The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1849-03-22
the DEATH OF King CHARLES II.


Tho death Of King Charles tho Second
took the nation by surprise. His frame
was naturally strong, and did not appear 10
have suffered from excess. lie had always
been mindful Of his health, even in his
pleasures; and his habits were such n
promise . long life and robust old sge.
lndolens - he was on oil occasions which
required tension Of Tho mind, he Was active
and Peesevering in bodily exercise. lie
hsd, when young. been renowned ~ ten
mis- player, aud was, even in the decline of
life, an indeissigsblc walker. Ills ordina-
~ pace was such, thai those who wero Cd
snitsed to the honor Of his society found il
difficult 10 keep up with him. lie rose ear
y, and generally passed three OF four
hours day 10 the open cir. lie might lie
seen, befoss the dew was off the grass, iu
81. James's Park, s.siding among the trees,
playing with his spsniels, and tiinging corn
70 HE ducks; aud these exhibitions endear-
Cd him to the common people, who always
love to see the great unbend.
Al length, towards the close Of tho year
1854, be wss prevented, by slight attack
Of what was supposed to be govt, irom ram.
bling ~ usual. He now spent his morn.
ings in his labrssosy, where he amused
himself with experiments on the properties
Of mercury. His temper secmed 10 have
suffered from confinement. lie had no ap.
parent cause Tor disquies. Ills Kingdom
was Tranquil: be WAS not in pressing want
Of money: his power vas greater than j.
he'd ever been: the party which had long
lhwarsed him had been beaten down, hut
the chserfulness which had supported him
against adverse fostunc, had vanished in
this season Of prosperity.
A tri6e now sufiiccd to deprcss those
elastic spirits which had borne up against
defeat, exile, and penury. Ills irritstion
frequently showed itself By looks and words,
such - could hardly have been expected
from man % sminently distinguished by
good humor and good breeding. Il VA
nos supposed, however, that bis cons,tu.
ton vas seriously impaired.
HE palsce had seldom presented gay.
or OF . more scandalous appearance than
on The evening of Sunday, the first Of Feb.
Susry, 1886. Some grave persons who
had gone shishss, after tho fashion Of that
age, 10 pay their duty to their sovereign,
and Who had expected that, on such day,
his court would wear decent aspect, were
struck with establishment and horror. The
greet gallery Of Whitehall, IN admirable
relic q the msgoiiccnce Of the Tudors, was
crowded With jewellers and gamblers. The
King safe there chatting and toying with
three women, whose charms we're the hoast,
and whose vices vero the Disgrace, ofshrcs
nations. Barbara Palmer, Duchess Of
Cleveland, vss there, no longer young. but
still retaining some traces Of that superb
and volup,uous lovsliness, which, twenty
years he(ors, ovsrcame the hearts Of oil
men. There, ton, was the Duchess Of
Portsmouth, whose solt and infantine fea-
lures we're lighted up with the vivscity Of
Frsacs. flortensia Msncini, Duchcss Of
Msxasin. and niece q tho great Cardinal,
complsssd the group. She had been early
removed from her native Italy, 10 the court
where her uncle was supreme. Ills pow.