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go back to her husband's house. But she continued subject to a settled melancholy and could only lead a life of strict retirement. Her husband died in 1830, while she survived till June 1855.

Reverting to Lady Nithsdale, we may observe that while the publication of her narrative in 1792 made clear all the circumstances of her Lord's escape, nothing further was known of his or her further fortunes beyond the dates of their respective deaths in Italy. It is therefore with pleasure that, in the correspondence now before us, we find numerous letters from the Countess subsequent to the great act and exploit of her life on the 23rd of February, 1716. To these letters, as well as to some others by which they are illustrated, we shall now apply ourselves, hoping that our readers may feel some part at least of the interest that we do in the life of this high-minded lady.

Lille, so you are acquainted with the reasons of our quitting that place, and consequently have only to tell you that I immediately went to my old mistress [Mary of Modena, Queen Dowager of England], who, though she recomplaints of poverty, and no likelihood of ceived me very kindly, yet there was great my getting into her service again. My first attempt was to endeavour to get a recommendation from her to her son to take my husband into his service; but all in vain, it being alleged that as matters now stand with him, he could not augment his family.... My next business was to see what I could get to live on, that we might take our resolutions where to go accordingly. But all that I could get was 100 livres a month to maintain me in ing, clothes, lodging, servants' wages; in fine, everything-meat, drink, fire, candle, washall manner of necessaries. My husband has 200 livres a month, but considering his way of managing, it was impossible to live upon it.

I

had a little, after our meeting at Lille, endeavoured to persuade him to go back to his Master, upon the notice he received that 50 livres a month was taken off of his pension; but that I did not dare persist in, for he seemed to imagine that I had a mind to be rid of him, which one would have thought could scarce come into his mind.

For, let me do what I will, he cannot be brought to submit to live according to what Lord Nithsdale, on landing at Calais, he has; and when I endeavoured to persuade had gone straight to Paris. There, in the him to keep in compass, he attributed my adcourse of the spring, he received a press- stopped my mouth, since I am very sure that vice to my grudging him everything, which ing invitation from the Prince, whom he would not [grudge] my heart's blood if it constantly regarded as his rightful King. could do him any service. It was neither One phrase of that letter is cited by his in gaming, company, nor much drinking, that nephew Lord Linton: "As long as I have it was spent, but in having the nicest of meat a crust of bread in the world assure your-and wine; and all the service I could do was self you shall always have a share of it." to see he was not cheated in the buying it. I The Earl accordingly set out for Italy, there to do homage, and remain for at least a few weeks' visit. The Countess, on her part, finding no pursuit made for her in London, ventured, a little later, to ride back to Scotland with her faithful Evans, desiring to arrange her family affairs. For several weeks she lived without moAnd now, he finding, what I had often lestation, and took a fondit proved to warned him, that he could get no more, some be a final-farewell of her own Terre- of his friends has persuaded him to follow his gles. When again in London she was Master, he having sent him notice where he advised that she was in great risk of arwas going, and that he might come after him rest, and would do wisely to leave Eng getting anything out of England, am forced to if he pleased; and I, having no hopes of land. Embarking accordingly, she landed on the coast of Flanders, where she to live, the child and me, upon what I told you. go to the place where my son is, to endeavour was detained some time by a miscarriage All my satisfaction is, that at least my hus and dangerous illness. Only half-recov-band has twice as much to maintain himself ered, she set out again to join, first her sister at Bruges, and next, in October, her husband at Lille. Alas! that reunion did not bring her all the happiness that she had fondly hoped. Her letter from Lille to Lady Traquair has not been preserved, but a later one from Paris gives a full account of her proceedings and plans it is dated February 29, 1717.

and man as I have; so I hope when he sees there is no resource, as, indeed, now there is not, having sold all, even to the necessary litttle plate I took so much pains to bring over, he will live accordingly, which will be cation to be from him, which, after we met some comfort to me, though I have the mortifiagain, I hoped never to have separated; but God's will be done, and I submit to this cross, as well as many others I have had in the world, though I must confess living from a I could not resolve to leave this place, dear-husband I love so well is a very great one. est sister, without giving you an account of He was to be at Lions last Tuesday, and the situation of your brother's affairs and I cannot hear from him till I am arrived at mine. I suppose you have received mine from La Flesh, for I go from hence to-morrow

morning at seven o'clock.... Pray burn this as soon as you have read it, and keep the contents to yourself.

