His consideration for others was patent wherever he went. "Silent, gentle, forbearing, his indignation flashed forth an eloquence when roused by anything mean or ungenerous. Manly in all his thoughts, tastes, and habits, there was about him an almost feminine tenderness. He would sit by the bedside and smooth the pillow of a sick child with the gentleness of a woman. No wonder he was the idol of those around him, but it is the happiness of such a life that there is so little to be told of it." on a sheet of india-rubber, which was then | famous amateur company of actors formed stretched to the required dimensions; by Dickens he was a conspicuous figure, from this an impression was taken and although his heart was not in the work, transferred to a lithographic stone, from nor did he display much capacity for which a copy was printed on a large sheet acting. of canvas. Having thus obtained outlines of his subjects Leech proceeded to color them, under the valuable guidance of his friend Millais, using for the purpose a kind of transparent color which allowed the lines of the enlargement to show through, so that the result had the appearance of indifferent lithographs slightly tinted. But when he became more accustomed to the materials he effected a great improvement by removing the ink of the lines in the faces and more important parts, and re-drawing them in a fine and delicate manner, thus greatly enhancing the beauty of the pictures; but even then the sketches lost much of their charm by the enlargement. Thackeray penned such a favorable notice of his old schoolmate's with wonderful genius in his ample exhibition that the public could not refrain from visiting it, and caused the fortunate artist to exclaim, "That is like putting a thousand pounds into my pocket!" In personal appearance Leech was very tall, being over six feet in height, with a slim, elegant figure, "and a grand head, on which nature had written gentleman forehead; wonderful penetration, observation, humor in his blue-grey Irish eyes; and wonderful sweetness, sympathy, and mirth about his lips, which seemed to speak in silence." Such is Dean Hole's testimony; while Mr. Cholmondeley Pennell remembers him as "a decidedly handsome man; tall, square, and well built, and in manners delightfully genial and frank . . . and one of the most fascinating men it has ever been my good fortune to meet." Sir John Millais, whose graceful portrait of his old friend forms the frontispiece to Mr. Frith's biography, says: I ever knew, with an astounding appreciation of everything sad or humorous. He was both manly and gentle, nervous and brave, and the most delightful companion that ever lived. I loved John Leech (and another who is also gone) better than any other friends I have known." It is recorded that John Leech first saw her whom he made his wife (Miss Anne Eaton) when walking in London; he followed her home, noted the number of the house, looked out the name, obtained an introduction, and (in due course) married the lady. Mrs. Leech was one of those English beauties whom he loved to draw, and an excellent likeness of her may be found in some of the Punch drawings. He was a worshipper of female beauty," He was one of the very best gentlemen and Mr. Frith remembers watching with him the riders in Rotten Row, when, after some startlingly lovely creatures had passed them, he said, "Ah, my Frith, don't you wish you were a Turk, and able to marry all the lot?" He was a model of domestic virtues - the best of husbands and fathers, and a most dutiful and affectionate son; his tender anxiety for his wife and children was almost distressing at times to those about him. In general conversation he was a listener rather than a speaker, although he could talk admirably if he chose; but he preferred to watch for subjects which he hoped some thing in the conversation might suggest. His mental condition was deeply tinged with the sadness so common to men who possess great wit and humor. He sang well, having a deep bass voice, but his songs (when he could be persuaded to sing) were all of a melancholy character, his favorite being in prais Death" and his "coal-black He had a very nervous temperament, and was extremely sensitive to noise of all kinds. Street noises especially troubled him, and it will be remembered that in some of his early Punch drawings he drew attention to the nuisance created by fish. hawkers and similar pests at seaside places. Upon organ-grinders and other street musicians he was especially severe, for they were a serious and terrible trial to his highly strung nerves, and caused him absolute agony. As a proof of his abnormally nervous condition, it is related that on one occasion he had been invited to a friend's house in the country for a few days' hunting, and after a short night's he was awakened at an early hour by a grating sound caused by the gardener rolling the gravel under his window; which had such an effect upon his nerves that he got up, packed his things, and was off to town before any of the family were aware of it! Leech seemed fated to undergo mental torture of this description, and invariably found it difficult to escape there from. When residing in Brunswick Square he wrote to his friend Mr. H. O. Nethercote if he might visit him for a few days at his house in Northamptonshire, as he was "dying of Dixie's Land,'" then a distressingly popular air. He went, and the very first day after dinner, on taking an evening stroll round the garden, his ears were greeted with the hateful tune, the village band having just mastered it. "Ah, well!" he said to his friend with a delightful smile, "Dixie's Land' in Brunswick Square and 'Dixie's Land' at Moulton Grange are two very different tunes; in the latter case a mile of atmosphere intervenes between it and me, and in the former I