The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-07-15

DIPLOMACY AND POLITENESS.-l have
lately met with two anecdotes, neither of
them, as I believe, hackneyed, and both
sufficiently authentic to figure in the me-
moirs of somewhat brave and matter-of-
fact diplomatic parsonage of the last CEN
fury. Both in their way, afford droll IL
Illustration of notion l rather strongly adj
here to-namely, that there is less truth in
the maxim "the ruling passion strong in
death " than is generally ascribed to it-at
any rate, in its common acceptance. Pas
sion, we should rather say, rarely shows it
self in the moment of death /; whereas a
prevailing habit of mind, the currents Of
reflection or fancy in which our thoughts
are accustomed to be carried along, in the
majority of instances, occasion the last
flashes with which the expiring spirit
CLEANS forth ere it sinks into utter dark
ness. Now for my instances. The first refers
to certain minister ut foreign court, who
was so impressed with the Importance of
secrecy being observed in all the actions Of
one in his responsible position that he would
make mystery Of the most innocent and
trivial circumstances. Being afflicted with
an ulcer in one of his legs, he called in o
surgeon to treat it, on whom he charged
complete reticence as to the cause Of his
being summoned; and shortly after, when
a similar ulcer showed itself in the other
leg, he had another surgeon sent for, from
whom he strictly concealed the fact that his
other limb was being treated by brother
in the craft. The result was, as might have
been expected, that the two leeches, for want
of concert in their mode of treatment,
eventually killed him; although some So
tirical rogues might suggest that their con-
cert might have proved more rapidly fatal.
Be this as it may, each, as it were, gave
him u leg-up on the pale horse Of Death,
and it galloped away with him. Next day,
after his discreet lips were sealed once and
forever, o friend called to inquire after his
health, and being shown in to the secre-
tary, was Informed that his master was
dead; but that his last injunction was
that no one was to know Of it.
NY second instance is furnished by the
last moments Of the famous Duke of Or
mond, he that fought with King William at
the Boyne, was commander-in-chief under
AnnS when he destroyed the French and
Spanish fleets at Vigo, and died in exile, an
attainted traitor. Avignon was the spot he
chose for his retreat, and there dled thls
great nobleman, whose military talents and
high daring were only equalled by the ex,
quisite courtesy of his demeanor; indeed
he had made of politeness fine art, and
it pervaded every action of his life. 1t
happened that at the moment death began
to make his last decisive approach on the
stronghold of life, the veteran soldier was
in the company of German Baron, distin-
guished also among all his nation for
scrupulous observance of all the amenities
of social life. The Duke had himself car
ried to an armchair, and, turning to the
Baron, said: "Pardon me, dear sir, If l
make a few unpleasant grimaces in your
presence, but my doctor has juat informed
me am about to enter into the agonies OF
DEATH" To this the Baron politely re-
piled: Il" Pray, my Lord Duke, do not in
convenience yourself on my account"