public one. The Dean of West-
minster called at Curzon-street a:; midday, his object as was
understood, being toitoffer a resting place for the remains of
Lord Beaconsfield in Westminster Abbey.