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    slightly revived , and , again in reply to Dr . Foucart , said , •« 1 feel better . " The carriage w « s then ordered to drive slowly through the park to Whitehall-gardens , Sir Robert being supported by Dr . Foucart and the two gentlemen who had first raised him from the ground . They had not proceeded more than thirty yards when Sir James Clarke met the carriage , and , having heard of the accident , came up to see if he could render any assistance . Dr . Foucart requested Sir James to accompany him in the carriage to Whitehall , which Sir James consented to do . In a few minutes after he had entered the carriage Sir Robert became much excited , and endeavoured to raise himself up , which it was thought necessary to prevent . He then again sank into a state

    of half-unconsciousness , in which he remained until his arrival in Whitehall-gardens . On being lifted out of the carriage he revived , and walked , with assistance , into the house . On entering the mansion , Sir Robert was met by Lady Peel and the members of his family , who had been awaiting his arrival in painful anxiety after having received intelligence of the accident . Lady Peel was overwhelmed with emotion , and would have flung herself in to her husband ' s arms had not Sir James Clarke and the other gentlemen in attendance removed her . The effect of the meeting upon Sir Robert was extremely painful . He swooned in the arms of Dr . Foucart , and was placed upon a sofa in the nearest apartment ( the this Sir Robert

    dining-room ) . From room was never removed , and so extremely sensitive to pain did he speedily become that it was only after very considerable difficulty that he could be removed from the sofa to a patent hydraulic bed which had been procured for his use . Sir James Clarke having consulted with Lady Peel , it was arranged to send at once for Sir Benjamin Brodie and Mr . Caesar Hawkins . Dr . Seymour and Mr . Hodgson , the family physician and surgeon , were also sent for at the same time . Sir James Clarke and Dr . Foucart remained in attendance until Mr . Shaw ( Sir Benjamin Brodie ' assistant ) came , when the former left . At length Sir Benjamin arrived , and a consultation took

    place between the six gentlemen whose names are above given . A formidable difficulty presented itself at the very outset of the case , from the distressing fact that Sir Robert ' s sufferings were so acute that he would not permit any minute examination of his injuries to be msde by the medical men . The slightest touch in the vicinity of the injured parts gave him intense agony , and the only manner in which he could be treated under the circumstances was to assume that the comminuted fracture of the clavicle ( which was evident to the eye on the clothes being removed ) was the only one , and that the ribs were uninjured . After the consultation it was determined to reduce this fracture , but , owing to the

    extreme sensibility of the patient , the operation was not completely performed , and , at the expiration of a few hours , the sufferer entreated that he might be released from the bandages , and thev were accordingly taken off . During Saturday evening Sir Robert was permitted to see Lady Peel and the members of his family ; but after this time it was thought advisable to exclude all strangers from the apartment , for fear of producing any additional excitement . Sir Robert passed a restless night on Saturday , his extreme sensibility to touch increasing hourly , and his symptoms altogether becoming very alarming , which at the first , we believe , some of the medical gentlemen in attendance did not consider them to be . On Sunday evening , the pulse having increased from

    between 80 and 90 , at which it had ranged after the accident , to upwards of 100 , it was deemed necessary to take some blood , with a view of reducing the inflammation . Twenty leeches were accordingly applied to the left shoulder by Dr . Foucart , and a large quantity of blood was obtained . There was no positive improvement in the condition of the patient from this operation , and he continued in a very precarious state throughout the whole of Sunday and Monday . On Monday night the alarming symptoms were greatly increased . About seven o ' clock Sir Robert became delirious , and attempted to raise himself in up in bed . In this state he continued during the greater part of the night , and at intervals he that his medical attendants

    became so much exhausted were several times of opinion that he could not survive through the night . In the paroxysms of his sufferings Sir Robert ' s thoughts were with his oldest and dearest friends , and the names of Hardinge and Graham were frequently upon his lips . At four o ' clock on Tuesday morning Sir Robert fell into a sound sleep , in which he continued uninterruptedly until eight o ' clock . On awaking , his mind was quite composed , and his medical attendants considered him to be much refreshed by the rest he had enjoyed . There was still , however , cause for intense anxiety . From the period of the accident up to this time ( nearly seventy hours ) Sir Robert had taken no other sustenance than a glass of champagne and the yolk of one egg beaten up , which he was induced with some difficulty to swallow . Medicine

    had been administered , as a matter of course , but throughout the same lengthened period the system had remained perfectly inactive . The pulse had greatly increased on Tuesday , marking from 112 to 118 , and becoming very weak . At noon on Tuesday Sir Robert expressed himself to be a little easier . This relief was , unhappily , of short duration . At two o ' clock far more dangerous symptoms than any which had yet been observed presented themselves . At this time Sir Robert began to breathe stertorously , and his senses again failed him . He ceased to answer any of the questions addressed to him , and appeared to be sinking into a comatose state . Sir Benjamin Brodie was again sent for , and on his arrival agreed with Dr . Foucart and the other medical gentlemen that the ca 9 e now assumed a most dangerous aspect . The pulse had become very weak , and marked 118 . From two o ' clock to six o ' clock the

    change for the worse was progressive , the pulse increasing to 130 , and becoming gradually weaker . Stimulants were administered , but had no apparent effect , and the stertorous breathing became more and more painful .

