2nd Marquis Of Bute

John Crichton-Stuart (1793-1848), 2nd Marquess of Bute, “creator if modern Cardiff,” was educated at Eton and Christ’s College, Cambridge (M.A. 1812). He was lord lieutenant of Glamorgan. He is the lord Bute who had so much to do with the rapid growth, commercial and otherwise, of Cardiff and surrounding districts during the first half of the 19th Century; the commercial prosperity of the town was greatly accelerated as the result of the opening, 5th October 1839, of the first (i.e. the West) Bute Dock. (The East Bute Dock, opened in 1859, the Roath Basin, 1874, and the Roath Dock, 18879, belong to the period of his successor). Lord Bute was F.R.S., F.S.A., AND F.R.A.S.; he was also vice-president of the Royal Cambrian Institution. This Marquess of Bute died suddenly at Cardiff Castle on the 18th March 1848.

The second Marquess—father of the noble Lord whose decease is now lamented—was a, man of strong character with administrative gifts of an exceptionally high order. There can be no doubt that had he devoted himself to national affairs instead of concentrating his energies of the development of his Welsh estate he would have risen to a high position in statesmanship. He was personally acquainted with Madame de Stael and Napoleon the Great, and was much appreciated by the Duke of Wellington. The latter, indeed, set apart a day in each year for the exclusive companionship of the Marquess, between whom and himself there existed a close personal friendship. The second Marquess deservedly won the title of “The creator of modern Cardiff,” for with inexhaustible patience, devotion, and perseverance, he laboured for the development of the port. It was an ambition of his that Cardiff should rival Liverpool and throughout his busy life he never lost eight of that endeavour. When he attained his majority Cardiff was a mere village with 3,000 inhabitants, At the time of his lamented death it had grown into a considerable town with a population exceeding 16,000. He died very suddenly in his 54th year at Cardiff Castle. An inquest was held, and was conducted by Mr Richard Lewis Reece, Coroner for the district. One of the chief witnesses was Dr R. Reece, M.D., F.S.A., who said that he was a member of the company who dined with the Marquess on the night of his death. He had never seen the Marquess in better health or spirits. Sometime after the dinner the Marquess was found in his dressing-room dead. His Lordship had succumbed to an affection of the heart. The following rider was added to the verdict: And the jury may with perfect propriety add on their oaths that they believe that in the death of Lord Bate Cardiff has lost the greatest friend and benefactor it ever had.” The mortal remains of the noble Lord were conveyed by water to Bristol, and thence by train to London. The body was interred at Kirtling, in Cambridgeshire.

Funeral of the late Marquess of Bute 01.04.1848

The mortal remains of the late Marquess of Bute borne from Cardiff Castle on Thursday morning, the funeral procession being, in every respect, one of the most extraordinary that has, within the recollection of the present generation, ever taken place, only in this town, and in this county, but, we may safely say, in the whole of Great Britain. And in support of this opinion, we have the assertion of Mr Banting Royal Undertaker, who assured us that never, in the whole course of his experience, did he see such an assemblage of well-dressed, respectable persons, upon any similar occasion: the next nearest to it was, he said, the funeral of the late Duke of Sussex. The whole of the inhabitants of Cardiff, and its populous neighbourhood, seem to have turned out in their numbers being swelled by the thousands who attended from Merthyr Tydfil, Newbridge, Cowbridge, Bridgend, Newport, and other places, swarming an immense multitude, all of whom conducted themselves with the greatest propriety. Mr Banting observed to a friend of ours that he had had the Management of the funerals of three Royal personages (George the Fourth, William the Fourth, and the Duke of Sussex, we believe), but that there were at this funeral twice as many people as there had been at either of the Royal funerals alluded to. Certainly we must say the “Majesty of the People” never none more conspicuously than it did upon this occasion, affording a pleasing instance of the peaceableness, good conduct, and high sense of decorum which actuate a popular assemblage in this country. The weather was most unfavorable, heavy showers pouring down, a circumstance which, we have no doubt, kept many away who otherwise would have been present. All the shops, public offices, and places of businesses were entirely closed, and remained so I throughout the day; while the private residences of the place had the window-blinds drawn down, the appearance of the town generally bearing evidence of the occurrence of some great public calamity. The shipping in the Bute Docks and Glamorganshire Canal had their colours half-mast high; while at the entrance to the Bute Docks “minute guns” were fired from an early hour in the morning.

