The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1881-07-30 00:00:00

MR. GLADSTONE'S LETTER TO MRS.
GARFIELD.

The following i 3 the text of Mr. Gladstone's letter to Mrs.
Garfield (says the Daily News):—

"London, July 21, 18E1.

"Dear Madam,

"You will, I am sure, excuse me, though personally
a stranger, for addressing you by letter, to convey to
you the assurance of our feelings and those of my
countrymen on the occasion of the late horrible at-
tempt to murder the President of the United States,
in a form more palpable at least-than that of the
messages conveyed by telegraph. Those feelings have
been feelings in the first instance of sympathy,
and afterwards of joy and thankfulness almost
comparable, and I, venture to say, only second
to the strong emotions of the great nation of which
he is appointed the head. Individually I have, let
me beg you to believe, had my full share in the senti-
ments which have possessed the British nation. They
have been prompted and quickened largely by what I
venture to think is the ever growing sense of harmony
and mutual respect and affection between the two
countries, and of a relationship which from year to year
becomes more and more a practical bond of union be-
tween us. But they have also drawa much of their
strength from a cordial admiration of the simple heroism
which has marked the personal conduct of the Presi-
dent, for we have not yet wholly lost the capacity of
appreciating such an example of Christian faith and
manly fortitude. This exemplary picture has been
made complete by your own contribution to its noble
and touching features, on which I only forbear to
dwell because lam directly addressing you. I beg to
have my respectful compliments and congratulations
conveyed to the President, and to remain, dear
madam, with great esteem, your most faithful servant,
"WILLIAM E. GLADSTONE."

The following is the reply sent by Mr. Blaine through Mr.
Lowell:

"Washington, July 22, 1831.

"Lowell, Minister, London.
"I have laid before Mrs. Garfield the note of Mr.
Gladstone just received by cable. lam requested by
her to say that among the many thousaLd manifesta-
tiuns of interest and expressions of sympathy which
have reached her, none has more deeply touched her
heart than the kind words of Mr. Gladstone. His
own solicitude and condolence are received with
gratitude, but far beyond this she recognises that
Mr. Gladstone rightfully speaks -for the people of
the British Isles, whose sympathy in this national and
personal affliction has been as quick and sincere as that
of her own countrymen. Her chief pleasure in Mr.
Gladstone's cordial letter is found in the comfort which
it brings to her husband. The President is cheered
and solaced on his painful and weary way to health by
the many messages of sympathy which in his return-
ing strength he r,eceives and most gratefully appreciates.
"BLAINE, Secretary."

THE BISHOP OF ST. ALBANS ON
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION.

Preaching at Chelmsford on Sunday, the Bishop of
St. Albans condemned the Conscience Clause of the
Education Act, and asserted that out of thousands of
parents who seat their children to Board sclaools, not
ten had been found to avail themselves of the ques-
tionable privilege of withdrawing them during the
half•hour devoted to religious instruction. The only
way, he said, to arrest the spread of impiety and with
it Socialism, Communism, Fenianism, and Nihilism
was to see that the young of the present age were not
merely secularly but religiously educated, for these
were problems affecting the welfare of society which
it would have to face and which could thus only
receive satisfactory solution.