The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1908-08-02
A sturdy Irish Unlonist.

An interesting memoir of a man who
played q conspicuous part in the House Of
Commons during the twenty years succeed
ing Mr.. Gladstone's introduction Of the first
Home Rule bill will be found in a volume
named Col. Saunderson. M. p. by REGINALD
LUCAS (E. p. Dutton d Coz. This Of course
is the story Of a mar who, although as the
leader Of a small band Of Ulster Unionists
he opposed infiexibly the wishes Of four
fffths of Ireland's spoke,m en In the lower
house Of Parliament, was nevertheless so
much respected and so we'll liked by them
in his individual capacity that among the
first messages OF coincidence to reach his
widow after his death was a telegram from
l.ir. John Redmond, the leader of tho
Nationalist party. There Is no doubt that
he was a brave pan, a good man n an
attractive man. and an outline Of his per-
sonality was we'll worth preserving. There
is no doubt, eithcr. that nature had given
him a prodigal endowment; his presence
was imposing, his features were manly.
his eyes possessed a peculiar keenness.
he spoke in a sonorous ton and at one
time sang with charm: he also had the
habit OF compelling laughter in an I'M
rivalled degree. He was profoundly and
sincerely religious. although the gayest
and least .,.I.ere OF men,. He was a zoal-
GUS oft:tr Of .aiIitia. He was a talented
artist and an e"ective caric1turist. He
could shoot "a sell as most men. and was
at one time a daring and accomplished
horseman. He was a practised billiard
player, mt prided himself not n little on
achieving some proficiency at golf in III,
later days. He was an expert yachtsmar;
and from the FIRST stroke of tho design
planned in his billiard room to tho moment
OF steering a winning boat upon the water
his was the executive ahd controlling hand.
persuasive and impressive proachor.
The Saundersons trace their origin to one
Alexander de Bedick. who dwelt in Durham
in the year 1888; his son undoubtedly wont
by the name OF A~lexandcrson; hence San
derson, which in process OF time was en-
riohed with the letter u. and so produced
tho ~petronymio Saunderson. From this
stock grew various branches: one made it's
way into Lincolnshire and acquired success
sively q barony, a v~iscountoy n an earl
dom; tho other went to Scotland, whence
itturned to Ireland early In the seventeenth
century. A representative OF the Irish
branch, Col. Robert Saunderson. served
under Gustavus Adolphus. The ~latter's
eldest son. Robert. married a Leslie OF
Glaslough. and was for n time Member o.
Parliament for County Cavan. but was
expelled by an order Of Parliament in 1899
because his political opinions were not
sufficiently accommodating. As he left
no issue his property went to his nephew
Alexander. whose grandson. another Alex
ander. made an unsuccessful claim in the
Irish House Of Lords to the viscountcy
Of Castleton. His son Francis became
in his turn Member OF Parliament for Cavan,
and married Anne White, heiress to tho
Bassett property in G~lamorgenshire. Their
heir wa still another Alexander, born in
1885, He married a daughter Of the sixth
Baron Farnham, and became the father OF
tho subject Of this memoir. Edword Saun-
derson. the fourth son, who was born at
Castle Saunderson on October !, 1887. From
about, thu tenth to his twentieth year Ed
ward Saonderson lived with his family