He was again elected in 1820, 1826, and 1830, and finally retired on the agi. tation of Parliamentary Reform in 1831.

Sir John married, Jan. 4, 1791, Frances Isabella, only daughter and heir of Henry Michael Evans, esq. by Mary, daughter and heir of Benjamin Welling. ton, of Hereford, esq. By that lady, who died in 1813, he had issue three sons and six daughters. His elder son, John Henry Cotterell, esq. died on the 3d Jan. 1834, leaving issue by Pyne-Jessy, eldest daughter of Major-Gen. the Hon. Henry Otway Trevor, C.B. and nicce to Lord Dacre, a son, John, now in his fifteenth year, who has succeeded his grandfather in the title. The second son, Henry Cotterell, esq. died in 1826. Thomas Cotterell, esq. the youngest son, yet survives.

ces

The daughters are as follow: 1. Frans-Mary; 2. Anne; 3. Mary, married to John Tayler, esq. of the Mythe, Gloucestershire; 4. Sarah; 5. Caroline, married in 1828 to William Leigh, esq. of Roby-hall, co. Lancaster; 6. Harriett, married in 1838 to the Rev. E. Hotham, Rector of South Cave, Yorkshire.

The body of Sir J. G. Cotterell was interred on the 3d Feb. in the family vault at Mansel church, Herefordshire, attended by a large number of the neighbouring gentry. The chief mourners were the Misses Cotterell, the present youthful Baronet, his mother, and the three sons-in-law of the deceased. The funeral service was performed by the Dean of Hereford.

SIR WILLIAM HEYGATE, BART. Aug. 28. At his seat, Roecliffe, Leicestershire, in his 63d year, Sir William Heygate, Bart. Chamberlain of London.

Sir William Heygate was of a family which entered its pedigree at the Visitation of London in 1634. He was born June 24, 1782, the eldest son of James Heygate, esq. of Roecliffe, Leicestershire, and Southend, Essex, a banker in London, by Sarah, second daughter of Samuel Unwin, esq. of Sutton, co. Notts. He served the office of Sheriff

of London and Middlesex in 1811, was elected Alderman of Coleman-street ward in 1812, and arrived at the dignity of Lord Mayor in 1823. He was elected Chamberlain about fifteen months before his death, after a contest with Sir John Pirie. He was created a Baronet by patent dated Sept. 15, 1831.

Sir William Heygate married, May 19, 1821, Isabella, fourth daughter of Edward Longdon Mackmurdo, of Upper Clapton, co. Middlesex, esq. by whom he had issue four sons: 1. Sir Frederick-William, born in 1822, to whom H.R. H. the Duke of York stood sponsor, and who has now succeeded to the title; 2. William-Unwin; 3. Edward-Nicholas; and 4. Robert-HenryJohn, born in 1830.

sworn

The will of Sir William Heygate has been proved at Doctors' Commons; when his personal estate was under 45,000l. There were peculiar circumstances attending the will. A short time previous to his death he desired his eldest son (who was in the habit of writing out documents for him,) to prepare his will from his dictation, and accordingly on the day the same bears date, viz. the 19th July, 1844, he drew up instructions for a will. When it was completed the son proposed that it should be fairly drawn up for execution, but the deceased said, "No, no, I will sign this; there is no telling what may happen." The draft occupied the whole four sides of a sheet of letter paper very closely written from beginning to end and from side to side, the last side being more closely written than the others, and no room whatever was left at the end for

signature; the deceased, however, called

in two of his servants to witness the execution, and signed his name in a nar row space on the margin of the first side, and the two servants also subscribed their names in continuation. The opinion of the Queen's advocate (Sir John Dodson) was taken, and probate granted. By this document an annuity is left to his wife, and the property under settlement; the rest of the property, real and personal, he bequeaths to his sons, with the exception of a few legacies and a gift to his

servants.

SIR THOMAS FOWELL BUXTON, BART.

Feb. 19. At his seat, Northrepps, Norfolk, Sir Thomas Fowell Buxton, Bart.

