Archaeological Journal/Volume 29/Memoir of the late Earl of Dunraven

 

THE LATE EARL OF DUNRAVEN.

The late Earl of Dunraven was an early and active member of this Institute, and for some years a member of its Council, he died at Great Malvern, in October, 1871.

Edwin Richard Wyndham Windham Quin, third Earl of Dunraven and Mount Earl (1822), Viscount Mount Earl (1816), Viscount Adare (1822), Baron Adare (1800), Irish honours; Baron Kenry (1866), and a Baronet (1781), Imperial honours; Knight of St. Patrick, Lord-Lieutenant of the County of Limerick, and a Commissioner of National Education in Ireland; was born at Adare Manor, co. Limerick, 19th May, 1812, the eldest son of Windham Henry, second Earl of Dunraven, by Caroline, daughter and sole heiress of Thomas Wyndham, of Dunraven Castle, in Glamorgan, and Clearwell Court, co. Gloucester. He was educated at Eton, and at Trinity College, Dublin, where he was a pupil of the late Sir Wm. Hamilton. While in Dublin, he resided for two years in the Observatory, and became a practised astronomical observer. His taste for that science led to an intimacy with Dr. Robinson, of Armagh, Lord Rosse, and Mr. Cooper, of Mackree; but his astronomical studies somewhat affected his eyesight, and were, in consequence, laid aside. In 1831, however, he became a fellow of the Astronomical Society, and not long before his death he attended, with much interest, the construction of the great telescope for the Melbourne Observatory.

Lord Dunraven was a man of very good abilities and remarkable industry, the fruits of which were apparent in the great variety of his attainments. He was conversant with both literature and science; exceedingly fond of several branches of natural history, and a good botanist and geologist. He was also an accomplished man; fond of the arts, and especially of music; a good converser, and very popular in society. He was a great lover of fine scenery, and had a keen appreciation of the beauties of nature.

In 1831, he became a Member of the Royal Irish Academy, on the Council of which he afterwards served, and was a Vice-President. In 1834, he became a Fellow of the Royal, and, in 1837, of the Royal Geographical Society. In the latter year he contested Glamorgan, as Lord Adare, and was returned at the head of the poll.

Among his early geological friends were some who, like Dean Conybeare, were also advanced students in archæology, and to this pursuit, then in its infancy, Lord Adare also paid great attention, which was much encouraged by his acquaintance with Dr. Petrie, who ever after remained one of his most attached friends. Mis regard for Petrie was, no doubt, much strengthened by the part they took, in 1840, in the formation of the Irish Archæological Society; and, indeed, to know Petrie intimately was necessarily to love him.

In 1843, Lord Adare, in common with many eminent Irishmen, united to remonstrate with the Government for their ill-timed parsimony in stopping the Irish Ordnance Survey, as then conducted, and he took a lead in forcing upon Sir Robert Peel the appointment of a commission of inquiry into the question. Upon this commission he sat, and took an active part in the composition of their very able report. In 1845, he joined in founding the Celtic Society, and took a lively interest in the publication of the Irish historical records, of which 'The Annals of the Four Masters' was dedicated to him by O'Donovan, as was the 'History of the Ancient Ecclesiastical Architecture of Ireland,' by Dr. Petrie. Such of his time as was not absorbed by his public duties he gave up to the study of Irish antiquities, both in the field and in the closet, and this led him to visit the earlier ecclesiastical architectural remains of France and Italy, and especially of Ravenna.

In 1849, the Cambrian Archæological Society met at Cardiff, and Lord Adare presided. The meeting was an exceptionally good one. Those who took part in it and yet survive, are not likely to forget the combination of profound learning, with Irish wit and humour, brought to bear upon the antiquities of Glamorgan by Dr. Todd, Dr. Graves, and the other eminent men who came over from the sister island to do honour to the President.

In 1851, Lord Adare retired from Parliament, and though an occasional visitor at his mother's house of Dunraven, he took little share in county or, indeed, in public business, until the death of his father, in 1850, which was followed by his own elevation to the British Peerage in 1866.

Lord Dunraven contributed largely to an account of Adare, and of the very remarkable objects of antiquity, ecclesiastical and military, contained within its demesne and immediate neighbourhood. The volume, entitled 'Memorials of Adare,' was in part written, and privately printed, by his mother, in 1865. Her son's part in it is a pattern of what such histories should be. The descriptions and family details are minute, but they are treated, as far as possible, rather as a chapter in the history of the country, than as a piece of local topography or family genealogy.

