Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1842-11-30
LETTERS OF MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS.

We have this deeply interesting work press. IL
has just appeared in London and has excited universal
tenon Ii is edited by Agnes Strickland author Of the
Lives OF the Queens Of England In her preface she gives
account of the Letters They all original, and
for the frst time published One given in the
quaint old English, in which they inded by the
fortunate and lovely Mary; but the chief portion
lated from the French, the language that then general
y in Europe, and in which the Queen educated
There also the letters written by her cruel enemy Queen
Elizabeth.
The following notice of this work, from Columns New
Monthly Magazine for November, is commended to the
careful attention OF the readcr
"he increasing popularity of historical literature which
has within the last few years formed remarkable feature
in national while it affords proof of the mprov
ing spirit of the perhaps be regarded as the result
of the abors of those intelligent anquares who have de-
voted their me their talents and their learning to the
pose of bringing light the forgotten treasures OF the past
The Russian Prince. Alexander lvhano spent eight
OF his life collecting thirty original letters Mary
Queen Of Scots. which. with other interesting documents
connected with the history that unfortunate princess
printed Paris in 1889. The sensation caused by the
pearance of Prince lhanos precious volume
erfu that every copy OF the edition presently exhaust
cd and il has become n book the continent
peculiarly acceptable the English reader, and
happy find that il is contained in these volumes,
bned with many other letters OF equal Importance from the
pen of Mary Stuart The Ivhano letters indeed, valuable
they form neither the largest the most interest
ing portion of the work before which comprehends
series of letters and documents chronoogcay arranged
life pretaced by historical introduction from the pen OF
Miss Agnes Strickland, who for the composition of an inn
portant portion of her admirable work. The Lives OF the
Queens of England being obliged the incidents
OF the tragic drama which that unfortunate princess play
ed conspicuous part, necessarily have compre
hensble knowledge of the subject.
1.-The letters OF powerful interest, not merely with
gard their value historical documents but as
records of the royal writer's feeling and empoyments dur
ing her woiu captivity They rendered Ineligible
readers OF all ages by modern photography and the adira
BILE in which they arranged. The beauty and
piety of the sentiments and the unaffected elegance OF the
composition will render this work delightful addition TO
the literature destined for the of families. Ii work
that library ought be without for it will lend charm
the study of the history only of Mary Stuart but TO
that of Elizabeth, and throws considerable light the
hey of the Court of France. These letters of great
value; and while devoid Of the tedum and WEAKNESS of
papers, confidential and full of domestic uais
They admit within the gloomy of the prisons in
which the royal heroine her melancholy hours
She has described them with the graphic mnueness of Silvia
Peco, Baron Trenck, and the reader becomes almost
painfully identified with the hapess captive he reads the
memorials of her sufiengs. To those who know the beau
fu and unfortunate Mary Stuart only through the medium
poetry romance, her letters will possess the de-
gree of fascination with which the epstolay OF
the last century devoured.'