The Sun.
London, England, 1827-03-20 00:00:00

TUESDAY EVENING, MARCH 20, 1827.

MEMORANDUM
BETWEEN TliE 9TH JUNE, 1828, AND STH JANUARY, 1827.

very kind of him, but immediately added, " by the bye not a very
good sign either."
He then proceeded' very quietly to official business, but Mr.
Macgregor coming in, he, in the most calm and collected manner,
questioned him before me, very closely as to his state, beginning
by these words, " Tell me honestly, do you consider me in dan-
ger ?" Not in immediate danger, was the answer. " But," said
his Royal Highness, " you do consider my situation to be one not
free from danger ?" Mr. Macregor admitted it to be by no means
free from danger, but proceeded to state the grounds which. justi-
fied his medical attendants in indulging.hopes that his Royal High-
ness might look forward to a favourable issue.
Mr. Macgregor's answer produced further questions, all put
with a.view to obtain positive and accurate information as to the
extent of danger, and he concluded by thanking Mr. Macgregor
for the fair manner in which he had met them, and by saying,
" I know now what I wished to know; and I shall be able to
govern myself by that knowledge." During the whole of this
conversation, which was of some length, his manner was firm and
collected, though very serious, his voice free from agitation, his
questions were put quietly at intervals, as if well considered by a
man who was determined to ascertain his own situation, and his
words were measured.
He afterwards desired sue to repeat what Mr. Macgregor had
said, as I understood it, that he might be' satisfied he had not mis-
taken him. I did so, and he observed that—he also had so under-
stood him, but that he did not augur from it that his case was
hopeless, which impression I confirmed. •* 14 expressed an earnest
hope that the symptoms of his disorder were not generally known
or talked of.
I have been thus particular in the statement of what passed
upon these three occasions, to show how anxious his Royal High-
ness was not to be kept in the dark, how fearlessly he met the com-
munication of the existence' of danger, and above all to show that
he was early apprised of his critical' state, from the contemplation
of which he at no tittle shrunk, although he was at all times anx-
ious to conceal from the generality of those who approached him
that he did not look forward with undiminished confidence to a
favourable issue.
On the following day, Sunday; the 27th• of August, his Royal
Highness again spoke to me very quietly, in regard to his situa-
tion, and told me that although not alarmed, and although he had
heard nothing that should Shake his hopes of ultimate recovery,
he could not conceal from himself that his situation called for
serious contemplation. Whatever might be the result, there would
be time for certain arrangements, and the settlement of his affairs,
but there was one duty he did not wish to defer ; he felt, indeed,
that it ought not to be deferred until it should seem to be im-
posed by a conviction of iniroediate danger, and resorted to when
hope had ceased to exist. He had, therefore, determined to take
the. Sacrament upon an early day, and to request his friend the
Bishop of London to administer it to him ; but he was anxious
that this should not be known, as the alarm would be sounded,
and various interpretations would be put upon an act, which was
one of duty, resorted to on principle, and. not from apprehension
or affectation ; he therefore directed me to see the Bishop of Lon-
don, and to request him to come to him on the following Tues-
day, at twelve. He desired that I would explain to him his desire
that the attendance should be quiet, and should not excite obser-
vation ; that he wished the service to be simply that of the Com-
munion, as he did not now apply to him for his attendance as
upon a sick person. He also.desired me to be present, and to
take the Sacrament with him.
He Aoki me that he had well considered of this act. He was sure
that, 'ender any circumstances, it would- tend to his: satisfaction,
comfort, and relief, and that.he ought-notto postpone it.