The coffin of the late Marquess of Bute we were courteously permitted to see on Wednesday night. It enclosed a shell (in which was the body), and a lead coffin and was itself made of Spanish mahogany, covered with the richest crimson silk velvet, embellished with gilt-burnished nails in panels, and solid chased handles, with rich chased coronets above them. It was made by Messrs. Banting and Son, Royal Undertakers, of London, who conducted the funeral. The lid was formed with three panels, the centre one containing the inscription plate, engraved with the arms and supporters of the deceased, and the following inscription:—

The Most Honorable John Crichton Stuart

Marquess of Bute, Earl of Windsor, Viscount Mountjoy in the Isle of Wight, Lord Mountstuart de Wortley, and Baron Cardiff of Cardiff Castle; Earl of Dumfries and Bute in Scotland, K.T., Ac., &c., &c., &c.

Died 18th March 1848

Aged 54 Years

At about half-past nine, the Castle Gates were thrown open, and the vast procession was put in motion. It had been previously formed in the following order:-

Four Police Constables

The Cardiff Amateur Band,

They were all in deep mourning, with their instruments covered with crape; and the large and other drums covered with black cloth. This band is entirely composed of respectable young tradesmen of the town.

The Odd Fellows of the Cardiff District,

All dressed with black scarfs and white gloves formed four abreast.

Cardiff Benefit Society,

All with black gloves, formed four abreast.

The Ivorites

All dressed with black scarfs, black-and-white rosettas, white gloves-formed four abreast.

The Hibernian Society

All respectably attired—formed four abreast.

The Ancient Druids,

All with black scarfs, rosettes, white gloves, &c., formed four abreast.

A Company of Fifty Men

Who are in the employment of Francis Crawshay, Esq., and who were provided at that gentleman’s expense with silk hatbands and black silk gloves.

Tradesmen of the town, four abreast.

Gentry, four abreast.

(The above were formed outside the Castle Grounds, in High Street and Saint Mary Street; following, within the black lines formed inside the Castle Gates.)

Two Superintendents of the County Constabulary

Messrs. Wrenn (Merthyr Tydvil) and Thomas (Newbridge)

The Rev. Roper Tyler’s Carriage, containing that gentleman and another

R. F. Rickards, Esq.’s Carriage,

In which were the Rev. Hely Rickards, Rev. Evan Morgan, Rev. James Evans, and Dr. Lewis.

William Llewellyn, of Court Colman, Esq.’s Carriage,

In which were Mr. Llewellyn and the Rev. H. Lynch Blosse.

Hugh Entwisle, Esq.’s Carriage,

Containing that gentleman and another

A Carriage,

With Mr. E. Ballard and Mr. Edmondes, attorney, Cowbridge.

A Carriage,

With Mr. Hollier and other gentlemen.

The Carriage of J. Bruce Pryce, Esq., Duffryn,

Containing that gentleman, Captain Warde, R.N., and the Rev. John Griffith, vicar of Aberdare.

Captain Hewitt’s Carriage, containing that gentleman and another

Thomas Powell, Esq., The Gaer, with another gentleman, in his Carriage.

The Rev. George Traherne, and Mr, Llewellyn Traherne, in the Family Carriage,

H. J. Grant, Esq., Gnoll Castle, Neath, in his Carriage, with George Sanders, Esq.

The Carriage of Walter Coffin, Esq.

The Carriage of C. C. Williams, Esq.

(Mr Coffin and Mr. Williams, being aldermen of the Borough, walked with the Corporation. Their Carriages were closed.)

Henry Lewis, Esq., Green Meadow, in his Carriage.

The Carriage of Mrs. Hill, of Court yr Alfa, with Mr. Hill

The Carriage of Richard Hoare Jenkins, Esq., containing William Meyrick, Esq., and E.M. Williams, Esq., Garth Hall.

The carriage of R. F. Jenner. Esq., Wenvoe Castle,

Captain Boteler, of Llandough Castle, in his Carriage.

Captain Bassett, of Beaupre, in his Carriage.

