The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-10-19
-noBk,soaIn VAN DURsS.
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I. .hort tour Of the United Kingdom and tho
Contincnt. Inthe latter part OF that montn,
accompanied by his daughter, MISS van
Ruren. aud his niece, Miss Nellie van bu-
ron. the daughter Of his eldest brotner,
Colonel Abraham Van Buren,, now residing
at 4S east Twenty-first street, no e.nnar. .
on the Scotia for Liverpool. During the
summer months their travels extended
through parts Of Sweden, Norway and
Prussia. Mr.. Van Buren, was present. at
the late festival rendered the American
iron.clad squadron ct Cronstadt, but de-
clined the request that he should speak.
His health had been apparently good du-
ring the period Of travel up to this time,
and he enjoyed to the utmost the scenery,
adventure, novelty, and ell that met
his eye. Towards the latter part of
September It became necessary for Mr..
Van Buren, to arrange for his return to
the United States. II was his wish, and
the unanimous desire Of the leaders Of the
National Democratic party, that his voice
should be heard during the pending can
vass and several of the most important
appointments in this State had been ar
ranged for him against his expected re-
turn. Before final departure, Mr.. Van
Buren, concluded to accept the warm invi-
tation of his friend Lord Dalhousie that he
should visit him at his seat in the High
lands. Several days were spent with ex-
IRENE pleasure and variety Of enjoyment.
On Friday the 2sth Of September Mr.. Van
Buren, and the Misses Van Buren, were re-
cefved at Durculich House, Perthshire,
Scotland, by Mr.. Alexander Duncan, the
friend Of the distinguished gentleman. 1t
was at his mansion that Mr.. Van Buren,
was apparently seized with his fatal ILL
ness, which is stated to have had its seat
in an affection of the kidneys, inducing
general prostration Of the system. Du-
ring Saturday and Sunday, September
20 and 80, the sickness was not SO Sc
we're as to effect more than not
unusual and an unalarming indispo-
sition. The gentleman did not omit
his appearance in the social circle at
Mr.. Duncan's, nor moderate degree Of
exercise. 1t was noticeable, however, at
this point, that Mr.. Van Buren, was evil
IDENTIFY suffering at times very severe pain
of body, which had q retroactive effect to
degree upon his mind and hearing. He
department and changeableness Of choice,
that at the time were not attributed, as
afterwards rightly they were, to an incipi-
ent mental disorder, but were accounted
for by the supposition that his occasional
witches Of extreme agony Of body were
not unnaturally producing a peevishness
of temper and that eccentricity and vari-
ableness of wishing, united to an undue
attention to little things, which are so fire.
quent feature of suffering. These moods
were often altcrnated by seasons of en-
cessive livelincss and almost grotesquc in
diligence of the playfullest fancy, which,
though less abnormal to Mr.. Van Buren's
geniality of disposition, were not less ex-
aggerated in their degree and exhibition.
But whether rigidly reserved or farcically
free in his occasional manifestations of
peculiarly of bearing, the mind Of the dis
tinguished gentleman never, in his palmiest
hours Of oratory or social cheer, shone
forth with an intenser sparkle or more
rapid research. Gems of poetry, stores of
epigram, a wealth of remembered couplet
and anecdote, flowed from his tongue, il
Illuminated by an originality of diction and
delivery, as we'll as improyised statement,
which were SO characteristic yet inimitable
in the man. While at Mr.. Duncan's, Mr.. Van
Buren, ordered apartments for himself and
party on the Scotia, the vessel in which he
had come out from New York. On Mon
day the 1st of October, while still at Der
culich House, Mr.. Van Buren's condition
became much worse, and he seemed to be
suffering also from sort of numbnesS and
paralysis in the left thigh; but he insisted
on his departure for the steamer, against
the advice of his physician and friends.
On the evening Of the 9Th of October Mr..
Van Buren, arrived at Liverpool. His con-
dition was then extremely weak. 1t was
thought advisable, as he declined on any
account to remain in England for while,
in the prospect of recruiting greater
strength against the fatigues ofan Atlantic
passage, that the invalid should at once be
conveyed to his state-rooms on the Scotia.
Accordingly it was done. Mr.. Van Blu
rem had to be borne thither on cot. The
incidents of embarkation developed a
greater degree of observation and attempt
ed energy than had been for several days
shown by Mr.. Van Buren,. He was mi
mute in inquiring about the due DISPOSE
ton Of the effects of himself and friends,
and during the evening was able to sit up
a little and to walk with assistance. Du-
ring the night his rest was uneasy, and to-
wards the morning his mind became slight
" affected, while his system was heated
to high degree, skin dry, and the body
showing lack of strength that was quite
alarming to his friends.
BETTER AND WORSE.
On the morning of the 9th the Scotia
weighed anchor and lifted out Of the Mer-
sey. Mr.. Van Buren, exhibited the same
symptoms Of febrile excitement, although
he was able partially to sit up and be
shaved. His disinclination for food CONT
nued. A slight quantity Of mutton chop
and some tea were all he could be persua-
ded to attempt, and these he didn't take
much of. At 9 o'clock DIR. Brice, the sur
geon of the Scotia, was called in, at the re-
quest ofthe Misses Van Buren,. He found
the patients pulse running high, and that
he was suffering considerable nervous de-
preston, which the complaint in the kid
neys critically complicated. Other than
an administration Of stimulants to rally the
deficient vital force, hut little was pre-
scribed. Dan. an experienced nurse on
the Scotia, was retained for attendance on
the invalid, and continued most faithfully
at his post during the entire remainder Of
Mr.. Van Buren's life. Notwithstanding
his illness he could not keep down his ami.
NAL spirits, though from this period till
the last hour delirium was the character
istic, and mental clearness the exception.
From this time until Tuesday Mr.. Van
Burcn's condition was continuance of
considerable pain and increasing weakness,