DEATH OF MR. THACKERAY.

North Otago Times, Volume 1, Issue 1, 25 February 1864, Page 6

DEATH OF MR. THACKERAY.

Mr William Makepeace Thackeray, the celebrated author, died suddenly on Thursday morning, when he was found dead in his bed. With all his high spiiits, he lately did not seem well ; he complained of illness, but he was often ill 5 and he laughed off his present attack. He said that he was about tonndergo some treatment which would work a perfect cure in his system, and so he made light of his malady. He was suffering from two distinct complaints, one of which has now wrought his death. More than a dozen years ago, while he was writing " Pendennis," it will be recollected that the publication of that work was stopped by his serious illness. He was brought to death's door, and he was saved from death by Dr. Elliotson, to whom, in gratitude, he dedi cated the novel when he lived to finish it. But ever since that ailment he has been subject every month or six weeks to attacks of sickness, attended with violent retching. He was congratulating himself, however, on the failure of his old enemy to return, and then he checked himself, as if he ought not to be too sure of a release from his plague. On Wednesday morning the complaint returned, and he was in great suffering all day, and at night his servant proposed to sit up with him ; but his he declined. He was heard moving about midnight, and must have died between two and three in the morning. His medical attendants attribute his death to effusion on the brain. They add that he had a very large brain, weighing no less than 58±ozs. He died full of strength and rejoicing — full of plans and hopes.