The Sun.
London, England, 1864-08-25 00:00:00

The Late Sir Charles Justin Macarthy,

One more name must be added to the roll of able
men to whom our Eastern possessions have brought
distinction and death. Sir Charles Macarthy,
Governor of Ceylon, has died at Spa from a disease
which he contracted in that island, and which he
allowed to gain a fatal hold on his constitutio❑ be-
fore he consented to abandon, even for a time, the
important interests there confided to his charge.
A life spent in the colonial service of this country,
even when eminently successful, affords few occa-
sions for fame, and men like Sir Charles Macarthy
or Sir Edmund Head must look forward to the op-
portunities of later years to win for them the public
repute which their abilities fully deserve. This was
eminently the case with the late Governor of Ceylon.
He was a man of the most apprehensive intelligence
and of the most varied learning. An elegant, though
hardly profound, classical scholar, his command of
the great instruments of modern language was sin-
gularly complete. In French, Italian, and German
he possessed not only, the facility, but the graces of
speech, not only the power of a ready writer, but
the finest discrimination of a master of style, and,
as he passed from one nationality to another, the
delight at the charm of his diction was only exceeded
by the wonder at his familiarity with every litera-
ture. These were the materials out of which he and
his friends hoped and believed that, after the labours
and anxieties of public life, he would be enabled to
build up a name of intellectual worth to the honour
of the country that had recognised his talents and
employed his more active energies.
Now, this cannot be. The distant province, which
for many years has been familiar with his genial
presence and sagacious administration, will receive
with earnest sorrow the tidings of a loss here hardly
felt or known beyond the narrow circles of private
or official life. But it is well to retord that Sir C.
Macarthy entered the public service as seperinten-
dent of one of the smallest of our West Indian de-
pendencies, and in that insignificant sphere gave
evidence of the rare capacity that can handle the
least and the gravest matters with equal accuracy
and adroitness, and which, though capable of the
largest inductions, is not indifferent to the lightest
details. On returning home on leave of absence
from his post, he attracted the attention of the heads
of his department, and was soon transferred to more
serious and responsible duties. Thence, solely by
the due appreciation of his powers and their exercise,
he rose to the important and lucrative Government
now vacated by hie decease. Short as was his en-
joyment of wealth end dignity, it is something to
have shown that the tastes and accomplishment of
letters are not irreconcileable with the careful dis-
charge of official functions and the wise manage-
ment of the concerns of State; and that our institu-
tions permit such a man as Sir Charles Macarthy
to compete successfully with the discreet mediocri-
ties of intellect, and the eoperiorities of birth and
fortune.— Times.

Loss OF LIFE IN THE THAMES.—Yesterday
morning one of the crew of a barge fell into the river, off
Cuckold's Point. The poor fellow, whose name was John
Paddiford, instantly made for the boat lying astern of the
barge, whilst his companions endeavoured to render him
assistance, but before he could be rescued the tide had
swept him away, and he was drowned.
THE LATE TRAGEDY ON BOARD AN INVERNESS
VESSEL.-0a Saturday the body of a man was
picked up out at sea, a little above the port of Sunderland,
by a tug belonging to the port. When brought to the dead
house, it was identified as that of 'Wm. Duffey, one of the
men belonging to the collier Rosemary, of Invernes,,, three
of whose crew fell overboard on the 3d July, when off Sauter
Point. Our readers will remember that on the above date
the Rosemary left Sunderland between 12 and 1 o'clock at
night, with a crew consisting of the captain and three men,
and about iwo hours afterwards the collier was brought into
port with only the captain (Alexander Ross) on board, the
whole of the others having, whilst quarrelling, fallen over-
board. The tragedy at the time caused great excitement
and much speculation, as the disappearance of the men was
somewhat shrouded in mystery. The body found has been
in the water seven weeks, and when found was floating, and
in a dreadful state of decomposition. In his pockets were
found two sixpences, some coppers, a short cutty pipe, and
a quantity of tobacco. Will. Duffey belonged to Inverness,
was married, and left a widow and two children to mourn
his untimely end. It has been reported that a week ago the
body was seen floating near to the place where the above
was picked up. It is supposed to have been that of another
of the men belonging to the collier. The names of the other
two unfortunate men were Chas. Munro and Hugh e,
the mate of the veseei.-4(fi7tourgh Afrific.