I went' to the Bishop of London (at Fulham); who received

The interest excited by the situation of the late Duke of York,
and by every circumstance connected with his long, painful, and '
lingering illness, from its commencement until, the fatal hour
which closed his valuable existence, has been so great, and the
general feeling which it produced, has caused so many particulars
to be circulated and received by the public as authentic, for which
there either was no foundation, or at least very imperfect founda-
tion, that I have, upon due consideration,- been induced to draw
up from minutes taken during this distressing and trying period
of my attendance upon his Royal Highness, a statement, not of
the progress of the disease, • or of the treatment pursued, but 'of
such circumstances and facts as will phew the condition of his
Royal Highness's mind under this awful visitation of Providence,
will do justice to the exemplary resohition and pious resignation
with which he met and submitted to it ; and will satisfy his at-
tached friends that his Royal Highness was, in every point of view,
deserving of the respect and the affection which have so strongly
marked their sentiments. towards him, and of the deep grief and
regret which his death has occasioned in their minds, and in those
of the respectable and well-thinking individuals of every class in
this country.
The state of his Royal Highness's health had, for some time,
appeared far from satisfactory, and had occasioned more or less
uneasiness to those about him, but the first indications of serious
indisposition, such as to produce alarm, were upon his Royal
Highness's return from Ascot to his residence in Audley-square,
on the 9th of June, 1826, and Mr. Macgregor, who then saw
him, urged him immediately to send for Sir Henry Halford.
From that period his Royal Highness continued more or less
an invalid, and was occasionally confined to his house.
Upon the 24th June, his Royal Highness removed for change
of air to Brompton Park, the residence of Mr. Greenwood, who
kindly lent it to him, and upon that day he sent for me, and told
me that he had been unwell for some weeks, awl that he did not
thio 1 that be gained ground. That he did not feel alarmed, and
th .. he. had perfect.confidenc,e in theattention given to his case, and
the skill of bis medical advisers. But that he knew that they might
entertain apprehensions, which they would consider it their pro-
fessional duty not to communicate to their patients, and he might
therefore remain ignorant of that which ought not to be can-
cealed from him, and which he trusted he should learn without
apprehension, although he did not deny that he should learn it
with regret. That there were duties to be performed, and ar-
rangements to be made_ which ought not to be deferred to the last
moment, and he felt that it was due to his character and station,
to his comfort, and even to his feelings on this subject, that he
should not he taken by surprise upon so serious an occasion. He
considered it probable that the physicians would be less reserved
with me them with him, and he charged me if I should learn from
them directly, or should have reason to draw such inference from
any expression that might drop from them, that his situation had
become one of danger, not to withhold such knowledge from him.
He appealed to me upon this occasion for an act of friendship, he
would add, for the discharge of a duty, which he claimed from the
person who had been with him, and enjoyed his confidence during
so many years ; he called upon me to promise that I would per-
form it whenever the 'period should arrive to which he alluded,
and he desired that I would bear in mind that he wished me to
deal by him as he was certain I should desire, under similar cir-
cumstances, to be dealt with.
1- made the promise without hesitation, and it was received
with'a warm expression of thanks, and affectionate pressure -of
the hand.

This cyan repeated in allusion to what had passed at a later
Piriod of the day, When he got into his carriage to go-to Bromp-
ton, and he-then,said thitt, he felt _relieved. from great uneasiness
by the premise I had gien- him. - • •
His Royal Highness removed to Brighton on the 14th August,
for the benefit of further change of air ; and I learnt from Mr.
Macgregor, onthe 17th of that month, that a change had taken
place in his general state, and that symptoms had appeared which
rendered his situation one of danger. - -

the-cOMmkunication VOtli7grisat emotion, and spoke in the highest
terms of the ' itemphity !Wink whit&
.had 71dietiteci-Royal
Highness's.wish, and said that he- itrotikl•coure'quietiy'ecilAiling-
ton-street on Tuesday, at twelve, without robes' (as upon ordinary-
occasions,) and without notiee•to any one, and I engaged to have
all prepared.