The Dean of Llandaff’s Carriage, containing that Very Reverend Gentleman, the Rev. William Bruce, & H. A. Bruce, Esq.

R. C. Nicholl Carne, Esq., in his Carriage, accompanied by Mr. John Bevan, attorney,

Cowbridge.

The Rev. Francis Taynton, and the Rev. William Edmondes, in a Carriage.

Joseph Jones, Esq., Newport, in his Carriage, with one or two others.

(All the above were escorted by police)

Such is a list, we fear an imperfect one which we hurriedly drew out as the carriages drove up, and took their respective positions near the entrance to the Castle.

Previous to the removal of the coffin from the drawing-room, the Rev. Mr. Mitchell read from the Book of Common Prayer part of the appropriate offices used at the burial of the dead.

The procession was, at least, about a mile and a half long; and was three quarters of an hour in passing a certain point at which we had stationed ourselves for the purpose of watching its progress. From the Castle Gates to the Bute Docks it moved between very dense masses of people, and was viewed by almost as many more from the windows and even the roofs of the houses, while others were perched upon a every eminence from whence a view might be obtained.

For the convenience of the inhabitants of Merthyr Tydfil, Aberdare, Newbridge, and other places in the Taff Vale, the directors of the Taff Vale Railway on a special train at an early hour in the morning, by which many hundreds were enabled to join the procession. The directors, also, with much consideration and kind feeling, caused all traffic on this line to be entirely suspended during the whole of the forenoon, or rather between the hours of nine A.M. and one! P.M.; so that when the mournful procession down the side of the Bute Docks, on the road formed J by the late Lord Bute, scarcely a sound was heard except the solemn music of the two bands, who played, with sublime effect, the “Dead March in Saul,” a well-known piece most appropriate to these sorrowful occasions, and which contributed very materially in heightening the feelings of awe and solemnity which seemed to pervade the minds of all present. The bands, being about half a mile distant hearing and by the manner in which they acquitted themselves, respectively, deserve to be most favourably; noticed.

When the Bute Docks had been reached, we found that Lieutenant Dornford, R.N., Dock-master, had made the most judicious arrangements; so that notwithstanding the immense numbers that were present, not the least confusion was observed, nor the slightest accident occurred. Mr. Dornford was ably assisted at this point by Captain Napier, chief constable, Superintendent Corr, and a body of police, in addition to those who took part in the procession. Pieces of ground at the dock head had been separated by railing from the road, into which the various public bodies and others were conducted, thereby having a most comfortable position for viewing the proceedings. The sides of the entrances to the docks were covered with spectators. The coffin having been taken out of the hearse, was carried on board the “Star” steam-packet, which had been specially engaged for the occasion, and was followed oft board by Lord James Stuart, Mr. Villiers Stuart, Mr. Tyndal Bruce, Mr. I. M. Macnabb, Mr. Priest Richards, Mr. Collingdon, H Dr. De Grave, Mr. Thomas Evans, Mr. Stuart Corbett, and the Rev. Mr. Mitchell, who will attend the funeral at Kirtling. Many of the gentlemen who present left their carriages and after having gone on board took leave of Lord James Stuart, who in parting seemed deeply affected. During the whole of this time the most profound silence prevailed, broken only by the “minute gun.” As soon as the necessary arrangements had been made, the “Star” steamer left the Bute Docks, conveying from us “the ruins of one of the noblest men” that ever was known to this county, to whom Cardiff and the whole of its surrounding district owe their rapid rise in commercial prosperity, and the development of the great mineral resources of our hills and valleys. Every head was uncovered during the passage of the coffin from the hearse to the steamer; and as she commenced her voyage, every hat was again raised, whilst all looked on in mournful and solemn silence.

Upon reaching Bristol the funeral party, with the remains of Lord Bute, will proceed to the terminus of the Great Western Railway, from whence they will go on to London by train. At London they intended remaining Thursday night; and on Friday morning, by the Eastern Counties Railway, proceed to Chesterford, at which place a grand procession will be formed, and the whole will go on to the place of interment at g f Kirtling. It was conjectured by Mr. Banting that the whole would be over at an early hour on Friday afternoon.

