Tuesday, October 4, 2011

October 18, 1865 --- The Death of "Old Pam."

Two days before his 81st birthday, Lord Palmerston dies at Brocket, his home in Hertfordshire. Palmerston had been Prime Minister for more than six years and had been preparing for the new session of Parliament. An autumn chill led to mortal fever. He lingered for about a week, rallying one morning for a full breakfast of mutton chops and port, expressing the wonder that he "waited so long to discover what a good breakfast it is." At one point, with the end now certain, Palmerston was asked by his doctor if he believed in Jesus Christ. Palmerston, like Winston Churchill, went to church for weddings and funerals, glibly replied, "Oh, surely!" His final words are a delirious ramble about diplomatic treaties.

Few Britons alive can remember an England without Palmerston who had held numerous key government posts since 1809. Gladstone, his Cabinet colleague but also a frequent critic, told his wife the news made him "giddy ... it made my head spin." The Queen expressed her regrets, but noted in her diary that Palmerston was a "strange man [who] often worried and distressed us." He had tried to seduce one of her ladies-in-waiting.  Lord Shaftesbury, whose wife Minny was almost certainly Pam's illegitimate daughter, called him “A grand pillar appointed, under God's Providence, to which all the vessels of State were linked ... It is now cast down; the ships are set afloat and will drift in every direction.”

Neither the 13,000 word obituary in The Times nor Dean Stanley's eulogy at the burial in Westminster Abbey make any mention of Pam's questionable private life. Instead, the Dean spoke of Palmerston's "unfailing trust in the greatness of England," obliquely leaving other matters "in the unseen world ... known to God alone." The Spectator felt the customary pieties were unnecessary, for "There was little if anything in him of that class of virtues by which the Christian is distinguished from the manly and generous Pagan."

1 comment:


  1. Mr. Tom Hughes ~

    I have just completed an in-depth study of the life and times of Confederate Arms and Supply Purchaser, Caleb Huse, entitled: "Dancing with the Philistines." And, as with all of my tome-studies, I attempt to include as many as possible B/W images of individuals that were even remotely connected with the protagonist.

    For further information, pertaining to the books I have finished researching, as well as the ones that are in various stages of completion, please see: www.davestevensbooks.com.

    That said, my publisher has requested I ascertain that it is agreeable with the originators of the images that I wish to include – to wit: written authorization to include, for publication, an image that has been ascribed to you – before the stages of publication can proceed.

    Let me say, however, that although my books appear on the www, my "following" is incredibly-small (mostly patronized by "friends, family, and associates"), resulting in less than 100 copies sold (and, OF those, I have given most away!). So, any ‘profit-margin’ that I would have liked to realize is, indeed, very, very miniscule (i.e.: I have never "broken-even" on any of my previous research, i.e.: "Sin Perdon: Acquiescence with Murder," 2008).

    Having said all that, I am approaching you with the petition that I be authorized (granted written permission) to include a photograph, that has been ascribed to you, in the publication of the abovementioned tome. Quite naturally, all copyright descriptions and/or authorizations will be properly annotated either directly below the image (i.e.: "Courtesy of [your organization / name]"), or in the footnote section (unless otherwise dictated by you).

    The B/W image in question is that of Lord Palmerston - which I found on your blog-page. If you are not the individual, or guardianship, of said image with whom I need to coordinate to re-publish the aforementioned image, please provide the contact information of such a person (s), as my publishers are keeping my project in abeyance until such a time as I can prove proper/legal ownership.

    Your immediate attention to this matter would be most appreciated.

    Humbly submitted for your consideration and immediate action,

    David (Dave) R. Stevens,
    2111 Cash Point Ct.
    Granbury, Texas 76049
    (682) 205-3274 (Home)
    (571) 264-1600 (Mobile)

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