of "The Forty-five." Henceforth the letters of Lady Nithsdale teem with accounts of his teething and weaning, and other incidents of childhood. Scarcely less were they rejoiced when, four years afterwards, there came a second son, Henry, afterwards Cardinal York.

But during this time the circumstances of the Nithsdales by no means improved. They were constantly reduced to dismal straits. Thus, on the occasion of Prince Charles's birth, when some gala dresses were required, Lady Nithsdale writes:

ance, or for some other object, he intimated to the Chevalier that some property, belonging of right to himself, was unfairly detained by his brother-in-law. Hereupon James, desiring to do an act of justice at the same time with an act of kindness, wrote as follows to one of his agents in Scotland:

The Earl of Nidsdale tells me he has private means of his own in the Earl of Traquair's hands, from whom he has never yet got any account of them; and as you know the just regard I have, particularly for the first, I would have you get Mr. Carnegy to take a proper method of letting Traquair know that I should take it kindly if he would settle these affairs with his kinsman here to his satisfaction, which I am persuaded he will do when he knows it will be agreeable to me.

I have had the happiness to have one handsome suit procured me by the means of a Cardinal, who got it from the Pope, but that is between you and I, for I was forbid to let it be known. I have bought two others, the one as good as that, the other more for bad weather, being obliged to walk on foot to my Master's several times in the day, so that I am much out Even the most placable of men must of pocket, but shall in time get free, I hope, here have been roused to resentment. without taking a farthing from my husband Here, in complete reversal of the real for it. The reason why I thought myself facts, was Lord Traquair, a steady adobliged to provide myself so well, was that my herent of the exiled Prince, held up to Master might not think that because I was that Prince, whose good opinion he was disappointed of what I had some reason to ex- of course anxious to secure, as the spoiler pect I did not care how I went; and also that if I had not he might have taken the pretence of that kinsman whom he had so conthat he was ashamed I should be seen with stantly befriended. No wonder if we find his wife because I had not decent clothes. Lady Traquair writing to her brother as follows (January 1724):

Still more grievous was it, for Lady Nithsdale at least, when dire necessity It is but within these few days that my huscompelled them to draw bills on Lord band was in a condition that he could know Traquair, and trust to his generosity for the contents of your letter, or what Sir John their acceptance. In 1722 there went out [the King] writ of your affairs. I do not prea bill of a larger amount than usual, namely tend to write to you what his sentiments were 150/., and for this Lord Nithsdale desired upon knowing this most unexpected and unacthat his sister should sell a little house-countable piece of news. He was not a little hold furniture which his wife had left in her care, and apply the proceeds in its discharge.

But [as Lady Nithsdale writes], it will not answer our end if the money be not paid twenty days after the receipt of the bill; so I beg you by all that is dear to you to have compassion of us; for if this fails, if we were a-starving nobody would let us have a sixpence. We have pawned all our credit to hinder our being molested till this can be answered and have had no small difficulty in getting it done, and are quite out of the power of doing it longer.

Lord Nithsdale, on his part, adds, in another letter," This, if not answered, will infallibly ruin me."

Neither in this instance, nor in any other, so far as we are made aware of it, did Lord Traquair fail in the expected aid. But it must be owned that Lord Nithsdale made him a strange return. This was in 1723. Either to enhance his own import

grieved that matters had been so misrepresented as if he had effects of yours in his hands, and were so unjust to so near a relation as not to transmit your own to you, though you be straitened and suffer in such a cause. This is indeed, dear brother, a very strange office from you to my husband, after so many services done by him to you and your family. I must say it is very unkind and a sad return for all the favours my husband has done you before and since you went last abroad; for he having no effects of yours save a little household furniture of no use to us and what I could not get disposed of, has honoured your bills, supplied your wants without scrape of pen from you; besides the considerable sum you owed him formerly, he even under God has preserved your family which without his money credit, and his son's assiduous attendance and application, must, humanly speaking, have sunk. He might reasonably have plaints to one we value so infinitely as we do expected other returns from you than comSir John, as if my husband had wronged you and detained your own when your sufferings justly call for the greatest consideration.

