Carlyle was still in Scotland on April 21, and there the terrible and solemn news had to be conveyed to him of the sudden death of her who had been his true and faithful life-companion for forty years.

Mrs. Carlyle died on Saturday, April 21, under very peculiar circumstances.  She was taking her usual drive in Hyde Park about four o’clock, when her little favourite dog—­which was running by the side of the brougham—­was run over by a carriage.  She was greatly alarmed, though the dog was not seriously hurt.  She lifted the dog into the carriage, and the man drove on.  Not receiving any call or direction from his mistress, as was usual, he stopped the carriage and discovered her, as he thought, in a fit, or ill, and drove to St. George’s Hospital, which was near at hand.  When there it was discovered that she must have been dead some little time.  Mrs. Carlyle’s health had been for several months feeble, but not in a state to excite anxiety or alarm.

On the following Wednesday her remains were conveyed from London to Haddington for interment there, and the funeral took place on Thursday afternoon.  Mr. Carlyle was accompanied from London (whither he had returned immediately on the receipt of that solemn message) by his brother, Dr. Carlyle, Mr. John Forster, and the Hon. Mr. Twistleton.  The funeral cortege was followed on foot by a large number of gentlemen who had known Mrs. Carlyle and her father, Dr. Welsh, who was held in high estimation in the town, where he had practised medicine till his death, in 1819.  The grave, which is the same as that occupied by Dr. Welsh’s remains, lies in the centre of the ruined choir of the old cathedral at Haddington.  In accordance with the Scottish practice, there was no service read, and Mr. Carlyle threw a handful of earth on the coffin after it had been lowered into the grave.

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Carlyle wrote the following inscription to be placed on his wife’s tombstone:—­

“Here likewise now rests Jane Welsh Carlyle, spouse of Thomas Carlyle, Chelsea, London.  She was born at Haddington 14th July, 1801; only child of the above John Welsh and of Grace Welsh, Caplegell, Dumfriesshire, his wife.  In her bright existence she had more sorrows than are common, but also a soft invincibility, a clearness of discernment, and a noble loyalty of heart which are rare.  For forty years she was the true and loving helpmate of her husband, and by act and word unweariedly forwarded him as none else could in all of worthy that he did or attempted.  She died at London, 21st April, 1866, suddenly snatched away from him, and the light of his life as if gone out.”

Later in the same year, weighed down as he was by his great sorrow, Carlyle nevertheless thought it a public duty to come forward in defence of Governor Eyre, when the quelling of the Jamaica insurrection excited so much controversy, and seemed to divide England into two parties.  He acted as Vice-President of the Defence Fund.  The following is a letter written to Mr. Hamilton Hume, giving his views on the subject in full: