THE CONNAUGHT JOURNAL Galway, Monday, February 16, 1824 DEATH OF WILLIAM H. BUSTEED, ESQ. (From the Mayo Constitution) In this paper, on Thursday, was mentioned the death of WILLIAM H. BUSTEED, Esq. On that day there was but little inclination to enlarge on this melancholy event, but now that the last sad rites which separate him from his friends are over, and that reflection leads us to look back upon the past, the writer of these lines (in no otherwise connected with him than by the ties of friendship) would pay his feeble tribute and he is fully aware how feeble and inadequate to, the character of an honest man, and a valuable member of society. Mr. B. was a native of the county Kerry, from whence he came into this county in the year 1810, where he established The Mayo Constitution, of which he has since been sole proprietor. To say that he was a man of honest mind, upright principle, and feeling heart, is to assert what I believe few who ever knew him will deny. The writer of these lines had many opportunities of knowing him intimately, and he can, with the strictest truth, assert that he never saw him in any, even the slightest trace of an opposite feeling and character. As a Journalist, the notice taken of his original articles (when circumstances called for such) by some of the most respectable English papers, proved his competency in this department. He had, of course, to encounter enmity and opposition-who, in such a character, ever had not. But we may most easily assert, that it was no part of his inclination to provoke his own cause from the attack of the aggressor. As a member of society, I believe there are few persons in Castlebar or its vicinity who have not some reason to regret his loss-his untiring attention to the charitable institutions-his willingness to stand forward upon every occasion when he could be any service, and to "bear the burden and heat of the day"-the distress of 1822 and the different loan and charitable institutions arising out of that event-bible societies, and school societies, and every society which had for its object the glory of God or the good of his fellow man, in soul or body, most fully e????; and it is a fact, but too well known how frequently his own business was neglected for that of the charities in which he was interested. In his domestic relations, the warm attachment of all those connected with his establishment, and the esteem and affection of all who knew him intimately fully prove his value. As a father-as a husband-as a brother- it is not for the writer of this article to speak of him; the deep affliction of his departed family affords, in those relations, the strongest testimony. Such is the resemblance which, in a hurried moment memory presents of the man whom I well knew, and whom to know, was to esteem. The language of panegyric is not part of my present design. I speak faithfully of him as I knew him from observation which an intimate acquaintance afforded. I mean not to assert that he was without faults-he had them as every son of Adam has, but no one more freely acknowledged or more sincerely lamented them. He is now removed from this worldly scene, amidst all his usefulness, and while yet in the prime of life, death had no respect of persons, and he too has received the final summons from his God, and has caused a blank in our society, which, whether we consider him in public or private capacity, we can but ill afford, and which it will be no easy matter to fill up. To his friends and to his afflicted family, there is even in his death much cause for thankfulness and consolation. After a severe and painful illness, he quietly resigned his spirit in to the hands of his God, looking simply and solely for salvation to the merits of a crucified Reedemmer; and among his last articulate words, but a few minutes before his decease, was the happy exclamation- "Thanks be to God which gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" His mortal remains were yesterday interred in the Church-yard of Castlebar, and the great and respectable body which followed him to the grave, is a proof of the estimation in which he was held. The Church was crowded to excess, I believe never before witnessed; and an admirable and impressive discourse suited to the occasion was delivered by Mr. Smith, form the 11th chapter of Proverbs, and 32d verse-"The righteous hath hope in his death." Cathy Joynt Labath Ireland Old News http://www.IrelandOldNews.com/