Arkansas democratic banner., 1851-07-08
The Wit of Charles II.

From the "!Story Of Nell Gpyn,'' by Peter Gun
 Hinghas., iH the Genflemen's Magazine for May.l
 The satircal epitaph written upon King Charles II. at his own request, by his witty favorite the Earl of Rochester, is said to be not more severe than fl is just;
 l" Here lies our sovereign lord, the King,
 Whose word no man relies on; /
 Who never said foolish thing,
 And never did wise one.''
 How witty was the reply: "The matter" he ob- served, twas easily accounted for-his discourse was hts own, his actions were his miHistry's."
 Ills pohtenesS was remarkable, and he could convey Eebuke in the style of a wit and gen tleman. When Penn stood before hun with his hat on, the king put off his. " Friend Chares'' sald Penn, ''why dost thou not keep on thy hatP' '"Tis the custom of thfs place." replied the mon- arch, in his usual strain of pleasantly, "that never above one person should be covered at a time."
 He was altogether in favor of exempore preach ing, and was unwilling to Ilsten to the delivery of a written sermon. Patrick excused himself from a chapfaincy, " finding il very difficult to get sermon without book" On one occasion the king asked the famous Stiilngaeet, how it was that he always read his sermons before him, when he was informed that he always preached without book elsewhere F' Stllingfeet answered sonle- thing about the awe of so noble a congregation, the presence of so great and wise prince, with which the king himself was very well contented. "i3ut pray" continued Sliliingheet, twill your Majesty give me leave to ask you question Why do you read your speeches, when you can have none of the same reasonSP' "Why, truly, doc | -tor,' replied the king, "your question IS a very pertinent one, and So will be my answer. l have asked the two houses so often, and for so much money, that l am ashamed to look them in the face" This 'slothful way of preaching" for so the king called 1t, had arisen during the cly wars and Monmouth, when Chancellor of the Unlver- Sity of Cambridge, in compliance with the order of the king, directed letter to the University that the practice of reading sermons should be wholly laid aside.
 Of Barrow he said, that |" he was an unfair preacher" because, as it had been explained he exhausted every subject, and left no room for others 10 come after him; but the kings alluSion was made somewhat Siyiy to the extraordinary length as well as to the usual excellence of Bar rows sermons.
 ''It IS better to be envied than pitied" was his observation to Lord Chancellor Clarendon
 He that takes one stone from the church. takes two from the crown" was another of his sayings preserved by Pepys
 lie sad to Lauderdale ito let Presbytery go for it was not a religion for gentlemen"
 His wit never forsook him When near his last moments he apologised to those who stood round hlm all nlght for the trouble he had caused. s'He had been," he said, Ca most unconscionable time m dying; but he hoped they would excuse it'' A similar sense of etiquette rutfied the last mo- ments of the polite Earl of Chesterfield. whose only expressed anxiety related to his friend Day roles being in the room without chair to sit down upon.