The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1830-08-19


The late King of England, his fol
hes and his vices, are already spoken
/ of with the greatest freedom by the
London press; and while the fullest
praise is accorded 10 his conduct in
administering the government when
its sovereign, the errors and proiiiga-
cy of his life while subject arc
brought up and dwelt upon in the most
unceremOnious manner. Omittihs
these gossipping particulars, we give
the following as the substance of the
Biographical sketches with which tho
English papers are filled.
The late King Of England was born
at IT. James's on the 18th of August,
1862; and lived, therefore, to be far
advanced in the 6Sth year of his age.
That he existed so long, might, consid-
ering the habits of his earlier life, be
looked upon AS an extraordinary proof
of the original vigor Ofhis constitution.
George w., when prince of Wales,
was, for the greater part ofhis life, an
ostensible ra!lying point of parliament
tary opposition TO his fathers Govern:
ment. AT the era of the French Rev
olution, however, when the stability of
the throne to which he was heir was
nenaccd with the destruction III which
the other royal establishments of Eu-
rope were involved, he bade farewell
to the opposition, in speech against,
revolutionary politics, and was thence
forth designated by Mr.. Fox's friends,
as one unworthy Of political trust or
attachment. The Prince OF Wales
appears not to have borne any active
or conspicuous part in politics, between
the day on which he ceased To counte-
nance the l'oxite opposition, and the
period at which, on the mental demise
of George III. he assumed the govern
mcnt of the British realms as Prince
Regent. The reign of George ". has
been distinguished by some political
measures that mark it as one of the
most interesting eras in English histo-
ry--Of these, the repeal of the Test
Act, with its provisions, prohibiting
disscntcrs fronithc Established Church
from Il participation III the honors and
emoluments of office, and the Emanci-
patton of the Catholics are alone suf-
ficient to stamp the character of the
time. The king is said to have spoken
well in public, thougl, very rarely. In
private, no man was more engagingly
conversational he told story with
great felicity; and his talent for MINI
icry, which he sometimes indulged in
for the amusement of his intimate
companions, was very great. The
looscness ofhis early habits are to no
torious to need limiting at; and the fol-
lowing statement from the London
Times may give some idea ofthe prod
igality of his expenses when Prince of
Wales:
In July, 1888, 5O,OO0l. per annum
was settled OH the Prince, then about
completing his 2lst year. In July.
1856, only three years afterwards, his
debts amounted to- something more
than l70,000l., and where shortly af-
forwards discharged at the public ex-
pense.
In I!D5, after eight years more, n
fresh accumulation OF debt was disclo'
sed, to the extent then admitted Of $50
0O0l, and was provided for by an adj
dition to the Princes income ofSS, ,000l.
per annum. Notwithstanding this, in
1901, IA further addition of S,000l, n
year was bestowed upon his royal high
ness; & again, in 1903, the debts form
erly rated at 639,OO0l., having been
found to exceed 500, ,0O0l., the nation
al bounty was once more drawn upon,
and the royal spcndthrif, was gratitied
by a fourth pension of 90, ,000l. per an-
mum, tcrminable on the expiration OF
three years.