The Press.
London, England, 1858-01-02 00:00:00

Obititarg.

FREDERICK SPENCER, Earl Spencer, Viscount
Althorp, county of Northampton, Viscount and
Baron Spencer, of Altborp, county of Northampton,
died on Sunday last, a few minutes after twelve p.m.,
at Altborp-hall, the family seat in Northampton-
shire. The earl was up to a few hours before his
death to all appearance in his usual robust health,
and on Saturday was out shooting for several hours
with a party of friends partaking of the hospitalities

at the hall. The deceased was fourth son of George
John, second earl, by his marriage with Lady
Lavinia Bingham, eldest daughter of Charles, first
Earl of Lucan. He was born April 14, 1798, and
consequently in his sixty-first year. The late earl
was twice married—first, Feb. 23,1830, to Elizabeth
Georgiana, second daughter of the late Mr. William
Stephen Poyntz, of Cowdray-park, Sussex,by whom
(who died in 1851) the deceased peer has surviving
Viscount Althorp. M.P., and Lady Sarah ; and he
married, secondly, in 1854, Miss Adelaide Seymour,
only daughter of the late Sir Horace Beauchamp
Seymour, K.C.H., by his first marriage with Matilda,
daughter of the late Sir Lawrence Palk, Bart. By
the latter marriage the earl leaves two children, the
last, a son, having been born at Spencer-house, St.
James's, early in November. The late earl was
horn at the Admiralty, Whitehall, his father having
for many years presided over that department of the
Government. He adopted the navy as his profession,
entering that service a few months before be attained
his fourteenth year. During his naval career the
late earl distinguished himself at the battle of Na-
varino, when in command of the Talbot, for which
and other services—the reduction of the Mores
Castle, Sae.—he was in November. 1827, nominated
a Companion of the Order of the Bath, and received
the Cross of St. Louis of France, and was made a
Knight of St. Anne of Russia (second class), and
of the Order of the Redeemer of Greece. Since he
relinquished the command of the Talbot in the
autumn of 1828 his lordship had not been afloat.
His naval commission bore date as annexed :—Lieu-
tenant, 14th of July, 1818 ; Commander, sth of
March, 1821; Captain, 20th of August, 1822 ; and
Rear Admiral (reserved). 7th of October, 1852. The
Earl Spencer was for a series of years Equerry to
her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent. In July,
1846, he was appointed Lord Chamberlain of the
Queen's Household, which appointment he held up
to September, 1848, when be was succeeded by the
Marquis of Breadalbane. In January, 1854, he was
appointed Lord Steward of her Majesty's Household,
an office be resigned on the 28th of November. The
late peer was created a Knight of the Garter in 1849,
on the death of the late Earl Talbot. The deceased
earl succeeded to the family honours and extensive
landed estates on the demise of his brother, John
Charles. second earl, the well-known statesman, in
1845. He is succeeded by his son, John Poyntz,
Viscount Althorp, M.P., born October 27, 18. 5.
Previous to his accession to the peerage, the late earl
sat in the House of Commons for Worcestershire
(1831). At the general election in 1832 to 1835, and
from 1837 to 1841, the Hon. Captain Spencer repre-
sented Midhnrst in Parliament. During his career
in the Lower House he invariably voted with the Whig
party, of which political body, like his predecessor
in the peerage, he was a consistent supporter. The
present earl was returned to the House of Commons
at the last general election for the southern division
of the county of Northampton, his lordship heading
the poll by a large majority. A vacancy consequently
occurs in the representation of the county by this
elevation of his lordship to the House of Lords. The
earl had only very recently returned to Althorp from
I a lengthened tour in the United States and Canada.
MR. EDWARD Btrukee, recently Common Sergeant
of London, died at bis residence, Upfield, near
Stroud, Gloucestershire, on Sunday, the 27th ult.
SIR DAVD) H. BiArn, BART., died at Blairquhan,
N. 8., on Saturday, the 20th ult. We believe that at
his deceass he had recently entered upon the
eightieth year of his age. Our readers will remember
that his eldest son by his first union, the late
Colonel James Hunter Blair, of the Fusilier Guards,
and some time M.P. for Ayrshire, was killed at
Inkermann in November, 1854, and the title has
consequently devolved on his second son, Edward,
formerly lieutenant in the 93rd Highlanders, now
fourth baronet.

Mn. GLADSTONF.'S "HexEn."—The new work on
Homer, by Mr. W. E. Gladstone, M.P., which has
given rise to so much literary speculation, is now in
process of printing at the press of the University
which the right hon. gentleman represents in Par-
liament. Its title will be " Homer and the Homeno
Age," and it will appear in three volumes.