I returned to Arlington-street to inform his Royal Highness,
and it was agreed that his servant, Batchelor, should alone be ap-
prised of the itrissitioti;4milithat4illioihttalfWV.are tolreep. others

'This distressing information was confirmed to me from other Out of the way. His Royal Highness again said that he should
quarters, and I determined immediately to go to Brighton, and derive great comfort from thus early discharging his duty. He
to discharge my duty, but to be guided in the character also gave me instructions to clear his drawers in Audley-square of
and extent of the disclssure by such further connnunica- papers, and to bring them away, and seal up those of a private na-
tion as might be made to me by his Royal Highness's ture. He said he should by degrees look them over and attend to
medical attendants of the nature and pressure of the danger. I other matters, but repeatedly assured me that all this was done
pleaded business rendering personal communication necessary for and thought of without any apprehension of a fatal issue of his dis-
my visit to his Royal Highness, and I went to Brighton on the order, and that he was confident he should recover.
19th of August. Upon my arrival I learnt from Mr. Macgregor The Princess. Sophia (who usually came every day at two
that a favourable change had taken place, that his Royal Highness o'clock) had been with him, and I asked him whether she was
had gained strength, and that the most alarming symptoms had in aware of his situation. He said he believed not, at least
great measure subsided, that his Royal Highness's situation might he had said nothing to alarm her, possibly however she might be
therefore be considered far more encouraging than when he wrote to a certain extent, and he bad therefore said nothing to untie-
to me; but that it was impossible to consider it free from danger, ceive her.
immediate, .
although that danger had ceased to be e and although When I saw Batchelor I learnt from him (what I had never
there was reason to hope that the cause of alarm might be re- previously known) that His Royal Highness, when he did not go
Moved. He added that, from observations which his Royal High- to church, never missed devoting some time to his prayers, which
ness had made to himself, he was convinced I would find him pre- he read to himself, in general early, .that he might not be die-
pared for any communication I might feel it my duty to make to turbed, but if disturbed in the morning, in the afternoon
,or even-
him, and that under all circumstances, I must exercise my dis- ing ; and that when travelling on Sunday, he always took a
cretion. Bibleand Prayer Book in the carriage, and was very particular
I then saw the Duke of York, who entered fully into his Biwa- as to their being placed within his immediate reach ; and that
tion, and told me that although much better then; and he believed, although he did not object to a travelling compassion on other
going on well, he had reason to think from the manner and looks days, nothing annoyed him more than any one proposing to be his
of his medical attendants, that they had been alarmed, and felt companion on a Sunday.
much greater uneasiness than they had expressed, or might feel at His Royal Highness saw Sir Henry Halford on that day, and
liberty to express, and he wished to know what I had learnt. que,_sioned him very closely as to his situation.
,Sir Henry told
I did not disguise from him that, bearing in mind the engage- me that .he .had answered his questions fairly, and that,
ment I had contracted, I had . determined to go to Brighton. in he had found his Royal Highness in an excellent state -of
consequence of the accounts I had received on the 17th which had mind, and that he could not sufficiently admire the resolution and
alarmed me, but that I was happy to find on my arrival, that his composure with which he sought for information; and dwelt upon
Royal Highness's state had since been improving, and that much the question of danger. He observed that there was no difficulty
of the uneasiness which then prevailed had been removed ; at the in dealing with such a patient.
same time it was my duty to confirm the impression which he His Royal Highness told me afterwards that Sir Henry. Hal-
appeared himself to have received, that his complaint had assumed ford's conversation had confirmed the impression he had received
a more serious character, although great confidence appeared to be from-what Mr. Macgregor had said, and he expressed himself per_
felt that the extraordinary resources of his constitution, and the fectly satisfied with it.
strength he had gained since his removal to Brighton, would en- - His Royal Highness continued in good spirits, and in the same
able him to struggle successfully with the disorder. Then said compOsed state of mind on the 28th and 29th.
he, I was not mistaken, in my suspicions, and my case is not On the latter day the Bishop of London came at a little before
wholly free from danger ; but I depend upon your honour, and you twelve, and his Royal Highness was alone with him for a short
time, after which I was called in, and his Lordship administered
tell me there is more to hope than to fear.
the sacrament to us.