Lady Nithsdale, it will be noticed, speaks of having no hopes of anything from England. Her meaning here is best elucidated by the following passage from her long letter to Lady Lucy Herbert which refers to the scene at Court, when she was dragged along the passage by the skirts of George the First:

My being so rudely treated had made a noise, and gave no good reputation to the Duke of Hanover; for several said, what had they brought themselves to? For the Kings of Engiand was never used to refuse a petition from the poorest woman's hand; and to use a person of my quality in such a manner as he had done was a piece of unheard-of brutality. These talks made the Elector have a particular dislike to me, which he showed afterwards; for when all the ladies whose Lords had been concerned in this business put in claims for their jointures, mine was given in amongst the rest bit he said I was not, nor did deserve, the same privilege, so I was excepted, and he would never hear speak in my

favour.

We give the passage as Lady Nithsdale wrote it, not desiring to emulate, even at a humble distance, the very great politeness of the Scottish Society of Antiquaries. But we may observe that these words of the Countess, like many others from her pen, are most strongly coloured by political resentment. Ungenerous as was, beyond all doubt, the exception made of Lady Nithsdale in the matter of the Peeresses' jointures, there is no ground to regard it otherwise than as a Ministerial measure- not a tittle of evidence to derive it personally from the King. We may add that, judging from the records of this reign, we do not believe that George the First, whatever may have been his other failings, was capable of the petty spite which is here imputed to him.

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Now that I have given you an account of what is nearest to you, I must let you know that your friend and mine is well, at least was so the last time I was so happy as to hear from him. He has had another great preservation, being six days in so great a danger at sea that all the seamen left off working, and left themselves to the mercy of the waves ; and was at last cast into Antibes, from whence they coasted it to Lighorn. However, he is now safe with his Master, and both of them in good health. I hope these two narrow escapes in so short a time is not for nothing, and that God reserves him for some great good.

Lord. Nithsdale, however, was not well pleased with Italy. He did not receive from the Chevalier the cordial welcome to which, with good reason, he deemed himself entitled; and was exposed to divers mortifications at that melancholy little Court, then established at Urbino. view of the Pope's government in ecclesiNor was he at all edified by his nearer

astical or in civil affairs. Here are his own words to Lady Nithsdale as she transcribes them: "Be assured there is nothing in this damnable country that can tend to the good either of one's soul or body."

We must say that we give Lord Herries great credit for his candour in allowing the passage to be printed without change or comment, since we dare say that no very zealous Roman Catholic could read it without something of an Abi Satanas! feeling.

Lady Nithsdale herself may have disliked still more what follows, as she reports it to Lady Traquair:

The remainder of his letter did not much

please me, it running all upon the inconveniences of living where he was, and a full and fixed resolution of leaving his Master. However, as I sent him word, I hoped In her letter from Paris Lady Niths- God Almighty reserved his reward for a better dale mentions that she was going to La place, and that after the favour he had reFlèche, on purpose to be with her son, ceived in his two late preservations, he ought who, we may conclude, was receiving his also to accept the trials from the same hand, education at the great Jesuit College with some other little motives for the doing it, there established. From La Flèche she whose reflections I hoped might render it continued her correspondence with Lady more easy as well as meritorious. But he anTraquair; and, for fear of its being inter-swered it in so great a banter upon my virtue cepted commonly signed herself "W. Joanes," or sometimes "W. Johnstone," while she addressed her sister Countess as "Mrs. Young."

Writing on the 10th of June, 1717, after reverting to the recovery from an illness

and resignation, that I believe that it will be the last time that I shall venture to inspire him with any such thoughts, not doubting that he makes better use of them than I do. But it proceeded from my good will alone. However, in what regards his temporal good, I shall not be so far wanting in my duty as not

to tell him my thoughts, with a reference to his better judgment; after which I have performed my part, and shall submit, as I ever have done, to what he thinks fit.