He was born on the 1st of April, 1786, the eldest son of Thomas Fowell Buxton, esq. of Earl's Colne, in Essex, by a daughter of Osgood Hanbury, esq. of Holfield Grange, in the same county. Like many of our most distinguished men, he

was chiefly indebted to maternal influence and example for those principles which led him to select the noble path of his distinction. For several years he was at school at Greenwich, under Dr. Burney, the brother of Madame D' Arblay; he proceeded at the usual age to Trinity college, Dublin, where he passed each of the thirteen examinations (excepting only one) with the most distinguished success. When he had finished the usual academical course, he, as well as his intimate friend, the late John Henry North, received the university gold medal, which is given only to such men as have obtained in succession all the previous prizes; and such was the estimation in which he was held at Trinity college, that before he had attained twenty-one, he was pressed to stand as a candidate for the representation of the university, with assurances of support on which he might have relied with confidence. In 1811 he joined the firm of Truman, Hanbury, and Co., and for several years devoted himself to business with all that energy and perseverance which he afterwards exhibited in more lofty pursuits. His connexion with the locality led him to a personal investigation of the sufferings of his poor neighbours in Spitalfields: it was one of the peculiarities of Buxton's character, that where he had a great object in view he was never satisfied without diligent inquiry into the statistics of his case, and, so far as it was possible, he made the inquiry for himself. His first public effort was made in a speech at the Mansionhouse in 1816, on the Spitalfields distress, when the power of his appeal not only succeeded in obtaining large pecuniary contributions, but in establishing an extensive and well-organized system of relief. His success on this occasion led him, in connection with his sister-in-law, Mrs. Fry, and his brother-in-law, Mr. Hoare, to examine into the state of our prisons. He published the result of his labours in a small volume, entitled "An Inquiry whether crime and misery are produced or prevented by our present system of Prison Discipline." This is an unpretending, but a powerfully-written work; it immediately excited great attention, and led to the formation of the Prison Discipline Society, and ultimately to those grand improvements in our gaols which modern times have witnessed.

Mr. Buxton now became known as a man well qualified for the public service in a higher sphere, and was induced by his friends to avail himself, in 1818, of an opportunity which then offered of standing for the borough of Weymouth. He was returned at the head of the poll,

and continued to represent Weymouth until 1837. During this long period he was exposed to frequent contests; but always retained his honourable position at the head of the poll, until he was defeated by Mr. Villiers in the year last mentioned. The cause of his defeat on this occasion was, undoubtedly, no dimi. nution of personal attachment, but the gradual increase of an adverse local influence, arising from circumstances over which Mr. Buxton could exercise no con. trol. A curious incident, worth recording, occurred at this election: it strongly illustrates the great personal interest which Mr. Buxton had the power of exciting among those who knew him best. Captain Penny, of the Royal Navy, had long been one of the active men on Buxton's committees: he was an old man, exceeding ninety-two; the contest was virtually over by one o'clock, though the poll remained open till four; shortly before its close, the gallant veteran inquired how it stood, and on hearing of the increasing majority,xclaimed, "Well, if it is the last act of my life, I'll go and vote for Buxton and Stephens." No assurances that it would be of no avail could induce him to spare himself the effort: he recorded his vote (we believe that it was the last that was received), and, returning home, he died within a few hours, while his wife was in the act of undress. ing him to put him to bed. He died so quietly that she did not perceive it at the moment, and almost his last remark was one of satisfaction at having been able to

vote.

After this defeat many applications were made to Mr. Buxton, to offer himself for other places, and an intimate friend strongly urged upon him the duty of accepting one of them; but he felt himself justified in quitting parliamentary life, and seemed to consider the rupture of his Weymouth connection as a kind of intimation from above, that it was time to draw his garments about him, and prepare for the close of his public career; he did not, it is true, abandon the great cause to which he had devoted all the latter part of his life, but from this time he ceased to come forward as a public

man.

We have already mentioned that the subject of Prison Discipline was the first to which he gave his attention. It was a natural transition to make from the reform of prisons to the amelioration of our Criminal Code. He proved himself an able ally of Sir James Mackintosh on this important question, and his powerful speech on the 23d of May, 1821, has generally been regarded as one of the best of

the many able speeches which effected the abolition of that draconic system; under which were enumerated 223 distinct capital offences! He bestowed similar attention upon the subject of Indian suttees; nor would it be easy to mention any question of great moral importance upon which Mr. Buxton was wanting as a zealous advocate upon the side of humanity.

