The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1850-07-09 00:00:00

L IVERPOOL STANDARD.

THE 'LATE' SIR ROBEF.T PEEL.

(Fromm Morning Par,er.)

It is impossible to exaggerate the feelings of profound
emotion with which the mournful intelligence of the death
of Sir Robert-Peel was received on Wednesday in every
circle of the-metropolis. At first, a feeling of incredulity
was created by the startling intelligence; but when this
had been removed beyond all doubt, the very natural
desire was for more ample information than the sudden-
ness of the occurrence had hitherto admitted of. In
order to satisfy this very natural anxiety, it will, perhaps,
suffice if •we embody the leading incidents connected with
the calamity in the subjoined narrative, the materials for
which have been gathered from sources of unquestionable
authenticity-:
Sir Robert Peel had called at Buckingham Palace and
entered his name in her Majesty's visiting book only a few
minutes before the accident. Proceeding up Constitu-
tion Hill, he had arrived nearly opposite the wicket-gate
leading into the Green Park when he met Miss Ellis, one
of Lady Dover's daughters, on horseback, attended by a
groom. Sir Robert had scarcely changed salutes with
this-young lady when his horse became slightly restiff,
swerved towards the rails of the Green Park, and threw
Sir Robert sideways on his left shoulder. Two gentle-
men who were close to the spot ran forward and raised
'him, holding him in a sitting posture. Dr. Foucart was
the third gentleman to render assistance. He saw the
accident from a distance of 150 yards, and hastening for-
ward reached the spot just as Sir Robert had been raised
by the other two gentlemen. Sir Robert, on being
raised, groaned very heavily, and in reply to Dr. Fou-
cart's nuestion, as to whether he was much hurt, replied,
"'Yes—very much." During the few moments which
elapsed' before a carriage could be procured, Sir Ro-
bert became unconscious, in which state he remained
until after he had been assisted into the carriage.
He then slightly revived, and, in reply to Dr. Fou-
cart, said, I feel better." The carriage was then
ordered to drive slowly through the Park to Whitehall-
gardens, Sir Robert being supported by Dr. Foucart and
the two gentlemen who had first raised him from the
ground. They had not proceeded more than thirty yards
when Sir James Clarke met the carriage, and having
heard of the accident, came up to see if lie could render
any assistance. Dr. Foucart requested Sir James to ac-
company him in the carriage to Whitehall, which Sir
James consented to do. In a few minutes after he had
entered the carriage Sir Robert became much excited,
and endeavoured to raise himself up, which it was thought
necessary to prevent. He then again sank into a state of
half-consciousness, in which he remained until his arrival
in Whitehall-gardens. On being lifted out of the car-
riage he revived, and walked, with assistance, into the
house. On entering the mansion, Sir Robert was met by
Lady Peel and the members of his family, who had been
awaiting his arrival in painful anxiety, after having re-
ceived intelligence of the accident. Lady Peel was over-
whelmed with emotion, and would have flung herself into
her husband's arms had not Sir James Clarke and the
other gentlemen in attendance removed her. The effect
of the meeting upon Sir Robert was extremely painful.
He swooned in the arms of Dr. Foucart, and was placed
upon a sofa in the nearest apartment (the dining-room.)
From this room Sir Robert was never removed, and so
extremely sensitive to pain did he speedily become that it
was only after very considerable difficulty that he could
be removed from the sofa to a patent hydraulic bed which
had been procured for his use.
Sir James Clarke having consulted with Lady Peel, it
was arranged to send at once for Sir Benjamin Brodie
and Mr. Caesar Hawkins. Dr. Seymour and Mr. Hodg-
son, the family physician and surgeon, were also sent for
at the same time. Sir James Clarke and Dr. Foucart re-
mained in attendance until Mr. Shaw (Sir Benjamin
Brodie's assistant.) came. when the former left. .At length
Sir Benjamin arrived, and a consultation took place be-
tween the six gentlemen whose names are above given.
A formidable difficulty presented itself at the very outset
of the case, from the distressing fact that Sir Robert's
sufferings were so acute that he would not permit any
minute examination of his injuries to be made by the
medical men. The slightest touch in the vicinity of the
injured parts caused him intense agony, and the only
manner in which he could be treated under the circum-
stances was to assume that the comminuted fracture of
the clavicle (which was evident to the eye on the clothes
being removed) was the only one, and that the ribs were
uninjured. After the consultation it was determined to
reduce this fracture, but, owing to the extreme sensibility
of the patient, the operation was not completely per-
formed, and, at the expiration of a few hours, the sufferer
entreated that he might be released from the bandages,
and they were accordingly taken off.
During Saturday evening Sir Robert was permitted to
see Lady Peel and the members of his family ; but after
this time it was thought advisable to exclude all strangers
from the apartment, for fear of producing any additional
excitement. Sir Robert passed a restless night on Satur-
day, his extreme sensibility to touch increasing hourly,
and his symptoms altogether becoming very alarming,
which at the first, we believe, some of the medical gentle-
men in attendance did not consider them to be. On
Sunday evening, the pulse having increased from between
eighty and ninety, at which it had ranged after the acci-
dent, to upwards of one hundred, it was deemed neces-
sary to take some blood, with a view of reducing the in-
flammation. Twenty leeches were accordingly applied to
the left shoulder by Dr. Foucart, and a large quantity
of blood was obtained. There was no positive improve-
ment in the condition of the patient from this operation,
and he continued in a very precarious state throughout
the whole of Sunday and Monday. On Monday nignt
the alarming symptoms were greatly increased. About
seven o'clock Sir Robert became delirious, and attempted
