Page:The house of Cecil.djvu/343

 THIRD MARQUESS OF SALISBURY 301

premiership of nearly fourteen years. He was succeeded as Prime Minister by Mr. Balfour.

For many years his health had been gradually failing, and on several occasions he had been obliged to go abroad to Chateau Cecil at Puys, near Dieppe, to his villa at Beaulieu, to Roy at or elsewhere to recoup, leaving the conduct of the Foreign Office to Mr. Balfour. At Whitsuntide, 1903, he had an acute attack of nephritis, accom- panied by heart weakness, from which he never really recovered, and on August 22nd his death occurred at Hatfield. There, in the church which contains the ashes of so many of his ancestors, he lies buried by the side of his wife.

" Never was a life more complete," said Lord Rosebery, 1 summing up the sentiments of the nation with his usual felicity. ' We can speak of him without a feeling of regret. Happy those who have so long mixed in public life of whom that may be said."

No one can read the story of Lord Salisbury's life, or study his character, without being con- stantly reminded of his great ancestor, Lord Burghley. Intense devotion to their Queen, single-hearted patriotism, freedom from personal ambition, Olympian serenity and aloofness, genuine piety, strong family affection, these and many other characteristics are common to the Eliza- bethan and to the Victorian statesman.

Lord Salisbury's personal reserve and hatred

J Speech at the Oxford Union, November i4th, 1904.

�� �