I assured hiM that such was decidedly the impression I had re-
The Duke's deportment was serious as became the occasion,
ceived from what Mr. Macgregor had said to me. He thanked
but firm and quite free from agitation. He did not appear
me, and proceeded to look over and give directions upon some
nervous or affected, although he must have perceived that neither
official papers with his usual attention and accuracy.
the Bishop or I were free from either feeling.
He saw Mr. Macgregor the same evening, and questioned him; The Bishop of London told me afterwards that nothing could
and he told me on the following day that Mr. Macgregor had MI- be more correct or satisfactory than all his Royal Highness had
swered him very fairly, and had confirmed what r had said to him,
said to him when
as did Sir Matthew Tierney later in the day. On that same day they were alone, and that his state of
mind was
he told me that he felt stronger,. that his mind was relieved.by that in which he would wish, under such
to find thatof an person in whose welfare he felt interested. circumstances,
Y
what had passed, as he knew he should not be deceived or left to When I
returned
to the Duke of York, he appeared more
form his own conjectures, and draw his own conclusions, from the
affected, and he assured me that he felt a comfort and relief which
looks and manner of his medical attendants and others about him ;
he could not describe, and that whatever might be the issue of
and that he had not. for , months slept so well as the preceding his illness, he bad done what he ought to do. That he could now
night. attend to other matters with increased composure.
I repeated to him, that I had come to Brighten under consider- In the afternoon when I saw him again, he expressed to me
able alarm, and that I should leave it very much relieved. His how muchshe had been pleased with the Bishop of London's mild
Royal Hghnees was cheerful, and I heard from Mr. Macgregor and encouraging discourse.
and others that he continued so during the following days.. Id-
That he had stated to his Lordship unreservedly that he knew
deed he wrote to me himself in very good spirits, and assured me his situation to be a very serious, though he trusted not a hopeless
of the comfort and relief he had derived front the proof afforded to one, but that he did not ehoose to postpone a duty which he con-
him that he would be fairly dealt with. ceived ought to be performed while he was in the full possession
Hie Royal Highness returned from Brighton on the afternoon of his faculties, which might yield to disease sooner than he was
of the 26th of August, to the Duke of Rutland's house, in Arlin- aware of. That he had in the course of his life faced death in
ton-street, having come in five and a half hours. He did not seem various shapes, and was now doomed to view its approach in a
much fatigued, looked well in the countenance, and conversed slow and lingering form. That he did not deny that he should
cheerfully with Sir Henry Torrens and me, who were in waiting resign his existence with regret, though he felt no alarm he ad-
to receive him. mitted that Hs life bad not been pure, that there had been much
He afterwards told me that his strength, sleep, and appe- in his course he wished had been otherwise. He had not thought
tite, had improved, but that the medicines he had taken had so seriously on some subjects as he might have done, still he had
ceased to have the desired effect in checking the progress of the 'endeavoured to discharge his public duties correctly. He had for-
main disorder, and that he had therefore returned to town earlier borne from injuring or deceiving any one, and he felt in peace and
than had been intended, in order, as he understood, to try some charity with all.
change of treatment; which he apprehended might be tapping.— Under these circumstances he hoped he might look with confi-
This was an unpleasant hearing, though it did not alarm him.— thence to mercy, through the merits of his Redeemer, and he had
He was determined to keep up his spirits ; be knew his situation appealed to him (the Bishop) on this occasion, not only to receive
'was a serious one, but he had ,no doubt, please God, he should re- the confession of his unworthiness, but to administer that comfort
cover, though he feared his recovery would be a work of time. ' which his situation required. That his reliance and his faith in
In the course of conversation I told him that I understood Sir the Christian Religion were firm and decided, and that his adhe-
Henry Halford would be in town on the following day, and did rence to the pure doctrine, professed and established inthis country,
not mean to return to return-to the, country.. He observed it was was unshaken as it had ever been. That, as he had declared

these sentiments iu a political discussion of the question, he was
anxious that it should be understood, and that the Bishop of Lon-
don should be enabled to state hereafter, if the occasion should call
for. it, that those sentiments were not professed in a political sense
and from prejudice and party feelings, but they were firmly fixed
in his mind, and were the result of due consideration and convic-
tion, and produced by an earnest solicitude for the continued wel-
fare of his country.