Among those who will probably be present at Kirtling, we have heard mentioned; The Lord James Stuart, Captain Crichton Stuart, Herbert C. Stuart, Esq., Lord Dudley Stuart, the Earl of Harrowby, the Earl of Sheffield, Lord Wharncliffe, the Right Honorable J. Stuart Wortley, the Honorable John Talbot, Hamilton Fitzgerald, Esq., R.N., Chas. Henry, Esq.,Colonel North, the Right Honorable George Damer, M.P., Montague Gossett, Esq., the Bishop of Lincoln, John Boyle, Esq., Alexander Bruce, Esq., the Rev. Edmund Mortlock, Captain Hathorn, R.N., D. Shaw, Esq.

Amid a group of Gentlemen who stood near the docks, we observed the following whose names do not appear in the list above given, namely; Raleigh A. Mansel, Esq., M Morgan, of Bodwigiad, Esq., Rowland Fothergill, Esq., H. S. Coke, Esq., Alexander Cuthbertson, Esq., and W. Perkins, Esq.

The vast assemblage quietly dispersed in various ways.

We had almost forgotten to state that the hearse and mourning-coaches were furnished by Mr. Ainsley, of the Cardiff Arms Hotel, under the direction of Mr. Banting.

The superintendence of the police was, of course, entrusted to our borough superintendent, Mr, J. Box Stockdale, to whom too much credit cannot be given I for the admirable manner in which he discharged the duties of his trust. He was most efficiently assisted by Superintendents Corr, Thomas, and Wrenn, of the county constabulary, the whole police force I acting under the eye of Captain Napier, who has emphatically declared his satisfaction with the manner in which Mr. Stockdale earned out the wishes of those to whom the general management of the procession was committed.

Our limits will not permit us to enter into minute a details, neither can we give the names of the tenants who attended, as there were many hundreds, amongst whom we observed R. P. Davies, Esq., and A. Buchan Esq., who represented the Rhymney Iron. There were a great many others of equal respectability and position in society present, every corner of the family estates in this and the adjoining counties having sent forth its tenant, of whom we are told, I upwards of three hundreds who had travelled from remote rural districts, breakfasted at the Cardiff Arms on Thursday morning.

A correspondent writing from Merthyr Tydyil on Thursday forenoon, says “All the shops and places of business are closed in this town, as a slight mark of respect to the memory of that highly estimable nobleman, the late Marquess of Bute, and his surviving family. In Dowlais every shop is closed.” 8 We have no doubt but that other towns in this county Shave similarly exhibited feelings of respect and sorrow on the mournful occasion.

From Cumnock, Scotland, we hear that the melancholy bereavement which has occurred has cast a deep gloom over the community, and caused universal sorrow. And the writer then proceeds, the letter being dated March 28th “As a solace to our feelings, and a small tribute of respect to the memory of his Lordship, all the places of business here will be shut on Friday. The inhabitants of Cumnock all intend going to Church in mourning on Sunday next. The whole of the magistrates in this district meet in full mourning in the Court House on Monday. I have no words to express the grief that we all feel for the loss of our truly beloved Marquess. We are indeed bowed down with sorrow.”

“As the magistrates are anxious to be each possessed of a copy of the “Cardiff and Merthyr Guardian” of the 25th instant, to be retained by them individually of Lord Bute’s high character, it will be most obliging if you will send me twenty copies of that paper to be handed to them when in court on Monday.”

No doubt the loss of this excellent Nobleman is viewed in Scotland, as it is here, as a national calamity.

One circumstance with which we were very highly pleased we must not forget to mention. It relates to Francis Crawshay, Esq., of Treforest, and places in a striking point of view the warmth of attachment and generosity of feeling with which that truly popular gentleman is actuated. Anxious to pay the last tribute of respect to the memory of Lord Bute, he sent fifty of his men to attend the funeral all of whom were supplied with silk hat-bands and black silk gloves by him; and further, he defrayed the expenses of their journey. The following letter from him to a gentleman in this town ought be made known; and we take upon ourselves the responsibility of publishing it, premising by stating that it has evidently been written in haste:-

Treforest, Thursday morning

My Dear Sir, “As I wish to show my respect for the late Marquess of Bute, I send a small body of men fifty in number, instead of sending a carriage, to join I the procession; and I shall feel much obliged if you will see to their being placed in the procession as you may think fit.”

