THE EARL OF BEACONSFIELD.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3095, 30 May 1881, Page 3

THE EARL OF BEACONSFIELD.

Lord Beaconsfield died at 5.30 on tbe morning of the 19th ultimo. The end was peaceful, and he was perfectly conscious till the last. Drs. Kidd and Quain and Lords Rowton and Barrington were present when he expired. He had taken nourishment up to half-past ten. About two he became comatose, breathing with much difficulty. Drs. Kidd and Bruce at once applied the usual restoratives, but they failed in effect. Five minutes before he expired the breathing became slow and gentle, and the face very placid. The heart's action and pulse continued for a few minutes after the breathing had ceased to be apparent. The end was so peaceful that it was difficult to realise that he was dead. Tbe executors of the will are Nathaniel Rothschild and Sir Philip Rose. The dead Earl, according to his earnest wish and direction, was buried by the side of his wife in tbe graveyard of the parish church of Hughenden Manor. The will divides the deceased's property between Ralph Disraeli and Lord Rowton, formerly Montagu Corry, his private secretary.

The news of the death was received by the Queen with the deepest sorrow. Bismarck, it is said was also greatly moved when the intelligence reached him.

The News and Times (London) pay strong tribute to the genius, undaunted spirit, proud patience, and unconquerable will of the dead statesman. The North German Gazette calls him " one of the most eminent men of modern times." The European press generally review Lord Beaconsfield's career, expressing admiration of hia gifts and general approval of his statesmanship.

The clubs and newspapers abound in stories of the deceased statesman. Isaac Disraali was hospitable and popular, and the leading publishers 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 ore or two terms at Lincoln's Inn. As a young man tbe extravagance of dress and smartness of conversation made him known in society. He appeared at a dinner paaty once in a black velvet co.it, and black vest, with a striking yellow embroidered design like ahugh sunflower, dove-colored trousers, patent leather shoes, half a score of rings, and two or three long gold chains displayed on his waistcoat, showing several handsome cimeos. The lady he was escorting said, " Ben, this is too bad. Are you Lord Mayor or a mountebank ?" His youthful extravagance involved him in debt, and when married a large part of his wife's fortune was required to meet his liabilities, yet he was never so poor as stated in Borne papers. He wrote "YouDg Duke" to raise money for an Eastern trip with Meredith. When Disraeli returned he wa3 so fascinated with the East that he was asked why he did not stop there. He replied, " There were no politics in the East, aud England would not be worth living in but for politics."

Dr Quain was asked if Lord Beaconsfield took a desponding view of his case, and he replied that it was hard to judge; he never made any direct allusion to the matter, but it was gathered from his remarks that he thought "he had something in hand," as Lord Palmerston said when death and he were at close quarters. At times, however, he would smile oddly when the doctors told him be was getting stronger, but up to the Sunday night before his death it was evident he had high hopes of recovery.

Mr Gladstone, in his letter of condolence to Lord Rowton, said he had " learned of the decease of Lord Beacons-' field with sad surprise, and be was prepared to give directions for a public funeral." Sir Nathaniel Bothschild, on behalf of the executors, thanked Mr Gladstone, stating that Lord Beaconsfield directed that he be buried at Hughenden by the side ofhia wife. Tbe following is the clause in Earl Beaconsfield's will relative to the disposition of the remains :

—" I desire and direct that I be buried in the same vault in the churchyard 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 simplicity as hers was."

The will leaves Hughenden to the deceased's nephew, Coningsby Ralph Disraeli. The estate is strictly entailed, with reversion to male heirs provided all successors to the latter take tho name of Disraeli, not in conjunction with but instead of their own name*

The Times comments—" What will be the future of the family some generation hence ? Will the owner of Hughenden be a plain country gentleman, or will a new Disraeli emerge from politics in the twentieth century to dazzle the multitude and seize the helm of power." In making Lord Rowton his literary executor Earl Beaconsfield specially directs that no part of his correspondence with the Queen be published without her consent, or that of her successors.

A fierce dispute raged in the London papers respecting Sir William Jenner's refusal to meet Dr. Kidd, because the latter Was Suspected of treating Lord Beaconsfield homcepathicaliy. Dr. Kidd. it seems, has been ungenerously treated by the allopaths. He bore himself well, and has tbe gratification of having pulled Lord Beaconsfield through worse phases of sickness. Dr. Quain was bitterly attacked by some of the members of his school for meeting Dr. Kidd, who was Lord Beaconsfield's regular physician. The advice of Dr. Quain has been scrupulously followed from the start, and moreover Dr. Kidd is •*, member of the Royal College of Physicians. The Queen is said to regret that phe did not carry out her original intention of paving a visit to tbe Earl of Beaconsfield before leaving town. She was dissuaded by the advice of his Lordship's physician, who insisted on complete rest for the patient: Her Majesty Wrote and sent to the morning papers a paragraph approving of the action of Lord Beacotisfleld'a executors in having a private funeral in accordance with the request in the will, and that rihe felt strongly when a similar injunction left by Lord Palmerston was disregarded

The funeral took place at half-past three on the 26tb ultimo. The mourners assembled at Hughenden Manor bouse half an hour before the procession. The coffin, being placed on a wheeled bier on quitting the manor bouse, passed down a sloping pathway on the side of a hill to the southern door of the church, where it was met by the vicar, who commenced the burial servi-je. As the remains were borne through the nave to the chancel the organ played Beethoven's " Funeral March." The coffin rested in front of the altar while the vicar read the first part of the ritual. It 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 Osborne.

In tbe House of Commons on the 23rd it was announced by Mr Gladstone that he would shortly move a vote for funds to erect a monument in honor of Earl Beaconsfield in the vicinity of Westminster. The announcement was received with cheers.

Mr Gladstone was not present at the funeral, but the Marquis of Hartington was there.

The Prince of Wales, the Duke of Connnught, Prince Leopold and the Princess of Wales, sent a wreath. The whole country was in mourning attire. After the burial service was completed all tbe principal mourners entered the vault and placed wreaths on the coffin, and before the vault was closed it was literally cratned with flowers.

A further invesigation into the dead earls's affairs show that Hughenden is mortgaged, and that he died poor. It is thought Ralph Disraeli was willing to be overlooked in favor of Coningsby, so as to permit the rents to accumulate to discharge the liabilities

No memorandum of legacies to old servants and retainers at Hughenden House have been found.

The monument scheme is considered by judicious men a great blunder, and the Radicals will offer a strong opposition to Mr Gladstone's motion for the appropriation of £5000 for the purpose. It is understood that the Premier is acting in the matter on a suggestion from the Queen herself, but it is doubtful whether he will bring the matter up in the House afte>all, as it is certain to excite a controversy as bitter as that over the proposal to open Westminster Abbey to the remains of the Prince Imperial. During Lord Beaconsfiold's illness a man recommended a transfusion of blood, and offered himself as the victim. His offer was declined, the patient preferring the alternative.