The Sun.
London, England, 1854-11-27 00:00:00

DEATB OF LORD DUDLEY STUART.

It is our painful duty this week to record the death of
Lord Dudley'Stuart. He had left England in the early
part of September with the hope of recruiting his strength,
already much impaired by long-continued and incessant
public exertions. After visiting Denmark, he proceeded
by way of Gotthenbnrgh to Stockholm, where he arrived
on the Ist of October ; he was immediately afterwards
attacked by cholerine, succeeded by a typhoid fever. From
this severe illness he recovered in about ten days ; but
though reduced to a very enfeebled condition he still sought
anxiously to turn the remainder of the few days which he
had determined to pass in Stockholm to the advantage
of the cause which he had so much at heart. He thought
it of the highest importance that Sweden should join her
forces to those of the Western Powers, and should unite
herself- with them in taking measures for the reconstruc-
tion of Poland. He had convinced himself by conver-
sations with persons of all ranks and classes in Sweden
that the people or that country wera most decidedly.
hostile to Russia, and that they would willingly second
their Government in an energetic course of policy. Lord
Dudley Stuart's position as au English Member of Parlia-
ment, his European reputation as the champion of the
Polish cause, and his connection by marriage with the
family of Bonaparte, were sufficient to insure that his
opinions would at least be listened to with attention at
the Swedish Court. He had a long audience of the King,
which was followed by a second at his Majesty's desire ;
Lord Dudley had also an audience of the Crown Prince,
for whose generous and manly character he expressed
much admiration ; and on the very day of his last attack
he had audience of the King's, second son, Prince Oscar,
being at the time so weak as to render it necessary that
he should be carried up and down the stairs of the palace.
These exertions, combined with others of a similar
oharacter, and with laborious attention to an extensive
correspondence, occasioned the formation of water in the
cellular membrane of the lungs. On the 16th inst. Lord
Dudley rallied a little, but on the 17th, after giving some

last directions and calmly speaking of his approaching end,
he tranquilly expired.
He was 51 years of age at the time of his death, and
was the youngest son of the first Marquis of Bute by his
marriage with the third daughter of Mr. Coutts. There
were two children by this marriage, Lord Dudley Stuart
and the present Countess of Harrowby. The Marquis died
during their infancy, and 'their education was superin-
tended by his widow. She was a lady of the utmost sweet-
ness of disposition, yet one who always acted on the
highest and noblest sentiments. To her Lord Dudley was
most tenderly attached, and it was to her words and
example that he attributed the strong feelings of indigna-
tion against oppression, and compassion for misfortune,
which were the ruling principles of his life.
One instance may servo to show at how early an age
these traits in his character were fully developed, and
will illustrate that tenacity of purpose for which he
was no less remarkable. Me was residing at Nice,
one of the stations where, during her long pilgrimage
on the Continent, overcome by her protracted and
ultimately fatal illness, the Marchioness of Bute re-
mained for some months. Within a few miles of Nice is
a prison where (perhaps it is the case still) the worst cri-
minals of Sardinia-were confined. It is situated in a most
lovely country, and the countless travellers who pass Villa
Franca have little idea of the inferno existing in their
neighbourhood. Below the level of the sea there is a vast
dungeon, in which the prisoners wore chained in a double
row to two long iron bars that traverse the whole length of
the chamber. Only once for about an hour in the day were
they permitted to walk in the yard of the prison. Never at
any other time, day or night, were their chains unloosened.
Lord Dudley was permitted to visit this dungeon and to
converse with the prisoners. He was particularly struck
with the appearance of ono man whose face had no felonious
expression, yet who was doubly ironed, and who was denied
the indulgence of seeing the light, like the others, one hour
in the clay. The man was a political prisoner. He had
dared to cry " Viva la constituzione," and for that offence
was condemned for life to this living tomb. Lord Dudley
(then a very young man) immediately sought to effect some
mitigation of his sufferings. Professing that he could not
endure the stench of the dungeon he requested permission
to converse with the prisoner in the open air. The favour
was granted, and by paying a daily visit to Villa Franca
Lord Dudley secured a few minutes of sunshine and fresh
air to the captive. Bat he was suffering from a tumour
in the throat, and au English surgeon brought by Lord
Dudley declared that the man must die unless an operation
were performed. It was contrary to the regulations that
this should be undertaken by any but the surgeon of the
prison, who, as the prisoner declared, had already forced a
knife into his neck with no other effect than that of mak-
ing him worse. An opportunity was therefore seized
when the officials were not on the watch, and the tumour
was successfully opened by the Englishman, to the great
indignation of the governor : his prisoner was refused
any further indulgence, but his life was saved. This,
however, was not enough for Lord Dudley Stuart ; he
determined to effect the man's liberation. He had
heard of a certain lawyer who was supposed capable,
by some mysterious means, of effecting even a task
so hopeless as the liberation of a political prisdner in
Sardinia. The lawyer wasi consulted, but demanded
a hundred ducats before he would undertake the busi-
ness. Some of Lord Dudley's friends, who had heard of
the circumstance, derided what they considered so foolish
and quixotic a scheme. Lord Dudley, however, did not
think the price too milch, even for the chance of delivering
a fellow creature from such bondage. He paid the money,
asking (according to the contract) no question as to its
application. Some months after, whilst at Naples, Lord
Dudley was surprised by a man rushing into his room, and
throwing himself at his feet. It was the prisoner of Villa
Franca. A free pardon had been forwarded to the governor.
Lord Dudley's public career is so well known that it is
unnecessary for us, to dwell upon it at length. He was
early impressed with admiration for the spirited character
and the popular career of his maternal uncle, Sir Francis-
Burdett. He was taught, too, by her whom he so much
reverenced, to look on a seat in the House of Commons'as
the noblest position for an English gentleman. He stood
for Arundel, on liberal principles, in 1830, and was re-
turned, after a severe contest. His first speech in Parlia-
ment was made in favour of the Reform Bill, and it was
held to bo eminently successful. Shortly after this period,
Prince Adam CZartoryski visited England, and the member
for Arundel was greatly interested by the account which
that distinguished statesman (whom he used to character-
ise as " the most virtuous of patriots") gave of the oppres-
sion exercised by the Emperor Nicholas in Poland, which
had driven the Poles to revolt. Soon, too, the wreck of
the Polish army, refused a shelter by the German Powers,
then, as now, under the domination of Russia, was driven
to seek a shelter in France, England, or America. Lord
Dudley was deeply interested by the fate of these brave
men, and was mainly instrumental in obtaining from the
Parliament a vote of 10,0001. for their relief.
He now attentively studied the Polish question, and
formed the deliberate conviction that the aggressive spirit
of Russia could be effectually quelled by the restoration of
Poland only. Thus his patriotism, as well as his innate
hatred of oppression, and sympathy for misfortune, led
him to embrace the Polish cause. And it was characteristic
of him that, though cautious and deliberate in decision, he
never, when a course of action had been once adopted, re-
laxed for an instant in its pursuit while a chance of success
remained. Earls in his career Lord Dudley Stuart was
associated with Cutler Fergusson, Thomas Campbell the
poet, Wentworth Beaumont, and many other influential
men in the cause which he espoused. But the hand of
death removed the most eminent; the zeal of others grew
cold ; and Lord Dudley was left to fight the battle of a
great nation in the only arena where the combat could still
be carried on, the English House of Commons, almost
alone. The wants of the exiles, too, increased rather than
diminished ; the Government grant making no provision
for such new victims of Russian, Austrian, or Prussian
jealousnas were constantly arriving, and left to starve
in our streets. But Lord Dudley was indefatigable in
soliciting subscriptions, and when these could no
longer be obtained, in replenishing the exhausted
funds of tho Polish Association by means of public enter-
tainments. The labour attending these benevolent exer-
tions was incredible ; yet it was undertaken in addition
to a most sedulous attendance in Parliament, a conscien-
tious discharge of the onerous duties attending the repre-
sentation of the largest borough in England, and incessant
employment of the pen in support of the Polish cause.
If, as we believe, the sketch we have given of Lord
Dudley Stuart's character and career is accurate, there are
few oven of his political opponents who will not agree with
us in thinking that England has lost in him one of whom
she may justly be proud, and whom she can ill spare.
Born to rank and fortune, having no personal object to ob-
tain (for overtures of office he had more than once rejected,
declaring that the only appointment he should accept
would be that of ambassador at the Court of Warsaw), pas-
sionately fond of field sport and
everYtnlhaannlytheexeurnsual
caressed by society, he ad far more
idleness. But he
number of reasons for leading a life of
valued the advantages he enjoyed merelayndasinstrume-ots
good objects
to be employed in furthering the great
which he bad at heart. He wouldh undoubtedly have boon
a still more popular man than
ele actotnahlolymue-as if he had
politics, art
confined his attention exclusively
with. that eye a f
could have looked upon foreign Yaffairs
tc. hairfaicstoiis(l the ~,esc. .t
indifference which till lately has
majelity of members of Parliamen views reopen ig
the danger of Russian aggression were laughed at as i die
dreams, and his ideas respecting the re-establishment of
Poland were pronounced, quixotic. Ho lived, however, kr
see his favourite opinions embraced by those who for ini7n;
years were their most bitter and formidable oppalien
and although ho was not permitted to witness the suce(
of tho cause to which he became a martyr, he yet surviv
to entertain the conviction that it had been adopted l y
the two most powerful Governments of Europe, and tha t
its ultimate triumph was already assured.—Exata,incr.

( From the Jewish, Chronicle.)
Many British heroes have recently fallen on the battle-
field, fighting against tyranny and injustice, and the coun-
try is mourning for their loss. It is our melancholy duty
to record the death of anotlnir hero, who did not fall in
battle, nor fought with the deadly weapons of war, but