Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1865-07-07
From the New York Ledger.
Assassination Of the Duke of
Buckingham.
BY JAMES PARTON.

singular circumstance that of the 81,
men who have borne that title, during tn,
last four hundred years, every one ha
been signally unfortunate, signally wick
ed, or signally foolish. In the wars o
the Roses, Duke of Buckingham los
his eldest son, and was afterwards him
self slain. Next comes that Duke o
Buckingham whom Richard III. be-
headed; whose monument in little vii
!age church near Salisbury / have seen
To him succeeded the Duke of Bucking
ham who publicly insulted Cardina
Wolsey, and excited the jealousy o
Henry VIII. and lost his head in con
sequence. The title then became ex'
tinct, and so remained until it was revived
under James |. for the purpose of graf
flying the adventurer who is the subject
of this article. And, strange to relate
this Duke of Buckingham, though nc
connection of the former dukes, showed
precisely the same cast of character a:
they, and met with fate not less tragic
Like them, too, he transmitted his folly
TO his descendants, who were all either
VIGOROUSLY vicious or singularly unwise.
The last Duke of Buckingham, who
died years ago, inherited immense wealth,
but INDUCED mania for buying land to
such an extent, that he became bank
rupt. Even his furniture was sold at
auction, and his eldest son, the Marquis
of Chandos, earned bis living by serving
railroad company. Many houses in
New York are now adorned by pictures
and curiosities bought at the sale of the
effects of the last Of the unfortunate dukes
of Buckingham. What renders bis fate
the more remarkable is, that he was not
descended from either of the former ducal
houses. 1t seems that merely to have
the title of Duke Of Buckingham is
enough to deprive man either of his
virtue or his good sense, or both.
James |. was one of the weakest and
most ridiculous beings that ever sat ups
on throne. His mother, Mary Queen
of Scots, and his father, Lord Darnly,
were considered the haudsomest couple
in Europe; but James was so clumsily
made as to be almost deformed, and the
whole aspect Of the man was vulgar and
clownish. Besides his awkward figure,
he had strange way of rolling his eyes,
sidelong, unsteady walk, a kind of par
alytc trembling of the limbs, sIobber-
ing mouth, and certain boyish express
sion of countenance. These personal
defects were rendered more conspicuous
by bis habitual attempt to assume the
air of grand monarch, and by his pre-
posterous notions of the royal dignity,
which he was never weary Of expounding.
His mind was as inferior and loosely knit
as his body. He was vain, pedantic, and
credulous; he was extravagant and sem
sual; superstitious and bigoted incapa-
Bile of being influenced by wise and hon
est counsellors, but the very slave of any
man who knew his weaknesses and how
to play upon them.
Such a king is invariably governed,
either by an imperious and artful minis
ter, like Richelieu, or by an agreeable,
hattering favorite, or by a Mistress
James |. was, all his life, the tool and
minion of favorites, Of whom the Duke
of Buckingham held him longest, used
him worst, and despised him most. He
called the king my dear dad and gossip"
and laughed in his face when be had
said something little more ridiculous
than usual. / have letter before me,
addressed by buckingham to King James,
which begins with my dear dad and Cos
sip" and ends with Your most humble
slave and dog, Steenie;" and in which
the beir.apparent to the throne is styled
Baby Charles" Naughty and unre-
lenting as the king was to all men of
worth, he could refuse nothing whatever
% this handsome, audacious, shallow and
lebauched adventurer.
This man owed the kings favor to
court intrigue, which was set on foot for
he purpose of displacing another favor
te, who was ruling tyrannically both the t
King and the kingdom. Casting about t
or a person fitted TO seduce the kings i
affections, the choice of this party fell on t
George Villiers, the son of Sir George i
Villiers, Liecestershire baronet. The d
'oung man was strikingly handsome, v
'ery fluent and witty, perfectly accom- Y
'lished in all courtly exercises, and of n
ingularly graceful, winning address and (
manners. At the same time, as he had il
10 principles nor mental stamina, the in C
riguers imagined that they could easily b
mould and use him for their own pur- ii
oses. In this plot large number OF
be highest nobility were engaged; nay, II
ven bishops and archbishOps. The ii
ueen herself, whom James totally neg ia
ected, was consulted and urged to CO. il
perate and it was an archbishop who n
lade the proposal to her et
MY lord" she replied, "you know not
that you desire. If Villiers gains the v
oyal favor, we shall all be sufferers. i y
hall not be spared more than the others. Ii
he king will teach him TO treat us all a:
ith pride and contempt"
The queens advice was disregarded, at
nd the scheme was put in execution o
'oung Villiers was presented to the th
ing, retained about the court, and given at
very opportunity to display his pleasing hi
fits; while those who had access to the a
ing sounded bis praises in his ears, re- at
eated bis witty words, and recounted f
istances Of his gallaDtry and daring. ed
The king fell into the snare. The old TO
Ivorite was discarded, and George VII az