was in the very bowels of it." Notwithstanding the device of double windows which he adopted, street noises became absolutely intolerable to him, and indeed were such a serious nuisance to the general public, that Mr. Bass, M.P., carried a bill through Parliament with the object of suppressing it - the bill passed both Houses and became law, but (as Mr. Frith truly observes) it still requires amendment before the author, musician, and artist can pursue his calling in peace. Unfortunately it came too late to benefit poor Leech. For some years he suffered from sleeplessness, and was induced to try change of air and scene on the Continent, and then, on his return, he was prevailed upon to visit the pleasing neighborhood of Whitby; but it was work, work, work, nearly all the time, chiefly, it appears, that he might make a very large sum of money for the benefit of his relatives, not of his own household. Alas! these changes of scene and climate brought no strength to mind or body, and in addition to his former sufferings came such severe attacks of angina pectoris that he sometimes feared the end had come. On the 25th of October, 1864, Mr. Frith dined at a friend's house, where, besides Leech, the guests included several artists of repute. Mr. Frith sat next to Leech, and noticed that he was quieter than usual, and that there was a slight change in his voice, which seemed to have a far-away sound in it. He still complained of the incessant noises in his neighborhood, which made work impossible to him except under agonizing conditions, and concluded the account of his grievances with a sentence ever to be remembered by his biographer: "Rather, Frith, than continue to be tormented in this way, I would prefer to go to the grave where there is no noise." Before that day week his desire was accomplished. This talented, gentle-hearted man passed away on the 29th of October, 1864, done to death by overwork in his anxiety for others - a death that is a sorrow to all English-speaking people. F. G. KITTON. A LOST CAUSE. From Belgravia. THE accidental finding of a long-forgotten relic, consisting of a piece of rotten wood, covered with what might have been black velvet, and studded with some giltheaded nails, has suggested the subject for this paper. The relic in question formed a portion of the coffin that once held the remains of that never-to-be-forgotten hero of Northumbrian story, the "unfortunate Earl of Derwentwater.' James Ratcliffe, third Earl of Derwentwater, born in Arlington Street, London, on June 28th, 1689, very early became associated with the Stuart cause; for, besides the fact of his mother being a natural daughter of Charles II., he himself was taken to St. Germains in early childhood, and shared the schoolroom and the playground of the little son of the exiled king. The two boys had more than the tie of blood between them. They formed for each other a close attachment, which through life was kept unbroken. James was in his sixteenth year when he succeeded to the earldom; but not until he came of age, in 1710, did he return to his native land to see the broad acres that he was heir to. The young earl is described at this period as delicate-looking, rather below the middle height, but finely formed; his countenance pleasing, his lips characteristic of great sweetness of disposition, his eyes grey, his hair light. It was said of him: "He is a man formed by nature to be beloved." Dilston Castle, now a ruin, is situated about two and a half miles south-east of Hexham, Northumberland. It stands on the summit of a steep and thickly wooded | first heard that he was a marked man, he hill, above a rushing stream which there forms a grand and natural cascade; and as this estate found more favor in the eyes of its young owner than any other of his possessions, he at once set about making additions and improvements to it. Two and a half years after his arrival in England he married a daughter of Sir John Webb of Canford, Dorsetshire; and, according to the marriage settlement, the bride's father was to provide both the residence and the table of the young couple for two years; therefore their first home was at Hatherthorpe, an estate of the Webb family, and there a son and heir was born. In 1714 the earl first took his young wife to Dilston Castle, and the historian says: "The generous and splendid hospitality of his house was unequalled, and his door and purse continually open to every one, whether neighbor or stranger, without regard to their political or religious sentiments." In fact his goodness to the poor passed into a proverb. This period of the earl's life seems to have been as happy as ever falls to the lot of man. Alas, it was destined to be of brief duration. Now, although George, elector of Hanover, had appeared to succeed peacefully to the throne of England, there were many of his subjects-especially among the Scottish nobles-ready to break into open rebellion. John Erskine, Earl of Mar, was one of these. went to the nearest justice of the peace and asked of what he was accused, for he was in no way connected with the plot; and on his dying day he made solemn declaration that up to this time, and for some time afterwards, he not only took no part in the rebellion, but continually asserted that no such rising could succeed in England - he saw only madness in the idea. But protestations were useless - he was under suspicion; the soldiers of the king were on his track; he had to fly from his home and seek concealment among the wild fastnesses of the Shaftoe Crags. Of his adventures there and hair-breadth escapes many strange tales are told. At length, anxious for an interview with his wife, the earl ventured to pay a secret visit to the castle. Tradition and the ballads of the day assert that the countess taunted him with hiding while others