At

mitted entire to the first Duke of Devonshire. Hardwick, she left the ancient seat of her family standing, and at a small distance, still adjoining to her new fabric, as if she had a mind to preserve her cradle, and set it by her bed of state which old house has one room in it of such exact proportion, and such convenient lights, that it has been thought fit for a pattern of measure and contrivance of a room in the late Duke of Marlborough's noble house at Blenheim. It must not be forgotten, that this lady had the honour to be Keeper of Mary Queen of Scots, committed prisoner to George, Earl of Shrewsbury, for seventeen years. Her chamber and rooms of state, with her arms and other ensigns, are still remaining at Hardwick: her bed was taken away for plunder in the civil wars. At Chatsworth, the new lodgings, that answer the old, are called the Queen of Scots' apartment, and an island plot at the top of a square tower, built in a large pool, is still called the Queen of Scots' garden; and some of her own royal work is still preserved among the treasures of this family: a carpet embroidered with her needle, and particularly a suite of hangings now remaining in a chamber at Hardwick, wherein all the virtues are represented in symbolical figures and allusive mottoes- -an ornament and a lecture. The Earl's own epitaph betrays that he was suspected of familiarity with his royal prisoner, quod licet a malevolis propter suspectam cum captiva Regina familiaritatem sæpius male audivit, which is not to be imagined true; however, the rumour of it was, no doubt, an exercise of temper and virtue to the Countess, who carried herself to the Queen, and the Earl, her husband, with all becoming respect and duty.

"Yet it was reported of her, that coming to Court, and Queen Elizabeth demanding how the Queen of Scots

did, she said, "Madam, she cannot do ill while she is with my husband, and I begin to grow jealous, they are so great together.' Whereupon, the Queen was ordered into the custody of Sir Amias Paulet, and others. It is probable it was this that induced Camden to tax her with ill conduct, in the character he gives of the Earl of Shrewsbury.

“She endowed a noble hospital at Derby, for the subsistence of twelve poor people, who have each of them an allowance of near 107. per annum ; and departing this life in the eighty-seventh year of her age, on Feb. 13, 1607, was buried in the south aisle of All-Hallows church, in Derby, under a stately monument, which she took care to erect in her own lifetime. Her statue, in full proportion, curiously cut in marble, lies at length, and above it is a Latin inscription, setting forth her marriages and issue.”

THE ducal house of PORTLAND was founded by William Bentinck, a Dutch noble, who enjoyed in an eminent degree the favour of King William III., and was created, by his Majesty, Earl of Portland in 1689. His lordship had the command of the Dutch regiment of Horse Guards, and took a distinguished part, as lieutenant-general, at the Battle of the Boyne. He was subsequently invested with the Order of the Garter, and at length died in 1709, leaving a large family: the eldest son, Henry, second Earl, obtained in 1716 the highest grade in the peerage, being elevated to the dukedom of Portland, and marquesate of Tichfield. His Grace died in Jamaica, of which he was CaptainGeneral and Governor, 4th July, 1726, leaving, with other issue, a son and successor, WILLIAM, second

Duke, K.G., who added considerably to his fortune and influence, by marrying the Lady Margaret Cavendish Harley, only daughter and heir of Edward, second Earl of Oxford, by Lady Henrietta Cavendish Holles, his wife, only daughter and heir of John, first Duke of Newcastle. The paternal grandfather of this richly portioned heiress, Robert Harley, was the illustrious minister of the reign of Queen Anne, and her maternal grandfather, the Duke of Newcastle, had the reputation of being one of the richest subjects in the kingdom. From him has descended to the present Duke of Portland, Welbeck Abbey, Notts, together with the valuable property of Cavendish Square, Holles Street, and its neighbourhood, so productive at the present day.

A LETTER

From WINIFRED HERBERT, Countess of Nithsdale, to her Sister, the Lady LUCY HERBERT, Abbess of the English Augustine Nuns at Bruges, containing a circumstantial account of the escape of her husband, WILLIAM MAXWELL, fifth Earl of Nithsdale, from the Tower of London, on Friday, the 23rd of February,

1716.

DEAR SISTER,-My lord's escape is now such an old story, that I have almost forgotten it; but since you desire me to give you a circumstancial account of it, I will endeavour to recal it to my memory, and be as exact in the narration as I possibly can; for I owe you too many obligations to refuse you anything that lies in my power to do. I think I owe myself the justice to set out with the motives which influenced me to undertake so hazardous an attempt, which I despaired of thoroughly accomplishing, foreseeing a thousand obstacles, which never could be surmounted but by the most particular interposition of Divine Providence. I confided in Almighty God, and trusted that He would not abandon me even when all human succours failed me.

lord was

I first came to London upon hearing that my committed to the Tower. I was at the same time informed that he had expressed the greatest anxiety to see

me, having, as he afterwards told me, nobody to console him till I came. I rode to Newcastle, and from thence took the stage to York. When I arrived there the snow was so deep that the stage could not set out for London. The season was so severe, and the roads so extremely bad, that the post itself was stopped. However, I took horses and rode to London, though the snow was generally above the horses' girths, and arrived safe without any accident. On my arrival I went immediately to make what interest I could among those who were in place. No one gave me any hopes, but they all to the contrary assured me that, although some of the prisoners were to be pardoned, yet my lord would certainly not be of the number. When I inquired into the reason of this distinction, I could obtain no other answer than that they would not flatter me. But I soon perceived the reasons which they declined alleging to me. A Roman Catholic upon the frontiers of Scotland who headed a very considerable party-a man whose family had signalized itself by its loyalty to the royal house of Stuart, and who was the only support of the Catholics against the inveteracy of the Whigs, who were very numerous in that part of Scotland-would become an agreeable sacrifice to the opposite party. They still retained a lively remembrance of his grandfather, who defended his own castle of Caerlaverock to the last extremity, and surrendered it up only at the express command of his royal master. Now, having his grandson in their power, they were determined not to let him escape from their hands. Upon this I formed the resolution to attempt his escape, but opened my intention to nobody but my dear Evans. In order to concert measures, I strongly solicited to be permitted to see my lord, which they refused to grant me, unless I would remain confined with him in the