At ten o'clock last night, his Majesty exhibited symptoms of
drowsiness; and in consequence, Sir HENRY HALFORD, Sir MATTHEW TIERNEY, and Mr. BRODIE, left the royal patient ; Sir W. WALLER and two of the pages remaining in attendance.
The King slept at intervals, until three o'clock ; when he awoke, and expressed a wish to be raised up. While preparing to comply with his desire, it was perceived that his Majesty's state had very much altered for the worse ; and .Sir W. WALLER rushed from the apartment to call up the medical attendants. They immedi- ately obeyed the summons ; and had not been in the King's apart- ment above five minutes, when his Majesty expired, without ap- parent pain or struggle. Sir WILLIAM KNIGHTON was also in the chamber during the last scene. As soon as the surprise, occasioned by his Majesty's death, had subsided, and the body had been decently composed, messengers were despatched to communicate the melancholy tidings to his Royal Highness the Duke of CLARENCE, and to his Grace the Duke of WELLINGTON.
The messengers reached town about six o'clock ; and at nine, his Grace, clothed in deep mourning, left Apsley House for Bushy, to pay an official visit to his Royal Master.
At ten o'clock, summonses were issued to all the members of the Privy Council now in town ; and a short time after ten, an official communication from the Secretary of State for the Home Depart- ment was received by the Lord Mayor. St. Paul's great bell commenced tolling at eleven o'clock, and its iron tones are now booming lugubriously- through the metro- polis. The news of the royal decease was pretty generally known in town by eleven o'clock, and the whole of the shop-windows were soon after partially shut. The proclamation of the accession of King WILLIAM the Fourth will be made on Monday, at Charing Cross ; within Temple Bar: at the end of Wood Street, Cheapside ; and lastly, at the Royal Exchange. The bulletins of the week were as follows.
" Windsor Castle, June 20.--The King's rest has again been broken by the cough and expectoration, and his Majesty feels languid this morning." " Windsor Castle, June 21.-The King's rest has been interrupted by cough with expectoration during the night. His Majesty complains less, however, this morning." "Windsor Castle, June 22.-The King has passed a good night. His Majesty's cough and expectoration continue.' ' Windsor Castle, June 23.-The King is still troubled by his cough ; but it has not interrupted his rest, and his Majesty awoke refreshed this morning."
" Windsor Castle, June 24.-The King's cough continues, with consider- able expectoration. His Majesty has slept at intervals in the night ; but complains of great languor to 'day." "Windsor Castle, June 25.-The King slept at intervals during the Bight. His cough and expectoration continue much the same; but his Majesty is more languid and weak."
The closing bulletin was communicated in a Gazette Extraordi- nary, issued this morning ; of which the following is a copy.
"WHITEHALL, JUZ.IE 26, 1S30.
"A bulletin, of which the following is a copy, has been this morning received by Secretary Sir Robert Peel, one of his Majesty's Principal Secretaries of State.
"Windsor Castle, June 26, 1830.-It has pleased Almighty God to take from this World the King's Most Excellent Majesty.
"His Majesty expired at a quarter past three o'clock this morning, with-
out pain. (Signed) HENRY HALFORD.
MATTHEW JOHN TIERNEY!"
Previous page