This affair, however little to the credit of Lord Nithsdale, produced no breach between the sisters: "I having been always kept ignorant of his affairs," writes Lady Nithsdale, in a previous letter (March 22, 1723). And subsequently (March 7, 1725), adverting to this very incident, she says to Lady Traquair : —

As to what you imagined to be the reason of my not writing you wronged me very much in the matter, for what happens between your brother and you yourselves are best able to judge. I am only sorry that he should do any thing that gives you reason to take ill, and if it lay in my power I am sure he would not. As for my part I am so sensible of all your kindnesses and favours to my son and family that I never think I can sufficiently acknowledge them, or return you my grateful thanks.

But although there might be no absolute breach of friendship, there was certainly a decline of correspondence. From this period the letters, as we find them, of Lady Nithsdale to her sister-in-law are few and far between. The latest of all,

after six years' interval, bears date January 29, 1739, and in this she excuses herself that my great troubles, and illnesses occasioned by them, has hindered me from writing hitherto."

In this period of years, however, there had been several events to cheer her. Lord Maxwell, her sole surviving son, after much litigation in the Court of Session and the House of Lords, was admitted by the latter tribunal to the benefit of an early entail which Lord Nithsdale had made, so that at his father's death he would, notwithstanding his father's forfeiture, succeed to Terregles and the family estates. Practically he succeeded to them in part, at least -even sooner, since the life-interest of his father was

purchased from the Government in his

behalf.

Pass we to the daughter, Lady Anne, who had come to join her parents in Italy. There she chanced to meet Lord Bellew, an Irish nobleman upon his travels. He conceived for her a strong attachment, apparently on but slight acquaintance. As he writes himself to Lord Nithsdale (April 27, 1731): —

I propose to be entirely happy in the possession of the lady, who has so fine a character with all those that know her. But it is not only hearsay on which I ground my happiness, having had the honour and pleasure to see Lady Anne, though, perchance, not the good

fortune to be remembered by her.

The offer of his hand, which this letter 346

LIVING AGE.

VOL. VII.

conveyed, was by the young lady accepted, and the marriage took place at Lucca in the course of the same year.

Another marriage, at nearly the same period, must have been still more interesting to Lord and Lady Nithsdale. Lord | Maxwell, now a resident in Scotland, had become attached to his cousin Lady Catherine Stuart, daughter of Lord and Lady Traquair. Considering the old connection, and the constant friendship between the two families, and their agreement both in religion and in politics, to say nothing of the benefits conferred by the one Earl upon the other, it might have been supposed that the prospect of this alliance would have given Lord Nithsdale especial pleasure. But such was by no means the case. We may perceive the contrary from the following sentence of Lady Nithsdale, writing to Lady Traquair (October 2, 1731): "Dear sister, I have this considerable while been expecting every post the good news of the conclusion of my son's happy marriage with Lady Catherine; a happiness he has long coveted, and I as long been endeavouring to procure him his father's consent to." The marriage, however, did take place in the course of the same year. It appears to have been a happy one, as Lady Nithsdale, by anticipation, called it. No sons were born from it, and only one daughter,

through whom the line of Maxwell was

continued.

Lord Nithsdale did not live to witness

the last enterprise on behalf of the exiled. Stuarts. He died at Rome in March 1744. After his decease his widow was induced, though not without difficulty, to accept an annuity of 200l. a year from her son, who then came into full possession of the family estates. Of this annuity she resolved to apply one-half to the discharge

of her husband's debts, which would in

that manner be paid off at the end of

three

years.

Lady Nithsdale herself survived till the spring of 1749. Nothing further is known of her declining years. We conjecture, however, that she had grown very infirm, since her signature, of which some specimens are given at this period, is tremulous and indistinct to a most uncommon degree.

