A HERO OF THE PEN.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIX, Issue 3124, 23 July 1892, Page 2 (Supplement)

A HERO OF THE PEN.

AmuSi; 'lie famou? special correspondents who have done great public service through the L'roHs, there is not one wlio bus .shown more genuine, unflinching , courage than an old gentleman who has just died at the ago of eighty- five years, whose name is probibly quite unfamiliar to tlio general public, but who for fifty years represented The Times in Southern Italy, 'who risked his life not in one wild dash ' like .1 war correspondent, hut constantly for a long scries of years in discharging hie duty to his paper and to the wretched people amentr whom his lot was cast. When Mr Wreyford first represented The Times at Naples his warmest deti.station was exoibd by the horrors which he found being unacted under the Bourbon rule. Mr Gladstone once described it as " the nes-ation of God erected into a system." The Spectator, referring to the insecurity of life which then prevailed, remarks thai, "unless an ambassador, no man's life or liberty was safe if he was denounced by one of a myriad of spies : and for years oven the pleasure lovers of Europe avoided the delicious kingdom like a lazar house.' , Mr Wreyford, a man of modest, shrinking disposition hy natnre, set himself to _ bring the force of European public opinion to sweep away these abuses. Writing to the Tho Times only a short cime before his death, Mr Wreyford modestly reviewed some of tho incidents of his caveer. Ho

Kays, — •' When I first entered Naplos fifty years ago, the city was full of ravage devotees of the Bourbons, anil I had often to fly before- mobs of excited pooplo who were preoePflod by images of the Madonna and the Kin? and Queen. It was almost dangn-ous io walk through the streets, for Naples was for several years without visitor.-), especially during the suspension of diplomatic relations between Franco and England and this country, and the cause of their absence was believed to be The Times. Hence the ' industries ' of every class were furious against me, and I never left my house without meeting with group.-) of persons one of work, who scowled menacingly upon me. Even my own banker and other p.-ivate frionds •rave me the cold shoulder, and I could have found no protection anywhere, for even the police wero dodging my footsteps. I always expected as much, for after the entrance of Garibaldi (he perfect of Castellaraare gave me a large folio volume of letters, directed by the chief police authoritoa to the office around the coast, urging the utmost vigilance with regard to my movement.-:. This vigilance lasted for seventeen years. Every change of residence was noted; thos«_ whom I received were named. In addition to this I was followed every where by u spy wellknown to my acquaintances. My roo.Ti?, under some excuse or other, were visited by him in my absence. My baggage was arrested on the Coast and it was only through the interference cf Sir William Temple that I recovered it. The volume of police letters is now in my possession, and will finally be placed in the Museum at San Murtino.'