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152<br />

DEATH OF THE DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM.<br />

be buried at Helmsley, wherehis body is to remainuntil<br />

further orders.<br />

" Beingthenearestkinsmanuponthe place,Ihave taken<br />

the liberty to give His Majesty an account of his death,<br />

and have sent his George and blue ribbon to be disposed<br />

of as His Majesty shall think fit. Ihave addressed it,<br />

under cover, to my Lord President, to whomIbeg you<br />

would carry the bearer the minute he arrives.<br />

" Ihave given orders that nothing shall be embezzled,<br />

and for that reason, as soon as myLord died,Icalled to<br />

see his strong box,but before Mr Brian Fairfax and Mr.<br />

Gibson. Ifound nothingof moment init,but some loose<br />

letters of no concern; but, such as they are,Ihave<br />

ordered them to be lockedup, and delivered to my Lady<br />

Duchess; as also the smallplateand linenhe hadIhave<br />

committed to the care of Lord Fairfax."<br />

This full account, which gives moreparticulars concerning<br />

the last moments inlife of the Duke of Buckingham<br />

than could be obtained from any other source, first<br />

appeared January 3rd, 1784, in The Whitehall Evening<br />

Post.<br />

Familiar to all, to whom anythingofGeorge Villiers is<br />

known, are the following lines of Pope, which, however,<br />

areunduly exaggerated: —<br />

In the worst inn's worst room,withmat half hung,<br />

The floors of plaster, and the walls ofdung,<br />

On once a flock bed, but repair'd withstraw,<br />

With tape-tied curtains never meant to draw,<br />

The George and Garter dangling from the bed,<br />

Where tawdry yellow strove with dirty red,<br />

Great Villiers lies — alas ! how changed from him!<br />

That life ofpleasure,and that soul of whimI<br />

Gallant and gay in Cliveden's proud alcove,<br />

The bower of wanton Shrewsbury and love;<br />

Or just as gay at council, in a ring<br />

Of mimic Statesmen and their merryking.<br />

No wit to flatter left of all his store,<br />

No fool to laugh at, whichhe valued more;<br />

There, victor ofhis health, of fortune, friends,<br />

And fame, this Lordofuseless thousands ends.

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