The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1881-04-30 00:00:00

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the procession were accommodated in the body of the
church, the side aisle being kept for the tenants on the
estate,

The coffin was placed in the centre of the chancel,
and immediately in front of the communion table, the
valet standing at its feet. After the finish of the
Funeral March, and when everyone had been ushered
to their places, the vicar intoned the 90th Psalm, fol-
lowed by the lesson from St. Paul to the'Corinthians.
The mournful procession was then reformed and left
the church in the same order that it had entered,
while the plaintive notes of the Anthem, "Oh, rest in
the Lord," wailed forth from the organ.

The bell again began to toll. Slowly proceeding to
the vault, the mourners took up their places round,
and the coffin was wheeled on the bier down to the
mouth of the vault, into which it was put. The
funeral service over, the chief mourners and others
passed over and performed the melancholy office of
laying wreaths, &c.' on the coffin. A large number
of those assembled took their last look into the
vault which, when the masons commenced their
task of building up the entrance, was literally crammed
with flowers.

Among those who descended to the vault after the burial
service waslinished were H.R.H. the Prince of Wales, the
Prince Leopold, the Duke of Connaught, the Marquis of
Salisbury, Earl Cairns, Lord Derby, Earl Roseberry, Lords
Barrington and Rowtou, Lord Lamington, the Duke of
Richmond, Lord John Manners, the Earl of Redesdale, the
Speaker of the House of Commons, Sir W. Harcourt, Lord
Henry Lennox, Lord Brabourne, Mr. Disraeli, Master
Coningsby Disraeli, Sir Philip Rose, and Sir Nathaniel
Rothschild.

From an early hour on Tuesday morning some half dozen
of the servants were engaged in unpacking the boxes that
arrived during Monday with flowers. Some of the wreaths
and emblems were of wonderful beauty, whilst others were
remarkable for their simplicity. Not the least effective of
the latter was a wreath of field daisies sent by a little child.
Many of the tributes were anonymous, and only contained
inscriptions, amongst which are the following :—" To the
memory of England's staunchest friend ; " "To the mehiory
of one loved with a nation's devotion of personal affection."
" To the memory of one to whom a nation's recollection
will be that of a more conscious loyalty to the wisdom of
his teaching ;" and "A tribute of the deepest sorrow and
the most sincere and devoted admiration." From the
Junior Carlton Club came a magnificent wreath of about
three feet in diameter, composed of white roses, lilac, and
azaleas; in the centre is the letter "B." surmounted by a
coronet, worked in double violets, and a scroll bearing
the words "in respectful memory!" Among the floral de-
signs received was that of a magnificent earl's coronet,
sent anonymously, and bearing the following inscrip-
tion, "A token of remembrance of Benjamin Disraeli, Earl
of Beaconsfield, KG., from one who, though alien in politics,
yet one in race, was a fervent admirer of him who rose/er
lifersqide as lilies o'er the stream,' and earned a Sovereign's
gratitude and a nation's love." One simple wreath of
flowers, in a tin box, had the words, "In affectionate
memory from three little girls," evidently in a child's hand-
writing. A novel tribute was from the Ramsgate Conserva-
tive and Constitutional Association, and was in the shape of
a floral arch, worked in lilies, camellias, hyacinths, roses,
and violets. 'The Margate Conservative Association also
sent a wreath. The Exeter Conservative Association sent
"a tribute of the deepest sorrow and sincere and devoted
admiration." The Duke of Portland, Mr. H. S. Northcote, and
a large number of others sent flowers and suitable inscrip-
tions.

There was sent from Sheffield on Monday night a solid
silver casket, weighing about two pounds and a half, and
long in the possession of the Disraeli family, to be placed in
the coffin of the late Earl. It contains a recent likeness of
him. The casket was sent to Sheffield in order that it
might be soldered and then covered with a strong plate of
nickel silver. The latter preserves the silver and renders it
practically indestructible. The casket was devoid of orna-
ment. On the lid is the followingunscription :—" This casket
contains a recent likeness of the late Right Hon. Earl of
Beaconsfield. April, 1881."

Mr. Gladstone was unable to journey to Hughenden, but
expressed in a letter to Sir Nathaniel de Rothschild, M.P.
one of the executors, his regret at being prevented from
attending. Other members of the present Ministry, how-
ever—for example Lord Hartington and Sir William Vernon
Harcourt—were present.

"Never, it may safely be said, did so small a building
contain so illustrious a company. On the right of the
chancel are the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Connaught,
Prince Leopold, and others Whose position is only less
distinguished. In the body of the church are Peers of
every degree, the representatives of the greatest Sovereigns
in the world, men whose names are part of the history
of England. But more interesting and more pathetic than
this company of notables is the little group whose
members are seated on the left side of the chanceL
Here are the men to whom, more than to any others, Lord
Beaconsfield was attached, and who tended him during his
illness, as they had been indefatigable in their thoughtful-
ness and care during many years previously. Close to them
are two other figures, in whom it is perhaps natural that
even more interest should be taken. They are those of Mr.
Ralph Disraeli and his son, who is now Lord Beaconsfield's
heir, a boy of between thirteen and fourteen years of age,
with features which strikingly recall those of his illustrious
uncle. The lad submitted to a trying ordeal, and he bore it
with a composure and a gravity which were really remarkable.
He was profoundly affectee, and his eyes throughout the
whole service were full of tears. But there was something
of self-reserve and dignity in his grief which was very
noticeable. It was not difficult for those who watched him
to understand wh3 he should have commended himself to
his uncle. 'The boy,' said Lord Beaconsfield, 'has the stuff
of agood man in him, and I will give him the chance of being
one.' Of the authenticity of this utterance there is no
doubt, and its immediate sequel was that Lord Beaconsfield
sent his nephew to Eton, where he now is, and decided that
he should be his heir."—Standard.

There was scarcely any town of importance in the
United Kingdom where there was not some manifes-
tation of respect shown to the memory of the late
Earl of Beaconsfield. In some places muffled Deals
were rung on the church bells, and flags were hoisted
half-mast high on public buildings, while in others
the shops were partially closed, and many allusions
were made by public men and officials to the decease
f his lordship.