President Lincoln's New York Funeral

HARPER'S WEEKLY

[MAY 13, 1865.

300

PRESIDENT LINCOLN'S FUNERAL—REMOVAL OF THE BODY FROM THE CITY HALL TO THE FUNERAL CAR, NEW YORK, APRIL. 25, 1865.

RICHARD COBDEN.

THE late RICHARD COBDEN was the son of a Sussex farmer, where he was born June 3, 1804. Having learned the business of a salesman in the service of a City warehouse in the Manchester trade, he early re-moving to Lancashire, set up there for himself as a printer of calicoes, and, by his skill in suiting the markets and by his fine taste in patterns, became, in a very few years, one of the most thriving manufacturers or that district. He was still a young man. He had made up for the want of a University education by his studies of political economy, which be recommended in after-life as providing a better intellectual exercise and discipline than the exact sciences. His accomplishments were, an excellent faculty of logical exposition, with a rare talent of finding the readiest and happiest illustrations of his argument, and a perfect mastery of clear and forcible language in writing or speaking. He was familiar with the condition of the industrious middle and lower classes of England, both north and south. Foreign trade and foreign travel soon made him acquainted with the different countries of Europe and the United States. His political opinions were early formed. His task was to become one of the leading political executors of that legacy of economic science which the Scottish philosophers of the last century had bequeathed. The laws which regulate the production, distribution, and consumption of wealth appeared to his mind as the laws of bodily health—laws of Nature, ordinances of Divine authority—which it was no less impious than foolish to withstand. He took up, therefore, the vindication of those principles, almost with the zeal of an apostle, and for the sake of truth, while he demanded their practical observance for the relief of manufacturing interests. Such were the antecedents of this eminent public man, who came forward a quarter of a century ago as the ablest orator of the Anti-Corn Law League, himself a capitalist, a large employer of labor, and a successful mercantile adventurer, who could speak with sure knowledge of the operations of industry and trade.

In the House of Commons COBDEN was an earnest advocate for Free Trade, because of its necessity to the working men of England. The question became, in some of its aspects, so ominous that further resistance to the popular demands might have resulted in a national calamity. Not only had Lancashire made up its

mind—not only had the merchants

and traders of London, after long hesitation, become thoroughly convinced upon the subject--not only were the ranks of the Anti-Corn Law League swelled daily by fresh recruits, but in the agricultural counties themselves there were torch-light meetings of laborers, who declared that come what might of Free Trade, Protection was not even giving them bread. Sir ROBERT PEEL. saw that the time for concession had arrived ; he had long been inclining in theory toward the change, and his essentially practical mind now perceived that, whatever might happen to his party or himself, Free Trade must. become the law of the land. On the 26th June, 1846, the Corn Law Repeal Bill received the Royal assent , and the great Minister, as he finally retired from office amidst the blessings of a people and the curses of a faction, owned that to RICHARD COBDEN was the chief meed of merit due. A great mark of public favor was conferred upon him by his country-men. his fortune had suffered by his devotion to politics, and a splendid subscription of 60,000 was raised by his admirers, with which he purchased an estate near his native town. Shortly afterward he retired altogether from public life. His health was shattered, and it, was hoped that repose might restore him —a hope that was entertained until almost the last day. In April, 1859, without arty solicitation of his own, the electors of Rochdale recalled him to public life, and his return to the House of Commons was welcomed by men of all parties. Nor was it long before he again had it in his power to confer a superb service upon the country. In the autumn of the saute year he concluded the Commercial Treaty with France; and, however opinions may have differed as to some, details of that great agreement, there was no doubt that the illustrious free-trader had added another to his many claims upon public gratitude. The negotiation of the Treaty, indeed, may be regarded as the crowning act of his political life. The very earnestness with which he, had maintained certain rather unpopular items of his creed had always excluded him from office. He had many sorrows and afflictions, of which the public were scarcely cognizant; and he found, like many another English worthy, his chief reward ire the sense of duty perform-

ed.   He began to speak less frequently in Parliament. His last great speech was delivered in the memorable Danish debate of 1864; and it sufficiently proved that he had lost very little of his trenchant vigor or of his uncompromising love (Continued Next Page)

THE LATE RICHARD COBDEN.