TRIBUTES.

"FINIS VITÆ EJUS

NOBIS LUCTUOSUS, AMICIS TRISTIS,

EXTRANEIS ETIAM IGNOTISQUE NON SINE CURA FUIT. —

IPSE QUIDEM,

QUANQUAM MEDIO IN SPATIO ÆTATIS EREPTUS,

QUANTUM AD GLORIAM,

LONGISSIMUM EVUM PEREGIT."

THE first public announcement of Mr. Horner's death, in England, was by the following notice in the Morning Chronicle of the 28th of February, which was written by his friend Mr. Allen, the Master of Dulwich College:—

"It is with deep concern we have to announce the death of Francis Horner, Esq., Member of Parliament for St. Mawes. This melancholy event took place at Pisa, on the eighth instant. We have had seldom to lament a greater loss, or to bewail a more irreparable calamity. With an inflexible integrity, and ardent attachment to liberty, Mr. Horner conjoined a temperance and discretion not always found to accompany these virtues. The respect in which he was held, and the deference with which he was listened to in the House of Commons, are a striking proof of the effect of moral qualities in a popular assembly. Without the adventitious aids of station or fortune, he had acquired a weight and influence in Parliament which few men whose lives

were passed in Opposition have been able to obtain; and for this consideration he was infinitely less indebted to his eloquence and talents, eminent as they were, than to the opinion universally entertained of his public and private rectitude. His understanding was strong and comprehensive; his knowledge extensive and accurate; his judgment sound and clear; his conduct plain and direct. His eloquence, like his character, was grave and forcible, without a particle of vanity or presumption, free from rancour and personality, but full of deep and generous indignation against fraud, hypocrisy, or injustice. He was a warm, zealous, and affectionate friend; high-minded and disinterested in his conduct; firm and decided in his opinions; modest and unassuming in his manners. To his private friends his death is a calamity they can never cease to deplore. To the public it is a loss not easily to be repaired, and in times like these most severely to be felt. Mr. Horner was born in 1778, admitted a Member of the Faculty of Advocates in 1800, and called to the English Bar in 1807. He came first into the House of Commons in 1806, and has been member of three successive parliaments.

"The only official situation he ever held was the laborious office of Commissioner for the Liquidation of the Carnatic Claims, which he kept only for a short time, having resigned it many years ago, because he found the duties which it imposed on him, were incompatible with the application due to his professional pursuits."

LETTER FROM MR. ALLEN TO MR. HORNER'S FATHER.

Dear Sir,

a son

Arlington Street, 3d March, 1817. sustained of so excellent so suddenly and unex

After the loss you have
so admirable a man-

pectedly taken from us, at the moment when every recent account held out to us such plausible, though fallacious, hopes of his amendment, it would be in vain, at present, to address to you any topics of consolation; and if it were otherwise, I am myself too great a sufferer by this calamity, to undertake the alleviation of another's sorrow. I have lost a friend of twenty years' standing, whose advice I have for many years been accustomed to use on every event and project of my life, to whose approbation I looked forward as the reward and incentive of all my labours and occupations, in whose judgment I had the most perfect reliance, and whose integrity of character, and benevolence of heart, I had every day more reason to admire. The prospect of life before me, though uncertain, is long enough to make me feel severely the loss of such a friend and counsellor, and too short to allow me to indulge a hope, that I can acquire another of the same value, if such another, as he was, is to be found.

Time alone can make you submit with resignation to this calamity; but it may be some alleviation of your grief to hear, how much, and how generally, he is lamented. I do not speak merely of his private friends, but of the public at large, and more particularly of the House of Commons, where men of all parties join in extolling his merits, and lamenting his loss. So strong and general is this feeling, that, on the strength of it, his friends have thoughts of venturing on a measure, which, though not quite unprecedented, is nevertheless unusual, and somewhat irregular. In moving the customary writ for the borough which he represented, it is intended to say a few words on his merits and character. Lord Morpeth has most kindly undertaken this office, and it is some consolation to think, that if poor Horner could have

looked forward to the possibility of such a measure, there is no man in the House of Commons he would have selected in preference to Lord Morpeth, for the discharge of this tribute to his memory. Some others may possibly follow Lord Morpeth, and even from the opposite side of the House my only fear is, that too many will come forward.

Both Lord and Lady Holland have been in the deepest affliction, since this melancholy event was conveyed to us. The loss to Lord Holland is very great, as there was no man in the House of Commons, since the death of his uncle, with whom he consulted on more confidential terms than with your son. Lady Holland intends to write to Mrs. Leonard Horner, but has not yet found herself equal to the task.

I need say nothing of this fatal malady, as the cause of it has been ascertained, and communicated by your son Leonard to Dr. Gordon. It appears that those physicians were in the right, who, from the first, thought there were little or no hopes of his recovery: we, who were willing to think otherwise, were blinded by our wishes.

Mr. Leonard Horner is to be in Paris about the 10th of March. He appears to be satisfied with the manner in which every thing was conducted at Leghorn, and expresses great sense of obligation to the kindness of Mrs. Drewe and the Miss Allens.

With kind remembrances to Mrs. Horner and the rest of your family,

I remain, dear Sir,

Yours faithfully,

JOHN ALLEN.

BY JOHN WHISHAW, ESQ.

Extract from a Letter from Mr. Whishaw to Thomas Smith, Esq., of Easton-Grey, Wilts, dated the 1st of March, 1817.

"I cannot yet write or speak with any tolerable degree of composure on the subject of the loss of my invaluable friend Horner. It has spread a gloom over our whole circle of society. Nor is this feeling confined to Horner's immediate friends. It is universally and strongly expressed, especially in that place where he was pursuing so honourable a career, and where his loss is truly irreparable,- -the House of Commons. All parties and all individuals unite in bearing testimony to his distinguished talents, his manly and impressive eloquence, and the simplicity, independence, and integrity which marked every part of his conduct. You will be glad to hear that by a general understanding throughout the House, and at the suggestion of the Speaker himself, an opportunity will be taken of giving a public expression to these feelings, on moving the writ for the vacant seat."

PROCEEDINGS IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS, ON THE MOTION FOR A NEW WRIT FOR THE BOROUGH OF ST. MAWES, ON MONDAY, MARCH 3, 1817.

Lord Morpeth rose, and spoke as follows:-I rise to move that the Speaker do issue his writ for a new Member to serve in Parliament for the borough of St. Mawes, in the room of the late Francis Horner, Esq.

* The present Earl of Carlisle.