The Story of the Upper Canadian Rebellion, Volume 1 — John Shaqi
The Story of the Upper Canadian Rebellion, Volume 1Dent, John Charles
History
The Story of the Upper Canadian Rebellion, Volume 1
Dent, John Charles
Canada -- History -- Rebellion, 1837-1838; Ontario -- Politics and government
Throughout the rest of the day and ensuing night he was subject to
repeated returns of the paroxysms, during which he suffered untold
agonies. It was evident to himself and those about him that he was
afflicted by the most terrible of all maladies to which humanity is
subject--hydrophobia. He had been bitten by a tame fox a few weeks
before, and the deadly rabies had ever since been rankling in his
system. He realized that he must die, and the instincts of his race--he
was a remote by-blow of royalty--taught him to make an ending in a
manner becoming a gentleman. Towards evening he consented to be taken
back to the shanty, where a bed had been prepared for him. Except while
the paroxysms were upon him, he was perfectly calm and collected, and
gave his last sad directions to a friend who stood by his side. About
eight o'clock on the morning of the 28th the death-agony came upon him,
and his excruciating tortures were at an end.
Thus passed away Charles Gordon Lennox, Fourth Duke of Richmond, Earl of
March and Baron Settrington in the peerage of England; Duke of Lennox,
Earl of Darnley and Baron Methuen in the peerage of Scotland; Duc
d'Aubigny in France, Governor-General of Canada, lord of Halnaker,
Goodwood and West Hampnett. There was, as has been above hinted, a bar
sinister in his escutcheon, for he was descended from King Charles the
Second and the fair and frail Frenchwoman Louise Renee de Querouaille,
who was commonly known among Englishmen of her day as Madam Carwell.
This lady, who was probably the least bad of the unlicensed prostitutes
of Charles's seraglio at Whitehall, was for her many virtues created
Duchess of Portsmouth. Her descendants, like those of Nell Gwynn and the
rest of that frail sisterhood, are reckoned among the great ones of the
earth. The Duke whose melancholy fate has just been chronicled was the
father of Lady Sarah, spouse of Sir Peregrine Maitland,
Lieutenant-Governor of Upper Canada.
* * * * *
Was there any connection between these two tragical events: the trial of
Robert Gourlay and the death of the Duke of Richmond? Mr. Gourlay
evidently leaned to the belief that there was.[21] The Duke and his
son-in-law had passed through Niagara during the hot weather of July,
while the victim of Family Compact villainy was gradually having his
health and reason tortured out of him in the jail at that place. He was
of opinion that the two distinguished visitors should have exercised
their prerogative by setting him at liberty. This, of course, was an
altogether unreasonable belief. His Grace was not at all likely to
interfere in the matter, and as for Sir Peregrine, he was completely in
the hands of Mr. Gourlay's enemies. The belief, however, is worth
recording, as exhibiting the extent to which Mr. Gourlay's persecution
continued to prey upon his mind, even after the lapse of years, and when
he was in as good health as he ever regained.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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