New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-07-22
NOTES FROM LONDON.
.porTlswooDE . OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
efoi July FOURTH.

EOOhAA'
uRoM THE REeoh LONDON July q.
,r. fav flowers. and many tears-
fbat is what 1t all comes w. n.or Tho
The words quote were sa'd yesterday no c.
...n crave of the late President Of 'ne hoyai oo'
~ Inv one of his most distinguished coie"e"'
Ia don't know that much more need DO Sa az.
Whather Mr. Spottiswoode had fuiiy eaihou w
sistinct,on of burial in Westminster AoD., 49,
.s,a question. The memorial proposing ltto 'no
ro 70. SIGNED Inv many of the greatest names III
and in the social world, and Its prayer cou,u
- TslI have been refused. Time when 1iies al
.n,c will in due course affirm or REJECT 'nis' iN0
49, c,oms 70 immortality; and TO TINS supioin0
60 .ho matter may well be left IN tho
.hroroe5 aises of the great church" saws "ritoi
49, morning we're thousands who had ga'hereo
80 not merely TO do honor to name, pu' VINO
"a r,ore or less intimately known the man, ana
,"~ad and respected him." That apprehend OK
...sses one part of tho truth. Mr.. Spottiswoouos
sminsnce in science may or may not insure MN
Ito celsbrity But be doubled the post OF tit
~. .h,af of the scientific world with other quail
,,es and claims of more purely personal nhd. III
r,rs and beautiful character and life OF simple
a;anitv and generous usefulness may he the loun-
action of a claim to posthumous honor, Spottls-
-ooas,s grave IN Westminster Abbey Is nghtly
placed. eo, !, yvos.
Thu funeral was as simple as a funeral IN west"
Minister can well be, but the ceremonial was many
,ided. rs beitted man who in life touched the
,omplex life about him at so many points. Two OF
,he great Universities sent their Chanceilors, the
Marouis of Salisbury representing Oxford ana Earl
Granville the University OF London. Inc Duke
Of northumberland. president of the Royal lnstitu-
nf
Socetv: Sir William Siemens, president of the Brit
,sb Association; Sir John Lubbock, president of
the I,nnesn Society; Sir Bartle Frere, for the
as,at,c Society: Sir William Armstrong, Institute
of Civil Engineers; Lord Aberdare president OF
The Geographical Society Mr.. E. J. Stone Royal
Astronomical Society: Professor Flower. Geological
Society: Sir Frederick Leighton. Royal Academy
of Arts: the Chancellor of the Exchequer for Her
Maiestv's Government; and the Master OF the
Stationers' Company, were pall-bearers 1t was
not forgotten that Mr. Spottiswoode had been
Oueen's Printer, and eight fOremen or managers OF
different departments of the Queens Printing ofnce
were present. So was company OF volunteers
which he had once commanded, wearing Grape and
with arms reversed their silent military sternness
spgularly adding to the effectiveness OF the DEM
onstration. The Prince of Wales, mindful perhaps
of the frequent remark OH Darwns funeral that not
one of the Royal family either came or sent, was
present by proxy in the person OF Mr.. Andrew
Cockerell. Members Of the Royal Society in great
numbers men of rank of letters and politics. also
met in the Jerusalem Chamber, where they had
been invited by tho Dean to assemble at ii o'clock,
IN hour before the funeral, and needlessy long
before. To mention but few. there wee Profess
ore Huxley and Tyndall. Mr. Forster. Sir Charles
Dixie. Sir Joseph Hooker. Mr.. Lecky, the Master OF
NJ oh Mr.
stanhope, the Archbishop OF York, and two Cab
met Ministers of Lord Beaconselds time, Sir Rich
ard Cross and Mr.. W. II. Smith. Mr.. Henry Irving
walked in last of ALL and his presence sharpened
the contrast between the funeral and the festival
which not few of us had left hardly twelve hours
before
Jerusalem Chamber is historic place, but it WAS
less suitable for such company than the Chapter
House. where almost all the same people had gath
cred for Darwin's Obsequies. The way from the
Chamber TO the entrance of the nave lies through
bow dark rooms and narrow passages, and though
there was much calling of names and marshalling
Of men, it was a slow business. cannot say where
the pall-bearers found the coffin, but when we
reached the church it was already resting under
the lantern, hid by flowers, and the bearers were
sitting on either side. We had to traverse nearly
the whole length of the nave, the footway laid
sonage of the procession TO most of the multitude
that filed the nave and choir, and his picturesque
figure in deep black. and picturesque face, and
quiet manner, were greeted as he moved along
with the continuing murmur of his name. The
choir was crowded like the nave, and black groups
OF men and women clustered about the columns OF
the TRANSCRIPTS and stood out in relief against tho
white marble of the many incongruous monuments
with which too great pety and imperfect art have
oDcumbered the Abbey. The service was of reason
able length. A psalm was sung lesson read then
came another, then the body was again taken up,
and the pal-beareIs and the reformed procession
followed it to the east angle vf the north transept
where the grave had been opened. The final words
we're sald the fral notes of melancholy music rang
sadly through the arches, the family and friends
who passed by for last glance gazed down on
masses of lovely flowers which rose near TO the
upper edge of this last resting -place, and 50 the
ceremony ended. The pavement about the grave
was itself strewn with flowers. until pous hands
picked up and carried them away as mementoes.
The choice of Professor Huxley by the Council Of
the Royal Society to succeed Dir. Spottiswoode as
President was practically unanimous. 1t was the
turn as they say, of the natural sciences; math-
ematics and physics had theirs in the last election,
and If the new man was to be psychologist, Pro-
lessor Huxley was indicated by natural and almost
necessary selection. There is no other liring au-
thorty in his own branch of investigation who fills
60 large part in public estimation. section
hides, suppose, with Professor Owen in coutro-
yersy now. it may be hoped, passing out of memory.
Every now and then. in quarters where a suspicion
Of personal ill-will TO Mr.. Huxley abIdes, may DO
read obscure but bitter illusions to the partly i'm
aglnary wrongs endured by the older at the hands
Of the younger man OF science. Owen. lately dis
covered from some such source, was long since
bslk by Huxley Of his natural ambition TO sue
ceed TO the chair of science. But all that makes
slight impression either on the public or on the
special circle most competent decide on the mer-
its of such issues The most complete senate of the
English scientific world is beyond dispute the
Royal Society, and the wisest among them are of
the Council. What these twce-tred specialists
think of Professor Huxley, their choice of him to