Star. — 1822-08-13 (London, England)

PRICES OW STOCKS AT ONE O'CLOCK. 3 per Cent. Reduced 805,4 %44 3 per Cent. Consols 801/8 79% 80 % per Cents. 917/ 14— 4 per Cents. 99% % 4 per Cent. New 99%. % 3/s Bank Long Annuities 21 203 i India Bonds 625.635.-3 per Cent. 1751, 79% Exchequer Bills of £l,OOO, 6s. Bs. Ditto Small 6s. 9s.—Consols for Act. 801/i79% 80  When we yesterday announced the death of the Marquis of LONDONDERRY we were not uninformed as to the melancholy circumstances with which it was attended ; but, convinced of the evil contagion of example, it has been the invariable rule of the Conductors of the STAR not to publish cases of suicide; and we have seen too many occasions to regret that a similar reserve has not been observed by our brother Journalists. There are, however, some occasions when, from the rank of the party, the publicity of the circumstance is so general and of so much importance as to render all attempt at concealment nugatory.— On such occasions only have we deviated from a course which we have pursued for upwards of thirty years. That the death of the Marquis of LosuoNDERRY should have been one of those painful occasions is to us matter of deep regret, for while we have frequently animadverted strongly on the conduct of the Administration of which he was so distinguished a member, yet we have never been backward in doing justice to his talents; and we cannot but feel the deepest sympathy for the melancholy termination of a life which seemed to have little to wish for in the way of earthly enjoyment. *  The particulars of this distressing event, that is, all that have yet transpired, will be found in our preceding columns. It would appear that his Lordship had been troubled with a depression of spirits, and with still stronger symptoms of insanity, for some days. This is said to have been occasioned by the incessant fatigues of his official duties and the business of the last Session, with some aversion to his approaching mission to the Congress at Florence, which his Lordship could not but foresee would be an office of great difficulty and delicacy. Disease had weakened a mind which but yesterday appeared in the fullness of health and vigour, and, in a moment of frenzy, his Lordship accelerated his death. Of the talents and political conduct of the Marquis of LONDONDERRY, very different opinions are held, His friends represent him as a consummate statesman—Lis political enemies (for his Lordship had no personal ones), as a fortunate politician, whose tide in the affairs of administration being taken at the flood, led on to fortune. For our parts, we always considered the Marquis of LONDONDERRY rather as a clever than a great statesman. He had none of those bold and comprehensive views which a great Minister, with unexampled resources, would have adopted ; but having once fixed on a particular line of policy, he was unceasing in his endeavours to accomplish it, and on many occasions discovered considerable dexterity. His Lordship has, perhaps more than any other Minister of modern times, had splendid opportunities of displaying the talents of a great statesman, which he has suffered to escape him ; and he has often been placed in situations of great difficulty, from which be bas extricated himself with considerable ingenuity. That he was the most efficient member of the Administration there can be little doubt, for, independent of the labours of the foreign department, the defence of the measures of Administration, in the House of Commons, very frequently almost entirely devolved on him. His Lordship ought be considered as the virtual Chancellor of the Exchequer, for, although Mr. VANSITEART ostensibly holds the situation, yet the great burden of the financial ilepartmest its the  House of Commons has been sustabied by the Xtr. quis of Lonnounanay, ever since the death of Mr. PliCI VA L.  Of his talents as a filancier we should feel disponed to speak highly, and would refer to his annual expose of the state of the public revenue and expel. diture during the last five or. six Sessions of Parliaanent, and to his masterly 'speech in reply to Lord HIM/ Fare, when this Nobleman was Chancellor of the Exchequer during the ,ahort Administration of the Whigs: As a member of society, apart from office; we bear a willing tribute to those valuable qualities by which his Lordship acquired sad preserved the affbctitini of his numerous friends. We pass by the mere accdin: plishments and elegancies which distinguished him, since to dwell upon them would be to depreciate his more solid virtues. The Marquis of LONDONDERRY was a man of unassuming manners, of simple tastes, and (so far as regarded private life) of kind and generous dispositions. Towards the poor he was beneficent : in his family mild, considerate, and forbearing. Ile was firm to the connections and associates of his earlier days, not only those of choice, but of accident, when not unworthy ; and to promote them, and to advance their interests, his efforts were sincere and indefatigable. In power he forgot no service rendered to him while he was in a private station, nor broke ' any promise, expressed or implied, nor abandoned any friend who claimed and merited his assistance. The death of the Marquis of LONDONDERRY ex. cited an unusual sensation yesterday, and our Readers will readily conceive the gloom which such unexpected and important intelligence will not fail to cast on his MAJESTY'S excursion to hid Northern kingdom: and we cannot help remarking the singular coincidence between the communication of this event to his MAJESTY and that of the death of the QUEEN, which occurred, and was announced to the KING, on his visit to Ireland, under similar circumstances. But it is far more important to advert to the conjectures which are afloat as to the individual likely to succeed to the high offices which are now vacant.— Rumour will not fail very confidently to fix on Mr. CANNING, and we think there is much of probability in that expectation. As leader of the House of Commons, and as a consummate debater, we ',resume that no Member on the Ministerial side will enter into competition with the statesman alluded tu. And as Secretary for the Foreign Department lie is no less qualified, having filled that high station already, before the Noble Marquis himself. There are, as is always the case on such occai.7n, a variety of rumours on the subject. One states tl:at Mr. PEEL will exchange the Home Department fur the vacant office of Secretary for Foreign ; and that be will be succeeded in his office by Mr.