EDN BURGH MAGAZINE. OR LITERARY MISCELLANY, FOR MARCH 1800. With a View of PRESTON-HALL, the Seat of Colonel Callander of Crichton. THE EDINBURGH MAGAZINE, OR LITERARY MISCELLANY, FOR MARCH 1800. FOR THE EDINBURGH MAGAZINE. ACCOUNT OF THE DUKE OF LAUDERDALE'S URN. WHILE occafionally in Haddington, I have been led, by a paffion for the ancient buildings and monuments of my country, carefully to examine the fplendid gothic church which, even in its decay, graces that town, and more than once to explore that aile which contains the cemetery of the noble family of Lauderd. In this aile are recumbent figures, in white alabaster, of Chancellor Maitland and Lord Thyrlftane, with their ladies by their fides. For the verfes compofed by King James VI. in honour of his Chancellor, I looked in vain, the marble tablet containing them had long ago fallen down.. What pity that fo curious a relic of former days, fo diftinguished a mark of royal affection, fhould be fuffered to perish. Cut in block marble, thefe verfes might have remained for ages, had their fupport been timely repaired. Even yet, it were furely praifeworthy to arrange the fragments into a wooden frame, which might be done for a trifling expence. Perhaps were he duly apprifed of the almoft ruinous fituation of the beautiful cenotaphs of his ancestors, the prefent learned and ingenious representative of the family would give orders for their thorough repair. To enable one to defcend into the vault, a ladder is neceffary. Here the moft ftriking object is the coffin of John Duke of Lauderdale, (the only one of the family who ever enjoyed a dukedom.) For though this double, defpotic, and bloody Noble, died near Tunbridge Wells in England, his remains had been conveyed to this country, to be repofited in this, the family cemetery. The coffin is of an enormous fize, fuited to the Duke's " vaft bulk." As the lead coffin is (if I may ufe the expreffion) hermetically foldered; and as, a century ago, embalming was more frequently prifed, and confequently better understood, than now; it is probable that tbody is ftill in a state of high prefervation. As an evidence that the air is completely excluded from it, the following generally admitted fact may be mentioned. When in 1775, in confequence of the bursting of a water fpout in Lammermoor, the Tyne was greatly flooded, it inun-` dated Haddington, and confequently filled this vault with water. When the water had evaporated and filtered away, it was found that the Duke's coffin had floated; its pofition being entirely changed. To this day indeed, it lies in an oblique irregular X 2 way, way, with one end refting on the fkull of fome ci-devant Countess or Earl. To move fuch a mafs would: require the united force of a number of men. All the other lead coffins in this vault, except that of an infant, (pretty much refembling the cafe of a bafs viol), have been broken open and deftroyed. The whole vault is very damp. The floor is generally a puddle; from the roof may be feen fufpended fome broken and dirty. looking ftala&tical incrustations. On the coffin is an oval brafs plate, with an infcription which is given in the Appendix to an Account of Haddington, by Dr Barclay, in the Tranfactions of the Society of Antiquaries of cotland. Vol. I. p. 1.06. Befide the coffin ftands a large fquare box, or urn, alfo of lead, inclofing the Duke's brain and vifcera. In the volume just referred to, (p. 76), Dr Barclay writes: "The "leaden coffin which contains his body, and a vafe inclofing his "bowels, are depofited in a vault in "the aileof the church of Haddington. "The Latin infcriptions on them are likewife inferted in the Appendix." The infcription on the vafe, however, has by fome mistake been omitted; for that on the coffin alone appears in the Appendix. As I copied it from the original, and as it is very short, I fhall here fet it down. "In "hac vafe conduntur interanea, præter cor, omnia Joannis Lau. "deriæ, qui obiit 24. Augufti A. D. 1682." As it was common in embalming, to replace the heart in its proper fite in the body, the exception "præter "cor" on the urn might not feem to be attended with auy difficulty, but for the following paffage in Bishop Burnet's Hiftory of his own time, (Vol. II. p. 905. ad an. 1682). “ All thefe things, together with a load "of age and of a vaft bulk, funk "Duke Lauderdale fo, that he died "that fummer, (1682). His heart "feemed quite spent, there was not "left above the bignefs of a walnut "of firm fubftance: the reft was fpongy, liker the lungs than the "heart." As this decay of the Duke's heart muft have forcibly ftruck the embalmers and his friends at the time, may it not be fuppofed that the exception has reference to it? As the Antiquaries of Scotland have dedicated fo many of their pages to an account of Haddington, (no fewer than 80), and have inserted at full length, feveral tedious Latin charters relative to that town, it may perhaps be expected that in fome fus ture publication a few lines will be appropriated to the infeription on the Urn, which had been omitted by mistake; and that the true reason of the exception " præter cor" will there be affigned. Feb. 1800. 