Both Lord and Lady Nithsdale died at Rome, and, in all probability, were buried there. When the late Mr. Marmaduke in the year 1870-so the editor of these Maxwell, of Terregles, came to that city volumes informs us - he made inquiries for any monument or grave of these two

what was perhaps more important, his to satisfy the old people, who by this time daughters from Miss Rintoul of five- -husband as well as wife were, as the and-thirty to the little one of sixteen. servants said, altogether "wrapt up" in were ready as one woman to adopt his Val. Mary offended her friend still more cause, and wear his colours when the time by the perverse interest she took in the came. "What does it matter between Pringle family, and her many visits to the them, papa?" said Miss Rintoul, who was Hewan, where Val was delighted to acvery strong-minded. "Tory or Radical; company her as often as she chose to go. what does it matter? They are all con- Violet was "in residence," as he said, at servative in office, and destructive out of the cottage, living a somewhat lonely life it. If I had a vote and at my age it's a there, though the others of the family disgrace to England that I haven't came and went, spending a day or a night I should stand by friends and neigh-as they could manage it. I do not know bours. That's a better rule than your old if any thought of "falling in love" had fashioned Tory and Whig. A good man ever come into Valentine's boyish head; is the one thing needful; over whom, if but there was a delicate link of affection necessary, one can exert intelligent influ- and interest between Violet and himself ence," said this amiable woman. I do which affected him he could not quite tell not think her papa, who was better aware how. As for poor little Vi, I fear her how very impossible it is to influence young imagination had gone further than any human creature, was entirely of her Valentine's. It was not love in her case, opinion; but he informed Willie Maitland perhaps, any more than in his; but it was that probably on the whole, if no candi- fancy, which at seventeen is almost as date exactly of his own way of thinking strong. I think this was the primary appeared in the field, he would not hesi- reason of Mary's frequent visits to the tate to support Mr. Ross, if he carried out, Hewan. She saw what was going on in as there was every reason to expect, the the girl's young head and heart; and with promise of his youth. Thus Val, in gay that intense recollection of the circumunconsciousness, was made to begin his stances which decided her own fate which canvassing before he was nineteen, and such gentlewomen, thrown out of the while still the episode of the university common path of life, often have, she had lay between him and public life. Lord conceived an almost exaggerated anxiety Eskside invited a large party for the 1st for the fate of Vi, which seemed to be of September, and the house continued shaping itself after the model of her own. full up to the time of Val's departure for "I wish my dear old lady would not Oxford; and besides this party of guests spoil that boy so," she said one Septemat home, there was such a succession of ber morning, when she had walked alone entertainments given at Rosscraig as had through the woods to the Hewan. Her not been known before for many years, pretty particular grey gown (for Mary not since Val's father was on his promo- was not without something of that precise tion, like Val. Mary Percival was one of order which it is usual to call old-maidthe party during this time, aiding Lady ishness, about her dress) was marked here Eskside to receive her guests and do the and there with a little spot from the damp honours of her house. She came when ferns and grass, which she rubbed with it was definitely ascertained that Richard her handkerchief as she spoke, and which was not coming, as his parents wished. suddenly brought back to Violet's memHe wrote that he was deeply occupied, ory that one day of "playing truant" and that in the present state of Italian politics it was impossible that he could leave his post a letter over which Lady Eskside sighed; but as Mary came to make up the deficiency, there was something gained to atone for this loss.

Mary, however, never would commit herself to that enthusiasm for Val which his grandmother felt was her boy's due. She liked him very well, she said - oh, very well he was a nice boy; she was very glad he had done so well at school, and she hoped he would take a good place at Oxford; but I leave the reader to judge whether this mild approbation was likely

which had been about the sweetest of her life. Mary had perceived that Violet gave a quick look for the other figure which generally followed, and that there was a droop of disappointment about her, when she perceived that her visitor was alone. "I wish she would not spoil that boy so. He is not a bad boy

"Is it possible you can mean Val?" said Violet, with dignity, erecting her small head."

