Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1830-05-17
DEATH OF KING ROBERT BRUCE.

DEATH OF KIM NoDERi nSo
From Sir Walter Scon's History 81 SCOTLAND.
6. Rruce seemed only to wait for the hnal de-
lver,nce of his country to close his heroic career.
He had retired. probably for the purpose OF en-
loving milder climate, to his Castle OF Caroross;
ON the firth of CLYDE. Dumbarton. Here he lived
in princely retirement. and, entertaining the
nobIes with rude hospitality, relieved by liberal
doles of food the distres of the poor.-Nautl-
cal affairs seem to have engaged his atten-
t;on very much. and he built vessels, with which
he often went on the adjacent Firth. lie prac-
tised falconry, being unable to sustain the Ia
tisue of hunting. Wemay add, for every thinS
is interesting where Robert Bruce is the subject
that he kept lion, and fool named Patrick. as
regular parts of his establishment. Meantime MS
disease (aspecies of leprosy, as we have already
said: which had Its origin In the hardshlps ana
privations which he had sustained Tor SO many
years.) gained ground on his remaining strength.
"When he found his end drew nigh, that great
King summoned his Barons and Peers around
him. and affectionately recommended his son TO
their care; then singled out the good Lord James
of Douglas, fondly entreated OF HIM, as his Ola
friend and his companion IN arms, to cause the
heart to be taken from his body after death, con-
turing him to take the charge OF transporting 1t
to Palestine, in redemption OF vow which he
had made to 90 in person thither when he was dis
entangled from the fears brough t on him By the
English wars. Now the hour is come ne SAID,
Il Cannot avail myself Of the opportunity, but
must send my heart thither in place Of my body;
and better Knight than YOU, my dear and tried
friend and oomrade, to execute such commission,
the world holds not All who were present
went bitterly around the bed, when the King, with
almost his dying words, bequeathed this melan-
ch6ly task to his best beloved follower and cham
pion. On the 7th of June. 1880, died Robert
Bruce, at the almost premature age OF fifty-tive.
He was buried at Dunfermline, where his tomb
was opened in our time, and his relics again in
TERED amid all the feelings of awe and admira-
ton which such sight tended naturally to in
sure.
Remarkable in many things, there was this
Almost peculiar to Robert Bruce, that his life was
divided into three distinct parts, which could
scarcely be considered as belonging to the same
ndivida. His youth was thoughtless, hasty,
and tickle, and from the moment he began to ap.
pear in public life, until the slaughter of the Red
Comyn, and his final assumption OF the Crown,he
appeared to have entertained no certain purpose
beyond that of shifting with the shifting tdl; like
the other Barons around him, ready like them, to
enter into hasty plans for the liberation OF Scot
land from the English yoke, but equally prompt
to submit to the overwhelming power of Edward.
Again in short but very active period of his
life. he displayed the utmost steadiness, frmness
and constancy; sustaining, with undated patience
and determination, the loss of battles, the death
of friends, the disappointment of hopes, and an
uninterrupted series ofdisasters. on which scarce
a ray of hope appeared to brighten. This term of
suffering extended from the field of Mothven
Wood till his return to Scotland from the island
of Rachin, after which time his career, whenever
he was himself personally engaged, was almost
uniformly successful even till he had obtained the
object of his wishes-the secure possession OF an
independent throne.
When these things are considered, We shall
find reason to conclude that the misfortunes OF
the second or suffering period of Bruce's life had
taugh him lessons of constanCy. otprudence, and
of moderation, which were unknown to his early
years, and tanned the hot and impetuous fire
which his temper, like that of his brother Edward,
naturally possessed. He never permitted the in
juries of Edward I. although three brothers had
been cruelty executed by that monarch's orders,)
to provoke him to measures of retaliation; and
his generous conduct to the prisoners at BannocS-
burn. as well as elsewhere. reflects honor OH his
sagacity and humanity.