were preparing to fight for their religion and their king. They say that, flinging down her fan at his feet, she told him to take it and give his sword to her. However this may be, the visit to his home had one result: that very evening he visited Mr. Errington, of Beaufront, and others of his friends, and informed them of his intention to join the Stuart cause. On the following morning, the 6th of October, at daybreak, there was a general mustering in the courtyard of the old Castle of Dilston, the neighboring gentlemen bringing as many of their dependants as they could muster and mount. All the carriage and farm horses were put into requisition, and the earl, who was accompanied by his brother Charles, was ready to mount his favorite "dapple grey" that has figured in so many ballads and ro Mar had been secretary of state for Ireland during Queen Anne's reign, but was displaced by King George; out of revenge for this dismissal he embraced the Stuart cause. However skilled Mar may have been in state affairs, it is certain that in military tactics he proved himself lamen-mances of the day. tably deficient. On the 16th August, 1715, At the last moment the young countess, it was determined to attempt a general rising, and with somewhat premature haste James Stuart was proclaimed king by the title of James III. During that month of August, Mar received, in one form or another, from abroad alone, £100,000. Had he been bold, rapid, and energetic, the cause might have bad a chance of success, but everything was so mismanaged that the English government very speedily got all necessary intelligence, and numbers of persons implicated in the intended rebellion were at once arrested. When the young Earl of Derwentwater overcome by a terrible foreboding of ill, ran forward and, flinging her arms round her husband, entreated him to give up the expedition. But it was too late; his word and honor were pledged to the Jacobite cause, and after an agonizing farewell the party set out. They rode to the waterfalls near Hexham, where, joining a little band of Northumbrians under the leadership of Mr. Forster, member for the county, a Jacobite but not a Catholic, they proceeded to Rothbury and Warkworth, their numbers there being augmented by about thirty men under Lord Widdrington. Mr. Forster, in disguise, then proclaimed James III. king of these realms, with sound of trumpet and other formalities, and ordered the clergyman to pray for James as king. The clergyman declined, however, and set off for Newcastle, but a substitute was found in a Mr. Buxton, one of the prince's chaplains, who did all required of him. Gathering gradually as they rode onward, the party now consisted of about three hundred men, all horse, for they would entertain no foot; otherwise their number would have been very large; but they gave the poorer people hopes of being soon able to furnish them with arms and ammunition. Mr. Forster, being a Protestant, was, from policy, appointed general, and they went forward with the intention of surprising Newcastle, believing that they had many partisans within its walls; but news of their designs had preceded them; they found the gates closed, and such a strong show of defence that they turned westward to Hexham. Here Mr. Forster called a halt and collected arms and horses to mount volunteers, who flocked from all quarters. On the 19th of October Mr. Forster left Hexham, and with his party, joining the Highlanders under Mackintosh, proceeded to Wooler and Kelso. By this time their numbers amounted to fourteen hundred men. had a few successes; but as they passed through Westmoreland they found that already several leading Catholics had been arrested, and the further they advanced the more dashed became the hopes with which sanguine friends had inspired them. On approaching Lancaster, their prospects brightened; volunteers came flocking to them from all parts, and the imposing manner in which they entered the town is thus described: "Two hundred of the English noble. men and gentlemen with their followers on horseback came first; these were followed by the Highland infantry attired in their showy and picturesque costume; these again by two hundred of the Lowland-Scottish, and these again by the body of Scottish horse. How little did their bright show of banners flying and the stirring strains of their martial music tell of the dismal shadow that was soon to descend upon them all." Late on the night of November 9th they entered Preston; the forces under General Forster now numbered thirty-two hundred men, and a regiment of militia and Stanhope's regiment of dragoons fled at their approach. It was proposed to seize Warrington Bridge and thus open a way to Manchester and Liverpool; "but this project," says Mackenzie, "like all others that had a show of prudence, was delayed until their destruction was completed." Lieutenant-general Carpenter had gone The same historian continues: "On the to the relief of Newcastle, but finding it 12th General Forster gave orders for his so well defended he pressed on across the army to march, but was soon informed border. Lord Kenmure, hearing of his that General Willis, with four regiments approach, called a council of war, and it of dragoons and one of foot, were in sight. was strongly urged that the Jacobites Depending on the promise of the Lanshould join the clans in the west of Scot-cashire gentlemen for timely intelligence, land, but the Northumbrians opposed this he was greatly surprised at the appearance opinion. There were many dissentients of the royal army; but, after reconnoi. in the camp. At Hawick the Highlanders mutinied and refused to enter England, saying if they were to be sacrificed it should be in their own country. There was an intention to attack Dumfries, which was in a very defenceless state; but here