Yours, very truly,

FRANCIS CRAWSHAY

P.S. They are mostly veterans from the Hirwain Iron Works now under my charge.

The intention of the gentleman whose name appears above will, we are sure, be duly appreciated by the noble family at the Castle it certainly reflects credit on his warmth of heart, is quite characteristic of THE CRAWSHAY FAMILY, who, as our readers in this district well know, live in the hearts and the affections a of the thousands who are dependent upon them for 1 support.

In concluding our hastily prepared account of the proceedings of this memorable day, we have to state that, as in the hurry of writing many things may have escaped our notice, and, possibly, some errors have crept in, we must crave the reader’s indulgence. Under the circumstances of this mournful season, it is no easy task to sit down and give off-hand, without a moment’s respite from the feelings induced by the scene we have passed through, an account of the various occurrences which took place; and from the difficulties of such a position we have not escaped.

As the public generally naturally take much interest at the present painful moment in Lady Bute and the infant Marquess, we have the satisfaction of stating that her Ladyship, although at first almost overwhelmed with grief, has attained a state of calmness and pious resignation to the Divine will. The noble infant is quite well. Her Ladyship, with her sister Lady Adelaide Hastings, will remain at the Castle for several days.

Funeral Sermons of the Late Lord Bute

On Sunday forenoon last the death of Lord Bute was made the subject of the sermons delivered by the respective ministers of our parish Churches; Saint John’s and Saint Mary’s, to their congregations; and as at this a painful season everything having reference to, or which is in any way connected with, the memory of the late lamented, nobleman possesses peculiar interest in the eyes of our readers, we give the following brief but (we fear) imperfect outline of the observations made upon the occasion a referred to, commencing with the sermon delivered by J the Rev. Thomas Stacey, at:

Saint John’s Church

The reverend gentleman took for his text the following beautiful and most appropriate passage from scripture, namely, the 20th verse of the 31th chapter of the Book of Job: “In a moment shall they die, and the people shall he troubled at midnight, and pass away and the mighty shall he taken away without hand.” He began by declaring his belief that no part of the deep, experimental wisdom of the book of Job ever, perhaps, received a more ready and intelligent assent than the congregation were disposed to give these words that day. The incidents of life, and the subjects of man’s reflexions, in the thousands of years which had elapsed since Elihu warned in the words of the text how infinitely small an account God take of man in his highest estate, or most secure moments, had little changed. God no sooner gave the word than prince like peasant must obey the summons of death: and not only individuals but whole communities were amenable to the same law their numbers could not protect them; but, as in Egypt, long ago, in the memorable night of Israel’s deliverance, when there was not a house where there was not one dead, so they shall, when God ordains it so, be troubled and pass away into the place of the dead, even at midnight or in the most unexpected hour. Yes, all men no less than the rich and the mighty, should from time to time be required to leave this world at the Almighty’s call “without hand,” without man’s hand or help,by some secret and stupendous movement of his own whereby he is wont to come down on those who are far removed above the reach of men. Many a time and often before in our experience had the truth pronounced in the text been painfully verified before our eyes proving to us “that ill midst of life we are in death” but never, perhaps, with so many instructive concomitants to drive the lesson home to the hearts of all to the people at large, and to the mighty in particular as in the instance over which they (the congregation) mourned that day and of which the language of the text was the most faithful as well as the most singularly apt and appropriate description anywhere to be met with.

He proceeded to show what labour the Almighty had taken to make known the truth and mystery of this doctrine, by explicit declarations from His lips, by woeful suffering and by the daily and actual vision of mankind, the secluded village and crowded town, the thatched cottage and turreted castle, furnishing their regular testimony, that as it was in the beginning, it is now, and ever shall until God accomplishes the number of his elect and settles His kingdom. So distinctly and plainly was this condition of things described, that none could be blind to it. We saw infants of stammering tongues and youth of buoyant life, full of the light of hope and promise; mature manhood, in mid-career of usefulness and activity and old age, with his stooping shoulders, bending under the weight of three score years and ten. All giving evidence how frail and uncertain man’s condition is: and how in one moment he may die!

