The Sun.
London, England, 1835-04-06 00:00:00

DEATH OF THE DUKE OF LEUCH-

TENBERG.

(FROM A CORRESPONDENT.)
LISBON, MARCH 29.—A most melancholy instance of fragi-
lity of life, and the vanity of all human greatness, it is now
my painful task to announce. The young Duke de Leuchten-
berg, whom but two months ago I siw leading his Royal bride
from the altar, hailed by the acclamations of assembled multi-
tudes, " full of life, and splendour, and joy," and looking for-
ward to a future as bright and as cheerful as the lovely pros-
pect that expands before his palace windows—is now a corpse.
On Sunday last the Prince was at the Campo Grande races,
and in perfect health : next day, it appears, he went out shoot-
ing ; and, on returning to the palace, imprudently threw off
his coat and waistcoat while yet in a state of profuse perspira-
tion. This, it is needless to add, brought on a cold ; which,
though slight at first, soon began to assume a more serious
character, as it always does in this climate when neglected.
Danger, however, only began to be first apprehended within
twenty-four hours before his dissolution. On Friday night
symptoms of inflammation began to manifest themselves, and
in the course of a few hours increased to that degree, that
some alarm began to be felt. So far, however, from his being
considered in a hopeless state, it was not till twelve o'clock,
when his respiration began to be impeded, that it was thought
necessary to send for his confessor, and administer the sacra-
ments. At 20 minutes past two, p.m., he expired. The
distraction of the Queen and Empress it were vain to attempt
to describe. I have seen an eye-witness of the dying scene,
one of the household servants, who tells me that they were in
a perfect phrenzy of grief. Much blame is attached, as usual
on such occasions, to the medical men in attendance. How
far it may be justified, I cannot, of course, pretend to say ;
but I can state it as a fact, that Dr. Almeidinha, a physician
of the longest practice and highest professional reputation in
Lisbon, when called in at the last moment, severely condemned
the mode of treatment adopted by those. who had had charge
of the patient before him. A foolish notion was entertained
for a few hours yesterday that the Prince had been poisoned;
but it was soon given up—of course, it never was enter-
tained for a moment by any but the vulgar and unthink-
ing. I do not moan to say that such things have
not been done, but I ground my opinion, that it was
not done in this instance, on the fact that no poison can
produce a quinsey, which it was that caused the fatal termina-
tion of the disorder. Poor young man! he died at the very
moment when a violent discussion in his regard was going on
in the Chambers and the public journals. But a few days
before he had been invested with the command-in-chief of
army. The power which this important trust gives to the in-
dividual who exercises it was so great under the absolute re-
gime, that, with the exception of Marshal Beresford, who
held it from 1810 to 1820, and whose peculiar situation af-
forded the most solid guarantee that any absolute Government
could require against its misuse, it was never confided to any
but princes of the blood royal. The old Duke de Lafoes,
uncle to Queen Mary the First, held it till his death, which
took place in 1800. From that period to 1810, when Lord
Beresford received the appointment, it remained vacant ; and
after his dismissal in 1820, it again remained unfilled tilllB3o,
when, upon the downfall of th• first constitutional Govern-
ment, Don Miguel was invested with this high and important
command, and by the use he made of it soon afforded a con-
vincing proof of the danger of bestowing it without the utmost
caution : I allude to the affair of April 1824, which led to his
first exile.

From the Supplement of the Diario do Governo of the 30th
March.)
_ _ _

Lisnort, MARCH 29.—A premature death has just snatched
from the hopes of the army, the heart of her Most Faithful
Majesty, and the affection of all true Portuguese, his Royal
Highness the Prince Dom Augustus, who died yesterday, at
twenty minutes past two in the afternoon, of quinsey. The
Prince descends to the tomb in the flower of his age. Scarcely
two months have elapsed since he arrived in Portugal, but in
that short interval he had succeeded in interesting sympathy
and gaining public esteem, and the friends of the Constitu-
tional Throne regarded him as a firm supporter of that throne
and of the national liberties. Providence, however, has
thought fit to take him from us, and it is our duty to reconcile
ourselves to its decrees.