The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-07-23

. = y ID - - u
hand. This Il ono Of those controverted
questions as' 10 which II seefns almost im-
possibls to secure an unbiased juase'
Tho lats Mr.. Law came, perhaps, a. near
being unprejudiced as anyone u likely 70
be. He recognizes that the question OF
the authenticity Of the casket letters y
beset with difficulties which, In the absence
of tho originals, II may now be impossible
ever to solve. II will be remembered thac
the casket was discovered upon one OF
the Earl Of Bothwell's servants June ~
1857. The earliest references to the form
and contents OF the documents WHOM ~
contains are contradictory or inaccurate.
On their evidence, however. the Scotush
Parliament on Dec. Is, 1857. declared Mary
to be guilty OF murder and to have ior-
feited her crown. Mr.. Law thinks that
"the tendency Of recent discovery ana
research, rendering at least no longer
tenable certain positions maintained py
former opponents Of the genuineness OF
the letters, Ia to suggest that there was
large foundation OF Mary's aotuai wrN,nss'
but that these were oraftily altered or
| lutSTDOlhU0O. HlcIChSot SS>.
both internal and external evidence, may
also explain in some measure Mary's mani.
fest desire rather TO keep the letters out OF
sight than 10 attempt the demonstration
of their falsity, to the ruin OF her aoc'lsers.
The hesitation or silence OF Mary's sup
porters points to the same conclusion.
Morton, in his declaration at Westminster
dec. 20, l68s), first published In full IN 1852
asserted that the letters were 'sichteo
that Is. exam ined-on the morning aiter
their discovery in the presence OF Atnoii
and Semple, both Catholics. as well AZ
Of Hume and others, who had joined Mary
side, besides Maitland himself. who wouio
be most competent judge OF their vahdity'
Mr.. Law deems 1t strange that none OF these
men came forward to dispute the 1acts
alleged; strange that Huntly did not DENY
his writing Of Mary's contract OF marriage
with Boutwell,; strange, too. that. tne
letters were forged, there should remain
no clue to the forger or to the date at wnich
the forgery was accomplished.
On the whole, Mr.. Law was inclined 70
minimize the importance of the Casket
Letters, considered as pieces de conviction.
He thought them interesting mainly from
biographical point Of view. He Is mani
testify no thick and thin defender OF the
accused Queen, for he says: IL rejected az
forgeries, they 1.-THE Casket Lettersl leave
the question Of Marys innocence or guilt
lust as it was when the friendly Du Croc
who knew the Queen and all the circum-
stances we'll, reported to the French Court
that the unhappy facts are too well proved
II genuine, they 1.-THE lettersl would ex'
hibit Mary a. something far worse than an
III used wife conniving at the murder OF
, worthless husband who threatened to be
, her ruin" Mr.. Law added THE letters
had no effect upon international politics
The revolution at home was virtually ef
feced before the discovery Of the Casket
The Judgment Of foreign courts was formed
Independently OF it's disclosures
!, In u couple Of paragraphs Mr.. Law
summed up the outcome Of the lives OF
Elizabeth Tudor and Mary Stuart, consid
cred from the political point Of view. Eliza
beth's aim throughout her reign had beer
to make a united people. Her Church wa
:, intended to be compromise between TIT
contending creeds. Her foreign policy wal
essentially defensive. The difficulties o
her position were immense, and in hel
, weakness she had recourse to the arts o.
the feeble. She seemed, indeed, to suo
coed, politically, not in spite Of but by thu
very means of her unscrupulous methods
! her mendacity, duplicity and feminine
caprices Fortunately her persona! n
terests we're identical with those Of tn
State. The heart Of the nation-thougl
not always the numerical maJority-it
youth. mental vigor and enterprise, wer
on her side. She knew her people well, an
1 was proud of being altogether one OF them
in her own phrase, mere EhgA'h'-an
, few soyereigns have been SO faithful
| served by their Ministers.
!, On the other hand her unlucky riva
with a personality more attractive an
gifts more brilliant If less solid, came int
her kingdom virtually foreigner and
, foreigner she remained-alien above all
, the stern religious creed which she foun
!, there established. Her interests an
ideals were those OF the Guises Her hear
; was not in her own country, but elsewhere
- and the main object OF her ambition, tn
: crown of her neighbor. she pursued wit
= an all absorbing passion save for tn
: moment when a more human passion, he
!. infatuation for Boutwell,, turned her asit
- on the path which led to her destruction
, Every folly committed by her seemed
meet with an instant Nemesis. At III
IN best, she was surrounded by statesmen an
II ad visers who could but give her ha
n hearted support, and it was her III fate
be betrayed or abandoned in turn by
n in whom she had at any time put her tr'l
p nay, even by her brother, her husbar
y and her son. When ali hope was lost 81
n represented herself as the victim OF r
- ligious persecution, and sentiment has II
, vested her pitiabe suffering and trag
Ia end with tho halo Of martyrdom.'
. M. W. H.
" Nansen'u Account Of the Norwegf'
x Question.
y The distinguished Norwegian scienti
% and explorer FR1pTJor HANSEN n
g. written and the Macmillans have pu
II. ,ished a little book for the purpose OF q