DEATH OF LORD CLARENDON.

North Otago Times, Volume XIV, Issue 542, 26 July 1870, Page 8 (Supplement)

DEATH OF LORD CLARENDON.

On* of the most popnlar and one of the moat distinguished of iho hereditary peers of England puied *w»y on Monday morning at twenty minuet put six o'olook. The death of Lord Clarendon will make a sensible Toid in English soalety. Trusted by all ranks, from the sovereign whose friendship he had for many years enjoyed, he was one of the few men who held tho respeot of all classes of her Majesty subjects. Of the deoeased Foreign Minister it may be aaid, that he was sever unfaithf al to the cause o! the people, and nerer unmindful of hl> obligations aa a noble. Officially, he kept himself very mnoh to the work upon which, for the last fifty years, it may be said he was constantly engaged. He waa a great representative of the old diplomatic school. He had a European reputation from his long oonneotioa with the Foreign Office, and abroad,|ao well as here, he will be greatly regretted by a very large somber of private friends. Politically, his death has happened at a most unfortunate moment for the public service, owing to the present state of many important questions connected with oar foreign policy. Hia constitution, impaired by frequent attacks of gout, by *£*> * n d by the unceasing duties of his high office, proved unable to resist the weakening effeots of an attack of diarrhoaa, whioh he incautiously negleoted for three days. Lord Clarendon learea three sons and three daughters, who were devoted in their affection for their father. The eldest daughter is married to the brother of Lord Derby, the second to Lord Skelmersdale, and the youngest to Mr. Odo Russell, the English chargi d'affaires at Borne. The Sight Honourable George William Frederiok Villiers, K.G., G.C.B., was born almost with the present century, on January 12, 1800. .His father, the Hon. George Yilliers, was brother of the second earl, and he himself succeeded to the title in 183S. Earl Clarendon was all his life a diplomatist, fie entered the service rery early, and in 1833 was appointed British Minister Plenipotentiary at the Court of Madrid. Seven years later be was made a Privy Councillor. Under Lord Melbourno he held the office of Lord Privy Seal and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancasterfrom 1839 to 1841. In 1846 he beoame President of tbe Board of Trade, and a year afterwards was appointed Lord-Lieutenant] of Ireland, at whioh port he remained till 1852. In February, 1853, he took the post of Secretary for Foreign Affairs. At this time the Eastern question was engaging the serious attention of politicians, and the aggressive policy of Russia shortly after committed this country to a share in the Crimean war. Upon the fall of Lord Aberdeen's Ministry, Lord Derby, who attempted to form a Ministry, invited Lord Clarendon to retain his position, and when, upon Lord Derby's failure to colleot a cabinet, Lord Palxnerston succeeded to power, the same arrangement was made, and the earl held the aeala of office until 1858. In 1864 he again held office Under Xiord Palmereton, this time as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, which post he exchanged for that of Foreign Seoretary late in 1865, retiring with the Liberal Ministry during the following year. He refused the invitation of Lord Derby to join the Conservative Reform Ministry, and upon the accession of Mr. Gladstone to power, at the end of 1868, he resumed his former position, whioh ho held till his death, His death plaoes a vacant Garter in 'the hands of her Majesty, and robs the Queen's University in Ireland of its Chancellor. He will be succeeded in his title to his son, Lord Hyde.