But

Mr.

it was in 1823 that he first came forward as the recognised successor of Mr. Wilberforce. Mr. Wilberforce's health had been long declining, and he felt that he must throw his mantle over younger shoulders. He selected Buxton for the man, and bequeathed to him the sacred trust with marked solemnity. Mr. Buxton's first proceeding was to bring forward a resolution in 1823, that Slavery, "being repugnant to the Christian Religion, and the British Constitution, ought to be abolished at the earliest period compatible with the safety of all concerned." Canning moved an amendment upon this resolution, by inserting the words "and interest" after the word safety; in this form the resolution was carried, and the first great step made in advance. But further progress was immeasurably slow; even Parliament scarcely understood the question; the country was still less informed, and Buxton and his friends had long to fight an annual battle for information, too often reluctantly supplied, and too generally useless when obtained. Eventually, however, by infinite labour and perseverance, he obtained such evidence of the uniform decrease of the slave population, that when he announced his results in the House of Commons in 1831, in a speech of great power and research, the effect was decisive; the question of emancipation was conceded, and the only remaining problem was how to accomplish it" in a safe and satisfactory manner.' Subject to this condition, Lord Althorp announced, on the first day of the session of 1833, that Government would introduce a measure of emancipation; it was carried triumphantly, and Mr. Buxton had the supreme satisfaction of at once striking off the fetters from 800,000 of his fellow-creatures.

In his subsequent efforts for the abolition of the apprenticeship, Mr. Buxton persevered until he had accomplished all that the power of the British legislature could effect. After he quitted Parliament he devoted himself to the task of investigating the foreign slave trade, with a view to ascertain how it could be extinguished; and in 1839 published his work entitled "The Slave Trade and its Remedy." This work produced an extraordinary sensation; the anti-slavery GENT, MAG. VOL, XXIII,

enthusiasm had been suspended, but was not extinct, and the disclosures now made by Mr. Buxton revived it in all its force. So dreadful were these disclosures, that, but for the authority upon which they were given, and the accuracy with which information had been obtained, they would have appeared incredible. The result was that many noblemen and gentlemen immediately associated for the purpose of providing the remedy, and the Prince Consort himself condescended to make his first appearance before the public as chairman of a meeting to support Mr. Buxton's views. His " Remedy was the civilization of Africa by commercial, agricultural, and missionary enterprise. We forbear from entering upon the wide field of discussion which this subject presents; it is too well known that the first step that was taken, in the form of an expedition to the Niger, failed, notwithstanding every precaution that science, humanity, and experience could dictate; but the results, sufficiently disastrous in themselves, were exaggerated and coloured to make them appear ten times worse than the reality; and thus the newly awakened fervour of the nation was suddenly checked, while Buxton and his friends were charged, unfairly, with a responsibility that, in truth, attached to nobody.

There is no doubt that this disappointment materially preyed upon Mr. Buxton's spirits; not that he was distressed by reproaches, which, even if they were just, he could only have shared equally with such men as Lord J. Russell, Sir R. H. Inglis, Sir T. D. Acland, Lord Ashley, the Bishop of London, Dr. Lushington, and many others of equal rank and reputation, all of whom heartily concurred in his views, and assisted in promoting them; but because he felt that the physical difficulties in the way of African civilization, by the only means likely to effect it, were infinitely greater even than he had anticipated; while a second experiment, so well arranged and so judiciously provided, seemed hopeless under the general despondency which the enemies of his principles had artfully encouraged. His general health appeared to break from this time. In 1840 he was created a Baronet, a dignity to which his public character and large private fortune well entitled him, but which he accepted rather as an acknowledgment of merit rendered valuable by the slanderous attacks which had been made upon him, than as an object of personal ambition. No man was more exempt from vanity than Sir Thomas Fowell Buxton; his manners were too plain, and his mind was too ele4 A

