SOUTHAMPTON TOWN COUNCIL.
…
THE LATE ALDERMAN DUSAUTOY.
A letter was read from Mrs. Dusautoy, thanking the Council for the mark of respect which they paid to the memory of her late husband, by expressing a wish to accompany the funeral, but as his remains would be deposited in the family vault near Petersfield it would probably be inconvenient for the Council to attend.
Mr. Palk said, having been a public man for many years he could unhesitatingly bear testimony to the worth of the late Dr. Dusautoy; a more honest and upright man than whom he had never known. Whilst faithfully discharging his public duties, the deceased was worthy of all praise as a private citizen. From his (Alderman Palk’s) connection with physic, he had ample opportunities of knowing the great amount of good which the late Alderman, in his capacity of a medical man, did to the poor. It was well-known that the poor were always ready to complain if they thought they were not properly attended to by their medical officers, but no such complaint was ever made respecting Dr. Dusautoy. He greatly regretted his loss, for a man of his extensive experience was not easily replaced. He proposed the followiug resolution:— ‟That this Council hereby records its sincere regret at the death of Alderman Dusautoy and its sympathy with his widow and family in their afflictive bereavement. During the many years of his connection with this Council he performed the duties of his office with great integrity and untiring zeal, and until ill-health prevented him was generally present at its discussions. The Council would also add that in his death the poor have lost a friend always ready to alleviate their sufferings by his advice and pecuniary aid. That this memoir be entered upon the proceedings of the Council and a copy thereof sent to the late Alderman’s family.”
Mr. Coles seconded the proposition, agreeing with all that had been said by Mr. Palk, and cordially sympathising with the bereaved family.
Mr. Le Feuvre also expressed his cordial concurrence with the resolution, and regretted that it was out of order to bring the subject forward at that meeting. He regretted that a meeting of the Council was not called for the purpose of receiving the letter of Mrs. Dusautoy, for if such had been done there would surely have been some few, out of the 40 gentlemen composing it, who would not have thought Petersfield too far off to prevent them following the remains of the lamented deceased to the tomb. It seemed to him that the town had sunk into insignificance by the manner in which this subject had been treated, and which was a slight upon the family rather than otherwise.
The Mayor said he should be unworthy of the position he occupied if he did not follow in the steps of Mr. Palk, and express his sympathy with the bereaved family of the late Dr. Dusautoy. He could sincerely say that he deeply regretted his decease, and concurred in the resolution, which was the only mark of respect they could pay to his memory, and which would, he doubted not, be accepted as such by the deceased’s family. Mr. Le Feuvre seemed to think that proper respect had not been shown to the Corporation in the matter by himself. What he did, on hearing of their friend’s death, was to request the Town Clerk to write to the family for the purpose of ascertaining whether it would be in accordance with their feelings that the members of the Town Council should take part in the funeral procession, and the letter which was sent in reply satisfied him that the family did not desire it. Now, though he would willingly have followed the remains of the deceased to the Land’s End, if desired to do so, he had too much good taste to thrust himself forward against the wishes and feelings of those who were more immediately concerned.
The resolution was then put and carried.