Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1867-09-27
Death Of Sir Frederick Bruce

Our community was saddened this morn
IN by the announcement that Sir Frederick
Bruce. the British Minister from Great Brit
ain 70 the United States, died at the Trem-
ont House in this city at two O'clOck this
morning. We learn that he had for some
time past complained ola difficulty about the
throat. and a few days ago, while temp1ra-
rily stopping at Narragansett, X. l., the dis
ease fastened itself upon hlm with great IN
tensitY and violence. He left that place at
noon, Yesterday, and Ieached this city at
nine o'clock last evening in an exhausted and
apparently moribund condition. and as soon
as be reached his hotel medical assistance
was summoned, and be was ATTENDED by
Drs J. and J. II. Bigelow and Dr. Hodges
The trouble under which be was suffering
had passed beyond medical control. and be
sank rapidly. Senator Sumner who has
long been an intimate friend Of Sir Freder-
lex and of bis family, was sent for, and he
reached the hotel at eleven o'clock From
the time of the Senator's arrival until the
death of Sir Frederick, which occurred at
two O'Clock, he was able to utter but sin
gle articulate sentence, and that was in re-
cOgnitiOn of Mr.. Sumner an hour and half
after his arrival lie was able to get up,
but the nature of the disease prevented him
from speaking. Senator Sumner made every
possible eXertiOn TO understand the utteran-
ces of the dying man and to get his last mes
/ ssges for the British Legation at Washing
ton and for his family, but all In vain. The
voice refused to discharge its wonted Office,
/ thoughts that crowded upon his mind lie
was only able to give mOnosyllabic answers
| to questions IN regard TO his condition, and
| to utter, with great effort, brief greeting
| when he recognized Mr.. Sumner. Informa-
tion of his death was at once telegraphed to
| the British Legation at Washington and tc
Secre airy Seward by Mr. Sumner, and a re-
turn telegram from Secretary Seward an.
nOunees that Mr.. Howard of the British Le
CATION would at once leave Washington fol
Boston to receive the remains. They are tC
be embalmed at once, but the purposes il
regard to the final disposition Of them ar,
not yet known.
Sir Frederick Bruce was about ffty-tw,
years of age, though his bald head and whit,
hair and whiskers caused him to impress
stranger as at least ten years older. lie wa
one of the sprightliest and most lively of met
and was regarded as the most fluent an,
brilliant conversational at Washington. III
first came to this country in 1871, in con
nection with Lord Ashburton's s legation. an
he was at that time much admired for hi
personal beauty. Rufus Choate said Of hIr
that be was q the Corlnthian part of tn
British legation"
From that time until his death he was cor
stantly in the service of his country in va
rious parts OF the world. For time be wa
in South America, and his next post was a
Alexandria, Egypt, where, as British Consu
General. be displayed great judgment an
tact in dealing with the East. From Ale,
ansria be was transferred to Pekln, Chini
as British Minister, and his services thei
were OF great value to the British Cover
ment on account Of the intelligence and PR
dencc he exhibited. While there he becan
, intimate with Hon. Arson Burlngame, ar
! always spoke Of him in terms of friendshi
I and admiration.
: Sir Frederick Bruce arrived IN this eOu
/. try as the successor Of Lord Lyons as hes
= of the British Legation at Washington fe
4 days after the assassination of Preside
d Lincoln. lie was presented to Preside
r johnson Immediately after the funeral
President Lincoln. and was the first foreil