THE LATE EARL BEACONSFIELD.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 128, 31 May 1881, Page 2

THE LATE EARL BEACONSFIELD.

Lord Beacontfield died at 5.30 on the morniug of the 19th ult. His end was peaceful and he was perfectly conscious till the last. Drs Kidd and Quain, and Lords Howtou and Banington were present when be expired. Ho had taken nourishment up to half past ten o'clock, and about 2 o'clock he became comatose, breathing with much difficulty. Drs Eidd and Bruce at once applied the usual restoratives but tbey failed in effect. Five minutes before Lord Beaconsfield expired, bis breathing became slow and gentle and his face very placid. His heart's action and pulse continued for a few nuinutee after the breathing had ceased to be apparent. His end Was so peaceful that it was difficult t* realise that the illustrous statesman was really dead. The executors of the will are Nathaniel Rothschild and Sir Philip Hose. The deceased Earl according to his earnest wish and direction was buried by the side of his wife in the grarey&rd ojt' the parish church at Hughenden Manor, His will divided the deceased^ property between Ralph Disraeli and Lord Rowtdn, (better known d& Montague Corry, Lord BeftConsfleld's private secretary). The news of his death was received by the Queen with the deepest sorrow. Bismarck, it is said, was also greatly moved when tbe intelligence reached him The Daily Netos and TiWe's pay eitfong tributes to the genius> undaunted spirit, proud patience, and Unconquerable will of the deceased statesman. The North Ger'rhd.n Gazette calls him " one of the most eminent men of modern tjmtes.'* The European press generally 'review Lord Beaconsfleld's career, expressing admiration of his gifts and general approval of his statesmanship. The clubs and newspapers abound in stories of the decensed statesman. Isaac Disraeli Was hospitable and popular .'and all the leading publish*-ei-s frequented his table. Old John Murray was the first to advise Benjamin to adopt literature as a pursuit. Benjamin was not only at the law office of Swain and Maples, where his attesting signature can be seen on many documents, but he also kept one or two terms in Lincoln Inn. As a young man the extravagance of his dress and the smartness of his conversation made him known in society. He appeared at & dinner party once in a black velvet coat, lace ruffles, black vest with striking yellow embroidery, designed like a huge sunflower, dovecolored trousers, patent leather shoes, half a score of rings and two or three long gold chains displaced on his waistcoast, showing several handsome cameos. A lady he was escorting Baid " Ben this is too bad» Are you Lord Mayor Mountebank <* J> His youthful extravagance involved him in debt, and, when he mamed, a large, part of his wife's fortune was required to moet bis liabilities, yet he was never so poor as stated in some papers. He wrote " Young Duke "to raise money .for his eastern trip with Meredith. When Disraeli returned, he was so fascinated with the east tint he was a3ked why he did not stop there, and he replied that "There were no politics in the east, and England would not be worth living in, but for politics." Dr Quaih was asked if Lord Beaconsfield took tt. deßponding view of his case. He Replied that it was hard to juag'e, as he never made any direct allusion to the matter, but it was gathered from his remarks that "he had something in hand," as Lord Palmerston said when death and he were at close quarters. At times he would smile oddly when the doctor told him he was getting stronger, but up to the Sunday night' before his death ifc was evident he had' high hopes of recovery. Mr Gladstone in a letter ot condolence to Lord Rowtoil said he had learned of the de- ; cease of Lord Beaconsfield with sad' surprise, and was prepared to give directions for a public funeral. Sir N. Rothschild, on behalf of the executors, thanked Mr Glad stone, stating that Lord Beaconsfleld's will, directed that he should be.buried at Hughenden by the side of his wife. The following i is the clause in Lord Beaconsfield's will relative to the disposition of his remains : — " I desiro and direct that I be buried in the same vault in the church«yard at Hughenden in which the remains of my late dear wife Mary Ann Disraeli, created in her own right Viscountess Beaconsfield, were placed, and that my funeral be conducted with the same simplicity as hers was." The will leaves Hughßhden to the deceased's nephew, Coningsby Ralph Disraeli. The estate is strictly entailed, with a reversion to male heirs, provided all successors to the latter take the name of Disraeli, not in conjunction with, but instead of, their own name. The Times comments : — " What will be the future of the family and home a generation hence ? Will the owner of Hughenden be a plain country gentleman or will a new Disraeli merge from politics in the 20th century to dazzle the multitude and seize the helm of power ? " In making Lord Rowton his literary executor, Lord Beaconsfield specially directed that no part of his correspondence with the Queen he published without her consent, or that of her successor. A fierce dispute has raged in the London papers respecting Sir William Jenner's refusal to meet Dr. Kidd, because the latter was suspected of treating Lord Beaconsfield homceopatliically. Dr. Kidd, it geems, had been ungenerously treated by the allopaths, but bore himself well, and has the gratification of having pulled Lord Beaconsfield through the worst phases of his sickness. Dr. Quaiu was bitterly attacked by some of the members of his school for meeting Dr. Kidd, who was Beaconsfleld's regular physi- , cian. Dr. Quain's treatment had been scrupulously followed from the start, and, moreover, Dr. Kidd is a member of the Royal College of Physicians. The Queen is said to regret that she did not carry out her original intention of paying a visit to Lord : Beaconsfield before leaving town. She was I dissuaded from doing so by the advice of his ■Lordship's physician, who insisted on comiplete rest for the patient. Her Majesty wrote, and sent to the morning papers, a approving of the action of Lord jßeaconsfleld'B executors in having a private if uneral in accordance with the request in his •-will, and added that she felt it strongly {when a similar injunction left by Lord Paljmerston was disregarded. The funeral took place at half past three on the 26th ultimo. The mourners assembled in Hngtiehden Manor House half and hoar before the procesBion star ted,the coffin being placed on & wheeled^ bier. On quitting the Manor Hoiiee the 'cor-' tege passed down patbw»7 OB tbe

