England -- Social life and customs -- 19th century; Great Britain -- History -- William IV, 1830-1837
"On arriving at the Vicarage, the surgeon found Mr. Huskisson in
a state of extreme suffering, but remarkably composed, and
exhibiting extraordinary firmness of mind. The bones of the leg
were broken into small pieces, and a considerable wound was
visible on the skin and muscles. The thigh bone, above the middle
part, was also broken into several fragments, and the muscles
were laid bare high up the thigh, exposing the principal nerves
and blood-vessels. The professional gentlemen decided that it was
impossible to adventure upon the amputation of the limb. The
sufferings of the patient, during the few hours he survived, were
most acute. Every now and then groans of the deepest agony were
extorted from him by the intensity of the pain which he was
enduring; there were, however, no screams, no murmurings against
the dispensations of Providence; but every symptom of the most
manly courage, the most unshrinking fortitude, and the most
Christian resignation.
"In the course of the evening, when Mr. Blackburne, the Vicar, in
reading the Lord's Prayer to him, came to the clause, 'forgive us
our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us,' Mr.
Huskisson said, in a firm and distinct tone of voice, 'That I do,
most heartily; and I declare to God that I have not the slightest
feeling of ill-will to any human being.' The Sacrament was,
subsequently, administered to him and Mrs. Huskisson. He did not
make any allusion, or send any remembrance, to his political
friends. He showed a natural anxiety for the preservation of his
character as a Statesman. 'The country,' said he, 'has had the
best of me. I trust that it will do justice to my public
character. I regret not the few years which might have remained
to me, except for those dear ones,' added he, grasping Mrs.
Huskisson's hand, and looking with affectionate regret upon her
dejected countenance, 'whom I leave behind me.' He dictated a
codicil to his will, which was drawn up by Mr. Wainwright, his
secretary, and witnessed by the Earl of Wilton, and Lords
Granville and Colvill. On the day following his death, an inquest
was held on his body, the verdict of which was, 'Accidental
death.'"
He was buried at Liverpool on September 24th, receiving a magnificent
funeral, in the presence of about twenty thousand people.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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