48 
SOME OF THE FOUNDERS OF THE SOCIETY. 
allotted term of human life, he still preserved his hodily activity, and 
was at his ease on horseback. 
In the summer of 1857, a visit to Wentwortli "VVoodhouse from 
the Queen and the Prince Consort was arranged ; and, prior to this 
event, his lordship went to stay with his kinsman, Lord Dundas, at 
Marsh Hall, near Guisborough, on the Yorkshire coast. Being fond 
of sea bathing he very much enjoyed this opportunity, and after 
taking a bath he actually came out of tlie water, remounted his horse, 
and swam it out to sea. 
It was a violent, and as it proved, a fatal action for a septua- 
genarian. A shivering attack was followed by serious illness, which 
made it difficult to transport him to his home ; but this was effected 
under medical superintendence, and the royal visit was of course 
indefinitely postponed. A paralytic seizure rendered the case hope- 
less ; and on Sunday, 4th October, 1857, surrounded by his children, 
and his sons and daugliters-in-law, the good Earl passed peacefully 
and without pain, into the other world, universally respected, 
and by those near to him beloved. 
The property, both in England and Ireland, which belonged to 
Lord Strafford, remained with the earldom ; the Milton estate was 
appropriated to the Honourable George W. Fitzwilliain ; and the 
Badsworth estate to the Honourable Charles W. Fitzwilliam, brothers 
of the present Earl. 
We rather linger over Lord Fitzwilliam's cliaracter. He was ■ a 
man singularly thoughtful and just, as well as generous. Being 
thoroughly domestic, the smallest affair that touched his home 
received his attention. He exercised great bounty, but it was not 
bestowed indiscriminately, or without enquiry. As a landlord he had 
vast experience, owing to the great variety of his possessions, which 
included lands, mines, factories, houses, &c. ; and all who were under 
him felt the benefit of being in the hands of a proprietor, who could 
and would investigate all cases that were brought before him. In a 
word, he was a man invested with great responsibihties, and his 
whole life showed that he felt their importance and their claim upon 
his time and thoughts. 
At a meeting of the society, held in the Philosophical Hall, 
