The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1886-09-11 00:00:00

DEATH OF MR. SAMUEL MORLEY.

Mr. Samuel Morley died early on Sunday morn-
ing at his London residence, after a long illness. Of
late the bulletins issued had been of a rather favour-
able character, and it was hoped that he was making
gradual progress towards recovery. He was seen on
Saturday by his medical attendant, who failed to
observe any dangerous symptoms, and several mem-
bers of the deceased's family left town on that day,
not expecting any immediate danger. Subsequently,
however, a sudden and severe relapse took place, from
which he never rallied.
Mr. Morley's career does not afford much material
for an ( xtensive biography, his life having been a
singularly uneventful one. He was the youngest son
of the late Mr. John Morley, of Hackney, by his
marriage with Sarah, daughter of the late Mr.
Richard Poulton, of Maidenhead. lie was born in
Well-street, Hackney, in the year 1809, and was,
therefore, in his 77th year, having accordingly ex-
ceeded the " three-score-and-ten " years which have
been oracularly laid down as the average span of
human existence. He was educated at a private
school, like most of the eminent Dissenters of recent
days, Cobden and Forster to wit, the Universities
being in the early years of the century almost
shut in the face of Nonconformist youth. In
due course he became a partner in the ex-
tensive mercantile and manufacturing firm of
Messrs. J. and M. Morley and Co., wholesale
hosiers, of Wood-street, Cheapside, in which, no
doubt, he had been trained during his juvenescent
years. As an earnest Dissenter, and a prominent
member of the Congregationalist body, ho soon
became noted in Dissenting circles as an eloquent ex-
ponent of the views of Protestant Nonconformity,
and gave munificent donations for chapel-building
purposes. He does not seem to have been ambitious
of senatorial honours in early life, but at the general
election in 1865, when he had nearly reached the status
of a sexagenarian, he contested the representation of
the borough of Nottingham, the centre of the
hosiery manufacture, and was returned in con-
junction with Sir Robert J. Clifton, Bart. Both
members were, however, unseated on petition
in 1866, and Mr. Simnel Morley, after sitting for a
brief period in the House of Commons, was, by the
inexorable fiat of the election judge, relegated to the
amenities of private life. The Parliament from which
he was excluded, however, was of short duration, for
at the latter end of 1868, Mr. Disraeli, then Premier,
dissolved Parliament soon after the passing of the
Lodger Franchise Bill. On this occasion, however,
Mr. Samuel Morley wooed, in the "Advanced Liberal"
interest, the suffrages of the electors of Bristol, by
whom he was returned at the head of the poll, with
8720 votes, his colleague in the representation being
the late Hon. Francis H. F. Berlsely, who polled 8707
votes, while the unsuccessful candidate, Mr. John
William Miles, received only 6682 votes. Mr. Samuel
Morley represented the city of Bristol altogether for
17 years, having been be-elected in 1874, by 8732
votes, though he was then second on the poll, his
Penior being Mr. Kirkman D. Hodgson, who received
8888 votes; and was elected a third time in 1880,
when he was again at the head of the poll with
10,704 totes, his colleague, Mr. Lewis Fry, receiving
10,070, while their opponents, Sir Ivor Guest (Con-
servative) and Mr. Elisha Robinson (Liberal) polled
9395 and 4104 votes respectively. According to a
contemporary biographer, "Mr. Samuel Morley was
familiarly known in Parliament over many years as
the 'handsome Dissenter.' A man of high character,
great wealth, considerable ability, and commanding
presence, he was felt by Nonconformists to be a not
unfit exponent of their views in the House of Com-
mons." He was treasurer of Homerton College, and
also of the Home Missionary Society. He was mainly
instrumental in introducing the agency of "lay
evangelists," or colporteurs to aid in the work of that
society and visited most of the English and Welsh
counties in furtherance cf this object. Mr. Morley
contributed .E6OOO towards the costs of the Memorial
Hall in Farringdon-street, in the library of which his
portrait, painted by Mr. Henry T. Wells, R.A., has
been placed, in recognition of such rare munifieence.
He took a warm and abiding interest in the philan-
thropic enterprises of the day, and was on the
directorate of the Industrial Dwellings Company
and similar undertakings. He was also a
Vice-President of the British Temperance League.
In November, 1870, he was elected to represent the
City of London on the London School Board, but dl
not seek re-election in 1873. He was a justice of the
peace and deputy-lieutenant for Middlesex, and ore
of her Majesty's lieutenants for the City of Lona on.
besides having been on the Commission of the Pease
for the county of Kent. In 1885, on the retiremeht.
of Mr. Gladstone's second Government, he was offererl
a peerage, but this honour be respectfully declined.
Finally, he was elected, in May last, at the very elo,e
of his honoured career, to be chairman of tie
Congregational Union for the coming year, but
his illness immediately thereafter prevented
him from occupying a position so eminently
suited to a man of his character and tem-
perament. In the shadowy region of Clubland
Mr. Samuel Morley was well known, he having been a
member of the Reform, Devonshire. City Liberal,
and National Liberal Clubs. In 1841 he married
Rebekah Maria, daughter of the late Mr. Samuel
Hope, banker, of Livelpool, and leaves a family of
live sons and two daughters. His eldest eon is Mr.
Samuel Hope Morley, a director of the Bank of Eng-
land. His fourth son, Mr. Arnold Morley, M.P. fur
East Nottingham, had just begun his political career
as Liberal Whip in Mr. Gladstone's recent Ad min ist ra-
tion , and will no doubt be a man of mark in the
Liberal party of the future. He is a vice-preeident
of the "Eighty Club," and was one of the select patty
who accompanied Mr. Gladstone in the Sunbeam to
Norway.

