in various friends and relations to won- | I fear I was not much consoled by der and admire. Céleste's remark, "Du moins, c'est We took our cook "Céleste " entirely propre," but I thanked her humbly, on the score of her "devotion to our for she is soft-hearted and meant well. person," to borrow a royal expression; After all, these are the smallest of but in a few days we felt anything but minor evils when compared with all royal, her ideas of cooking being most the rest, refreshment, and novelty we eccentric. She would put the potatoes have enjoyed in our mountain retreat, on soon after breakfast, let them boil and it will be a sad day when we must a little, cool a little, and then boil a turn our backs upon our chalet home, second and third time. Finally, they to take up-cheerfully, we hope, and sat on the kitchen table and degener-willingly-the responsibilities of our ated into a tepid, sodden mass whose more burdensome English life.

sole virtue was economy, for we could not eat them at all.

In self-defence I one day made a cake, and left Céleste to bake it. She let the fire out at least three times during the baking, and brought the cake twice to me on the balcony, remarking that we should be fortunate if it were done by to-morrow. As I had forgotten the butter, it is perhaps well to draw a modest veil over the result.

From Chambers' Journal. AN HISTORIC DUEL.

ON the death this summer of the twelfth Duke of Hamilton, the title passed to a distant relative. The twelfth duke was fifth in descent from the fourth duke through his eldest son James; the thirteenth is also fifth in descent from the same fourth duke, but through his third son Anne (so

Our parlormaid "Rosine," who does not sleep in the house, comes regularly, with broad, smiling face, to shake called after his godmother Queen hands and say "Good-night" before Anne). The fourth duke it was who, she goes home. Swiss maids have no a hundred and eighty-three years ago, idea of tidying themselves and "pre- fought the famous fatal duel with Lord senting arms " in the afternoon, as Mohun, in which both principals were their English sisters would do. We killed. In "Esmond," Thackeray invited friends to tea, and insisted on gives the story with all the heightening clean caps and aprons. No one could of romance, for, as every reader will have looked more fresh and dainty; remember, the duke's death occurs on but just as we expect our tea-party, the eve of his marriage to Beatrix Céleste, with a laudable desire not to Castlewood, and the fatal news is waste time, encamps outside the front brought to his bride by Henry Esmond door, and proceeds to polish, with as she is choosing her wedding gifts. many doubtful looking rags, a whole Esmond had been dining with his old array of brass candlesticks. To our horror, we find our plate is also cleaned in this prominent position, for Rosine has never heard of a thief. Our boots, I regret to say, after some needful repairs, lived outside for half a day, in full view of the highroad. Perhaps Céleste's most trying performance was when I confided to her my dress, from which she begged to clean a single grease spot. To my dismay, that afternoon I descried in the public washing-trough a black mass, a shapeless, melancholy pulp, which proved on investigation to be my decent black gown.

commander, General Webb, and the feast, we are told, had been arranged in honor of the Duke of Hamilton before his departure as ambassador to the court of Louis XIV. At the last moment, however, he had sent an apology, pleading most urgent business. The business was with Lord Mohun in Hyde Park.

Without the chief guest, the evening passed somewhat gloomily, and several of the company had left, when suddenly carriage-wheels were heard to stop on the street outside, and "Mr. Swift entered with a perturbed face.

St. John, excited with drink, was mak- | Grace was a few days afterwards aping some wild quotation out of Mac- pointed ambassador extraordinary to beth,' but Swift stopped him. 'Drink France upon the conclusion of the no more, my lord, for God's sake,' Treaty of Utrecht; but, while splendid says he. 'I come with the most preparations were making for that emdreadful news. Duke Hamilton is bassy, the Duke of Hamilton fell in a dead; he was murdered an hour ago duel with Charles, Lord Mohun, Barou by Mohun and Macartney. They had of Oakhamptou in Devonshire (who a quarrel this morning; they gave him was also killed on the spot), in Hyde not so much time as to write a letter. Park, on Saturday, 15th November, He went for a couple of his friends, 1712, in the fifty-fifth year of his age, and he is dead; and Mohun, too, the and was buried with his ancestors at bloody villian who was set on him. Hamiltou." They fought in Hyde Park just before sunset; the duke killed Mohun, and Macartney came up and stabbed him, and the dog is fled. I have your chariot below. Send to every part of the country and apprehend that villaiu. Come to the duke's house and see if any life be left in him.'

