Star.
London, England, 1827-01-08 00:00:00

The disease which proved fatal to his Royal High:

ness, it is now well ascertained, was that species of
dropsy which is technically called Ascites. It bad been
for a long period coming on, and at length it made its
appearance an so formidable a shape as to excite consi-
derable alarm. His Majesty insisted upon Sir Astley
Cooper being sent for. The worthy Baronet, after his
very first visit, held an interview with the King,
in which he stated that the disease had advanced to
such a stage, and had produced so much debility, that
no possible hopes of ultimate reco►ery could be
held out. lie stated that the accumulation of water
was so great, that it would be excessively difficult to
keep it down, and that it was absolutely necessary to
the relief of the Royal Patient that the inside of his legs
should be punctured. This was accordingly done, and
a quantity of serum was drawn off. In conjunction
with this outward application, medicines were ordered
to be taken internally. The following prescription was,
w th some variety, principally adhered to in the course
of treatment :
It Dydrarg. Muriat. Mitie, gr. qoatuor.
Soils polver, grins duotiecint.
Fr. pitula quatuor t una sumrnda omni nocte.
It Camphoric Sliu. uciam c. eernisese.
Ammonia Carbon. gr. octo.
/Ether. Nitro' Spirit. dtachrnam Digital. Tinctura gutt. U.
M. ft. &mem mane sumendos.
Although this treatment had a good effect in carrying
away the serum by a natural channel, still the general
_tbility went on by degrees, insomuch that in a very
shot' time the feet began to exhibit the appearance at

t ices of various Oeseriptioas, such, as the grounds of stale
beer, the port wine, and the eionmein poultice were ap-
.pliid, but the gangrenous appearances diJ not give
way. The medical attendants had therefore no hope of
being
able to do anything more than to keep the ulcers
'as clean as possible, and, as far as - they could, to ease
the mind and body of their Royal Patient. •
• .The wonder with all of them was, how his frame
could have stood the wasting power of disease so long.
They were, therefore, by no means surprised at the
message which had been sent to them on. Friday of the
threatening symptoms which had declared themselves
on that day. His Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex
arrived at Rutland House at nine o'clock in the morn-
ing, and remained until the Duke of You k expired.—
His Royal Highness the Duke of 'Clarence was also in
attendance during the greater part of the day. Tile
' Royal sufferer became insensible at an early hour, and
remained in that state to the moment of his death. As
soon as the fatal event took place, a messenger was dis-
patched to Windsor, to announce the melancholy tidings
to his Majesty, who had been prepared for the news by
a previous message, which bad been dispatched at four,
o'clock, communicating an account of the rapid
ap-
proach of death. The Lord Chamberlain, into whose
custody the remains of Royalty devolved by office, had
directed Mr. Mash to be in attendance: Mr. Bailey, the
Royal undertaker•was sent for, when he was directed
.to make immediate preparations fOr the conveyance of
the body to its last asylum, at Windsor. On Saturday
morning, a leaden coffin was sent to Mr. Bailey's, from
the plumber to his late Royal Highness, for the purpose
of being fitted to an exterior one, which is to be com-
posed of mahogany, and ornamented in the usual way.
His Royal Highness was of a fair and sanguine com-
plexion, above the middle size, of a robust and vigorous
constitution, which promised a long life. In his youth
he was accounted handsome, but for many years before
his death he was exceedingly corpulent, and his form
had lost its symmetry. Great good nature was eipressed
in his open countenance.
It is known that his Royal Highness was diSpatched
to Berlin to acquire military science, and that he had
the advantage of the countenance of the Great Fred-
erick. The accounts transmitted to this country of his
conduct and progress must have been satisfactory to his
parents, for it was generally understood that he was
pronounced by them " the hopes of the family."
On the day when the King last visited the Duke, his
Majesty took with hies some particular soup, of which
he recollected the Duke to have formerly tasted with
pleasure; the King, in his anxiety, personally handed
some of'it to his Royal Brother, who appeared to be
sensible of the attention, and slightly tasted of the once
favourite soup. During the week, the Duke experienced
a rod deal of pain, and Mr. M'Gregor was called. The
Duke observed to this Gentleman---" M'Gregor, when
is this pain to be at an end ?" Subsequently his Royal
Highness's symptoms have become aggravated, and on
Monday night the mortification had extended above the
knee, and the action of the bladder had stopped. The
Royal sufferer expressed to his Majesty great uneasiness
on the score of his debts, and obtained from his Majesty
a promise, that he would be pleased, in the event of his
death, to see his creditors satisfied. This tended, in a
great degree, to the comparative composure of his
Royal Highness.
• Totvardr the-Prince who succeeds him in the sums-
sioni we cannot breathe a more sincere wish, or urge a
stronger recommendation, than that he should strive to
rival his deceased brother in the affections of the people
over whom he may eventually be caUed to reign : nor
can that be more effectually done, than by displaying a
similarly warm attachment to the interests, the welfare,
and the honour of that service in which the Duke of
Clarence passed his early life, as has so eminently dis-
tinguished the military career and ardour of the Duke
of York.

It !every remarkable that the moods of January should prove es
unfortunate to the Royal family. Within seven years three of its
family have died in t►at mouth.

THE THEATRES.
_-,,.._

The Theatres were all closed on Saturday; but his
MAJILSTY, taking into consideration the distress to nu-
merous individuals which would necessarily be attendant
upon their being shut for any length of time, has gra.
ciously caused orders to be given, that they are to be
further closed only on the two days of the body laying
in state and the day on which the Funeral takes place.
The Theatres will therefore be re-opened this evening.
The following is a copy of the official notification upon
this subject : " Lord Chantlberlain's Office, Jan. 6,1817.

Sta--I ant authorised by the Lord Chamberlain to acquaint
you, that the King taking into his beneficent consideration the very
great distress which the shutting up the Theatres for any length of
time would occasion to numerous families, his Majesty has been
graciously pleased to command that the closing the Theatre under
your management on account of the melancholy event of the demise
of his Royal Highness the Duke of York, shall be confined to this
evening, the two days of the Body laying in State, and the day of
the Funeral, of which due notice will be given to you.—l am, Sir,
,our obedient servant, " J. B. MASH."
To the Managers, &c."