Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-03-07

stances are worthy Of remark. First, that his
ROYAL Hiyhness never permitted the consider
alton Of poli1ics TO influence him IN his depart
ment Of Comr,ander-in-chief,b but gave aiike 10
wbip as 10 tory. The ,relerment their service or
talents deserved. Secondly, in attaching him-
self to the par, whose object is supposed 10 De
10 strengthen the Crown, his Royal Hlghness
would have been the last man to invade IN .ne
slightest degree, the rights Of the people. me
following anecdo,e may be relied upon. AZ inc
table Of the CommaAder-in-chiei, NOT many
wears since, young officer entered INTO us
pute with Lieutenant Colonel -, upon 'he
poin, to which military obedience ought 70 oe
carried. "If the Communicated ely saia
the young officer, like second Seid, shouiu
command me to do any thing which l knew 10
be civiily illegal, should not seruple 10 OBEY
him, and consdermysef as relieved rom a''
responsibility by the commands oil my n'',i'a.J
superior" $50 would not - returned 'he
gallant and in,ellgen, officer who mal"taihe e.,
tile opposite side Of the question. shou'u
rather prefer The risk Of being shot for dlsooe,
dience by my commanding officer, than hahsen
for transgressing The laws, and violating the II,
berries the country" "You have answered
like yourself" said his Royal rlighness' whose
attention had been attracted by the Vivacity OF
the debate; and The officer would deserve pom
to be sho, and hanged that should aet o''er
wise. trust all British officers would DC as
nwilling 10 execute an illegal command, as
trast the Commander n-chicf would be lncapa-
BILE of issuing one"
The religion Of ,he Duke of York was SIN
cere, and he was particularly attached 10 ."e
doctrines and constitution Of the Church OF En-
gland In this his ROYAL Highness strongly
resembed his father; and, ike his father, he en-
tertained a conscientious sense OF the obiiga-
tions of the Coronation Oath, which prevented
him from acquiescing in the further relax ai!on
OF the laws against Catholics. we pronounce
no opinion onlhe Justice of his Royal Hig hneSS's
sentiments on this important point, put VIC
must presume them to have been sncerey en-
ter,aineG, since they were expressed at the hdz-
ard Of drawing down upon his Royal Highness
an odium equally strong as resentlui.
In his person and coun;enance the Duke OF
York was srge, stout and manly; he spoke ra-
Their with some Of the indis,inctness OF utter
ance peculiar TO his late father, than with The
precision of enuncation which distinguishes
the King, his Royal Brother. Indeed, his Roy.
al Highness resemblcd bis late Majesty perhaps
the mos, of any Of George the Thirds descend-
ants. His family affections were strong, and
/
derness with which he discharged the duty OF
watching the~last days Of his Royal Father,
tlarkenrd as they were by corporeai blindness
aud mental incapaci,y. No pleasure, no BUSH
ness, was ever known 10 interrupt his regular
visits to Windsor, where his unhappy parent
could neither be grateful for, nor even sensible
Of, his unremi,ted attention. The same ties Of
affection united his Royal iiighness to Ciher
members of his family, and particularly to us
present Royal Head Those who witnessed the
Coronation Of bis present Majesty, will long re-
rnber, as the most interes tug part Of that
gust ceremony, the cordially with which his
Royal Highness the Duke of York performed
his act of homage, and the tears OF ahec ton
which were mutually shed between the Royal
Brethren We are aware that, under this hea-
Wy dispensation, his Majesty will be chief mour
ner, not in name only, bu, in all the sincerity Of
severed affection, The Kings neares, brother
in blood was also his nearest in afftc ton; and
the subiec, who stood next to the Throne, was
the individual VINO would mos, willingly have
laid down his lie for is support.
In social intercourse The Duke Of York was
kind, courteous and Acknowledgements at
tributes, we believe, OF the Blood Royal Of En-
.gand, and well betting the Princes Of free
country. II NAV he remembered, that when, in
"days Of youthful pride" his Royal Highness
had wounded the feelings ola young Nobleman,
he never thought Of shelteriug himself behind
his rank, Blu, manfally gave reparation by re-
ceiving the (well-nigh fata) fire Of the offended
party, though he declined to return it
We would here gladly conclude the subject,
but to complete portrait, the shades as well
as the lights must be inserted, and in their fol-
bles as well as their good qualities, Princes are
The property Of history. Occupied perpetually
with official duty, which, TO the last period Of
his life, he discharged with the utmost pune
tuality, the Duke Of York was peculiarly negli
gent of his ownsaffairs, and the endorsements
which arose in consequence, were considerably
increased BY an imprudent passion for the turf
and for deep play. Those unhappy propensi-
ties exhausted The funds with which the nation
supplied him literally, and sometimes produced
eA,remities which must have been painful 10
man Of temper so honorable. The exalted
height Of his rank, which renders it doubtless
more dGffiull to look into and regulate domestic
expenditure, together With the engrossipg du-
ties Of his Royal Highness's Office, may be ad-
miied as alleviations, bu, not apologies, Tor
their imprudence.
criminal passion Of different nature pro-