Lady Nithsdale therefore, in her next ensuing letter, takes her stand on temporal grounds:

You may be sure, my dear Lord, that having you with me, or near me, would be the greatest natural satisfaction I could have in this world; but I should be a very ill wife if, to procure it myself, I would let you run into those inconveniences you would do if you followed the method you propose of leaving your Master. . . . So, if you have any regard for your honour and family, leave off any such thoughts; for from that time your Master will have a pretence to do nothing for you, whereas if ever he comes to be in a condition [and with you near him] he cannot avoid it. . . But what would go nearer my heart, if it were possible, chameleon-like, to live on air, is that it would ruin your reputation; and that all your enemies, or rather enviers, who think others' pretensions a diminution of theirs, might make it their business to say that it was not desire of serving your Master that made you do what you did, but because you could not live at home on what you had.

7th of May, 1718, died at St. Germains her former mistress and her constant friend, the Queen Dowager of England. It was a grievous blow to the whole melancholy train of exiles. Father James Carnegy, a Roman Catholic priest, writes thus from Paris:

The desolation amongst the followers of her son, her servants, and other poor dependants, amongst whom she used to divide all her pension, is inexpressible. It is said the Regent will assist the most indigent of them; but nothing is yet certain. It is feared whatever he do to others, he dare not help the King's followers.

lows from Paris on the 28th of June, and Lady Nithsdale herself writes as folstill to Lady Traquair:

My husband is now fully resolved not to leave his Master; for when he went to take his leave of him, his Master was pleased to tell him that he had so few about him, that he would not part with him; that he should probably be married before winter, and then he desired to have me in his family, and so desired him to leave off the thoughts of a journey for two or three months, which you may be sure he agreed to.

Writing from Scotland, Lady Traquair Full of these hopes, Lord Nithsdale deargued strongly in the same sense as sired that the Countess should join him Lady Nithsdale, and the Earl yielded in in Italy as soon as possible, since as he obsome degree to their joint representa- serves in these matters it is "first come, tions. It induced him at least to pause first served." He could send her no and think again before the final step was funds for the journey, but bade her apply taken. Besides, there was now a strong to Lord and Lady Traquair, which Lady rumour of the Chevalier's intended mar- Nithsdale, mindful of their many obligariage, which would afford an opening for tions, was most unwilling to do. Howgood places in the new and larger house-ever, in the same letter of the 28th of hold to be formed. June, she proceeds to say :

Meanwhile Lady Nithsdale was enduring some of the sharpest privations of poverty. But for a little timely aid from the kind-hearted Lady Traquair she would have wanted all through the winter both warmth and light. Thus she writes in reply:

May God Almighty reward you in this and the next world for your goodness to us and ours!... My nephew paid me the sum you ordered, and never thing came more providentially, for I had tugged on in summer with much ado; but did not know in the world what to do for the addition of wood and can

dle, which it will enable me to get. But I fear I must soon think of repaying it again, since I took it up from a gentleman, who took my bill for it on the goldsmith you bid me take it from.... Had I not had so pressing a need of it, I would not have taken it, your son having lent your brother 200 livres.

Another calamity was now close impending on this ill-fated lady. On the

Though he bid me lose no time in writing to you about borrowing money, I would not do it, because, though he did not know it, my sion of furthering my promotion, and who, dear Mistress, who was, underhand, the occathough it must never be known, was resolved I should be about her daughter-in-law, had promised me to give me notice when it was fit for me to go, and would have given me what was requisite to carry me; and writ to me four days before her illness what she would have me write to her son in order to it, which I did the first post, and sent it enclosed in a letter to her. But, alas! it arrived the day she died, some hours after her death. Imagine, you, whether her loss is not a great one to me. I may truly say I have lost a kind mother, for she was truly that to me whilst I had her. I would not write to you, being deal; so that nothing but unavoidable necessensible that you have already done a great sity could make me mention any such thing. But, alas! I am so far from being able to comply with my husband's desire now, that I know

not how scarce to keep myself from starving, with the small credit I have here, being reduced to the greatest of straits.