"Yes, indeed, my dear, it is quite possible; I do mean Val. He is a good boy enough, if you would not all spoil him with adulation- as if he were something quite

upstairs, the Duchess hastened to join her. Then, as Lady Nithsdale writes, "as my heart was very light, I smiled when she came into the chamber and ran to her in great joy. She really started when she saw me, and since owned that she thought my head was turned with trouble, till I told her my good fortune." The Duchess, on hearing what had passed, cordially took part in the joy of her friend, and declared that she would go at once to Court and see how the news of the escape was received. She went accordingly, and next time she saw Lady Nithsdale told her that "the Elector" for so she termed him — had, in her own phrase, "stormed terribly," and said he was betrayed, for he was sure it could not have been done without connivance; and he sent immediately two of his suite to the Tower to see that the other prisoners were well guarded. On the opposite side it was related that his Majesty —perhaps at a later and calmer moment made a far more good-natured remark. He is rumoured to have said on Lord Nithsdale's escape, "It was the best thing that a man in his situation could do." Indeed, according to one account, Lord Nithsdale's naine was included in a list to be sent out that very evening of the Peers to be reprieved. In fact, only two - Lords Derwentwater and Kenmure were executed the next day.

its close resemblance to that other escape of Count Lavalette from the Conciergerie prison at Paris on the evening of the 20th December, 1815. The Countess having changed dresses with her husband in his prison chamber, he passed out in woman's attire, leaning on his daughter's arm and holding a handkerchief to his face, as though in an agony of tears. Yet, great as is the likeness between the two cases, it arose from coincidence, and not at all from imitation. The detailed account of the whole affair, as given by Count Lavalette in the second volume of his "Memoirs," clearly shows that they had never heard of Lady Nithsdale, and knew nothing of any similar attempt in England.

The heroine of this later deliverance was a niece of the Empress Josephine; her maiden name Emilie de Beauharnais. Her letters since her marriage, several of which we have seen, are signed Beauharnais-Lavalette. She had been in childbirth only a few weeks before the 20th of December, her nerves were still unstrung and her strength was not yet restored. There was also a great difficulty in the way of the disguise which she had planned; she was tall and slender in person, while Count Lavalette was short and stout. But muffled up as he was, the difference failed to be perceived by the officers on duty, and his escape from the prison was successfully accomplished.

Lady Nithsdale paid no more visits that It is well known, and we need not reevening. From the Duchess's house she peat, how the generous spirit of Sir Robwent straight to her husband's hiding-ert Wilson, with two others of our counplace. There in that single narrow room trymen, effected a few days afterwards upstairs they remained closely shut up, his further escape from France to Belmaking as little stir as possible, and rely-gium. The husband was safe, but hard ing for their sustenance on some bread and wine which Mrs. Mills brought them in her pocket. Thus they continued for some days, until there arose a favorable opportunity for Lord Nithsdale to leave the kingdom. A servant of the Venetian Ambassador, Mitchell by name, was ordered to go down to Dover in his Excellency's coach-and-six, and bring back his Excellency's brother. By the contrivance of Mitchell, and without the Ambassador's knowledge, the Earl slipped on a livery coat and travelled as one in the Ambassador's train to Dover, where, hiring a small vessel, he crossed without suspicion, and, taking Mitchell with him, landed safe at Calais. Lady Nithsdale, for whom no search was made, remained for the time in London.

hard indeed was the fate of the wife. She had to remain behind in the prison chamber, there to sustain, on the discovery of the escape, the first fury of the exasperated jailers, all trembling for their places. During six weeks she was kept in close captivity, all access of friends or domestics, or even of her daughter, denied her. Weak in health as she had been from the first, it is no wonder that her mind would not bear the strain that was put upon it. Her reason became obscured, and soon after she was set free from prison she had to be removed to a Maison de Santé. When, after six years of exile, her husband obtained his pardon and was able to return to France, she did not know him again.

The mental malady of Madame LavaIn concluding the narrative of this re-lette hung upon her for full twelve years. markable escape, we think that even the At the end of that time her reason was, most cursory reader cannot fail to notice 'partially at least, restored, and she could