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Death of Mr. John Lawrence, J.P., D.L., M.F.H. REPRESENTATIVE GATHERING AT THE FUNERAL. Another link with the remote past has been „ severed-another remarkable earthly career is -closed, and a blank alone remains. To the deep regret' of a very large circle of friends, who during the past few weeks have anxiously awaited reports from the sick room, Mr. John Lawrence, of Caerleon House, Caerleon, passed away at about one p M., on Monday. After a life of ureat activity, one of the most remarkable, most interesting, and most familiar figures in Mon- mouthshire, whether viewed from a commercial or social point, has pone to his rest full of years and lionour. Born on November 26th, 18u7, he, within a few weeks, would have reached the patriarchal age ot 94. His father, Mr. John Lawrence, of (jwnibraii House, was a considerable landowner, and when he removed to Abersychan, his son commenced his business career in the large .iron works which were established there in 18^5. In his own words 1 assisted in pegging out the lines of the foundations of the works, I laid the first foundation stone, I started the first blast, engine, put the first blast on the furuace, and rolled the first bar of iron there." As a genial raconteur Mr. Lawrence was uurivalled, and he -frequently alluded to his early start in life. His father having sold some mineral property to Bauk of England directors, lr. Taylor, one of the gentlemen, happened to be ikegotiating with him on one occasion when the son entered the room. "What are you going -to do with this boy said Mr. Taylor. and the jesting reply was I don't know. I'll make you a present of him, if you like." Mr. Taylor took the words seriously, and forthwith young Mr. Lawrence started upon an industrial career with the British Iron Company, which invested about half-a- million of capital iu the neighbour hood. Later ou, -with a view to his becoming manager, Mr. Lawrence went up to London and acquired a knowledge of office business, returning to the works, where every description of iron was made, and remaining there for about 14 years. For a .short time he was in partnership with Messrs. Williams and Morgan in the Golonos Works, and .afterwards trailed iu Newport as an iron merchant. 'Then he established the Cwmbran Works, and "?built the first blast furnaces there, in connection -with Mr. Reginald Blewitt. At this time he lived at Farm Wood, Llaufrechfa, but afterwards removed to Crick House, near Ctiepstow. Ultimately, he disposed of the Cwmbran Works to Messrs. Keen and Grice, of irmingham, who incorporated them with the JPatent Nut and Bolt Company. Mr. Lawrence held a great number of important public offices. He was a director of the old Monmouthshire JRailway and Caual Company, a director of the Old Dock, Newport, and later on of the Alexandra Docks Company, Chairman of the Directors of the -Newport Waterworks Company, and Chairman of ,the Commissioners of Sewers for the County. He represented the Great Western Railway Company upon the Newport Harbour Commission, and until .•a few years ago was its chairman. He was High .Sheriff of the County in 1869, was a Deputy Lieutenant and Justice of the Peace for the County of Monmouth, and had sat upon the bench louger than any other magistrate. For many years he was chairman of Caerleon U.D.C., and was a Governor of Williams's Endowed Schools. He was also chairman of the Uak Waterworks Company .and of the County Observer Newspaper aud Printing Company. So far we have sketched his commercial career, who can do justice to him as a sportsman? The 'London Daily Telegraph writing of a Cornish squire whose love for horse and hound continued literally until his death-bed, when the pack and -the huntsman in battle array were paraded beneath bis window that he might take a last, look at them, adds "the same inwnse, unremitting