The rev. preacher then proceeded at great length to apply the instructive lesson to his hearers, showing that it was to them, as the living portion of Christ’s church, that the truths he had communicated were especially valuable and practically useful and pointing to that FUTURE TIME referred to in ample and Divine promises, when he that believeth in Him, though he were dead, yet shall live; when whosoever liveth and believeth in him shall never die; for that he had said; “I am the resurrection and the life.” He cautioned his hearers against putting off what their hand found to do, delays in the reformation of life, or in asking counsel of God in growing in grace, and in exhibiting the fruits of that faith whereby alone we can be saved. Sometimes, he continued (as we understood) we meet with those who, to all outward seeming, permitted themselves no delay in testifying this sound knowledge and exhibiting this belief. He would point to the individual whom, in a moment, at midnight, God had permitted to pass away, as an instance of one who, to all human appearance and in the sight of men, endeavoured to live by his faith. One of a long line of honorable ancestry, born of the nobles of the land, nurtured amid all that to our fallen nature too often presents temptations to forget Him who maketh poor and maketh rich; taking his place among the princes and the mighty of this world who are called to the duties of ruling and guiding the people that are under them, he seemed to have remembered that ONE who is higher than the highest regarded him; and that there was a higher than he. With this sense of Christian responsibility in his soul he was not ashamed of confessing Christ before men; and in the exercise of the multiplied duties with which God had charged him, he seemed to have thought that he was but a steward who must hereafter himself be called to account; and remembered his Lord’s charge how to occupy until He came; and had regard unto the response of reward. “Think of him,” said the reverend gentleman, as you have experienced him to have been of the highest order of intellect active and enterprising, hospitable and generous, just and honorable, bountiful and charitable; and above all, conspicuous, but most unostentatious, in the discharge of the solemn offices of his faith in public and in private, and happy in the full, sound, and grateful acknowledgment of his want of, his belief in, and his humble love of, the Saviour. And what character that can be portrayed to you can more fully represent the Christian in action than that of this high and distinguished person, the appalling and awful suddenness of whose death, in a moment, at midnight, out of hand, had struck us, one and all moment, at midnight, out of hand, had struck us, one and all, far and near, rich and poor, with a grief and consternation as overwhelming as we hope and pray the warning may be profitable and lasting. Oh, who can call to mind the noble M acts, and the mighty energy, the benevolent sympathies, and the peacemaking concessions which have proceeded from his heart and hand within the personal knowledge of every individual here; who can dwell now upon the twice-deprived widow, the doubly-bereaved orphans, the impoverished pensioners, the unaided objects of hill hitherto pious bounty, and judicious, zealous, and effectual support, and not feel all their regret and sorrows for his removal aggravated a thousand fold? And yet these thoughts, the very source of our accumulated concern and grief, are exactly those which alone can pour balm and consolation into the breasts of his surviving family and friends; and which alone can minister to the education of us who look a distance on this solemn and striking Providence of a merciful and all-wise God. Oh, may they through grace, so serve and be blessed to us all.”

The reverend gentleman concluded by urging on his hearer, the immediate duty of “setting their houses in order;” and deeply to consider the solemn doctrine of the day as one of the most important truths touching them in their present state. He begged them to think on these things; and not to be deceived by the appearances of this world, or anything in the world; for that in a moment, even at midnight, they might die. And that if they laid these things to heart—sought God rightly and faithfully, and used the ample means of saving knowledge which He now vouchsafed them, then if the irresistible messenger of our Great Master should come at even, or at midnight, or at the cock crowing, or in the morning, he might find them watching, and, therefore, not troubled with terrible fear, but still, amazed at the strangeness of His salvation, so far beyond all that they looked for, even through the blood and merits only of a crucified Redeemer.

In the Castle pew we observed Lord James Stuart and a party of gentlemen from the Castle, all of whom paid the most devout attention to the sermon, as did also a very numerous and sympathizing congregation.

