036

LIFE OF COOBDER.,

{cmar.

1865. by Mrs, Cobden and his second daughter. Instead of going
Ar. 60. as usual to the house of Mr. Paulton or some other friend,
he had taken lodgings in Suffolk Street; it was close to the
Athensmum, and as near as he could get to the House of
Commons. On his arrival at his journey’s end, after writing
» few letters, according to his indefatigable custom, he Was
immediately prostrated by an attack of asthma. He lay
through the bleak days watching the smoke blown from the
chimneys of the houses opposite, and vainly hoping that the
wind would change its quarter from the merciless east. At
the end of a week he seemed convalescent, and was allowed
to see one or two friends. The apparent recovery only lasted
a few hours, and was followed by a sharper attack than
before. For a day or two his wife and daughter watched
with painful alternations of hope and fear. On the 1st of
April the asthma became congestive, and bronchitis supervened.
 It was now evident that he would not recover. He
was able to make his will, and occasionally to say & few
words to those who were watching by his bedside.
Mr. Bright called in the evening, but was not allowed t0
see him. Karly the next morning (Sunday, April 2) he
called again ; and as all chance of a rally had now vanished,
he took his place by the side of the dying man. One other
friend was in the room, Mr, George Moffatt, whose intimacy
 with Cobden had been long and sincere. They saW
that his end was very close. As the bells of St. Martin's
Church were ringing for the morning service, the mists of
death began to settle heavily on his brow, and his ardent,
courageous, and brotherly spirit soon passed tranquilly
away. Many tears were shed in homes where Cobden’
name was revered and loved when the tidings that he was
dead reached them.
At the time of his death he was within two months
of the completion of his sixty-first year. One afternoon in