WCP6100

SIR DAVID WEDDERBURN¹, whose too early death we announced with much regret yesterday, seemed at one time to have a remarkable political career before him. He was an earnest student of politics, and took a keen interest in the active business of Parliamentary life. In temper, intellect, and thought, he resembled some of those men who, in an earlier day, were known as philosophical Radicals. He had travelled. much, and he generally travelled with some distinct purpose of acquiring political information. He studied foreign and colonial questions on the spot, and was thus entitled to bring to Parliamentary debate [2] an amount of knowledge, both varied and precise, such as in other times might have made the whole stock-in-trade of a small independent party. Of late years, however, he had taken but little part in the debates of the House of Commons. He had to strive more and more against the depressing and distracting influence of failing health. It is hard, indeed, for a man who has to watch anxiously over his physical health to be able to play anything like an effective part in Parliamentary life. Perhaps it was not ill-health alone which made Sir DAVID WEDDERBURN lately resign his seat in the House of Commons, although it is now clear that he ought to have resigned it long ago, and that the relief from political labour came too late. It is, we believe, no secret that he was of late not quite satisfied with the policy which, in some instances, was followed by his party, and he found himself somewhat at odds with those whom otherwise he would gladly have joined in cordial union. He had not a fair chance of proving himself in public life all that his friends believed him to be, but those who knew him are still convinced that the capacity was there, if only time and opportunity had been given.

Envelope addressed to "Miss Violet Wallace, Duppas Hill, Croydon", with stamp, postmarked "GLOUCESTER STATION | C DEC27 | 80". Pencil note on front of envelope "Sir D Wedderburn"; postmark on back. [Envelope (WCP6100.7056)]