side of the hill to the southern door of tbe church where it was met by the vicar who commenced the burial service. Au the remains were borne through the nave to the cbaucel, the organ played Beethoven's " Funeral March." The coffin rested .in front of tbe altar while the vicar read the first part of the ritual, and was then taken out through the southern door, the organ playing " Oh rest in the Lord," while the mourners quitted the church at each end for the vault where the interment was concluded in sight of the assembled people. The Queen sent a wreath of flowers from Qsborue. la tbe House of Commons on the 25th ult. it was announced by Mr Gladstone that he would shortly move a vote for f undo to erect a monument in honor of Earl Beaconsfisld in the vicinity of Westminster. The announcement was read with cheers. Mr Gladstone was not present ot tbe funeral) but Lord Hartingfcon was tbefe. The Prince of Wale?, Duke of Qonnaughfj Prince Leapold, and the Pritadfess pi Wales sent, wreaths, The Whole couDtry went into mourning, attire. After the burial service was completed, all the principal mourners entered the vault and placed 'wreaths on the coffin, and before the vault was closed it Was literally crammed with flowers. It is thought that : Ralph Disraeli -wAs willing to be overlooked in the latd Earl's testamentary diepositioD in favor of Coningsby so as to permit the. rents to accumulate and discharge the liabilities. No memoranda of legacies .to old servants and retainers at Hughenden House have been found. The monument scheme ie considered by judicious men a great bluoder, and the Radicali will offer strong opposition to Mr Gladstone's motion for the appropriating- of £5000 for that purpose. ; It is understood that the Premier it acting in the matter on the suggeition of the iQueen herself, bat it is doubtful whether he will bring th6 matter up in the House after all, as it is cer'ain to excite a controversy as bitter as that over the proposal to open Westminster Abbey to the remains of the Prince Imperial. During Lord Beaconsfleld's ilneas a man recommended the transfusion of blood and offered himself bb the victim, but the proposal was declined, the patient preferriog the alternative. . |