passiou for the chase distinguished Mr. John Lawrence, the nonagenarian. To hear that a man born so far back as November 26th, 18(17. should be a master ■ of hounds nearly a century later, seems at first to ilpice of romance rather than of reality. Not only that, but the deceased gentleman started his career as a sportsman at the age of twenty, so that, after many moving incidents by flood and field, he has -made a splendid and unique record of mastership of three-quarteis of a century. Son of Nir. John Lawrence, of Cwmbran House, aud in every .respect a "home bird," the deceased gentleman had not reached man's estate when he was "presented with a leush of hounds which formed the nucleus of the Cwmbran Harriers. Mr. Charles "Phillips, the old squire of Rt*ca, in makiug the present, added the advice If you want good hounds you must breed them, for men will not -jipart with their faultless hounds." One of the pair (Counteae) wa« said to be worth 4500, so that the ardent sportsman understood the value of a g )od commencement. The blood of this animal remains in the Llangibby kennels to this day." That Mr. Lawrenoe's intense love of the sport ceased only with his life we know from the fact that so late as Saturday last he eagerly enquired of Mr. Hopton Williams, the joint-mastw" what sport they had had on the previous dty-the opening day of the season-aud a happy smile overspread his countenance when the reply was given. Again, on Sunday, within twenty-four hours of bis great change, he questioned Evan Williams, his veteran huntsman, on the same subject, and received his answer with a smile of satisfaction. Mr. Lawrence's original pack, the Cwmbrau Harriers, was started in 1826, and hunted both hare aud fox, but as time went on he confined himself to fox-hunting only. When Mr. John Williams retired from the mastership of the Llangibby Hounds, in 1857, Mr. Lawrence took them over as a subscription pack, and when Mr. Curre, the master of the Chepstow Hounds, died, and was succeeded by Mr. C. E. Lewis, of St. Pierre, the two countries were united and the pack was known as the Llangibby and Chepstow, with kennels at Crick and Uangibby. The amalgamation did not prove altogether satisfactory, and in 1886, the countries were again divided, Mr. Lawrence retaining the Llangibby pack, with which he hunted regularly up to about seven years ago, when increasing age compelled him to follow the hounds on wheels. In 1897, Air. Hopton Williams became associated with him as joint-master, and on November 26th of the same year Mr. Lawrence was entertained at a luncheon at the King's Head, Newport, the late Duke of Beaufort presiding, and was presented with a life- size portrait of himself, the work of Mr. John Charlton, and subscribed for by members of the Llangibby Hunt and others. On that memorable occasion his Grace the D ike of Beaufort alluded to the extraordinary fact of Mr. Lawrence having been a master of hounds for 71 years, and fout more years have now been added to that record. Horse racing he never entered upon. He belonged to a long-lived family, his brother, Mr. George Lawrence, who for a few years resided at Usk, and afterwards removed to Cheltenham, dying at the age of 93 one of his sisters exceeded the age of 90 and his brother, Dr. David Lawrence, of Usk, had long passed the allotted span, ere he was called away. His sister. Miss Eliza Lawrence, who resides at Weston-super-Mare, is now the s)le survivor. The deceased gentleman took up his residence at Caerleon about 12 years ago. He was twice married, his first wife being a Miss Morrison, who died in about a year afterwards. He then married Miss Adelaide Edwards, daughter of Mr. Thomas Edwards, solicitor, Pontypool. She died about four years agl. and of his eight children only two survive him- Ur Fred Lawrence who lives abroad, and Mrs. Kixon, wife of Colonel Nixon, R.A., who