DEATH OF MR. FAWCETT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 7170, 8 November 1884, Page 5

DEATH OF MR. FAWCETT.

[kboter's cablegrams..] . London, November 6. The Right Hon. Henry Fawoett, Poßtmaster-General, who has been suffering from a severe attack of pneumonia, died this afternoon, aged si.. ... .' .;■.,; .'-..•. '■: ""' THE 2IOGBAFAICAL SKETCH. " '.'.'.... Henry Fawce&t wae in many respects a remarkable man. Although stone blind he was one of the ablest finanoieis in the House of Commons. His administrative capacity was of the highest order. The reforniß which he initiated while Postmaster-General—the parcel poat for example—will caunb'his nanie to be long remembered in England.' He was bom in 1833, and was educated, at Trinity Hall, Cambridge, where ho graduated in high mathematical honours. In ttie same year o£ promising distinction he was elected a Fellow. He had already taken an active pare in movements for the promotion of popular education, for the reform of social aud political abuses, and for the amelioration of the condition of the working classes, when in the following year, 1557, he. unsuccessfully contested the borough of Southwark; An unfortunate ■ .event next year reiuoved Mr. Fawcett from the din of political warfare. While out shooting he\ was deprived' of his eyesight by accident. To many equally ardent and ambitious mortals, this would have proved a sad blow to all.thoir hopes, and prospects of success in public life. < On Mr. Fawcect it evidently had no such deadening influence, but, on the contrary, appeared to "prick tho side , " of hie intent ; for,, within a year or two his form and .voice were, familiar in many a hall throughout the king-, dom, where social questions were being discussed with a direocness which required not the stimulus of party spirit.' In; 1862 Mr. Fawcett essayed ugain to enter the douse of Commons, but was again rejected—tbis time by Cambridge. At thia time he.was coming into notice ss apromisiug writeronsocial questions. In 1563 the Cambridge University re-, ceived him as Professor of Political Economy.. His aptitude for the work entrusted to him was noon made manifest, and the fruits of his concentrated attention to a subject .of vital importance, especially to every-commeroial community,. have been appreciated in every part of the world. - ; Once, more: a' lutile'attempt was made in the direction of Parliament, in 1864, thro"ugh the suffrages of -Brighton.. Ou. April' 23. 1567, Mr. .Fawcett married;- •MisS' Millicehb Garrett, , >: an acr. oomplished lady;- In.the prci»be to " Frqe Trade and Protection,"ihe. warmly acknow-. ledged the a»sistance derived from bis! wife in bringine;. out'that work, which was revised by ,her as it was passing through' the press. Mrs. Fawcett is tne author of several works on'political economy, and has published, conjointly' with her. hueband, a volume of essays and letters. Pro-.. fieaor Fawcetfc is b«3t known :to ■ readers by his "M»nual of Political. Economy, ,, " Pauperism; its Causes. and Remedies," "The Economic Position of'.the British-La-bourer," and by "Free Trade, and' Protection." He also . publisher! volumes of his speeches on current political questions. In 1865 Brighton, which he had' wooed in- vain the previous year, returned him to the House of Commons, and again elected him iu, 1868. In 1874, however, when . the Conservative reaction carried all before it, he was. defeated at Brighton; but two months later he had tbe satisfaction of being returned for Hackney, whioh metropolitan borough he continued to represent*up to the time of his death. In ISSO, on Mr. Gladstone acceding to office, • Mr.- Fawcett accepted- the portfolio ot Postmaster-General. He at once set about introducing reforms likely to benefit the public. He established a post, office business, in consols, and introduced.- Mr. Chetwynd's plan of stamp ■ slips- for: small deposits in the savings banks; He introduced the Government insurance business in connection with the post office,; eatab. lished postal notes to facilitate the remitting ot small sums, reply post oards, cheap telegrams, the parcel post, and. man} , other important innovations. By all' political parties he was ungrudgingly, recognised as one of the most efficient Postmaster-Generals the country has ever known. -His: figure will long be missed in the .House' of Commons. Every stranger was.'eager, to have pointed out to < him the blind profesßor. It was difficult, however,, to realise that the spectacles which hp wore covered eyea , which were sightless, i Heihad none oi' the., timidity or ■ restraint in Jils , movements, wliioh ordinarily characteriaes' blind people: Hetwalked. up the floor of-tbe House, and- took his ■ Beat all the assurance and confidence of -a man who possessed the best of eyesight.': He':was a bold and daring horseman, a skilful', angler, and a graceful skater, in spite df.the fact" that he was blind, and there were ;few things nqt absolutely dependent on; eyesight whioh he could not do—and do much better than moat people. ■• . -'■•■'•