The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1878-12-21
CONJUGAL AFFECTION.
How the Earl of Nithsdale Els.
capped from the Tower Of
London.

Among the persons VINO we're con-
demned to suffer for their share in at.
tempting to place the Pretender on
the British throne, l7l5, was the Earl
of Nithsdale; and there is no doubt
but that he would have shared the
fate of the Earl of Derwentwater and
the others we suffered had not his
amiable wife effected bis escape. This
circumstance, exhibiting go strong an
instance of courage and of conjugal
affection, can not be better related
than in the following extract of q let
ter from the Countess of Nithsdale to
her sister, the Countess of Traquair,
written in l7l6:
"The next morning could not 60
to the Tower, having 80 many things
in my hands to put in readiness but
in the evening, when all was ready,
l sent for Mrs. Mills, with whom I
lodged, and acquainted her with my
design of attempting My Lords es.
cape, as there was no prospect of his
being pardoned; and this was the
last night before the execution. I
told her that I had every thing in
readiness, and that l trusted she
would not refuse to accompany me,
that My Lord might refuse to accom-
pany me that My Lord might pass for
her. l pressed her to come imme-
diately, as We had no time to lose.
At the same time I sent for Mrs Nor.
gan, then usually known by the
name of Hilton, to whose acquaint-
ance my dear Evans had introduced
me, and to whom I Immediately com.
municated Imy resolution. She was
of very tall and SANDER make, so
begged her to put under her own
riding hood one that I had prepared
for Mrs. Mills, as she was to lend hers
to My Lord. Mrs. Mills was then
pregnant, 50 that she was not only
of. the same height, but nearly the
same size as My Lord. When We
were in the coach l never ceased
talking that the might have no leisure
to reflect. Their surprise and aston
lishment when I first opened my de-
! sign to them had made them consent
! without ever thinking of the conse-
quences. On our arrival at the Tow
er the first I introduced was Mrs
Morgan, for l was only allowed It
take one in at the time. She brought
in the clothes that were to serve Mrs
Mills when she left her own behind
her. When Mrs. Morgan had taken of
what she had brought for my pur.
pose, conducted her back to the
staircase, and, in going l begged bel
to send me in my maid to dress me
that l was afraid Of being too late tt
present my last petition that night il
she did not come Immediately. -, =.
dispatched her safe, and went ~,
down stairs to meet Mrs. M:'1St o "do
had the precaution to hole 40 ver u"n ~.
sss ssf to 'er face, e 3 do, who was
eoine to bid her :sst farewell to a
fI;and m thu >. . Of bis execution. |
ts : VI .u9 desired her to do it,
t I%u, NJ" Lord might 80 out in the
. .na. l5anner. Her eyebrows were
s 80 .,er inclined to be sandy, and my
lords were dark and very thick {;
however, l had prepared some paint Of
the color of hers to disguise them. l
also brought an artificial bead-dress
of the same colored hair as hers, and
painted his face with white and bis
cheeks with rouge to hide bis long
beard, which be had no time to shave.
All this provision had before left in
the Tower. The poor guards, whom
my slight liberality the day before
had endeared mo to, let mo 90 quietly
With my company, and were not strict
" on tho watch as they had been ;
and usually tho more 90 - from what
J I had told them the day before they