was in attendance upon hin at the time of his death. His grandson, Captain Lawrence, who served under Sir Frederick Carrington on the Rhodesiau frontier, wis also at Caerleon House when the sad event occurred. So intimately was the deceased gentleman connected with the commercial, agricultural, and SOGUI life of the c mnty that his genial presence, c mrtly manner, kindly disposition, and inexhaustible fund of anecdote will be sadly missed for many a year. I In politics Mr Lawenoe was a staunch Conser- vative, and until recently attended all the princi- pal County meetings—his sound and happily- worded speeches on those occasions, as well as at agricultural gatherings, always securing for him a cordial reception. His Christianity was of the sterling, consistent, and unostentatious type. He seldom talked of religion, but did justly, loved inercv, and walked humbly with his God, aticl his t-tt-ly arduous, but successful, effort to raise a church at Abersychan for the benefit of his WOI kmen was a proof of the importance he attached to Church of England doctrine. In the enjoyment of perfect health, and surrounded by his hunting friends, life was to him a real pleasure, yet at the call of his Maker he cheerfully resigned it. In consequence of the death of Mr. Lawrence, the Llangibby Hounds will not meet until further notice. The meet of the Tredegar Hounda was abandoned on Thursday for the same reaiion. I FUNERAL. I AN IMPRESSIVE CEREMONY. The funeral of Mr John Lawrence took place on Thursday, amid every manifestation of grief at the loss of one who had for so many years taken such a r-.ry large part, and in a multitude of waye, in the history of the County. At Caerleon. re-poct, esteem, anl sympathv were demonstrated by the townspeople by drawn blinds and closed business establishments. The funeral procession left Caerleon House just before noon, a representative body of gentlerneu- members of the Llangibby and neighbouring hunts, &c.-preceding the hearse, which was followed by eight mourning coaches, and a number of private carriages. At. the Royal Oak," on the Chepstow- road, an affectionate farewell was taken by those on foot, and the funeral proceeded to Caldicot, a journey of some 13 miles from Caerleon, where the body found its last resting place in the family vault, in which already were the remains of the deceased gentleman's second wife and three song. C-ildicot was reiehed at about 2 o'clock in the afternoon, and here the funeral party was aug- mented by a large number of gentlemen who had come to join in the last sad rites over one with whom they had been intimately associated in life. The body wits met by the surpliced clergy at the Church, viz., the Rev Cauon Bedwell, the Rev A. Williams, and the Rev E. Sidney Morris (curate of Caldieot). In addition to these, the clergy of the district were represented by the Rev W. A. Downing, vicar of Caerwent; the Rev Herbert Addams-Williams (rector of Llangibby and R. D.), Rev C. T. Salusbury (rector of Tredunnock). the Rev E. Moss Ogle, the Rev N. S. Barthropp (Iston), and the Rev T. A. Davies (Llanishen). The first portion of the Burial Service was taken by the Rev Williams, vicar of Panteg, and the Lesson was read by the Rev E. Turberville William s, lato Rector of Caldieot. The hymn commencing "Now the labourer's task is o'er was most impressively sung, and as the mournful party left the sacred edifice, the organist (Mr Morant Parry) played the Dead March in Saul. At the grave- side the Rev Canon Bedwell, Vicar of Caerleon, took the remaining portion of the service. The chief mourners were as follows :— First coach: Colonel Nixon, Captain E. Law- rence, Mr A. Lawrence, and Mr H)pton A. Williams. Second coach Mr H. Morgan, Mr W. J. Lloyd, Canon Bed well, and the Rev Alfred Williams, P<mteg. Third coach Dr de Gruuhy, Mr W. Evans, and Mr C. Lloyd. The servants, bearers, and