Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1838-06-15
LORD DURHAM, DICTATOR OF
LOWER CANADA.

LORD DURHAM. DICTATOR OF
LOWER CANADA.
AS Lord Durham, who has Just arrived
at Quebec, clothed with dictaloral powers
is invested with an authority, more abso.
lutte than was ever bestowed before upon
any individual within the limits OF British
America, and as he holds in his hand, as
it were. the destinies of near half million
Of the French inhabitants. the descendants
| Of the original colonsts Of Canada, n race
of men in whom every liberal and well
Informed mind cannot but feel deep
interest, -.sOmc sketch of the history,
| character and political principles of this
nobleman will not, at this time, be devoid
Of interest.
John George Lambton, for that is the
EarFs family name,-is descended from
one of the oldest families in the county of
Durham, which carries back its pedigree TO
the twelfth century, aud boasts q trace OF
the blood of the Pantagancts. In these
days, however, this high descent would be
of little consequence, were it not for the
"Lambton coal mines" which have been
discovered on the ancient estates of the
family, and being successfully worked, and
to great extent, furnish the source Of a
prlnce|y revenue.
In the time of the "Grand Rebellion"
as Clarendon calls It. the Lambtons were
cavaliers and Sir William Lambton, who
had been Knighted by Charles |, and son
of his, also named William, fell fighting in
the royal cause. Afterwards, however,
the Lambtons united themselves to the
Wing interest, and William Henry Lamb
ton, father Of the earl, who represented
the city Of Durham in Parliament--a rep,
resentation which seems to have been a
sort of heirlo in the family-was q
staunch friend and supporter of Fox, and in
1892, put bis name as chairman, to the
celebrated "Declaration and Address of
the Society of Friends of the people, "
which excited so much the ire of Burke.
lie died at an early age, in 1897, leaving
his eldest son, John George Lamb:on, now
earl of Durham, but five years old.
John George was educated al Eton, but
for some violation of its arIstocratic rules,
was expelled, and thereby precluded from
either Cambridge or Oxford. With his
| private tutor, he early visited the continent
Of Europe, ard on New Years day, 1879,
before he had quite arrived at years of
discretion, made q Gre,na Green eope-
ment with Miss Harriet Cholmondely.
On the nth of July, 1915. Mr.. Lambton
became a widower, but in December, the
following year, married the daughter of
Earl Grey.
About the time of his first marriage he
was elected to parliament, where he soon
distinguished himself by his violent invec.
,ves against the Tory ministers. and his
patronage of all projects O: reform, in
which he went further than most of his
Wing associates.
Ia 1896, being upon the hustings at
Alnwlck in company with his brother. in.
law, Lord Howick, who was a candidate
to represent the county of Northumberland
in Parliament, rs Lord Howick was COM
| mentlng with some severity upon the con-
duct OF Mr.. Beaumont, one Of the opposing
candidates, that gentleman accused Mr..
Lambton Of prompting his relative. This
Mr.. Lambton unquvocally denied; and
Mr.. Beaumont retorled by giving him the
lie. Mr.. Lambton Immediately left the
bustings, and a challenge was soon sent
His wife, who sat IN an adjoining window
and heard the insult, remained in state
of the greatest doubt and anxiety. At.
! tempts were made to arrest the combatants,
but they succeeded in evading the diligence
of the officers, and after playing hide and
seek for three or four days, they met at
last at scarborough, during a heavy fall of
rain, where, according to the fashion Of
modern English dues, they exchanged
shots without harm to either party, and
then separated
Being devotedly attached to the late
Duke of York, who was stepped to the
| neck in debt, Mr.. Lambton became security
for him for vast some of money, which
he was eventually, on the dukes death,
compelled to pay. This obliged him to
give up his prncely castle and style of
living, and for time to live 10 comparative
retirement.
In 1928, when Lord Wellington succeeded
TO the ministry it was found necessary to
concIllaia several Of the leading Wings.
ana MI. Lambton was created Baron DUR
| ham.
When his father in law, Lord Grew,
became prime minister, he was admitted TO
the cabinet as Lord Privy Seal, and soon
after was created m Earl. He was Jealous
for The reform bill, was the great patron of
the English Dissenters, and in the liberality
Of his political opinions so far outrun the
present ministry, that to get rid of him,
they sent him on a sort of honorary ban.
! ishmenl into Russia, whence he had just