Saint Mary’s Church

After allusion had been made by the Rev. W. Leigh Morgan, the vicar, in the sermon in the morning, from the words “And j they that were ready went ill with him to the marriage,”to this most saddening event, a sermon was preached in tile afternoon by the same reverend gentleman to a very large congregation, with more especial reference to it, from Job xiv., 14, ”If a man die, shall he live again?” Amongst very many striking and practical remarks, we beg to call attention to the following:-

Generally speaking, we are, alas but little moved when we hear of the death of one of our fellow mortals. In this populous town death is such a common event, a thing of almost daily occurrence, that the funeral bell the open grave, and the procession along the street, scarcely interfere, even for a moment, with our feelings of sympathy and our usual daily pursuits. It ought not to be so, for the death of every one is a most solemn warning, and should be borne homeward in pointed and personal application to ourselves, and tell us “be ye also ready.” But death now and then compels us to pay attention to his doings, either by the exalted position of the person whom he strikes, or by the suddenness of his blow, or by some very peculiar circumstances bound up with the event. I need not ten you assembled here how all these, and much more than these, have met together in that event which has desolated the hearts of us all, tilled us with grief, which has bereft our country of one of its highest ornaments, our town of its most magnificent benefactor, and the church of Christ of one of its firmest supporters. A few days ago, and all was joy, and congratulation, and rejoicing, the bells sent forth their merry peals, and our whole population exulted in their most noble and best earthly friend, upon his, as we then thought most auspicious visit amongst us. But how is it now? Death has indeed, made demonstration of his of his overwhelming sovereign power; and for this purpose he has chosen for his victim one who stood foremost and highest in the sight of us all!, and the suddenness of this demonstration of his power, which has come upon us with the rapidity of lightning, has so added to the burden of our grief, that we are stunned and overwhelmed with the blow. Death has, indeed, triumphed, and in this instance has given the fullest proof of his mastery over every earthly and mortal power. He could not have selected any other one individual amongst us that could give so full a proof of his power over man, and, therefore, this example calls upon us with tenfold force to “set our house in order, for we shall die, and not live.”

It is unnecessary for me, amongst you, and amongst so many monuments of his benevolence, to speak forth his praises, and say how untired was the goodness of his heart. These magnificent Docks are a proof of the prodigious strength of his mind: – The beautiful Church, where we are now assembled to worship Almighty God, is a proof of the sincere piety of his heart; and the numerous institutions of our town, so nobly aided and supported by him, are a proof of his good-will towards all. His colossal understanding overcame difficulties which overwhelmed other men; and neither the weight nor the multiplicity of his labors could overwork it. There was elasticity and a buoyancy about it that could grasp anything, and which nothing could tire out, or subdue. When we think that, in the midst of these, his great powers and great performances, Death hath come in and prostrated all in the dust, we must confess that he has shown to us his complete mastery over humanity, and that nothing human can resist his power. Well may we say in the words of the Prophet, “Howl ye, for a cedar is fallen.”

But, my dear brethren, I come not here to excite your feelings upon the present most melancholy event, which has visited us with the suddenness and rapidity of a whirlwind it would In easy to raise in your already torn bosoms every feeling of sympathy and of sorrow, by reminding you how, a few days ago, he } came amongstus full of rejoicing and gladness, and, as a master spirit, at once, and as his custom was, took put with his usual benevolence in ameliorating the condition of the poor, and those in private life who required his help; and, with his usual grasp of mind, in improving the condition of the town. Yea, a large portion of the last day of his life was spent in the Union work house and in the jail, so anxious was he that none should be neglected, none forgotten. Yea, the very numerous pensioners upon his charity, here and elsewhere, are living monuments of his kindness of heart. We could call upon you to dwell on that dread struggle, when alone in his chamber he met ”the enemy that shall be destroyed.” We could ask you to weep tears of warm sympathy for his illustrious, but agonized widow and brother and family; but this is a subject too big and too unsupportable; and we could call to mind how, last Sabbath morning, the sad tidings flew from house to house, and filled every household with mourning, as if every household had lost a dear friend, until, under the sense of one common and over powering bereavement, the whole town became a town of mourners, and hits continued so ever since. We could draw your notice to the last scene of dust to dust, but we forbear, we gladly escape from these distressing scenes, to make a fort practical remarks from the words of our text. And I crave your indulgence for one who has prepared these few remarks amidst much sorrow and infirmity, and who now delivers them in fear and trembling. Adding also, as I feel bound to add, [that I have not only received lVo a him since I have been among you great and condescending kindness, but tint I owe to him, and to him alone, that I am amongst you at all.

