New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-02-17

DEATH OF HENRY HALLAM
From The London Times.


The constellation Of writer's who shed radiance on
the early part Of the present century is fast vanishing
away Not the least remarkable Of these, the histo.
ran of the Middle Ages of the Revival OF Letters and
Of the English Constitution, Henry Halam, died on
Saturday, Jan. % at the great age Of 81. He has left
but few OF bis companions behind him, and more than
this i. his bit fate to outlye those who should
have after him. TO see two sons OF rare promise
who should have preserved bis nsme, go before him.
the pride Of his life snatched from his eyes, the delight
of bis old age laid low in the Gust of death.
One Of these was that Arthur Henry Haiam,
who died in 1888, and to whom Tennyson dedicated
published " der the ME Of "In Memoriam." The
bereayed father was hearted for his son. and
spoke Of bis hopes On this side the tomb being
struck down for ever. year or two afterwards,
of Europe" there appeared most affecting passage
in the preface, which 10 those who knew him, sug.
gestea the hidden grief that was preyipg on his
mind. lie referred to the imperection OF his work,
to the impossibi.y of rendering IL complete under
any circumstances, and the especial inpossibility
Of HE doing so. al have other warnings, he said,
TO bind up my sheaves while may-my own ad.
=" vancirg years and the gathering in the heavens.
His hopes, however, revived as his younger son grew
up TO manhood and seemed to promse not less than the
accomplished youth whom his father had regarded and
pot without reason, an only one without fellow.
But this son. also, Henry Fitzm.urice III alan, was
bar $780, and the poor bereaved father buried him
in Clevedon Church, in Somersetshre, by the side
of bis brother and his sister, and bis mother.
There are few literary men who have reached al
enipence TO be compared with that o! Mr.. Halam Of
whose persona history so little is known 20 the great
public. That be WAS born in or about l77S, that he
was educated at Eton, that from Eton he passed to
Christ Church, Oxford, and tina. at this University
he took his degree in 1899 almost all the facts
Of his early life which have been published.
After leaving the University he took up his
residence in London, Joined himself to the Wings.
and acquired bis first reputation as contributor
10 the great Wing Review established 10 the
northern metropolis II was account Of bis sup
posed connection with the " Edinburgh Review that
lie incurred the wrath of Byron who, In that SATIRE 10
which be first CT al showed his power, referred In
ironical terms 70 "the classic Hasm much renowned
for Greek" Greek, however, was not tne peculiar
study of our historian who set himself the task Of
learning all the European languages Of importance
% the steppingstone TO an acquaintance with the
state of Europe during the Middle Ages. He quietly
settled do IN TO his work, marrying In the mean
time, and in 1871 rejoicing in the birth Of his little
Arthur, who was such marvel OF child that at
the age of .even be learned TO resd Lstn with Auency
in a wear. il was amid this domestic hAppi-
ue,s and the repose which it provided that ia
1873 be al length gave TO the world the fret, and,
perhaps the greatest of his works tbs visw Of the
State Of Europe during the Mode Ages work
which, aitoueh somewhat eIpensivs and by no means
adapted 10 the popular taste, has gone through q
dozen editions. In every page Of this history are
struck with the enormous iadnsry and the oonscien
ousners Of the writer, which in union With his sags
city OF thought and pth Of composition have rendered
every work produced by him standard of il kind.
he waited nize years and then gave 10 the world his
Constitutional History of England from the Accession
Henry VII. TO the death Of George H." Nothing
be moro mastery than the manner 10 which ne has
here traced the history of the English Constitut.on
from h 6rss faint beginrngs 10 i.s pereot develop
meet. L. hs va. Treasury Of paisesi Aosghs-sa