The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1849-03-22

DAVl
er. and her own attractions, had drawn .
crowd Of ilustrious suffers round her
Charles himself, during bis exile, had
sought her hand 10 vain. No gift Of nature
OF Of fortune seemed to be wanting to her.
Her face was beautiful with the rich beau
~ Of tho South, her understanding quick,
her manners graceful, her rank exalted,
her possessions immense; but her ungov.
erosble passions had turned oil these bless
ings into curses. She hsd found the mise.
~ Of an ill-assorted marriage in,oIersble,
had fled from her husband, had abandoned
her vast wealth, end after having ustonish-
ed Rome and Piedmont BY her adventures,
bad fixed her abode in England. Her house
Vas the favorise resort Of men of wit and
pleasure, who, for the sake Of her smiles
and her table, endured her frequent fits Of
insolencc and III humor. Rochester and
Godolphin sometimes forgot the cares Of
state in her company. Barillon aud Saint
Evremond found in her drawing room con-
ISOLATION for their long Punishment from
Paris. The learning Of vossius, the sit Of
Waller, were daily employed to fla,ter and
amuse her. But her diseased mind sequi-
red stronger stimulsnts, and sought them
in gallantry, in bssset, and in usquebauRb.
While Charles Airted with his three sulta-
mas, IIortensia's French page, handsome
boy, whoee vocal performances were the
delight Of Whitehall, and were rewarded by
numerous presents Of rich clothes, pooies,
and guinness, warblcd some amorov- verses.
A party oftwcnty courtiers were seated at
cards round q largo table OH which gold
was hcnped 10 mountains. Even then the
King had complained that he did not feel
quite we'll. He had no appetite for his sup
per; bis rest that night vas broken; but on
the following morning no rose, - usual,
early.
TO that morning the conisnding factions
in his country had, during some days, look
ed forward with snxieiy. The struggle
between Halifax and Rochester seemed to
be approaching decisive crisis. Halifax,
not content with having already driven his
rival from the board Of Treasury, had IN
dersaksn 10 prove him guilty Of such dis
honeety or neglect in the conduct Of the
finances as ought to be punished by dismis-
sion from the public service. Il vas oven
whispered that the lord president would
probably be sent TO the Tower before night
The King had promised to inquire into the
matter. The second Of February had been
fixed for the Investigation, and several OIL
GERS ofshe revenue had been ordered to at
tend with their books on that day. But .
great turn Of fortune was II hand.
Secrecy had Charles risen from his bed
when his attendants perceived that his Ut
terance was indistinct, and that his thoughts
seemed to be wandering. Several men Of
rank had, 10 usual, assembled to sec their
sovereign shaved and dressed. lie made
an effort to converse with them in his usu-
III gsy style; but his CHASTITY look surprised
and alarmed them. Soon his face grow
black; his eyes turned 10 his head; be ut
tered cry. staggered, and fell into the
arms Of Thomas Lord Bruce, eldest son Of
the Earl Of Ailesbury. A physician who
had charge ofthe royal rstorts and crucibles
happensd to be present. He had no Ian.
Get; bnt he opened . vein with penknife.
The blood flowed freely; but the King wsa
still insensible.
lie was laid on his bed. where, during .
short time, the Duchess Of Portsmouth hung
over him with the familiarity Of wife
But the alarm bad been given. The Queen
and the Duchess Of York we're Fastening
to the room. The fsvorilc concubinc va
forced TO retire to her own apartmcnss.-
Those apartments had been thrice pulled
down and thrice rebuilt by her lover "a
crafty Der caprice. The very furniture Of
tho chimney wss massive silver. Several
fine paintings, which properly belonged "a
the Queen, had been transferred to the
dwelling IT the mistress. The sideboarda
were piled With richly wrought plate. ia
the inches stood cabinets, the masterpieces
Of japanese art. On the hsnqinas, ffesh
from tho looms Of Paris, wcre depicted, ia
sints which no Eoglish tapestry could rival
birds Of gorgeous plumage, landscapes
hunting matches, the lordly terrace Of St
Germans, tho statues and fountains Of
versailles. Ia the midst Of this spleodor
purchased BY guilt and shame, tho unhap.
Py woman gave herself up to % sgony d
grief. which, to Do her justice, was no,
wholly selfish.
And now the gates Of Whitehall, which
ordinarily stood open to oil comers, were
closed. But persons whose faces were
known were still permitted to enter. The
anicchsmbers and galleries were soon fill.
cd to overflowing; and even ths sick room
vas crowded With peers, privy counciIloes
and foreign ministers. All The medical
men Of note 10 London we're summoned