"WOMEN seldom stop to think," snarled a cross-
grained husband. "True enough," said his wife;
"but you might have added, they never fail to stop
and talk."

TIIE man who is suspicions lives in r, constant state
of unhappiness. It would be better for his peace of
mind to be too trustful than to guarded.
UNILiPPY is be who desires to die so long as then'
remains to him any sacrifice to make, one joy tk.
create, troubles to prevent, tears to dry.
UGLINESS of the right sort is a kind of beauty. It
has some of the best qualities of beauty—it attracts
observation and fixes the memory.
CREDITOR : "Can you let me have my little bill ? "
Debtor: "Certainly, but don't destroy it. I may
want to pay something on it some time in the future?
IT is said that perspiration is having the greatest
run of anything in places of public amusement at thi3
season. _ _

"I'M sorry I wasn't at your father's funeral, Mis 3
Mollie." "Faith, and you didn't miss much. It wa_i
very quiet. Beer at the wake, and only one band at
the cemetery. You know father always detested an'
c3remon like
v ."
To love the public, to study universal good, and to
promote the interest of the whole world, as far as lies
within our power, is the height of goodness, and
makes the temper which we call divine.
REMORSE of conscience is like an old wound; a man
is undeino condition to fight under such circumstances.
The pain abates his vigour, and takes up too much of
his attention.
A CERTAIN judge having been called upon at a
public meeting for a song, replied that it was not in
his power to gratify the company. A wag who wr9
present observed he was much surprised at the re-
fusal, as it was notoriou that numbers Id bten
transporl.ed. by his voice.

RETURN OF THE DUKE OF
CONNAUGHT TO INDIA:

The Duke and Duchess of Connaught have gone to
India, where the Duke is to take the command of
the division at Rawul Pindi on the Punjaub. Thei:
Royal Highnesses travelled by special South-Eastern
train to Dover, and crossing the Straits by special
boat to Calais, proceeded to Paris, thence to Mar-
seilles. The Duke and Duchess have arranged to
join the Peninsular and Oriental Company's steamer
Bengal, in which saloons have been engaged for the
Royal party and suite. The Bengal leaves Malta on
the 10th or 11th inst. for Bombay, where the Duke
and Duchess are expected to arrive about the 28th
inst.