The Sun.
London, England, 1848-01-21 00:00:00

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fad 1 1848,

' DEATH OF MR. ISAAC DISRAELI
Wherever the English language is spoken, or even
made the subject of translation, the name of Disraeli
is honourably knon n. The writings of faller and
son have rendered both celebrated, and each, in earn-
ing distinction for hinis,,lf, has added to the fame of
his relative. The matured reputation Glair. Disraeli,
ten., and the great celebrity of his son, make it diffi-
cult to say whether the latter has snore reason to be
proud of his descent than the former had to le joice
that the object of his natural affections was also the
source of one of his highest honours.
A man well versed in the history of our
species has said that " the chief glory of every
country arises from its authors ;" and this be
propounds, not as an axiom recommended by
its novelty, but as a truth sanctioned by the uni•
versa' consent of mankind. To the authorship of
England Isaac and Benjamin Disraeli have been in
their respective walks of literature extensive and
distinguished contributors. The pure and honourable
career of the former reached its close on Wednesday
last. He had attained the advanced age of eighty-
two years; and a few weeks ago was in the full pos-
session of his usual health, and in the complete
enjoyment of his intellectual powers. The prevailing
epidemic, however, suddenly assailing a constitution
enfeebled by age, soon assumed an aggravated form,
and at length this venerable gentleman sank under
the attack. Ile was born at Enfield in the month of
May, 176(3, and was the only child of Benjamin
Disraeli, a Venetian merchant, who had been many
years settled in this country. He received some
instruction at a school near the place of his nativity,
but, his father conceiving that his education could
be more advantageously conducted in Holland,
a considerable portion of his boyhood was spent
in that country. Before his departure • for the
continent, however, he showed signs of a very
precocious intellect, for he began to write verses at
the age of ten, and in his sixteenth year addressed a
poetical epistle to Dr. Johnson. After passing some
time at Amsterdam and Leyden, where he acquired a
knowledge of several modern languages, and where
he applied himself to classical studies with some at-
tention,
but with no very extraordinary success, he
proceeded to the French metropolis. This visit to
Paris took place in 1786, when the great revolution
was impending, and when its doctrines seemed to have
obtained entire possession of all men's minds ; but to
this very general characteristic of the period Mr.
Disraeli proved an exception. lie was then, and
remained throughout his long life, a purely specula-
tive philosopher—one who never mingled in political
broils, or for a single moment knew what it
was to be connected with political or religious
parties. While in France he read French books,
examined the literary treasures accumulated in that
country, investigated the genius of its language, and
cultivated acquaintance with its living authors and
learned men; at this period of his life, therefore, did
he imbibe that fondness for French literature which
always clung to him, but which is more evident in his
criticism than in his style or sentiments, for he wrote
his vernacular Bogitsh tongue with great purity, and
identified himself in all things with the land in which
he lived. On his return to England, after a course
of continental travel, he published several poems,
among which it is believed that " Lines on the
Abuse of Satire" was one ; it appeared in the ti9th
volume of the Gentleman's alagazine, and was di-
rected against Peter Pinder, who affected to believe
that it was written by Hayley, and made it a pre-
text for his hostility to the author of " The Trials of
Temper." But, whether he knew the real writer
or not, there never was any hostility between Mr.
Disraeli and Dr. Walcott. "The Defence of Poetry,"
by the Learned Gentleman just deceased—who cer-
tainly was learned not only by courtesy—appeared
in 1791 ; but, after a few copies had been sold, he
suppressed the whole edition, his motive for which
was not very apparent, the literary merit of that
production being beyond dispute. In his 24th year
he gave to the world a volume consisting of his com-
mon-place book, with critical remarks, under the title
of "Curiosities of Literature." This single volume
attracted attention in an age when men of genius
abounded. Yet it was then merely an elegant
and critical compilation, though it eventually became
the origin of that celebrated miscellany in which,
at a later period of his life, and especially
from the years 1817. to 1824, in successive
volumes, he poured forth such a fund of original re-
search of philosophical, entertaining s[.eculation,
expressed in so lively and agreeable a style, that the
work has always remained one of the chief favourites
,of our literature. Mr. Disraeli's passion for literary
history displayed itself at a very early period of life,
