The Sun.
London, England, 1826-07-13 00:00:00

LADY ERSKINE.

We have received the following letter on the sub-
ject of this unhappy person, and publish it verbatim:
Sir,—Noticing in the Mansion-house occurrences Lady
Erskine's statement to the Lord Mayor, I am-particularly
sorry the widow of so great and illustrious a statesman
should he reduced to apparent distress and public appeal.
In reverting to those occurrences, and in reply to the
Lord Mayor's kind enquiries, believing his Lordship to be
ever ready to assist the deservedly destitute and distressed,
I beg leave to observe I understand there are four children
—two sons abroad, one in • the army, the other in the
navy : one daughter under the protection of an amiable
lady; the youngest son appears about ten years . old.—
Observing this Lady Erskine affirming never receiving any
benefit, or least pecuniary aid, from the Earl of Rosslyn
and Lord Viscount Duncannon, as trust for his Majesty's
bounty, granted respect to the late Lord Erskine's
family, these noblemen have to my knowledge, for some
time paid to Lady Erskine, through the medium of myself
and others previously to iny collecting, prior and since the 6th
May, allowed „her l6s., per week, payable through my
bands., Thoppyments were a little in arrear to me, owing
to a little, advance, it being discontinued for a few weeks,
by the Earl of Rosslyn's consistent view to only bring her
to a parent's sense or inducement to have the youngest
son educated suitable to his birth and station, and for
which purpose His Majesty was pleased to grant M. per
annum ; and Earl Rosslyn generously offered to contri-
bute any addition necessarrhimself; and when initiated in
his first rudiments, afterwards to procure his admission in
Charterhouse school. Earl Rosslyn, Viscount Duncannon,
myself, and others, have endeavoured, in vain, to prevail
on her for this child's education, which, I regret to relate,
she obstinately persists shall not be, appearing more de-
sirous to keep him in beggary and disgrace, determinedly
persisting in keeping him from school. Earl Rosslyn,
with the
,urbanity of a gentleman, has always permitted
me free access, as her friend, on her business ; offered his
personal services, and that his solicitor, at his cost, should'
assist her to procure, if possible, the legacy of 3004
per annum, left by her late lord, and requesting to be fa-
voured with any written statement; but this Lady Erskine
insultingly and peremptorily refused, and persisted should
not he done. Lady Erskine occasionally and frequently
called at my residence, received every due commiseration,
civility, and comfort, the house and family afforded. I have
taken much pains to assist her, but she does not affirm to
the truth, and, I am sorry to remark, is ungrateful to dis-
interested friends, and much misrepresents facts. •
your-early compliance and insertion of these truths,
which can be by several particularly verified, in answer to
Lady. Erskine's application, and satisfaction to the public.
I remain, Sir, your sincere and most obedient servant,

SAMUEL CHAMBERLIN.
Great Newport-street, Long-acre, July 12.

Ma Majesty'. grant was 3001. for herself, and 2001. for the
family, under very particular injunctions to thilitrust,—

VISCOUNTESS STRANGFORD.

ST. PETERSBURG% JUNE 22.—The late Viscountess
Strangford died at the hotel of his Excellency the Ilritish
Ambassador on Friday morning; the 26th 'May last. This
lady was the sister of Sir John Bourke, of Marble Hill, in
the county of Galway; Bart. Slie was the maternal aunt
to the Marquess of Clanricarde, who was lately married
to the only daughter of the Secretary for Foreign Afiiiirs;
but she was more distinguished as the wife of Percy
Viscount Strangford, whose name for some years has
been celebrated in Europe both in the walks of litera- ,
ture and diplomacy. She herself, and her relatives, '
being Catholic Irish of high distinction, her premature
death will doubtless excite the sympathy and regret of,
the people of Ireland. Strongly attached to her hus-
band, she accompanied him to the Courts of Sweden,
'Turkey, and Russia, where the affability of her man-
ners, and the unaffected kindness of her disposition,
endeared her to all. While in Turkey, these amiable
qualities had but too frequent opportunities of displaying
themselves. Among the applicants to her kind offices
and to her bounty were numerous families of Greeks,
whom it was impossible in the first fury of the insurrec-
tion to countenance or assist openly, but to these unfor-
tunates her bounty flowed in many a secret channel.— ,
Slaves were redeemed, domestic affliction consoled, and
the objects never knew to • whose kind heart and li-
beral hand they were indebted. Her wish was to as-
sist in every way in which she could be useful, of which
the following instance is a proof:---One of her children,
born at Constantinople, was , vaccinated by matter
sent from home, which fortunately succeeded. At
her particular .request the virus, in a recent state, was
transferred from her child to children in the country,
and• thus a fresh supply, secured. There was at this
time a population of about. 1000 Greeks inhabiting,
an . archipelago of islands in the . Sea of Mamoru,
among whom the small-110 X used periodically to make
frightful ravages. They had heard of the efficacy of vac-
eination as a preventive, but had never proved it. From
Lady Strangford's child the cow-peck was introduced
among these islamlers, and persons of all ages, from infants
to the aged, were vaccinated. Thus by an act of retri-
butive justice she was enabled to, return to the people of
Turkey an improvement of, and a greater blessing than
her predecessor, Lady
W. Montagu, had derived from
them.
The cause of Lady Strangford's death, in St. Peters-
burgh, was an illness that supervened on her confine-
ment : from this she apparently recovered; and, with her
child, seemed to enjoy good health ; but, after some time,
she complained of pain and sickness, with a, strong im-
pression on her mind that her death would he speedy,
though her casual ailment gave no cause of alarm to her
physicians.
Under this feeling, she quietly prepared for
the event. Individually, she was the last object of her
Consideration, and any anxiety she expressed'.was for her
young •
• family " Yet I know,"
,sh e would say, " that my
little children have a fond and good father—why, then
should deatlrgive me any concern ?”
While conversin _
with a friend one evening,. she was
g
asmodic attack, which terminated
suddenly Seized with a sp
in a state of insensibility, that continued 18 hours, when
she gradually expired without struggle.' She had request
a
ed, in the event of her death abroad, that it might not be
t that she should be pri-
marked by any
in
pomp, bu
to the B '
vately interred in the burying-ground allotted
therefore, 11-
tish and other foreigners. Her body was,
next re-
moved to the Roman. Catholic, Chapel, thed
.. ay
solemn funeral service was perffirrned. It was 00 tlus oe,
mien that the esteem and 'good-Will she had raised spon
taneously displayed themselves. The immense Chapel
was crowded with an unbidden congreetiou, among
whom were the whole diplomatic body.. rite Ainb.aqsa..
dors of the different Sovereigns of Europe, with their
suites, attended,' not with the indifference of ceremony
and parade, but with the feeling of perfional friends. t
was even proposed that. they themselves should be .the
bearers of the body to its last resting-Place* 'but, having
been enclosed in a leaden coffin, it was found toe heavYt
and was, therefore, conveyed in a hearse to its final abode,
where it lies in a green spot shaded with young trees.
The Sunday after her decease, . the Reverend Doctor
Walidi Domestic Chaplain to his Excellency the Ambas-
sador,,,
preached a sermon on the occasion in the British
church.