vated for such a puerility. Buxton's great merit as a public man consisted in his industry, his energy, and his straightforward honesty of purpose. He never affected display, for he had the good taste to despise it; yet he was always favourably heard, not only because he was the acknowledged head of the religious party, but because his statements were stamped with authority; they were known and felt to be true, and they were put forward with a manner and perspicuity which es sentially belong to truth. It was his principle to address himself to the understanding and not to the passions of his audience, and he rarely failed eventually in producing conviction. He was eminently a religious man, and those who knew him privately can testify to the earnestness and humble faith with which he always submitted the event of his important labours, with pious resignation, to the will of God. He was a faithful and affectionate member of the Church of England; but he was not the man to regard sectarian differences as of importance, where he found hand and heart united in zealous effort for the good of mankind. Although he had selected for himself a peculiar path of charity, he was liberal in his support of all benevolent institutions, and particularly of the Bible and Missionary Societies, and such as had for their objects the education and improvement of the poor.

He married, May 13, 1807, Hannab, the fifth daughter of John Gurney, esq., of Earlham Hall, Norfolk, and sister to that distinguished lady Mrs. Fry, by whom he had issue, with others, a son and heir, now Sir Edward North Buxton, who was born in 1812.

Probate of the will of Sir Thomas - Fowell Buxton, which was dated the 17th Oct. 1844, was granted, on the 25th March, to Sir Edward North Buxton, Bart. and Thomas Fowell Buxton, esq. the sons. The personal estate was sworn under 250,0007. He leaves his manuscripts and papers to his son Edward and daughter Priscilla, either to publish or destroy, or to be kept by the survivor, in compliance with the wishes of his deceased sister Sarah Buxton, from whom he had recently derived an addition to his property. After several specific bequests, he leaves one-third of his share in the brewery to his wife, for her life; appoints his son Charles to succeed to one-third, and leaves certain other portions to his family; the remainder of his interest in the brewery he leaves to his eldest son and partner, Edward. The plate presented to him by his late constituents at Weymouth, and by his brothers, sisters, nephews, nieces, and all other relations,

The plate

he gives to his son Edward. presented to him by the young people at Weymouth, he gives to his son-in-law, Andrew Johnston. The plate presented to him from the directors and members of the Alliance Assurance Company he gives to his sons, Thomas-Fowell and Charles. Other specific articles of plate he leaves to his daughters. He gives his college prize books to his son Edward and his children. Devises his freehold and leasehold estates at Runton and Felbrigg, in the county of Norfolk, to his son Edward North Buxton; his freehold, copyhold, and leasehold estates in Trimingham, Sidestrand, Southrepps, Gimingham, and all other places, in or near the county of Norfolk, to his sons Thomas Fowell Buxton and Charles Buxton. Directs the Bellfield estate to be sold, and, with the share in the partnership of the brewery and the residue of his personal estate, to be held in trust to pay thereout 30007. a year to his wife, for her life. Appoints his son, now Sir Edward North Buxton, his residuary legatee.

"A Funeral Sermon for the late Sir Thomas Fowell Buxton, Bart. compris. ing full details of his life and death," was preached on Sunday, March 16, at the district church of St. Mary, Spitalsquare, by the Rev. John Garwood, M. A., Incumbent, and has since been published.

GENERAL SIR THOMAS SAUMARFZ.

March 4. At his residence, Petit Marche, in the island of Guernsey, in the 85th year of his age, General Sir Thomas Saumarez, brother to the late Adm. Lord de Saumarez.

He was the third son of Matthew Saumarez, esq. of Guernsey, by his second wife, Carteret, daughter of Thomas le Marchant, esq. He purchased a Lieutenancy in the 23rd Foot in 1776, and joined the regiment in North America. He was present at the capture of New York and Philadelphia; assisted at the storming of Fort Washington, and the capture of 3,300 prisoners. He was afterwards employed in the destruction of the extensive military stores at Danburg. In 1778 he was appointed Lieutenant of the grenadiers, and joined the brigade (of more than 50 companies) under Lord Cornwallis. He was subsequently at the severe action fought at Monmouth.

In 1779 (then only 19 years of age) he purchased a company in the Welsh Fusiliers. He served in most of the actions fought in America during the war; and was present at the siege of Charles Town, and of York Town, where he was taken prisoner. He was one of the thirteen raptains for whom lots were drawn, when

a victim was demanded by General Washington by way of retaliation, and the sentence of death fell upon Sir Charles Asgill. At the peace, in 1783, Capt. Saumarez had the charge of the 1st division (3,000 men), which he marched to New York, within the British lines. In 1789 he was removed to a company in the 7th Foot.