and in his latest years it never deserted him. We
ilea-anew. have " q i. 11,141 p; A •hwa.
volumes, " Calamities of Authors, in two
volumes, and his " Illustrations of the Literary Cha-
racter," in one volume.
Ttie father of Mr. Disraeli being engaged in trade,
the celebrated person whose death we now record
naturally supposed, on his return from the continent,
that his friends would expect him to engage in com-
mercial pursuits ; but, greatly to his satisfaction,
they exonerated him from any such obligation, and,
being placed in a position of pecuniary indepen-
dence, he was free to indulge the tastes and exercise
the talents which have enabled him to build
up a reputation that will not speedily be for-
gotten. his twelve volumes, illustrative of
the literary character, constitute in themselves a
goodly collection, and yet they are understood to have
been only chapters in the great work which it was
said he was always preparing in the manner of Bayle.
Of that well known writer Mr. Disraeli was a warm
admirer, and he certainly resembled him, nut only in
his curious and varied reading, but in many other
respects. To the early numbers of the " Quarterly
Review" Mr. Disraeli was a contributor. His
review of " Spence's Anecdotes," in 1820, and a vin-
dication both of the moral and poetical character of
Pope, produced the famous Pope controversy, in
which Mr. Bowles, Lord Byron, and others took part.
But it was not in the criticism of English poetry—
for the higher departments of which he seemed to
have had no especial vocation—that Mr. Disraeli
became' most eminent; it was rather as a man of
great historical research, and most especially as a
;writer who completely understood the feelings and
lisliosyncracy of literary men. He was the first
'author who commenced research on an extensive
`scale amongst the manuscripts of the British
Museum, and it must be acknowledged that his
writings diffused a taste for historical inquiry and
criticism beyond the limited sphere of mere literary
men. Although this kind of investigation has been
of late years carried to a very great extent, yet
he who gave the example should be remembered
with thanks and applause ; and, notwithstanding
that by some of his successors it may have been
pursued in a profounder spirit, yet its results never
have been rendered more popular than in the
writings of Mr. Disraeli. Whatever may have
been his attainments in other departments of
literature, there can be no doubt that in British
history he was very learned, and most especially so
as regarded the time of the elder Stuarts. Of this
the best evidence may be found in his inquiry into
the life of James 1., which takes a very different
view of the character of that monarch from those
in vogue thirty years ago. In the year 1828 his
attention was diverted from his history of English
literature—which he was always meditating--by the
strong desire that he felt to publish his views re-
specting the all important age of Charles I. These,
comprised in five volumes, he gave the world at in-
tervals in the course of seven years, under the title of
"Commentaries on the Life and Reign of Charles I."
It was in consequapce of the success of this great
historical effort that the University of Oxford con-
ferred upon him the honourary degree of D.C.L., as
a testimony of their respect—to use the language of
their public orator—optiini regis optimo dejeusori.
After the completion of his commentaries he returned
with renewed zest to his lit?rary history, and, relying
on his strong constitution, united with habits of un -
broken study, he was sanguine enough, at the age of
threescore and ten, to entertain a hope of completing
this undertaking, which he had laid down on a scale
of six volumes ; but he was stricken with blindness
in the year 1839, and, although he submitted to the
operation of couching, he could obtain no relief from
a calamity most grievous to an historical author.
Nevertheless, he soon took heart, and with the aid of
his daughter, whose services he has eloquently re-
ferred to in his preface, he gave the world some notices
of the aarlier period of our literary history, under
Lthe title of the " Amenities of Literature. It
unfortunately happened that in the progress
of this work he did not arrive at that
period of our history in which lay Mr.
Disraeli's great strength—the life of Pope. It
has been pretty generally understood that he long
intended to write a life of Pope, his times, and his
contemporaries. The lovers of literary history have
no slight cause to regret that that undertaking has
not been accomplished. There is every reason to be-
lieve that he had made great collections for that fa-
vourite subject; and, if his sight had been spared, he
would probably have appeared before the world as an
octogenarian author. Unfortunately, even if (like
Milton) he drew more on his imagination than en
the resources of his library, he still could not have
carried on the work of composition to any great ex-
tent; for it is said that he ;lover used au amanueusis

witted in a few minutes.

