The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-12-23


that he was pressing stock upon all SIDES !;
and il was deemed advisable to make but
a brief stay.
The Story of Remarkable Man.
Just six wears ago there died at little
town bv the seaside in Sussex, England, a
member of the English Parliament, who
united in himself some of the most oppo-
site and, one would imagine, conflicting
characteristics. lie was the nephew OF an
earl: his mother was the daughter OF a
bjshop he was thedescendant OF a Staunch
line of Tory ancestry associated IN mar
rage connexions with dozen leading faml-
lies in the peerage. He had been the
leader in the world of fashion, and the
darling of singers and actresses; and yet,
with these qualities, he was at the same
time the leader Of the extreme Chartst
operatives; the pet Of even the physical
force acitators, who at one time contem-
plated Instruction for the five points, since
conceded in peaceable ways. He was at
once confidant and friend of Louis Napo-
leon and champion of Mazzlnl. ms re,
markable man left no enemy behind; and
despite his extraordinary pursuits and
companions, left the prefix of honest TO
his name. To this hour the memory OF
Honest Tom Duncombe" is treasured
not only in the immense metropolitan con-
stituency which he represented, but IN all
the large cities of England.
Mr.. Thomas SlugSby DuDcombe, NJ. r.,
had all the advantages Of birth and tor
tune. He was at Harrow, one of the best
public and aristocratic schools; he was IN
the crack regiment Of Guards" and rose
from an ensign to captaincy and all the
paths of fashionable life were open to him.
He was one of the handSomeSt young men
about town, as well as the best-dressed,
and was the heir to considerable landed
estate. There was about him an indefinite
charm of grace and refinement. He went
in for dress, and became as perfect dandy
as London ever saw. He went in for
eouipage, and his carriage became familiar
to every West End lounger. He went in
for horses, and with as much spirit rode
the best hack in the Park as he backed
the favorite at Newmarket. Ills vote and
interest were sought as patron OF the
drama, and he became constant IN his at
tendance on the nightly assemblies OF the
performers, behind the scenes and
before. In all these qualifications he asso-
ciated with the aristocracy, and nothing
could have been less anticipated than his
undertaking the advocacy of extreme
radical opinions and yet he was for nearly
a quarter of century the workingman's
par excellence. 1t Is a SIN
gular story.
ended it poor, though he was still in Par
lament and lived in ease. He was the
soul of good nature, and he gambled. He
went on the turf, and lost heavily. lie
was fond Of the society Of actresses and
opera-singcrs, and they bled him fearfully.
At Drury Lane Theatre not many years
ago chosen few of the London lions in
public life, including poets, painters, and
some five or six leading men Of the public
press, were favored with sort of carte
blanche to mingle with the actors and &C
tresses in what is termed the FIRST green
room," and it was there Tom DunCombe
(as he was always called) was of all the
most conspicuous. In play, one Of his
aristocratic associates Lord Chester
field-contrived to win sum which of
itself caused a milestone of debt to hang
round his neck for the rest Of his life. 1t
was no less than 100000. His horses
were such splendid animals that the West
End tradesmen were in delight when they
were stopping at the shop doors. His COM
pany was courted with aVidity by mar
quises and dukes, and men would have
looked on him with envy had not his cour-
tesy disarmed them.
But there is now the really extraordi-
nary part of his life to tell. All the time
he was out Of doors this "glass of fashion
and mould of form" he was in Parliament
the vehement advocate Of universal sui
frage, the enemy Of the State Church, and
the political associate Of men like Feargus
O'Connor, the ChartiSt chief. In 1S4l he
was elected to present the great Chartist
petition, signed by 100000 persons. He
was one Of the most popular speakers in
the House Of Commons. He spared no
one in his defence of the masses against
the ruling class, and said things which
from the lips of others would have brought
the speaker into the custody Of the SER
geant- arms. He had a way Of going
straight to the heart of topic, and a
dashing, winning air which was irresistible.
In the midst of the. gayest part Of his
career he was constantly presiding at pub
lie dinners, attending Chartist meetings,
meeting Populations, and attending COM
mittees.. Days of labor and nights of
amusement broke up his constitution at
last, and for the concluding ten years OF
his life he rarely accepted an invitation to
parties of any kind. He was during this
period always fighting off his obligations.
His father died in 1910, leaving him an es-
tate. This he had to sell, and the amount
realized-namely, tl3O, OOO-went at once
to his creditors. All this was known to
his constituents, but they would have for
given him anything london Correspond
ence Chicago Tribune.
An old "gaol Bird" who has been con-
victed just one and twenty times, plea ded
guilty at the Middlesex (Epgland) Scs-
IL III 10 cha n