The reverend preacher then showed that Job in asking the question in the text, neither doubted the certainty of death, nor of the resurrection. Both of which truths are most clearly taught by him in this book. Indeed the certainty of death is beautifully taught us in this very chapter, “Man that is born of a woman, is of few days, and full of trouble. He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down, he fleeth also a shadow and continueth not. His days arc determined, the number of his months are with thee; thou hast appointed his bounds, that he cannot pass: turn from him, that he any rest, till he shall accomplish as an hirling his day,” And as to man’s living again, as to his resurrection, who can forget the striking words of Job, where he says “I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth and though after my skin-worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall see God.”

His asking the question, therefore, has reference only to this life; and his meaning is, that when a man is once dead, he shall never live here again. That this is his meaning is apparent n from what he states in the previous verses, “For there is hope of a tree if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease. Though the root thereof wax old in the earth, and the stock thereof die in the ground yet, through the scent of water, it will and, and bring forth boughs like a plant. But man dieth and wasteth away; yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he.”

The speaker now divided his remarks into three heads: – 1st. The certainty of death as to the fact; 2nd. The uncertainty as to the time; 3rdly. The momentous consequences of death in another world. Whilst speaking under the second division, he said the lesson which the uncertainty of the event as to its time is calculated to teach us is, to be prepared. Instead of hoping, all we generally do, that we may be the next, let us suppose that instead of flattering ourselves, because we are not labouring (as we think) under any fatal disease, that we may yet live for many years, let us remember the words of Job 21-23 “One dieth in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet; his beasts are full of milk, and his bones are moistened with marrow.” However much we may feel inclined to put the day of death, as an evil day, far from us, our highest wisdom is to die daily unto sin, and to wait in the service of God all the days of our appointed time, until our change come. Our highest wisdom is, “since we know not the day of our death,” to inquire every day, Am I fit to die? Am I prepared to meet my God, and do I feel that I am ripening and getting ready for Heaven? This night my soul may be required of me, and where would my soul be it such were to be the case? Have I had right views of my sins H do I repent truly of all my misdeeds, do I indulge in any sins now, have I a steadfast, living faith in Christ my Saviour, and do I feel that I am one with him, and that I am receiving out of his fullness daily grace upon grace? Am I obedient to all the commandments of God, do I mediate therein day and night and have I delight therein? Or, are all these things burden-some to me, and do I never think seriously about them expecting when I believe I am going to die?

Here he again alluded to our late and lamented benefactor, and said, It (death) came not as a thief, we believe in our heart upon that exalted character whom it has pleased our God so suddenly to take from the midst of us. To him death came not as a thief in the night. Though it came suddenly, so suddenly that there was no warning of it, it found him not unprepared. In his life he was the friend a patron of true religion, and encouraged it wherever his influence extended, accounting it no degradation to show in every way his attachment to the gospel, under a full conviction that the prevalency of evangelical truth alone could stem the torrent of sin and misery. He was this and much more than this in his life; and in his death his loins were girt, his lamp was trimmed, and he is now entered into his master’s kingdom and to his everlasting reward.

During the delivery of this striking sermon the whole audience was much affected, even frequently to tears; and we trust that its effects will not pass away without leaving upon all who heard it a beneficial and lasting impression.

(It seems that the late Lord Bute, in one of the last moments of his existence, exhibited his usual kindness and consideration for those in a lower sphere, for, in putting his coffee-cup on the table, (see the evidence at the coroner’s inquest), he spoke to Mr. McCallum, his valet, and asked him whether supper was ready for the band. Mr. McCallum replied “It is all ready, my lord, whenever they can step down and take it.” Lord Bute then said and these were his last words to anyone: “This is the last tune they are to play; therefore, let supper be placed on the table directly.” He then went out of the room, and was seen no more alive.)

I can confirm that the 2nd Marquis of Bute is buried in the North tomb under the Altar of All Saints Parish Church (CB8 9PA), in the village of Kirtling. However the tomb, which is a large Tudor brick arched structure is entirely underground, and is s sealed and not accessible. However the tomb has recently been opened and it is known that the coffin is still there. Indeed the flowers with it are still recognisable. His wife pre-deceased him and there are wall monuments to both of them, in the Church. Various alms houses and a Vicarage where built in the Village, to commemorate his wife.

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