15 DECEMBER 1860, Page 2

The death of George Hamilton Gordon, Earl of Aberdeen, does

not come upon the public by surprise. The venerable statesman had long been declining in health, and he has expired at a ripe old age. An active diplomatist in 1815, Foreign Secretary in 1828 and again in 1841, Premier of a Coalition Cabinet in 1858, Lord Aberdeen has done his share of public work ; and if he did not always do it in a manner commanding approval, if he often allowed his Tory prejudices to warp his judgment, if he showed an unwise fear of incurring rigorous responsibilities by the adoption of a resolute policy, it may be said of him that he always acted according to his conscience and convictions, and that his public conduct was distinguished by fairness and in- tegrity.