In 1866, died Dr. Petrie, whose loss fell heavily upon Lord Dunraven, than whom no one more thoroughly appreciated or was more completely in accord with that most amiable and excellent man, as much beloved in private as he was respected in public life.

Upon Dr. Petrie's death, Lord Dunraven, with other friends, formed a committee for the better sale of his collections and for the publication of his hitherto unpublished writings. In this he took a very great interest, and finally he decided to take upon himself the completion of Dr. Petrie's 'Ecclesiastical Architecture of Ireland,' and in the execution of this purpose he was engaged four years in visiting various parts of that country and causing photographs to be made of the chief remains, and in taking measurements and making plans, often with his own hand. This labour of love he did not live to accomplish; but, by his will, he left a considerable sum for the publication of the photographs, proposing thus to shed light upon the early ecclesiastical remains of his country and upon some of the most remarkable of the prehistoric forts. The care of this work he is understood to have bequeathed to his accomplished friend, Miss Stokes, whose editing of Dr. Petrie's 'Christian Inscriptions in the Irish Language,' proves her competence well to discharge the trust laid upon her.

In 1869, Lord Dunraven was again President of the Cambrian Archæological Association, which then met at Bridgend. This was his last appearance in his own county, and, indeed, his last public appearance anywhere. It was an occasion the more remarkable, and the more affectionately remembered by the more intimate friends of his family, that it was also the last occasion on which his mother, the venerable Countess, received at Dunraven. The house was filled with their friends, and while Lord Dunraven took the labouring oar and arranged and accompanied the excursions, his mother was able to appear and to welcome those who came, with that happy blending of dignity and kindness which upon her sat so naturally and became her so well.

The duty of an Archæological President in the field is not altogether an easy one. He should himself be an archæologist, and well acquainted with the history and details of the monuments of his district. Also he should make himself more or less acquainted with the various members of the congress, and especially with those who are strangers, so as to be able to say a courteous word upon occasion, to take part in the local discussions, and by the exercise of a gentle and scarcely perceived pressure, keep all within the bounds of time, space, and temper.

These duties Lord Dunraven discharged admirably. Nature had given him a courteous manner, a kindly and unselfish disposition, and an excellent temper, to which he had added, by study, a sound knowledge not only of the antiquities of the district, but of those of Ireland and many parts of the Continent, so that he was not only a popular President, but to the accuracy of a local antiquary he added the breadth of view of a sound comparative archæologist.

The address he delivered at Bridgend was excellent of its kind and exactly what was wanted. By it he introduced the strangers to the district, gave them a good general notice of what they were to see, and thus showed them how to employ their time, often necessarily brief, to the best advantage.

Lord Dunraven accepted, in 1871, the office of President of a Section, and fully intended taking an active part in the proceedings of the Royal Archæological Institute at the Cardiff meeting. This, however, his increasing weakness forbade; but he read, with much pleasure, the accounts of the meetings, and wrote to some of those who took part in it on what had passed.

Lord Dunraven discharged honestly and fairly such public duties as his rank and position placed before him, but his character was one suited rather for private than public life. It is difficult to say whether he shone most as a friend or as a companion. As a companion, he was almost without his equal; his information was so general, so various, so accurate, and so ready. He knew something on most subjects and a good deal on many, and what he knew he knew well. Moreover, he brought his knowledge to bear without the least assumption of superiority, and with a vast deal of fun and humour, and never a trace of harshness or ill-nature. As a friend, he was thorough and true; always pleasant, but also always honest and sincere. Indeed, any notice of his character would be very imperfect that did not mention his love of truth, which was a very salient part of it. His mind seemed incapable of exaggeration. However deeply he felt—and upon many subjects he felt very deeply indeed,—he never distorted facts nor availed himself of unfair arguments. Very free from all impurity of thought or word, ever acting and speaking under a strong sense of religion; firm in his own religious opinions, very tolerant of those of others. Few men were more beloved by those admitted to his friendship, fur his was eminently a loveable nature.

Lord Dunraven married, first, Augusta, third daughter of Thomas Gould, a Master in Chancery, who died 1867, leaving the present Earl and several daughters. He married, second Anne, daughter of the late Henry Lambert, Esq., of Carnagh, M.P. for Wexford County in 1833, by whom he left no issue, and who survives him.