66 Scotus Juvenilis. LETTERS FROM DAVID HUME TO A FRIEND, RELATING TO ROUSSEAU. From Original Letters of J. J. Rouleau. Life Street, Leicefter Fields I HAVE many apologies to make layed to acknowledge the honour you have done me. But I deferred anfwering you until our friend fhould be eftablished, and have had fome trial *Lauderdale was at this time viceroy of Scotland. The "things" here referred to as having" funk" the Duke, were chiefly the following: the rife and obftinacy of the Cameronians; the oppofition of the Duke of Hamilton; the accufation of Lord Halton, the viceroy's own brother, of perjury; the anxiety Duke Lauderdale felt about the teft, which was oppofed by the best of the clergy, and about the dela tion and condemnation of Lord Argyle; and above all the fymptoms of change in the King's behaviour, by which the Duke too plainly perceived that he was "like to be caft off in his old age.” trial of his fituation. Taking his fingular character into account, he appears to be, at prefent, in the most happy fituation; and he writes to me that he is perfectly content with it. He is about fifty leagues from London, in Derbyshire, a country cele brated for its wild natural beauties. M. Davenport, a very good, as well as a very rich man, has given him a house in which he very feldom refides himself; and as he keeps a table there for thofe of his domeftics who take care of the house and gardens, it is no inconvenience to accommodate our friend and his gouvernante with all that perfons fo fober and moderate can defire. He has the goodnefs to accept thirty pounds fterling a year for their board; for, without that, our friend would not fet his foot in the house. If it be poffible for a man to live without occupation, without books, without fociety, and without fleep, he will not quit this wild and folitary place, where all the circumftances which he ever required, feem to concur for the purpose of rendering him happy. But I dread the weakness and inquietude natural to every man, and, above all, to a man of his character. I fhould not be furprifed that he had foon quitted this retreat. But in that cafe, he will be obliged to confefs, that he did not know his own ftrength, and that man was not made to be alone. As to the reft, he has been perfectly well received in this country; every one was anxious to show him civilities; and the public curiofity was even a bur. den to him. Madame de Boufflers has, doubtlefs, informed you of the kindneffes which he has received from the King of England. The fecrecy which was wished to be observed refpecting this affair, is a circumftance which much pleases our friend. He has, in a small degree, the weakness of wishing to make himself interefting, by com plaining of his poverty and ill health. But I accidentally discovered that he has fome pecuniary, refources, small indeed, but which he concealed from us when he gave us an account of his funds. As to what regards his health, it appears to me to be rather robust than infirm; at leaft, if we except the fits of melancholy and fpleen to which he is fubject. This is a great lofs. He is very agreeable in his manners, and has a kind and feeling heart. But these fits drive him from fociety, render him extremely peevish, and fometimes give his conduct an air of capricioufnefs and violence, qualities which are not natural to him. I beg, my dear Sir, that you will keep a place for me in your remembrance. I expect to profit, next fummer, by the friendship which you have the goodness to express for me. Unforefeen accidents have, hitherto, prevented my return to France. I have the honour to be, Sir, &c. David Hume. Extract of a letter from M. Hume To I do not know whether you have heard of the late events which have happened to the poor unfortunate Rouffeau, who has become entirely extravagant, and who is an object of the greatest compaffion. It is about three weeks fince he fet off, without giving the leaft notice of it, from M. Davenport's house, carrying with him only his gouvernante, and leaving be hind the greatest part of his effects, and about thirty guineas in money. There was alfo found on his table a letter full of reproaches against his hoft, whom he accufed of having been an accomplice in a plot of mine. to ruin and difhonour him. He took the road to London; and M. Davenport begged of me to fearch for him, and to learn how his baggage and money fhould be fent to him. Nothing was heard of him for a fortnight; when at length, the Chancellor received from him a molt extra |
