Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1857-10-07

END. Another eminent feature OF her pol
icy was to watch the growth of discoutents |
and appease them ere they became danger I
Gus. Thus, when such complaints as shook |
the throne in the next reign, and over
turned it in that of Charles, began family |
to appear, she stepped forward and re-
Princely benefcence to her suppliant peo-
pie, and hence she preserved her preroga-
tive untafnished, while she appeased dis
content How far soyereigns of such abil-
ity are advantageous 10 free country may
be questioned. England certainly never
came SO near arbitrary power as in her
reign. With all her political capacity, her
personal feelings were signally preposter-
Gus. Her desire to be considered lovely,
aud to be loved, approached mouomania
She appears to have mad singularly uu-
pleasing aspect for a woman-harsh fea-
lures, rough, yellow skin, dim eyes, an
irascible, indenied mouth, and sandy hair,
! yet no one couli too grossly fatter her
beauty, aud it was impossible to make a
4 portrait with the slightest degree of truth
which she could tolerate. Sir Walter Raj
eigh speaks of Z" the pictures of Queen
Elizabeth, made by unskillfnl and common
painters, which, by her own command
ment, were Knocked in pieces and cast into
the fire" On more than one occasion she
was allowed, and allowed herself, to exult
in the notion that she was the object of the
despairing love of her servants-Lut she
never permitted either vanity or affection
to disturb the policy of her reign. To the
Jealousy arising out of her peculiar weak
ness, we may attribute the great blot on
her name-her harsbness to Mary, Of
Scotland. 1t has now been proved that
she distinctly indicated how good service
she would count it, secretly to put the cap
tive out of the way and it is creditable to
the English public men Of the day, that
none Of them would take her hint as a
warrant "to break into the bloody house of
life"
Elizabeth understood, as well as Napo-
leon, the arts necessary for gaining pop
ularity. When the invasion of the Span
ish Armada was impending, she visited the
army assembled at Tilbury, appearing on
horseback, riding through the lines, and
speaking to the soldiers. The effect of hel
harangue was commensurate with Tho
sound Judgment, aud consummate knowl
edge of mankind which dictated such dis
play.
The tenderness of Elizabeth's heart i.
popularity believed to have been the imme
diate cause Of her death. Her fasorite
the Earl of Essex, had been tried, an,
very justly condemned for high treason :
While he was high in favor with the Queen
she had given him ring, as pledge 0
her affection, and had accompanied tn
gift with promise that, In whatever dis
grace he might fall, or whatever prejudi
ces she might be induced to entertain q
gainst him by his enemies. he might de
pend upon her for forgiveness, if he pre-
duced that ring In his final extremity
Essex resolved to try the efficacy of thi
precious gift, and he committed it to tn
Countess of Nottingham, to deliver to tn
Queen. But the husband of the Count
ess, an enemy of Essex, persuaded her I
retain the ring. Elizabeth imputed b
supposed omission to send it, to Essex
pride, and assented to bis execution. A
ter the execution of the earl, the Counties
of Nottingham being on her death bee
sent for the Queen, to reveal to her a s
cret, without disclosing which, she coul
not die 10 peace. When the Queen ente
ed her apartment she presented Essex
ring, related the purpose for which 81
had received it, and begged forgiveness
her crime All Elizabrth's affection r
turned all har rare wac ruised &C
may forgive you, but 1 never eau" 81
cried, as she shook the dying Countess
her bed. She then rushed out If the roor
Few and miserable, after this discover
were the days of Elizabeth Her spil
was utterly depressed. Her heart "
|, broken, and existence bec1me burden
! She died on the 9th of March, 1903.