Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1853-04-13
ROMANTIC. DEVOTION OF A WIFE

kSCh M H. ADcf " A1ON oC IA H1r Il.
An account of the Escape of the Earl
of NithsdaIe from the Tower of Lon
don.
The narrative of the extraordinary es-
cape of the Earl of Nithsdale is an incl
dent of English history not to be found in
all the historical books of the day. True,
it is not often alluded to, but the interes-
ting incidents attending the escape-the
heroic devotion Of wife-are little un-
derstood, even by the most devoted his
torical readers. We copy the account
from book entitled the ''Noble Deeds of
Woman -
Winfred Herbert, Countess of Niths-
dale, effected the escape of her husband
from the Tower in very remarkable
manner.
The Earl of Nithsdale was one of those
unfortunate persons condemned to suffer
deaSh for attempting to place the Pre-
tender on the throne in the year 1715.-
His wife hearing that he had been COM
mitted to the Tower, and expressed great
anxiety to see her, quilted Scotland to
attend him in his captivity. 1t was in
the month of February that the Countess
set out On her Journey, and by the time
on the ground that the stage could not
proceed any further. Lady Nithsdale,
in consequ quence, took horse and continued
her journey, though the snow was most
part of the way above the horses knees:
even the post had been stopped on ac-
count of the badness of the roads and in
clemency of the weather; but the conju
gal affection of this heroic wife oyercame
every obstacle, and she succeeded in
reaching London in safety. Proceeding
at once TO the Tower, she requested per-
mission to see her husband, but this me-
lancholy satisfaction was denied to her
entreaties, except on the condition that
she would remain with him as a prisoner.
This the countess would not agree to, as
she knew that any plan she might form
for the escape of her husband would de-
pend entirely on her own liberty. She
next applied to the guards, with whom,
by means of bribes, she was more success
full, and gained ahmittance to the Earl,
not only on this occasion, but on every
day which interviewed between that time
and the execution of the sentence. She
next endeavored to persuade her friends
at court to use their influence in her hus
her.
Lord Nithsdale, for his wife sake more
than for his own, was anxious that pc
tition should be presented to the king in
his behalf. trusting by this means to ex-
cite for her his sympathy and indulgence.
1t was we'll known that the king was es-
pecially incensed against Lord Nithsdale,
so that he is said to have forbidden that
any petition should be presented for him,
or personal address made to him; ut the
countess, in obedience to her lords wish,
resolved to make the attempt, and accor-
dinghy repaired to court She has given
with her own pen the following account of
the interview, very little creditable to the
feelings of George l. either as king or a
gentleman -
so the first day that heard the king
was to go to the drawing-ro I dressed
myself in black, as if had been in mour-
ming, and sent for Mrs. Morgan, (the
same who accompanied me to the Tower
because, as l did not know his majesty
personally, might have mistaken some
other person for him. She stayed by me,
and told me when he was coming. l had
another lady with me (Lady Nairn }, and
we remained in a room between the kings
apartments and the drawing room, so that
he was obliged to go through it /; and as
there were three windows in it, we sat in
the middle one, so that ght have time
enough to meet him before he could pass
1 threw myself at his feet. and told him
in French, that I was the unfortunate
Countess of Nithsdale. that he might not
pretend to be ignorant OF my person
But, perceiving that he wanted to go off
without receiving my petition, l caught
hold of the skirt of his coat, that he might
stop and hear me. He endeavored to
escape out of:my hands; but Ikept such
a strong hold, that he dragged me on myi
knees from the middle of the room to the !
very door of the drawing -room9n At lastsi