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Deaths and Inquests

Death of Dr. Mackness. Although this gentleman had been a great sufferer from neuralgia, his brother-aldermen had no thought that his death was so near at hand when he took part in the discussions at the Town Council meeting about a fortnight before. He died on the 8th of February from inflammation of the lungs. He was loved as a real friend and valued medical adviser. He had taken part in the agitation to secure the application of the Health of Towns Act, and he had written a work on the Climate of Hastings. He had also published a treatise on “Dysphonia Clericorum” and an essay on “Agricultural Chemistry”. His death was regarded as a great loss to the town. The funeral took place on the 14th of February, his remains being placed in the St. Mary’s Cemetery. The funeral was attended by the Mayor (Mr. Jas. Emary) and members of the Council. The service was impressively read by the Rev. T. Vores. Several friends of the deceased gentleman being anxious to testify their affectionate regard for his memory, and his unwearied attention to rich and poor alike, subscribed for a handsome Tomb, and attached to the record are the words “Who closed a life of benevolence and usefulness, on Feb. 8th, 1851. This monument is erected by his attached friends and patients”. His age was 46 years. His widow survived him till the 3rd of August, 1895, and died at the great age of 94 years.

We mourn and wonder at the gap death makes,
Not by the living can thy place be filled;
But tears are needed only for our sakes,
Thy work was done, and all
God meant fulfilled.
We measure not thy life by years, but worth.
For he lives longest who does most on earth.

And thou art living yet in the fond hearts
Of all whom sickness brought beneath thy care;
Skill may relieve, but sympathy imparts
Fresh wings to Hope, and
even quells despair;
They who once felt it may forget thee never,
Thy patients for a day, thy friends for ever.

Death gave thee immortality, and now
Midst the first throbbings of a nobler life,
How dost thou look upon the scenes below —
Its toils and griefs, its vanity and strife?
The labour o’er, how sweet the rest must be!
The battle fought, how grand the victory!

Farewell! farewell! The spirits of the just
Have called thee brother. Happy soul, adieu!