The Sun.
London, England, 1838-12-17 00:00:00

BRIEF MEMOIR OF THE DECEASED.

The deceased, Joseph Millie, was born at North Shields,
and at the time of his lamentable death was fifty-four years
of age, but he appeared somewhat older. At his father's
decease, some six-and-twenty years ago, he succeeded to
his business, a hardwareman in his native town. This he
carried on for some time for the support of himself and his
mother ; but from a falling off in this trade, he became
straitened in his circumstances, and he relinquished the
business. Being too honest to become either an insolvent
or a bankrupt, when he found that his custom was de-
clining and that he was carrying on business at a certain
loss, he told his creditors the circumstances in which he
was placed, and of his own free will and consent sold off his
stock, and paid all his creditors their just demands. So
satisfied of Millie's integrity were the principal parties
of whom he had obtained goods, that they volun-
tarily offered to give him credit for more, when-
ever he found it advisable to commence again. He,
however, never ventured on such a step, the natural timi-
dity of his disposition, coupled with his honesty of principle,
not allowing him so enter upon any speculation of trade
which had even the possibility of failure. After having,
as just mentioned, ceased from the business of a hardware-
man, various reverses of fortune attended him ; and his
whole life was one continual struggle for an humble but
honest livelihood. In 1818, 19, or 20, Millie was for
some time in the city of York, engaged to assist a
dealer in bats, named Watson, who had his sale-room in
Coffee-yard, Stonegate. Watson, however, leaving York,
and also, we believe, giving up business, Millie was again
thrown on the " world's wide waste." All this time, as will
as for several years afterwards, the mother of Millie was
mainly dependent on him for support. In 1821, we find
him keeping a school at the Ouseburn, near Newcastle,
which school, we learn, from a letter in his own writing pro-
duced about seventeen shillings per week. The number of
scholars attending the school, however, falling off, he gave it
up ; but what was his next employment we are not aware.
Sometime about the period we are speaking of Millie got
married, and his wife was, like himself, not rich, but of a
good and amiable disposition ; and of her he always spoke
in the most affectionate manner. Millie was for some time
clerk with Messrs. Pickersgill, the carriers, Newcastle ; but
at what particular period of his life we know not. In 1826-
27 he was engaged in the warehouse of Messrs. Hawks and
Co., iron-works, Gateshead. At that time, writing to a
friend in York, he says, " My situation is a very comfort-
able one." Such, however, was the hard fortune he had to
contend against, that, in the letter alluded to, lie observes,
" I have had some difficulties since I last wrote to you
(fourteen months ago.) I was confined at home of an inflam-
mation of the chest, which, with the small salary I had,
plunged me into debt," He then goes on to state that he
had had law procedings commenced against him for a small
deLt for flour, which debt he was trying to pay by instal-
ments. We do not know precisely what was the occasion
of Millie leaving Gateshead ; but it is evident that
it was from no misconduct of his own. In 1832-3,
the writer of this sketch knew Millie in North Shields ; he
was then, as he observes himself, in a letter -written some
time after, " out of a situation, getting a job occasionally,"
He was employed by the writer on "rt • or two occasions to
deliver and post bills, &c. ; and_ ior his general demeanour
and good conduct, the writes- willingly bears his humble
testimony. In May, V.:35, Millie lost his wife. She had
been delivered of a child but nine days before her death,
and " through the mismanagement of a surgeon and a mid-
wife," to use poor Millie's own words, " her life was made a
sacrifice." Two months after the death of Mrs. Millie, the
child to which she had last given birth also became a tenant
of " the narrow house ;" and Millie was then left with four
children, two boys and two girls, the eldest eleven years of
age, and the youngest three years. Again, to add to his
misfortunes, in January, 1836, the whole of his children
were afflicted with the measles, but from which they in •?_tue
time recovered. Sometime in 1836, we understand W.laie got
a situation with a Mr. Murray, millwright, Chester-le-street,
but in what capacity he was employed we are not informed.
Millie had been, for some time previous to his unfortunate
death, engaged, in a state of probation, at the savings' bank ;
and he was only fully appointed to his situation three days
before he was barbarously murdered. He was a quiet,
peaceably-disposed man, and was never known to do the
least injury to any one. He was highly respected by those
who had any acquaintance with him—he was, in every
respect, an upright man. The body of Millie, haying
been removed from the Savings'-bank on Friday night, was
interred on Sunday afternoon, at two o'clock, at the Bal-
last Hills Burying Ground, it being followed to its final
resting-place by his four destitute children, and a number of
friends,