The Last Years of lord Shaftesbury.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 199, 16 April 1887, Page 3

The Last Years of lord Shaftesbury.

To many readers the record of Ltrd Shaftesbury's later years will perhaps have a greater charm than any other portion of the work. At the age of 70 he gave the following account of himself in his diary — a description which was applicable, in great measure, to the remaining years of his life: " Dec 22 1371.— 1 am 70 years of age and six months. My eyesight it very good, requiriug glasses only for reading ; lam somewhat deaf. I sleep well, walk easily, though not very far without fatigue. Am tolerably erect, and have very few grey hairs. Whatever mind I ever had, I think that I retain. Mamony may be—l am not quire sure — a little weakened. Doubtless it is so in respect of getting things by heart. Am generally calm and collected, though oftentimes in high spirits, and often- , times exqeedingly low. Yet in neither ' extreme do I after the opinions I have formed Ido not, of course, as I used to do, look forward constantly to some fresh thing to be achieved I estimate obstacles more accurately, and confess the very short timo at command. I have nevertheless projects, and it is pleasant to indulge them, though I may never be able to execute them. My feelings are as vivid and as keen as in my youth -on all subjects, I may say, except in cases of neglect or affront. Here, of course, I am not pleased ; but I accept the matter, as the French Bay, a fait accompli, and there the question ends." Be was sensitive in the extreme all through life, and he was so on the question of old age. " The moment a man is said to be a fine mau for his age," he wrote, "he is simply enjoying an euphonious term fora demi twaddler. If he does anything well, people admiro with a species of patronising compassion ; if he does it ill, they ascribe it to actual or approaching imbecility." Nevertheless it was hia conatant prayer that he might " die in harness," and his last years were full of unceasing activity. "Restless activity they call it," he eairi, I "but why? Only because others are so I refctful." ! •• There is nothing more curious in the whole of the diaries of Lord Shaftesbury," says his biographer, " thau the record of h's old age. He contemplated ifc in a hundred unexpected ways, and from very ordinary standpoints ; he speculated upon it, as if he wore a disinterested person ; ho naively describes and discusses feelings and sensations common to old age, but as if he had not the least conception that they proceed from that cause. Thus, in IBS 3, when visiting bis friends at Castle Wemyss, where hia health hitherto had always been benefited, he begins to think 'the air is relaxing.' Soon get tired. I should like to rry a very bracing climate. It does not seem to occur to him that the difference in feeling is due to age." The story of his last days, spent at Folkestone, whither he had gone for change of air and in the hope of recovering strength is told by Mr Hodder in the following words : — " Free from distressing pain : with conecioußnees pe;fectly clear; surrounded by his sons and daughters, whom he loved with an untold and untellable love ; undisturbed by any fear of death, unshaken in faith, and in full assurance of hope, he calmly waited the end. ' ■"He was, to the last, very anxious that the letters which came to him should be answered, and used to dictate to hia daughter, Lady Templemore, the replies he wished to be sent. " The very last matter of actual business whioh he attended to was the filling, up of the living of Shaftesbury (of which he was patron), and much care and thought* were bestowed by him on the appointment.' . • ''Then came a day, the first day of October, when the sun was shining in meridan splendour, flooding his chamber with the light he loved so well. His.faithful valet, Goldsmith, handed him something, which he received with' the words, 4 Thank- you.' .These were his laetj.worda. And then, a few minutes later, fully conscious to ihe last moment, he passed,!without pain or sigh or struggle* into the ineffable light. " Leisure Hour." i „ :

An Austin lawyer caught (a tramp in hia office stealing some, law book?, which the latter intended to pawn, S^i2ipg. v tjio intruder by fche c >Uar ihe Jaw.) er e^eja/med : ♦« You scoundrel, I'U .have ypu. r foeiqd and eenfe tha Penitentiary,", V h^m° mj neok, , Colonel.- If you^are^going^.tP have me tried, 1 reckcfn I'd better QBgage^you an my lawyer, as jou have the Juck to be on hand." s