iD.

till he lost his sight ; and then, probably from want
of practice, dictating the expression of his thoughts
became laborious and even painful. Yet, at interv..ls,
he contrived to minplete the revision of his work cn
the reign of Charles 1., as well as to improve and
greatly amend it. -
The death of Air. Disraeli took place at his country
seat, Bradenham- house, in Buckinghamshire ; and it
•nay most truly be said, that few lives extending to
upwards of eighty years, have been passed with less
vicissitude. It has been said of him that "he
seized a book in his cradle;" and, it may be added,
that he deposited one on his tomb. Early in life he
obtained considerable reputation, which ho con-
tinued to sustain and increase for more than sixty
years, without violent effort, without quackery, and
without the adventitious aid of social connexion
Besides the publications already referred to, and
others which we have perhaps omitted to notice,
Mr. Disraeli was the author,. in his youth, of several
works of fiction, some of which, published anony.
mously, obtained considerable reputation. Among
these the more remarkable was " Mejnoun and Leila"
—the earliest Oriental story in our literature which
was composed with any reference to the propriety of.
costume. The author was in this production much
assisted by Sir W. Ouseley, who first drew his attention
to the riches of Persian poetry. The Rabelaisian ro-
tnance of "Flim Plains' and the novel of " Vaurien,"
written in all the lurid blaze of French conventions
and corresponding societies, have both, we believe
with authority, been attributed to him. He died a
widower, having lost his wife, to whom he had been
united for more than 40 years, in the spring, cf
1847. He has left one daughter and three sons, the
eldest of whom is the member for Buckinghamshire.
—Times.

- <

THE RECENT FATAL ACCIDENT
AT THE EUSTON SQUARE STATION.

INQUEST ON A SECOND SUFFERER.

Yesterday afternoon Mr. Wakley, M.P., corn
menced an inquiry at the University College Hos-
pital, Gower•street, on the body of Charles Gedge,
bricklayer, who died in that institution on the 15th
inst. from the effects of injuries received on the Gth by
the falling of a wall and scaffold near the above ter-
minus, upon which he was at work, and which wall
formed part of a building in progress of erection after
the designs of Mr. Uard wick, the architect, and by
and under the superintendence of Mr. W. Cubit; the
well-known builder.

On Monday week last an inquest was held by Mr
G. T. Mills, deputy-coroner, on the body of a man
named Shea, and a report of the proceedings appeared
in The Sun. It will be seen by the following report
of what took place yesterday, that Mr. Wakley has
resolved that the cause of the accident shall be
thoroughly investigated.
The inquest-room 'was crowded with architects,
among whom we recognised Messrs. Tite, More,
Shaw, Higgins, and llardwick, and others. The in-
quiry seemed to create great interest, if not anxiety,
amongst them.
The jury having been sworn .and viewed the body,
which was identified by C. Gedge, a cousin of
deceased's,

The CORONER said that it had been represented in
this case that a man had died in consequence of the
fall of a certain wall, and inquiries of this nature in-
volved a twofold scrutiny—first, into the cause of the
death; and, secondly, the cause of the injuries that
led to the death. There was no difficulty in com-
pleting that day the inquiries touching the first point,
but the inquir?r touching the second would occupy
much time. the catastrophe was one of great mo-
ment, and the inquiry into its cause ought not to be
slurred over or terminated without a searching in-
vestigation. Being very desirous of having so:ne
builder or architect of eminence not con-
nected with the erection who should hear
the whole of the evidence, and then upon it, and
upon his own judgment and expe; ience, and upon
examination of the locality, state to the jury his opi-
nion as to the cause of the accident, he had written
to Mr. Pennythorne, an architect employed by
the Government, and he had received late last night a
note from that gentleman, in which he begged to be
excused from attending the inquest on that day. Ile
(Mr. Wakley) was not aware whether or not there
was in the room any man unconnected with the par-
ties who had the responsible superintendence of the
erection of the wall, &c., that had fallen. If there
were, and the jury thought so, he was quite prepared
to go on with the inquiry, and complete it that after-
noc,n ; but if no such person were present, he should
certainly advise the adjourning of the inquest unt
the morning of Monday, the 31st instant. Having

,sakattali4,oo4/Apa.,0,14 xeison c9nnected with the
man unconnected with it present who could state
everything necessary to explain the cause of the
accident?