immediate friends followed in the remaining coaches. Amongst those present, either at Caerleon or Caldicot, or at both were :—Lord Tredegar, Mr. Reginald Herbert, Colonel Curre, Mr. Blatidy Jenkins, M.F.H s C Ilollel the Hon. F. C. Morgan, M.P., Sir Arthur Mackworth, Bart., Sir George Forestier- Walker, Bart., Mr. A. T. Lawrence, K.C. (nephew of the deceased), Mr A. Lawrence, Mr C. Lawrence, Dr. Boulton, Mr. E. Waddington (hon. sec. Llangibby Hunt), Colonel Mansel, Colonel Walwyu, Captain Dighton, Captain R. Powell Rees, Major E. Davies, Captain Roberts. Captain Roland Forestir- Walker, Dr. Lawrence (2), Mr. Codrington F. Crawshay, Lieutenant Crawshay, Messrs. W. B. Gething, T. E. Watson, H. J. Davis, D. W. Jenkins, T. Parry, J. H. Taylor (chairman of the Caerleon U.D.C.), A. M. Pilliner, J. C. Llewellin. H. S. Gustard, W. S. Gustard, L. F. S-edman, F. L. Davis (Fhe Coldra), E. Phillips, J. Curre, H. Duckham, J. H. Young. R. T. Mann, E. Stevens; Alderman H. J. Parnall (chairman), Mr A. J. Phillips (clerk), Captain R. B. Pug-ley, and Mr E. Summers (collector), representing the Newport Harbour Board; Messrs. C. E. Lewis. J. Williams, A. Price, O. H. Jones, Henry Clay, F. T. Bircham, H. L. P. Lowe, W. H. P. Jenkins, W. Pegler, W. B. Partridge, R. Stratton, Valentine Parsons, T. K. Peacock, Rees Keene, A. A. Williams, E. L. Lyne, J. E. Brewer, R. Benjamin (Shirenewton I, Henry Aldridee (representing the general manager and the secretary of the Great Western Railway Company), H. Lewis, E. Davies, C. H. Firbauk, E. J. Firbank, S. Adams (Chepstow), A. Adams (Cardiff), Alfred Williams (Caerleon), John Smith (secretary to the Alexandra Dock Company), Morel, Harold A. Williams, T. R. P. Herbert, F. Carter, J. Henuessey. C. N. Doubleday, E. Morgan (Usk), Job Thomas (Llautrissent), T. Ford, W. Newman, C. Boulton, C Millard, W. B. Pullen, James Phillips, Gething (Aberbaideu), F. Phillips, Sandford, Miiler, &c. The wreaths, &c., were very uumerouni and were composed of the choicest fiowers. They were sent by the following, amongst others :— Mr and Mrs Fred Lawrence, Colonel and Mrs Nixon, Captain and Mrs Ernest Lawrence, Mr and Mrs Hopton A. Williams. Mr and Mrs Yeruon Harcourt, The Right Hon. Lord Tredegar, the Hon Mrs Herbert, of Llanarth, Mr and Mrs D. W. Jenkins, Dr and Mrs Gtrnons Lawrence, Mr and Mrs Evelyn Waddington, Dr Boulton aud Family, Mr and Mrs W. B. Partridge, "Recce," Margaret," Mr and Mrs H. L. Morgan, "EVIID and M. Williams," Mr and Mrs Fred L. Davis (The Coldra), Mr and Mrs George Lawrence, Mr and Mrs Roger Gaddum, Mr and Mrs Phillips (Cowbridge). Mr and Mrs F. J. Mitchell (Llan- frechfa Grange), Mr and Mrs Charles Firbank, Mrs Florence Evans, Sir William and Lady Smithe (Shrewsbury), Mr and Mrs Leoline Forestier- Walker, Mr and Mrs Thorne (Maindee), Mr and Mrs W. J. Lloyd, Mr and Mrs T. E. Watson, Mr Clifford Cory, Mr and Mrs George Masters, Mrs Wvndham Smith, Lady Barnard, Mr and Mrs William Evans, Chairman and Directors of the Newport Alexandra Dock Company, Mr E. J. Firhauk (Croesonen), the Rev Canon and Mrs Bedwell, the Llangibby Hunt, Mrs Summers, Mrs Beatley, Mr and Mrs R. T. Maan, Mr Scard. The body was contained in a shell, with an outer coffin of polished English oak, with heavy brass mountings, and on the breast-plate was the single inscription: John Lawrence. Born November 26th, 1807; Died November 4th, 1901." The bearers were four of Mr Lawrence's tenants, viz., Messrs William Rosser, Langstone; Ebenezer Rosser. Llandevaud Farm Heury Rosser, Tregarn Farm; and William Harris, Ponthir. Four old servants were the pill-bearers, viz.. Evan William-, the old huntsman; Charlie James, the whip; William Clayton, coachman and Frank Adams, second whip. Messrs W. H. Baulch and Son, undertakers, of Caerleon, very satisfactorily carried out all the funeral arrangements. DT8.c:1oI'Nl'iP:rJ!!l'N;'V.t'!1 11 imiiimiMikin.iii.iiii.. j