The Sun.
London, England, 1818-09-18 00:00:00

POLITICAL SKBTCLIES. (a)

(No. XIII.)

L-- L- 1)- -- ....

If it were possible, I should be very desirous to examine
the heart of au old man, the business of whose life has pro-
fessedly been to make a joke of every thing the most serious,
whose wit is blasphemy, and whose humour is obscenity*.
There have been, I believe, some few instances of men
from a certain easiness of temper, and the habit of stip-
portiro: particular opinions, have acquired that stoical phi-
losophy, which, without the aids of Religion, looks upon the
close of life with the most composed tranquillity nay, al-
most every tore must in some degree be acquainted with those
modern writers, who, being possessed with fine-spun theories
of Hunan Virtue and Excellence, have, perhaps, with a well-
ms,aniug amd limiest sincerity, delivered them to the world.
Bot such. while they supported the all-sufficiency of unaided
Virtue, practised the calm duties of it. A cold constitution,
which possesses but few and weak paSsions, and a strong 'con-
stitution, Which does not feelthe painful consequences which
generally attend an intemperateindulgence of them,,are great
-friends to this tranquil disposition. That insensibility which,
proceeding from a corruption of the heart, deadens the feel-
ings of it ; or from ignorance, which shuts up its avenues; is
of a very different nature, and discovers itself in idle bravado
or sullen obstinacy.
If the hour of Death is a scene of great awe to the Faithful,
what must it be to the Doubting ? Surely, the modern Epi-
curean, the despiser of every thing serious, and the scoffer at
every thing sacred, when Death approaches, if his heart is
net as senseless as his body will shortly be, must feel the most
afflicting solicitudes! And yet we are told of those who have
thought mirth and witticism the proper accompaniments of
it Death-bed. It may have been so : but, whatever are the
examples of such a conduct, it has ever been considered by
reflecting minds as the effects of folly or obduracy, and that
it is truly unphilosophic in thu most boasted Philosopher t.

L- B - -

There is something in the very name of B— that
inspires one with an idea of great talents, aind of the mis-
application of them. 'this man does not belie the idea. Its
possesses very considerable talents, but the proofs of their
misapplication do not shine on the shelves of libraries like
those of his Ancestor, among the splendid writers of dein
shin and sophistry; they exist only in his own insignifican
The B— —Ger, in a great measure, supports him; hen st
therefore he continued in it, for it will save a demand t ~on
the Civil But he must certainly take his place among
those who are perfectly qualified to have been the Court-
ervants of Charles the &cowl

* There is all old man in this kingdom, who exactly an-
swers this description ; nevertheless, he has built a church,
and adorned it with so lunch expence and taste, that it would
have been a noble 111011 union of Piety, if it had been the work
of Christian munificence. Whenever I consider this edifice,
and its splendid decorations, I cannot help thinking, that the
Founder took the same method to expose Religion, as Mrs.
jr— did to laugh at her husband. It is well known,
that this faretions Lady, having prevailed on the learned and
now It —t R---d Divine to dress himself in a suit of Regi-
mentals for her private amusement, contrived to usher him,
unawares, into a room fall of company, and announced him
under the title of Brigmlicr 11-4 Ts.
The pious I,—d, however, like other religions founders, has
reserved a small rotunda of a Chapel, at the very top of this
church, to the private solemnities of himself and friends;
revei sing the pi actice of Christians, who have sanctified
Ileathe Altars liy Christian Oblations, lie has erected one
,in his Globular Oratory, where he offers up his festive sacri-
fives to Bacchus, and thinks, v.-id-unit doubt, that he has, in
some degree, revenged the insults Jffcred to the Pantheon at
P.mr• by Christian Usurpation.
I-This sentiment alludes, I should imagine, to the man-
tier• in which the Ent.wror .dugvs,as Cesar is said to have
inmeluded life. If it had been written since the death of Mr.
haild hlume,it would have been equally applicable to the
closing scene of that celebrated Writer. The Prince, and
the Historian of Princes, went laughing out of the world :
the one had conquered and governed it ;—the in her had de-
scribed the course of it, and endeavoured to correct its errors;
and they both quitted it with a joke, as a child leaves a pastime
which amuses him nn more .

I really lament that our most excellent S— should
po%sess the least resemblance to the Stuart race, even in the
appurtenances of his train.

(a) These Sketches are supposed to have been written by a
Great Personage, between the years 1780 and 1784.

LONDON 3 0 URN A LS.

[Morning Herald, Sept. 18.]
THE QUEEN.

" Kay, Eight o'Clor k, Thursday Night.

" Soon after the Princesses and Sir Henry Halford had re-
tired to rest, on Wednesday night, her Majesty became very
restless, accompanied by au alarming ditlicwlty of respiration.
Sit Henry Raiford, was immediately called, and fresh medi-
cines were administered, but with very little effect, and her
Majesty passed the night without sleep. In the morning of
yesterday, the Princesses rose early, and visited their afflicted
Parent, and, Sir Francis Millman arriving from Pinner about
eight o'clock, he and Sir Henry Halford had an immediate
conference, when a Bulletin was sent off by express to the
Palaces in London and at Windsor.

I4er Majesty continued in the same state throughout the
whole of the day, with little or no variation, and has taken
ocareely any refreshment.
" About twelve o'clock the Countess of Cardigan visited
the Princesses, from her scat at Richmond. Her Ladyship
remained at the Palace nearly two hours. After her depar-
ture, the Princesses walked in the Gardens, attended by Ge-
neral Taylor, but were recalled from their walk by the arrival
of Colonel Fliggens, from London, with letters from the
Duke of Gloucester. The Prince Regent arrived from Carlton-
honse at half-past four o'clock, and, after visiting' her Ma-
jesty, and conferring with the Physicians and the Princesses,
hi, Royal Highness returned to Carlton-house to dinner, a
little hefore six o'clock. General Taylor, Colonel Stephenson,
and Sir Francis 17iltuan, dined at the table of the Princesses.
Sir Henry Halford left the Palace, about four o'clock, for
London- but was expected back between eight and nine."