The Express.
London, England, 1868-12-05 00:00:00

THE LATE OEOROE PRYME.

If the popular interest in a man's doings were a
true measure of his worth we should not deem
it necessary to add anything to the bare
announcement of the fact that Mr. George
Pryme, one of the founders of the Reform
Club. at one time member for Cambridge, and a
Professor of Political Economy in the Univirsity,
has just departed this life. Beyond the compass
of a comparatively narrow circle few are even
familiar with the name of the deceased. Several
years ago this knowledge was more wide:pread.
Among the active and capable members of parlia-
ment the late Mr. Pry-me was conspicuous. Ho
was a hue and a thorough-going liberal. Thirty
years have now elapsed since he made himself
remarkable by his vigorous exertions in parlia-
ment; but if he had done nothing more than
bring forward several motions and deliver na-
no roue speeches in tbo House of Commons, he
might have fallen short of the standard which
must be reached by all whose services are remem-
bered and whose names endure.

Born in the latter half of the last century, the
late Mr. Pryme was called to the bar by the
Honourable Society of Lincoln's-inn six years
after the beginning of the present century. Among
those who at the name time were enrolled among
barristers, perhaps the most notable was the late
Lord Campbell. Two years afterwards the late
Lord Brougham was also admitted among their
number. Mr. Pryme survived these and others of
Lis distinguished friends and contemporaries,
attaining to the position, more honoured
than enviable, of king the senior member
of Lincoln's-inn. Perhaps the mistaken policy
of the benches of that society, in ooa-
ferring the honours in their gift almost ex-
(lush ely on those who, whether by
.aoeident or
otherwise, had been appointed Queen s counsel, is
at once illustrated and condemned in the case of
Mr. Pryme, who was coudetuned year after
year to see those who might have been
Lis children elevated to positions of dignity
and honour, while be remained seated in
the lower and has noble place. As a scholar
there are few who could rival him. Ilia general
attainments were acknowledged to be vast.
During many yearn be acted as Professor of Poli-
tical Economy at Cambridge, zealously contribut-
ing to diffuse an acquaintance with the princi-
ples of that science at a time when it was neither
so popular nor so highly esteemed as it now is.
Once Mr. Prymo endeavoured to convince the
world that his qualifications for cultivating the
divine art of poetry were as great as his powers of
mastering and teaching the principles of other
arts and sciences. A volume of poems, entitled
•• dephthah," was published by hint in 1838. The
longest poem, which gave its name to the work,
was an attempt to enlist our sympathies on behalf
of Jeplithalt, on the ground that he merited them
quite us much as his daughter. This poem and tho
others merely proved that their writer could pen
good verses. and html a c—e•ottanct of poetical
phases. but they didre.e.;.., that
Mr. Pryme should be ranked with the poats.

To those ammstonted to valito turn for their
ruther than for thoir solid virtuos, the
career of the late Mr. Prysie must appear tame
talc' purposeless. It is tine that great natural
pouers and curt atoll of 4:rtitaired leartting might
Lrce loin employed so us to product, more lasting
m results. Yet we e. nevertheless. deplore ea a
real loss the death of one who hail few equals as :t
scholar, and no superior as a sound and consistent
literal. who was ono of the few remaining links
which united the ewe of tli:a generation with tho
greatest among their prialeoessors —who. havina•
imbibed political lessons in the school of rharfra
James Fox, lived to pmet.se thCm under the
leadership of Earl Russe 11. and to POO mom
perfectly matured and still more .aacsiossfally in-
culcuteci by Mr. Gladstone—Pally Noes.

Fox-nrrrixo nit Lram• rsiumtax.—Reipect..
ing Mr. Vivant's threat tortee:. the eountry of foxes if he
were not returned to torbanteut for North Lacoatorshire,
the stsu tiug cornistiondent of the 1. .iva'er lowa.: awe:
A rumour aqn it :it Melton to-day which, if
hue, shows that a Oeli•IO t IMP& lately IA about to
Le cat tied out wi far a, ono tainly in the county can carry
it out. it was cut n.ntly n•pL rtud '.here to-day that Mr.
Tufty had received frtra the farrier of the Cold t verton
estates a wiliest° keep off the land. it is to ho sincorttly
I.orts.l that a family • who ILAVU fu; PO many I'a:it-I boon
friends to fox-Imortig• Pace taken this ill-advised
step. sad That Op, liallecfta eniartato from sure
qt ate r, beeaw e, whtlst the tenorted interdtAi wiU
have I °effect upon tin, sport in Loieo4tersliire in •:eiteral,
it will bring down oblolity and c:tuse a blot on thn tenni,
ercuta he, it which StrVellil 1/10i :;,Ct rid of.

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