"Oh Beatrix, Beatrix!' thought Esmond, and here ends my poor girl's ambition.'"

But fascinating as are Thackeray's brilliant pages, it may be well to turn to a more authentic version of the tragedy.

In the "Historical and Genealogical Memoirs of the House of Hamilton" by Mr. Anderson, printed at Edinburgh in the year 1825, a long chapter is devoted to this James, fourth Duke of Hamilton. He was the eldest son of Anne, duchess in her own right; and after violently opposing the Union, had made his peace with the queen, and been created Duke of Brandon in the peerage of the United Kingdom. Her Majesty also decorated him with the Garter, in addition to the order of the Thistle which he already possessed. When remonstrated with for bestowing such an unprecedented superfluity of honors, her Majesty replied: "Such a subject as the Duke of Hamilton has a pre-eminent claim to every mark of distinction which a crowned head can confer. I will henceforth wear both orders myself." So his Grace was at all events spared the inconvenience of singularity in his public appearances.

Alas! it was but for a very short time the duke was permitted to enjoy either titles or decorations. "His

The two noblemen had married sisters, nieces of Lord Macclesfield, and fell out as to their property. "High words" passed between them, then low bows, as was the fashion of the times, and an hour or two after, swords were flashing, fatally on this occasion for both. The memoirs above quoted give a long and circumstantial account of the combat, and a ghastly butchery it must have been.

"The duke," we read, "next morning went in his chariot to Colonel Hamilton's lodgings at Charing Cross and hurried him away. The colonel having forgot his sword, his Grace stopped the carriage, gave the servant a bunch of keys, with orders to bring a mourning sword out of a particular closet, and then drove to Hyde Park, where they found Lord Mohun and General Macartney before them. The duke made some compliment, and threw off his cloak, when Lord Mohun, bowing to him, said: 'I must ask your Grace one favor, which is, that these gentlemen may have nothing to do in our quarrel.' To this the duke answering, My Lord, I leave them to themselves,' all immediately drew and engaged. . . . Such was the animosity with which they fought, that, neglecting the rules of art, they seemed to run on one another as if they tried which should kill first."

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In a few minutes both the principals were mortally wounded. The seconds survived, although they had their own "animosities," to fire their blood, for Colonel Hamilton had an old prejudice against the general for being made major in the Scottish Guards over his

head; but the park-keepers interfered | up again when we picked up one paper before they had seriously injured each which had somehow escaped notice. other. On being examined before the It was a thin, yellow sheet, that might Privy Council, Colonel Hamilton gave evidence that Macartney, having been disarmed by him, had given the final thrust which despatched the duke.

have lain in a pocketbook, and we unfolded it, hardly expecting it would contain anything of more moment than those we had already examined. But a Whether this was the case or not, it glance told that here was something raised a hue and cry against the gen- different. The writing was faded, aud eral, who fled the country. The Scot-difficult to decipher at first sight, but tish peers made the matter their own, the date at the end was distinct in oldand presented a petition to Queen fashioned figuring, "thirteen day of Anne "that she would be pleased to february 17i4;" and below the date write to all kings and states in allegiance with her, not to shelter General Macartney, but to cause him to be apprehended and sent over to England."

were signatures in large, legible characters, with seals attached to them. Gradually we spelt out the lines, till the import of the document unravelled But things moved slowly in those itself before us, and in spirit we passed days. Macartney was safe at Antwerp across the centuries. We were away before it was really known that he had back in Esmond's world; a world fled, and there he remained, spite of of court ladies beautiful as Beatrix, any communication with “ kings and of noble gentlemen balancing their states," till 1716, when he came back chances as best they might between to England, and (George I. having the Elector of Hanover and the Stuarts by this time succeeded) gave himself at St. Germains; a world of plots and up to be tried by the Court of King's intrigue, whose honor was so false that Bench. " 'The jury, by direction of the no man dare trust his neighbor, and socourt, acquitted him of the murder, delicate that for a word, for a gesture but found a verdict of manslaughter, of eveu - Hyde Park and drawn swords. which he was discharged by the for- For this worn yellow paper was an mality of a cold iron [that is, he was original document relating to the very nominally" burnt in the hand" with a duel in which the Duke of Hamilton cold iron], immediately made use of to was killed, as related by Thackeray. prevent appeal." But let it tell its own story:

A bundle of old papers put into our hands the other day, revived for us in a singular way the story recorded in the "Historical Memoirs" and elaborated in "Esmond." The papers fell apart as we undid the tape which had bound them for many a year; and there, open to the curious eye of today, lay all their faded records, their forgotten secrets. Accounts, notes of receipts and disbursements long since settled, estimates for repairs, measurements of an estate which has been built over and municipalized for half a century - such were their contents. Those who wrote them, those to whom they were written, are gone long ago, and the interest of the papers was gone with them.

