_Death of Philip III. of Spain._--D'Israeli, in his _Curiosities of
literature_, states to the effect that this kings fatal illness was induced
by the overheating of a brazier, whereof state etiquette forbad the removal
until the person in regular attendance should arrive. For this statement he
quotes no authority, and consequently MR. BOLTON CORNEY, in his
_Illustrations of the Curiosities of Literature_ (2nd ed., p. 87.),
discredits the story.
It is singular that MR. CORNEY should have forgotten that the anecdote is
given by the Marechal {584} de Bassompierre, who was at Madrid at the time
of the king's death; the Marechal's informant was the Marquis de Pobar,
_who was present at the scene_. Is not this sufficient? (See _Memoires de
Bassompierre_, under the date of 11th of March, 1621, vol. i. p. 548. of
the edition of Cologne, 1665.)