to raise himself up in bed. In this state he continued
during the greater part of the night, and at intervals he
became so much exhausted that his medical attendants
were several times of opinion that he could not survive
through the night. In the paroxysms of his sufferings
Sir Robert's thoughts were with his oldest and dearest
friends, and the names of Hardinge and Graham were
frequently upon his lips. At four o'clock on Tuesday
morning Sir Robert fell into a sound sleep, in which he
continued uninterruptedly until eight o'clock. On awak-
ing, his mind was quite composed, and his medical at-
tendants considered him to be much refreshed by the rest
he had enjoyed. There was still, however, cause for in-
tense anxiety. From the period of the accident .up to
this time (pearly seventy hours) Sir Robert had taken no
other sustenance than a glass of champagne and the yolk
of one egg beaten up, which he was induced with some
difficulty to swallow. Medicine had been administered,
as a matter of course, but throughout the same length-
ened period the system had remained perfectly inactive.
The pulse had greatly increased on Tuesday, marking
from 113 to 118, and becoming very weak. At noon on
Tuesday Sir Robert expressed himself to be a little easier.
This relief was, unhappily, of short duration. At two
o'clock far more dangerous symptoms than any which had
yet been observed presented themselves. At this time Sir
Robert began to breathe stertorously, and his senses again
failed him. He ceased to answer any of the questions
addressed to him, and appeared to be sinking into a coma-
tose state. Sir Benjamin Brodie was again sent for, and
on his arrival agreed with Dr. Foucart and the other
medical gentlemen that the case now assumed a most
dangerous aspect. The pulse had become very weak,
and marked 118. From two o'clock to six o'clock the
change for the worse was progressive, the pulse increasing
to 130, and becoming gradually weaker. Stimulants were
administered, but had no apparent effect, and the ster-
torous breathing became more and more painful. The
relatives were now informed that all the relief medical
science could afford was exhausted, and that no hope
whatever existed of Sir Robert Peel's life being pro-
longed for twenty-four hours. The Bishop of Gibraltar
(the Rev. Dr. Tomlinson), a very old friend of Sir
Robert's, was now sent for to administer the last offices
of the Church. On the arrival of the Prelate it was in-
timated to Lady Peel and the members of the family that
they might now, without risk of increasing the dangerous
condition of the patient, be admitted to the apartment
in which he was lying. In a few minutes the whole
family were assembled in the presence of their beloved
relative, whose exhausted condition at this time scarcely
enabled him to recognise their identity.
It is not the province of a journalist to violate the sanc-
tity of a scene like this, and therefore this portion of our
narrative necessarily omits all matters of detail. It is
sufficient to say, that the lamented sufferer revived suffi-
ciently during one period of the interview to identify the
features of those beloved ones surrounding his couch•
towards whom he at length extended his faltering hand,
and, in an attitude bespeaking the intensity of his feel-
ings, whispered in a scarcely audible voice—" God bless
you!"
At the termination of this distressing scene Lord Har-
dinge and Sir James Graham, who bad been informed of
the fatal result anticipated, were admitted to the presence
of the patient now rapidly sinking. Both gentlemen
were painfully affected ; and well might Lord Hardinge
remark on leaving the room, that the contemplation of
his beloved friend upon his dying couch had more un-
nerved him than all the dangers he had encountered on
the plains of Moodkee and Sobraon.
At nine o'clock Sir Robert had become so exhausted
as to be callous to all external impressions. The mem-
bers of his family still remained near him, with the ex-
ception of Lady Peel, whose painfully excited feelings
rendered it absolutely necessary to remove her from the
apartment. The sufferer's strength was, however, so far
exhausted that, although he gave occasional indications of
being sensible of their presence, the power of utterance
had altogether ceased, and it soon became evident that
his end was rapidly approaching.
Sir Robert ceased to exist at nine minutes after eleven
o'clock. Those present at his decease were, his three
brothers, the Dean of Worcester, Colonel Peel, Mr. and
Mrs. Lawrence Peel, three of his sons, Mr. F. Peel.
M.P., Captain W. Peel, R.N„ and Mr. Arthur Peel; his
son-in-law, Lord Villiers ; Lord Hardinge, Sir J. Gra-
, ham, and the medical gentlemen in attendance. Sensi-
bility to pain had ceased some time before death, and his
last moments were not disturbed by any physical suffer-
ing.
After death an examination of the body was made, when
a most important fact was for the first time discovered,
viz., that the fifth rib on the left side was fractured.
This was the region where Sir Robert complained of
suffering the greatest pain, and it was probably the seat
of the mortal injury, the broken rib presising on the lung,
and producing what is technically known .as effusion and
pulmonary engorgement.
The family were consulted on the subject of a post
mortem examination, but both Mr. Frederick reel and
Captain Peel objected to allow the remains to be dis-
turbed in any way, and the precise cause of death will
therefore never be ascertained. An application for per-
mission to take a cast of the face, from an eminent exult),
tor, was also refused. _ 1

Lady Peel continued throughout Tuesday night in a I
state of complete prostration, and on Wednesday morning I
her illness had so much increased that it was found neces-
sary to call in Sir Benjamin Brodie.
Several of the principal mercantile establishments in
the city and at the west-end manifested their high re-

spect for the lamented deceased, and their deep regret at
his premature demise, by closing their windows—a pro-
ceeding almost universally adopted inthe•ne+ighbourhood
of Whitehall. The flags of many vessels 'on th 3 river,
and also on many public buildings, were hoisted half-
mast high, as a mark of respect to the memory of the
deceased.