The Sun.
London, England, 1865-04-08 00:00:00

it need hardly be said that this funeral ceremony,
which is the last connecting link between the living
and the dead, was worthy of the occasion, and that,
could Mr. COBDEN have known what would take
place, he would have desired no better interment,
nor one that was otherwise arranged. " The greatest
political character that the pure middle class of
this country has yet produced" has passed away
from us for ever; but, even in our finite judgment,
it cannot be said that his work was incomplete, or
his mission unfulfilled. He rests from his labours
now, after a life spent in the service of his country,
and a career of more than ordinary toil and anxiety.
It cannot be said of Mr. COBDEN that his high
talents were unappreciated and his peculiar gifts
thrown away, for he was placed in circumstances
which called them forth in full perfection, and no
public man of our generation has received more
popular applause, or been permitted to witness the
success of his efforts in a greater degree. Yet,
beyond and above the worldly acclaim that he met
with, his private character may be said to have
reflected upon him the greatest honour and the
most enduring lustre. We are told that

" The sweet remembrance of the just
Shall flourish when he sleeps in dust ;"

and of him who was yesterday placed in his last
long home it is now the most satisfactory reflection
that he was steadfast and true in his dealings,
honest and straightforward in his public career, and
always acted in accordance with the convictions of
his own principles of right. This has been proved
by his often choosing to take up views that were
quite distinct from those that were entertained by
the community. It may well be said that yesterday
was a day of general mourning over England, and
in many a home where the name of RICHARD
COBDEN had been a household word in years for
ever memorable in the annals of our history, the
sad ceremony was the theme uppermost in the minds
of those who were present in spirit, if not in body,
at his funeral. It is a proud thing to win fame;
but to gain the respect of one's fellow-countrymen,
and to receive tributes of regard from those of diffe-
rent politics and diverse shades of opinion, is a higher
and more honourable trophy ; and such offerings
were heaped on the graveinLavington Churchyard.
The Bishop of OXFORD has written a letter, in which
he expresses his regret at being unable to attend the
funeral on account of ill-health, but laments the
great " national loss" which has occurred, and espe-
cially alludes to the personal qualities of the de-
parted. In many of the principal cities in the
kingdom the respect entertained for Mr. COBDEN
was shown in various ways. No more striking in-
stance of the manner in which individual character
may assert itself in England can be adduced than
the career of RICHARD COBDEN. He was yesterday
interred near to the spot where he was born ; but
his life was passed in far different pursuits than
those connected with the quiet locality of Dunford.
He won his position entirely by his own exertions.
He was self-made, and the country whose constitu-
tion permits such a man to flourish needs no change
worthy of the name in its social mechanism. It is
also a proof of what intellect and industry can
achieve, that the man who was told in his boyhood
by his master not to read, should pass in the matu-
rity of fame, if not of years, to his honoured grave,
the nation intent on his obsequies, the members of
Parliament envy his manners, and a twelfth part
of the House of Commons to mingle with the repre-
sentatives of the chief cities of England to do honour
to his memory. The retrospect of such a career is
suggestive and significant, and when the evanescent
excitement of the day is over, and the incidents
that rank so high in the estimation of many now
are passed away, there will remain much in Mr.
COBDEN'S life that the hand of time will spare, and
the touch of death cannot efface. Finally, we may
say, that all prejudice and party feeling have been
buried with his earthly remains, and that respect
and admiration for his talents and virtues survive,
to form an endearing wreath to his memory, the
better part of his labours which shall not be taken
away. The end crowns the work, is a true saying,
and the death and burial of RICHARD COBDEN have
been surrounded with attributes of regard, which
take from them the sting and victory, while we
rejoice to think that the faithful steward of many
talents has entered into his MASTER'S presence with
joy.