The kindness of Lord and Lady Traquair, as shown on many former occasions, was not denied her on this. A small sum in addition was paid her by order of the Chevalier. There was also as it chanced one of her sisters then at Paris

-Lady Anne Herbert by birth, and married to Francis Smith, Lord Carrington "a person," writes Lady Nithsdale, "that one would have thought should have helped me in this juncture. But so far from it that I have not got a sixpence, but a promise to keep my little girl who stays with her. But I oblige myself to pay what masters she has, without which she would have lost all the learning I have done my endeavours to give her, notwithstanding all my strait."

John Hay, a son of Lord Kinnoul, and his wife Marjory, a daughter of Lord Stormont. Some years later James named John Hay his Secretary of State, with high rank in his titular peerage as Earl of Inverness. Both the wife and husband are described as follows in Lockhart of Carnwath's "Memoirs: " "The lady was a mere coquette, tolerably handsome, but withal prodigiously vain and arrogant. Her lord was a cunning, false, avaricious creature of very ordinary parts, cultivated by no sort of literature, and altogether void of experience in business." It was now the object of this well-matched pair to confirm and maintain their influence by keeping away as much as possible all persons who would not declare themselves their followers and their dependants.

Within a few weeks, however, of Lord By the aid of the Traquair subsidy and and Lady Nithsdale's arrival at Rome, that from her so-called Royal" Master," James himself was suddenly called away Lady Nithsdale was enabled to join her from it. He was summoned to Spain, husband at Urbino, and, after a brief in- there to sanction and direct the expediterval, proceed with him in the Cheva-tion against Great Britain, which the lier's train to Rome. From Rome there soon went forth another melancholy letter to Lady Traquair:

January 3, 1719.-Dearest sister, I have still deferred writing to you since I came to this place, hoping to have some agreeable news to make a letter welcome that had so far

Prime Minister Cardinal Alberoni had been preparing. It is well known how soon and how signally that project was baffled by the winds and tempests; and with how much of disappointment the Chevalier had to return to Italy.

In this journey to Spain James appears to have been attended by Lord Nithsdale, while the Countess remained at Rome. There she witnessed the arrival of James's bride, the Princess Clementina Sobieski, whom she describes (May 17, 1719) as follows:

to go; but we still are in the same situation, and live upon hopes; and, indeed, without hope, hearts would break; but I can say no more. . . . I found him [my Lord] still the same man as to spending, not being able to conform himself to what he has, which really troubles me. And to the end that he might not make me the pretence, which he ever did, This, dearest sister, is barely to acquaint I do not touch a penny of what he has, but you that yesternight arrived here our young leave it to him to maintain him and his man, Mistress. I and my companion went out a which is all he has, and live upon what is post to meet her, and, indeed, she is one of allowed me. . . . Now as to other things: the the charmingest, obliging, and well-bred young great expectations I had some reason to have ladies that ever was seen. Our Master cannot conceived from my husband's letters when he but be extremely happy in her, and all those sent for me hither, are far from answered. I who has the good fortune to have any dependam kept at as great a distance from my Mas-ence on her. To add to it, she is very pretty; ter as can well be, and as much industry used to let me have none of his ear as they can; and though he is going to a house that his family can scarce fill, I could not obtain to be admitted under his roof. But that and many other things must be looked over; at least we shall have bread by being near him, and I have the happiness once again to be with my dear husband that I love above my life.

The real fact as explaining the cold reception of Lord and Lady Nithsdale appears to be that the Chevalier was at this time greatly under the dominion of two unworthy favourites,- Colonel the Hon.

has good eyes, a fine skin, well shaped for her height; but is not tall, but may be so as yet, for she is but seventeen, and looks even younger. She has chosen a retired place in the town in our Master's absence.

