Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1859-04-02
yNlstellaneous.
Philip The Second.

Prescott, in the third volume of his "Phiiip
the Second" gives the following sketch OF
that inscrutable monarch :
Philip had q reserved and unsocial temper.
He preferred to work alone, in the secluSon
Of bis closet rather than in the presence OF
others. This may explain the reason in part
why he seemed 80 much to perfer writing to
talking. Even with bis private secretaries,
who we're always near at hand, he chose to
communicate by writing; and they had as
large mass Of his autograph notes 10 their
possession, as if the correspondence had been
carried from different parts of the kingdom.
| His thoughts, too--nt any rate his words
came slowly; BY writing he gained time for
the utterance of them. The reserve, so no.
ticeablo in his youth, increased with age
He became more difficult Of access. His
public audience were much less frequsnt.-
10 the summer he would escape from them
altogether, by taking refuge in some one OF
his country places His fsvorlte retreat was
his palace monastery of the Escurial, then
slowly rising under his patronage, and afor-
dug him an occupation coDgenlsl with MS
taste. He seems, however, to have sought
the country not SO much from the love OF It's
beauties as for the retreat it afforded him
from tho town. When in the latter, he rarely
showed himself to the public eye, going
abroad chiefly in close carriage, and driving
late so as to return to the city after dark
Thus he lived in solitude even in the heart
of his capital, knowing much less Of men from
his own observation than from the reports
that were made to him. In avaiiing himself
Of theso sources of information he was inde-
fatgable He caused statistical survey OF
Spain TO be prepared for his own use. 1t
was a work OF Immense labor embracing
vast amount of curious details, such as were
rarely brought together in those days. he
kept bis spies at the principal European
courts, who furnished him with intelligence
and he was as well acqusinted with what was
passing in England and iu France, as if he
had resided on the spot. lie was content 20
toll for hours, and long into the night, at his
solitary labors. No expression OF WEAKNESS
or OF impatieuce was known to escape him.
A characteristic snecdote is told Of him in
regard to this. Having written a dispatch,
late OF night, to be sent on the following
morning, he handed it TO his secretary to
throw sand over it, This functonary, who
happened to be DOING. suddenly reused him.
self, and spatchipg up the inskstand emptied
it on the paper. The king, cody remirklng
that lit would have been better to use the
sand" set himself down without any CON-
plant, to re. write the whole of the letter.
In his eagernsss for information, his ear was
ever open to accusations against his ministers
which, as they were sure to be locked up IN
in his own bosom, were not slow in coming
to him. This filled his mind with suspicious.
He waited till time had proved their truth,
treating the object of them with particular
favor till the hour of vengance had arrived.
The reader will not have forgotten the terri
BILE saying of Philips own historian His
dagger followed close upon his smile
Philip was an economist Of time, and regu-
lated the distribution of it with great pre-
csion. ln the morning, he gave auclance to
foreign ambassadors. He afterwards heard
mass. After mass came dinner, in bis fathers
fashion. But dinner was not an affair with
Philip Of so much moment as it was with
Charles. He was exceedingly temperate
both in eating and drinking. and not unfre-
quently against any provocative OF the gout
the hereditary disease which at very
early period had begun to affect his health
Alter light repast he gave audience to
such OF his subjects as desired to present
their memorials. lie received the petitioners
graciOusly, and listened to all they had to
say with patience-for that was his virtue.
But his countensuce was exceedingly grave
which, in truth, was its natural expression;
aad there was reserve in his department,
which made the boldest feel i'll at ease in his
presence. On such occasions he would say
"Compose yoursef"-a recommendation that
had not always the tranqulizing effect in
tended. Once when papal nuncio forgot.
in his confusion, the address be had prepared,
the King eooly remarked: "Ifyou will bring
it in writing, will read it myself, and ex.
pediteyour business" 1t was natural that
men OF even the highest rank should be over
awsd In the presence Of q monarch who held
the destinies of SO many mllionsin his hands,
and who surrounded himself with q veil Of
mystery which the most cunning political
could not penetrate.