After saying this his Royal Highness told me that he felt very
comfortable; and that if it should please God to restore him to
health, he was sure he should be a better man ever after. He
considered - this trial as a mercy for which he ought to feel-grateful,
it afforded him time for serious refle:-ion, and he trusted that
the time would not be iii applied. He then entered into some
questions of military business with great composure.

His Royal Highness underwent the operation of tapping on the
afternoon of th-. September. It was performed by Mr. Mac-
gregor, and it waMwne by his Royal Highness with the same
resolution and quiet cdrnposure which had marked his conduct
under every stage of his illness. Colonel Stephenson and 1 saw
him soon after. We founditint a little exhausted, hut cheerful,
and quite free from nervous agitation.
About this period, be received the communication of the death
of Sir Harry Calvert, by which he was much affected, and he
observed that he had deeply to deplore the loss of an old and at-
tached friend, and a religious and good man.
For some days after the operation, he was very weak, and his
left leg was in a state which occasioned serious uneasiness, nor
was the appearance of the other leg satisfactory. On the 10th, he
examined the contents of some private boxes, and desired that
they might be left in his room, but considered as consigned
to my charge. His situation gave his medical attendants seri-
ous uneasiness, and his Royal Highness was perfectly sensible
of it, nor indeed, did I disguise it from him, when he questioned
me.

. Between the 12th and the 18th, his Royal Highness gained
strength, and his appetite and sleep improved, but the state of
his legs continued unsatisfactory. On the 19th, he began again
to take his airings, but the improvement had not been such as
to induce, his medical attendants to consider his state otherwise
than very critical. He continued to take daily airings, until the
16th October. During this interval, he rallied occasionally, and
hia general health appeared, at times, to be improving, notwith-
standing the state of the legs, which became gradually more un-
satisfactory, and often occasioned excruciating pain throug'sout
great part of the day. His Royal Highness frequently spoke to
me of his own situation and feelings, more especially on the 22d
of September, when he told me he did his best to submit with
patience and resignation ; that lie tried to keep up his spirits, be
met his friends cheerfully, endeavoured to go correctly through
what he had to do, and to occupy himself at other times with
reading; but when left to his own thsughts, when he went to
bed and lay awake, the situation was not agreeable : the con-
templation of one's end, not to be met at once, nor within a
short given period. but protracted possibly for months, reqoired
a struggle and tried one's resolution. But after all, he did not
know that he regretted it, or that he regretted that time was
given to him which had turned his mind to serious reflection,
and which he was certain had been very beneficial to him. If
it should please God that he should recover, lie would become a
better man, if lie did not recover, he would have to thank God
for the time afforded for reflection.
I have noticed what passed on this day, to shew that his feel-
ings had undergone no change.
On the 16th October, , Mr. Macgregor desired that I should
COnveytcs, his Royal HighnesS,his with that he would allow him
to call in Sir Astley 'Cooper that would state that be hadne
reason to doubt hi 4 Royal Highness'S eMaficietice, brit a ;ieitiT
responsibility was thrown upon him, and that it' 'night 'be satis-
factory
,to- his Royal Highness: it doubtless 'NI-Mild be- to him-
self tnreisort to further aid and advice, as the state of the legs had
Unfortunately formed so prominent a feature of the,case ; at the
same time he was persuaded that Sir Astley Cooper would concur
in all that he had done. When I mentioned it to his Royal
Highness, he objected, and assured me that he wits perfectly
iatihlied With 'Mr.. Miegregor Ilia and attention, 'and that he
would not, upon any account, appear to shew a doubt which
he had never Mt, nor hurt Mr. Macgregor's feelings. I assured
him that Mr. Macgregor was perfectly sensible of this ; but that
he owed it to his own feelings and to his character, as a profess
sional man, to make this request. His Royal Ilighiness then ob-
jected to the effect it might produce upon the public, to its get-
ting into the newspapers, &c. I observed that measures might
be taken to prevent this, and he finally agreed to Mr. Macgregor
speaking to, Sir Henry Halford, and settling it with him.
