Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-06-03

Jects, he visited America, and was here in the
spring and summer of 1s4l at which time he
spent two or three days in Worcester, be-
ing accompanied by the poet Whittier, for
the purpose of conference with others enter
tanning similar views with his own. While here,
he completed the draft of a circular addressed
to members of the Society of Friends in the
United States, himself being member of
that religious denomination,) which, on his
arrival at New York, few days afterwards,
he procured to be Autographed, giving a fac
smile copy of the original, which was widely
circulated throughout the country, and which
undoubtedly exerted beneficial influence.
We have copy of this document before us,
exhibiting his bold and beautiful penmanship
to great advantage.
The London Times of May 16 has notice
of the life and character of the deceased, from
which we make the following extract
''In 1884 he married Eliza, daughter of Mr..
James Chopper, of Liverpool, and thus be-
came related to the extensive philanthropic
family circle of which that eminent man was
the centre. This union was, however, of very
1916, married Hannah, daughter of Mr.. Bar
nard Dickinson, of Coalbrooke Dale, who sur
wives him, and by whom he leaves one son
and four daughters.
From early life he actively participated in
the various philanthropic movements of the
day, but specially devoted himself to the anti
slavery cause.
The anti-corn-law league in its early days
was deeply indebted to Mr. Surge. Immedi-
ately on his return from America, at the re-
quest of the anti-corn-law league, he took up
the subject of an extension of the suffrage, and
the following year contested the borough of
Nottingham. He was born Of Quaker parents,
at Elberton, Gloucestershire, about ten miles
from Bristol, on the Sd of August, 1898, and
was in his sixty-sixth year at the time of his
death. He was the sirh member Of the family
bearing in direct succession the name of Joseph
Surge, which he now transmits to his son. a
boy OF IL years of age.
The following year, when all Europe was
convulsed with revolutions, he attended at
Brussels the first of that remarkable series of
Peace Congresses which continued to be held
annually in the principal cities of Europe un-
til 1852, and at all of which he was present,
and had principal share in the guidance of
their proceedings. The year 1913 was also
signalized by his interviews with the members
of the Provisional Government of France, es-
pecially Lamartine and Arago, on the subjects
OF peace and slavery, resulting in the decree
which abolished slavery throughout the French
colonies.
One of the best known incidents of Mr.
Sturge's public life was his visit to the EN-
peror of Russia in February 1854. Accom-
panied by two friends Mr.. Charlton and Mr..
Pease, NJ. p, he formed deputation from the
Society of Friends, to present an address of
remembrance against the war, solely on relig-
ious grounds"
Joseph Surge was man of remarkably
fine personal appearance, corresponding most
appropriately in his physical developments
with the beauties ofhis mental and moral char
acter. In his intercourse with others, he was
frank, open. and manly, and by the kindness
of his manner, and the true nobility of his
sentiments, he won the respect and esteem of
all with whom he came in contact. By many
in this country he has been borne in grateful
remembrance, and by them his death will be
sincerely mourned.
Mr.. HANscoM AND THE MASSACHUSETTS
CLAIM.-Mr. S. P. Hanscom publishes in the
Boston Bee several communications upon the
subject of his connection with the Massachu-
sets claim. One of them is addressed by
Governor Banks to the Council, in which he
says Mr.. Hanscoms term of service commenc-
ed several months before the date of his COM
mission, with the express understanding that
ono compensation would be paid, either in the
matter of expenses or other character, unless
the claim was successful" He also says that
the agent was not appointed till there was
probable chance that the claim would be allow
ed that the agent has been faithful, and
should be literally compensated. Mr.. Hans
CONS statement is much like the Governors,
but more in detail. He says, however, that,
as the Governor is aware, his appointment to
the agency was a matter of expectancy, as
long ago as near the close of the first session
of the 35th Congress, which was some
thing like a year before the Legislature
had authorized the appointment of State
Agent, at all. $50 strong" he contin-
ues, "was this expectation, that Mr.. Wes-
ton, 1.-THE Maine AGENT consulted with me
throughout, in respect to necessary arrange
ments, just as if my anticipated appointment
had been actually received" The third letter
is addressed by Geo. M. Weston, the Maine
agent, to Mr.. Hanscom, and is merely state
ment of the same thing in a different way.
The letters do not throw any new light on the
subject, except that Massachusetts was SO for
tunate as to have disnterested agent in
Washington all last year, who was preparing
the way, by what ingenious process of lobby
ing we know not, for the acknowledgement of
this claim. The only shadow of an explana-
ton Of the mode of operating is found in a
paragraph written by one whom the Bee en-
dorses as the "well known and able" cores
pondent of the New York Courier and Enquir-
or. "The cost of whisky and social influence
alone, in lobbying great claim like that of
Massachusetts, is a formidable item" 1t is
barely possible that Massachusetts may have
a little choice in the matter of dispensing these
persuasive, though somewhat expensive lux
urieS.
REGISTRATIONS AND APPoINTMENTs.-Hon
Caleb Gushing has been compelled by profess
sional and other engagements to resign his
place on the Committee for the Revision of the
Statutes. He confidently expects, however, ITO
attend the adjourned sitting of the General
Court and aid in the contamination Of the great
work of the codfcation of the statute law of
the Commonwealth" Geo. d. Wells, Esq,
20 a. ell T. ~ IL ID