Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1822-08-03
CHARACTER OF JAMES 1.

Extract from "1he Fortunes Of Nigst."
"The usher signed to Heriot to, adj
vance, and the honest citizsn was pre-
sently introduced into the cabinet OF
the sovereign. 4 4o
The scene of confusion amid which
he found the king seated, was no bad
picture of the state and quality OF
James's own mind. There was much
that was rich and costly in cabinet pie
lures and valuable ornaments, but they
were slovenly arranged, covered with
dust, and lost half their value. OF at
least their effect, from the manner in
which they were presented to the eye.
The table was loaded with huge foios,
amongst which lay light books of jest
and ribaIdry and amongst notes of IN
mercifully long orations and essays on
king-craft, were mingled miserable
roundels and ballads by the royal prem
eiee, as he styled himself. in the art of
poetry, and schemes for the general pa
ci6cation of Europe. with list Of the
kings hounds, and remedies against Ca
nine madness.
''The kings dress was of green vel
vet, quilted SO full as to be dagger proof,
which gave him the appearance of a
clumsy and ungainly protuberance;
while its being buttened awry, coinmu-
nicated to hiS figure an air of distor-
eion.-Oyer his green doublet he wore
sad cOlorsd nightg0wn, out of the poe
kst of which peeped his hunting horn.
His high.croWned grey hat lay on the
floor, covered with dust, but encircled
by caskanet of large balas rubiss, and
he wore velvet night cap, in the front
OF which was placed the plume ola he
ron. which had been struck down by a fa-
vorite hawk in some critical moment of
the flight, in remembrance of which,
the king were this highly honorsd fea-
Their. E oa
But such inconsistencies in dress
aud appointments were mere outward
types of those which existed in the roy
al character. rendering it subject of
doubt amongst his contemporaries, and
bequeathing it as a problem to future
historians. He was deeply learned,
without possessing useful knowledge,
sagacious in many individual cases,
without having real wisdom; fond of
his power, and desirous to maintain and
augment it, yet willing to resign the d.
rection of that and of himself to the
most unworthy favorites, big and
bold asserter of bis rights in words, yet
he tamely saw them trampled on in
deed; lover of negotiation, In which
hs was always outwitted; and fearer
of war, where conquest might have been
easy. He WAS fond of his dignity, while
he was perpetually degrading it by un-
due familiarity capable of much pub
lie labor, yet often neglecting it for the
meanest amusement; a wit, though a
pedant; and a scholar, though fond of
the conversation of the ignorant and
uneducated, Even his timidity of tenn
per was not uniform, and there were
moments of his life, and those critical, in
which be sowed the spirit of his ances-
tors. He was laborious in trihes, and
q triAer where serious labour was re-
quired,: devout in his sentiments, and
yet too often profane in his language;
just and benificsnt by nature, he yet
gave way to the iuiquisiss and oppres-
sion OF others. He was penurious res
pecting money which he had to give
fron his own hand, yet inconsiderately
and undoubtedly profuss of that which
he did not see. In a word those good
qualities which displayed themselves in
particular cases and occasions, were
not of a nature sufficiently firm and
comprehensive TO regulate his general
cOGduct, and showing themselves as
they did occasionally, only entitled
james tekhe character bestowed on him
by Sully, that he was the wisest fool in
christendom..
THAT the fortunes of this nsnarch