The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1859-03-17
EXECUTION OFF MARY STUART.

The seventh volume of the "Lives OF
the Queens of Scotland" by AGSEs SrRicw-
LAND, has just been published. The ac-
cOmpished uuthoress brings her narrative
down to the unhappy close of the life Of
Queen MARY. The circumstances attend
ing the last scene in the life Of MARY Sru-
ART have often been described, but never
more Nvidly than by Miss STRICKLAND,
who writes:
At G O'Clock on the fatal morning Of the
9Th Of February, Mary Stuart told her
ladies 9" she had but two hours TO live, and
babe them dress her as for festival" Very
minute particulars OF that last toilette have
been preserved by both French and English
historians, and cotemporary Ms. in the
Vatican contains description OF it from
the pen Of an eyewitness Of her death. II
is there stated that she wore a widow dress
Of black velvet, but spangled all over with
gold, n black satin p0urp0int and klrtle,
and under these n pettlcoat Of crimson vel
vet, with body Of the same color, and u
white veil Of the most delicate texture, Of
the fashion worn by princesses oi the high.
est rank, thrown over her colt, and descend
ing 10 the ground also, which is not men,
toned in any other account, that she had
caused camisOIe OF fine Scotch plaid,
reaching from the throat TO the waist, but
without a collar, to be prepared the night
before, that when her upper garments should
be removed she might escape the distress Of
appearing uncovered before 40 many people.
While her ladies were assisting bcr TO
dress, she, with the feminine deIicacy Of q
really modest woman, earnestly enireated
them to be watciifn over her IN the last
terrible moment, when, ob-erved she, |
shall be incapable Of thinking Of this poor
body, or bestowlng any care upon il. Oh,
then. for the love oi 'he blca-ed Savior,
abandon me not while under the hands OF
the execu,loner They promised, with
streaming eye.. to be- near her and 10 cover
hcr body a che fell.
Then abe entered her oratOry alone and
kneelng before the miniature altar, at which
her aimODcr had been accustomed 10 cele-
brale mas, opeDed the gold aud jeweled
clbornm in which the Pop bad -ent her a
consscrated wafer with dispensa'ion to 10
what had never before been permitted "a
one Of the Iaity--sdminister the Eucharist
TO herself preparatory to her death, il de-
MED th, ministra ion Ci priest. II il i'm
possible fJr a Protestant bo2rapher 10 de
=cribe the feellugs with which Mary Stuart
performed her lonely communion, under cir.
cnms'anccs ~ strange 10 member Of the
Roman Catholic Church.
The vin'ry morning lad daWncd before
Mary had lcft her Orat0ry she then con-
ci1ded ber letter 10 her brother In.iaw. Hen
y III, Oi France, hy adding several earDesi
pttions IN behali Of her faithful servants
and the fnal date" The morning 0f mj
deatb, this Woduesdsy 9Th February
-gnsd MaE'E T.
5he turu'd 10 her bel chamf@r, where
eating her~-ii beside 't. Ere, she began 10
console h,f weeping MAIDS by declaring th'
comforts she ielt in her approaching releass
rom her lOng Affections, and reminded thu
that hsr uncle. The is.e Duke Di Guiss
bal tui hef 10 ier childhood that she I,s-
.se.h he hereditary cour4gr ~ hsr f4cs
ard ~ ,hought .he would Sell know boz
o. de- yet be hal never Anticipated 80
J.lss Duiiy oi her sahrring tue tsrr,be dcali
~ Nl.rh -be Eas .O1ut ~ verify b. pfc
lietor -hs -pake of tie iral.it0ry na,gf
Il hamah felicity and the vaa'y ~ ,ar'hl
yreatn.s- sbsreOl .hs sAa ,lss'irsi b. a.ry
a. al gIAmpi~ having ben Qlern II N
realms Oi f'Alo, AID Scotland, The zoe b