Great Statesman and Man of Noble Character London, Sept. 23.
The death is announced of Vis-<count Morley of Blackburn at the age of 84. His last illness was only of a few hours' duration. He enjoyed good health until this morning, when he was suddenly taken il] at his London residence and died peacefully in the evening.—Reuter.
By the death of Viscount Morley, the Empire loses a distinguished statesman, a. brilliant man of letters, and an individual whose force of character, consistency of principle and honesty of conviction and utterance.compelled recognition and admire ation even from his strongest opponents.
John Morley was born at Black-
was the son of Jonathan Morley, burn on December 24, 1838, and a surgeon. He matriculated at Lincoln College, Oxford, in 1856, and after taking his degree three years later, went up to London with the determination of seeking distinction in literature. Almost immediately he began to lay the foundations of a brilliant career. Able and incisive contributions to the political and literary press rapidly brought him into prominence as a philosopher and Radical. It is a striking commentary on the progress of events that the subversive "Radical" doctrine of the middle of last century was scarcely less "advanced" than views the average Conservative is compelled to avow to-day. In philosophy, also, Morley was apart from the generality, being in sympathy with Comte's now discredited "Positivism," and an avowed agnostic, an intellectual position not. then calculated to win popular favour. Lord Morley's literary activities continued to be many and important. In 1868 he edited the "Morning Star," and about the same time succeeded G. H. Lewes as editor of the Fortnightly Review," which he conducted with brilliant success until 1883. It was in 1873 that he began his editorship of Maemillan's famous" English Men of -Letters" series, in which nothing hetter has appeared than his own "Life of Edmund Burke," The year 1889 saw him in_ the editorial chair of the "Pall Mall Gazette," which he converted into a Liberal newspaper.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.