We had looked through the whole dusty packet, and were about to tie it

We undersubscryvers Tutors to James: Duke of Hamilton Being informed that Generall George Macartny who was accessery to the murder of the deceased James: for apprehending of whom there is a procDuke of Hamilton our umquile father and lamation issued by her majestie and now by good providence issued in the Isle of Man And we being desirous to know the certainty of the said information, Doe hereby give power and commission to you! Lieutennant James Hamilton and Ensign Alexander Cleland (?) to goe in company with sutch servants or other persons as you shall think fitt to imploy to the said Isle of man or to any place where you are

is sailed And there to take tryall if the informed that the said Generall Macartny person so called is the Generall Macartny. And if it be so found that you apply to the governour deputy governour of the Island Justices of peace and all other magistrats.

and officers and officers of the law to keep | "Ruglen," which is the signature of and reserve the said Generall Macartny in the boy's uncle, Lord John Hamilton, safe custody untill there be orders sent fourth son of the old duchess. from the government for his transporta-Tweeddale " and "Panmure" are tion, and that you doe attend personally on uncles by marriage, having married him yourselfes and imploy what persons his father's sisters; while the last you think fitt for the effectual securing his

person. Given under our hands Att Edenburgh and Hamilton the thirteen day of february 1714.

RUGLEN.

J. HAMILTON.

HAMILTON.
TWEEDDALE.
PANMURE.

signature to the paper is, according to the corresponding shield and motto, "Tam virtute quam labore," given in "Anderson's Memoirs," that of Hamilton of Pencaitland, a member of the Society of Writers to the Signet, who

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was appointed one of the senators of the College of Justice, by the title of Lord Pencaitland, in 1712."

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"We undersubscryvers" by whom the document is signed and sealed, are the guardians of the young duke, a boy Whether "Lieutennant James Hamof ten at the time of his father's death. ilton" and the "fitt persons " who The first signature "Hamilton" has a were to accompany him, ever made black seal attached to it, and may be their way to the "said Isle of Man," that of the child's mother; or could it where by good providence" her be of his grandmother, the Duchess Majesty's proclamation was Anne, who was still alive at this time, issued, we do not know. He belonged nearly eighty years of age? It bears to the Hamiltons of Dowan, and it is the coat-of-arms on a lozenge, with the through the family of his only child coronet and supporters, and the family that this worn and faded record of motto Through." The same shield murder and vengeance has been preand motto are on the seal against served.

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now

THE ILLUMINATED BOOKS OF THE art spread like wildfire into every country MIDDLE AGES.- The first harbinger of of Europe; and in a few years written the great change that was to come over books had become mere toys for the imthe making of books I take to be the pro-mensely rich. Yet the scribe, the rubriduction in Italy of most beautifully written cator, and the illuminator died hard. copies of the Latin classics. These are often very highly ornamented; and at first not only do they imitate (very naturally) the severe hands of the eleventh and twelfth centuries, but even (though a long way off) the interlacing ornament of that period. In these books the writing, it must be said, is in its kind far more beautiful than the ornament. There were so many written and pictured books produced in the fifteenth century that space quite fails me to write of them as their great merits deserve. In the middle of the century an invention, in itself trifling, was forced upon Europe by the growing demand for more and cheaper books. Gutenberg somehow got hold of punches, matrices, the adjustable mould, and so of cast movable type; Schoeffer, Mentehn, and the rest of them caught up the art with the energy and skill so characteristic of the medieval craftsman. The new German

Decorated written books were produced in great numbers after printing had become common; by far the greater number of these were Books of Hours, very highly ornamented and much pictured. Their style is as definite as any of the former ones, but it has now gone off the road of logical consistency; for divorce has taken place between the picture-work and the ornament. Often the pictures are exquisitely finished miniatures belonging to the best schools of painting of the day; but often also they are clearly the work of men employed to fill up a space, and having no interest in their work save livelihood. The ornament never fell quite so low as that, though as ornament it is not very "distinguished," and often, especially in the latest books, scarcely adds to the effect on the page of the miniature to which it is subWILLIAM MORRIS. sidiary.

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