A TERRIBLE DESCENT IN THE WORLD.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2096, 22 September 1875, Page 3

A TERRIBLE DESCENT IN THE WORLD.

The Alexandra Times furnishes the following melancholy narrative :—" One of those sad tales which have so often been told in Victoria about men tailing from positions of honor and influence to the very depths of degradation and misery, came under our notice on Tuesday last. Hearing that old Smith, the deputy registrar of births and deaths, was lying in a hut very ill, we went to see him, accompanied by Constable M'Cormick and another member of the police force. The door of the hut could only be opened by a few inches, as Smith was lying on the floor with his head against it. One of the police entered by the window and removed the unfortunate man, who was in an unconscious state, into the middle of the floor, where he died within five minutes. The poor man's legs were a mass of putrefying sores. He had but one blanket on his bed, and the hut had a miserable appearance. This wretched remnant of humanity was the Hon. John Spencer Smith, at one time Colonial Treasurer of Prince Edvvard's Island, his tather being Governor at the same time. His uncle was Admiral Sir Sydney Smith. Mr Smith, who was about 66 years ot age, had the stamp of a man who had seen better days. He had resided m Alexandra during the past eight years, He was deputy-registrar of births and deaths, which was worth, about 63 or 7s a week, arid kept a small private school up to within the past three years, which brought him in a few shillings more. The most of this small income was speufc in liquor,

and still he managed to keep up a tolerably respectable appearance. 111-health made him an inmate of our local hospital for twelve months, from which he was discharged about a year ago. An attempt was made to get him into the Melbourne Benevolent Asylum, but he strongly objected. When questioned as to his past career he evaded giving any information, and it was only lately, by correspondence from his friends in Canada, through Captain Standish that he beame known. He has a son a clergyman in Canada, and another in a merchant's office in New Zealand. According to the last letters received, his relatives intend to send him some money, and strongly urged that he should return home. Too late now! The following advertisement, which refers to the deceased, we copy from the Government Gazette of 7th November, 1871. A similar notice appeared in a Gazette of 1869. When asked if he was the person referred to, he repeatedly denied it, but some months ago he admitted that he was. Letters in possession of the police from deceased's friends are addressed _ to the Honourable John Spencer Smith: — 'John Spencer Smith, and his son, C. M. Smith, have not yet been found. They came from Prince Edward Island, where Captain J. S. Smith once held the appointment of Colonial Treasurer. His father was Governor of the island, and his uncle was Admiral Sir Sidney Smith, R.N. About 16 years ago, Mr J. S. Smith wrote from St'Kildn, Victoria at Amherst, in 1854.' Mr Smith was buried on Wednesday as a pauper, and was followed to the grave by about half a-dozen persons. There is a moral in this man's last days which is easily applied."