The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-03-08

NOUS IN 1857. He WAS CH0SCH SpGaKCT
House OF Commons in 1857, and sworn in Privy
Councillor OF Great Britain He performed the
duties OF his Ofllce as Speaker With great dignity
and lmpartlality, and retired from his eminent
position OIL his own Iree will, to the great regret
or the members OF the House. Her Majesty Queen
Victoria, elevated him to the peerage, an honor
which he was permitted to ENJOY during brief
period only.
James HaughtOn.
BY mail from Ireland we informed Of the
death at his residence in Dublin, OF James Haugh-
ton, j. p, the well known advocate Of temperance
and distinguished merchant He was in the
Beventy-eighth year OF his age Few names were
better known in Great Britain and generally
among Irishmen at home and in foreign lands for
the past thirty-fve years than that of James
Haught0n. He was OF Quaker origin and was
born in Carlow, but resided in Dublin for the
greater part OF his life. About twenty-five years
since he retired from commercial pursuits, and de-
voted himself to various philanthropic abors,
which had also previously occupied much of his
time. He was a stanch supporter Of OConnell in
politics. only differing from him for short period,
when he thought that freedom of discussion was
unduly restricted. To his urgent instigation
were mainly due some of O'Conneps
neblest denunciations of negro slavery.
MI. Hausht0n was thorough Tree
trader and advocated direct taxation On the
and spoke on the land question and free trade. he
was the guest OF the deceased gentleman. He was
strenuously opposed to war and capital punish
ment. He belonged to the liberal or progressive
school Of politics, believing thoroughly IN mans
ton and the PRACTICE Of II iTeeGom lie was most
uncompromising adversary OF slavery Indeed OF
all sorts OF tyranny, and some OF his most severe
letters were written against that long curse OF the
United States. His heart, however, was more
deeply enlisted In the cause OF temperance or tee
t0talsm than In any other question. He devoted
much OF his time and money in promoting
the movement Mr.. Haughton worked for con-
siderable time with Father Mathew land for him
when pecuniary difficulties overlook HIM, ana
for many years with the late Very Rev. DR.. Spratt
He ectured week after week to reclaim some of
the poorest and most miserable of the people Of
Dublin, earning the blessings OF the lewly. The
establishment OF the Dublin Mechanics Institution
in its present position was mainly due 10 the ex.
ertions Of Mr.. Houghton, and he continued to the
last to take deep interest in its welfare, even
after he ceased to take an active part
Ball he succeeded In persuading the then Council
of the zoeogicai Society to open their gardens at
de6ted ior repeated efforts, as member Of the
Royal Dublin Society, to induce that body TO open
the Botanic Gardens on sunday afternoons
Of By ALL In ''s conjunction With she late
Mr.: Senior Poor Law Commissioner, he
TO the neglected state the Park and the Peoples
Garden and other minor Improvements were ul.
tmately carried out under the yiceroyaty of that
nobleman. He wrote and spoke also on variOns
public questions, and contributed q number OF
valuable papers to the Royal Dublin Society and to
y,
of which he was an active member. Among
other reforms brought about by his persistent
TO America. 1t is only within little more than
year that feeble health compelled him 10 withdraw
rom all work, except friendly correspondence and
reading. He was teetOtaer for thirty-flve years,
and vegetarian for some twcnty-siX years, being
az the time of his death President OF the Vegetarian
Society Of the United Kingdom.
Henry Van Wart.
The remains OF Henry Van Wart, the
veteran merchant of Birmingham, England
whose death was briefly announced a short
time since-were inferred near the city in
which he lived and died. lie was carried of
from life at the age OF ninety years. Mr..
Van Wart died ut his house, in the Hagley Road,
Edgbaston. He had kept his room for some time,
occasionally mending, then growing worse
again, and then rallying once more; but
at his great age each successive attack weak
sned the system, and at last he succumbed.
1t is long way to 60 back to 1885, the date of Mr..
Van Warts BIRTH the 'year OF the peace" when
George the Third found out and acknowledged that
he could not beat his rebeous subjects in America.
In one way Mr.. Van Wart was connected with the
War OF independence; his family-Dutch or Ger
man BY extraction-were citizens OF the young Re-
Of the three miiitiamen who arrested Major Andre,
fresh from his interview with the traitor Arnold.
Mr. Van Wart was born at Tarrytown, village
on the Hudson River, about thirty miles from
New York. since made famous by. Washington
Irving's legend OF "Sleepy HOow.n His father
was small farmer; but the son had larger ideas
nhan Tarrytown could satisfy and so he went into
trade as clerk In the house Of Irving smith,
merchants New York. Young Van Wart made
quick progress. In 1906, IN his twenty third year.
he married Miss Sarah Irving the Youngest sister
OF his employer, and the sister Also of Washington
Irving. Immediately afterward he was despatched
to Liverpool to represent the firm in Eng.
land. In 1908, when there was apprehension OF an
outbreak OF war between Great Britain and the
United States. Mr.. Van wart went back to New
York but he did not stay there long, for in the
same year he returned to England, and settled
permanently in Birmingham as an American mer-
chant. Since that period he continued. until hrs
death, to carry on his business In Birmingham-a
rare example Of man remaining actively in trade
for an unbroken term or sixty-nve years He was
not q keen politician; for example, he took no
part In the famous political union though when
Birmingham had received Parliamentary repre-
sentatisn he supported Messrs. Atwood and
Scholeneld as the FIRST members. In later years
themselves, and at the general election OF
1885, when Mr.. Bright was reelected
for Birmingham, Mr.. Van Wart was a prominent
supporter OF Mr.. Acland, the opposing candidate
In municipal AFFAIRS Mr.. Van Wart took for some
years an active share. On the incorporation OF the
Edgbaston ward, and the next day. December ~,
the Council elected him an Alderman. This ONCE
Ne continuously filed until the 9th Of November,
1853 when he retired. He was also recommended
by the Council for appointment as borough magis-
trate, and was included in the drst batch OF those
appointed. For many years he was regular
and useful attendant upon the Bench. Indeed,
tt was only u few months ago that he ceased to
sit as a magistrate; the cessation OF his duties
beinQ due to increasing DEAFNESS. In other re-
spects the public life OF Mr.. Van Wart was con-
fined TO undertakings OF business character or to