    The relatives were now informed that all the relief medical science could afford was exhausted , and that no hope whatever existed of Sir Robert Peel ' s life being prolonged for twenty-four hours . The Bishop of Gibraltar ( the Rev . Dr . Tomlinson ) , a very old friend of Sir Robert ' s , was now sent for to administer the last offices of the church . On the arrival of the prelate it was intimated to Lady Peel and the members of the family that they might now , without risk of increasing the dangerous condition of the patient , be admitted to the

    apartment in which he was lying . In a few moments the whole family were assembled in the presence of their beloved relative , whose exhausted condition at this time scarcely enabled him to recognize their identity . He revived sufficiently during one period of the interview to identify the features of those beloved ones surrounding his couch—towards whom he at length extended his faltering hand , and , in an attitude bespeaking tne intensity of his feelings , whispered in a scarcely audible voice— " God bless you !"

    At the termination of this distressing scene Lord Hardinge and Sir James Graham , who had been informed of the fatal result anticipated , were admitted to the presence of the patient , now rapidly sinking . Both gentlemen were painfully affected ; and well might Lord Hardinge remark on leaving the room that the contemplation of his beloved friend upon his dying couch had more unnerved him than all the dangers he had encountered on the plains of Moodkee and Sobraon . At 9 o ' clock Sir Robert had become so exhausted as

    to be callous to all external impressions . The members of his family still remained near him , with the exception of Lady Peel , whose painfully excited feelings rendered it absolutely necessary to remove her from the apartment . The sufferer ' s strength was , however , so far exhausted that , although he gave occasional indications of being sensible of their presence , the power of utterance had altogether ceased , and it soon became evident that his end was rapidly approaching .

    Sir Robert ceased to exist at nine minutes after 11 o ' clock . Those present at his decease were , his three brothers , the Dean of Worcester , Colonel Peel , Mr . and Mrs . Lawrence Peel , three of his sons , Mr . F . Peel , M . P ., Captain W . Peel , R . N ., and Mr . Arthur Peel ; his sonin-law , Lord Villiers ; Lord Hardinge , Sir J . Graham , and the medical gentlemen in attendance . Sensibility to pain had ceased some time before death , and his last moments were not disturbed by any physical suffering .

    After death an examination of the body was made , when a most important fact was for the first time discovered , viz ., that the fifth rib on the left side was fractured . This was the region where Sir Robert complained of suffering the greatest pain , and it was probably the seat of the mortal injury , the broken rib pressing on the lung , and producing what is technically known as effusion and pulmonary engorgement . The family were consulted on the subject of a post mortem examination , but both Mr . Frederick Peel and Captain Peel objected to allow the remains to ba disturbed in any way , and the precise cause of death will , therefore , never be ascertained . An application for permission to take a cast of the face " from an eminent sculptor , was also refused . hout in

    Lady Peel continued throug Tuesday night a state of complete prostration , and on Wednesday morning her illness had so much increased that it was found necessary to call in Sir Benjamin Brodie . Several of the principal mercantile establishments in the city and at the west end manifested their high respect for the lamented deceased and their deep regret at his premature demise by closing their windows—a proceeding almost universally adopted in the neighbourhood of Whitehall . The flags of many vessels on the river , and also on many public buildings , were hoisted halfmast high , as a mark of respect to the memory of the deceased . The body was placed in a shell on Wednesday evening , and the funeral will , it is expected , take place in the mausoleum of the family at Dray ton , near Tarn worth , in the early part of the ensuing week .

    It . is said that the horse from which Sir Robert Peel received his fall on Saturday last was bought at Tattersail's , on the 22 nd of April last , by Mr . Beckett Denison , and intended to be offered to Sir Robert Peel . Mr . Denison rode him daily for a week . He met the troops with their bands playing , as well as omnibuses and carriages in Piccadilly—all which the horse passed without showing the smallest disposition to shy . Mr . Denison insisted upon Sir Robert riding him for a week before ho decided on keeping him . He did so , and then requested he might have him . The horse had been regulaily hunted , was eight years old , and had been ridden by Lord Villiers , who thought he would suit his father-inlaw exceedingly well . For the last two months Sir Robert has ridden this horse regularly .

    The House of Commons assembled on Wednesday at noon , and the Speaker having taken the chair , Mr . Hume , after paying a warm tribute to the memory of Sir Robert Peel , during the delivery of which he was deeply affected , moved that , " out of respect to the great services of the late right honourable gentleman , " all business should be adjourned till Thursday . The motion was seconded by Mr . Gladstone , who was also much affected . He folt sure that it would be a subject of grief to Lord John Russell that , owing to this motion having been made a few minutes earlier than might have been expected , he had not had an opportunity of taking his part in this 11 the earliest , but not the last , tribute of respect to the memory of that great man , whom he might now refer to in his own name—Sir Robert Peel . "

    Mr . Napier , Sir Robert Inglis , p . nd Sir William Somerville severally expressed their accordance with the motion , and spoke in befitting terms of the loss which Parliament and the country have sustained by the sudden death of Sir Robert Peel . The House then adjourned at a quarter past one o ' clock .