In 1793 he was appointed Inspector of the Guernsey militia; soon afterwards acted as Assistant Quarter-Master-General, and filled other staff appointments. In 1794 he attained the rank of Major in the army. He received the honour of knighthood (in consideration of his professional services) on presenting an address from Guernsey to George III. July 15, 1795. In 1798 he became a Lieut.-Colonel, Colonel in 1808, and Major. General in 1811. In 1812 he received the rank of Major-General, and was appointed Commandant of the garrison at Halifax, Nova Scotia. In 1813, he was President and Commander-in Chief of New Brunswick, on leaving which province he received an address of thanks. In 1812 was appointed Equerry, and afterwards Groom of the Bed-chamber to H. R. H. the Duke of Kent. He conducted the secret correspondence with the enemy's coast during the war. attained the full rank of General, June 28, 1838.

He

Sir Thomas Saumarez married, in 1787, Harriet, daughter of William Brock, esq.

GENERAL SIR CHARLES WALE, K.C.B. March 19. At Shelford, Cambridgeshire, aged 82, General Sir Charles Wale, K.C.B., Colonel of the 33d Foot.

Sir Charles Wale was the son of Thomas Wale, esq. of Shelford. He entered the army at the early age of sixteen in 1779, by purchase of an ensigncy in the 88th regiment, then under orders for Jamaica: but he returned to England next year, in consequence of being promoted to a lieutenancy in the 97th, with which he proceeded to the relief of Minorca; as that important island, however, had already surrendered to the enemy, the 97th went into garrison duty at Gibraltar, where it continued during the whole of the celebrated siege which so strongly attracted the attention of Europe, and terminated so favourably for Great Britain in 1782. In the following year, he obtained, by purchase, a company in the 12th regiment; and (the war being ended) was placed on half-pay; but in 1786 he exchanged for full pay into the 46th, which regiment he accompanied to Ireland, and thence to the Channel islands;

but he again retired on half-pay, in consequence of his marriage. He then accepted the office of Adjutant to the Cambridgeshire Militia, in which corps he subsequently held a Majority, which he retained till the year 1797, when he returned to the regular service as Captain in the 20th foot, and served under the Duke of York in Holland, being present at the battles of the 10th and 19th of September, as well as those of the 2nd and 6th of October, in which his regiment obtained great credit. In 1798 he returned to England and was promoted to a Majority in the 85th, which corps he left next year for a Lieutenant-Colonelcy in the 67th, when he was again ordered to Jamaica ; from which station he brought home his regiment in 1800-1, but accompanied it, in 1805, to the East Indies; the climate of which, affecting his health, obliged him to revisit his native shores, where he exchanged into the 66th. On the 25th of April, 1808, he was appointed Colonel by brevet, and in March next year was made Brigadier-General on the West India Staff. Here at length this excellent officer, who had seen so much service in various parts of the world, obtained that opportunity of acquiring distinction in his profession which is so earnestly coveted by all men of spirit and ability. Being ordered with his regiment to the attack on Guadaloupe, in Feb. 1810, he contributed chiefly by his acuteness, decision, and gallantry, to the speedy capture of the island, and to the consequent saving of numerous lives on each side. For his brilliant conduct and wounds on this occasion he received an important command in the captured island, and subsequently succeeded to the command of all the troops there stationed. In 1812 he was appointed to the government of Martinique, which he held until the restoration of that island to Louis XVIII.

On the enlargement of the order of the Bath in Jan. 1815, he was nominated a Knight Commander. In 1821 he attained the rank of Lieut.-General; and that of General in 1838. In Feb. 1831 he obtained the Colonelcy of the 33rd regiment of foot, as a final reward of the long and faithful services which he had rendered to his country. He then retired to his family seat at Shelford, in Cambridgeshire, where he lived full of honours, and universally esteemed as a distinguished soldier, an upright man, and a sincere Christian. It only remains to be said, that in manners he was a fine example of the good old English school; and that in politics he was of the high Conservative party; though he allowed no difference of opinion in this respect to estrange him