again there was a difference of opinion, and the Northumberland gentlemen in sisted on marching into Lancashire, where they affirmed twenty thousand men were only waiting to join them. At this soine five hundred Highlanders retired into their mountains in disgust; the rest with great difficulty were kept together. On November 1st General Forster and his forces, now seventeen hundred strong, entered Penrith, in Cumberland. Here again James III. was proclaimed, and they tring, he returned to the town to prepare for their reception. His men were not dispirited, but cheerfully commenced the preparations for their defence. They barricaded the avenues, and posted their men in the streets and by-lanes and such houses as were most proper for galling their enemies. General Forster formed four main barriers; the first a little below the church, commanded by Brigadier Mackintosh, and supported by the Earls of Derwentwater, Winton, and Nithsdale; the Lord Kenmure and the gentlemen volunteers in the churchyard. The second was situated at the end of a lane leading to the fields, and commanded by Lord Charles Murray. The third was near a windmill, and commanded by the Laird of Mackintosh; and the fourth was in the atory to their entering the capital the arms street leading to Liverpool, commanded of every captive were pinioned and his by Major Millar and Mr. Douglas. They horse led by a foot soldier with fixed baythrew up entrenchments in an instant, and onet. Lord Derwentwater and other did all in their power to make a stout prisoners of consequence were lodged in resistance, but were guilty of one capital the Tower; his brother Charles, General error; for General Forster recalled one Forster, and about seventy more were hundred men from a narrow and difficult taken to Newgate; seventy-two being pass that terminated by a bridge, and placed in the Fleet Prison, about sixty which might have been easily defended others in the Marshalsea. against a great force." General Willis cautiously reconnoitring, and surprised to find the pass abandoned, decided on attacking the four barriers simultaneously, but at every one his troops were repulsed with great slaughter. Notwithstanding this success, however, the courage of General Forster's little army began to fail, when next morning (Sunday) it was known that General Carpenter had arrived with his three regiments of dragoons. The plucky Highlanders proposed to sally out and die like men, sword in hand, but this was overruled. General Forster then, acting independently, and unknown to all, sent a messenger to General Willis offering to capitulate. The reply was that if they would submit at discretion Carpenter would protect them from his soldiery. Bitterly indignant were the besieged when this was known, and had General Forster appeared among them there would have been little chance of his escaping their vengeance. To quote an old ballad :Lord Derwentwater to Forster said, "Thou hast ruined the cause and all betrayed; For thou did'st swear to stand our friend, By what means news of her husband's fate reached Lady Derwentwater is not stated, but very soon she was sharing his captivity. On January 16th, 1716, the prisoners who had been lodged in the Tower were taken before the House of Peers to answer to the articles of their impeachment. All, with the exception of Lord Widdrington, pleaded guilty. Lord Derwentwater urged in extenuation of his offence that he "had not engaged in the enterprise on any previous concert or contrivance; but that being young and inexperienced, he had rashly and without premeditation engaged himself to meet his relatives and acquaintances." Parliament expelled Mr. Forster, who was member for Northumberland; and on the 9th of February, the earl received sentence from Lord Chancellor Cowper. Great solicitations were made with the court and with members of both Houses of Parliament in his behalf. The count ess left no means untried to obtain her husband's pardon. She, with her sister and other ladies, were admitted to the king's bedchamber, where the unhappy woman fell on her knees and implored the royal clemency, but in vain. She went to the lobby of the House of Lords to beg their intercession, but her petition was disregarded. She attended Westminster, but there the Duke of Richmond, a near relation of the earl's, though prevailed upon to present her petition, voted against On General Willis demanding hostages while the besieged party made up their minds, Lord Derwentwater offered himself as one and Colonel Mackintosh was the other. Next morning, by seven o'clock, the king's troops entered the town; the surrounding army assembled in the mar-it. The House, however, it was said, ket-place and delivered up their arms as prisoners. The number of English taken was 463, including 79 noblemen and gentlemen, mostly Northumbrians; the Scots amounted to 1,005, among whom were 143 noblemen, officers, and gentlemen. The half-pay officers among the prisoners were immediately shot, but the Earl of Derwentwater and his companions were detained in Preston until the beginning of December, and then, under a strong escort of Darnley's regiment, were despatched on horseback to London. The weary and dismal cavalcade reached London on December the 9th, and prepar leaned to mercy, but finally agreed to leave the matter to the king, who did not think proper to reprieve or pardon the young earl; and those who spoke in favor of him, urging youth and inexperience as his excuse, only drew upon themselves the royal displeasure. On the 23rd of February orders were despatched for executing the Earls of Derwentwater and Nithsdale and Lord Kenmure on Tower Hill the next morning. How Lady Nithsdale managed to save her husband by bringing him a suit of feminine apparel forms one of the most romantic episodes in history. Sir Robert |