    HIS LIFE AND CAREER . Although the main incidents of Sir Robert Peel ' s career are well known , the reader will not be displeased to possess a rapid summary of it . The father of the late baronet was ^ one of the most successful manufacturers of Lancashire . In the year 1773 , in conjunction with Mr . Yates , he established a large cotton manufactory at Bury , in Lancashire . The establishment soon attained extraordinary prosperity . It is stated that by the year 1803 the firm had in their employment no fewer than 15 , 000 persons , and that their contribution to the Excise in the shape of duty on printed goods amounted to no less

    than £ 40 , 000 a-year . In 1787 Mr . Peel married the daughter of his partner , Mr . Yates , and his son Robert was eldest of a family of six sons and five daughters . He was one of the warmest supporters of Mr . Pitt ' s policy ; and his admiration of that statesman and of his system was extreme . But loyalty to his country and to his political principles took a more substantial shape than that of consistent Parliamentary support ; for when , in 1798 , the Government appealed to the community for pecuniary support in the war against France , the firm of which he was the head gave no less a sum than £ 10 , 000 . In 1800 he was created a baronet—an honour well earned

    by his long political services . In 1812 he was made a Privy Councillor—an honour which he survived nearly twenty years . Some notion of the wealth amassed by him . in the course of many years of manufacturing enterprise may be formed from the fact that when , in June 1830 , his will was proved , the personal propeity was sworn at £ 1 , 200 , 000 . The Sir Robert , who , until late years , was frequently in the habit of alluding to his origin , thus speaks of the founder of the house of Drayton : —

    " He moved in a confined sphere , and employed his talents in improving the cotton trade . He had neither wish nor opportunity of making himself acquainted with his native country , or society far removed from his native county , Lancaster . I lived under his roof till I attained the age of manhood , and had many opportunities of discovering that he possessed in an eminent degree a mechanical genius and a good heart . He had many sons , and placed them all in situations that they might be useful to each other . The cotton trade was preferred as

    best calculated to secure this object ; and by habits of industry , and imparting to his offspring an intimate knowledge of the various branches of the cotton manufacture , he lived to see his children connected together in business , and by their successful exertions to become , without one exception , opulent and happy . My father may be truly said to have been the founder of our family ; and he so accurately appreciated the importance of commercial wealth in a national point of view that he was often heard to say that the gains to individuals were small , compared with the national gains arising from trade . "

    The late baronet was born on the 5 th of February , 1788 , in a small cottage near Bury , in which the family was residing while Chamber Hall , the family mansion , was undergoing repair . At an early age he was sent to Harrow School , where he was the schoolfellow of Byron , who was of the same age with himself ; and he completed his education at Oxford , where he obtained a double first-class degree , indicating the highest proficiency in classics and mathematics . Byron thus speaks of him while he was his companion at Harrow : —

    " Peel , the orator and statesman ( 'that was or is to be ' ) , was my form-fellow , and we were both at the top of our remove ( a public school phrase ) . We were on Rood terms , but his brother was my intimate friend . There were always great hopes of Peel amongst us allmasters and scholars—and he has not disappointed them . As a scholar he was greatly my superior ; as a declaimer and actor , I was reckoned at least his equal ; as a schoolboy , out of school , I was always in scrapes , and he never ; and in school , he always knew his lesson , and I rarely ; but when I knew it 1 knew it nearly as well . In general information , history , &c . &c , I think I was his superior , as well as of most boys of my standing . "

    In 1809 he made his first appearance in Parliament , having been returned for the borough of Cashel . At that time there were some remarkable men in the House of Commons . Tierney , Sheridan , Wilberforce , Windham , and Whitbread were amongst the most conspicuous of those who had shared the campaigns of the ' great leaders of the parliamentary strife of past days , and who were now descending from the stage ; while Canning was in the vigour of life and the maturity of his brilliant powers ; Grattan , Romilly ,

    Burdett , the idol of the Radicals ; Lord Henry Petty ( the Marquis of Lansdowne ) ; James Abercromby , afterwards the Whig Speaker of the House , and now Lord Dunfermline ; Croker , of official and literary notoriety ; Charles Grant ( Lord Glenelg ); Francis Homer ; Sir Henry Parnell ( late Lord Congleton ; not forgetting Lord Castlereagh . Henry Brougham entered public life at the same time with Mr . Peel , as did Lord Palmerston and Frederick Rubinson , now Earl of Hip on .

    The time was somewhat important , but inauspicious . The expedition to Walcheren , with its unfortunate results , had brought much odium on the Ministry , of which the Duke of Portland was the head . Canning was Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs , and Castlorqagh " for the Department of the

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    July 6 , 1850 . ] * W > t $ , t&tltt * 339

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), July 6, 1850, page 339, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1845/page/3/