The Westerly echo, & Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1854-1858, 1855-08-30
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Pawc aGwSk Advertiser
Westerly, August 30, 1855.
COrrespOndence.-Letter No. 2.

In July, 1864, Mary left HOlyroOd
for sojourn of few months in other
parts of the Kingdom. During her abb
sense, Matthew, Earl of Lennox, the
father of Lord Darnloy, returned from
twenty-five years exile in England
In February, 1865, Darnley was pre-
sented to Mary, bringing with him let
ters Of recommendation from Queen
Elizabeth and diamond ring from his
mother to Mary, her neice-Mary and
Darnley being cousins-garman. He
soon became constant visitor at the
Palace, and at length proposed mar
riage f; she at first pretended to decline
"a ruse which l believe is not altogeth-
er out of fashion in these latter DAYS
with young ladies who are fully deter
mined to accept Of the coveted PROPOSE
ton finally. Darnlcy was then only
nineteen years of age, while Mary was
twenty three.
On Sunday, the 29th Of July, 1868,
this ill-starred marriage took place in
the Chapel Royal of Fl olyrood. On the
following day the Queen subscribed
proclamation orda lining Darnley to be
styled King. She soon, however, had
cause to regret this act, which excited
the strongest dissatisfaction among the
nobility, while Darnley's conduct made
him mum erous enemies. A serious coal
ition was formed, and rebellion ensued,
but tho insurgents we're soon dispersed
Immediately after the suppression of
this rebellion two other conspiracies
were in active progress for the dethrone-
ment of Mary, and the murder of David
Riccio, her Secretary, which latter plot
was formed by Darnley himself, who
labored under the delusion that the Ital-
ian had supplanted him in the Queens
affections, as she had long since repent
cd her marriage with him on account of
his violent aud unreasonable conduct.
On the evening of Saturday, March
9th, 1866, about FIVE hundred persons
surrounded the Palace of Holyrood,
while Mary was in that portion Of the
building now mournfully associated with
her name, at one of those small supper
parties, in the easy cheerfulness of which
she took much pleasure. Suddenly the
arras which concealed the private en-
trance into the chamber from Darn
ley's apartments was lifted and Darnley
himself entered the closet or small room
in which the party was seated, and plac-
ed himself by Mary's side, and affection
at0ly threw bis arm around her waist
In another instant the arras was again
lifted, and in stalked Lord Rathner, clad
in armor. Alarmed at the intrusion of
so menacing an appariti0n, the Queen
commanded him to leave the apartment.
At this moment the noise of persons
rushing up the private stairs was heard,
and the next instant, amid the glare of
torches, several others rushed into the
little apartment, with swords and dag
gers cleaning in their hands. The ta-
bic, with candles on it, was knocked
over and fell upon the Queen. The
unfortunate Riccio, seeing that his life
was aimed at, sprung behind Mary, and
clutching her dress with the firm grasp
of despair, cried out, Justice I! save
my life, madam, save my life p While
Darnley used his strength to unfasten
Riccio's grasp on the Queens person,
George Douglas snatched dagger from
the King, and stabbed Riccio with it
over Mary's shoulder. The conspira.
tors then dragged his body from the
room and pierced it with 6fty-six
wounds.
After the murder was consumated
the assassins kept the Queen close
prisoner in her own apartments, and
Darnley assumed the royal power
Whatever might have been the feelings
of the Queen, and though rigorous
prosecution was instituted against the
assassns, they we're all received into
royal favor before the end Of the year,
with the exception of FIVE. Mary soon
succeeded in detaching Daruley from
the band of assassins, and he had the
hardihood to deny having had any con-
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