The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1874-01-03 00:00:00

MARRIAGE OF MISS GLADSTONE.

The marriage of the Principal of Wellington
College (the Rev. E. li. Wickham) and Miss Glad-
stone, elibst dauatter of the Right Hon, W. E.
Gladstone and Mtn. Gladsteee. VIM solemnized St
Hawarden Church, Flintslitret, on Saturday.
and Lady Lyttelton and the Hon. Miss I.3tteiton, Sir
Stephen Glynne, Mr. Talbot, M.P., and the Hem
Mrs. Talbot, Lord and Lady Frederick Cavendish,
and a party confined to the members of both families,
met at Hawarden Castle for the wedding. At the
breakfast whi th followed the ceremony the Premier
addressed his assembled guests and friends as follows :
One might almost euppose it was presumptueue to
enter into a vow which, depend upon if, no human
power can diestilte or weaLen, but it 0. not id e-
sumptuous if it be done in a right spirit. If it be done
hi humble trust and reliance upon the guidance of
Him who 'aloes, can direct our [stove in the *eater !
transactions of life as in the smaller, it is not pre-
sumptuous. Then it is hopeful, it is blessed, it is
happy. As far as regards the family from which our
(taught. r is removed, the marriage presents a mixed
cLarocter. It would be idle 11deny that we ehiall miss
her much. It would be idle to deny, however
, much the good opinion of her is deserved, that we
' shall long look for her familiar form and her
, vacant place in our family circle, but It would be
seltieh to dwell upon ideas such as these. The eines-
tb in is whether the union which elle ban forme 1 is one
which we ought to rejoice in an reasonable and as
Christian men. I must honestly own that there ie
not one point I could wish otherwise than It is. My
dear friend Lord Lyttelton said you know little in
comparison of the man with whom she has united
her lot, and it is true; but once or twice you have
seen him and heard him in the church, and have
had some opportunity of judging what manner of
man he is. To him we can with perfect confident*
commit the future fortunes of our beloved child.
There is net one cloud upon the sky of their prospects,
so far as it is allowed us to forecast them. Well, my
dear friends and neighbours, again let me exprees the
deep gratitude we feel for the manifestations of your
kinilness ; they have been such as we feel now, and suds
as I trust we ever shall continue to feel. There is one
act of kindness I will request you to perform still on
their behalf. You have to-day accompanied us into
the tsmple of the Moat High to witness the solemn rite
which has there been performed ; but let cads one of
you, in the temple et his own heart and in the silence
and secrecy of his own chamber, beseech the
Almighty to continue to fulfil His goodness upon the
heals of the married pair. Happy as they are, they
cannot dispense with His aid; they cannot dispense
with the aid and comfort of your prayers—that aid and
comfort which under sit circumstances aid at all times
every one of us can freely, and at the saute time
humbly, render to one another."

After speaking of the day as one of separation but
yet of hope and joy, a day not likely to be forgotten,
the right hon. gentleman referred to the communion
of feeliug which subsisted between those aisembltd
and the inhabitants of the rectory, and again thanked
them for their kindness, which, he said, would be
graven on their recollection. The loyicg.cup was
passed round, and the ladhe and gentlemen left for
the girls' school, wbere a ball was opened by Mrs.
Gladstone and her eldest son, and kept up till eleven.
Toe school children and poor people thrJughout the
parish had tea, and the day was observed as a general
holiday.

The presents which Miss Gladstone received num.
bored at least 250. The Queen's present was a rich
Indian shawl; the Baroness Rothschild gave a tar
quo-se and pearl locket set with diamonds ; the Baro-
ness M. de Rothschild a pearl turquoise necklace and
ornaments; Lord and Lady Penrhyn, a pearl and
diamond locket and earrings; Lord Wolverton,
pearl and diamond ornaments ; Mr. and Mrs.
Csrdwell, a silver tea service; Earl and Countess
Soencer, a set of silver tea caddies; Lord and Lady
Wenlock, pearl and lapis lazuli locket; Sir
Stephen Glynne, a net of silver salt-cellars ; the
Marquis of Westminster, Ferrari's picture of the
Saints; the Marchioness of Westminster, a set of
silver candlesticks; Lord and Lady Hamer, a gold
necklace and ornaments ; Lady Alice and Lady
Albreda FOzwilliam, a silver belt and bag ; the Right
Hon. W. E. Gladstone, • iliest of plate, dressing bags,
and a mai queterie writing table and cabinet ; Mrs.
Gladstone, a pearl necklace and diamond ring; the Misses
Width air , a walnut andgold writing. table ; the Baroness
Burdett Coutts, a china cud gold clock and vases ; Lord
and Lady A. Russell, turquoise bowl ; Sir Thomas Glad-
sione, black and crimsm satin chairs; the Duke and
Duchess of Argyll, a blue China tea service; Lady
Beauchamp, a breakfast service ; Lady Herbert, a
marqueterie writing table; Baroness Von Hugel, a gold
bowl ; the boys of Wellington College, silver dessert
knives, forks, and spoons; the ladies of Ilawardem a
large buhl clock ; and the servants of Hawarden Castle,
a silver inkstand, candlestick, and match-box,