Mr. Cubitt—There are threw gentlemen present
unconnected with the building, viz.—Messrs. Tite,
Blore, and Shaw, all architects of great eminence.
Mr. Hardwick (the architect of the North-Western
Railway Company)—l am exceedingly anxious that
the fullest inquiry should take place, and have thought
that the best thing that could be done, after the evi-
dence given on the last occasion, was to bring before
the jury persons of high reputation, unconnected with
the erection, in order thal they might state their
opinion on the unfortunate occurrence. Mr. Blurt.,
now engaged at Buckingham Palace, Mr. Tite, the
architect of the. Royal Exchange, and Air. Shaw, of
Christ's Hospital, are quite ready to give their evi-
dence, and state their opinions.
The CORONER—If the jury say they would be quite
satisfied with the opinion of those gentlemen, 1 see
no objection to their being now examined.
Mr. Hardwick—l am exceedingly desirous that the
investigation should be as rigorous and complete as
possible.
The CORONER—I am quite sure you are. You
must be as desirous as anybody else ; perhaps more
so. If architects cannot discover the cause of the
accident, I shall doubt whether architecture is a
science or not.

The jury expressed a wish to deliberate with closed
doors, and strangers withdrew. Having been re-std-

The CORONER said—The jury are unanimously of
opinion that it would be desirable to make an appli-
cation to the Woods and Forests, in order that a pEr-
son might be sent by the Government to examine the
locality, and report to them as to the cause of the
accident. My opinion is not adverse to that of the
jury; indeed, I approve of it. At the same time, it
is to be understood that the opinions of the gentle-
men named by Mr. Cubitt and Mr. Hardwick are not
to be shut out, for the jury are most anxious to hear
them, so that in the end the evidence I hope will be
as satisfactory as possible. I will now go into the
inquiry as to the cause of death, and on the morning
of the 31st, at the railway station, into the cause of
the injuries, where the jury will have an opportunity
of seeing the place, and forming some opinion of their
own as to the cause of the accident; for sometimes
common sense determines causes of accidents as
surely as science; and I hope the professional gen-
tlemen now present will then attend, and if they can-
not aid in discovering the cause of the catastrophe, I
do not know who can.
Mr. Tite (for himself and brother architects)—We
shall certainly be present.
Mr. Park, house surgeon, said the immediate cause
of death was erysipelas supervening on inflammation
of the left lung, that had been punctured by a rib
fractured by external injury. Deceased had not im-
puted blame to any one.
Emma Gedge, the widow of deceased, said she saw
him in less than an hour after the accident. lie was
quite sensible, and she asked him how it had occurred.
" It is no more than what I expected,
He replied,
Emma.' He afterwards said he thought there was
something wrong in the columns ; that there was
not sufficient time allowed for the carrying up of the
wall, and that he expected something wrong would
happen before the job was done. He thought of
leaving the job, and mentioned pis fears a week or
two before the accident happened. In the Christmas
week he said he had been at the job fourteen months,
and that he feared he should stop at it too long, and
said he did not know whether he shduld go back to
it not. She did not know why he said that.
By a juror—lie made no complaint against any
one.

By the CORONER—To a bricklayer named Harris,
living in Little Camden-street, he said, in the Christ.
Inas week, that he had been a good' bit now at the
job, and it would not be long before something hap
pened.
(Harris was ordered to be summoned as tt witness
on the next inquiry.)
The CORONER—The cause of the death has been
fully proved, and we will resume the second portion
of the inquiry on the day already named, when I
trust the investigation will lead to the discovery of
the cause of the accident. If, however, we should
fail in our object, in spite of all our efforts to do so,
we shall have the satisfaction of feelut. tlia,t DO blame
can be attached 0 any cif ns,
The inquiry was then adjourned to Monday we l.;,

" PLAIN AS A PIKESTAFF."—Q. What is the
meaning of Tenants' Rights in Tipperary?--A .Land-
lords' Futieral .Rites.—Punch.