THE DEATH OF LORD BEACONSFIELD.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 6282, 31 May 1881, Page 3

THE DEATH OF LORD BEACONSFIELD.

(PER SAN FRANCISCO .MAIL) ((UNITED press association.) London, May 8. Lord Beaconafield died at 5.50 on the morning of the 19 th ultimo. His end was peaceful, and he .was perfectly conscious till the last. Dra, Kidd and Quain, and Lords Rowton and Barrington were present when he expired. He had taken nourishment up to half-past ten. About 2 o’clock 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 Lord Beaconsfield expired the breathing became slow and gentle, and the face very placid. The heart’s action and the pulse continued a few minutes after the breathing had ceased to be apparent. The end was so peaceful that it was difficult to realise that the illustrious statesman was really dead. The 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 the graveyard of the jjarieh church, at Hughenden Manor. The will divides the deceased’s property between Ralph Disraeli and - Lord Rowton (better known as Montagu Carry, Lord Beaconsfield’s ■Private Secretary). The news of the death was received by the Queen with the deepest sorrow. Bismarck, it is said, was also greatly jnovod when the intelligence reached him.

The Daily News and the Times pay stron to tributes u> the genius, undaunted spirit,-prim 1 > 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 Braconsfield’s career, expnssing admiration of his gifts and general approval of his statesmanship. Dr. Quain was asked if Lord Beaoonsfie.'d took a desponding view of his case V He replied that it was bard to judge ; he never made any direct allusion to the matter, but it was gathered from bis remarks that he thought “ he had something in hand,” ns Lord Palmerston said when death and he were at close quarters. At times, however, he would smile oddly, when the doctor told him he was getting stronger, but up to the Sunday night before his death it was evident he had high hopes of recovery. A fierce disprute has raged in the London papers respecting Sir Wm. .Tenner’s refusal to meet Dr. Kidd, becau=e the latter was suspected of treating Lord Beaconsfield homceopathieaily. Dr. Kidd, it seems, has been ungenerously treated by the allopaths, but boro himself well, and has the gratification of having pulled Lord Beaconsfied through the worst phases of his sickness. Dr. Quain was bitterly attacked by some of the members of his school for meeting Dr. Kidd, who was Beaconsfieid’s regular physician. Dr. Quain's treatment had bten scrupulously followed from the start, and moreover, Dr. Kidd is a member of the Royal College of Physicians. The Queen is said to regret that she did not carry out her original intention of paying a visit to Lord Beaoonsfield before leaving town. She was dissuaded from doing so by the advice of bis lordship's physicians, who insisted on complete rest fertile patient. Her Majesty wrote and sent to the morning papers a paragraph approving the action of Lord Beaconsfield’s executors in having a private funeral in accordance with the request in the will, and added that she felt it strongly, when a similar injunction left by Lord Palmerston was disregarded. Mr. Gladstone, in his letter of condolence to Lord Rowton, said he had learned of the decease of Lord Beaconsfield with sad surprise. He was prepared to give directions for a public funeral. Sir Nathaniel Rothschild, on behalf of the executors, thanked Mr. Gladstone, stating that Lord Beaconsfield’s will directed that he should be buried at Hughendeu, by the side of his wife. The following is the clause in Lord Beaconsfield will relative to the disposition of his remains :—“I desire and direct that I be buried in the same vault in the churchyard at Hugheuden in which the remains of my late dear wife, Mary Ann Disraeli, created in her own right Vicountess Beaconsfield, were placed ; and that my funeral be conducted with the same simplicity as her’s was.” The will leaves Hughenden to deceased's nephew, Coningsby Ralph Disraeli. The estate is strictly entailed with reversion to male heirs, provided all successors to the latter take the name of Disraeli, not in conjunction with, but instead of their own name. The Times comments ; “ What will be the future of the family and home a generation hence? Will the owner of Hughenden be a plain country gentleman, or will a new Disraeli emerge from politics in the 20th century to dazzle the multitude and seize the helm of power? In making Lord Rowton his literary executor, Lord Beaoonsfield specially directed that no part of his correspondence with the Queen be published without her consent or that of her successor. The funeral took place at ha'f-past 3 on the 26th ult. The mourners assembled at Hughenden Manor House half-an-hour before the procession, the coffin being placed on a wheeled bier. On quitting the Manor House the cortege passed down a sloping pathway, on the side of the hill, to the southern door of the church, where it was met by the vicar, who commenced the burial service. As the remains were bornethrough the navetothe chancel, the organ played Beethoven’s “ Funeral March. ’’ The coffin rested in front of the altar whilethe vicar read the first part of the ritual. It was then taken out through the southern door, the organ playing “ Qb, 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. Mr. Gladstone was not present at the funeral, but Lord Hartingtou was there. The Prince of Wales, Duke of Connaught, Prince Leopold, and the Princess of Wales sent wreaths. The whole country went into mourning attire. After the burial service was completed, all the principal mourners entered the vault and placed wreaths on the coffin, and before the vault was closed it was literally crammed with flowers. In the House of Commons, on the 25th, it was announced by Mr. Gladstone that he would shortly move a vote for funds to erect a monument in honor of the Earl of Beacousfield in the vicinity of Westminster. The announcement was received with cheers. The scheme is considered by judicious men a great blunder, and the Radicals will offer strong opposition to Mr. Gladstone’s motion for the appropriation of £SOOO for that 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 after all, as it is certain to excite controversy as bitter as that over the proposal to open Westminster Abbey to the remains of the Prince Imperial. During Lord Beaconsfield’s illness, a man recommended transfusion of blood, and offered himself as the victim. The proposal was declined, the patient preferring tho alternative.