Morning journal and courier., 1881-04-27
THE OLD WORLD.
Great Britain.

The Last Rites-The InustriOus States-
 man Laid to Rest-GIadstone Absent
 from the Funeral.
 LONDON, April 26.-From early morning railway trains kept constantly arriving at Wycombe bringing large numbers of people of all classes for Hughenden, to be present at the ceremonies of Lord Beaconsfield, though the crowd, probably owing to the stormy weather, was rather less than had been ex- pected. The Prince of Wales. the Duke of Connaught and Prince Leopold, the latter bearing large wreath from the Queen, left Paddington about o'clock. The same train took the Duke of Richmond, the Marquis of Hamilton and 8 number of members of the late government. The Marquis of Harting- ton left Paddington somewhat later. Flags were displayed at half mast, and other signs of mourning were displayed in various towns throughout the country. Up to the last mo ment it had been expected that Mir. Glad stone would accept the invitation extended to him by the executors of Earl Beaconsfield to be present at the funeral of his great rival, but shortly before the last special train left Paddingtoa station for Hughenden station the master received intimation from Lord Harrington that Gladstone had found it impossible to attend the funeral. His ab- sence caused great disappointment, and was the cause of some unkind and caustic re marks, but in the best informed circles it has been ascertained that Gladstone earnestly wished to pay in person the last tribute of respect to the illustrious dead, and was with great difficulty dissuaded from doing so by the entreaties of his wife, who feared the re- suit of the excitement and exposure necessa- rily attendant on such an occasion, and by the advice of his physician, who warned him that the consequences would certainly be se- rious, and might be fatal. Gladstone's health is still far from robust. His late illness has left it's marks upon him. and his friends do all in their power to restrain him from unnecessary agitation or exertion. It is believed, however, that on the occasion of the vote for the erection of monument Tn honor of Earl Beaconsfield, Gladstone will deliver magnificent eulogy upon the illus trious deceased.
 When the funeral cortege arrived at the churchyard the vicar, wearing a black gown and stole and attended by company of choristers, attired in black cassocks, met the coffin at the gate. The vicar led the way in to the church, the choristers on each side'of the coffin chanting the 9Oth Psalm. They sang with clearnass and sweetness, and the words of this sublime psalm were heard with ease by the assembled multitude. Some of the verses seemed to be especially appropri- ate: ''For all our days are passed away in thy wrath D ''We spend our years as tale that is told D ''The days of our years are three-score and ten, and if by reason of strength they be four-score years yet is their strength labor and sorrow" After the usu al funeral service had been read in the church the procession was reformed and proceeded to the Beaconsfeld vault the coffin being drawn thither On wheeled bier covered with velvet pail The Prince of Wales, His Royal Higlness the Duke of Connaught, Prince Leopold and many others placed wreathes of flowers upon the coffin. It was then lowered into the vault, which the work men proceeded to close up.