The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-07-30
OBITUARY..
HON. GEORGE WARD HUNT.

The cable announces the dcath, at Homburg ycster.
day. OF the Right Honorable George Ward Hunt First
Lord OF the English Admiralty. He was born at
Buckhurst. July 30, 1925 and educated at Elton
and at Christ Church, Oxford where he received
b. A. In 1S4s, NJ. A., 1851, and Honorary D. G. L.,
1870. Mr.. Hunt was called to tho Bar in 1851 and
went to the oxford circuit but he renquishod prac-
tce before entering Parliament in 1867, when
he was returned from the borough OF Northampton in
the conservative interest, and held his seat up
10 the time Of his death. He the front in 1866
in what is known the Cattle Plague bill On the
accession OF Lord Derby to power in June, 1885, Mr.
Hunt was nominated Financial Secretary tho Treas
ury ana he Chancellor of the Exchequer while
DisraelI was Premier from February to December,
1885, While acting in that capacity he sworn into
the Privy Council His appointment as Fnan-
cal Secretary OF the Treasury brought him
into close relations with Mr.. Disraeh as
Chancellor Of the Excheqder, and the nomination
WINS probably made al his suggestion. The selection
showed Mr.. Disrael's knowledge OF men. Mr.
Dsraeli is not celebrated for hts command of details,
and he has never been able TO affect much interest
even In his own budgets. except far as they might
have political consequences. Ho has mastered them
for the purpose Of rst exposition but he has seldom
known enough OF them TO be able 10 defend them
point by point in the minute discussions Of commit
tec Some one was necessary whom this task could
be dcvovcd, and Mr. Ward Hunt just the man tor
II. Mr.. Dsracli did the hugh Imaginative bust
moss, the rhetoric and the general mysiidca-
ton. lie connected the financial schemes oil
the government, wncn they not simply in
hertcd from Mr.. Gladstone, with the hgncr poll
tics. Mr. Ward Hunt went through the details
added up the figures and explained the special opera
OF this, that aud the other of tax
alton. Hc had fairly earned his appoinm cnt by tho
perseverance, and skin with which he had run his Cat
tic Plague bill IN 1866 side by side with the measure OF
the government and by that rivalry had succeeded b
dvcrlns into the pockets OF agriculturisis pcnsa
ton out OF the public purse for their trade losses THIS
Ia the rural notion of the proper business OF finance
minister ana Mr. Ward Hunts nomination as Score
tary tho Treasury and his subsequent appointment
when Mr. Dsrael, became Prime Minister TO be Chan
ccllor OF the Exchcqncr naturally gave great satisac
ton both to landlords and To farmers. In accepting
this Office he expressed 10 ms constituents certain
modest dfidcncc succeeding TO pace which had
been occupied alternately during many years by such
political giants as Mr. Disraci and Mr. Gladstone. So
far as can DO Judged from ninc or ten month"; ten
ure ,f Office Mr.. Ward Hunt made u very fair Cbnncc
Tor OF tic Exchoquer. He had opportunity OF prov
ing himself great aud original lnanccr If Mr. Hunt
had been the heir 10 an cardom and
great estate his position in the conservative
parry would probably have been the counter
Liberals; Tor though rank and wealth are subst-
tutcs Tor ability, they immensely help IT, They
equivalent now, as they were IN lascars time,
start of about hvo-and twenty years public c Mr..
Ward HUNTS oretory was not OF part icularly I'M
prcssve character. IL somewhat rcscmbcd informal
talk IRON the Bench nj Quarter Sessions ut the mag
isratcs' meeting, and was apt to be little hurried
and nurrlcd. Upon Mr. Dlsrac's second accession TO
OF the Admiralty. lie sensible coun.
try gentleman, thoroughly verscd III the busl.
oil the House. useful on committees and ready 10
give his services ungrudginsly helping forward tho
political part OF Parliamentary work, which is us
important rs the matters which engage the rife of
parties ana determine the iato of Ministries For
Statesman Mr. Ward Hunt comparatively young
being only 1fiy-two