Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1849-01-16
THE RICHMOND ENQUIRER.

I opened, and Father Huddleston entered. CLOAK
| had been thrown over his sacred vesmenis,
| and his shaver crown was concealed by no"
ing wig, "Sir," said The duke, "this good man
once saved your life. He now comes 10 save
your soul" Charles family answered, he is
welcome" Huddleston went through MS pait
better than had been expected. He knelt by the
bed listened 10 the confession. announced the ao-
| solution, and administered extreme uncllon.-
He asked if the King wished 10 receive the Lords
supper. "Surely," said Charles, elf am mol un'
| worthy" The host was brought in. Charles lee
by stfove 10 rise and kneel before il. The priest
| babe him lie STILL and assured him that God
| would accent the humiliation OF the soul, anu
would no, REQUIRE The humiliation oflhe body. The
King found SO much difficulty in swallowing the
bread, that il was necessary 10 open the door
and procure a glass OF water. This rite enaeu,
the monk held up crucihx before the penilent,
| charged him 10 fix his last Thoughts upon Inc SUI
teripos OF The Redeemer, and withdrew. The
whole ceremony had occupied about three quar-
tiers OF an hour and, during that time, The cour.
Tiers who filed the outer room had communicated
their suspicions 10 each other by whispers and
significant chances. The door was al length thrown
! open, and the crowd again filled the chamber oil
| death.
II was now late in The evening. Tie King
seemed much relieved by what had passed. His
natural children were brought 10 his bedside,
the Dukes OF Grafton, Southampton and North
CUMBERLAND, sons OF the Duchess OF Cleveland
the Duke of 81. Adams, son OF Eleanor Gwynn,
and the Duke Of Richmond, son OF The Duchess
OF Portsmouth. Charles blessed them all, but
spoke with peculiar tenderness 10 Richmond
| One face which should have been there was
wanting. The eldest and bes! beloved child was
an exile and a wanderer His name was not
once mentioned by his father.
During the night Charles earnestly recon-
mended the Duchess OF Portsmouth and her boy
10 the lake care OF James "and do mol" he good
naturedy added, "le poor Nelly starve." The
Queen sent excuses for her absence b. Halifax.
| She said she was TOO much disordered 10 resume
her post b. the couch and implored pardon Tor
any offence she mig Oh, unwiltinely have given
"She asks my pardon, poor woman!" cried
Charles 81 ask hers with all my heart"
The morning light began to peep through the
windows Of Whitehall; and Charles desired the
attendants to pull aside the curtains, that he
might have one more look at the day. He re-
marked that it was lime 10 wind up clock
which stood near his bed. These little circum.
stances were long remembered, because they
proved beyond dispute that when he declared
himself Roman Catholic, he was in full pos
session of his faculties He apologized to those
who had stood around him all night for the trou-
BILE which he had caused He had been, he
said, most unconscionable time dying but he
hoped they would excuse il. This was the last
glimpse If that exquisite urbanity, so often
found potent TO charm away the resentment Of
Justly incensed nation. Soon after dawn Ire
speech of the dying man failed. Before Ten his
senses were gone. Grea, numbers had repaired
to the churches for morning service. When the
prayer for the King was read, loud groans and
sobs showed how deeply his people felt for him.
At noon, on Friday, the 9th of February he pass
ed away without struggle