Noted Speech Snip- William Huskisson In 1826 Against Duke Of Wellington, Early To Be Killed In 1830 By A Train

Single clipped sheet, reporting on William Huskisson's speech on shipping laws and how much it has hurt trade as well as the economy at home (Britain). Recorded by an unknown hand during his speech. Not signed by Huskisson. Measures 8 by 4.25 torn and folds present. Small, neat handwriting and underlying the crisis that sets a battle between Huskisson and the Duke of Wellington. Along with this document is the First Edition Book by Christopher McGowan “The Rainhill Trials” in which The Rocket is present and there is an account of the tragedy that takes Huskisson’s life in a train accident, one of the first. A rare snippet of news reporting in 1826. Huskisson died in 1830, trying to make amends with the Duke of Wellington who was in his train, as The Rocket approached with little to no room for Huskisson of the two trains on two narrow track lines.

William Huskisson PC (11 March 1770 – 15 September 1830) was a British statesman, financier, and Member of Parliament for several constituencies, including Liverpool.

He is best known as the world's first widely reported railway casualty as he was run over and fatally wounded by George Stephenson's pioneering locomotive engine The Rocket.
Prior to his death by one of the first locomotives in England he was appointed President of the Board of Trade and Treasurer of the Navy, and shortly afterwards he received a seat in the cabinet. In the same year he was returned for Liverpool as successor to Canning, and as the only man who could reconcile the Tory merchants to a free trade policy. Among the more important legislative changes with which he was principally connected were a reform of the Navigation Acts, admitting other nations to a full equality and reciprocity of shipping duties; the repeal of the labor laws; the introduction of a new sinking fund; the reduction of the duties on manufactures and on the importation of foreign goods, and the repeal of the quarantine duties.

As a pro-planter Secretary for Colonies in 1826, he proposed the revised Consolidated Slave Law which was accepted by Parliament.

In 1826 after the Power-loom riots, several manufacturers subsequently agreed to pay a standard rate to the weavers, but on their own admission it was a "starvation" wage. Those who stuck to the agreement found it difficult to compete with those manufacturers who did not, and could therefore undercut them, prompting an appeal to William Huskisson, the President of the Board of Trade, to introduce a legally binding minimum wage. Huskisson's response was dismissive, expressing his view that to introduce such a measure would be "a vain and hazardous attempt to impose the authority of the law between the laborer and his employer in regulating the demand for labor and the price to be paid for it".
In accordance with his suggestion, Canning in 1827 introduced a measure on the corn laws proposing the adoption of a sliding scale to regulate the amount of duty. A misapprehension between Huskisson and the Duke of Wellington led to the duke proposing an amendment, the success of which caused the abandonment of the measure by the government. Wellington was embarrassed by Huskisson.
Huskisson’s Death by the train called The Rocket.

Huskisson had been diagnosed with strangury, a tender inflammation of the kidneys. He had undergone surgery and had been advised by Royal doctor William George Maton to cancel all forthcoming appointments, which included the opening of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway. Huskisson chose to ignore this advice, believing the opening event too important to avoid. He rode down the line in a special train constructed for the Duke of Wellington and his guests and dignitaries, pulled by the locomotive Northumbrian which was driven by George Stephenson himself. This train was the only train on the southern track; the other seven were in procession on the northern track.

At Parkside railway station, near the midpoint of the line, the locomotives made a scheduled stop to take on fuel and water. Although the company had implicitly warned passengers to remain on the trains while this took place, around 50 of the dignitaries on board alighted when the Duke of Wellington's special train stopped. One of those who got off was Huskisson, who approached the Duke to take this opportunity to repair their relationship after a great falling out, which resulted in Huskisson leaving the government, and shook his hand.

At this time the train being pulled by the Rocket approached on the other line. Rocket was being driven by Joseph Locke, George Stephenson's assistant and future eminent engineer in his own right. A shout went up, "An engine is approaching. Take care, gentlemen!" The other disembarked passengers either climbed back into their seats or stepped over the northern line and completely out of the way. A third option was available, to stand with one's back to the stationary coaches, as there was a four-foot gap between the lines, and even though the Duke's private carriage was wider than a then-standard carriage, it would have still been possible to stand between the stationary train and the travelling train and remain safe. However, what unfolded was a calamitous series of events. Huskisson was known to be clumsy and had endured a long list of problems from his regular trips and falls; he had twice broken his arm and never fully recovered the use of it. Added to this, he was only a few weeks post-surgery and was present against his doctor's advice.

On realizing his danger, he panicked and made two attempts to cross the other line but changed his mind and returned to the Duke's carriage. At this point Joseph Locke became aware and threw Rocket into reverse, but it would have taken 10 seconds to have any effect. Huskisson then panicked that the gap between the two trains was not big enough and so tried to clamber into the Duke's carriage. However, the carriage door had not been latched, and so it slowly swung open, leaving him hanging directly in the path of the oncoming Rocket hit the opened door, throwing Huskisson onto the tracks in front of the train. His leg was horrifically mangled by the locomotive.

A door was ripped from a railway building and Huskisson was placed on it, and George Stephenson uncoupled Northumbrian from the Duke's train and coupled it to a small carriage that had been occupied by a band; the mortally injured MP was placed inside with a small group of friends. They set off for Eccles and walked from the station to the vicarage, where a doctor was called. A tourniquet had been applied, but it was not deemed possible to do a field amputation, so he was made comfortable with the assistance of the vicar's wife Emma Blackburne, whose "activity, sense & conduct" were mentioned in The Manchester Courier and The Times and remembered with gratitude by Huskisson's widow Emily who arrived at the vicarage from Liverpool. Huskisson was able to make his will and at 9 pm he finally succumbed to his injury.

Notes: Folds present, pencil notations. Neat period hand. Book First Edition and in good condition.

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8" x 0.001" x 4.25"

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Richard Gabriel | (781) 883-6639 | gabriel@calixbooks.com

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