The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-01-07
GLADSTONE.

cently published biography oil Premier Ulad-
stone, says
In q speech delivered at Glasgow towards
the clese Of his last tenure of Office, Mr..
Gladstone, alluding to his extraction, observed
that, though born in England, he had not
drop of English blood in his veins. Descended
from Scotch ancestors, who, after maintaining
for several generations a respectable status
amongst the humber yeomanry of Lanark-
shire, exchanged the vocation of agriculture
for the pursuits of commerce in the latter half
of the seventeenth century, William Bwart
Gladstone is a descendant in the fifth genera
tion from John Gladstanes, of Gladstanes
of Arthurshiel, a small Scotch laird,
who sold his farm to one James Brown,
of Edmonstoun, and died somewhere
about the year 1880. Having lost their
title to rank amongst owners Of land the chill
dren of this John Gladstanes of Charles the
Seconds time became tradesmen Of humble
degree in the locality where their forefathers
had been industrious tillers of the soil. The
manufacture of malt was the industry to which
several of the family turned their energies.
Settling at Biggar, village whose population
did not at the time greatly exceed thousand
souls, the laird Johns eldest son, William,
became a master, and dying in 1928, was
buried in Liberton churchyard. OF the off
spring OF this obscure but worthy person, two
followed their fathers business with consider
able success, Grizell (the only daughter) mar
lied a dyer named Thomas Gosh, and third
son, after failing in business and sinking to
fill the lowly offices Of bellman and grave
digger to parish church, passed from the
world in 1854. The most successful of these
four children was John Gladstone, of whom
the author reeords:-"Like so many of his
kin, he was a mailman, and burgess OF
Biggar, keeper of the Barons Giraell an
active Free Mason, and elder of the kirk.
His name very frequently occurs in
the annals of the town during the former half
of the eighteenth century. By his industry
he acquired the means to purchase the small
farm of Midtoftcombs. Ho died on the 1st of
June, 1856, aged sxty-three." This John
Gladstone, of Midtoftcombs, had eleven chill
dren, five sons and six daughters; of which
progeny Thomas, the fourth son, became 80
prosperous a corn merchant at Leth, that he
was able to "do well !" as the phrase goes, by
his numerous family of sixteen children, of
whom seven sons and five daughters arrived
at maturity. The eldest Of this strong party
of brothers and sisters died at Fasque, Kin
cardineshire, 1851, in his eighty eighth year,
after having gained the honor of baronetcy,
played conspicuous part in politics, won
foremost place amongst the merchant princes
of Great Britain, and witnessed the elevation
: of his son, William Ewart to the highest
class of political actors. OF this singularly
fortunate and honorable merchant, whose long
life comprised nearly every triumph and hap
middle rank of society and following CONNER
ajal pursuits can reasonably hope to expe
rfsno4. Mr.. McGilchrist writes in.the following
terms:--
"John, afterwsxls SIR John, was born in
Leith in 1763. He lived to reach his eighty
eighth year, and after a most prosperous
career, died at his mansion at Fasque, in Kin
cardineshre, in 1851. When John was just
of age, he was sent by his father to Liverpool,
to sell cargo of grain which had arrived at
that port. He so attracted the attention of a
leading corn merchant there, that the latter
earnestly entreated his father to let his son
settle at the port. After sundry negotiations,
the result was the formation of the firm of
Corrie, Gladstone, and Bradshaw, corn mer-
chants; Mr.. Corrie taking the two latter young
. men into partnership. The firm had hardly
existed two years sere its stability was very
sorely tried. There came general failure OF
the corn crops throughout Europe. Mr.. Corrie
at once despatched his junior partner, Mr..
< Gladstone, to the United States, to buy grain.
John Gladstone was then about twenty four
years of age. Having the needful letters
of credit, he started upon a mission
of which the parties to it
entertained the most sanguine hopes On
reaching America, he found that the corn crops
had failed there also, and that there was not a
single bushel to be procured. To his dismay,
by the next advices which he received from
England, he was informed that some twenty
four large vessels had been chartered to bring
home the grain which he was supposed to
have bought. The situation was most perilous,
and it seemed that the prospects of so young
man were fairly shipwrecked. Indeed, when
the news become known at Liverpool, it was
considered impossible for the house to recover
from the shock arising from so many vessels
returning in ballast instead of bearing the car
goes which they had chartered to convey.
Corrie & Co. were therefore regarded as a
doomed house, and the deepest commiseration
was felt for the young partner, while the senior
was blamed for his precipitancy. But young
Gladstone, though strongly impressed with
the difficulties of the position in which he
found himself, maintained unimpaired his
courage and presence of mind. He sought
every means by which to tighten, if not to
avert, the blow. By careful examina-
ton of price lists, by ascertaining
what procurable products would best
suit the English market, he succeeded, with
out waste of time, In filling the holds of all
the vessels. And when all was sold and
realized, the net loss on the large transaction
of the house hardly exceeded 9500. From
that time John Gladstone became a marked
man on the Liverpool Exchange and in the
English commercial world. He became the
leading spirit in his house, and for some
fourteen years more the partnership continued
ending naturally by efiluxion of time. The
corn dearth had continued, and so widely
spread, that the Administration determined tC
hold stores of grain at the different ports
Corrie, Gladstone, and Bradshaw were ap
pointed the Government agents at Liverpool
fact which recognized the holding the lead
ing position in the trade. They were 30 sue