It had been hoped by Lord and Lady Nithsdale that on the return of James to Italy there would be expressed to them some disapproval of the mortifications to which they had almost daily been exposed. But it did not prove so. Lady Nithsdale writes, October 10, 1719: The first of August our young Mistress went

to meet her husband, who could not come hither by reason of the great heats, in which time it is thought dangerous to come into this town; so she went to a small place six or seven posts from hence, a very good air, but so small a place that she took but one person with her, which was Mrs. Hay. The straitness of the place was the reason given for my companion's and my stay behind; but there is some reason to believe that our Master did not care for to have more about him than what he has there. He has not permitted anybody to go to him but those he sends for, which has been but few persons, and such only as those who addressed themselves to Mrs. Hay's brother or husband. .. As before mentioned, our Master and Mistress comes hither, and are, probably speaking, to stay this winter, though the master of this town [the Pope] does not much approve of it. Where we shall go after God knows. His company he used to have about him is much diminished; many are gone, and more is a-going daily. My companion is a-going to her husband, and I fear neither he nor she intend to return; so that I am the only one now left of my station, and shall in all appearance be yet more trampled on than were both in our Master's absence. At his return we hoped for some redress, but now we have reason to believe we are to expect none, for everything is approved that was done in his absence, which has made many one withdraw; and I wish that may be the greatest ill that follows from the retirement of some. My husband would fain have been of the number, and have had me, but I told him my pleasure did not draw me hither, nor the slights and troubles I daily meet should make me go, but be overlooked by me for the same end that brought me, which was the good of my children and family; so I intend to act as if I saw nothing but what pleased me, and expect God AI mighty's time for an alteration.

In this same letter Lady Nithsdale laments to her sister-in-law her husband's want of forethought and consideration in borrowing, or, as she calls it, "taking up" money where he finds it practicable, and, above all, in drawing bills on Lord or Lady Traquair without their consent and approval first obtained. She grieves at this money being

all taken up and spent already, which [she adds], is but too true; so that if his Master does not pay it, as I very much fear he will not, his reputation is quite lost.... All my comfort is that I have no share in this misfortune, for he has never been the man that has offered me one farthing of all the money he has taken up, and as yet all is spent, but how, is a riddle to me, for what he spends at home is but 30 pence a day in his eating. He has had but one suit of clothes since, and now he must have one for winter. For my part I continue in mourning as yet for want of wherewithal to

buy clothes, and I brought my mourning with me that has served ever since I came, and was neither with my Master's or husband's money bought. But now I have nobody to address myself to but my Master for wherewithal to buy any. I know, between you and I, but that I need not tell my Master, that he [my Lord] blames me and his daughter for what he is obliged to take up; whereas I have not had one single penny, and as for our daughter, whose masters I must pay, or she forget all the little I have been at the expense of before, and have done it hitherto, I have neither paid out of his nor my own pension, which is too small to do it, but that I had 30 pistoles from the Pope for her, which has done it. But now they are at an end, and I know not what to do. For as to my sister I suppose she will not see her starve or go naked, but for more I cannot rely on.

Thus wearily and heavily the months dragged along at Rome. In March 1720, however, there came a gleam of joy when Lady Nithsdale found herself able to announce that the Princess gave hopes of an heir. Even this brief gleam was clouded over by signal mortifications. James would allow at this juncture no intimate access of any lady to his consort, except only Mrs. Hay,—

who is one as you know [Lady Nithsdale any children; . writes], that has never had and though I have had occasion to be better versed in these things, having been so long married and had so many children, yet they prefer one who has had no experience of that kind, and my Mistress has not so much as ever let me know how she was in any kind. And when she was indisposed, which she has been frequently since her being with child was spoke of, and that I was there constantly three times a day to see how she did, I never was thought fit to be admitted into the secret, but it was told me by herself and others that it was nothing but a cold, though I knew in what condition she was.

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In spite of these unpromising signs, Lady Nithsdale ventured at this juncture, humbly begging," to know whether she 'might have any hopes of having care of the young Lord or Lady when it pleased God to send it." She was not precisely refused- that is, there was no other person preferred. But the Chevalier answered that, "having taken a resolution to take no servants while I am abroad, I will make neither governess nor undergoverness. My wife has but little to do, and will look to it herself.”

Great was the delight of the whole mournful company of exiles when, on the last day of the year, the Princess gave birth to a son, Charles Edward, the hero

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