The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1880-10-30 00:00:00

THE DEADLOCK IN EUROPE.

The Times, in a leader on Monday, remarks :—" The
situation of Europe at the present time is almost
without a parallel in history. The soil of the Conti-
nent is loaded with armies; the minds of men have
been surcharged with passionate animosities; during
more than a quarter of a century war after war has
poured its waves over the civilized world, each deluge
leaving behind it a confused mass of controversies.
Yet, for the time at least, these elements of disturb-
ance appear to be working together for peace. There
is something like a deadlock in European politics. It
resembles in no wise the *reign of univeral heaven-
descended good will which was fondly supposed to
have begun nearly thirty years ago, and of which
the advent was welcomed in the Palace of Glass at
Knightsbridge. Then there was a real, an earnest, if
a child-like, faith in the permanence of peace. Nations
were turning away from war—or so the preachers of
peace believed—not in mere weariness, but with a
deep moral repulsion. Nevertheless, the great Powers
within a few months were engaged in the diplomatic
strife which led directly to the disturbance of the time-
honoured balance of power and to a long succession of
wars. No such ideal schemes of pacification are
now entertained. It would be difficult to maintain
that the Powers are devoted to peace when so much of
their energies is spent upon preparations for war;
but it is manifest that in spite of those preparations,
or, perhaps, partly by reason of them, there is a wide-
spread repugnance in almost all the capitals of Europe
to the adoption of any measures which may by any
possibility tend to a collision. We have every reason
to rejoice that this is the case, though we cannot but
feel that the restraints thus placed upon the powers
sometimes used for evil may also paralyze to some
extent the legitimate disciplinary forces of civilisation.
Be this as it may, the present state of Europe is one
in which conflicting energies, material and moral, are
so equally balanced that we are in doubt where to look
for the next impelling movement

THE LAST MOMENTS OF THE LATE
LORD JUSTICE THESIGER.

On Sunday morning the Rev. Dr. Forrest, vicar of
St. Jude's, South Kensington, preached a sermon
having special reference to the death of Lord Justice
Thesiger, who had been a prominent member of the
congregation. After some preliminary remarks on
the uncertainty of life, the preacher proceeded to say
the heavy loss which the country at large, and that
congregation in particular, had sustained in the death
of Lord Justice Thesiger must bz in the thoughts of
all at that moment. The news of his serious illness,
when it reached him, was a sad surprise. Only
three or four weeks ago he was in the enjoyment of
his usual excellent health, surrounded by the mem-
bers of his family, to whom he was so deservedly dear.
On Tuesday last, however, his illness took a fatal
turn, and very early on Wednesday morning he was
summoned to the bedside of the late Lord Justice and
found him actually dying. Never before, Dr. Forrest
said, had he witnessed such perfect. self-possession in
the last hours of life ; no one was forgotten, from the
Lord Justice's colleagues on the Bench to the humblest
servant of his household. Of his public career it
would not be becoming to speak from the pulpit, nor,
indeed was it necessary. The public journals of all
parties and politics had done his career justice, yet no
inore than justice. It was no exaggeration to say
that there was not one more highly esteemed in the
honourable profession which he loved so well and
which he so eminently adorned. lie was an able
lawyer, an upright judge, a courteous and accom-
plished gentleipan, a faithful friend, an attached
husband, son, Aid brother, and a true, humble, un-
pretentious Christian.

The funeral of Lord Justice Thesiger took place on
Monday morning. The relatives and friends assem-
bled at the residence of the deceased, No. 30, Stanhope-
gardens, South Kensington, shortly after ten o'clock,
whence they proceeded to Brompton Cemetery, where
the interment took place in a newly-made grave imme-
diately behind that of Lord Chelmsford, the late
judge's father. Major-General Lord Chelmsford was
chief mourner, and the seven carriages which followed
contained the immediate relatives of the deceased,
besides many personal friends. The first part of the
service took place at St. Judge's Church, South Ken-
sington, where Lord Justice Thesiger was a regular
attendant when in town, and the coffin was carried
direct to the grave, where the remaining portion of the
service was read. The- Attorney-General, several of
the judges, and a considerable number of the members
of the bar were present.

The Iron Duke is stated to have been very seriously
damaged in her recent grounding in Eastern- waters. On
arrival at Kakodadi the vessel, was found to have several
holes in the outer skin, one large enough to admit the diver;
several plates broken, keel-plate bent, some compartments of
the double bottom full of water, and the frame of the ship
generally damaged. it was estimated that to put her in a
state of thorough repair in England would cost £40,000,