xt7qjq0stw34_3869 https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt7qjq0stw34/data/mets.xml https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt7qjq0stw34/data/1997ms474.dao.xml unknown archival material 1997ms474 English University of Kentucky The physical rights to the materials in this collection are held by the University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center.  Contact the Special Collections Research Center for information regarding rights and use of this collection. W. Hugh Peal manuscript collection Obituary notice for Thomas Talfourd text 43.94 Cubic Feet 86 boxes, 4 oversize boxes, 22 items Poor-Good Peal accession no. 11453. Obituary notice for Thomas Talfourd 2017 https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt7qjq0stw34/data/1997ms474/Box_38/Folder_17/Multipage13241.pdf [1854] 1854 [1854] section false xt7qjq0stw34_3869 xt7qjq0stw34 S uiilN DEATH OF MR. JUSTICE TAL I

We have this Week to announce the sudden death
on Monday morning last, at Stafi'ord, of Mr. Justice Tal-
fourd, which might almost be said to have taken place on
the judgment seat. Nothing gave token of so serious a
calamity. His Lordship appeared in his usual health on
entering the assize court, an it was not known that he had
experienced any symptoms of illness before taking his seat on
the bench, but, on the contrary, _at an early hour—six
o’clock~he was out enjoying a morning walk. His delivery
of the charge to the grand jury, however, was characterised
by much hesitation, and he evidently had dilhculty in pro-
ceeding with his task.

Both courts opened at ten o’clock in' the morning, Mr.
Justice Talfourd residing in the Crown court. His Lord-
ship had. reviews the calendar, and was directing attention
to the number ,of charges of highway robbery which it
contained :—

“ These crimes."’said his Lordship, “ come—«I will not say exclu-
sively, but in the far greater majority of these cases-from those dis—
tricts which are the most rich in mineral treasures, where wages are
high, and where no einptation of want can for a moment he set up as
an excuse or palliaton for the crime ; on the contrary, l have observed
in the experience have had. of the calendars of prisoners tried at
these assizcs—éan experience, many of you are aware extending far
beyond the period of my judicial laboum~1 have observed that in
times of comparatiiie privation crime diminishes, and that when wages
are high and are earned by a less degree of work, there is a strong
temptation to spend them in vicious indulgences, and that crime has
increased almost in proportion to the state of prosperity by which the
criminals have been surrOiuided. This consideration should awaken
all our minds, and especially the minds of gentlemen connected with
those districts, to s in what direction to search for a remedy for so
great an evil. It is ntrue to say that the state of education—that is,
such education as can be furnished by the Sunday schools, and other
schools in these tiistricts~is below the general average; then we must
search among some other causes for the peculiar aspect of crime pre-
sented in these caseé. i cannot help myself thinking, it may be in no
small degree attribitahleto that separation between class and class
which is the great muse of British society, and for which we are all

more or lcss, in our respective spheres in some degree responsible,
and whichis more pomplcte in these districts than in agricultural
districts, where the resident gentry are enabled to shed around them
the blessin s resulting from the exercise of benevolence, and the in-
fluence an exampleof active kindness. I am afraid we all of us keep
too much aloof from those beneath us. and whom we thus encourage
to‘look upon us with suspicion and dislike. Even to our servants we
think, perhaps, we fillfil our duty when we perform our contract with
he ——when we pay them their wages, and treat them with the civility
onsstent with our habits and feelingsrwhen we curb our temper and
use no violent expressions towards them. But how painful
bought that there are men and women growing up around us, In
tering to our comforts and necessities, continually inmates of our
with whose affections and nature we are as much nn- ‘
d as if the! were the inhabitants of some other sphere. This
from; that kind of reserve peculiar to the English
clia cter, does. I think, greatly tend to prevent that mingling of class
witi class. that reciprocation of kind words and gentle afi‘ections,
gracious wlmonitions‘and kind inquiries, which often more than any
book education tend to the culture of the affections of the heart, re—
f the character of those to whom they are
. And I were to be asked what is the great want of Eng-
lish society—to mingle class with class—J would say, in one word, the
in ant is the want of sympathy."

It was while giving utterance to these noble sentiments
that his auditory‘ became greatly alarmed by the changed
aspect of the venerable speaker. His head fell on one side,
and in an instant it was apparent that he had been seized
by apoplexy. he quickly as poss1ble the associate took ofi‘ his
Lordship’s Wig and untied his handkerchief, and he was
carried out of court by Earl Talbot, Dr. Holland, Dr.
Knight (the latter two of whom were on the grand jury),
and the associate. :His Lordship was removed to the judge’s
lodging]? and was attended by Sir Chas. Mansfield Clarke, .
Bart, r. Holland, and Dr. Knight, but_tlieir professional
assistance was 0 I, no avail, his Lordship, having faintly
groaned, breathing his last‘the moment he was placed on
the bed. The consternation produced in. court by the '
sudden seizure of his Lordship, and the announcement of his .
death immediately afterwards, cannot easily be described.
His loss is deplored by the bar, by all the members of which ,
he was beloved, and by the public at larger

The deceased was Worthy of the respect of Englishmen,
as being a remarkable example of the facilities offered to
the middle classes z‘in this country of attaining the highest
positions. His father Was a brewer ; his mother the dangli-
tcr of a Dissenting minister. He commenced his education
ata Dissenting grammar school, and finished it at one of
our public schools. He came to London, and added to his
income by his literary exertions. He contributed to maga-
zines, and was a reporter to the press. These facts give us .
a high idea of thalate judge’s energy. Those who knew
him best say that his powers never slept.

His career is shortly told. His parentage we have given.
He came to London at the age of eighteen, and placed him-
self as a pupil uner Chitty in 1813. He was called to the
bar in l82_1, and was married the next year. It maybe said
that his prosperity has never had a check. His literary
productions—“ Ion," “ The Athenian Captive,” “ Glencoe,”
“ Vacation Rambles"'—have all been warmly received by
the public, while his 1:professional labours have achieved
undoubted success. . . e exerted himself ‘manfully in the
cause of liberal opinions. The authors of England are
indebted to him for his exertions in the cause of literary
copyright. All liberal measures found in him a sincere
advocate, while he was a member of the legislature. There
are few public men ”left of his class who would carry to the
grave so great an .- ‘ aunt of sympathy as Justice Talfourd.