The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1868-05-02 00:00:00

THE FUNERAL OF THE LATE
D'ARCY M'GEE.

The obsequies of the late Thomas D'Arcy 'Gee
took place, on the 14th of April, in Montreal. All
accounts speak of the event SA one of the most
remarkable in the history of Canada. At an early hour
in the morning the people living along the advertised
line of the procession draped their houses in black crape
and cambric. The emblems of mourning were visible
in all the public buildings. At nine o clock the pro-
cession formed, and the coffin was taken from ita
temporary resting place and deposited in the car. The
car was drawn by six gray horses shrouded in black.
It was sixteen feet hign and twelve feet long ; the roof,
which was of elegant design, W&I supported by six
columns. On the roof there was a large silver crofts,
draped with black velvet and crape; there were also
six large plumes. The sides of the car bore these
mottoes, in white letters upon a ground of black
velvet, " Miserere Demme," Consumma(ua in brert
ertplerd tern pore ms/to," and on each side of the picture
of an ostrich the words "Fur rt opera." The sthliers
of the British garrison lined the streets, and kept a
clear passage, they fell into line at the rear of the pro-
cession. The troops on duty were the 100th Regiment.
the 16th Regiment, the 78th Regiment (Highlanders),
the 60th Rifles, the 13th Hussars and a section of
artillery. In the procession, which was made up of
about 25,000 persons, were Sir Charles Wyndham,
K.C.8., and staff, the representatives of the Governor-
nor-General, and of the Lieutenant-Governor of
Ontario and Quebec, the Mayor and Recorder of Mon-
treal, the legislative councillors, senators, members of
the House of Commons, members of the local govern-
ments, 'foreign consuls, the Chief Justice and the
several judges anti magistrates, members f the Privy
Council, members of the corporation of Montreal,
municipal officers, officers of the army, the militia
commandant, militia officers, officers of the courts of
law, Major-General Russell and staff, the clergy of
Montreal, representatives of the bar and the medical
profession, students of the university, students of law,
medicine, and the arts ; the professors of the colleges.
the various benevolent, temperance, anti working men's
societies (including the New England anti St. Patrick's
Societies), the Government and local police, lat. The
procession passed to St. Patrick's Church, where the
funeral ceremonies took place. The coffin was received
at the door by a procession of priests and acolytes,
who bore it to the altar, uttering the while a solemn
chant. The church and altar were lighted with tapers .
and heavily draped with white and black crape. After
the mass the Roman Catholic Vicar-General of Ottawa
(Farrel) delivered an appropriate sermon. The Vicar-
General took occasion to inveigh in strong terms
against Fenianism. "If," said he, "this dead states-
man was guilty of a crime in opposing Fenianism,
that is a crime itf which I too am guilty. I call upon
you to stamp out secret societies." A tremendous
burst of applause followed these words, and the
preacher found it necessary to saw, "Remember that
this is the house of God." At the conclusion of the
sermon the procession re-formed, and the coffin was
taken to the cathedral of Notre Dame where a 1, bra
was sung by the seminary priests under the direction
of Monseigneur Bourget, the Roman Catholic Arch-
bishop of Montreal. The proceasion again took up
its march through the principal streets, and finally
passed out to the Roman Catholic Cemetery (some two
miles front Montreal), where the body was interred.
It is estimated that from 60,00 to 100,000 persons
assembled in the streets through which the cortege
pa.ssed. During the day General Averill received a
telegram from Secretary Seward, expressing the
American Government's detestation of the murder
and sympathy with the Canadian public.

The Dublin Nation sketches the career of the late Canadian

Minister, Mr. Thomas D'Arcy Miter, who twenty ye-al; ago
was a contributor to Its columns. Ile was born 43 years ago '
In Carlingford, and educated in his early boyhood in Wex-
ford. The family emigrating to America, M'Ree at eighteen
had employment from the Boston Pilot. When little more
than twenty he delivered lectures at public meetings in the
States. Returning to Ireland in 18.45, he became one of the
ablest writers of prose and political verse in the Nation,
and had the confidence of the Young Ireland leaders.
"Whets Smith O'Brien wen. southward, in 1844,
to lead the people to insurrection. Ml:ee sailed for
Glasgow to head an expedition planned by the Irish
in Scotland," but, on the collapse of this •' rebellion," he
escaped to America, and from 1848 to 1657 followed literary
pursuits and wrote for the New York Nation and the Ame-
rican Celt. His public career in Canada began in 16.58 when
his principles had become more Imperial ; and his uncom-
promising denunciations of lenlanisin at a later date made
many enemies for him. The fanatical party regarded him
as a traitor to the "national " cause. His later history Is
better known. Mr. M•Gee wrote several volumes, " Lives of
Irish Writers," "Life of Dr. Maginn," " Early Irish Settlers
in America," and " Attempts to Establish the Reformation
in Ireland." Ilis Canadian speeches on 'Confederation
and Fenianisin were published in Canada twe years ego.