Martinsburgh Gazette

LORD LYTTLETON.

A very instructive and afflicting account of the last hours of this great man, has been given by Dr. Johnstone, of Kidderminster, his physician. "On Sunday evening," says the Doctor, "the symptoms of his Lordship's disorder, which for a week past had alarmed us, put on a fatal appearance, and his Lordship believed himself a dying man. From this time he suffered by restlessness rather than pain, and though his nerves were much fluttered, his mental faculties never seemed stronger, when he was thoroughly awake. His Lordship's bilious and hepatic complaints seemed alone not equal to the mournful event—his long want of sleep, whether from the irritation of his bowels, or, which is more probable, of causes of a different kind, accounts for his loss of strength, and very sufficiently for his death. Though he wished his approaching dissolution not to be lingered, yet he waited for it with resignation. He said, 'It is a folly keeping me in misery now to attempt to prolong life;' yet he was easily persuaded for the satisfaction of others to do or to take anything thought proper for him. On Saturday he had been remarkably better, and we were not without some hopes of his recovery. On Sunday, about eleven in the forenoon, his Lordship sent for me, and said he felt a great hurry, and wished some conversation with me in order to divert it. He then proceeded to open the fountains of that heart, from whence goodness had so long flowed as from a copious stream; 'Doctor,' said he, 'you shall be my confessor.' When I first set out in the world, I had friends who endeavoured to shake my belief in the Christianity, studied with attention, made me a most firm and persuaded believer in the Christian religion. I have made it the rule of my life, and it is the ground of my future hopes. I have erred and sinned, but I have repented, and never indulged any vicious habits. In politics and in public life, I have made the good of the public the rule of conduct. I never gave counsels which I did not at the time think the best. I have seen that I was sometimes in the wrong, but I did not err designedly. I have endeavoured in private life to do all the good in my power, and never for the moment could indulge malicious or unjust designs upon any person whatsoever.' At another time he said, I must leave my soul in the same state it was before this illness. I find this a very inconvenient time for solicitude about anything. On the evening when the symptoms of death came on him, he said, I shall die, but it will not be your fault. When Lord and Lady Lyttleton came to see his Lordship, he gave them his solemn benediction, and said, 'Be good, be virtuous, my Lord; you must come to this.' Thus he continued giving his dying benediction to all around him. On Monday morning a lucid interval gave some small hopes, but these vanished in the evening; and he continued during night, but with very little uneasiness, until Tuesday morning, when he breathed his last.