Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1868-01-25
story Of a Remarkable nan.

J
just six years ago there died, st q
little town at the seaside in Sussex,
England, a member of the English Par
lament. who united in himself some of
the most opposite, and, one would i'm
agine, conflicting characteristics. He
was the nephew of an earl; his mother
was the daughter of bishop; he was
the descendant of a staunch line Of Tory
ancestry; associated in marriage with
dozen leading families in the peer
age. 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 Chartist OPP.
eratives, the pet of even the physical
force agitators, who at one time con-
templated instruction for the five
points, since conceded In a peaceable
way. He was at once a conhdRnt and
friend of Louis Napoleon, and cham
pion of Mazzini.
: MIR. Thomas Slugsby Duncombe, NJ
p, had all the advantages of birth and
fortune. He was at Harrow. one of
best of our public and aristocratic
schools; he was in the crack regiment
of "Guards," and rose from an ensign
to q captaincy, and all the paths of
fashionable life were open to him. de
was one Of the handsomest young men
about town, as we'll as the best dressed,
and was the heir to considerable land
ed estate. There was about him an in
defnable charm or grace and refine
ment. He went in for dress, and be-
came. as perfect dandy as London
ever saw. He went in for equipage,
and his carriage became familiar to
every West End lounger. He went in
for horses, aud with much spirit rode
the best hack IN the park. His vote
and interest were sought as patron of
the drama, and he became constant in
his attendance on the nightly assem-
blies of the principal performers, be-
hind the scenes and before. La all
these qualifications he associated with
the aristocracy, and nothing could
have been less anticipated than his un-
dertaking the advocacy of extreme
radical opinions, and yet he was for
nearly quarter of century the work
ingman's representative par excellence
1t is singular story.
ended it poor, though he was still in
Parliament and lived in ease. He was
the soul of good nature, and he gam
bled. He was fond of singers, and
they bled him fearfully. At Drury
Lane Theatre. nat many years ago, a
chosen few of the London lions in pub
lie life, including poets and painters,
and some five or six leading men of the
public press, were favored with a sort
of carte blanche to mingle with the ac-
tors and actresses in what is termed
the "first green room," and it was
there that Tom Duncombe las he was
always called was, of all the most con-
spicuous. In play, one of his aristo-
cratic associstes-Lord Chesterfield
contrived to win of him 8 sum which
itself caused a milestone of debt to
hang round his neck for the rest of bis
life. It was no less than 9100, 900
His horses were such splendid animals
that the West End tradesmen were in
delight when they were stopping at the
shop doors. His company was courted
with avidity by msrquises and dukes,
and men would have looked on him
with envy had not his courtesy disarm.
ed them.
But this is not the really extraordi
nary part of his life to tell. All the
time he was, out of doors, this ssglas,
of fashion and mold of FORM he was
In Parliament, the vehement advocate
of universal suffrage, the enemy of the
State. Church and the political associate
of men like Feargus O'Connor, the
| Chartist chief. In 1S41 he was select
ed to present the great Chartist peti
ton, signed by 1900, 900 persons. HC
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, wouiC
have put the speakers into the custody
OF the sergeant-at-arms, He had way
of going straight to the heart of topic
and dashing, winning air, which wal
irresistible.
In the midst of the gayest part of hi
career he was constantly. presiding a
public dinners, attending Chartist meet
lBgs, meeting Populations and attend
ing committees. Days of labor ans
nights of amusement broke up his con
stitution at last, and for the concludinl
ten years of his life be rarely accepted
an invitation to parties of any kind
He was, during this period, Away
fighting his obligations. His fathe
died in 1854, leaving him an estate
This he had to sell, and the amour
realized, namely, Gl30, 900, went at ono
to his creditors. All this was known {
his constituents, but they would hav
forgiven anything.
Florence is overrun with Amer
cans.