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you I bequeath this treasure. No one will love her like you, when I am no more. In you she will find a second mother."

Lady Elizabeth, immediately on the death of its only surviving parent, took the child to her house; and, during the early period of childhood, the surviving relatives indulged her in the pleasure of performing the office of friendship she so maternally fulfilled, in compliance with the injunctions of her dying friend. All the remaining kindred of Lady de Somerville were, however, sincerely attached to the reformed religion; and, as the child became capable of reasoning, they did all in their power to detach her from a bigoted Catholic. But the young Lady Elwina de Somerville loved her nominal mother with sincere affection, and could

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not endure the thoughts of a separation.

Her relations, though powerful by their alliances, and the ample fortunes they possessed, were yet not strong enough to gain their cause against the known favourite, and almost acknowledged wife, of Edward; who, himself, came forward to urge the validily and importance of a death-bed injunction. In vain was the plea of that religion alleged, which the dying Lady de Somerville had urged all who surrounded her couch in her dying moments to be careful, as they expected the blessing of Heaven, to instil into the mind of her child, in all the principles of that simple purity which she herself had professed during her life. How could this important task be fulfilled, while continually in the habit of witnessing superstitious rites, the most gross and absurd,

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practised by her beloved protectress? whose every action, accompanied with dignity and beauty, could not fail of appearing amiable in the eyes of her grateful little charge.

The virtue of her mother, immaculate as new fallen snow, entreated her friend to teach her daughter the highest reverence for female chastity; and to look on it as the greatest ornament a female can boast.

"How then," said one of her spirited friends, in the House of Peers, "can she be in love with this most valuable jewel, when she, to whom she is to look up, as the guide and guardian of her tender years, lives the distinguished mistress of a mighty prince, who is already betrothed to another?"

But vain were all the pleadings of Lady

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Elwina's relations. The Cardinal of Winchester, ever the firm defender of Lady Elizabeth Grey, now came forward, and, drawing over a number of lords to his party, who wished to gain the favour of Edward, and having also the new ministry on his side, the Lady Elwina was adjudged, during her minority, to remain under the guardianship of Lady Elizabeth Grey.

Exhausted with the pressure of public affairs, and the effects of his many irregularities in early life; Lovelace, whose abilities and intrigues, in political and domestic circles, had rendered him the theme of every conversation, and whose present important situation in the ministry made him regarded with a mixture of fear and hope, was attacked with a disorder which seemed to baffle the skill of the

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ablest physicians, but which, in their numerous consultations, they generally agreed must soon prove fatal to him.

But no one dared to tell Edward of the danger of his beloved friend. They assured the prince that his indisposition was but trifling; and that retirement, for a short time, from the fatigues of state business, would soon restore him; while they counselled him to suffer Lord Howard, who was of the same principles with Lovelace, though without his abilities, to fill the office which he held, until his recovery.

Edward, now triumphing in the exaltation of his favourites, and fancying himself secure from all dissensions at home, that might endanger his crown, gave way to the natural bent of his mind-the love of pleasure; and again wooed dissipation