Sir Astley Cooper attended accordingly,un the 17th, and con-
tinued to do so during the 'remainder of his Royal Highness's
illness. Notwithstanding every precaution, it was impossible to
prevent it being soon noticed in the papers, and when his Royal
Highness learnt this, he observed that his chief motive for wish-
ing wit Concealed was, the apprehension that it might excite un-
necessary alarm, which, as connected with his station and situa-
tion, might embarrass the Government, and possibly influence
the public funds. It could not affect him personally.
His Royal Highness's state fluctuated again between this period
and the 6th November, when there was a marked improvement
in the condition of the legs, which continued until the 20th,
when they again assumed an unfavourable appearance, which was
the more to be lamented, as his Royal Highness's strength and
constitutional powers had been giving way, his appetite and sleep
began to fail, and the increasing evil was therefore to be met by
impaired resources.
Towards the beginning of December his Royal Highness again
rallied, so far as the legs were concerned, but his frame and his
constitution had evidently become weaker, and his Royal High.
ness himself expressed his apprehensions that his strength would
not carry him through the protracted struggle.
Between the Bth and 17th December there was again a sensible
improvement in the legs, which might have raised the hopes of
his Royal Highness's attendants, if the return of strength had
kept pace with it ; but he was visibly losing strength and sub-
stance, and on the 20th the legs resumed the appearance of morti-
fication to an alarming extent, and the medical attendants agreed
that his situation had become very critical.
Their apprehensions were still further excited on the 22d ; his
appetite had totally failed him, and other symptoms were equally
unfavourable. Still he kept up his spirits, and, although my
language was any thing but encouraging, he. appeared to feel
sanguine of recovery. This impression was not justified by the
opinion of the medical attendants, au.: I became ve'v anxious that
his Royal Highness should be made aware of the increased danger
cf his situation. I urged this point with Sir Henry Halford and
Sir. Astley Cooper, assured them that they mistook his Royal
Highness's character if they apprehended any ill effect from the
disclosure, and represented that it was due to his character, and to
his wish to discharge the duties which he still had to perform.
In the course of the day they yielded to my representations, and
authorised me to avail myself of any opening which his Royal
Highness might give me to make him sensible of the increased
anxiety and alarm which I had observed in his Physicians. I
was to use my discretion as to the mode, the nature, and the ex-
tent of the disclosure ; it would probably produce reference to
them, and they would then confirm the impression conveyed
by me.
I saw his Royal Highness at five o'clock, when I took my
official papers to him. He gave me the desired opportunity at
once, by asking what the doctors said of him. His servant being
in the room I gave no immediate answer, , and he waited quietly
until he had left the room, and then repeated the question.
I spoke to him as had been agreed with Sir Henry Halford,
adding, that my own anxiety and the uneasiness I had already
expressed to him, had led me to watch the Physicians, and to
endeavour to extract from them what their real opinion was, but
that they were cautious, and were evidently unwilling to authorise
me to express their alarm. I could not, however, forget his
Royal Highness. His appeal to me in Audley-square, nor the
pledge I had given him ; that I knew his Royal Highness
bee
taken wish to be taken by surprise; that I felt be ought not to
te
taken by surprise; and therefore I had considered it my duty,,
disclose to him the uneasiness I felt. He listened with
Ofeda s.
com-
posure,
and without betraying any agitation, but asked rnw
the danger was immediate, whether it was a question of duster)
it
I repeated that I was not authorised to say
so
' and
not afraid of
was not. He said—" God's will be done,
his ways are inscrutable I endeavoured to do
dying, I trust I have done my duty ;
I have
ei
God is merciful,
but.
so : I know that my faults have been many, whether
with not having done all I
I have at least not to reproach myself
could to avert this crisis; but I own it has come upon me by tur-
ntable ; I bow with submission. to his will.