The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-06-04
0BIT UARY.
Charles j. Lever.
Hon. CHARLES SUMNER.

AtlanJlc caDie yesterday, informed tne HERALD tnat
Charles James Lever. the novelist, had just ex-
PRED in the Austrian seaport city. He was in the
sixtythird year OF his age Mr.. Levers health had
been declining during some few years past. His
worldly circumstances were not in an exactly
pleasing condition, so that the genial heart and
busy brain and fertile pen which have "tickled the
town. with their creations of Irish character and
descriptions OF peninsular battle scenes, from
Charles O'Malley and Mickey Free to the re-
port OF the organization and action of the
''forlorn hope" for and at the assault on Ba-
dajos have ceased to thrOb and gone rest during
the hours of sunset OF life which was checkered
by the alterations Of hope, JOY and disappoint-
ment, as are the moments Of the close Of a spring
or autumn day under the sky Of his native land,
with variations Of gloom, Of sorrow of sunshine
and of showers the latter sent forth in the tears of
many dear and disinterested friends
| The very latest work, "Lord Kigobbn," which
came from the pen Of the gifted writer whose
dashing heroes and heroines have engaged the
sympathes OF generation, has been Just issued in
| New York. 1t was noticed at length in the HERALD
It's pages Detray on the part Of the a
mortality. Call 1t inspiration, revelation, religious
divinaton or what else we may, Lever knew that he
was about to die. He described the sensation and
depicted his personal situation in the following lines
sent forth under the shadow Of domestic bereave-
ment The dedication Of lord Kgobbn,n dated
1 from Trieste, January co. 1872, reads thus
To the memory of one whose companionship made the
aR %l Ms 2 Srea ns s s s
6Se aye lived e n ask sa WAS Joy my
Is not then without cause say hope this effort may
There is one other passage which serves to render
the figure still more applicable to himself. 1t
| reads:-
the gsS I'D for II all is t. be like stsspe
aeaa a9 sa an d ARE Garry
green old and they take i out Of "
always contrastng you however with yourself long ago
urgood days" ''' "''"' " ''' 'S''' ~" "e'e II
Charles James Lever was born in Dublin, Ireland,
in the year 1902 His father was an architect. lie
! was man OF care and method: one who perceived
and estimated the character of his son when the
lad was quite young. He destined him for the
| medical profession and endeavored to bend his
mind in that dil ection. After enjoying careful
preliminary education and having proved himselfa
| worm or student, Charles J. Lever entered Trinity
college, attended the lecture courses, dssected in
full in the Competition and took his degree in medi
! cine. During the recess Of the English institution
he made tours to Germany, and, subsequently
to his graduation at home, visited Gottingen, OBJ
served course Of studies in famous university
and obtained q degree there. Returning to Great
indeed, to understand 1t at sight The exercise Of
this faculty did not bring him in very many guineas,
best circles, formed an extensive round Of arisio
cratic acquaintances, and thus obtained a certain
Of cansd WITH Tim the r ruling ta fact
| tients. 1t furnished him with military char
acters from life, introduced him to the men
ireland in the year 1882 Mr.. Lever was appointed
OF an extensive and popuous district in the North
which included the city Of Londonderry apd the
| towns Of Newtownlimivady and Coeraine, and took
| in many OF the dspensary relief districts which
/ preceded the complete working OF the British poor
Jaw system in the island He was exceedingly at,
tentive In the discharge OF his duties, accurate and
punctual in his statistics and reports, and indie
pendent and fearless in his pronouncement OF hygi-
% Se writer OF this %h
although lad at the time, stood beside him on
in which he made his notes and administered
the sanitary rules Of the executive. During his
residence in Londonderry and Coleranc Lever took
sketches of many OF his more prominent book
characters from nature, and stored his mind with
the tradtions-ghosty and of love-whch prevail
met the genuine Irish priest Of the day-hospita-
BILE, humorous, shrewd political, and anxious for
the Passionate in the matter of an exact enforce
ment of the regular payment of "dues." The
reverend gentlemen live on the altar IN Levers
sketches. Levers professional services at
this time attracted the attention OF the gov
ernment strongly and favorably towards him.
lie was found to be very useful officer, without
being a martinez; and an original discipnarian,
ruling by the exercise OF his good nature, without
being an imitator. He was promoted in conse.
dueHce. When the cholera visitation had abated
he was attached to the British Legation in Brussels
in the capaey Of physician. While IN this commits
menced as serial and proved decided success.
His descriptions Of Irish life ana character were ac-
Lever stood forth as the embodiment OF the
ipsis Hibernes Ht6e7rtt0reS-more Irish than
and IN f This
him.. It put money in his pocket, and
this he almost ever wanted. He went TO work with
shape. "Charles O'Malley,",. Jack Hutton" "0ur
Mess "The oDonoghue," "st PatrlcS,s Eye :,,;o
Daonsr 'The Dodd Family Abroad Arthur
Olearyn with the rest, came forth in rapid success
sion The pencil of the late Hablot Browne was
called to his aid in Illustrating the books, and 1t is
stretch OF Imagination TO say that the civilized
world has been made to laugh and weep alternately
blythe Joint efforts OF their genius. Mr. Lever &C
cepted the editorship OF the Dublin University
Magazine while he was engaged in the produc
in this capacity from 1912 to ls45, contributing
to the pages of the publications. He was well paid,
but lie was not economical. His style OF living ex
ceeded his income by It's expenditure and his home
controlling influences did not aid or encourage MN
toward retrenchment. After experiencing many
the Continent. Before this on the strength oil his
large salary and prospective profits OF MS works
he commenced living in a lordly style IN Dublin
His horses, equipages and liyeried grooms made tht
, Lord Licutenant's turnout appear shabby In com
magnificent style His residence was at Templeogus
House, little way out Of Dublin-the former seat
odd IN arr Her seepna mn @
J routine for several years, to the astonlshment 0
Dublin, 1t became apparent that Mr.. Lever was try
ing his speed with well known local public func
tonary, and the result was he .outran the consta
blc and retired from ireland just In time to avoit
the touch OF the bailifY He made his first foreign
establishment at castle In the Tyrol, but removed
9 subsequently to Florence. The late Lord Derb,
appointed him British Vice Consul at Spezzia. Th
, was on November 26, 1858. He was transferred Il
Trieste in the month OF February, 1851 ''ihe DiarI
: | of Horace Templeton,u icon Cregan, an Irish Gi
Basu zone Of them Darlington .'Luttrell Of Az
ranb "a Days Ride" ''sir Brooke Fosbrooke"-th,
latter originally published in Black,cood Magazine
| were printed anonymously for reasons which Leve
| could not control. They are cassed among the yer!
best Of hts works issued previous to Lord Kilgob
| bin.n And so rests Charles Lever. Many and man.
: an Irish heart will In after days amid scenes Q