The New York herald., 1879-12-28
OBITUARY..


ton. As editor of the Aatenaam for sixteen years
his treatment of American subjects and American
authors was the reverse of sympathetic. and the
several volumes which he published on American
institutions were not calculated to win him repu-
tation TOR historical accuracy. still he was man
of great note and considerable influence IN
lis time and many of his books have been ex-
tensively circulated here. Mr.. Dixon had family
leaning toward Puritanism. which ought to have
served him in better stead when dealing with cis-
Atlantic themes. He was the son OF Abner Dixon, or
Holmirth, Yorkshire. and was born ut Manchester
June 80 1921. His early life spcnt on farm. on
of delicate health and he never enjoyed the
benefit Of u regular scholastic training Whom still
quite young he made his literary debu by privately
printing hve-act tragedy. which has remained un-
known to the public. He was an early contributor
Of verse to Douglas Jerrolds Illuminated 4a9asine.
and about 1914 became literary editor Of u country
paper at Cheltenham. In ls46 he settled in London
as law student at the Inner Temple. and began
contributing to the DAILY Necs series OF articles on
the Literature OF the Lower Orders" and on Lon-
don Prisons which were we'll received and were
useful directing philanthropic effort to the
amelioration of the condition of the London poor.
1t was in this connection that he wrote his hrst
published book, John Howard, Memoir" tlSl9).
In 1850 he was appointed deputy commissioner
for the organization OF the Worlds Fair" of the
following year, and rendered good service in the
on technical subjects. In 1851 he published
a, "Lifo OF William Penn. written without
much insight but which asGomp'snea Maeor,ous inc
calumnies against the founder of Pennsylvania. In
1852 lie travelled through France SPAIN Germany,
Italy and Hungary far as Belgrade, wrote blog-
raphy OF Admiral Blake and pamphlet, "The
French in England" ridiculing the invasion panic
of that year. In 1853 he became editor OF the chief
rift nj O
which he welded until 1869 power altogether dis.
proportioned to his critical ability His massteriai
relations with British authors procured him tho
doubtful advantage OF the literary executorshlp
of Lady Morgan. and in combustion with MISS MISS
Jewsbury he published her "Memors" In 1888
the influence OF the IuenGuna was successfully ex.
obtain for historical students free access to
the "Sate Papers OF the sixteenth and seventeenth
centuries and shortly afterward he took the field
q champion OF Bacon against Macaulay ana LORD
Campbell publishing "The Personal History of Lord
Bacon" III 1864 he made long tour in the East,
which resulted in work on 1.-The holy Land" e
vols. 1861, and he had some part i'll originating
the Palestine Exploration Fund. He spent few
months in 1866 in travels in the United States giving
especial attention to Mormondom and socialism. AS
u result he published his two best known works.
..New America" ps67 and spiritual Wives" (1S6S).
in which he displayed strange lncapacity TO judge
| correctly of American society or political tendency
In 1869 he retired from the edtorshp oil the AMe-
n9u1n and made tour IN Russia, the narrative OF
which inapproprately entitled Free Russia"
e vols. 1870. About this time he was appointed
magistrate tor Middescx. and elected member OF
the London School Board. His largest work was en-
titled "Her MaJesty's Tower II vols lS69-ll).
which was supplemented last year by similar
book on "Royal Windsor" He made many other
journeys in Europe and in 1915 made second
visit to the United States. resulting in his best
American book, white Conquest" q vols. 1876,
which, though written i'll u pessimistic vein, con-
tnins some useful information about the condition
of the negro, the Indian aid the Chinanan i'll
America. Other of his writings were The Lives OF
the Archblshops OF York" lS63). The switzers'
(lS72). '.The History OF Two Queens-Catherine OF
Aragon and Anne Boleyn" "a vols, 1881. "Diana,
Lady Lyle Is vols, 1877, and "kuby Grey (3 vols.
1891 the latter being novels. Last year he Wis.,
tied cyprus and wrote book on that island. Mr..
Dixon liberal in politics. though conservative
on religious subjects he was an uitring lecturer
and public speaker and ut time l66S had aspira-
tions for seat in Parliament He rendered good
services the School Board. also in promoting
sanitary and architectural reforms for the benefit OF
the London poor. in procuring the establishment or
Shaftesbury Park and the opening OF London Tower
to the public. He member OF many learned
societies and president the Tonic Sol Fa Teachers
Association. He possessed great facility i'll writing
and pleasing style. which rendered his career
pecuniary success and kept his Iamc before tho
public, but OF his works likely to be con-
suited authoritative by future generations.
COUNT ALBERT DE cIRcoURT, FRENCH HIS
ToRIAN
Anne Marie Joseph Albert, Count dc Circourt. who
died recently in France, was born at Bouxieros-aux
Chenes, Department of Meurthe. June 25 1909.
graduated at the Naval School in 1885, served the
Leyunt coasts was present at the blockade Of Agiers
identified by family associations with the house of
Bourbon he resigned from the navy upon the change
of dynasty in 1880, and devoted himself chiefly to
historical literature, in which. well in general
information. he became better vorsed than almost
any man OF his time. His writings appeared
chiefly in Berryer's review, France ct Europe
Qs35-4o) in the Revue de Paris and the
Bibisotaeque Unirerseiie de Cessue, and included
various narratives OF travel and more than
romance. During the second Republic. to which he
like many lelitimists gave his support. he the
of tle
the columns OF the Op,aaon Iubtique. He held aloof
from public lite during the Empire but was ono of
the founders OF the liberal union" party, 1863, ac
ccptcd in 1872 an election by the Assembly TO the
Council of State. His chief works were "Tho HIS
Christian Domination g VOLS, 1853. and
graph "The Battle OF Hastings" lS5S). Ho was
zation aud Representative Monarchy" lSG2l which
contained the political programme OF the legtimist
party OF that date.
THOMAS KNOX, SCOTTISH PHILANrHIopIsT.
Mr. Thomas Knox. the most prominent champion
of temperance reform in Scotland diod ut Edinburgh
tho 4th inst, in his sxty-frst year. Ho born
ut Grecnlaw in 1875 became merchant at Edinburgh
in 1s43. published two volumes OF worse. and
in 1sl5 issued his Modern Chronicles of tho Canon
gate,"a work revealing the seamy sidc OF life In
Edinburgh. which had powerful Influence in stmu-
lating tho efforts for social reform made by DIR.
Guthrie and DIR. W. Chambers and led up to the
actInent of the Forbes Mackenzie act against tho
Sunday liquor traffic. For many years Mr.. Knox
was president of the Edinburgh Total Abstinence
Society and prominent III all efforts for the social
improvement OF the Scottish metropolis. He an
eloquent and enthusiastic friend OF popu-
lar technical education. acting ~ master or the Mer
chant Company, u trustee of many charities and
founder OF the training ship and OF the Watt Institu
ton. lie nrdcnt liberal and was on Tho plat
form at Mr. Gladstone's reception ut Edinburgh.
NATHANIEL II. osGooD.
Nathaniel II. Osgood. one Of the Oldest employees
of the Appraisers Department In tho Custom House.
died very suddenly the Goth inst aged seventy
years. He was born in Massach usctts. but came TO
this city many years ago and went into business.