The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-03-22
DEATH OF JOSEPH HUME, N. P.

The late arrivals bring intelligence of the
death of this distinguished reformer, at Burn
ley Hall, in Norfolk, on the goth February,
aged seventy-eight years.
He was born in Montrose, January, l777, of
poor parents, and was at an early period left
dependent upon the scant earnings of an in
dustrious mother. He received an elementary
education in the local schools, at thirteen was
apprenticed to a surgeon apothecary, entered
the medical classes of Edinburgh in 1893, and
became surgeon of an Indiaman, in 1897.
In the Indies he made himself familiar with
accumulated handsome fortune, and soon
returned to England. For several years he
devoted himself to an examination of the work
ings of the social system in the United King
dom, and in Europe, accommodating all sorts of
facts, and in 1912 entered the House of Com
mons. From that time, with occasional inter
walls, he continued member, and the stanch
advocate of all reforms. The London Times,
commenting upon his speeches and acts, says
ave cannot attempt even an analysis of the
chief subjects of his active and busy discussion.
He is the modern Prynne who de6es all re
print comments or review. In this age of lev
cling legislation on social interests he was
always 'on his legs He spoke oftener and
frequently made longer speeches than any other
member of the Commons since England enjoy
ed a House of Commons. In the Court of
Directors, and in Parliament, he stood for
many years almost alone, cOntending for the
freedom of trade against the East India mo-
nopoly.
"He proposed sweeping and repeated plans
of reform of the army, navy, and ordnance, and
of almost every civil department, of the estab-
lished churches and ecclesiastical courts, of the
civil and criminal laws, of the system of public
accounts, of general taxation, duties, and Gus
TOMS He early advocated the abolition OF
military flogging, naval impressment, and i'm
prisonment for debt. He carried, almost single
handed, the repeal of the old combination laws,
the prohibition of the export of machinery, and
the act preventing workmen from going abroad.
He led forlorn hopes against colonial abuses,
against town and country municipal selfelect
government, election expenses, the. licensing
system, the duties on paper, print, ON tea, to-
bacco, and snuff
ale assaulted and carried by storm Orange
lodges and close vestries, to say nothing of his
"-->
Test and Corporation Acts, and the Reform
Act of 1882. He was the unrelenting perse-
cutor of sinecurists drones, and old men pre-
tending to do the work of the young in the
state. Out of doors he was member OF every
liberal and radical club and association. tie
occupied for years the throne at the old Crown
and Anchor Tavern, in Palace-yard, and IN
COvent- garden meetings.
Mr.. Hume worked not for wings or tories.
He labored for his country-for the world at
large. He never put his faith in sovereigns or
in governments. If he ever attached himself
to any school, it was that of political economy
In fact, he was indebted to James Mill, David
Ricardo, and Francis Place, for much initiation
in many of his principal Legislative labors; and
| he early adopted their instruction
"Mr. Hume never denied his obligations his
own individual merits were ample enough fol
any vanity. Mr.. Hume had his faults and oc
casional errors public man, but We are now
| ill-disposed to detract from his incompatible
service to his country. We view him as
whole. His pardonable weaknesses and occa
sional want of judgment, his very foibes, formed
the man. and constituted his character anG
singleness of purpose"