Year: 1868




GLISH STATESMAN.


The death Of Lord Brougham is announced by our
tecgaphic dispatches from London to have taken
place at his country residence near Cannes, France
on Saturday, the ninth of May.


Henry Broughan, Baron Brougham and Yaux, was
born in Edinburgh Sept. 10, 177s and consequently,
but little more than four months was wanting to the
completion of the nineteth year of his age His
remarkable tenacity of life was due not only e. a
naturally vigorous constitution, but to habits OF ex-
traordnary activity an elastic and versatile tenn
perament and singular executive energy. Until
short time before his DEATH he retained his interest
in public affairs in great questions Of statesmanshp,
and in the pursuits of science and literature. The
partial failure of his memory within the last few
months was almost the only sign of the incpient
decay of his rare powers and from which could be
predicted the approaching close of his protracted te


The, family of Lord Brougham was of ancient ex-
traction in the North Of England and on his mothers
side he was the granddaughter Of William Robertson,
the celebrated historian. His early education was
received at the University of Edinburgh, where he
obtained the reputation of wonderful precOcity of
genius and evnced q decided taste for the more all
sruse branches of mathematics and physical science.
Before the completion of his eighteenth year. he pre-
pared an essay the "RefractiOn and Reflection OF
Light" which showed an eminent degree of scientific
culture, and which was hOnored with place in the
Transactions of the Royal Society for 1885, This
was followed the next year by second essay on the
same subject, and in 179s the Society published his
celebrated dissertation on General TheOrems
chiefly Porisms in the Higher Geometry" produc
ton whose great analytical acutenes and subtety of
argument have given il permanent place among
the metaphysical contributions TO mathematical
science.


Having determined to adopt the legal profession,
which at that time was the principal avenue to dis
tneton IN British society he commenced the the sind s5
of Scottish law in Edinburgh. but before admission
TO the bar in 1900 he made tour of several months
on the Continent of Europe, trayey~ cniefy In
Prussia and Holland, and iayine the foundation for
the knowledge Of facts, for which his whole subse-
quent career was distinguished. His connection with
the Speculative Club" society ior the discussion
ofphilOsOphical and political questions on ms return
20 Edinburgh brought him into intimate contact
with Jeffrey, Francis Horner, Sydney Smith, and
other men of ability and wit, with whom he main
tainod constant friendship during their respective
lives Soon after the establishment OF the Edinburgh
Review in 1902 with whose original founders he cher
ished a warm social and political sympathy, he was
admitted as a member of the staff and after the issue
of the third number, became one of the principal
contributors TO that journal With the exception
perhaps of Jeffrey and Sydney Smith, be furnished
larger proportion of its contents than any other
winter. NO SUBJECT came dullSS 10 HIS ltlAiS pSA'
Neither his knowledge nor bis power Of Illustration,
was ever at fault lie was almost equally at home in
every department of politics literary criticism, his
tory and biography, and science Even some recOndite
branches OF surgery are said TO have within his
grasp The first work which he published under his
name was an Enquiry into the Colonial Policy Of
the European Powers This made its appearance IN
1sO3 and at once brought the author into favorable
notice in the highest literary circles.


His fame as an advocate had made such rapid pro
gress that in 1907 he retained as counsel Ia the
case of the disputed succession OF the DukedOm OF
Roxburgh which was then on trial before the House
of Lords. His visit TO London on this occasion
brought him fresh laurels. Many new friends were
won to his side and the admiration of his old ones
was greatly enhanced. In this spring flow Of pOpu-
larty he resolved to leave his native city, and settle
in London. Accordingly, in 1sO8, he was called to
the bar at Lncons Inn, and at once devoted himself
10 practice in the common law courts and il the
northern circuit


In 1870 he was employed counsel in the case Of
certain English merchants, who had brought their
grievances by the famous Orders in Council before
the House Of Lords The eOQuence and legal ability
which be displayed on this occasion were Of a com
mandng character. He attracted the attention Of
the leading Wings, with whom he soon became a
distinguished favorite, and through their in
fuence was elected 10 the House of Com
mons as a member for the rotten borough Of
Camelford He at once took a strong position
against the claims of the Tories. His aggressive
zeal his yehemence in debate, and the unsparing
severity Of his sarcasm made him a formidable op-
ponent One of his first steps was TO introduce meas
ures for the suppression Of the slayerade IN thelr
labors for this end Wberforce and ClarksOn had no
more strenuous supporter than the fiery young WING
from Scotland. His efforts we're not wanting IN be-
half fOf other liberal and progressive measures. Inc
cause Of Catholic emancipation, of reform in the gov
ernment Of India and of the abolition Of tOggng IN
the army, received his powerful advocacy In 1911,
he successfully defended Leigh Hunt, the poet-edtor
OF the Examiner against the charge of libel but
was unable 10 procure the aequittal of his client
similar prosecution by the Government il the
following year.


In the Autumn Of 1872 hegofered himself as the
Wing candidate for Parliament from the borough of
Liverpool in opposition to Mr. Canning but was de
feated He again failed in a canvass as member from
Inverkeithing Burgs, and was absent from Parlia-
ment for the next four years At length in 1916 he
was returned from Winchelsea which borough he
continued to represent until 1890 having in the mean
time contested the representation from Westmore-
land three times without success


The efforts of Mr. Brougbam in the cause Of
popular education commenced In 1916, by his
support Of the appointment Of a committee to
inquire into the state of the education Of the
poor in the metropolis. In 1873 commission
was appointed at his instance TO inquire into the
abuses Of the public charitable foundations in the
Kingdom connected with education. During the
same year, he published his Letter to Sir Samuel
Remilly upon the Abuse of Public Charities" which
speedily gained large circulation, and produced
marked effect on public opinion in England The
first model school for fhe chiIdreu of the DoOrcr