THE late Rev. John West, senior editor of the "Sydney Morning Herald," died at his residence on the 11th December 1873, at 11.15 p.m. The regret with which this announcement is made can only be equalled by the regret of those who read it - for he was personally known throughout a wide circle in these colonies, and where known was respected and beloved for his ability, virtue, and social qualities; and beyond this circle there was a wider sphere in which he was known and valued as a writer.

Mr West died in his 65th year. In early life he devoted himself to the service of the Church, and studied for the Christian ministry in connection with the Independent denomination. When ordained, he laboured for some years in several English counties, with success and acceptance. In 1839 he offered himself to the Colonial Missionary Society, and in the same year was sent to Tasmania under its auspices. His arrival at Launceston was marked by the building of the church in St. John's Square, in which he laboured for a period of sixteen years.

It was not as a minister of the Gospel, however, that he acquired most renown in the sister colony. During the time of his residence the political atmosphere was in a very excited state, and events happened which aroused his spirit and demanded his sympathy. The British Government, having been compelled to give up the main Australian Continent as a penal depôt, endeavoured to secure to the mother country the continued quittance of her criminal population by emptying the prisons of the Empire upon the shores of Tasmania. This policy was as distasteful to the emigrant population of Tasmania as it had been to New South Wales and Victoria, and a determined resistance was made to it. The opponents of the Government speedily organized themselves. An Anti-transportation League was formed which embraced the strength of the colonies. Mr. West's temper and power as a writer fitted him to do good service in this cause, which he warmly espoused. The occasion discovered qualities not until then apparent, and he became a conspicuous writer in the columns of the principal journal of Tasmania, and a recognised leader of public opinion during the continuation of his abode at Launceston. His spirit-stirring appeals, which are yet mentioned by those who were party to the scenes alluded to, are allowed to have been a strong element in the resistance that finally triumphed over the designs of the Imperial Government.

The skill and temper displayed by Mr. West in fighting this battle, and the soundmindedness that characterized his writings on all colonial subjects, obtained him much notice. Several lucrative appointments were offered to him, and at last he yielded to the solicitation of the proprietors of the "Sydney Morning Herald," and joined their literary staff as chief. He arrived in this colony on 14th November, 1854. In this capacity he laboured with scarcely any intermission until the day of his death.

Shortly after 5 o'clock on the evening of the 11th December he left the office for his residence at Paddington. On the Moore Park Road he suffered an apoplectic seizure while in his carriage, and was got home with difficulty. On the arrival of Drs. Quaife and Mackenzie, at about 6.30 p.m., they pronounced that a blood vessel had given way in the brain, and that rapid effusion and death would result.

In what remains to be said we will endeavour to allow that modesty to operate which was so conspicuous in the subject of this memoir. It is due to him, and yet most difficult without violating good taste, to say somewhat respecting his labours in this colony - for it was here that he spent the meridian of his life - it was here that he poured out the wealth of a ripe experience. Of the nature and influence of his opinions upon this community during nearly a quarter of a century in connection with this journal, we cannot speak - and nothing now could be said that would be likely to affect the estimate already formed of them. He was a man, too, in no way impatient of results; in the world of mind, as in the physical world, he recognised a germinal and a fruiting time appointed for the seed of opinion, and knew that work truly done never comes to naught. It may be allowable to say, however, that no man ever undertook the duty entrusted to him with a profounder sense of the responsibility of the trust, or a more entire devotion to its fulfilment. His sense of the power of the Press amounted to a passion, and this power he maintained should be wielded wholly for the public good. Such sentiments, conscientiously entertained, could but yield fruits after their own kind.

As a writer, he may be judged of apart from his contributions to this journal. His "History of Tasmania" still contains the most reliable and readable description of the period embraced by it. In it there may be perceived the power to cope with details - which marks a patient industrious man, as well as a power to group details for generalisation - which marks a reflective and philosophic man; there is, too, the indication of a certain judicial quality of mind - a mind peculiarly qualified to discriminate and weigh evidence; a quickness to perceive salient points of attack; considerable resources in argumentation; he appears as a trenchant hitter, but is a generous enemy; and while possessing a spirit impatient of oppression, he displays an enlarged tolerance of opinion. There is the evidence also of a well-stored mind and a good memory. His style, as judged of there, was somewhat Johnsonian, glistening at times with a sarcasm which acquired finer edge and polish in other fields. He was content with plain words to express strong sensations, and ever considered the thought of more import than the fashion of it.

Apart from his labours in the domain of literature and politics, he was found to be a ready voluntary helper in all the best institutions of the land. The cause of education was especially dear to him. He is known as one of the founders of the Camden College, established for the purpose of training young men for evangelical work, and presided over the deliberations of its Council to the last. To none of the duties of citizenship was he either deaf or indifferent.

But his qualities as a man were known fully only to those who grasped his hand as a friend. To them was displayed the singleness of aim - the abnegation of self - the purity of life - the consecration of talents - the beautiful ingenuousness of the man; they saw the working of a singularly tender heart, the sportiveness of a genial disposition; they admired the strong respect for, and resolute performance of, the duties of friendship; they recognised the invincible repugnance to every species of bigotry. These were the qualities that endeared him to a very wide circle of personal friends, and will ever make his removal from the staff of this journal a matter of profound sorrow to all who were co-operators with him upon it, from the proprietors to the humblest in the lists of labour.

The remains of the late reverend gentleman were consigned to the grave on Saturday last. The funeral procession moved from the late residence of the deceased, Westbourne, Woollahra. Prior to the departure of the procession a portion of scripture was read to the assembled mourners by the Rev. Mr. Johnson, and an expressive prayer was offered up by the Rev. Dr. Steel. The melancholy cortege then moved en route for the Mortuary Station. Amongst the gentlemen who followed the remains of the deceased we noticed Mr. H. I. West, Captain Blix (son-in-law of deceased) and his two sons, and other members of the family; the Hon. John Hay, President of the Legislative Council; the Hon. G. Allen; the Hon. T. Holt; the Hon. A. Campbell; the Hon. G. A. Lloyd, Minister for Finance; the Revs. Dr. Steel, Dr. Stanley, Dr. Beg, E. Griffiths, T. Johnson, W. Slayter, J. P. Sunderland, D. Mossop, G. G. Howden, J. Milne, W. Bradley, and F. Browne; Mr. John Fairfax, Mr. Edward Fairfax, Mr. Alfred Fairfax, Mr. H. Reed, Mr. G. Ross, Mr. R. Jones, Mr. S. Thompson, Mr. E. L. Jones, Mr. J. Mullens, Mr. R. G. Reading, Mr. R. Nott, Mr. C. Myles, Mr. W. Drewett, and Mr. C. Walker. A large number of the employeés in the various departments of the "Herald" were also present.

Besides the mourning coaches there was a more than unusually large proportion of private carriages, and the public conveyances formed a lengthy procession. Arrived at the Cemetery at Haslem Creek, there was some delay in lowering the coffin into the grave owing to its great weight; but this done, some of the most striking passages in Scripture appropriate to the occasion, more especially those well-known portions of the 15th chapter of St. Paul 's First Epistle to the Corinthians, were read by the Rev. W. Slayter. Prayer was offered up by the Rev. J. P. Sunderland, after which the old friends of the deceased came one by one to take a last look at the coffin, which contained all that remained of one who had played no insignificant part in our small Australian circle, and then left his remains to rest in peace until that great day when the Divine order shall be given for the dead to wake from their sleep.